Child In A Tree by Big Scary

Isolate by Snakadaktal

Ymir's hand was calloused but warm as she gently helped me out of my hideout. Once I was out, she took her hand away. I averted my gaze to look at her shoulder now. It really was all I could see as she stooped, dusting me off, eyes low but flicking back up every now and then. When our eyes caught she would give me a small, silly smile with a chuckle dying inside her throat.

I never realized till now how much taller she got than me.

The memory of me being to her neck was distant as I stood only up to her shoulder.

"There," she pulled her hands away, examining me once more before nodding, "not as bad…"

I barely could bring myself to look back up at her, because I knew I had tears in my eyes and my gut knotted and twisted at just knowing someone saw me vulnerable. I didn't want to be known as the girl who ran away crying.

I didn't want people to see what was wrong with me.

I looked back down at the ground.

"Hey," her hand went to my shoulder, hesitating, but when I didn't brush it off she kept it there, followed by her other on the opposite, "hey… you going to be okay?"

I wasn't sure—I felt terrible but it wasn't bad.

Her hands were really warm. They reminded me of when Papa would warm up my hands by the noisy heater in the barn.

"Hey, it's okay," she repeated, giving me a crooked smile, "it's fine to not know."

It was like she could read my mind.

Was I that obvious?

"B-But the play—"

"Fuck the play. It isn't like we're winning cash or being nominated for awards," Ymir scoffed, patting my shoulder and standing up straight.

"I—"I really didn't want to continue it but I was committed to it…

"Don't tell me you actually want to do it still?" She frowned.

I didn't.

I only stayed still, squeezing myself, trying to jolt the weakness out of me.

I was stupid for getting so emotional.

Everyone probably thought I was—

"Historia!"

I shot my head to the side to see Reiner and Armin coming back, panting. The rest of the crew were following behind, relieved to see me.

"Historia! What's wrong?!" Reiner asked, running up to me, staring at me with worry. He glanced to Ymir, glaring.

"What are—"

"I found her." Ymir was ready to step back but Armin was by my side, wiping my tears away.

"Oh, good! We should redo your makeup! Are you alright? Think you can go on?" Armin asked, already pushing me away, but a strong hand took my hand.

"Like hell she is," Ymir pulled me back, startling Armin.

"H-huh?"

"She obviously isn't comfortable with it! Let her be."

"A-ah, is that true?" Armin looked at me, concerned.

Now everyone knew.

I felt terrible that I dragged it on for so long. I wish I had the courage to tell them how I truly felt—I tried but they didn't listen.

"Historia…?" Reiner followed up.

"You can tell them how you feel," Ymir growled. It was like her to be rough around the edges, but sincere.

Just like long ago…

It was Ymir by my side.

Protecting me.

"I—I'm sorry," I couldn't look at them when I was able to speak up.

"I—"

"No, it's fine, it's fine," Armin intervened, nodding. He quickly squared his shoulders, staring at his nervous, uncertain crew.

"We will find a way! The show will go on! Reiner, get ready! You have a scene coming up!"

"W-What?! But she said—"

"We will make due! Show me the available girls!"

I didn't get to stick around as Ymir brought me to the changing room, letting me undress from the costume and back into my school uniform. When I was done she was leaning against the wall, waiting, and pushed off of it to walk with me, leading me outside and away from the auditorium.

We were alone now as she slowly strolled by me, staring ahead.

But it wasn't as pleasant as I thought it was going to be.

I had so many questions to ask.

The image of her and Hitch kissing made me nervous because we both knew I saw. And seeing girls kiss wasn't normal.

"Hitch and I," she easily picked up on the atmosphere as I flinched.

"I'm sorry…"

"Hey, no need to apologize, alright? It isn't like you were meaning to catch us." Ymir sighed, rubbing her neck, cheeks tinting pink.

"We were going up there for a smoke…I'm trying to quit. Hitch doesn't plan to… she was teasing me about trying to do good and shit…and, well, she said she wanted to try something." Ymir shrugged but I felt like it was something more.

"She kissed me. She says she's bisexual but it means nothing. I don't like her that way." Ymir mumbled.

It didn't clear anything up but I didn't think Ymir would've been the one to smoke. I disliked the smell of it—mother and grandmother did it a lot.

"…You don't like her?" I asked.

I wanted to know if she liked girls at all, because why would Hitch kiss her if Ymir didn't? It'd be a terrible thing to do.

Not that Hitch was exactly the best person about respecting someone…

"No." Ymir scoffed, laughing a little.

"…do you like girls?" I might as well just outright and ask it.

Ymir snorted, laughing even more. I didn't know why she was but I ended up smiling despite how tense I felt.

"Hm. I don't know—maybe. Boys are kind of… well, most boys are kind of gross. I mean, why would I want them to put their floppy dick in me?"

My eyes went wide as I felt my face turn red.

Ymir snickered as I realized she said that for a reaction.

"You're the worst," I told her, fanning my face, trying to regain my composure as she giggled more.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah," she stuffed her hands into her pockets as we rounded the building, heading towards the gardens.

Despite the lewd conversation, I felt more comfortable the further and further we got away from the play and everyone. Ymir was easy to be around because I didn't have to say much. She just knew.

"How about you—like big gorillas? You know that's illegal to be into bestiality—Ah!" Ymir held her arm in feigned pain from where I jabbed at it.

"He's not a gorilla." I defended him. Certainly, he was thick skulled and not the brightest, but he was a good guy.

"Really, though, why do you let him slobber after you? He's so bulky and gross," Ymir huffed, unhappy at the mention of him.

