victory_road | FOURTH WALL MINGLE LOG

_{[Both of them would've been fantastic to have around during training.

While Marcel's a massive fluff beast, Bertolt wouldn't shrink him or trade him for something smaller. He's perfect the way he is, even if he ends up getting a mouthful of fur in the mornings!]}

Yeah. They've got a lot of things here, uh... Hang on.

_{[Bertolt twists himself around a little to fish his 'gear from his pocket, and he sends off a quick message to Jean and the others;}Be back in the morning. Have Marcel with me, so I'll be okay. Message if you need me,
- B_{Even if the others don't get it right away, at least Bertolt knows Jean will pass it on.]}

They've got boats and stuff here too, but those are over by the ocean. _{[And Bertolt refuses to go on the bigger ones like the ferries, but shhh.]}

Edited 2017-05-31 01:26 (UTC)

[Reiner watches as Bertolt plays with a same, colorful thing that he doesn't understand, but he doesn't question it. Maybe later, he'll want to know all about what it is, but right now, it just takes Bertolt away from him, and he doesn't want that. As soon as Bertolt puts the thing down, Reiner has his arms back around him, pulling him in close.]

[This is... this is pretty clearly more than platonic, and Reiner is surprised Bertolt isn't calling him out on it. Reiner is older now, not comfortable, exactly, with who and what he is--can any warrior really be?--but at least familiar with it, and he can look back on his time with Bertolt and realize that he'd spent more of it being horribly, hideously gay towards him. The Marleyans call men like Reiner fancy boys, always spoken with a sneer, even if they're undoing their belts to 'teach them a lesson,' but Reiner can't deny what he is. He also can't deny that he's been stupidly, madly in love with Bertolt his entire life, and Bertolt's early death hadn't changed his feelings one bit.]

[When Bertolt brings up boats, Reiner makes a face.]

No boats. No ocean. [He leans in again and puts his head on Bertolt's shoulder.] I just want to stay here for as long as we can.

[Forever? How does forever sound?]

_{[Hearing Reiner's refusal about boats only makes Bertolt snort, his nose wrinkling with a small flash of teeth. No boats. He can definitely work with that, and without realizing it, Bertolt's lets his hands wander down to grip the sides of Reiner's shirt as if it'd keep him anchored here. There'll be time to show him pictures of everywhere he's been later, right? He can do that then.

Though he's certain Reiner can feel his heartbeat picking up, Bertolt does his best to ignore it. Come on, stupid heart. Stop that. You are going to give him away or make it seem like he's nervous or uncomfortable. Stop it.]}

Good. I, uh... I got really sick on the boats. _{[Was he ever that bad with boats when they were kids? He barely remembers.

With Reiner's head back on his shoulder, Bertolt hesitates for a moment before he tilts his head to touch them together. This was nice, wasn't it? He wants to believe the others will understand why he didn't come back for the rest of the day. And maybe tomorrow, too.]} ...You're not going to vanish, right?

[Reiner goes still when Bertolt reaches down to hold his shirt, his sides suddenly prickling at the proximity to Bertolt's hands. How is that even now, what feels like a lifetime later, Bertolt is able to reduce him to a shivering, blushing child, desperate for his attention and practically bleeding want? Reiner is the adult here, he's older and more experienced, and yet Bertolt makes him feel new and young again, like there's actually some hope in the world and like everything good hasn't been completely extinguished.]

[Reiner shakes his head at Bertolt's question, feeling Bertolt's silky hair brush against his own bristles with the motion. His throat closes at the question, and it's a moment before he can speak again.]

If I have any choice and any control over it, I'm never leaving your side again.

[He smiles into Bertolt's shoulder, and turns his head a little to brush his lips over it. If it's too forward, Bertolt will let him know, right?]

Sorry, Bert... you're stuck with me.

_{[Gods, do not start crying again. Bertolt can already feel his throat burning with the effort to keep his composure and that is never a fun time.

He squeezes him tight, one hand sliding back to come to rest at the middle of Reiner's spine and the other sits at his side, his fingers pinching and rolling the fabric of his shirt. It's softer than what they had back home, and idly, Bertolt is reminded of the scarf Reiner once wore when they were children.

Before Marley had gotten their hands on them and indoctrinated them to their beliefs. He hasn't seen that particular one since then.]}

Good. _{[Bertolt exhales slowly, his eyes sliding shut for a few moments. It's nice being able to do this again. He's aware of what Reiner does and while he doesn't move to stop him, he doesn't do anything to encourage it - he's afraid of what might happen if he does. What if he plays it off as a joke? Or worse...?]}

...Can I ask you something?

[Bertolt's hand on his back sends shivers up Reiner's spine, and he has to work hard not to arch into it and purr like a contented cat. He wonders if it would be weird to ask Bertolt for a back rub, but then decides against it; if Bertolt is rubbing his back, then Reiner can't look at him, or at least be in position where he can see his face quickly and easily if he so desires. Reiner can already tell that he's not going to sleep tonight, not when he can stay up and look at Bertolt's beloved face all night long.]

Of course. Anything.

[Reiner won't deprive Bertolt of anything, even if he asks something Reiner doesn't want to talk about.]

Did...

_{[Bertolt's fingers press into his spine for a moment, but he quickly flattens his palm out to let them press against where his ribs connect instead. He'd rather not dig his fingers in and hurt him, but he refuses to let go lest he really do vanish, or worse, straight up walk away. It's a terrifying thought, even if logically he knows he doesn't have to worry about it.

Not after reuniting like this.

And this way, Reiner can't see his entire face. He can't look over and see the worry and unease written over Bertolt's, as if he's afraid of the answer.]}

Did you ever... meet anyone?

FOURTH WALL MINGLE LOG

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