Pinehurst - chapter 5
eren jaeger x fem!reader (with various aot character interactions)
summer camp au
words: 6.5k
warnings: swearing, angst, mentions of past emotional and physical trauma, suggestive topics.
chapter summary:
“Yes”, a word that holds too many meanings and bottled up emotions packed into one move of the mouth. It seems to be one word Pinehurst has been petrified of, agreement. The acceptance to pay their due for a crime left uncertain. As you familiarize with your past acquaintances, can you be the one to change the direction of this long lasting feud?
↣ BEFORE YOU READ! ↢
the beginning of this chapter is a flashback! its occurring at the same time as erens discussion with zeke back in chapter 4. i will clarify when the flashback is over as eren will come back into the story, enjoy! @darthtsuki i told you i'd put them in:)
masterlist
To think a person who vouches for freedom is only imprisoned in their own loophole of satisfaction, behaving in a particular way because it brings them comfort and afraid to step further in fear of its resulting discontent. To be controlled throughout all your decisions makes one believe there's never a way out of what's already begun. Yet it isn't complicated to change course, to alter what you believed was impossible to "fix" or secure. It starts with a break from normality, a change in thought or voice.
One listening to their heart, simply saying "No"
or "Yes".
"How did you end up here? You know you aren't supposed to be here right?" Bertholdt cautions, shaking his hands in an attempt to make sense of your presence before him. Jean pays no attention to the male, turning over his shoulder and grumbling just above a whisper while walking back to your canoe. "It's not like we wanted to see your face again anyways."
"No one asked you to talk."
Your comment shuts him up, allowing you to explain this unusual situation to the tall male. As unfortunately stranded as you were, the night's breeze cut you slack, given you some time to speak without clattering your teeth to pieces. "Someone left the oars on our dock and we drifted out." You directed your head over to your six-foot lug of a partner, now squatting in the swampy water next to your half-missing ride. For what reason? You were too unsure to care. "We're sorry if we disturbed you."
"You could never be a bother to me." Bert chortles, gently fumbling with his hands to ruse his mind, to distract himself from staring into your eyes for too long. Though it didn't seem to do much else for the dusty pink brought out across his face. A few feet away you can hear Jean's overdramatic gags after suffering through the boy's comment, almost losing his balance from how awful Bertholdt's flirting has declined. In Jean's honesty, it never progressed.
"Don't you think romancing our staff is a bit childish? Why don't you help us get back instead, string bean." Jean interrupts nearing next to him, attempting to get the tall raven back on track and out of his sight for what he hoped would be forever.Bertholdt snaps his head, lazing his eyes. "I'd love to help y/n, you not so much."
"Are we seriously doing this? Why are we still holding grudges over something that happened years ago." You frustrate, placing a hand on each of their shoulders to separate their cunning glares. "I don't even remember you there Bert!"
"Oh I was there, and I stood by my best friend."
How could he not. They weren’t in the wrong for protecting himself against a smaller, practically demonized child. For Bertholdt to support his friend was only out of the loyalty he held so potently for his friend. But with every year it was becoming uncertain whether the blond's actions were specifically self-defense or the actual complication to this problem.
"It would've been a much simpler day if Eren hadn't been so stuck up in his own head, claiming himself as the victor." Bertholdt refocuses, conjuring what left he remembered the night of poor Marcel's death. I'm sure he still gets in his own mind about shit like that."
Jean makes his way back over to where you stand, readjusting his sweatshirt over your shoulders as a method of releasing out his frustration before compromising "Listen, I get Eren can be hot-headed-
You and Bert both hold your gazes on the brunette, questioning him with a raised eyebrow from that unusually nice and untrue comment.
"Alright, so Eren's a dick." Jean admits.
"But It comes from stating what's on his mind, not out of denying the opinions of someone else. That I know for a fact, it's why we always clash."
"He doesn't intend to humiliate people because of what they think, he's only too embarrassed to let go of his own thoughts." You add in, shoving your hands deep into your pockets to provide some warmth while you support Jean's response. "For the boy who used to be so energetic and excited, why would he want to give up, like in an argument or fight? It would be like losing all over again."
