𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐠𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐭
someone new has moved into the neighborhood who’s seems like a rough giant
pairing: southern!Reiner x f!Reader
wc: 2.2k
divider by @i-kyujin and @diviniyae
“Someone new just moved into the complex,” Sasha teased. “A young guy, mid-20s, muscular build, short blonde hair, beard, and mustache. Totally your type, Y/n.”
You let out a little giggle, rolling your eyes at her playful grin.
“Now why do you think that,” you asked, amused.
“I don’t know, just do, you should bring him some cookies like you did for me when I first moved here,” she suggested.
“I don’t know, haven’t seen him once since he got here so I think he wants to be left alone,” you say with a shrug.
“Speaking of which, how do you even know what he looks like,” you asked.
“Oh well, I saw him heading to work one day while I was leaving to meet up with Connie and Jean,” she grinned.
“Okay good I thought you did some weird stalking shit,” you said in relief.
“Hey that only happened one time, and besides me and him are now dating that means it's your turn to find the one,” Sasha exclaimed.
You laugh once more, shaking your head at your friend's claim. “Maybe I’ll give him something depending if I have time,” you say finally giving in.
“Alright great, tell me if you do it,” she smiled, clearly enjoying herself.
You returned home later, realizing you had nothing planned after hanging out with Sasha. With a sigh, you decided to make the cookies. You felt a little nervous because you usually wouldn’t bother people if they don’t want to socialize.
And the new guy felt right in that category. You were only pushing yourself to bring him something because you trusted Sasha's judgement, maybe you will end up liking him.
After an hour the cookies are done, you slipped off your apron and stepped out your apartment, heading to the new guys a bit down the hall. You take a deep breath before knocking at the door.
For a good 30 seconds nothing is heard, but before you can turn back the door opens. A man around 6’1 opens the door and fits Sasha's description perfectly. Except for that she didn’t mention how muscular he actually was.
“May I help you ma’am?” His deep, southern accent made your heart skip a beat.
“Sorry to bother but you're new to the neighborhood and I bought you some homemade cookies,” You explained, a smile pulling at your lips.
“My name is Y/n L/n. I live a couple doors down from at 304, if you need anything you can always knock on the door,” you added.
He looked down at her for a bit, the tension behind his eyes slowly leaving as he listened to your introduction. “My name is Reiner Braun. Nice to meet you,” he said.
“Nice to meet you Reiner, it was nice meeting you,” you said. You handed him the cookies, and he took them with a smile before retreating back inside.
You thought it would be the last time you would see him, but fate had other ideas.
A few days later, you had bought a coffee table, and as luck would have it, the complex had no elevators. You groaned as you realized you’d have to drag it up three flights of stairs. But just as you were about to start hauling it yourself, you spotted Reiner returning from work.
“You need a hand,” he asked, surprising you.
“Um yes if you don’t mind,” you said, grateful.
“What’s in here,” he asked, rolling up sleeves to help lift it up.
“Well while shopping I saw this really cute coffee table, and I bought it,” you explained sheepishly.
Reiner lets out a chuckle which catches you off guard quite a bit. “Sorry, you just remind me of a friend, she was always buying things and would complain she has no money,” he explained, making you to laugh with him.
“Well thank you for helping me. Would you also help me set it up,” you asked. “Uh yeah,” he said.
“You're the best,” you exclaimed, causing him to get a bit flustered.
The two carry the box all the way to your apartment. “So where do you want the table to be,” he asked. “Over there by the couch,” you say back. “Also do you want anything for your troubles,” you added.
“Some water is fine, I don’t want to bother you too much,” he said.
“Coming right up,” you said cheerfully, heading to the fridge. When you returned with a bottle of water, Reiner was in the middle of assembling the table.
“Here you go,” you said, handing him the bottle.
“Thanks. I also forgot to mention your cookies were very good,” he said.
“Thanks, would you like some more to give you for your home,” you ask.
He pauses for a second thinking before responding, “yeah that would be nice,” he smiled.
You blinked in surprise, his smile was even more charming up close. “Um, yeah, of course,” you said, still a little entranced.
As time passes by you both talk about a bunch of things and causes the both of you to become less tense with one another. Once it hit 5, Reiner was finished, wiping off the sweat on his head.
“Thank you once again Reiner,” you say once again.
“No problem, if you ever need something just knock your always welcome,” he said. “Alright, thanks have a good day,” you said, waving him off to his apartment.
“Sasha you were right,” you groaned.
“What he’s your type,” she teases.
“Exactly my type, and you failed to mention how jacked he really was,” you exclaimed. Sasha laughs at you as you sulk at the thought of Reiner.
“Why do you make it such a bad thing,” she asked.
“I’m not it's just, I don’t know anything about him and I don’t want to knock on his door for no reason,” you explained.
“Try searching for his instagram, if he follows back you guys can start talking,” she suggested.
“Oh my gosh you're so smart why I didn’t think of that,” you say, whipping out your phone almost instantly.
The both of you look down at your phone intently, searching up his name on instagram.
You both searched for his profile, eventually spotting a picture of him posing in a gym mirror.
“Oh wait, is that him?” Sasha pointed,
You click on the profile and click on a highlight to see a photo of Reiner with a guy who was tall with black hair.
“Omg that’s him,” you and Sasha squeal, causing others in the cafe to look at you weird.
You guys continue to go through his highlights, he has a couple photos of him but a good majority is with his friends.
