Work Text:
Original art by Papers: https://x.com/papersteeth/status/1727582307446386936
“It’s snowing,” Eren whines, his body propped up on the couch as his eyes rest on the falling white flakes outside. His voice echoed through the living room and into the kitchen, where Reiner’s quiet chuckle could be easily heard. Eren pouts, “Something funny?”
The blonde man shakes his head, a smile still stamped on his face as he continues to move the spatula in his hand. The smell of scrambled eggs filled the house. “I told you it was going to start snowing soon,” his voice is still hoarse, the exhaustion present in his features even though they had gotten almost ten hours of sleep. He continues, “Besides, isn’t it a good thing? You love to stay home and do… Well, nothing.”
He turns around, focusing on the pouty figure sitting in his line of sight. Though Eren’s focus continues to be on the layer of white that covers the houses outside, Reiner can’t help but feel his heart skipping a beat at the sight.
The way his brown hair is still messy from waking up and from refusing to brush it, the way his skin is slightly highlighted by the bright palettes outside, his green eyes focusing up and down on the snowflakes as they fall, the small tremble in his lips as he tries to be slightly more dramatic than usual. He is beautiful and Reiner feels like he is in a dream, like he is going to wake up at any minute and realize his boyfriend isn’t real, so he clings to this feeling of comfort like a lifeline.
They stay in silence for a while, the sizzling from the pan and scraping of the metal spatula against the surface being the only sounds present until the brunette lets out a long sigh, finally standing up from his spot. His shirt is too big for him, a clear indication that the clothing belongs to the taller one. Reiner’s mind is focused somewhere else as he cooks, his body acting fully on autopilot while he thinks of ways to entertain his gloomy boyfriend.
In his mind, he thinks of all the scenarios in which he could make his boyfriend happy: maybe a board game? But Eren was never one to pay attention to the rules, he would easily get bored halfway through the gameplay and just get distracted by the show he would play in the background. Maybe a nap? But they had just woken up and if they were to fall asleep now, they would stay awake until after dawn. Maybe they could go out? But Eren can catch a cold too easily, he would be sniffling the moment his foot touches the snow outside.
“Reiner?” A distant voice echoes, but the blonde man doesn’t pay attention. Instead, he continues to submerge himself in his thoughts: maybe a car ride, then? Get some takeout? But then his perfect breakfast would have been for absolutely nothing and the roads would be slippery from the snow. Maybe a movie? But then again, it’s so hard to find something that would keep the two of them happy.
“Reiner?” The voice is slightly louder now, Eren doesn’t try to muffle his footsteps as he comes closer, but it still isn’t enough to catch the other man’s attention. So, instead of calling out again, he stands behind his boyfriend, bringing his hands close to his ears before clapping loudly, “REINER!”
In response, he flinches so hard that the hand he was using to hold the pan falters and ends up falling to the ground, splattering scrambled eggs all around the kitchen floor and walls. His hazel eyes look at Eren before down at the pan, the food now a slight mixture between burnt and too soggy, though he isn’t even sure how he managed to get that texture. He was so focused on deciding what to do to make sure the brown-haired man was happy that he completely forgot what he was doing.
“Shit!” He exclaims, immediately bending down to pick up the pan and place it back on the burner. While he focuses his attention on picking up the small particles and putting them back on the ruined pan, Eren leans over him and turns off the stove, hoping to prevent another incident.
“Let me help you, love…” Eren whispers, his voice filled with love and care but Reiner’s mind is now clouded by another voice, his mother’s. He can hear her calling him a failure, saying he couldn’t even make a simple breakfast without somehow messing it up. He can’t hear how gentle Eren is being because all that is going through his mind is that he managed to ruin yet another day they get to spend together, and they don’t get a whole lot of those.
His eyes begin to mist and his hands tremble as he collects the food, he mumbles to himself, begging for Eren’s forgiveness as he continues to move. “I’m sorry… I’m so sorry…” He whispers over and over again, like a broken record.
