And then, you stopped falling.

A rush of fresh air swarmed straight through your clothes as you felt yourself stop falling, your eyelids still clamped together with fear of opening them and finding yourself in the mouth of the abnormal titan.

A large, muscular body collided with your own: thick arms wrapped around your torso - a sizeable hand gripped ahold of your thigh, the other clutched onto your waist to keep you steady in their grip.

Despite realising that you had miraculously been saved, it was as if the fear had taken control of your body. You were unable to move; unable to breathe; unable to open your eyes and witness who had saved you.

Your head was resting against your saviours chest, feeling a swift heartbeat through their thin shirt; you made note of the rhythm.

Thud.

Thud. Thud.

Thud.

Thud. Thud.

Your saviour held you so close to their body, protecting you in the sanctuary of their arms. They shielded you from the pain and sorrow of the world, taking you away from the monstrous titan that almost ended your short life.

Desperate to know who had saved you, you finally opened your eyes.

Your heart dropped. Immediately.

Your eyes were met with a blonde-haired man. There was a stern look in his bronze, fatigued eyes as his pupils searched for a safe place to land. His lips had tightened into a frown as his thin brows arched downwards. The golden rays of the sun reflected off of his sharp cheekbones and crooked nose, making his handsome face seem dignified.

Your body weakened as you realised it was Reiner who had saved you; it was Reiner who was holding you so protectively in his arms. Unsure on whether you should swoon or gag, you tightly closed your eyes and focused on the fact that you were still alive.

You finally began to catch your breath as you felt Reiner gracefully land on both feet; he kneeled, carefully placing you on a rooftop with his large hand against your back to prop you up. Bertholdt soon followed, his gear at the ready.

Your eyes moved slowly. You struggled to keep them open as your pupils drearily moved from object to object, struggling to make sense of everything around you. There was a ringing in your ears that prevented you from hearing what Reiner was talking about: you could see his pursed lips moving to speak, his hand wafting in front of your face in attempt to get a reaction from you.

You'd never touched death so closely. You'd never encountered such danger. It was as if your body had become paralysed with shock, unable to comprehend what was currently going on.

You squinted, focusing on Reiners face as he analysed your expression.

"She's bleeding." Bertholdt's voice began to reel you back into reality as you blankly stared into nothingness.

Reiner's amber eyes rolled back into his skull as a scoff escaped his mouth: "What do you want me to do about it?" Reiner lifted his fingers, tracing the blood that smeared down your chin: "The bitch can't even sit up on her own."

"The bitch has a name." You snapped back, removing his hand from your face as if it was contaminated.

"So you can speak. I thought that would get a reaction from you," Reiners hoarse voice echoed in your ears as your face formed a scowl, "What the hell were you doing on your own?"

You ignored his question, too prideful to admit to Reiner that you had forgotten to refill your fuel.

You pressed your fingers to the blood that stained your lower lip, wincing at the sharp pain. You must have bitten down on your lip whilst running, you thought to yourself.

You turned your attention to Bertholdt Hoover (who was currently staring intently into your eyes with a sympathetic expression): "Do you know where the nearest area to refuel is?" 

"I'm running low, too; I'll search the area." A focused stare took over Bertholdt's face as he furrowed his brows, "Reiner, take care of Y/N's wounds. I'll be back as soon as I've found a nearby station to fill our tanks."

"Don't go far." Reiner added, obviously disliking the idea of being alone with you.

Bertholdt faintly nodded with an honest smile before turning his right shoulder and manoeuvring himself out of the area: on the prowl for a refuel station.

Your mind was still preoccupied on the near death experience, replaying the scene in your mind as you retraced your steps. Your pupils had dilated; an unfocused stare on your face.

Reiner kneeled infront of you, beginning to take a clean sheet of cloth from the pocket of his brown, leather jacket. He lifted it up to the blood on your chin.

You winced.

"Don't be such a baby. You're the daughter of the Commander, aren't you?"

"I'm not in the mood right now, Reiner."

"Not in the mood for what?"

"Your shit. Go bother someone, anyone, else."

Reiner shook his head, a hint of a smirk on the edge of his soft, smooth lips.
"But why, when I have you right here?" He continued to clean the blood off your lip with the clean cloth: "You're the only person that I enjoy getting a rise out of."

You snatched the cloth from his fingers, shooting him a cold glare.
"It's no wonder Christa isn't interested in you. Do you talk to every girl like this?"

Reiner sat opposite you on the rooftop, his elbows resting against his knees with a tired, sunken expression: "No, just you, Smith."

"Is that supposed to make me feel special?"

"Well, what about you?" Reiner's husky voice murmured as you dabbed the stinging with the cloth he had given you, "You talk to Eren with that mouth?"

"Please," Your E/C eyes rolled back with a teasing smirk: "I have far more of a chance of being with Eren, than you ever have of being with Christa."

"Did you hit your head when that titan was chasing you?"

You grunted, throwing the bloody cloth in his direction whilst wetting your lips with your tongue. He stared in dismay, before beginning to stand up: he offered you his hand to help you up off of the floor. You grasped his palm reluctantly, feeling him pull you up with ease before wiping both hands on his trousers.

"Anyway," The blonde began, "I'll have a think about how you're going to repay me."

"Repay you for what?"

"Saving your life," He answered your question as offence took over your face, "Bertholdt saw you running from something and insisted we leave our Squad to come help you. And I'm still waiting for a thank you."

"Thanks." You furrowed your brows, "But you seriously can't just be happy that you saved me?"

"Of course not, it's you."

"You really are an ass," Your face contorted with frustration as he turned his shoulder, cupping his hands around his eyes to search for Bertholdt, "Everyone else may think you're so kind, and so genuine, but I don't care! I can see straight through you, Braun. I see who you for who you really are."

Reiner's head turned towards you; a strange emotion staining his face. His lips had parted with a slight shock, his golden eyes wide. He creased his slender brows together with a growing frown.
"Oh, really now?"

"Yes."

"Then what am I?" Reiner stepped closer to you until he was just a couple of inches away: the aroma of pine from his jacket overwhelmed your senses as you sharply breathed in, "Say it."

Unsure on what Reiner was trying to do or insinuate, you stepped back. Thankfully, just as you did, Bertholdt had come back with good news.

"There's a station just two minutes away," The tall boy smiled faintly, opening his arm towards you to gesture for you to hold onto him, "I'll carry you, Y/N."

You thanked him, before setting off towards the station: your mind still curious on what Reiner Braun was trying to insinuate.