Warning – explicit scenes
Chapter 5
Calm Before the Storm
"Fucking hell! Will you put in some effort you damn devil!" A rough voice yelled as Ymir felt herself being pulled roughly to her feet. She had spent over a week locked up in this room while they decided what to do with her. It had seemed that the decision was finally made. She had overheard the guards telling what she could only assume was their superiors, that she had stopped eating. She half wondered if anyone would care to know that they just never offered her food or water. Did not matter. Why feed a dead person anyway?
"Get undressed. I'm not touching you, you filthy Eldian. A white robe was flung at her face. The door slammed. She stared at the garment for a while. Her body moved by itself, slowly undressing from her dirty clothes, and putting on the white ceremonial outfit. It was not long before she was escorted to the tall podium and chained. A small whimper involuntarily left her lips as the chains tightened, ripping into the tender skin of her wrist.
"Galliard. Are you ready?" She heard a commanding voice in the distance.
Galliard?
"So, you are the one who ate Marcel?" His calm voice called from below.
Marcel?
Ymir finally felt the energy to lift her head. She met the gaze of the young man below her. A young boy's voice called out.
"Don't Poco! It's not her fault! Please, don't do this! Please Ymir, don't let him do this!" It spoke to her. Her head dropped.
"I don't have much of a choice kiddo." She mumbled. Poco raised an eyebrow.
"What was that?" He demanded. Ymir did not bother looking back at him.
"Your brother wouldn't want this." She mumbled. That is all she could do for the young boy. She could only tell his brother his wishes. She felt a tear fall down her cheek as she blocked Marcel's voice from her head.
Historia.
"I'm sorry." She whispered to herself.
The train station was immensely crowded. Though she hid it well, Ymir could not help but feel a little claustrophobic being a part of such a large mass.
"Lot of people." She murmured. Gabi rolled her eyes beside her.
"Well duh." Gabi had been by her side the whole time. Even though she would drop annoying comments here and there, she would still try to make small talk with the older woman. Ymir, on the other hand, found her to be nothing more than an annoying little nat. Why did little kids always flock to her?
Irritating.
Ymir decided to just let her talk. She gave the babbling preteen a distant nod here and there but otherwise, ignored what she said. A sudden blare of a horn was heard off in the distance.
"Here they come!" Falco called out pointing to the train with a small hop of excitement. Gabi finally left the brunette's side to join him. Ymir watched anxiously, eyes darting back and forth unsure of what to do next.
"Are you alright?" Colt was at her side now.
"Ya. Just… a lot of people." She repeated, eyes finally settling on Colt's kind features. She was sure she had been in large crowds before. Though, with her memory still recovering, it was almost as if she had never been around anyone besides Pieck and Reiner. She was able to persuade herself to enter the bar yesterday evening but even then, liquid courage had been a great help. Should have downed a nip or two.
"Yes well, everyone is anxious to have their loved ones return to them. Even if it may be only temporary." Colt's kind eyes flickered with an all too familiar sadness that Ymir had witnessed in both Pieck and, mostly Reiner.
"Not everyone comes home though." She whispered.
Hundreds dead.
Limbs missing.
Light gone from hopeful eyes.
Bodies devoured, never to returned to their loved ones.
"Theo? Hey, Theo?" Colt's hand waving in front of her face made Ymir jump.
"S-sorry. What was that?" She asked noticing Colt's confused expression. He must have been telling her something when she zoned out. He hesitated but repeated his words non the less.
"I said that casualties are very slim these days. Thanks to our warrior unit. Though the mental state of those forced out onto the battlefield, well that's another story. Are you sure you are alright?" He asked again. Ymir just gave him a blank look. These soldiers were not the ones she had fought beside. The screeching of the train caused their attention to shift. Cheering could be heard from inside the train as well as around Ymir and Colt. It did not help the brunette's anxiety.
"Galliard!" Gabi yelled jumping up and down in excitement. Falco was waving as well, although trying his best not to be as enthusiastic as his out-of-control friend. Ymir watched as a young man stepped off the train, hands casually in his jacket pockets. The sight of him triggered something deep in Ymir's memories. That is when the panic hit. Her breathing became rapid, hard to control. Her chest tightened painfully as the color drained form her face.
