#I wanna go on a zoo date with him so bad jgdhfgr

[alygatorwrites]

Hii, I love your writing so much 🥺 May I request Reiner x reader where they go on a date to a zoo 💞🥺? He seems like the perfect person to go see cute animals with 🙄🥰

a/n: aww oh my god i love this idea! i just know reiner has a soft spot for animals 😭 here’s a short little fic! thank you for requesting hun 💕

pairing: reiner x reader

warnings: none! this is straight up fluff y’all

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a date at the zoo with reiner 

intimidating.

many people would describe reiner braun as such - and with good reason, too. between his towering height, the broad expanse of his frame, and that solid composure, it’s only natural that he seems like a daunting man.

he’s quite the opposite, actually; the epitome of a gentle giant.

when you ask reiner if he wants to go see some wildlife, he agrees instantly. while you originally thought that it was because he wanted to please you, it turns out that the idea of it was just as appealing to him as it was to you.

your fingers intertwine with reiner’s as you stroll through the zoo, palms flush, and he lets you swing your hands with every step. it’s such a cheesy display of affection and has your heart melting. 

that’s when you come to a realization; reiner loves animals.

you don’t notice it at first until the both of you reach the otter exhibit. when you glance up at reiner, his eyes are twinkling with interest. he pats you on the arm to make sure you’re paying attention when two otters flip onto their backs and snuggle into one another. perhaps it’s to prevent them from drifting apart. 

“oh my god,” you gasp, smiling at your boyfriend’s reaction. reiner doesn’t look away from the otters, but he leans into your side, and radiates a warmth you’ve come to know over the past few years. “they’re so cute.”

“yeah,” reiner nods. there’s a rare whisper of fascination blooming across his expression, making you weak at the knees. “that’s us.”

it’s so fucking funny and random that it has you laughing, and reiner’s face grows pink like he didn’t even realize what he said. 

with every animal you visit, reiner studies the informational plates outside the exhibits, reading about the wildlife. you’re in charge of the holding the map - and although you go the wrong direction a few times - reiner doesn’t mind. he actually finds it funny as you screw up your face in confusion and try to figure out where you led him. it’s made better when he gets a great view of the red pandas and the tigers.

when you point at an orangutan and mention how it looks like zeke, reiner laughs a little.

“i'm being serious,” you say, squinting through the glass. “doesn’t it kinda look like him? the way it’s sitting and everything.”

“it doesn’t,” reiner chuckles gently. his hazel eyes are full of fondness, the sharp features of his face softening as he tilts his head to gaze at you. you’re filled with so much love for this man that it almost hurts.

reiner lets a palm rest on your lower back then, innocent and resolute as he leads you to the giraffes. he ends up mumbling something about how the monkey does look like zeke - just a tiny bit. 

eventually, you reach the aquatic room where a group of stingrays swim in an open tank. there’s a cautious wonder in reiner’s fingertips as he reaches down to pet one. after catching you staring, he tenderly guides your hand downward so you can touch it, too.

“didn’t steve erwin die from one of these?”

“don't touch the barb,” reiner says seriously, like he thinks you actually might do it. the hilarity of it all has you smirking.

the tarantulas are the one thing reiner doesn’t enjoy looking at. he steps up to the glass, sees the spiders, and immediately pulls a face of discomfort. you can’t blame him though; those things are hairy as hell. 

after a lovely lunch and rainbow snowcones, the day finally comes to an end. reiner’s cheeks are a little sunburned, and his blonde hair is ruffled from the summer wind. you tease him about it, but he only pecks you on the forehead. 

it’s the first time you’ve ever had a date at a zoo, and certainly not the last.