"Losing what all over again?" The raven-haired boy repeats, and you're left standing with zipped lips, wishing you hadn't gone too far into your friend's history, a story you'd barely come to terms with hours before. "What I'm trying to say is that he's been through a lot, B. He regrets that night I'm sure of it, but he's completely innocent of... manslaughter." Pronouncing that final word off your tongue sent shivers throughout your body, a much more lingering sting than July's evening breeze on your skin.
"Is he?" Bertholdt raises his arm, making you startle a few inches back. "How could he be so innocent for causing the fire while I was tending to an open gash your friend gave mine?"
"Causing the fire?"
"He had a matchbox, a lighter for his cigs, or some piece of crap with him didn't he?"
Jean steps in again, desperately trying more than any other moment to free Eren's guilt still hanging around in thin air. A brother to Jean who'd leave everything to comfort him no matter where their relationship stood. He smiled at the raven-haired, more in understanding, a bit in pity, but mostly in triumph after half a decade of confusion and malicious accusations.
"Eren doesn't smoke."
Bertholdt's astounded by the brunette's statement, placing one foot behind himself to keep his balance from the gust of truth he'd just received. "Of course he does how else would the fire have started-"
But Jean held his ground, eerie grin shrinking to an intended smirk. "He never has, never will. If he wanted to he would've gotten a beat down from his old man." By the beginning of his last sentence, Jean had stepped so close he was spitting onto the face of Marceign's counselor. "Surely Mr. Jaeger's Doctorate degree would've gone to waste if he didn't check his kid's lungs more thoroughly."
There was a slight competition between you and Berthold, specifically for whose mouth gaped wider with every second Jean spoke, and nothing but the truth at that.
"That doesn't mean anything."
"It means Eren has never carried a matchbox, a lighter, anything of that sort. And since none of you claim to have anything capable of starting the fire it had to have been from natural causes." Bertholdt was left in such a state of uncertainty, his eyes flickered back between yours and Jean's faces looking for an explanation.
"What." Jean butts his head in front of Bert's. "Do you think fighting against wood, inside an all-wooden church, wouldn't lead to some sort of flaming chaos?" All three of you leave yourselves contemplating on everything you've ever thought about the matter. Bertholdt, siding with his camp, had accused wrong all this time. Jean could finally prove to you he wasn't a dumbass for his spectacular found evidence, and not only had you confirmed another witness in possible future trials, you finally answered whether the boy you're heart had beaten for was still as simple-minded as he'd always been, not guilty of the crimes he was committed to. His existence really was worth it for your heart to beat a little more.
With one final gulp, Bert began to mumble. "So-"
"We can prove he wasn't involved with Marcel's death?" You face Jean, more of a curious look in your eyes after his statement. Jean looks to you with a growing smile of sincerity, proud beyond compare to say the words:
"Yes."
Because Eren didn't kill him.
"Then I must apologize for how I've acted." Bertholdt restarts, helping the brunette reposition your canoe back into the water. He remembers how you ended up here, grabbing a spare oar from behind your shivering body. Propping one leg to steady the boat he reaches out a hand for you to hold, swiftly guiding his other to your lower back. For support, of course.
"Glad you've finally understood our side of the story string bean," Jean thanks, noticing the linger of a touch Bert leaves against your side.
Bertholdt continues where he left off, jumping back at his suspicious actions. "-As I should have a long time ago, I'll be sure to talk this over with Reiner."
"Reiner?" you question, a hint of fatigue coming over your croaky voice. Both boys turn their gazes to you, the brunettes more in worry of you and your tired state.
"You must have been unconscious for most of the night huh." Jean chuckles, placing his calloused hand atop your head. You cower from his gesture, very forgetful of this “Reiner” being discussed. "I can't exactly remember who he is?"
"Ah, no worries" The raven-haired speaks, in a troubled tone. "I'm sure you'll meet again." And with that he pushes you from the creaky dock, letting your eccentric thoughts guide your smooth sail to shore.
Faint screams become the first sound you hear approaching back to camp, one more feminine and raspier than the other, chanting your name like you'd made a victorious feat for finding your way home.
Gabi is the first to bombard you, giving no care to her newly purchased sneakers now soaking up the lake's water with each step closer to you. She splashes her hands from underneath the water to engulf you in her embrace. Guiding your canoe from the outside with Jean steering its front, you lose balance in the muddy waters as she swashes up to her waist and hugs you, so forced with her love it pushes you both off balance and under in muffled cackles.
