Haunted

Reiner jolted awake as a shiver went up his spine. He turned around and saw that he could see his breath. Reiner quickly wrapped his blanket over his shoulders. Why the hell was it so cold? Reiner heard muffled chatter from downstairs. His parents must be home.
“Hey, Reiner!”
Reiner turned around to see Bertholdt standing in a corner.
“What the hell are you doing?” Reiner whispered
“Someone’s here.” Bertholdt hissed
“I tried yelling at you to wake up but that didn’t work so I had to use...alternative methods.”
He must have heard his parents and freaked out.
“It’s ok, it's just my parents.” Reiner said as he grabbed his phone. It was 11:30. He was going to be late. Reiner muttered a curse as he grabbed a pair of jeans and a hoodie with the Nekoma team emblem on it (Birthday present from Gabi after she got him hooked to Haikyuu).
“Come with me.” He said as he pulled on some shoes.
“And don’t let my parents see you!” Reiner added as he walked out the door.
Reiner managed to get out of the house after some small talk with his parents and started walking to the diner. Bertholdt was sort of walking too. His long legs were moving but Reiner couldn’t see his feet.
“So where are we going?” Bertholdt asked.
“We’re going to the diner. I have lunch with some friends and they might be able to help with our situation.” Reiner said.
Bertholdt looked confused. “What’s a diner?”
Reiner did a mental facepalm. Of course he didn’t know what a diner was. He’d have to explain a lot to him about technology and the state of the world. Especially Eren if he was wearing a dress again today.
“It’s a restaurant.” Reiner said
That seemed to click with Bertholdt as he nodded his head.
“Look, uh. I know we really didn’t start off on good terms this morning and I wanted to apologize.” Reiner said as he stared at his feet.
Bertholdt was silent for a minute.
“No, I should be apologizing to you.”
Reiner looked up at Bertholdt with a small smile.
“You were just curious and I should have been more considerate about your situation. I would have done the same thing if some strange dead guy showed up in my room.”
“So… Let’s start over again?” Reiner hopefully asked.
“Sure.”

They talked for a while about what Bertholdt’s life was like as they walked. Bertholdt seemed like a pretty decent guy from what he told Reiner. He was born five years after the civil war ended, liked to read, loved his family, and wanted to explore the world one day. But he died before he could do that. Bertholdt looked like he was about to ask a question when he suddenly gasped.
“What is it? Is everything ok?” Reiner asked.
“E-everything looks so different.” Bertholdt mumbled as he gaped at the buildings in front of them. Bertholdt’s eyes were wide as they darted from building to building. Reiner kinda felt bad for him. He died in an age where only the rich had electricity and now this new, modern world was coming as an icy shock to him. Bertholdt looked like he was going to be sick before Reiner led him into the diner. Reiner hoped he didn’t freak out and was about to ask him if he was ok before a loud crash derailed his train of thought.
“What the fuck, Horse Face!” Eren exclaimed as he bent over to pick a broken coffee cup with Levi helping him. Reiner turned to see that Jean was sitting at the bar, with his eyes wide and his jaw dropped. Reiner tried not to react when he saw that Jean was staring at where Bertholdt was supposed to be. Marco was trying to get Jean out of his trance, but was brushed off as Jean bolted from his stool and grabbed Reiner by the arm, dragging him outside.
Jean didn’t say a word as he pulled Reiner into a back alley behind the diner.
“Who the fuck is that?!” Jean screeched as he pointed at Bertholdt.
Reiner was shocked. He never expected someone as rational as Jean to be able to see Bertholdt.
“You can see him too?” Reiner asked as he too pointed at Bertholdt. Jean put his head in his hands. “Y’know what? I think this is a good time for me to lay off the caffeine!” Jean said.
“I was stupid to think that drinking five cups of coffee and a pack of Monster wouldn’t have any side effects!”
“Look, I know this seems weird but I’m pretty sure he’s real.” Reiner said.
Jean ignored him. “And if that’s who I think it is, maybe I should take a little break from research! Yeah! Move on to the Zodiac or Jack the Ripper for a few weeks!” Jean was really in denial now.
“Who is it?” Reiner asked out of curiosity. Jean never specified that he was seeing Bertholdt and not someone else.
“I’m looking at Bertholdt Motherfucking Hoover!” Jean said as pointed at him.
Bertholdt didn’t seem amused with the nickname.
“You know I’m right here.” Bertholdt said.
“And he talks too!” Jean said as his voice raised an octave.
“This can’t be happening, This can’t be happening, This can’t be happening, This can’t be happening!!!” Jean muttered to himself as he paced back and forth. The sound of a door opening made them both freeze in place.
