RQ: Bertholdt x Reader: Cuddly

The voice came as a small whisper from the doorway of the room as a small ray of light pierced the darkness and made itself home on the brunette's sleeping face. The tall lanky boy stirred but did not awake to your call. 

"Berty?" You tried again, opening the door a bit wider, allowing more light into the room, enough to disturb Bertholdt from his peaceful slumber. His eyes fluttered open, focusing and unfocusing for a moment before turning towards the source of the light, and your face. 

"(Name)?" he asked groggily,  a hand raising itself to cover his eyes. 

You nodded, hugging the blanket around your body closer to your form. "Yeah..." You muttered, opening the door a bit wider to reveal yourself. Bertholdt's hand covered his eyes against the light with a groan. 

"Uhn...what's wrong?" he asked uncertainly. You shuffled your feet and looked down shyly.

"I couldn't sleep." You muttered in reply, shuffling into the room and closing the door behind you.

The tall brunette chuckled light before uncovering his eyes and opening his arms in a silent gesture. You smiled a bit and plopped yourself down on the bed with him, snuggling into his broad chest.

It took a while before the both of you were comfortably situated. You were wrapped in a blanket of your own, as Bertholdt was covered by his. He hugged you by the waist, bringing you closer to him, enough that you could smell the familiar scent of horses and sweat. Bertholdt rested his chin in your head. You were both still awake, peering into the darkness.

"Bertl?" You whispered, your voice barely audible, for fear speaking too loudly would disturb the comfortable silence the two of you had been left in. 

"Hmm?" he replied sleepily.

"Talk to me." You requested, eyes staring blankly into the darkness.

Bertholdt was silent for a few moments before replying. "What about?" 

You shrugged slightly, the action causing his grip to slip a bit. "Anything." You replied. "I just want to hear your voice."

The brunette chuckled lightly. "Okay...let's see." he paused a moment before continuing. "The other day, Reiner and I were cleaning the stables, and Corporal came into check on us. At the same time, Squad Leader Hanji was somewhere in the stables, but she came in earlier telling us not to let anyone know she was here. So Corporal is checking our work, muttering about how filthy it is, and suddenly Hanji leaps from behind a corner and causes Corporal to jump at least a foot. Then she says: "Gee, Rivaille, you must be able to fly, because you LEVI-tated." "

A giggle escaped your lips, light and airy. "Really?" You asked. 

You could feel Bertholdt nod. "Yup."

You smiled. "What did Corporal do?"

Bertholdt chuckled and hugged you tighter, cuasing a faint blush to appear on your cheeks. "Well, Corporal turns and gives Hanji this glare and tells her "You have five seconds to start running." At which point, Squad Leader screamed, and bolted, Corporal right on her tail. Reiner and I got off stable duty early."

You and Bertholdt both laughed, your voices intermingling. The laughs died away to comfortable silence, which Bertholdt interrupted after a while. 

"(Name)?"

You blinked sleepily. "Uhn?" You replied. 

"Nothing, just wanted to make sure you hadn't fallen asleep already."

You shook your head ever so slightly. "No, I'm awake."

"O-Ok."

You could feel the quiet of the room sink into your skin, and make itself home in your bones. You were completely still, for fear that you would disturb the silence that had consumed you both.

You focused instead on the feelings surrounding you. The warm embrace of Bertholdt's arms, the warmth of his skin, the sound of his almost inaudible breaths blowing in your hair. If you focused, you could hear the sound of his heartbeat, thumping soundly in his chest. 

Bertholdt shifted again, readjusted his grip on your waist. You took this chance to snuggle closer into him. 

"I can hear your heartbeat." he murmured into your hair, taking a deep inhale. 

You nodded ever so slightly. 

"Bertl?"

"Ah?"

"Thank you."

Bertholdt was silent for a moment, before placing a ginger kiss into your hair, making your face go a shade of pink. 

"I love you, (Name)."

You were quiet for a few moments, your eyes wide with his words. Then, your face softened and you nuzzled into his chest. 

"I love you too Bertl."