Eren and Falco stand closest to the bank now, the older boy giving a distraught look to the blond who shakes his head, planting his hand onto his forehead for wisely knowing the outcome of Gabi's excitement. You reach the surface with short breaths and a rasp, eyeing the young girl's soaked figure to your right. Her laugh is so gigantic with that grin on her face, trying to gasp air all while tipping the side of your boat from her grip. "Where have you guys been?!"
"...Out."
"Well duh, it's a campsite that's the only place you can go. I mean why have you been gone for the whole afternoon!"
Jean peeks over the side, immaturely bringing his oar over the other side of the boat and playfully tapping it against your head. "Ah Y/n just wanted to spend some time with her best friend, ain't that right." You scoff at his answer, wrapping your hand around the blade of his paddle and giving it a tug, scaring him close enough where he could end up in your same situation underwater. "Jean got us lost, but everything turned out alright Gab."
"That's good" she smiles, "Those two were worrying like babies." She then pivots to view the boys on the sand, the little one waving his arms up and down ridiculously. He's hoping to grab your attention as he's struggled to all day, much like the elder boy who lazily sways his body back and forth while keeping you in view. His nails of one hand stick in the corner of his mouth, picking his nerves away. Gabi erupts a giggle from her chest, beginning to kick her legs and assist you back to shore.
You stand in your athletic shorts, camp shirt, a soggy sweatshirt that isn't even yours and waddle over to grab your shoes. Your eyes meet Eren's emeralds for a few seconds, the most enjoyable time spent of your day. He looks relieved, in a shocking way? His beaming smile grows towards you, almost too bright to be true if it weren't for that nervous wave keeping him wary of your situation. He was so stupidly... endearing.
Falco is much calmer in physical affection than Gabi but his words comfort you just as much when he books himself over to you.
"Y/nnn you scared me half to death, I thought you'd gotten hurt!" He cries, tears brimming his upper cheeks. He buries his head into your chest with intimacy, backing away immediately in "ew's" and hair shakes from the seawater now dampening his body. That would surely leave a stench as the minutes passed by. He still looked at you in worry, mouth gaping and closing on what to say next. Were you completely ok? Had you gotten hurt? Had someone hurt you?
You place your hands on his shoulders, and in getting his gaze to fall back on his counselor you console a gentle smile. "I'm right here Falco and I'm ok." His breathing calms but he remains in awareness, dashing in the direction of your cabin and lingering on the words "I'll bring you back my sweatshirtttt!"
Jean pulls the canoe closer to the water's end, revealing a rather nervous male in his peripheral vision. He grabs his agitated attention with "Hey dumbass, stop standing around and help me drag this thing in." and Eren jolts back to focus before hurrying to his aid.
"Where exactly did you guys end up?" Eren inquires, eyeing half of another oar set in the taller boy's hand. Jean's quick to cover it behind himself, going for the old 'unaware and no need to care' tactic to cover his rather interesting experience tonight. "It's nothing bro, there was a spare I found in the boat."
"With Camp Marceign's labeling on it?"
Jean pauses, startled at his friend's quick eyes. What he should say to avoid catastrophe hadn't been thought of, but he can't risk the truth in trade for relief. That would be the last thing to come out of Eren if the truth was shared. If sworn to secrecy was how it'd been promised, then sworn in secret was how it would stay, at least until the main components of the problem felt it needed to be addressed.
"I took Y/n out."
"You what?"
"I- shit" Jean curses, draping a finger over his mouth and hoping he would shut himself up. Instead, he continued to play on with his own nonsense of a story, one that would result in a pummeling by the brunette for sure.
"I... saw that she looked unhappy and took her out on a date. I found an empty lot with an oar and I uh... i- took it? Serves you right after the way you've treated her." Jean acted out too strongly during the last part, wishing it would play on like no biggie. He prayed Eren's rage wouldn't damage his ego too hard, much less his body. Yet what came from the boy was quite unexpected.
Eren let his frown sag a little deeper, fidgeting his lips to muster a response. It could still end up physical. Jean pondered, tensing his muscles in protection.
"I'm sorry man. Well as long as she's happy, right?"
