Tiny as it is, that hint of a smile on Galliard's lips catches Reiner's attention. When was the last time he saw Porco smile, much less at him? For a moment, Reiner is caught between confusion, satisfaction, and something oddly akin to embarrassment. He blames it on old insecurities and shoves it aside, more emotions to (not) deal with later.
A muscle twitches in his jaw at the mention of Levi. So, Zeke finally realized how dangerous Levi is, huh? Apparently, it was too little, too late. Reiner can't mock Zeke's fear—not when he's afraid of Levi, too. It's hard not to be, what with his last memory from home featuring Levi nearly killing him. It's almost enough to make Reiner feel pity for Zeke. Almost enough for him to argue, saying Zeke can't possibly deserve whatever fate Levi would bestow.
("Not so smug now, huh, you piece of shit?" Levi said to the corpse as he aimed a kick at Zeke's severed head, sending it bouncing away.)
But Reiner trusts Galliard. Six years apart, and he still trusts his comrade more than nearly anyone else. So he only nods, accepting Galliard's decision. If Zeke shows up, the Survey Corps can have him.
When Galliard agrees not to go after Eren, Reiner does a poor job of hiding his relief. Good thing Galliard resumes walking when he does; it may spare Reiner from having to explain why that relief is so intense. He quickly moves to catch up, falling into step just as predicted, breathing out a half-laugh at the question.
"I was hoping you could tell me. I figured it was some future shit." He gestures vaguely as if to encompass the future and all its shit. "One of them implied as much. It's not as though they have any reason to trust me. Most of them are f—"
The word catches in Reiner's throat, a verbal stumble over friends that he promptly pretends didn't happen.
"—they're soldiers I trained with when we infiltrated their military. Levi is here, too. And Hange, their Commander."
Reiner falls quiet for a moment, then shakes his head. "I don't know. My best guess is that they don't want to deal with the destruction a fight would cause. It's not like Titans can tip-toe around civilians. Even if they managed to beat me, it wouldn't last." He looks over at Galliard, arching a brow. "Do you wanna know another weird thing about this place?"
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A muscle twitches in his jaw at the mention of Levi. So, Zeke finally realized how dangerous Levi is, huh? Apparently, it was too little, too late. Reiner can't mock Zeke's fear—not when he's afraid of Levi, too. It's hard not to be, what with his last memory from home featuring Levi nearly killing him. It's almost enough to make Reiner feel pity for Zeke. Almost enough for him to argue, saying Zeke can't possibly deserve whatever fate Levi would bestow.
("Not so smug now, huh, you piece of shit?" Levi said to the corpse as he aimed a kick at Zeke's severed head, sending it bouncing away.)
But Reiner trusts Galliard. Six years apart, and he still trusts his comrade more than nearly anyone else. So he only nods, accepting Galliard's decision. If Zeke shows up, the Survey Corps can have him.
When Galliard agrees not to go after Eren, Reiner does a poor job of hiding his relief. Good thing Galliard resumes walking when he does; it may spare Reiner from having to explain why that relief is so intense. He quickly moves to catch up, falling into step just as predicted, breathing out a half-laugh at the question.
"I was hoping you could tell me. I figured it was some future shit." He gestures vaguely as if to encompass the future and all its shit. "One of them implied as much. It's not as though they have any reason to trust me. Most of them are f—"
The word catches in Reiner's throat, a verbal stumble over friends that he promptly pretends didn't happen.
"—they're soldiers I trained with when we infiltrated their military. Levi is here, too. And Hange, their Commander."
Reiner falls quiet for a moment, then shakes his head. "I don't know. My best guess is that they don't want to deal with the destruction a fight would cause. It's not like Titans can tip-toe around civilians. Even if they managed to beat me, it wouldn't last." He looks over at Galliard, arching a brow. "Do you wanna know another weird thing about this place?"