Krista panted. Deep, great gulps of air that didn't make it all the way down to the bottom of her lungs. Sweat dripped down the strings of her limp blonde hair into her eyes. The sting of salt made her squint and blurred her vision considerably, but there was nothing to be done for it. The packs' straps dug sharply into her bony shoulders, and she alternated pulling on them to relieve some of the pressure.

The field drills were by far the worst part of training. She was more than sure that she would come in last again this time, even behind Armin. Ymir had sauntered off ahead of her with ease hours before, snickering as she pulled ahead. The last stragglers, Eren and Armin had paired off to take a different route a half hour earlier and she was virtually alone in this stretch of the forest. With any luck, she'd make it back to the trainee barracks before dinner, but she wasn't hopeful. The sun was already sinking into the west, the chill of early autumn already setting into the air around her.

The weight abruptly lifting off of her back was unexpected. It set her off balance and she plopped backward into the dirt. Two large boots stopped in front of her, then knees as the stranger knelt down to her level.

"I didn't mean to knock you over. It looked like you could use the help."

Reiner's rugged face filled her vision as he stooped down, her pack slung over his shoulder over his own. A light blush stained the ridges of his cheekbones, but the hint of a sheepish smile tugging at the corner of his thin lips clued Krista into his unspoken apology- and amusement.

"Was it that obvious?" she grinned at him, and took the moment to swipe her brow with the back of her jacket. Unintended or not, the rest was deeply appreciated. His blush deepened at her smile, but he returned it in kind.

"Well, you are in last place."

Krista grimaced at his assessment and he stood abruptly, offering her his large hand in aid. Gratefully, she took it.

"Thanks for stoppi-aaaAAHH!" she squealed as he hefted her up with more force than necessary, almost knocking her forward into the ground again.

"Sorry!" Reiner righted her and rubbed his neck self-consciously. "Didn't realize you were so light."

"Oh, not you too. Ymir keeps complaining that I'll never make it as a soldier if I don't gain some weight," she grumbled and dusted herself off. The sky was shot with red and orange, denoting the lateness of the day. "What're you doing so far back here anyways?"

Reiner cleared his throat and ignored her question, glancing at the sky as well.

"We should get going, unless we want to skip dinner," he said and started to run on the trail again, still burdened by both packs.

"Hey, wait!" Krista scrambled to catch up with him. His legs were so much longer than hers were! "Reiner, you can't carry my pack! It's against the rules!"

"I won't tell if you won't," he called over his shoulder, shooting a grin in her direction and she huffed, increasing her speed to catch up with him.

When they arrived back at the barracks, it was full dark and the dinner bell was already chiming. Krista's legs felt like jelly, and she doubled over with her hands on her knees, desperately trying to catch the breath she'd lost an hour before. While the absence of the extra weight had definitely helped, Reiner hadn't slowed his pace, requiring her to maintain his brisk jog. More of a flat-out run for her if she was honest with herself.

She had noticed him watching her out of the corner of his eye, and Reiner had adjusted his speed almost imperceptibly depending on how tired she must have looked. It was considerate of him, but when she'd mentioned it, he'd just snorted and kept his eyes straight forward from then on. He also refused to give her pack back to her, insisting that if she took it back they would never make it back before midnight.

Reiner dropped her pack to the ground next to her hunched form, and pulled his own off his back, letting it dangle in his fist.

"At least we made it back for dinner," he mused, and Krista could hear the smirk in his voice without looking up. She still couldn't manage to lift her head from its dropped position.

"Breathing...shouldn't be...this hard," she panted, gasping when she completed her sentence, and he chuckled.

"It's easier if you stand and put your hands up over your head."

"I don't think I'll...ever move again," she complained, and started at the feel of his large, warm hands on her back, straightening her up. Gently, Reiner maneuvered her arms over her head until she was upright. She could feel her airway straighten, and almost groaned at the relief the fresh air provided. "Oh, that is much better. Remind me to listen to you more often!"

"Krista!" a voice barked from outside the mess hall. Framed by the light of the hall spilling onto the porch, Ymir's stoic form strode down the stairs and stopped, her arms crossed as she eyed the pair. Her eyes narrowed to slits, watching them. Reiner dropped his hands from Krista's sides like he'd been burnt and Krista could feel the loss of his body heat as he took a quick step away from her. She hadn't noticed how much heat he radiated- like a furnace. She shivered in the sudden absence.

"Last again? Hurry up or all the food'll be gone," Ymir ordered with a jerk of her head. Instead of returning to the hall, she stayed planted, watching them. Breathing easier, Krista dropped her arms from her head and turned around, scooping up her pack before turning up to look at him. His eyes were trained on Ymir, but dropped to hers at her movement.

"Thanks for the help today, Reiner," she smiled sweetly, and he grinned back, lopsided and sheepish. "Hopefully, I won't be so dreadful next time."

"I didn't mind," Reiner admitted, eyes darting back up to the mess hall quickly. "I…liked your company."

