Reiner's pacing now—quiet, controlled—but the tension in his shoulders says everything. His phone's in his hand, lit up with a dozen unsent messages to you:

"You good?"
"Made it home yet?"
"Call me when you get this."

Renia pokes her head out from her room.
“Dad?” she says softly. “You okay?”

Reiner forces a smile—but it doesn’t reach his eyes.
“Yeah,” he lies smoothly, “Just… waiting on your mom.”

Brusa leans against the hallway wall, arms crossed—he knows better than anyone how his father gets when he’s worried and trying not to show it.

But then—

The front door clicks open.

And there you are. Bags in hand. A little tired-looking. But safe.

Everyone breathes again.

Even Reiner—who freezes mid-step before striding straight toward you without saying a word...

...and pulls you into an embrace so tight, your feet almost leave the ground.

His voice? Rough. Shaky.

“Don’t do that again.”

Because he won’t say it out loud—

But three hours without hearing your voice?

Feels like forever.

‧₊˚˖˚⋆𐙚

He rolls onto his side, propping himself up on one elbow—watching you with those sleepy honey-brown eyes like you're the only thing worth seeing in the world.

"You know," he murmurs, "I was gonna ask you to marry me that day… before I got drafted."

You blink—half-asleep, curious. "Wait… what?"

"Yeah." A crooked smirk tugs at his lips. "Had the ring. Had the speech. Even picked your favorite song to play in the background."

"And why didn’t you?!"

Reiner's thumb brushes your cheek—the scar on his brow creasing as he sighs softly.

"...Was scared.”
"Thought if I asked—if I tied you down—you’d say no. Or worse… feel stuck when I left for training.”

His voice drops—raw now:
“Didn’t wanna lose you before we even started.”

You stare at him—the man who fought half a world away just to come back to your arms—and your heart swells so fast it hurts.

Then slowly—you sit up, press both hands to his face—and kiss him like it’s all that matters.

And when you pull back?

Your eyes are wet.

But smiling.

“Idiot,” you whisper, “I would’ve said yes in a heartbeat.”

Reiner lets out a shaky breath—like he’s finally releasing years of regret—and pulls you into his chest, holding tight.

Because today?

Today feels like forever starting over.

And this time…

He's not letting fear win.

"Missed you liked crazy.." Reiner murmured.