“Don’t make me wait baby~” Eren said in a seductive tone as he walked out the diner back door before stopping dead in his tracks with his jaw dropped. Eren started to raise a shaky hand to point at Bertholdt.
“Let me guess, Belle Delphine sees him too.” Jean muttered.
“For the last damn time. I had that OnlyFans account for a day!” Eren scowled as Levi came out behind him holding a condom in his hand. Levi quickly tucked it in the back pocket of Eren’s jeans when he saw Jean and Reiner. Levi seemed completely unphased as he gave Reiner and Jean a blank look. Reiner looked up at Bertholdt to see that he was sweating nervously.
“What are you looking at?” Levi asked.
Eren gave him a surprised look. “You mean you can’t see him?” Eren asked.
“See who?” Levi replied.
“Be happy he can’t see you.” Jean said to Bertholdt. “He would have tried to beat the shit outta you.”
Bertholdt seemed to start sweating even more at that comment. Levi’s brow raised. “Who are you talking to?” Levi glared at Jean and Reiner. Reiner was surprised that such a small guy was so intimidating. He was almost a foot shorter than him and Bertholdt.
“It’s Bertholdt. The dead guy.” Jean deadpanned
Levi’s brows disappeared underneath his blonde bangs.
“Really?” Levi asked. He looked at Eren who nodded in confirmation.
“Why’s he here?” Levi asked as he walked around, waving his arms out in an attempt to find Bertholdt.
“I don’t know. Must’ve followed Reiner home last night.” Jean shrugged.
Levi stopped in front of Reiner. If looks could kill, Reiner would be in a body bag with the look Levi was giving him. “What’s so special about you that a ghost that nobody’s ever reported being seen just decides to show himself to you?” Levi asked. Reiner felt Bertholdt’s presence trying to hide behind him even though Levi couldn’t even see him.
“Well…he wants to go home and I don’t know how to help him. I kinda taunted him last night and told him to come home with me.” Reiner said. Eren sighed in exasperation and shook his head. “Ghost Rule #1! Never taunt a ghost or tell it to come home with you because it will bind itself to you!”
Reiner was confused. Did Bertholdt bind himself to Reiner?
“That would have been nice to know before I went to the house, don’t you think?!” Reiner said
“It’s common knowledge, dipshit!” Eren replied.
“How the fuck was I supposed to know that?!”
“I thought you did!”
“Anything else I should have known?! Don’t lay on a pentagram and taunt Satan or you’ll get possessed?!”
“I’m finally gonna get possessed?”
“Shut it, Horse Face!”
“Will all of you brats just shut up?” Levi snapped.
He intervened at the perfect time. Reiner was about to tackle Jean to prevent him from lunging at Eren. Bertholdt was backed into the wall looking terrified.
“Guys, let’s stop fighting and try to figure this out like adults.” Reiner announced. “And look at Bertholdt!” Reiner said as he gestured to the spot Bertholdt was. “We just scared the shit out of him!” Eren and Jean had guilty looks plastered on their faces.
“Hey, I know someone we can talk to that knows more about this stuff.” Eren said
Levi’s eyes went wide. “No. I’m not doing it.”
“Come on! She’s family!” Eren pouted.
“I don’t care! The last time we did occult shit with Mikasa, I had to go get a tetanus shot and twenty stitches!” Levi griped.
“I told you it wasn’t a good idea to try and go up that staircase! But you didn’t listen to me, it was your own fault that you fell through! And we’re going to my basement! So stop being a baby!” Eren said.
“Even worse! That place is filthy!” Levi said.
“It’s clean! Just not spotless like you want it to be! Lower your standards!” Eren scowled.
“Are they always like this?” Reiner whispered to Jean as the couple continued bickering. Jean nodded. “They’re either fucking or arguing. Or both at once.”
“It’s worse when they’re both drunk.” Jean added
“You know what? If you don’t go, I’m calling them!” Eren threatened.
Levi’s eyes went wide. “You wouldn’t dare…”
“Try me.” Eren said as he put his hands on his hips. Levi sighed in defeat. “See you tonight.” He muttered as he walked back into the diner. Eren turned back to Bertholdt. “Sorry about Levi. He can be a little… intimidating at times, but he’s really sweet once you get to know him.”
Bertholdt looked at the ground and quietly thanked Eren.
“Mikasa’s my adopted sister and Levi’s her cousin.” Eren said. “Mikasa wasn’t that happy when we started dating, so there’s a bit of tension between them.”
“So what’s the plan?” Jean asked.
“We’re going to have a seance at my place at 3AM. You can spend the night if you want, but don’t be late.” Eren said as he disappeared behind the door.
Reiner and Jean stood in silence for a bit.
“Hey can you do me a favor?” Jean asked
“Sure. What do you need?”
“Don’t tell Marco about this or I’m stuck doing laundry for six months.”