Chapter 3
Ymir and Reiner
"Hey Idiot! What are you doing!?" Ymir yelled from the roof tops. The girl below stood idol as her comrades around her cheered at their first true victory for humanity. All were oblivious to the lone soldier's apparent danger. Eren had managed to gain control over his newfound ability and finally managed to plug the whole blocking the titan's onslaught from Trost District through Wall Maria. The hole was sealed but that did not mean the danger of the remaining titans had seized to exist.
"Hanna! Get out of there! It's not safe!" Krista was at Ymir's side as always, a panicked expression taking over her delicate features. The girl below ignored them. Instead, she dropped her arms to her side letting go of two broken blades. The steal hit the pavement below with a series of pathetic clacks. A twelve-meter titan began to advance, lifeless eyes set on its cornered prey.
"Hell, she wants to die." Ymir muttered.
"No way! We need to get her out of there!" Krista had her blades drawn and began to advance when strong hands held her back.
"The hell do you think you are doing?" Ymir asked as a fifteen - meter titan also picked up on the feeble girl's scent. Hanna just dropped to her knees in defeat, waiting for the creatures to advance and end her suffering once and for all. Why bother living when the one you held dearly was gone?
"What do you mean! She's going to die Ymir! We have to help her!" Krista looked at her as if the brunette had lost her mind.
"She's as good as dead dumbass! You want to take on three big ass titans by yourself? It's just us! You can barely handle one!" Ymir shook her slightly. Krista's eyes widened as the second twelve - meter approached. Where was everyone!?
"So!? We watch her die!? Ymir how can you be so selfish!? She's our friend! Our comrade!" Krista struggled desperately to remove herself from the older girl's strong grip.
"No! You're my friend! You're my comrade! You're my…" Ymir paused. What was she? Lover? Fuck buddy? Someone so precious to her that she could not give less of a shit about anyone else? She shook her head from the thoughts. "You're what matters to me. No one else." She was silenced with a swift slap from the smaller girl. They looked at each other stunned. Ymir let go of the blonde and unconsciously touched her cheek where the impact began to turn her dark skin into a soft red.
"Ymir I." She began, her voice full of shocked regret. Tears welled in her eyes from realization at what she just did. She reached out for her friend but was roughly shoved away.
"Get fucked Krista." Ymir mumbled before stepping of the roof, flying towards Hanna.
"Ymir! Wait!" Krista was after here instantly. Ymir growled releasing all her anger towards what had just transpired onto one of the twelve – meters taking it out swiftly at the nape, dulling her last pair of blades significantly. Fine Krista. This selfish bitch will just have to take out every one of them. Another titan fell much to Ymir's surprise. Krista had swooped below it taken out the achilleas of one of the other twelve-meter. If Ymir were not so pissed off, she would have been impressed. As it fell, Ymir swooped down to finish it off.
"Don't be so reckless idiot!" She shouted before dodging the third's grasp. Krista landed besides Hanna.
"You are one to talk! You.. you dickhead!" Krista yelled back before tending to Hanna. Ymir rolled her eyes. She was rubbing off on Krista in a not so appropriate way.
"Just get her out of here shorty!" Ymir screamed as she came down onto the largest one's nape. Her blades shattered at the impact. It was forceful enough to make the meaty bastard trip over part of a fallen building below. However, it made a grab for Ymir as it went down managing to wrap its large hand around Ymir's leg. She could hardly hear Krista calling out for her as the blonde swooped upon its giant fingers causing the beast to release Ymir from its grasp and sending her flying through a nearby window. She felt searing hot pain as glass ripped through her shoulder. She heard a sickening pop as she hit the wall on the far side of the room she was flung into. A strangled cry fell from her mouth as the wind left her lungs leaving her gasping like a fish out of water. Blood fell from somewhere above her brow blinding her. She felt a rumble beneath her broken body and then, silence.
"Ymir! Ymir!" Krista was at her side in an instant cradling her head in her hands. "Oh god! Oh god!"
"Krista." Ymir gasped.
"Sh shhh. Catch your breath. Here. Can you sit up?" Krista helped her. Ymir cried out in pain. "Hanna! Help me!" She called. Surprisingly, the whole situation had brought Hanna back from her suicide mission.
"No no no! Ymir I'm so sorry!" Hanna was crying as she placed her jacket firmly on Ymir's injured forehead. The brunette bit her lip to keep from screaming.
"Careful!" Krista panicked at the pain in her friend's face.
"We have to stop the bleeding!" Hanna protested.
"Sfine. Just get me the fuck out of here." Ymir mumbled trying her hardest to stop her body from beginning to heal itself in front of them.