Your brother wouldn't want this.
I'm sorry.
Her own voice rang through her ears. Hot searing pain radiated through her arms, legs, and abdomen so fiercely that she stumbled backwards into Colt.
"Woah! Theo, what's wrong!?" He asked, holding her steady. Ymir could not catch her breath as she gripped onto the young man's shirt. Poco was in the middle of greeting Falco and Gabi when Ymir's episode caught his attention.
"Is everything alright?" He asked calling over to Colt. Before he could see the face of the woman in Colt's arms, His comrade jogged past him.
"Theo!" Pieck yelled happily waving to the two. Ymir glanced up. The sound of Pieck's voice suddenly bringing a familiar calm.
"Pieck." She smiled weakly pushing herself away from a dumbfounded Colt. The small woman jumped into the brunette's arms turning her around quickly from Poco's view. She stood on the tips of her toes so she could whisper into the taller woman's ear.
"Pull yourself together. This is not the time or place." She warned. Ymir swallowed hard. Her throat was dry. Pieck glanced over her shoulder to see that all eyes were on them including Reiner's. She saw the glimpse of panic in his eyes. Somehow, he was able to react quickly as he read his comrades words through brief eye contact.
"Let's grab a drink. Those two need a moment." The blonde patted Poco on the shoulder.
"Huh? Who is she?" Poco asked.
"She's a friend of Pieck and Reiner." Colt explained from beside them, watching the two curiously.
"She's weird is what she is." Gabi murmured.
"You're pretty strange yourself. Come on, they have catching up to do." Reiner motioned them to follow.
"What!? But Pieck just got here!" Gabi whined.
"And she will be here later." Reiner fought to remain calm. Poco could not see Ymir's face.
"Poco let's go. It's rude to stare." He called out. Poco gave him an agitated look. Pieck let go of Ymir, keeping the brunette facing her.
"Keep your eyes on me. Breath. Pretend we are having a friendly conversation." She explained keeping a bright smile on her face. Ymir swallowed and forced a nod. Pieck kept her eye on the group who eventually began following Reiner in the opposite direction while throwing some hesitant glances their way. Finally, when they were out of sight, the dark-haired woman let out a sigh of relief.
"P-Pieck I." Ymir was sickly pale. Her knees felt as though they would buckle underneath her at any minute.
"Not now. We need to leave." Pieck grabbed her hand and led her through the crowd quickly. The walk was a blur to Ymir. She could only focus on holding the bile forming in her throat down until finally, it was too much. As soon as they rounded a nearby corner entering an abandoned lot, Ymir fell to her knees and released her anxiety onto the ground. Pieck was quickly at her side to hold the brunette's hair and rub her back soothingly. When Ymir was done, Pieck helped the brunette sit back onto the ground and away from the bile.
"S-sorry." She wheezed.
"It's okay." Pieck reassured, still rubbing the taller girl's back.
"That guy." Ymir breathed.
"You remembered something horrible." Pieck knew. She always knew. Ymir nodded.
"That couldn't have been real." Tears streamed down her cheeks as she observed her shaking hands.
"Ymir." Pieck felt her chest tightened at the sight of tears rolling down freckled cheeks.
"He turned. He turned he." Ymir whimpered. Pieck grabbed her face gently between her hands and forced Ymir to look at her.
"Shhh. You're okay Ymir. You're okay. You're fine, you're safe." She reassured. Ymir shook her head. The feeling of knowing she was going to die. How hopeless and empty she felt. Then, the physical pain. How she cried and called out for her. For her Historia. She fell into Pieck's arms and sobbed. Pieck held her tight, rocked her back and forth whispering soothing words to her distraught friend. They sat there for what seemed like forever until Ymir finally calmed down. Pieck felt her take a shaky breath and relax before pushing away gently.
"Marley has the power to turn people into Titans. Pieck, how did I become human again? How did you and Reiner become human again?" Ymir needed to know.
"You know about us?" Pieck was not surprised. It was going to come to this eventually. Ymir nodded.
