save me a dance



Reiner lifted two chairs, holding one in each hand with ease, to create a clearing in the large-room.

Your knees ached as you leant downwards, your brows furrowed in frustration as you attempted to work a record player that your father had gifted you years ago.

Whilst dragging a table towards the corner, Reiner asked: "Do we seriously need to do this?"

"Of course," You smiled with glee as a piece of classical music began to slowly ease out of the box: "I can't be seen on the ballroom floor with a man that doesn't know how to dance. Especially, whilst Eren will be there."

The corners of Reiner's tender lips softened downwards into a pout, beginning to roll up the sleeves of his shirt to reveal his muscular forearms.

"You think far too much into things." The blonde hoarsely spoke.

"Or, you think too little." You flicked your index finger in an upwards motion, gesturing for Reiner Braun to come nearer, "Come on, let me teach you how to dance. I'll talk you through it."

"You'll talk me through it?" His lips curled upwards with a devilish smirk, "I like the sound of that."

"Save your flirting for Christa." You replied nonchalantly as Reiner stepped closer towards your body, "You need to pay attention to the music: the rhythm, the beat."

"Pay attention to the music." Reiner repeated after you, his head nodding.

"Now then," Feeling a sudden wave of nervousness, you straightened your posture: "Place this hand against my waist, and use this to hold mine."

Reiner didn't hesitate to touch you. His steady hand travelled against your waist, pulling your figure against his chest. The long, delicate fingers of Reiner's other hand trickled on your shoulder, gently cascading down your forearm and wrist until they met with your hand.

Reiner Braun peered downwards at you: his body-heat radiated onto your skin. The natural smell of his hair; his skin; his clothes... drove you into a feeling of insanity. You enjoyed being in Reiner's embrace: it made you feel safe.

"Does this feel right?"

"Yes, this feels really good." Your chest began to cave in, restricting your breathing - your throbbing heart rattled against your rib cage, "What I meant is that this feels correct! So far, you're doing it right. Now, try and follow my lead, okay?"

Your feet shifted on the wooden planks of the ground: causing a satisfying sound with each step you both took. Reiner Braun mirrored your movements, his caramel eyes locked onto the ground to pay attention to where you were placing your feet.

You danced slowly, not wanting to overwhelm him. However, you were pleasantly surprised as he picked it up with ease.

"Who taught you how to dance, anyway?" His captivating voice lowly whispered, breaking your concentration of the music: "You dance well. Your mother must have taught you, I gather."

Reiner lifted your arm into the air to spin your body around, before drawing your figure towards his once more.

"My father, actually."

"Oh?" Reiner's laugh was radiant, lighting up the dull room with genuine warmth and glee: "The Commander of the Survey Corps knows how to waltz? Ha!"

"Don't laugh," You cackled with a slight pout, "He was invited to a gala when I was young, along with the majority of his trusted Comrades. There was no one to care for me, so Hange insisted that I should learn how to dance for the occasion."

As Reiner span you once more, you realised that he was beginning to take the lead. His body guided yours throughout the dance, following the rhythm of the music whilst intently listening to your story.

"My dad used to order his Squad to empty out a room in the Barracks, and then he would personally teach me how to waltz." Your voice began to grow gentle, "Some of my favourite memories from my childhood are dancing with him, it was fun."

"You don't talk about Erwin often," Reiner began to pry whilst slightly tilting his head, "Or at least, not in comparison to Hange and Levi."

"Well, I tried to teach Levi once, but he refused to unfold his arms. It was a complete disaster."

"I can't exactly imagine Captain Levi being a good dancer. I can't imagine Captain Levi doing anything remotely fun."

Your eyes drifted downwards onto the wooden floor, realising that Reiner was barely paying attention to his movements: and yet, he danced beautifully. His coordination, his timing, his body-language were all flawless. You lifted your chin to lock eyes with his, his nose just a couple of inches away from yours.

"You're a natural at this." You bashfully turned your cheek away, struggling to maintain your composure.

"I have an excellent teacher." Reiner replied whilst drawing your body in closer.

"Or, maybe..." You began whilst raising your brow: "You already knew how to dance, and this was just an excuse to dance with me."

Reiner Braun clicked his tongue before tutting with a sultry smirk: "Busted."

Whilst spinning once again, and swaying to the side of his figure: the tips of your dress eloquently flared in the air, "But, why?"

"I don't know," The blonde shortly answered: "I like spending time with you."

You suddenly stopped dancing, completely freezing in place whilst horror and surprise stained your exterior.

"What?" You gasped, taking a protective step backwards: "What has gotten into you?"

"Oh, calm down." Reiner groaned, taking your hand in his once more as the next song on the record began to play: "We're friends, you must have realised that by now."

You tilted your head towards the side, remaining oblivious as to what the blonde was talking of.