"Okay. Hanna, help me get her over the wall!" Krista helped Ymir stand. The two girls helped each other cart the broken brunette up and over the large wall with what little gas they had left. It was a struggle. They were both mentally and physically exhausted, having to take multiple breaks as they scaled Wall Rose, leaving the blood-soaked battlefield behind. They made it to the closest barracks and gently placed Ymir down on to the soft grass below. The taller girl hissed in pain as she was seated.
"We need to get her to a medic." Hanna's voice was guilt stricken and coarse.
"No." Ymir hissed as she gripped her shredded shoulder.
"But your injures!" Hanna protested.
"If she doesn't want to go then she doesn't have to!" The anger in Krista's voice caused Hanna to step back.
"I'm sorry I was just." Hanna had tears in her eyes.
"Just what! You're the reason she got hurt! What the hell were you doing Hanna! How could you be so stupid with your life like that!" Krista yelled at the girl.
"I'm.. I'm sorry!" Hanna stepped back.
"Give it a rest Krista. Like you're one to talk." Ymir warned. Her words gave Krista pause. Ymir did not look at her. Instead, she chose to keep eye contact with Hanna. "Franz wouldn't have wanted that. He would want you to live. Now, go take care of yourself. I will be fine."
"I am really sorry Ymir. I really am." Hanna gave her a solemn look. Ymir nodded slowly standing. Krista went to reach out for her but found herself shoved away.
"It's fine kid. Not all your fault." The way she said it made Krista stiffen. Ymir ignored the pain in the blonde's blue eyes. Hanna got the hint. Not knowing exactly what to say in such a tense situation and simply excused herself after being certain that Ymir would be alright.
"Ymir please." Krista began.
"Shove off." Ymir began limping towards the barracks. Krista followed silently. "Stop following me."
"But Ymir! Your hurt bad!" Krista protested as she tried to catch up with her.
"Ya! Well, whose fault is that really!?" Ymir growled throwing a door open to one of the vacant rooms.
"Ymir, stop! You're being ridiculous!" Krista smacked into her friend's back as the brunette stopped suddenly turning around so fast that Krista almost fell on her ass.
"Am I! Why don't you hit me again! That should bring me back to my senses!" Ymir shouted reaching out to grab her. She stopped and clenched her fists instead.
"Ymir s-stop. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to. I'm sorry." Krista started to cry.
"If I laid a hand on you, it would be a different story, wouldn't it? I'd have people left and right jumping down my damn throat. But no, a piece of shit like me has nothing against a princess like you. And you have the nerve to just go out and get yourself almost killed, again. What in the absolute fuck is going through your head! Jesus fucking christ!" She screamed at the smaller girl as she slammed her fists against a wall. Ymir looked down at her. The blonde was shaking, afraid.
"Ymir." She choked. Ymir was breathing hard now. She was getting dizzy and wanted to puke.
"Just get out before I do something I'll regret." Ymir growled.
"Ymir no. Please, just let me help you." Krista reached out for her. Ymir bared her teeth stepping forward.
"JUST GET OUT!"
"Oi! Space shot!" Ymir waved her hand in front of Reiner's face as she dropped a small package in front of him. The Marleyan soldier jumped as if he was being woken up from a dream. Ymir rolled her eyes.
"Y-Ymir. Uh Theo?" He mumbled.
"Here's your Bienenstich." She motioned to the package, leaning lazily over the counter. Reiner looked at it.
"Oh. Thanks. I should get going. Do you need anything?" He did not make eye contact with the brunette as he tossed a few coins onto the counter.
"Do you?" Her question made him pause.
"No?" He raised a confused eyebrow.
"Hm. Say I have a curious question." Ymir rested her head on her palm. "Have I done something to upset you? You know, before the whole memory loss and almost dying thing?"
"I.. what would make you think that?" Reiner felt anxious at this point. For the past year he had made it a point to keep his contact with Ymir to a minimum. She had Pieck looking after her. He just handled supplies.
"Well. For one, this is probably the longest conversation we have had. Well, from what I can remember." She tapped the side of her head a few times.
"That's not true." He defended.
"Okay Look. You don't have to make it a point to come here every day. I am fine and Pieck is a hell of a lot better conversationist then you. So." She was interrupted.
"No! I want to talk to you!" Reiner paused at his outburst. Ymir blinked at him.
"Okay. So?" She tried to edge him on. Reiner rubbed his head distressed.
"I… don't know how." He admitted.
"The hell does that mean. Are you socially impaired or some shit?" She was sounding more and more like the Ymir he remembered.