"Oh...me too." Krista felt her face heat, and turned quickly so he couldn't see it. Not that he would be looking at her anyways.

"Well, thanks," she called hurriedly and scampered over to where Ymir stood waiting like a silent watchdog. She didn't notice the way Ymir and Reiner stood with gazes locked. Their eyes didn't break until she had made it into the mess hall. With a smirk, Ymir turned on her heel and followed the tiny blonde back inside.

He shouldn't have been keeping tabs on her during their field test. He shouldn't have stopped to help her. He shouldn't have enjoyed spending time with her and he certainly shouldn't have admitted to it. He was here to graduate- becoming a soldier in the interior was his only goal. Should be his only goal. But he'd be lying if he said he didn't enjoy every second he'd spent in her presence that evening.

Rather than enter the mess, Reiner made for the barracks. He didn't want to spend the meal exchanging territorial glares with Ymir over his plate. He knew he shouldn't rise to the bait. He had no claim to Krista. It didn't matter that they spent this evening together when she'd spent almost every day with Ymir since training began three months ago.

Krista and Ymir hadn't known each other before enlisting, or so they said, but Ymir had doggedly trailed Krista's every step since the first night. Not that Reiner had noticed. It was just that…he hadn't seen another girl like her before. Someone so relentlessly optimistic and positive. She practically shone with an inner light that made his heart ache when he looked too close. How could someone still be so pure in the fucked up world they inhabited? Here, of all places? He was enchanted by her. It was just an infatuation that would fade with time, he was sure of it.

Running on autopilot, he dropped his pack and stripped his gear. Despite teasing Krista about missing dinner, seeing her leave with Ymir had left a sour taste in his mouth. He didn't think he could choke down a bite. With a sigh, he flopped back onto his bottom bunk in the corner. When they had moved in, Bertolt and he had commandeered the corner bunks next to the door. They had a window to themselves, and more privacy than the other recruits. Privacy was a hard thing to come by in the cramped and decidedly masculine barracks, and as such, was a hotly traded commodity. He'd taken the bottom bunk, and strung up a sheet over the outside so he could close it for sleep.

Or now, he thought as he pulled it shut. He didn't want to be disturbed when the other recruits came back from the mess. They'd all chat and socialize for a while after eating, he knew, and he didn't feel up to it. When the door banged open 20 minutes later, their loud, energized voices filled up the small wooden room, echoing into his tented seclusion.

"Missed you at dinner, Reiner," Connie called, slapping his hand open palm on the outside of the sheet. It ruffled inward at the intrusion and from behind it Reiner rolled his eyes. Not a moment's peace.

"Wasn't feeling up to it," he replied, but he didn't get up or remove the sheet. He slung his arm over his eyes and hoped that the devils would leave him be. He couldn't maintain his mask in this mood, he'd just grouch at them and ruin the big brother persona they had already began to ascribe to him. He and Bertolt were two of the oldest there, and the younger boys were already looking up to them.

"Can I join you?" Bertolt stuck his head around the sheet near his feet, his brows drawn in worry. "I brought you some food."

Reiner relented and pulled himself up, sitting cross-legged at the back of the bunk as Bertolt awkwardly arranged his lanky limbs in a mirrored stance at the other end. From inside his jacket, he pulled out two dinner rolls and a small hunk of hard white cheese.

"Krista helped me sneak it out," he explained and Reiner couldn't ignore the way his chest tightened at the thought. She'd noticed he wasn't at dinner. Had she alerted Bertolt to that fact? Was she planning on bringing him the food herself? The idea strangely helped his appetite return. Rather than reply, he tore into a bread roll with his teeth and chewed vigorously.

"She was going to bring it herself, but Ymir put her foot down. You know how she is," Bertolt continued, ignorant the effect his words were having on his partner. "Krista said it was to pay you back. Did you help her during training today or something?"

"Something like that," Reiner replied, still chewing. While Bertolt appreciated the efforts he went through to blend in, he was sure he wouldn't appreciate him breaking the rules for another recruit. They only had one goal after all. Reprimands and docked points did nothing to aid in that goal.

"You must be tired to have skipped dinner. I'll let you rest." As awkwardly as he'd arranged himself, Bertolt uncurled his legs and exited Reiner's bunk. The creaking above settled as Bertolt found a comfortable position to fold himself into for the night.

Reiner quickly polished off the rest of his haphazard meal, and settled back in the bunk, one arm curled up under his head as he stared at the slats above him, lost in thought. As the rest of the barracks drifted off to their bunks for the night, the sound slowly died down to murmured whispers and soft snores, and Reiner Braun turned the blonde angel's motivations over in his mind late into the night.

A/N:

What do you think? This is my first Reikuri story, but I just had to write them because they are too darn cute! Besides, this tiny canoe of a ship needs some more content, don't you think? Please feel free to comment, I live for the feedback and interactions! I have a 2 week publishing schedule, and I've already finished through chapter 5, so we'll see how long I can keep that up! I hope you enjoy the story!