"Come on, Y/N!" His husky voice whined with a hint of frustration, despite having a teasing smirk pried on his lips: "We're constantly around each other, even when it's just the two of us and we don't have to play 'pretend' for other people. We laugh, too, when we're together: and you have your moments when you're really sweet to me. You can be endearing when you want to be, it's cute. And, frustrating."

"We haven't argued in an entire two weeks, as well." You added.

"I think that's a new record for us!" Reiner Braun laughed: "You can try to hate me all you want, Y/N Smith, but you can't deny that we've become kind-of friends. Friends in the most unconventional way."

Reiner's right hand lowered from your waist and towards your hip as he lead your body through the music.

"I guess I have warmed up to you a little." You whispered against his lips, your eyes entranced by his.

"Just a little?" His eyebrows twitched downwards as his soft lips puckered into a pout.

"Get over yourself," A genuine chuckle fell from your lips as Reiner did the same, "You're still on thin ice with me."

"For now." Reiner teased, his eyes still not having left yours.

You laughed once more as your body grew lighter, "You think too highly of yourself, Reiner. I can tolerate you - but that doesn't mean that we're friends."

"Hey, I have something to ask. Now that you've basically admitted to loving me."

"What?"

"I know that you plan on dancing with Eren during the ball, but promise me at least one slow-song." You were surprised by the genuineness on Reiner's expression; "I'm trying to say that I like dancing with you."

You offered a bashful smile and nod: "I'll save you a dance, Reiner."

A subtle hint of rosiness stained his cheeks as a grin spread across his cheeks. He nodded in response.

Reiner's hair was especially messy that morning, with blonde locks untidily falling across his forehead. His hair looked soft to the touch - tempting you to entwine your fingers in his locks and ruffle his hair.

You could see the carvings of the older boys muscles through the white button-up shirt that clung to his skin. His sleeves were still rolled up, which tightened the fabric even more around his thick arms; his bare forearms had been revealed.

But the thing that drew you in the most was Reiner's pretty eyes: those copper-coloured, dark, solemn eyes that stared so intently into yours. They were highlighted by the deep, lilac marks under his pupils.

Finally losing his concentration, he stepped on your foot. You yelped out in sharp-pain as the weight of his body crushed your toes.

"You stepped on my foot, Reiner!"

"You put your feet under mine, what did you expect to happen?

"You didn't have to try and kill me!"

"I'm not that heavy, stop being so dramatic." He leant down to meet your eye-line, placing his hand on your back, "Body shaming is not-!"

Knock! Knock!

However, just as he was about to finish his sentence: you both flinched at the sound of a knocking.

Christa Lenz stood in the door way, knocking on the door frame with her figure perched against the wall. Her bright smile lit the emptied room as she greeted the both of you.

"I heard music, and I was curious as to where it was coming from!" She explained excitedly, "I'm sorry, I hope I'm not intruding on anything."

"You're not, Christa." You stepped away from Reiner Braun as he dusted off his clothes, "I was just teaching Reiner how to ballroom dance."

"Oh, I love to dance! I never knew that you knew how to dance, Y/N," The pretty, blonde girl gasped with pure delight in her sky-blue eyes, "May I have a go?"

Reiner's bronze eyes shifted over towards you, awaiting for you to give the blonde girl a response. Unsure on what he was expecting you to say, you backed away and told her to 'be your guest'.

Christa hesitated, before politely lowering her head and taking your place.

Christa lifted her petite arms into the air; Reiner took a moment to contemplate before taking her hand in his, and then placing his palm against her waist. He pulled her small frame closer towards his body.

Reiner began to dance with the pretty girl to the romantic, slow song that echoed from the record player. Their bodies were compact closely together; their eyes intensely attached as they concentrated to the rhythm of the slow music.

And, you knew that you should have felt happy for Reiner.

Reiner had told you just moments ago that you were friends. You knew that friends should feel glee for each other when they get what they want: and this was what Reiner wanted. Christa was what Reiner wanted: she was the girl of his dreams.

But, you didn't feel happy for Reiner.

You felt sick.

Watching their bodies dance so closely together, with their eyes refusing to break-contact, made you feel nothing but jealousy. You felt anger with yourself that you had let her dance with him: and you felt anger with yourself for not feeling happy for them both, as well.

"You're a lovely dancer, Reiner." Her pretty voice whispered as pride stained Reiner's structured face; he twirled her figure with ease, "I never would have expected that from you."

"Only because I have such a good dance-partner." His deep voice replied whilst spinning her around once again: "You're a natural, Christa. But I'm not surprised."

Reiners eyes slowly shifted onto yours, his fingers tightening around the girl that he was dancing with. His gaze softened as his pupils stared into yours.

No longer able to take the feeling, you began to open the door.

"I'm going to go back to the dormitory," You swallowed, "Have fun, you two."

And before either of them could reply, you had already left.

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