"No! No, I'm just." He sighed. "Listen, how about we go for a walk later. Just us. We can get a bite to eat?" He looked at her. She looked at him. Then, she laughed.
"Didn't think you were into girls or anything lacking 6 inches." She chuckled.
"Ya Ymir. Didn't think you were into guys, Har Har. Last time I tell you." He paused and looked at her confused. "What you just said to me."
"Ya." She nodded.
"You remember?" Reiner asked.
"A little bit." She smirked.
"What else?" He asked. It had taken almost over a year to build up the courage to truly face Ymir after all that had happened. The barrier had finally broke.
"Just a question." Her face gave off a serious expression.
"A question?" He raised an eyebrow at the odd statement. She nodded.
"Ya. Maybe you can tell me. Who is Krista?" She watched Reiner hold his breath for a moment.
"Krista. She's. Well, She's a mutual friend of ours. You and I that is." He looked like he was about to wonder off in his own head again.
"Reiner. She's more than that to me. Isn't she?" She determined. Though still hazy, there were … some distant physical feelings she felt when she thought of the woman.
"Oh uh. Ya. You guys got pretty close over the years." He gave and awkward smile.
"We banged, didn't we?" Ymir asked with her old cocky ass smirk. Reiner wondered if she had also remembered how much that shit eating grin use to irritate him.
"Jesus Christ. Look, can we meet up? Tonight? I need to get going but, we can talk more later?" He asked.
"I guess. Thought you guys didn't want me wondering around cause of all the "bad" people that want me dead." Ymir smirked. Reiner gave her a look over. Her hair was longer, a little past her shoulders now. She had small earrings in her ears, a gift from Pieck. She seemed… grown. Then again, that is what happens eventually. They were all changing.
"Just throw on a hat or something. We won't be going far." He shrugged. Ymir raised an eyebrow.
"Am I really that ugly?" She asked.
"Ya, shouldn't let you near children." He scoffed. It was the first time she saw him smile, well, from what she could remember.
"Ya, because you seem like a real winner when it comes to kids." She rolled her eyes removing her apron and tossing it. "Well, I'm going to head upstairs and take a nap so… get out?"
"Fine Fine. I'll be back around five that okay?" Reiner asked.
"Going to have to be." Ymir followed him to the door so she could lock it behind him.
"See you later." He waved. "Thanks for the sweets."
"Careful. You're going to get fat." She smirked.
"Right." The door shut behind him. He felt a sense of relief that he was able to finally build up the courage to talk with her. Yet, he was also terrified of her learning the truth.
"JUST GET OUT!" Reiner paused at the sound of Ymir's voice as he passed by one of the barracks. It had been only hours since the retake of Wall Rose. He hesitated, knowing very well the consequences of dealing with the young woman's attitude. Then again, it would not be very manly of him to let whoever she was yelling at suffer such a fate. So, he reached for the doorknob.
"R-Reiner?" Krista sniffed as she beat him to it, opening the door from the other side. Judging from the tears, it was safe to assume Ymir's anger was, surprisingly, directed at the small blonde. He felt himself blush at her innocent doe like gaze.
"Krista? Is um, is everything alright?" He asked. She nodded refusing eye contact as she closed the door softly behind her.
"Yes. Ymir, she's … she's hurt. She hurt her shoulder during the operation to seal the hole. It was my fault I." Krista began to tremble. "I'm sorry. I need to go. Please try to convince her to see a medic." Krista left without another word. Freaking Ymir. Why do you have to be such a bitch? Reiner thought to himself as he reached for the doorknob ready to drag her out by force if needed. How dare she make their goddess cry?
"Dammit!" He heard the wild brunette scream followed by the sound of glass shattering behind the closed door. He opened it quickly, shocked at the site before him. Ymir was continually punching the mirror before her as blood dribbled down her forearm.
"Ymir! Stop!" He grabbed her from behind, pulling the girl away from the shattered glass that cut her skin.
"Let me go!" She screamed as she began to kick and flail in his grasp. "Fucking let me go!" She screamed out in choked sobs.
"Knock it off you crazy bitch!" Reiner pinned her to the bed, her blood staining his shirt. She cried out in pain as tears fell down her cheeks. Her pupils were wide with fear. It was if she was not even looking at him.
"Let me go! Don't touch me! Get off me!" She screamed.
"Ymir it's me. It's Reiner." He let her go.
"Please. Just.. just get off me." She choked.
"Okay. Okay." He did. Ymir brought her knees to her chest.
"Leave." She ordered. He stood there, waiting for her to calm.