Jean was astounded, left wide-eyed in confusion as Eren muttered those words, jogging over to your sticky, sandy self right after. Surely Eren knew how absurd that excuse had been, but he didn’t have the time to decipher between his discontent and apprehensiveness. He wanted to see you, and that overpowered his ability to respond correctly.
"Did he just give his consent to my made-up shit?" looking behind his shoulder, cringing at how stupidly the conversation had just ended. "What the fuck happened while we were gone?"
Eren keeps his head down as he walks to you, crossing his arms in more of a way to keep himself warm, not to seem aggressive or closed off. Both of you have gone too far into the deep end of hiding things, he didn't want to fall overboard and just share everything with you. Now that he's figured things out, or at least what exactly has been figured out, he's sure he wouldn't plummet into mania.
And that's because you're here, you'd be with him where he can fix his mistakes.
"Hey, are you alright? Is everything... good?" With each stutter Eren pushes his crossed arms further into his chest, collecting lost words in his throat. He wanted more to come out, his story, maybe feelings eventually, but checking in was a good checkpoint.
Shivering another smile, matching yours to him from a few minutes before you stay bent over to the side, gently ring out your hair. "I'm all good Ren, no worries."
He’s hesitant after the nickname, raising the corner of his lip into that charming little smirk like he used to give. It’s hard to resist staring longer, so much that you let a small share of your mind take control.
"You should do that more often." pausing right after the words slipped past you.
"Do what exactly?"
"You should start smiling again Eren, I know I haven't been in your life too much but I miss it." I miss you
He stands in awe of your honesty, you were being completely truthful to him and it was something he could sense so easily. He could see right through you, past the weariness or the dark circles present under your eyes. Your fatigued complexion would convince almost anyone you were simply being friendly out of your drowsiness, but he felt you spoke no lie to his face. Speaking of which, Eren was much closer than he believed to have been when he notices your chin tilted up to meet his eyes, and your eyes, are sparkling brighter than usual. Just like how they used to when you'd smile at him, when you'd spend all the time in the world with him you'd smile so bright. Your lips were always so plump and cute and shit it's like the universe forced your nipples to perk out every damn time he was around.
"Well," he clears his throat, "I'll keep that in mind. But I really wanted to apologize, I've treated you so terribly andyoudonthavetoforgiveme, but I was hoping we could start us over?
Something about "starting over" ticked you off because it appeared he wanted to forget your past so quickly. So many pieces of your childhood, good memories, and the bad had factored into where you stood now, here on this gritty coast of the lake in Jean’s soggy jacket, dirt marks smeared across your limbs, but it was a moment you wouldn’t trade. Here you finally felt yourself breathing normally after years of shortened gasps and nightlong weeps failing to get a hold of him. You’d gotten here together even when separated, and for him to make this decision so independently had baffled you. In no way did you believe forgetting your first bond was key to “starting over”.
You were willing to make amends with Eren nonetheless. You needed to regain all the time lost, to gain his trust, his love again. Hopefully, with time, you'd understand he wasn't intending to destroy your past but to create a prospect where you could leave the two of your troubles behind you. He was trying to clear his name, pay off his lawsuits and create the both of you a new future. One where he could show you what love he had left to give, and he had plenty of it if he grew the courage to do so. But in making this possibility he’d need to step up alone, take charge of the problems of his past that he created.
Because the last thing he'd ever want is to see you suffering over his growing burdens.
You on the other hand were sick and tired of his individualism. Maybe your features complemented it under the moon’s hazy glow, but it mentally grew exhausting hearing him face a decade of struggles in disputes and misunderstandings. He had no right to be so kind as to take the blame for a mistake he didn't make. To be blamed for something he'd never ever do. So “Yes, that sounds good.” you breathe a fake chuckle. That would ease the weight on his back just for the night, but in no way would he solve this fight, the incident, and the lawsuits alone like he planned. You were here for a reason, and he'd understand that when you’d stand by his side until the very end.
Eren gazes at his shoes, scrunching his nose to seek out a new conversation starter. He knew you’d ponder too long on his problems if he continued, but unknowingly to him you already had. You were keen at playing coy.