"I remember being able to control my Titan. I fought alongside Reiner. For some reason I just know it was him. The armored titan. That's what Gabi said. She mentioned how she would inherit it. But why would someone do such a thing if you only had thirteen years left to live?" Ymir asked.
"Because it is one of the greatest honors for an Eldian. It makes our families honorary Marlyans. It guarantees a better life. My father, for example, was extremely ill when I was growing up. I… wanted to save him." She explained. Ymir shot up, agitation in her eyes.
"But what about you!? What about your life!?" The brunette could not help feeling angered by the idea.
"That's irrelevant." Pieck gave her a sad smile. Ymir felt her stomach drop as she realized something.
"Pieck. How long do you have left to live?" She asked dreading the answer. Pieck had been her only friend for almost four years. And now, now she realized that the smaller woman had no control of her life or her death. That angered her.
"A little over a year it looks like." Pieck smiled non the less. Ymir stared at her in bewilderment.
"So, are my days numbered as well?" Ymir asked, Pieck lifted her head, watching the clouds pass by.
"Well, I'm assuming with the passing of your titan power, the curse of Ymir was lifted as well. Though I can't say that for sure. Something like this has never happened in the history of titan shifters. The predecessor was always eaten, killed. The fact that your body came out whole in the first place Ymir, there is not a day that goes by that I try to comprehend how you survived. I think of how, if you were able to survive then maybe, just maybe, there is a way to survive this curse. To not have to make those children, that have such a bright future ahead of them, suffer the same fate." Pieck turned away from Ymir.
"Is that why you saved me?" Ymir asked pulling her knees close.
"What?" Pieck gave her a confused expression.
"Is that why you and Reiner saved me? Because I may be the hidden key to saving you all?" Ymir gave her a serious look as she repeated the question. The brunette examined her face, noticing the hurt in Pieck's eyes.
"No. I… No that's not the reason." Pieck had not thought of it like that. Sure, Reiner and she had many conversations pertaining to Ymir's survival. They came up with theories, constantly thinking of the possibilities as to why and how Poco was able to receive the jaw titan without Ymir losing her life. The one thing they could surely agree on however, was that if the Marley government had gotten their hands on the brunette, she would have been better off dead.
"Then why?" Ymir repeated.
"Ymir, When I saw Reiner's reaction when he saw you alive well, let's just say it was one of the few times I saw a glimmer of hope in his eyes since we were reunited on paradise. If we turned you over, not only would they continue to torture you for information, but they would cut you open to figure out the secret to your survival." Pieck explained. Ymir shuddered at the though.
"Reiner and you were comrades. When you found out where he came from, the truth behind his actions, you saved his life. We had already lost so much." Pieck bit her bottom lip.
"Why would I do something like that? Leave Historia for him. Why did I do something so stupid?" Ymir spoke more to herself then to Pieck.
"I guess that's something you need to ask Reiner about. I've talked to him about his time on paradise of course. Promising to keep his growing attachments to the people there a secret. Mostly about you and Historia. He regrets taking you away every day. In the end though, He did say it was indeed your choice." Pieck shrugged. Ymir begin to roll a small pebble between her fingers.
"Pieck. You had no connection to me or my comrades yet, it's like you've become my best friend, my support." The brunette sighed, standing on shaky legs. "I just want to go home." Ymir looked back up at the sky. "I want to go home to Historia."
"I know." Pieck watched as a small tear fell from freckled cheeks. Ymir quickly rubbed her eyes.
"Can we go back to the shop?" Ymir asked not looking at her friend.
"Of course." Pieck walked beside the taller woman as they made their way home.
"So, how did my stubborn ass get one of your titan powers? I'm quite sure I wasn't handed it as a gift from your fellow Marleyan soldiers before kicking me off a damn ledge." Ymir asked trying to make small talk.
"Simple. You ate the previous wielder of the jaw titan, Poco's brother." Pieck Explained.
"Fucking hell." Ymir placed a hand on her forehead.
"It wasn't your fault." Pieck reassured.
"That man must've wanted me dead to begin with." Ymir forced a laugh.
"Not necessarily. He told me he felt bad for you. For having to carry around such a name. He acts tough but, he really does have a good heart. They both did." Pieck smiled to herself.