"Ymir. We need to get you to a medic." He was quick to the point. Ymir was not one for conversation with many people. Especially not him.
"Fuck off Reiner." Her voice was shaky, but nothing like before. Her trembling stopped as she began to recognize him.
"Come on. It must be pretty bad if you're willing to make the one friend you have cry." He tried to tease her. get her riled up, bring back Ymir. It seemed to have worked. Ymir slowly rose, gripping her left shoulder. She wiped her eyes on her uniform jacket before turning and glaring at the blonde.
"I'm very close to knocking you on your fucking ass if you don't fuck off!" She growled. Reiner was a little shocked at the anger in her honey-colored eyes.
"Alright." He raised his hands realizing that their usual banter was not going to be tolerated in this situation. "Listen, you are clearly not going, and I clearly cannot make you. But can you at least let me look at it or do something just so Krista can have some piece of mind? You are bleeding all over the damn place." He offered. Ymir looked at him uncertain.
"No." She deadpanned. Reiner rolled his eyes. Typical.
"Can I at least help you get out of your gear and into bed. At least let me offer you some ice. For Krista's sake?" He tried again. This time, she seemed to have relaxed at the sound of the smaller girl's name.
"Fine. But if you try anything I'll break you damn hand." She warned. Reiner chuckled making his way over and began to unbuckle her ODM gear.
"I don't doubt that. Don't worry though, you are not really my type." He muttered removing the gear.
"What? Female?" She snorted. There she is. Reiner chided to himself.
"No. Sadist." He finished and placed it on the side of the room.
"You know it baby." She gave him that cocky ass smirk. He rolled his eyes. Piece of work this one.
"Jacket?" He began helping her out of her top garment, careful of her shoulder, when she nodded. He leaned in and whispered something in her ear. The brunette turned with a shocked expression.
"No." She smirked. He nodded.
"Your Krista is an angel don't get me wrong. If anyone would to change my interests it would be her. But she seems to be fond of you. Hell if I know why. Lift your arms." He directed. And she did as best she could despite her injury. He slowly helped her wiggle out of her long sleeve shirt leaving her in nothing but a bra.
"I fucking knew it." She chided as Reiner placed a blanket over her leaving her injured shoulder exposed.
"Did you also know this cut has severed muscle and that your shoulder is dislocated?" Reiner felt Ymir flinch away from his touch.
"It'll heal." Ymir pulled the blanket tighter.
"It'll get infected." Reiner crossed his arms as Ymir turned to look at him.
"It won't." She challenged.
"Say it won't and say your muscle, nerves, joint or ligaments somehow miraculously survived being permanently harmed?" He grinned down at her.
"I'm going to punch you." Ymir was annoyed again.
"Good luck lifting your arm with a dislocated shoulder." He shrugged.
"I have two hands." It was turning into one of their rare, "playful" banters now.
"You're a lefty." Reiner crossed his arms.
"Then pop it back in." Ymir challenged.
"I… what?" He was taken back by the sudden request.
"If you at least pop my shoulder back in, will you leave me alone?" She was serious.
"I'm not comfortable with the idea of that." He admitted.
"Fine. I'll be sure to let Krista know you didn't help me out when I asked no, begged you." She said dramatically dropping herself onto the bed. Careful of her shoulder.
"She wouldn't believe that." Reiner glared.
"Hm. Maybe. We will see though, won't we?" She felt large hands on her shoulder. She gave the blonde a dumbfounded look before she felt searing red-hot pain. A loud "pop" made her stomach turn. Reiner smirked as Ymir leaned over with a series of muffled curses.
"You're welcome. Now let me wrap your hand you freckled psycho."
Ymir turned the shower head on, warm water causing shivers down her tanned body. She reached for the hair wash bottle that Pieck had given her. She poured some in her hair and massaged it in gently closing her eyes at the sensation. A distant memory began to surface through her mind. A song she heard as a child, gently sung to her in the truly short time she had known her mother. A voice without a face that she would sadly, never remember. She sang to herself feeling a sort of calm she was sure she had only felt a few times in her life.
"My mother told me
Someday I would buy
Galleys with good oars
Sails to distant shores
My mother told me
Someday I would buy
Galleys with good oars
Sails to distant shores
Stand up on the prow
Noble barque I steer
Steady course to the haven
Hew many foe-men
Hew many foe-men"
She shut the water off and stood transfixed at her hand holding onto the knob. She blinked back to reality and laughed at herself.
"And I had the audacity to lecture Reiner for out all the times he spaced out." She chuckled grabbing a towel and drying her hair. She exited the bathroom; towel wrapped around her body and made her way to her room.
