[Zeke had always been terrifying to Bertolt. Even when he was friendly, he was still a frightening man.
As Reiner speaks, Bertolt keeps himself where he is - he doesn't move beyond rubbing at his nape, his thumb massaging the thick column of muscle at his neck. He hates seeing Reiner breaking like this, and Bertolt hates it even more knowing that he's the cause of it all.
Especially when he can feel Reiner's tears through both layers of clothing. That alone makes Bertolt bring the hand not at his neck up and into Reiner's hair to cradle his head, his body shaking with the effort to keep himself composed. A small part of him wants to cry liar, but he knows that the only one lying would be Bertolt. Reiner has never kept the truth from him, even when things were getting bad. He was always honest with him.
Why did you stop for me?]
I don't...
Bertolt was the liar. He was unreliable, always deferring to Reiner when it came to big decisions. He always let him take charge, and look where that had gotten everyone. If Bertolt hadn't stood idle, then maybe they'd have been able to go home sooner.
He could tell him. Bertolt could tell him right here and now, why he'd stop for him. He could be crazy and impulsive and throw all of his cards on the table rather than keeping them close to his chest. He could be honest for once. He doesn't know why he'd stop in that situation, but at the same time he wants to believe he knows.]
I... I couldn't lose you.
[Bertolt doesn't know how his future self thinks, but that's what he wants to believe.]
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As Reiner speaks, Bertolt keeps himself where he is - he doesn't move beyond rubbing at his nape, his thumb massaging the thick column of muscle at his neck. He hates seeing Reiner breaking like this, and Bertolt hates it even more knowing that he's the cause of it all.
Especially when he can feel Reiner's tears through both layers of clothing. That alone makes Bertolt bring the hand not at his neck up and into Reiner's hair to cradle his head, his body shaking with the effort to keep himself composed. A small part of him wants to cry liar, but he knows that the only one lying would be Bertolt. Reiner has never kept the truth from him, even when things were getting bad. He was always honest with him.
Why did you stop for me?]
I don't...
Bertolt was the liar. He was unreliable, always deferring to Reiner when it came to big decisions. He always let him take charge, and look where that had gotten everyone. If Bertolt hadn't stood idle, then maybe they'd have been able to go home sooner.
He could tell him. Bertolt could tell him right here and now, why he'd stop for him. He could be crazy and impulsive and throw all of his cards on the table rather than keeping them close to his chest. He could be honest for once. He doesn't know why he'd stop in that situation, but at the same time he wants to believe he knows.]
I... I couldn't lose you.
[Bertolt doesn't know how his future self thinks, but that's what he wants to believe.]