In response, Eren frowns. He kneels in front of Reiner, his fingers gently brushing against his boyfriend’s cheek before sliding down to his chin, carefully forcing their eyes to meet. He focuses on the softness of his skin, on the feeling of the beauty marks and skin tags against his fingertips,
Unwashed tears shine in his hazel eyes, bad memories of all the times he was yelled at for similar situations flooding his mind like a tsunami, Karina’s voice echoing in his brain, completely drowning out any words Eren is trying to say.
That is until he hugs him and suddenly, it is like a pair of soft, noise-canceling headphones has been placed over his ears. The screaming voice in his mind slowly fades out of existence and all that is left are Eren’s words and how soothing they sound, almost like a feather being brushed against his skin.
“Are you alright? Did you hurt yourself?” Is the first thing he asks, more worried about the safety of his boyfriend than anything else. His green eyes carefully analyze Reiner’s pale skin, searching desperately for any signs of distress or any harm.
Reiner lets out a very loud grunt, annoyed at the situation (after all, there goes the perfect breakfast he was hoping to prepare but also because he knows his boyfriend is hungry. Hell, he is hungry too,) “I am so sorry, Ren! I don’t know what happened!”
Eren shakes his head, immediately grabbing a couple of paper towels and rushing to clean the eggs off the counter. His green eyes drift from the mess to Reiner, carefully analyzing how distressed he looks. So he quickly finishes scooping up the eggs and spices from the walls and counters and tosses them in the trash.
He stands up once more, his hand reaching down as he waits for Reiner to take it. A few seconds go by, almost as if he is uncertain that this gesture is coming from a place of care, but eventually, he snaps out of whatever daze he is in and takes Eren’s hand. It’s soft and, though it is cold, it is still somewhat sweaty from being buried under the pile of blankets. It’s a small detail but it tugs the corners of Reiner’s lips as they curl into a smile.
Eren’s arms carefully reach around Reiner’s waist as he nuzzles his nose against the crook of his neck, his touch is warm and gentle, almost like he is a fragile bird who just fell off the nest. “It’s okay… How about we order something? That restaurant we like just got a new breakfast menu and I have heard nothing but good things about it.”
“Do you mean… The place that gave you food poisoning the last time we went?” Reiner inquires and it causes a quiet chuckle to bubble out of Eren’s chest. He nods against his boyfriend’s skin, the memories of the tummy aches, hot and cold chills, and countless hours on the toilet flooding his mind, a shiver traveling down his spine.
“Shit… I guess that’s a no,” He responds with a muffled laugh and finally, Reiner cracks a smile. Eren can tell he is smiling even without looking because his body relaxes against his touch, so he continues to whisper against him, “There it is. My most favorite thing in the entire world, your smile.”
Reiner rolls his eyes and sighs, though he cannot escape the reddish tint that covers his cheeks. He wants to complain, to resist the other man’s charms but Eren’s words are working surprisingly well when it comes to taking his mind off of the messy kitchen and dark thoughts that are currently clouding his mind.
“You are safe, you know..” Eren whispers ever so quietly, almost like he is afraid of the reaction Reiner might have. He doesn’t respond, only a soft gasp escapes him, but the brunette takes it as a sign to continue to speak, “I will keep you safe in my arms, for as long as you would like. For as long as I live, you will have a home to return to, even if that means just my embrace.”
A few seconds of heavy silence go by, though it isn’t awkward or heavy. The tears that prickle Reiner’s eyes weigh more than the lack of sounds. He lifts his gaze to look at the ceiling, trying to stop the waterworks from even beginning to fall down his face. He clears his throat and, with two fingers, he pinches the bridge of his nose while scrunching it up.
Reiner sighs, “How about we just… Make something in the oven? Some bacon and toast? And we can order some pizza for a more substantial lunch.”