"You have a beautiful voice." Pieck's startled the brunette.
"Fucking hell Pieck! Stop that shit!" Ymir scolded the woman laying on her belly, arms crossed with her chin leisurely resting on top of them upon Ymir's bed.
"I'm sorry, thought you would be used to it by now." She smiled. Ymir rolled her eyes.
"Could you at least, I don't know, knock or some shit?" She asked.
"But it's my room." Pieck laughed as the towel was thrown at her.
"Ass." Ymir smiled as she dressed.
"You are to comfortable here." Pieck snickered as the taller woman hopped a little to help slide on her pants.
"Whatever." Ymir buttoned her collared shirt and sat before the mirror ready to put her hair up. She saw Pieck shift and move behind her, brush in hand.
"You have very pretty hair. Unique. You are Eldian and.. what again?" the dark-haired woman ran the brush through Ymir's hair.
"Scandinavian." Ymir answered quickly. She felt Pieck pause mid stroke.
"Really? With such a dark complexion?" She continued. Ymir shrugged.
"My mother was darker, I think. Probably came over on a boat or something. Egyptian? Who knows? Blonde hair and blue eyes are a common misconception for Northerners anyway." Ymir began to prod at her fingernails. "I don't remember her. Just that song you heard while listening to me shower, ow! Easy!" Ymir scolded as Pieck tugged rather roughly at her hair.
"I was not listening to you shower jerk. I overheard you singing and gave you a compliment." She tapped the taller woman's head gently with the back of the brush causing Ymir to wince. "All done. You should wear it down more often."
"Why? It just gets in the way. Besides, it's getting to damn long." Ymir brushed her bangs out of her face. Pieck rolled her eyes.
"Here, put half up and keep half down." She proceeded to place the top half of Ymir's hair up into a small ponytail and ran her ringers down the remaining loose strands. Ymir shivered at the feeling of hands combing through her hair. Pieck snickered noticing Ymir closing her eyes. "Have you ever had someone do your hair before?" She asked when she finished.
"Ya, I think so." Ymir opened her eyes and cocked her head to her side as she examined herself in the mirror.
"Do you like it?" Pieck asked. Ymir nodded.
"Ya. I.. I actually do." She admitted.
"Good. How about we get you into a skirt now?" The shorter woman asked already knowing the answer.
"Hell. No." Ymir deadpanned standing.
"It was worth a try." Pieck dropped onto the bed dramatically. Ymir shook her head but dropped down next to her non the less. They both stared at the ceiling just enjoying each other's company. Besides Reiner's swift visits and fleeting glances of Pieck's father, it was Pieck who had been her companion for the past year and a half.
"Long day?" Ymir asked folding her hands over her abdomen and allowing her long legs to dangle of the side of the bed.
"Hmmm. You could say that. The allied forces are growing restless. It's only a matter of time before an all-out war is launched at our boarder." Pieck explained.
"And you and Reiner are going to have to leave for the front lines soon." Ymir's voice sounded lonely.
"Yes." Pieck admitted. Ymir hummed in understanding as the girls shared another moment of silence. They had not told Ymir about titan shifters. Truly little was mentioned here and there as they treaded lightly answering as much as they could as the brunette's memories slowly returned to her.
"Pieck. Do you know a Krista?" Ymir asked.
"No? Cannot say I do. Another memory?" Pieck asked. Ymir did not really know if Pieck inquired about her new memories because she was bored and starving for conversation or, because she was genuinely concerned and interested. Either way, Ymir was grateful she was there to discuss the new surfacing thoughts, especially the bad ones.
"Ya. Remember a while ago when you asked if I ever have been in love?" she was staring at the ceiling again. Pieck nodded. "I think I have. Or am?"
"And her name is Krista?" Pieck rolled onto her side suddenly extremely interested and suddenly remarkably close.
"I uh yes? Maybe? Pieck push over!" She shoved the smaller woman away as a blush spread from her dark cheeks to the tip of her ears. Pieck caught herself and laughed.
"Sorry, sorry. You have a name. That is good. Obviously, a woman. Don't look at me like that. Can you remember a face?" Pieck pulled her knees in, tucking her long skirt underneath her. Ymir propped herself on her elbows in thought.
"Sure. She's beautiful. Long soft blond hair. Crystal blue eyes. Short, shorter than you if you can believe it." She gave Pieck a smug look.
"You shouldn't make fun of short people. Especially when your kneecaps are at punching level." Pieck gave her an innocent look that honestly, kind of made Ymir eat her words. The brunette let out a nervous laugh.