"What was his name?" Ymir continued to look forward.
"Marcel." Pieck answered.
"What kind of person was he?" Ymir placed her hands in her pockets. They were getting close to the shop now.
"Well, he was kind and incredibly talented. Smart too. Honestly, I think he may have only joined because of Poc." Pieck tapped her chin and thought.
"Was he cute?" Ymir smirked at her. Pieck felt herself grow warm at the comment.
"Um yes? We were just kids though. He wasn't an ugly kid I mean." She shied away from the brunette.
"Pieck." She grinned evilly at the smaller woman.
"W-what? Why are you looking at me like that?" Pieck asked suddenly feeling very strange with the situation.
"I'm sorry I ate your boyfriend." Ymir fell on her ass groaning at the sudden impact.
"You are horrible!" Pieck was bright red. Ymir began to laugh.
"I'm sorry! Things were getting too serious!" The brunette stood, dusting her clothes off. Pieck shook her head suddenly finding herself in Ymir's embrace. She tensed at the contact. "Thank you though, for everything." Ymir released her and gave her a goofy smile.
"You are impossible." Pieck laughed. Ymir shrugged.
"What can I say. I have a way with the ladies." She wiggled her eyebrows. Pieck rolled her eyes and motioned Ymir to carry on.
"You are defiantly worse than a guy. Historia must be very patient to deal with you." Pieck teased.
"She kept me in check." Ymir grinned placing her hands behind her head.
"Right, sure she did." Pieck waved her off.
"Something you two have in common, besides being so small." Ymir received a playful punch to the shoulder.
"Knock it off." Pieck warned.
"Ow. Sorry. Ya, I think you two would get along simply fine." Ymir rubbed her arm where she had been struck.
"Really now? How so?" Pieck huffed as they continued walking.
"Well for starters, you both have very short tempers." Ymir placed her hands up in defense when Pieck gave her an even more agitated look. "Just saying. Any way, you are both easy to get along with. Kind. Always putting others before yourself which I find incredibly annoying. Kids love you."
"You've remembered a lot about her." Pieck pointed out.
"Ya. I've had a lot of time on my hands I guess." Ymir rubbed the back of her neck.
"You talk as though our countries are not each other's biggest enemies." Pieck frowned. Ymir just shrugged.
"Are they?" Ymir tapped her chin in mock thought.
"Seriously Ymir. I know you put the pieces together." Pieck warned.
"I know that I want to get back to Historia." Ymir calmly stated.
"Ymir. I can't promise you that you would be able to return to Paradise." Pieck spoke softly. She bumped into the brunette's back when Ymir came to a sudden stop.
"Would you even let me?" She looked down at Pieck from her position, a serious expression plastered on her face.
"I… Don't know." Pieck admitted, refusing to make eye contact with her friend. Ymir sighed and placed her hands gently on Pieck's shoulders. When Pieck finally looked up at her, Ymir spoke.
"Just promise me one thing. No matter what you choose, just make sure it is your own decision." She removed her hands and placed them in her pockets turning away. "And I just want to say this now. If it comes to it, I will always choose Historia." She waited for Pieck to reply.
"As much as Marley has oppressed us Eldians, I'll have to choose Reiner and the others. They are my family." Her response made Ymir smirk. The brunette looked over her shoulder and gave Pieck a kind smile as they finally reached the bakery.
"That is certainly a relief. I'm going to head upstairs. You should catch up with your father. He seemed really depressed with you gone." Ymir patted Pieck on the head and left the shorter woman to her thoughts.
"Alright." She watched the brunette walk upstairs wondering if this was going to be one of the last times she would be talking to the Ymir she had gotten to know so well.
"The soldiers from this room are ordered to remain in base camp five section 10 until the identity of the female titan has been confirmed." Squad leader Mike Zacharias explained to the young scout regiment soldiers below him. Krista was among them along with Ymir. The small girl glanced at her girlfriend (Yes at this point it was obvious to everyone the two of them were a thing), noticing the unnerved energy surrounding the taller woman.
