Vista - Attack on Titan x Reader

CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE: For the Record

Why are you always the one who steps in..?

"I'm fine on my own. I appreciate you scaring him off, though..." I dipped my head as I turned around, but I could clearly hear his heavy footsteps behind me as I began to walk.
"I asked if you minded. I never said I wouldn't come anyway."

Fucking hell...

"That guy really has a funny way of showing that he cares, doesn't he? Needs a lesson in manners." Reiner chuckled quietly, keeping a few paces away once we exited the building.
"Such a waste. You should all worry about someone else." I muttered, bitterness lacing my tone in an unbecoming way.
"What is it I've heard you say a few times? Noted and rejected..?"

You little...not so little..!

Slowing down, I silently allowed him to catch up, despising the fact that I didn't quite mind his company. It felt so strange, walking along beside him, fitted with my odd uniform, whilst he was in regular civilian clothing.
"You stalking me, or something..?" I questioned out of the blue, noticing him falter out of my peripherals.
"I...just took interest in you...Nothing wrong with having your back, is there..?" He mumbled in response.

"You aren't denying it..." I pointed out, the hint of a sly smirk gradually creeping onto my face. He went to object, but fell short of an actual rebuttal, so he sighed in defeat.
"Well, the word stalker is a bit much..." He murmured, coming to a stop when I did, right by the side of the large stone tower. "If it really bothers you, I'll step back..."

"It...doesn't bother me...I just think it's stupid to forge attachments now...Like...what if you..."

Die...

"Sure, I get where you're coming from...but what if I don't?" Reiner cocked his brow and waited for my argument, but it never truly came. There wasn't any fighting that flawless logic, and I wasn't stupid or headstrong enough to try.
"Why you gotta go around being all logical and shit..?" Grumbling, I readied my odm gear so I could launch myself up to the roof. "You shouldn't be correcting your captain, anyway..." I hated using that as an excuse to bail, but I didn't have any other scapegoats.

Smirking, Reiner leaned forward, and I shrunk down like a tiny, flustered mouse beneath his greater height.
"Oh? well then, why don't you order me, then?" The playful glint in his topaz eyes made me swallow dry, but it also made me feel a little more human than I had in a while.
"G..go back inside and rest up, r..recruit..! That's...an order..?"

My voice sounds like a pubescent teenaged boy, god help me..!

Stifling his snickers, the amused blond saluted me, his fist closing against his board chest.
"As you wish, Captain (Y/N), ma'am!" He snorted, taking that fist and clonking me gently in the cheek. "Make sure you get some sleep when you're done, okay?" With a wink, he turned away and started walking off into the dark, leaving me with a jittery heart and a dry mouth.

What...was that..? Dammit...it's too soon...

When I flew myself up onto the stone roof, I nearly collided with Mike, who seemed to have been snooping over the edge.
"You two seem close." He teased, albeit in a monotone manner. Huffing, I slipped around him and marched over to the opposite side, sitting down upon the large stone border.
"Being nosey isn't flattering." I poked out my tongue and glared until he opened his mouth again.
"Before you ask...that boy smells like...a smelter...Kind of strange..."

Huh...yeah, that is kind of weird...

Mike simply shrugged, and we spent the next few minutes in silence. We couldn't see much in the dark, but the view was still pretty stunning.
"Hey...can I ask you a question? I want a proper answer, too...Not a hum or a word or two..." I spoke up, and Mike nodded for me to continue. "You were already part of the Survey Corps when Levi joined, weren't you? Can you tell me what he was like when he was younger? Was he always so...shitty..?"