"Right. Well, she smells wonderful. Like lavender. Oh, she's wonderful in bed." Ymir laughed at Pieck's face.
"Okay. I get it." Pieck waved her off. "You are worse than a guy."
"I hope that Reiner will tell me more about her. She's all I can think about." Ymir pulled her knees up to her chest.
"I'm sure he will. Well, I should head out. I'm sure you are going to want to take a nap beforehand." She stood from the bed and rubbed the wrinkles from her skirt.
"Just a small one. I don't get nearly as tired as I use to." Ymir gave an encouraging smile.
"That's good to hear. I'll talk to you later?" Pieck looked back from the doorway.
"I'll see if I can fit you into my schedule." The brunette joked.
"I'll bring stuff for crepes." Pieck offered playing along. Ymir tapped her chin in mock thought.
"Only if you bring fresh raspberries." Ymir demanded.
"Sure Ymir. I won't forget your berries." Pieck laughed waving farewell before shutting the door to the bedroom. Ymir sighed. Alone again. Even if she were wide awake there would not be much to do. So, she crawled under the covers and pulled her knees close. She shut her eyes in hope to remember more about the small blonde who had her heart in such a tight vice grip.
Ymir mumbled something incoherent in her sleep as she rolled over sensing a presence beside her. Hazel eyes fluttered open to meet Crystal blue.
"Hey." Krista smiled down at Ymir. She stroked the taller girl's hair lightly as the brunette stared up at her with unfocused eyes.
"Krista." She felt tears form. Krista smiled as she brushed Ymir's bangs from her face, planting a soft kiss on her forehead. Ymir let out a shaky breath. "I'm such a bitch."
"Turn around, get comfy." Krista replied. Ymir nodded and did as she was asked. She curled up into a small ball, a habit she had formed as a small child. It made her feel safe and secure. It only helped when she felt Krista's soft form press against her and arms wrapping around her from behind. Slender fingers running through her hair. "Better?" Krista asked as she felt Ymir relax in her grasp.
"Ya. A lot better." Ymir brought the blonde's hand to her face and placed a loving kiss on her wrist. Krista giggled at the sensation.
"I'm sorry too Mir." Krista whispered as she rested her chin on Ymir's freckled shoulder.
"I know. How is Hanna?" Ymir waited patiently as Krista remained silent for a few minutes.
"Not well." Krista spoke in a small voice.
"It's not your fault." Ymir brought the blonde's arms tighter around her chest.
"I know. But it is my fault you got hurt because of me." Krista pointed out.
"Don't regret what you did. Hanna is alive because of you. I was the one that rushed off like a dumbass. We are both alive because of you." Ymir mumbled.
"Ymir." Krista's voice caused the older girl to look over her shoulder. Her lips were met with a gentle loving touch. They shared a deep meaning full kiss. Ymir tried to turn but Krista stopped her by dipping her fingers into the brunette's loose trousers.
"Krista." She moaned as she stretched her legs, curling her toes at the touch.
"Relax Ymir. Just let me take care of you. That's all I wanted." Krista kissed her again, rubbing Ymir gently until she felt the older girl begin to become wet underneath her fingers. A free hand reaching for the brunette's small breast.
"That's the sappiest shit it ever heard." Ymir's voice reached a higher octave as she arched into Krista's touch signaling the younger to dip two fingers inside. Ymir nipped at the wrist of Krista's free hand as she moaned into her soft creamy skin. Then, she came.
"Better." Krista smiled pulling her close again.
"Ya. I love when you get like that." Ymir looked at her with a smug look.
"L-like what?" Krista pulled away at their sudden proximity.
"In control over me." Ymir turned and hotly whispered in her ear.
"Y-Ymir!" Krista turned a hot shade of red. Ymir's smirk turned into a genuine smile.
"Really though. I love seeing you confident in yourself. It's both a turn on." She pinned Krista to the bed and gave herself the luxury of watching the arousal and excitement in Krista's eyes.
"And it's inspiring." Ymir Looked at the girl withering below her causing her breathing to deepen.
"Ymir." Krista moaned as the brunette pressed her knee hard against core.
"Stay with me." Ymir whispered as she leaned forward and took Krista into and open-mouth kiss. They pulled apart with a thin trail of saliva between them. Krista opened her eyes at the feeling of Ymir's tears hitting her cheeks. She stared up at Ymir watching her from above, eyes glazed over, crying even though her expression remained neutral. Krista just smiled and pulled the brunette to her chest, Holding her trembling body close. Ymir did not even fight it.
"I'll always be with you Ymir." Krista began humming the tune of a lullaby that she had heard Ymir sing quietly to herself when she thought no one was listening.
