Nothing left to dread, huh? Reiner turns that over in his mind, pondering its implications. It could mean that the worst has already happened to Eren—whatever Eren considers "the worst" to be. Or it could mean that Eren has stopped caring, but Reiner finds that difficult to believe. They're the same in that way, aren't they? Caring too much, letting their emotions consume them. Reiner has a better handle on his emotions—or, well. He did. He thinks he did, probably, before it all became too much.
Did it become too much for Eren somewhere along the way? Did he shatter down the middle, losing himself in the process? Do his friends pay the price and pick up the pieces, reassembling him into something that can shamble through another day?
As Reiner watches Eren stare into space, apparently zoning out mid-conversation, he suspects he's right. Something broke inside of Eren, maybe something that can't be fixed. Why else would he have wanted Reiner back in that alley?
His eyes narrow again as Eren continues, threatening to use information about the future as a weapon. It's not unthinkable. Not without precedent, either, if Reiner's refusal to reveal information about the outside world could be counted. But would Reiner believe anything Eren chose to say? Would he be stupid enough to give it credence, especially knowing that Eren would want it to hurt?
His eyes dip again as Eren takes another bite, watching Eren's lips without bothering to hide it. Such dangerous, pretty lips. How can they belong to such an asshole?
Stupid question. Reiner knows precisely how attractive other people find him, and he's done things that even he can't stomach. He's a mass murderer, a liar, a traitor. Maybe it's fitting that he's starting to look like his father; that man was a real piece of shit, too.
But then Eren mentions dying before turning twenty, and Reiner's eyes widen. There's only one reason he can fathom for Eren knowing when he was meant to die. And if Eren made it past that date, then…
"Does that mean—" he starts, then cuts himself off. Debates for all three seconds before he continues, heedless of how it might be used against him. "Does that mean the Curse of Ymir isn't active here?"
It's not an answer to Eren's unspoken question, the silent expectation that it was Reiner's turn to share. But fuck that. Reiner doesn't have to say a damn thing, especially when Eren is threatening to weaponize information.
pours some self-loathing into this mix
Did it become too much for Eren somewhere along the way? Did he shatter down the middle, losing himself in the process? Do his friends pay the price and pick up the pieces, reassembling him into something that can shamble through another day?
As Reiner watches Eren stare into space, apparently zoning out mid-conversation, he suspects he's right. Something broke inside of Eren, maybe something that can't be fixed. Why else would he have wanted Reiner back in that alley?
His eyes narrow again as Eren continues, threatening to use information about the future as a weapon. It's not unthinkable. Not without precedent, either, if Reiner's refusal to reveal information about the outside world could be counted. But would Reiner believe anything Eren chose to say? Would he be stupid enough to give it credence, especially knowing that Eren would want it to hurt?
His eyes dip again as Eren takes another bite, watching Eren's lips without bothering to hide it. Such dangerous, pretty lips. How can they belong to such an asshole?
Stupid question. Reiner knows precisely how attractive other people find him, and he's done things that even he can't stomach. He's a mass murderer, a liar, a traitor. Maybe it's fitting that he's starting to look like his father; that man was a real piece of shit, too.
But then Eren mentions dying before turning twenty, and Reiner's eyes widen. There's only one reason he can fathom for Eren knowing when he was meant to die. And if Eren made it past that date, then…
"Does that mean—" he starts, then cuts himself off. Debates for all three seconds before he continues, heedless of how it might be used against him. "Does that mean the Curse of Ymir isn't active here?"
It's not an answer to Eren's unspoken question, the silent expectation that it was Reiner's turn to share. But fuck that. Reiner doesn't have to say a damn thing, especially when Eren is threatening to weaponize information.