Eren nods, slowly swaying his body from one side to another as he silently begins to dance. In exchange, Reiner wraps one arm around his neck as their hands meet slightly upwards in the air, fingers lacing together. Their foreheads touch and suddenly, everything feels ok.
No song is needed, they tend to do this so often that they are both mentally humming the same song, the same sweet melody that played on the radio during their very first date. It is something incredibly personal to them, something they have never shared with anyone else.
Reiner’s hips move from one side to the other, a couple steps back, some to the side, another to the front. They tumble around the kitchen, carefully making sure to avoid the dining chairs. In an attempt to be bold, the blonde one pulls away from Eren slightly before spinning him around, earning a laugh in response before he comes crashing back against his chest.
As their eyes meet, their smiles slowly begin to fade away, the distance between their bodies decreasing as both of them lean forward. Warm breaths mingle into one as their lips brush together, both of them silently asking for permission.
Eren’s lips smell like chocolate, a sign that he secretly ate candy he was not supposed to, even after he was told repeatedly to wait until he had some sort of protein in his body. They’re warm despite his cold nose. His green eyes look at Reiner, his pupils are shaped like hearts as his eyelids begin to close.
Reiner’s lips smell like white chocolate and peppermint, a reminder of the fancy coffee he decided to treat himself to this morning. As soon as he saw the snow, he knew Eren’s mood would be affected, so he woke up earlier than usual to try and get something nice done, only to mess it up. But somehow, his boyfriend wasn’t mad. He never was, no matter how many times he fucked up because that is just the kind of person Eren was.
He was kind and patient during the nights when Reiner couldn’t sleep, when the nightmares would get the best of him and the soul-crushing guilt would keep him awake. He was gentle and loving during the days when he hated himself the most, when the only solution seemed a bit… Permanent. He was devoted, always treating him like the center of his universe, like nothing in the world mattered more than his happiness.
Once their lips touch, the world falls silent. The snowflakes are now frozen mid-air, the cold breeze is no longer making the branches of the trees dance and any bird that might be outside is now on mute. Reiner’s beard is scratchy and it prickles Eren’s smooth face, though that doesn’t stop them in the slightest. In fact, it brings a smile to his face.
Eren’s tongue is the dominant one this time, entering Reiner’s mouth and exploring it like it is the first time he has done so. His fingers dig into his hips to hold him in place, pressing his body against the sink and, even though Reiner is taller than him, he is still able to handle him like he is nothing if not a small princess. Eren’s hands are rough, a direct result of holding the axe to cut the lumber or the tight grip he uses when he is fishing with his harpoon. He always wants to be the one to do manual labor.
Reiner’s hands, as opposed to Eren’s, are soft. He makes sure to keep them moisturized and stretched at all times, so he can give Eren long back rubs once he comes home after spending all day outside, or so he can cook a feast with whatever food his boyfriend brings home.
As their noses bumped slightly, the shorter man could feel his heart racing faster by the second. Their lips are so firmly pressed together, that you would think they are glued. Bringing them apart was nearly torture, but neither of them could fully breathe anymore, the lack of oxygen being the one and only reason for this separation.
But their bodies are still fully pressed together, foreheads gently touching as Reiner’s thumb brushes above Eren’s blushed cheeks. They both keep their eyes closed, floating in a cloud of love with silly smiles stamped on their faces. Neither of them wants to pull away, but one of their stomachs rumbles loudly and they can no longer ignore the fact that they still have not eaten.
“Bacon in the oven?” Reiner sighs, leaning over the stove to turn on the oven. Eren nods, pulling away as he begins to make his way back to the living room, his footsteps causing the wood beneath his feet to creak.
“Sounds good, romantic comedy?” Eren asks and it’s the taller man’s turn to nod as he reaches for the meat in the fridge. His eyes focused on his boyfriend as he snuggles himself into a massive pile of pillows and blankets on the couch, leaving the space next to him empty so all Reiner has to do is sneak right in there with him.
And so he smiles to himself, realizing once more that they are not different. They never were, after all.