“He seems to have a good social life,” Sasha mused.
“Yeah but I barely see him leave unless it’s for work, or shopping,” you say.
“Well it doesn't matter. Follow him already!” she urged, glowing at the thought of her friend and Reiner.
You laugh before clicking on the follow button and a minute later he follows you back.
“He wants you bad girl,” Sasha teased.
“You're pushing it, Sasha,” you joked.
Sasha smirked. “Alright, here’s the plan: a few days from now, post something, and if he likes it, you’ve got to make a move.”
“You and these plans, you're so unserious,” you said. “Fine, do it your way but he definitely wants you,” she said.
You sigh looking back at his page, maybe you will try it out.
A couple days pass and you decide instead of doing Sasha's plan, you post a relatable quote about groceries prices.
An hour later you get a dm from Reiner responding about how atrocious the prices were becoming. And after that the conversation continued and flowed smoothly.
There were no awkward pauses and they even called later that night. Since then the two who call, text and even hang out at each other's apartment.
Finally, Reiner got the courage to ask you out on a date.
“Bro Sasha I’m nervous this is my first date in a year,” you say over the phone.
“You're going to be fine, you hang out so many times these couple of months, you’ll be fine I promise” she reassures.
You let out a sigh, Sasha right you should be completely fine.
“Your right girl, I should be fine, I’ll call you after the date,” you say.
“You better get laid or at least a kiss or I’m going to be mad,” she teased.
“Bye Sasha,” you say, ending the call.
You touch up your makeup a bit, before you hear a knock on the door. You take a deep breath and open the door to see Reiner holding flowers.
“I, uh, got you some flowers,” he said awkwardly.
“Thank you Reiner, let me put them inside and then we can head out,” you smile.
He nods and watches you head back inside to put the flowers away, before reappearing back outside.
“So where are we going,” you ask.
“A fair,” he replied. “I thought a restaurant was too formal, since we’ve already gotten to know each other.”
“Ooh I’m excited,” you said with a smile.
The ride to the fair was fairly quiet, the radio taking up most of the silence.
Once there, you and Reiner look around for things to do.
“Ooh look we can play some games or try some food, or go on rides. There are so many things to do,” you exclaimed, making Reiner laugh.
“Let’s start off with the games first,” he suggested. “Good idea” you say.
The first game was a basketball toss, and while Reiner got a large stuffed animal, you managed to win a smaller one.
The next game was the rope ladder game. That game was not the best for you. You feel a couple of times and Reiner got close to the end he fell which caused you both to laugh.
You guys play a couple more games before going on the rides. One thing you learned about Reiner and that the rides did not really phase him, he had the same expression on his face the whole way through.
The only time you would see a change was if he looked in your direction and smiled or laughed at how scared you were. That led you to realize that he didn’t laugh or smile as often as you think.
He is a calm person like when you first met him. He only started showing different emotions once you guys got to know each other and you thrived on seeing him happy.
Finally at the end of the night Reiner had convinced you to go on the ferris wheel. You first turned down the idea, but after a lot of convincing you decided it wasn’t going to hurt.
“So did you like tonight,” he asked as the ferris wheel reached its peak.
“Yeah I did, never seen you show so much emotion in one night,” you teased, making him smile.
He turned toward you, his gaze softening. “I get that a lot from my friends.”
The view outside was breathtaking, and you both sat in a comfortable silence for a while. “It’s beautiful,” you say breathfully. “Yeah,” he said in a low voice.
Finally, Reiner turned to you again. “You look good in this lighting,” he said quietly.
You smile, grabbing onto his hands. “You look good when you smile,” you said, causing him to blush slightly.
“For someone who is really big looking, you're just a gentle giant,” you teased.
Reiner laughed softly. “I’m just not used to those compliments.”
You smile at him and he does the same. He moves from his side of the ferris wheel to your side, looking into your eyes. He grabs your cheek, his lips hovering yours.
“May I,” he asked, looking between your lips and your eyes.
You swallowed, your lips parting slightly. You nodded, barely able to breathe, your heart pounding in your chest.
“Yes,” you whispered back, the word barely escaping your lips
Slowly, carefully, his lips hovered over yours, the tension in the air being cuttable. You could feel the heat radiating off him, and for a brief moment, everything else seemed to fade away. It was just you and him, suspended in this quiet, beautiful moment.
And then, with a soft exhale, his lips met yours.
It was gentle at first, as if he was waiting for a sign that you were okay with it. You melted into the kiss, your hands instinctively reaching up to hold onto him, feeling his warmth, his strength.
The kiss deepened slowly, both of you exploring, your breaths mingling, the world outside forgotten. Reiner’s lips were soft but sure against yours, a contrast to the calm, collected exterior he often showed. It was a kiss that spoke of everything unspoken, the connection, the silent understanding that had been growing between you for weeks.
When he finally pulled away, it was like breaking the surface of water after diving deep. His forehead rested against yours, both of you breathing heavily, as if you’d just run a marathon.
Reiner smiled again, a little breathless, and you couldn’t help but return it.
“You good?” he asked, his voice still low, but now with that familiar warmth that made your heart race all over again.
You laughed softly, still feeling the buzz of the kiss lingering. “Yeah, I’m good,” you whispered, your hand resting on his chest, feeling his heartbeat match yours.
And there, in that quiet moment, everything felt right.