Krista felt the tense muscles under Ymir's toned back relax as the brunette recognized the melody, falling into a deep sleep.
Ymir's eyes flew open as she heard a gentle knock on her door.
"Sfff what?" She called out, still confused from sleep.
"It's me sunshine." She heard Reiner's voice from behind the door. Ymir winced through hooded eyes at the clock.
"Shit." She mumbled. "Be down in a few minutes!" She called out. She heard Reiner chuckle to himself before listening to his footsteps slowly disappear down the stairs. She groaned as she stood from bed. She tried her best to wipe out the wrinkles from her collard button up and ran a few fingers through her hair deciding to keep it up in Pieck's little up do.
"Hey. Making coffee want some?" Reiner asked over by the coffee pot behind the service counter as she entered the main room.
"Sure." Ymir yawned and slid into the seat trying to wipe the sleep from her eyes.
"Do you want anything with it?" He asked sliding a cup towards her.
"The will to live." She yawned again drinking it black.
"Alrighty then." He watched amused as she scrunched up her face with disgust.
"I remember enough to know this is shit." Ymir choked.
"Sugar and cream it is." Reiner rolled his eyes plopping three cubes in her cup with some cream.
"Better." She said after taking another sip.
"No wonder you and Pieck hang out so much. Probably always sleeping." He joked.
"You got me there." The brunette shrugged. They finished their coffee in silence not really knowing what else to say.
"Well, we should head out before it gets dark. I want to show you something." Reiner took her cup away and rinsed it out along with his.
"Thought you were going to tell me about Krista." Ymir was straight to the point as she followed him outside.
"R-right. I just think it is better to remember what happened after the church of Ymir was raided, you know, since that's the last thing you remember." He looked everywhere but at Ymir as they walked.
"I honestly don't think that is important." Ymir's voice was suddenly small. Reiner played it off as him trying to avoid eye contact.
"It is. Trust me. It plays a big part on how you were able to actually meet Krista." Reiner pointed out.
"Oh?" That seemed to have caught the woman's attention.
"Look, it's actually not too far from the shop ironically so, let's just get there, okay?" Reiner gave a kind smile finally looking at the person walking next to him. Ymir's face did not show that she was confident in him. However, she shoved her hands in her pockets and followed the blonde for almost a half hour before coming across a run-down stone building that looked like it had seen better days, no, better years.
"What's up?" She asked Reiner when they stopped.
"This is it." Reiner pointed out.
"um. I don't think that's right man. I think you are at the wrong church. This place has clearly been abandoned for years, like a lot of years." Ymir kicked a small rock.
"It has been. About 60 to 70 years to be exact." Reiner looked at the confused brunette.
"Uh huh. I'm not following." Ymir admitted.
"Okay. Well let's go. Maybe you'll have a brain zap or something." Reiner shrugged as he began to look for a way in.
"A brain zap?" Ymir cocked her head to the side watching him give up and begin to pry at a boarded window.
"Pieck says you get them occasionally. When you are doing something familiar. I don't know. She says you make a weird face when you have them. Like you're having a stroke or something." He finally pulled free the piece of wood from the window giving them entry. He hopped in.
"She's always looking like the walking dead and she calls me weird?" Ymir mumbled following him coughing as a wave of dust hit her nostrils as she landed on the damp floor. Abandoned? More like forgotten. This place smelled and felt as though it had not seen day light since the original Ymir walked the earth.
"Wow this place is bigger than I thought? See anything familiar?" Reiner whistled.
"I can't see shit." Ymir grumbled as she walked forward trying to get her eyes to adjust to the meek darkness. She let out a small cry as she tripped over a random step. "Son of a bitch!" She growled as her knee scraped the floor hard.
"Ymir! You, okay?" Reiner knelt beside her.
"Fantastic." She mumbled.
"Here there's a chair right there. Let's get you on it so I can look at what you did now." Reiner helped her limp over to the large chair above the step sitting her upon it. He felt Ymir stiffen suddenly, hands gripping the arms of the chair turning her knuckles white. "Ymir?" She didn't seem to hear him. Her body was trembling as a series of memories flooded through her head.
Little Theo looks around at the faces of three young kids she does not recognize.
They explain how they found her by a riverbank.
Soon, they are together, stealing food and surviving on their own.
It does not take them long to get caught.
Two men have them lined up against a stone wall, analyzing them with cold eyes.
"Here's a promising one. How's this kid?" One questions, referring to Theo. Her hair is disheveled. The furs her brother and father had dressed her in are now gone and replaced with dirty, tattered rags.
