The Monsters Within (Reiner Braun x OC)

Pride and Honor

(Basically Valerie's titan form. All credits to the original artist, but I couldn't find them. If you know them, please let me know so I can credit them!)

3rd Person P.O.V

And so, just like that, the cadet corps were on their way. Time had passed, and before anyone noticed, about two months had flown by. Some excelled, and some failed. Multiple people who couldn't take it either left or were kicked out.

Unknown to Valerie, Reiner, Bertholdt, and Annie had met up to discuss said girl.

〜1 week ago〜

"You guys have noticed Valerie right?" started Reiner. Annie and Bertholdt had just arrived 5 minutes ago in the forest that surrounded the camp. Annie looked at him, slightly perplexed as to why the topic was the girl who slept just two beds away from her, before answering slowly.

"Yeah, what about? You like her or some shit?" she asked, face blank as a piece of paper. Bertholdt, confused, looked at Annie, then at Reiner who's cheeks had tinted slightly pink. "Huh? Reiner, is that true?" he asked.

"No!" the blond whisper shouted. "You guys aren't weirded out? Erwin Smith, the commander of the Scouts, adopted her. Of all people, her. Nobody just gets taken in by someone as big as him just like that. What's so special about her anyways?" he ranted. Annie scoffed and turned her head to the side while Bertholdt groaned and rubbed his face with one hand.

"Reiner, our mission is to stay undercover, and when the time is right, we destroy the next wall. We'll be here for a while, we don't need any distractions." Bertholdt stated firmly, while planting his hands on the broad man's shoulders.

"Exactly, stupid ass. Don't get distracted. We don't know her, for all we know, she could just be some unknown secret love child. You have to keep your head in the game Reiner" Annie spoke plainly as she leaned against a tree.

"Hah, right...sorry for calling you guys out here. I don't know what came over me" Reiner rubbed the back of his head bashfully. "Let's head back yeah?"

Current Time Valerie P.O.V

I was tired. Like, really fucking tired. I didn't think training would be this harsh. Of course, there were the physical aspects, but there was schooling too? Nasty. In those classes, we're taught about titans and anything we know about them. If we don't do good in those classes, then points are taken, and our chances of being in the top ten decrease. It's stupid if you ask me.

'The fuck do they expect, for us to be perfect physically and mentally? Ugh, adults and their shitty standards' I thought as I doodled on my paper. "Ah, Valerie" I looked up to our teacher when he called me. "Yes sir?" I answered, as politely as possible. "You seem to be focusing quite well. Tell me, where is a titan's weak spot?" he asked.

"The nape, sir." I replied. "Correct! Now tell me, where would you strike should you come against a 15 meter class?" He asked once again as he made his way to opposite side of the class before turning and making eye contact with me. "You would strike their ankles and then their nape. Aiming for their legs would cause them to lose balance, therefore making it easier to eliminate them, sir." He nodded his head, almost in a snobbish way, before beginning his lesson again.

I rolled my eyes when he turned around, and caught Reiner staring at me. My eyebrows furrowed together as my eyes looked around, trying to see if he was just zoned out or actually staring. Our eyes locked and I shook my head lightly and mouthed "What are you doing? Stop staring". Shock flashed across his face before he looked away. 'Huh....weird'

〜〜〜
3rd Person P.O.V

"Ughhhhhhhh" Mina groaned as she flopped across her bed. "I'm tired. Why are they making us learn so much?" She whined. "Ehh, I don't know. But if I can make it into the military police just by being top ten and all I have to do is be decent on ODM gear and schooling, then I don't really mind" Another girl answered. Supper had finished, they'd all showered, and now we were getting ready for bed. There were random conversations here and there, but Valerie didn't really bother to listen. What's the point anyways?

She'd climbed up to her bed, and was about to sleep, when somebody called her name. "So Valerie, what's up?" A blonde with green eyes asked. 'Is it bad I think she looks basic? What was her name again?'

"Um, not much I suppose..." she answered. Why this girl was talking to her all of a sudden slightly confused her. "Oh come on! Tell us about yourself! Which wall are you from? Oooh, what about your parents?" the blonde exclaimed. "Wonder what they did to you to make ya so unsocial..." the last part was muttered. Annie, who had climbed into her bed, froze, knowing that if she was adopted, then....

Valerie slowly set herself back down, before turning her head to talk. "I- I lived outside the walls. My parents are dead." Now she had turned around, giving her full attention to the girl. "I don't know about you blondie, but I find it pretty rude to assume shit like that. 'What did my parents do to make me unsocial'? Really?" Shock flashed across the girls face. "Yeah, I heard you say that. My parents were slaughtered. Right in front of my eyes." Valerie walked right up to the girl, just an inch apart. "The next time you try to say something like that to me, I'll make sure you won't have a fucking tongue to speak with no more. Got it? Good."

On that happy note, she climbed into bed and shut her eyes, letting sleep overtake her.

There wasn't going to be a single person who would disrespect Valerie's family. Whether that be Erwin, Levi, Hange, or her biological parents, she'd make sure of it. They'd be respected because she grew up to bring honor and pride while bearing both of their names. Even if the monster inside of her went against it all.