“God Y/n you must be freezing. How did I not think about that?” He worries, tugging your arm gently to link around his. You follow him down the mulch path to the cabin, huddling an inch closer with every few steps. In assuring Eren you were fine he had to go out of his way, tossing around his clothes so neatly arranged in his luggage to fetch you a sweatshirt. Sure it fits you more properly, and the unusually light scent of Maplewood had you resting at ease throughout the night. Eren even crouched down beside your bunk, gently scratching your head to whisper he'd gotten the water you asked for not even a minute before, you were sound asleep in the comfort of his scent. By morning though, you’d be explaining why you wore another man’s clothes to an upset Falco.
“I want you to tell me everything that happened to Eren yesterday.”
“Wha?”
Armin drowsily gazes up to you from his kneeling position, leftover crumbs on the mess hall floor now being swept adjacent to his hand instead of in the dustpan. Why you asked something so complex this early in the morning was questionable, but he’d place his curiosity aside.
You did feel a bit of guilt coming to him this early, the sun had barely peeked out from behind the mess of trees, but it was the only time your cabin wasn’t occupied with cleaning assignments for the day. Instead, your group had been selected to attend cooking duties, which involved venturing out to the local market and supplying food for the camp’s meals that particular week.
Armin supports his knees coming to a stand, staring at your peppy form with half-lidded eyes. “And you're asking me this question because…?”
“Oh don’t tell me you haven't noticed him acting strange since I got back.”
He rubs the side of his nose, sniffling in his allergies that only added to his apathetic tone. “So you have until noon before you leave for the market, but you come to ask me about this at the crack of dawn?” His morning stubbornness receives an upset glower from you, so in his favor, you grasp the dustpan from his hand and empty it into the trash can which saves him several overstraining steps.
“Eren and the campers are still asleep, it gives me the perfect time to figure out why he’s acting differently without me interfering.”
“But you're doing exactly that-”
You step behind him and guide his shoulders over to the closest wooden table, and the sweet, strained laugh you give while he takes a seat makes him eye you more suspiciously than before.
“I know you weren’t with us the day the church went down, but you were here with him yesterday while I was gone right?” You ask, and Armin nods at your eager expression.
“Then tell me everything.”
From the unexpected appearance of Eren’s unpitying and detached brother, demanding respect be paid in addition to the money owed from false claims, to just how deep he was now drowning in debts he never owed, Armin tells you all. He had always been Eren’s shoulder to lean on. Through all his faces of adversity, Armin supported him, staying by his friend’s side through the bitterness and seeing it out until the end. So as Eren closed the gap between his friendship in the last few years, the one Armin had fought so hard to keep together, what was he to do when the difficulty came from within?
Although the actions of Eren’s own family left you furious, and your jaw had practically clenched through his entire story, you extend your hand over to Armin out of sorrow, displaying a gentle smile to ease the stress he’d been suppressing.“You know he cares about you so much, Min.”
“If it makes him feel in control of his life for once, I'll allow him to do just about anything. Even if it shouldn’t involve me. “What I'm really nervous about is if you’ll try to fix this”. He looks at you with an entreating expression, making you truly come to terms with the plan you’ve created all in the sentence he had just spoken. You firmly place your hands atop the table, growing confidence as you rose to which Armin meets your height. “If I can’t prove that he’s innocent I’ll need to help him pay off the debt.” You offer him another broad smile, and he returns your gesture more tiredly.
“Do NOT tell him Armin, I can’t watch him struggle again to get me out of his way. I owe him this, do you promise?” He lifts his hands in front of his face, palms facing outward and as innocent as he could assure. “Yes, I promise!”
You reassure his agreement with a single nod and begin proceeding out the hall in the direction of your cabin. Just glimpsing the beginning of daylight you pause near the doorframe, turning back towards the sniffling blond.
“Do me a favor and take a Claritin, will you?”
“Yeah, Yeah.”
Avoiding the “rush hour” of the area, the market was still barely calmer than you had expected. Perhaps some people already made their daily trip or were planning to come later in the week, still the busy avenues crowded too far in front of your sight. Consisting of all foods and ingredients one could think upon, baskets of goods and gifts bordering the openings to tents or small shops, and fabrics displayed underneath colorful awnings that lined the isles of the pavement. For a small town, the marketplace was utterly the attraction.
What attracted you however was the huddle of children a few yards in front of you. From your field of vision, they were weaved between the crowded booths and appeared to be fooling around as always, battling each other out for who could reach a single fruit held in the air by their much taller counselor. He stood relaxed, keeping his other hand in his pocket, and didn't even have to extend his arm fully to view each kid bumping into each other after every attempt to grab the item.
