AN: This is late because my rabbit died last week. It was a little bit sudden and she's been my piece of home for the past two years and... a half? Anyway, I only had enough energy to deal with schoolwork, let alone editing and writing. But I'm back. Also, a small message at the end because more people seem to read the bottom notes over those at the top.

Chapter Twenty One- Just This Once

"Oh, it's you."

What the hell is that supposed to mean? I immediately thought, reverting into a mental state of emergency. How can she already hate me?

Annie's naturally harsh expression stared back at me from the doorway. I had unintentionally taken a step back as she continued to look forward blankly. My hands fidgeted from inside my coat pockets. "Nice to see you again?" I responded, wishing it hadn't come out at as a question.

Then she yanked the door open further and stepped aside as the yellow light from inside spilled out across the cement porch. "Ymir is in the living room stuffing her face with pizza."

"O-okay" I replied, taking the gesture as permission to enter. Stepping in and slipping off my coat, I mused about how decent my social skills seemed in comparison to Annie's. I supposed I understood why she would need a partner like Ymir who is willing to step forward and make human interaction.

The other blonde walked past me and paused at the end of the entryway. "Just a warning when it comes to playing anything with Ymir: she'll go easy on you at first, then obliterate you as soon as she finds the first opportunity."

I released a light laugh. "Thanks, but I'm so bad at video games that her strategies won't make much of a difference." I swear she smiled the slightest before disappearing into the shadow of the hallway leading to her bedroom.

I turned in the opposite direction and caught Ymir scarfing down a slice of pizza with at least five different toppings. She was sitting cross-legged on the floor with a textbook opened in front of her. Huh, so she does study.

"Babe, what the crap is stoichiometry?" Ymir asked without looking up, assuming that I was her now absent girlfriend.

"Shouldn't you have figured that out in basic Chemistry?" I retorted, moving closer and settling on the couch in front of her.

"Christa" she addressed, finally looking up in surprise. Then glancing at the clock, a light bulb must have flickered to life above her head. "Oh, right." Ymir then switched her expression to a slightly bashful grin. "Guess I should've paid a bit more attention in high school" she said with a chuckle.

She marked her place with a piece of paper and closed the textbook. Ymir rose from her position on the floor, nearly empty cardboard pizza box in one hand, textbook in the other. She set both on the counter in the kitchen and promptly pulled out a can of beer. The click of thin metal breaking resounded and I leaned against the back of her sofa.

"I think I'll take one too" I stated blandly, glancing around the room half-heartedly.

She stood rigid for a moment, perhaps surprised. But quickly shook it off and maneuvered back to the refrigerator. "When'd you stop being so uptight?" Ymir asked, handing me the cold can.

I released a punctured breath, maybe it was supposed to have been a laugh. "Oh trust me, I'm still an ass, but just this once…"

"Alright" she replied, already starting up her game console. I stared down at the drink. Nothing really phased Ymir, and I guess I liked that about her.

AN: I was hit with this horrible reminder this evening that just because someone may be invested in yuri and equal love for lesbians, they can still be blatantly homophobic because of this awful patriarchal society that we fester in. So I want to make this clear, even if my current platform is quite small, that I am equal to every other human in this world. If you want to fawn over lesbians, write/read/consume yuri content, then you have no right to undermine gay men. This is the same for my trans brothers and sisters as well. If you want to be a part of this movement, and trust me when I say we need all the help we can garner, then you better fucking be in it for everyone. Discrimination of any fashion is absolutely unacceptable. Now go off and enjoy your day, muffins.