the atmosphere in the room was calm. you were sleeping in bed while Porco was sitting at desk reading a book.

the sound of your voice distracted him as he looked up from his book and turned his head towards the bed, with a slight worry on his face.

"don't go away," you whisper, your eyelashes fluttering as you turn your head on the pillow.

"what?" he asks, thinking you're talking to him, but then he notices that your eyelids are closed.

"please, Reiner. don't go away."

that name was enough to instantly furrow his brows and darken his expression. did you talk about Reiner all the time, while walking, at lunch... and now in your sleep?!

Porco hated him. firstly, because, in his opinion, Reiner is to blame for the death of his brother Marcel and secondly, for Reiner taking a place in your heart instead of him.

he didn't want to interrupt your sleep, but the name you were repeating even in sleep irritated him, so he had to do it.

his hand touched your shoulder, gently starting to shake you.

you resist for a couple of seconds before reluctantly opening your eyes. you looked so sleepy that he was already overcome with guilt for daring to wake you up.

"you were whining in your sleep," he said first as an excuse.

"what do you mean?"

"you called Reiner."

your eyes widened and you almost jumped out of bed when you heard that.

"what's wrong with him? Is he okay? where is he? what if it was a prophetic dream..."

Porco tightened his jaw. "he went to the festival with Gabi again."

the look of relief on your face almost made him want to roll his eyes. almost.

"have you been here all this time?"

"I got bored, I decided to check on you, but then it turned out that you were asleep.” pause. "you usually don't mind when Reiner sits here instead of me."

"don't compare," you whisper, looking down and feeling your cheeks tingle.

he snorts, "well, of course," he thinks, without saying it out loud.

Porco decided to dilute the tension a bit with the following question.

"what did you dream about?"

"it's nothing special, but it's like some kind of danger is going to happen. I think we need to find Reiner right now. maybe he and Gabi are in danger."

he clenches his fingers into a fist. "I said it's okay. If something has happened, he can take care of himself. he's an adult now, stop being dramatic."

you sigh. "I'm just worried."

Porco saw it, the way you try to be the best just to get Reiner to pay attention to you. didn't you deserve someone better... like him?