[ In the time Levi spends simply staring at him, Reiner works to get his breathing and heart rate under control. Slowly, the visible trembling in his hands ceases, the immediate spike of adrenaline waning. But Reiner still doesn't take his eyes off the Captain. He still isn't willing to turn and walk away, showing his back (his nape) to such an immediate threat.
Although the more he calms down, the more Reiner realizes that Captain Levi looks … really rough. Like he's seen a hell of a lot of combat since they last met, and he wasn't on the right side of some severe blows. Did all of that happen since Reiner and Bertolt left the Survey Corps? Or is this more of that 'different times' crap?
Levi mentioning the future essentially confirms Reiner's suspicion. But the rest of the Captain's words…? Reiner presses his lips together, though what expression he's suppressing, even he can't say.
Outnumbered. Far from home. Turning into a public enemy. Keeping his head down and playing along. As if Reiner doesn't have plenty of experience with all of that. As if all that hardship ever stopped him.
Reiner's eyes move from Levi's scarred face to his leg, lingering on the foot that kicked Zeke's severed head. It wasn't real. Reiner doesn't know what it was, exactly, but it wasn't real. Then his gaze flicks back up, meeting Levi's gaze steadily, the lingering pallor fading from his skin. ]
Thanks for the concern, Captain.
[ If such blatant threats could be called such, even in jest.
Reiner straightens his spine, his expression guarded, controlled. Whether Levi intended it or not, those words effectively snapped whatever slender olive branch Reiner thought he glimpsed. Reiner's fear may have faded, but in its place lie wariness and suspicion. ]
no subject
Although the more he calms down, the more Reiner realizes that Captain Levi looks … really rough. Like he's seen a hell of a lot of combat since they last met, and he wasn't on the right side of some severe blows. Did all of that happen since Reiner and Bertolt left the Survey Corps? Or is this more of that 'different times' crap?
Levi mentioning the future essentially confirms Reiner's suspicion. But the rest of the Captain's words…? Reiner presses his lips together, though what expression he's suppressing, even he can't say.
Outnumbered. Far from home. Turning into a public enemy. Keeping his head down and playing along. As if Reiner doesn't have plenty of experience with all of that. As if all that hardship ever stopped him.
Reiner's eyes move from Levi's scarred face to his leg, lingering on the foot that kicked Zeke's severed head. It wasn't real. Reiner doesn't know what it was, exactly, but it wasn't real. Then his gaze flicks back up, meeting Levi's gaze steadily, the lingering pallor fading from his skin. ]
Thanks for the concern, Captain.
[ If such blatant threats could be called such, even in jest.
Reiner straightens his spine, his expression guarded, controlled. Whether Levi intended it or not, those words effectively snapped whatever slender olive branch Reiner thought he glimpsed. Reiner's fear may have faded, but in its place lie wariness and suspicion. ]
Anything else? Or are we done here?