"Ya. Hey, you there. You're going to come live with us from now on." The other kneels and looks her in the eye. She is so hungry and weak that she does not even fight when he grabs her hand and drags her along. "You'll be able to live a brand-new life now. A brand-new life needs a brand-new name. Understand?" She looks back at her short time company waving good by at her then, back up at the strange man who is talking to her.
She wanted to speak, to tell this stranger that her name was Theo, Theodora. That was the name her family had given her. But the hunger in her stomach, the feeling of abandonment, had kept her quiet. The sudden promise of food and a warm bed had given her acceptance of her new name as she sat upon a large chair in front of a room full of adults.
"This is Lady Ymir who inherits the blood of the king. As long as Lady Ymir is with us, we will be blessed with immortality."
She was loved, she was fed. Her clothes were clean, and her bed was soft.
Then, she was staring at the barrel of a gun.
"It was her! She's the one that told us that she had the blood of the king! All we did is believe her!"
She tries to save them. She tries to save those who took her in, gave her a second chance.
It does not work.
Bloodied and battered.
She walks with them to a large wall with an even larger drop off.
They scream, they fall.
They turn.
They all turn.
Large, deformed giants, devils.
"No! Stop! I'm begging you! This isn't right!" no one hears her pleas. No one hears her prayers.
Fader and Odin are not there to protect her.
Tait and Ymir are not there to guide her.
No one needs her.
She falls.
"You are needed." A child's voice speaks "You are free."
She is awake now. Bare as the day she was born. Northern lights glisten above her as though she was back home in her father's arms during a winter night by the fire. Freedom stretched before her.
"My name is yours, but you will never carry such a burden. Live your life without regrets."
"Ymir? Ymir!?" Reiner's waving his hand in front of her face now. She startles back to reality.
"What's?" She asks dazed and confused.
"You left me for a good five minutes. Are you okay?" He asks concerned. She looks at him with a blank expression before shaking the fuzziness from her head and giving him a lopsided grin.
"I think I just had a brain zap." She laughed. Reiner is dumbfounded by her actions. She stood and hopped of the seat. "Let's get out of here."
"Alright." Reiner did not question her; he just follows her back to the shop.
"So, it's really been almost a decade huh." She spoke suddenly as they walked.
"You remember?" He asked. She nodded. "How much?"
"I was shipped to Paradise." She stopped as they reached the bakery. Hands in her pockets as she watched two young squirrels rough housing by a near by tree. "I was one of those things for many years before I returned to being human."
The two juveniles realized Ymir and Reiner's presence and scurried up the tree keeping a close eye on the humans below.
"I was good with that though. I was given a multitude of possibilities before me." She smiled as the small rodents hopped from branch to branch, free and unbound. She turned to Reiner.
"I don't know how I got back to Marley just yet. But Krista is still alive, isn't she? Back on Paradise?" She watched Reiner taking in everything she had just told him. He nodded.
"Yes. She is." He admitted.
"And I can't go to her. Not yet. You don't want me to." Ymir gave him a dangerous look. He swallowed.
"N-no." He stuttered. She sighed.
"Relax. I get it. Marley versus Paradise, right? Yet, you still saved my ass. You're just as fucked up as I am." She walked over to him and patted his shoulder. "I smell crepes so you can have a crisis about it later." She motioned him to follow him inside.
"Hello you two. Have a nice walk?" Pieck asked finishing up. Her father had already left for the day taking multiple deliveries along with him.
"Sure. You could say that." Ymir was already grabbing for a crepe before her hand was smacked by the spatula. She held it like an abused puppy.
"That's lovely. How about you remember some manners." She shot back. Ymir muttered some profanities. Reiner was seated, pale and distant.
"What's wrong with him?" the dark-haired woman asked placing a crepe with cream on a plate and handing it to Ymir.
"Maybe he is having a stroke." Ymir shrugged shoveling the raspberry filled dessert into her mouth.
Chapter 3 – Ymir and Reiner
To be continued.
Thanks, everyone for reading.
The response to this story is absolutely freaking amazing.
Feal free to submit me some fan art If ya want.
Comments give me power lol. Help me out.
Pieck is just too cute I must make them friends.
Reiner is a mess…
Ymir is slowly catching on.
Think we are going to meet Gabi in the next chapter. Little shit is too curious,
So, I've been trying to get through assassin's creed Valhalla. Peep this.
Ymir's version. My Mother Told Me - Rachel Hardy (Vikings / Assassin's Creed Valhalla Cover) - YouTube
Version that slaps. AC Valhalla song - My Mother Told Me (AWO Remix) - YouTube