"He isn't hurting anyone," I told her but she raised an eyebrow at me.

"You're not going out then?"

I didn't know how to respond to that. I was conflicted myself.

I hadn't been close with anyone for a long time, but I knew he was a welcomed friend.

"No…He wants to though."

She made it easy to talk.

It was like she never left in the first place.

"And? How're you going to let him down?" Ymir asked.

"…I don't know how…"

Ymir didn't laugh or snicker or suggest that I do anything harsh. She only nodded.

I honestly didn't know whether it would be any different to date him. Holding hands or a hug wasn't bad, but I don't know if I could like kissing.

"So do you like boys?" She picked up the conversation and I frowned.

Why did I have to like anyone right now?

I didn't feel like I had that connection with anyone. I wasn't close enough with people and I didn't quite trust anyone that much.

A relationship would be pointless…

"I don't like anyone." I told her.

"…Nobody at all? Not even Armin or me?"

"No, not like that," I smiled and she grinned back, lightly bumping her shoulder against me, earning one back.

"I meant that… I don't like anyone… I can't see myself liking anyone." I was never close with anyone.

Plus, who'd want to be with me?

Useless, worthless, waste of space, whore—

"Really?" Ymir hummed, shrugging.

"Maybe that's true, maybe not."

"Huh?"

"I mean…feelings change, right?"

I guess they could but it didn't seem like something that'd ever change.

"Maybe."

Ymir smiled and we finally made our way into the garden as the sun was gone, leaving the world room to finally breathe from its heat. The late twilight filled the air with sweet smells of the closing flowers and early autumn air.

She sat at one of the many stone benches along the dirt path, relaxing and spreading her legs out like a boy would. I sat next to her, crossing mine.

"Ymir…?"

"Hm?"

I still had questions that I kept putting off because I was scared to ask her before, but I felt like I could now.

Just ask…

"Why…why're you in my class?" I glanced at her and saw her face show no sign of surprise.

"You're a year older than me…You should be a sophomore, right?"

"Yeah, I should, but I got flunked." Ymir shrugged.

She didn't seem like she struggled with school.

"…C-Can I ask why?" I ventured, pushing my luck and possibly her patience. Ymir smiled, showing it was fine.

"You wouldn't want to know." She shrugged.

"…but I do…"

"Oh yeah? What if I said it'd make you scared?"

I didn't like how she said that.

The solar powered garden lights turned on and her teeth glinted in a terrible smile.

"…W-What?" I didn't like she was avoiding the question.

"Do you still want to know?" Ymir asked, putting her right hand into her left, cracking her knuckles.

"…Yes…"

It would hurt to not know and I didn't want to base our friendship off lies. I wanted to know all of Ymir.

Even the bad things.

Ymir stared right into my eyes, locking me into the conversation and forcing me to hold my breath.

She licked her lips.

Snap.

Her knuckles did it again.

"I was sent to juvenile." Ymir shook her head, smiling. She lifted her hand from her fist, pointing it in front of her and shaping it into a mock-gun.

"All I want to do is bang, bang, bang," she said in a way that made me feel like I heard it before.

"…you shot someone?" I asked. My mouth was going dry because I didn't want to think Ymir would do that. She was my friend—she protected me.

"No," she huffed, "but I did stab someone."

Oh.

"See?" Ymir was facing me again. That bitter smile on her face.

"I knew you'd think less of me. You know, I mean, I should've saw it coming, but it's fine if you want to leave—"

"Why…why did you do it?" I asked and she froze up. She stared at me as if I had told her someone died.

She glimpsed away and unknown words were choked in her. I only knew that because her mouth opened and closed and nothing came out but sighs.

I let her take her time as I sat, watching her, and she brought a hand up, itching her cheek.

"June sixteenth…" was all I got out of it and she shook her head, inhaling, and wiping her eyes.

Was she about to cry?

I didn't know because she turned away from me.

"Because I had to." She said without much else.

The anxieties I had from before were less now. I couldn't describe why—maybe it was because she shocked me or maybe it was because she was one of the first people I saw so vulnerable. I saw myself in her, scared, and uncertain as to what to say.

She was like me.

"Ymir…?"

"Yeah?" Her voice was gruff but I knew it was her way of trying to be strong. I reached out, putting a hand on her shoulder.

"…what?" She said again but glanced over at me, eyes lidded, and eventually falling to the ground.

I didn't know what to say to her because my words really meant nothing. I didn't know what she was thinking and didn't want to set her off or say something wrong.

I leaned over, hugging her, because I remember her hugging me as kids and telling me it'd be okay. I remember how good that felt and when Papa gave me hugs to make me stop crying.

She tensed up again and didn't return it.

"Krista…aren't you afraid of me?"

"No."

"But I hurt someone…I was sent to kiddy jail…"

"I'm not afraid of you."

Shakily, she gave me a hug back.

I wouldn't tell anyone that I felt tears against my shoulder as her hands gripped into the back of my shirt, clinging like a scared child.

I couldn't explain it but I felt like I was not scared of anything when I was around Ymir.

.

.

.

"I promise to protect you, Krista!"

Little fingers interlocked.

"I-I p-promise to protect you, too, Ymir."

A/N:

And I'm back from my spectacular trip! Thank you everyone for being patient while I did my summer travels! I hope everyone enjoyed this chapter as much as me.

Also as Dream Catcher nears 100 reviews (amazing!) I will be doing a bonus chapter in celebration! It will not be canon to the story and probably be cute / silly. So, please, send your suggestions on what you'd like to see the bonus as in your review!