The day was colder than usual.

A blanket of snow covered the plaines that surrounded the barracks, masking the ground beneath. Snowflakes trickled from the clouds, swirling with the gentle breeze of the early evening. Thick, cracked frost had covered each window of the building. You admired the intricate snowflakes through the windows, your body comfortably sat against the window frame.

To everyone's delight, Erwin had declared that duties would be put on halt until further notice. The Survey Corps barracks had been put on lockdown due to the snow storm: it was too icy to safely use any ODM gear, and it was snowing too thick to have clear visibility.

Your fingertips traced patterns against the cracks of frost on the glass.

"Hey, dumb-ass!" A masculine voice suddenly called into your ear as your body jumped: your heart had stopped, before realising that it was none other than Reiner Braun.

"You scared the life out of me, Reiner!"

"That was the idea," The blonde smirked whilst sitting beside you on the window ledge, curling his knees up to his chest: "Put on your coat tonight. I'm taking you out."

"What? What are you talking about?"

"You heard me, Smith." Reiner added, "I'm sick of being trapped in this Barrack, I need to get out. I'm going insane, here."

"Okay?" You swivelled your torso to face the large-blonde, watching his head innocently tilt towards the side: "But what has that got to do with me?"

"Bertholdt won't leave the Barracks with me at night, and neither will anyone else. Sneak out with me, I could use the company." He coyly rubbed the nape of his neck, his fingers massaging the sorest area of muscle: "I asked you nicely. Please?"

Unable to say no to his wide, pleading eyes, you replied: "Where are you taking me?"

"Where ever you want to go." The blonde shrugged his muscular shoulders as his hands buried in the pockets of his leather jacket, "So, how about it?

You thought to yourself for a few moments, knowing the amount of trouble you could get in if your father were to find out. You placed your finger against your lip, watching Reiner lean closer as he whispered 'please' once more.

"When I was a kid, my dad would always take me out ice skating on this frozen lake within the forest." You began to ponder out loud as his caramel eyes lit up, "I think I can remember the route."

"Cool, then it's a date." Reiner planted his hand on your head as he ruffled your hair, "Come find me around 11' and you know that everyone is asleep: we need the coast to be clear."

༺♰༻

The barracks was eerily quiet by the time everyone in your dormitory was asleep.

You lay in your bed beneath a swaddle of thick blankets, fully dressed in your warmest attire. You wore Reiner's sweatshirt; Reiner's sweatshirt was the thickest and warmest item of clothing you could find, so you decided that it would suit the thick snow that poured down from the clouds.

You slowly unraveled your blankets, cringing at the sound that your feet made on the floorboards as you began to sneak out of the room. You hissed whilst opening the creaking door, watching a warm, fragment of light seep through the door frame.

A pair of hands clasped around the other side of the door, opening it widely. You stood in horror, believing you had been caught red-handed: before sighing with relief as Reiner Braun softly smiled down at you.

"No one saw you, right?"

"I don't think so," You whispered as he closed the door behind you both, "If my father knew that we were doing this, he would kill us both."

"I'd like to see him try and kill me," The blonde scoffed, taking your arm in his whilst gesturing for you to lead the way: "We'll go out the back, the gate is easy enough to hop over."

You both made your way through the barracks, practically sprinting through the open Mess Hall to avoid being seen by another soldier. You ducked your heads, crawling through the kitchens before swinging the door open to get out of the back gate.

You stopped walking as your eyes slowly lifted upwards towards the sky.

"What is it?" Reiner asked, assuming you had stopped because you had seen another soldier.

You didn't respond to the blondes question: you lifted your hand to the sky as you felt light snowflakes land on your palm, your E/C eyes widening delightfully with a smile.

"So much snow." You simply responded as his expression softened, both of you beginning to slowly walk again. The snow was light. You caught snowflakes idly on your tongue like you had done as a kid, reminiscing of your childhood.

Reiner's expression slowly softened as he stopped walking ahead, beginning to turn his body to face you. He gazed at you as you enjoyed the snow: your smile brightening the dark night. Reiner's dark eyes began to trickle downwards to your figure, before coming to a realisation.

"Hey, Y/N. You're wearing my sweatshirt?"

"Mhm, it felt so warm." You brushed off the fabric whilst feeling your body heat grow with a blush: "Is that okay? You said I could keep it, didn't you?"

"Yeah, of course you can." He began to whisper, turning his face away, "That reminds me - you know how we're going shopping tomorrow for a dress?"

"What about it?"

Reiner breathed out thick smoke, burying his hands into his pockets to shelter them from the cold: "Well, I mentioned it during breakfast and Christa asked if she could join us. She said that she needed to go to the market to buy some sewing supplies."

Your eyebrows knitted together with a hint of frustration, before you shook your head towards the side. Reiner, sensing your annoyance, leant down to meet your eye-line.

"What's up?" Reiner pried.

"Nothing. I'm fine."

"No. You're clearly not - talk to me."

"Maybe I'm just overthinking this," Your pupils locked onto his suddenly in the dark light of the forest, "But, don't you think it's a little strange that she keeps involving herself in our relationship?"

"Our... relationship?"

"I know that we're not really dating," You sighed in a dejected tone, "But whenever we're alone, she always ends up turning up. I just find it strange, that's all - she's supposed to be my friend, but she'll waste no opportunity to get close with you."

Reiner suddenly squinted, beginning to inhale through his nose. His movements paused whilst Reiner attempted to sense the aroma in the air: sniffing intently.

"What's that I smell?" Reiner began to smirk, "Is that.. jealousy?"

"Jealousy?" You snapped with an astounded expression, refusing to acknowledge the slight truth behind his question, "That's ridiculous!"

"Is it?"

"I'm hurt because she's willing to betray our friendship, it has nothing to do with you!" You explained as Reiner shook his head, "I know that it was apart of the plan for her to act like this, but still. I guess I just wasn't expecting it to work."

"You underestimate my charm." Reiner shrugged his shoulders whilst dismissing your concerns, "And besides, I've already told her that it's okay. You're welcome to invite Eren, as well."

"Please - Eren would never agree to go shopping for a dress with me."

You could hear the gentle chippering of owls and other night-time creatures as you both wandered beneath the silver moon light.

"Hey, look!" You pointed ahead to the clearing, displaying a perfect, picturesque frozen lake infront of you both, "We're here."