And he was smiling, just like how you told him to.
Once reaching them you spoke how you’d be just around the corner, eyeing Eren a second longer to remind him of the “what to buy” list currently crumpled in his pocket. He looks to you and lowers his arm, distracted enough to allow Gabi to steal the orange from his grip. “Too slow for me! What an idiot!” She hollers, the two of you change your stares at the girl smirking a defiant sneer. The passive look on Eren’s face already told you he was done with her antics for the day and he accepts his victory by setting his hand on her head and covertly shoving her towards the stack of baskets next to them. You're stunned by how freely he does the motion, on one of the camp’s own adolescents, enough where it erupts a giggle from your throat while the bratty girl picks up a basket she knocked over, poking her tongue out at him in a mean response. Surely any one of you would have done that move on her sometime in the day. She hands you the basket anyways, accepting her defeat when she begins looking around for an item Kaya proposed she go find.
Eren refocuses on you, naturally peering his eyes from time to time over the strands of hair you braided that morning. “Don’t take too long, k?”
“I only need to find a few things over there. ‘You gonna miss me too much?” registering the hint of flirtiness in your last sentence you step away, replacing your coy smile with an anxious grin. Now you anticipate for the conversation to move on more awkwardly, he’s still being secure with his outwardness how stupid could you be? But he’s quick to laugh away any signs of unease, including your purposeful teasing...was that meant to be intentional? Did he think it was intentional? Casually picking up another basket from the pile, he responds informally. “No, because I can't handle all these kids at once.”
Seeing as he‘s become more comfortable around your presence, you exhale and wave a quick goodbye. He pauses to watch you twist through the mobs of customers, and just until you're out of his sight does he carry on with the campers.
Fuck he sounded so uncomfortable, why would you even jump so far to that level of conversation? You shuffled through the crowds, contemplating why in your damn mind you felt the urge to make a remark so strong, so strange to him. It was likely he felt restricted by what you said and saw no other option but to laugh it off, maybe the physicality of the crowds had gotten to him too. You lifted your chin, squinting over groups of customers who gathered by merchant's tables. It made sense how claustrophobic Eren could have been, you continue to overthink, snaking your way around people but only making it a few feet forward. You already shared the load of fruit between you and Falco’s basket, even though it was nearly overflowing you had more food to find. There was no turning back to ask for help, you'd only be a burden. Also, was your basket feeling lighter? How odd, you could have sworn when you weren't so dizzy it was full and-
“Excuse me, miss?”
A low voice interrupts your absent mind along with a firm hand placed on your shoulder. He brings your attention back to reality, keeping his hand on your shoulder to stay stable as you turn around. In his other hand he offers you an orange, the one from your own basket that must have fallen out. It’s surprisingly in good shape, similar to the man you now meet face to face. “You dropped this about a minute ago, and now that I see you… You look a little lightheaded. Is everything alright?” he broods, but you wave his worry off with your free hand. “I’m just deep in thought that's all. Thank you for your concern.”
It’s now you fully take in his appearance. Hovering over your height as always, the man dolefully stares down at you despite the faint glimmer he gives, although he always seemed to look upset with those creasing lines between his brows. His hair is fair and unkempt, blond tufts splaying over his undercut and just sprouting from his face in the style of a goatee. The only drastic change seems to be his figure, which is much more toned and brawny than before. One thing that would never alter though were his eyes, who else held a radiant hazel such as his? It'd help you recognize him anywhere.
“Reiner?”
He smiles, placing the orange you've yet to take out of his hand into your basket. Then he lifts a finger to your face, adjusting a stray wisp and ultimately tracing it behind your ear. “It’s great to see you again Y/n”.
You’re at a loss for words, resembling an astounded child. How could you forget him, besides you and Armin he stayed by Eren’s side almost all of the time, and his charm was always unmatchable. He uses the same hand that stroked your hair to gently wave you out of your daze, chuckling at the way you blinked again into focus. “What are you doing here? I’d love to catch up if you have the time.”
“I’m... visiting with my family. I wanted to take some time off before I head back to school.”
“I totally get that, hope you enjoy it here. I'm actually helping a few family-friends of mine for a few weeks,” he reveals “School can be pretty pricey.”
“Counseling helps you find your way out of that?” Being so genuinely curious in the conversatio, you least expect Reiner to answer bewilderedly. “Yea, actually. How’d you know?”
“Just a hunch… From all those years ago,” you respond all smiley.
“Right…” He hums, dimming his smile. He doesn't mention anything else, nor does he call you out for your lie, so you’ve come to understand Bertholdt hadn’t mentioned you to him at all. It had been days since you re-met the tall boy across the lake, why was he trying to keep your interaction a secret? Reiner keeps his head hung low, frowning down towards his sneakers. Not bearing to keep his mood this way you make an effort to change the conversation.
“SO Reiner, Tell me about this connection between school and camp? You can see the spark in his eyes relight, lifting his mood once again. He tilts his head and nudges it forward, gesturing you to accompany his stroll through the market.
“The camp I used to go to, Camp Marceign? We’re holding this huge internship for new and returning counselors. Everyone who participates will help rebuild what we’ve lost and assist with daily activities. If you stay through the entire program you’re given earnings in scholarship money, charity donations, or with a valid reason to be used freely.” Not too many are participating this year so the rewards will definitely be worth it.” He laughs contently.
...to be used freely.
You’re amazed by his camp’s progression since its spiral downwards almost a decade ago, and felt so glad he was able to carry himself so well after the incident. Hearing so made you grow an excited expression, one he truly missed seeing on you. As wonderful as it sounded, your throat clenched, it felt strained, something about this didn’t feel right.You couldn’t help but wonder “Marceign is holding an event that large? That sounds great! Where is this money being funded from?”
“We’ve actually gained this money ourselves over the last few years. After a few trials years ago we felt it was in our thanks of the community to give it out, for staying on our side you know?”
And there it was, the side your intuition knew he stood by so profoundly. The side that accused an innocent child of Pinehurst for murder and negligent destruction of property. People took his money, your camp’s money, and were now funding it for these scholarships out of pity, a return of mercy that never belonged to them in the first place. With a sharp huff, you show small interest in the program. Reiner was frantically excited to answer your questions, hoping this would be his chance to rekindle the friendship you once shared.
“I would- we would love to see you again, you’d be a big help in repolishing our acres and you deserve this kind of reward. The program starts by the end of next week and wraps up before the end of camp.” He cups his large hands over yours, keeping you entranced with his soft eyes and big heart.
“Y/n please, will you do it?”
This would be your only opportunity. Become a Marceign counselor for two weeks, collect the internship earnings and pay Eren’s debt off to his brother. You could clear his name at least, and the money you had left could be brought back to Pinehurst, the money that was theirs all along.
This would all work out. You’d leave your friends, seem to betray your second home... and leave the child you’d been responsible for taking care of all for the sake of the camp… It wasn’t a good choice at all. Time was closing in on what options you had left to save him, to save your camp from bankruptcy.
It’s only a few minutes later when Eren turns the same corner, eyeing you standing alone. You casually tip the cashier for the ingredient you had bought, making his smile widen and he ushers through the people to friendly link his arm around yours.
“Miss me?”
You’re startled by the sudden action, believing some thief had come to steal your items. Luckily his comforting arm and emerald glance let you relax. You nodded that you did, and with honesty, watching his brows furrow earnestly, emitting a very different reaction than his reddening cheeks. He began guiding you back in the direction of the campers, letting you match his pace with a slight jog. Yes he left the kids by themselves for one minute, and it would result in a mess of products scattered across the ground, but he felt in control again, he was happy.
To think he was the person who vouched for freedom, only to be imprisoned in his own loophole of satisfaction. Behaving a particular way because it brought him his only way of comfort and afraid to step further in fear of its resulting discontent. To be controlled throughout all his decisions until now made him believe there'd never be a way out of what's already begun. Yet it wasn’t so complicated to change course, to alter what he believed was impossible to "fix" or secure. It only needed to start with a break from normality, a change in thought or voice, letting himself gain the independence he needed to succeed.
Eren’s begged too many people for chances he never received, and now he felt his pleading could conclude. However, unknowingly to him it was your choice that would be the break from normality, the corrupted future he was destined to live would fall into your hands. He didn't ask for your involvement, he hated to see you suffer more than anyone or anything, but even when Eren told you no
You told Reiner yes.
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