"Jeez, why would they throw us all the way out here though? Seems stupid to me, we could be helping." Connie mumbled when they were dismissed. The small group consisting of Connie, Sasha, Reiner, Berthold, Ymir and Krista had shifted off from the rest of the newer recruits.
"It's just caution Connie, don't get worked up." Reiner shrugged standing a little taller when he caught himself catching up to Krista. Ymir noticed and so did Krista from the way the small blonde moved closer to her. The whole situation already had her on edge. First Eren now someone else? Ymir gracefully grabbed Krista's hand and put herself between the large brute and the smaller girl.
"It more then that. Not only do they suspect that the female titan is someone from the 104th Corp, but the scouts are highly suspicious of someone else in our rookie ranks could be a titan as well." Ymir glared.
"That's a rather large assumption." Reiner glared back, stopping.
"Ymir." Krista whispered feeling the tension build between Ymir and Reiner as the brunette rolled her eyes and walked past him.
"I'm not assuming anything dumbass. Use your head for once, they already know who it is." She mumbled walking out of the cafeteria.
"Ymir wait!" Krista jogged after her.
"I'm fine Krista." Ymir did not bother looking at her as the blonde finally caught up.
"Know, you're not. Ymir!" Krista grabbed her hand, causing the brunette to whip around angrily at her equally angry companion. Her scowl disappeared at seeing Krista's brows furrowed and the annoyed look in her crystal blue eyes. Ymir took a deep breath and released it to calm herself.
"Okay. No, I'm not. Sorry." Ymir mumbled. Krista's angry look was replaced with loving concern.
"No, that was good." She squeezed the hand she was holding, gently rubbing her thumb over tanned skin. "Do you want to tell me what got you all wiled up at of nowhere?" As they got closer over the years, Krista had been able to help Ymir control her anger issues as well as the underlying anxiety the taller woman hid so well. Regardless, Ymir shook her head.
"The whole situation has me on edge, I guess. I don't like being trapped." Ymir admitted. "Reiner making you uncomfortable sent me over I think."
"At least you're trapped with me." Krista stood on her tippy toes. Ymir smiled down at her as she leaned forward to catch her lips.
"You're going to ruin my reputation." The brunette joked. Krista wrapped her hands around her neck. Ymir placed hers on the blonde's hips as they swayed back and forth just enjoying each other's company.
"No, you'll always be my bad girl." Krista giggle reaching up to ruffle Ymir's hair.
"Hey! Cut it out!" Ymir playfully pushed her away reaching to fix herself. Krista beat her to it and removed the hair clip holding the rest of the dark brown strands in place.
"Keep it down." She reached her hand to push a strand gently away from Ymir's freckled face. The brunette felt her cheeks flush at the butterflies Krista's touch had sent through her abdomen.
"Sure." Ymir gave Krista the lop-sided grin.
"Let's go back in, make sure things are settled, then maybe we can … I dunno. Find a way to have some alone time?" Krista felt herself blush at her own suggestion. Ymir raised a curious eyebrow.
"Scuse me? I'm not sure what you are implying." Ymir faked ignorance. Krista rolled her eyes.
"You're an ass. Let's go." Krista playfully smacked her significant other's arm.
"I like when you talk like that." Ymir hugged her from behind and nipped at the white skin of Krista's ear.
"And I like it when you nice to our friends so let's be on our best behavior okay." Krista held onto the forearms that held her from behind. She tilted her head letting Ymir lean down and kiss the crook of her neck. The shorter girl shut her eyes and sighed in pleasure at the feeling of her neck being assaulted by Ymir's tongue.
"Or I can take you right here." Ymir growled grabbing a fist full of Krista's skirt above the area that small blonde wanted Ymir the most. The brunette's eyes snapped forward as she felt someone watching them.
"Not now Mir." Krista warned, although her body betrayed her as she arched into the touch. Krista could not help but be disappointed in the ache Ymir left when she removed herself.
"Fine. But I have something special for you tonight." Ymir whispered hotly into the blonde's ear causing the small solider to shiver.
"Okay." Was all Krista could muster.
"And then, after Udon was down for the count, I threw Falco over my shoulder!" Gabi thew her arms up in victory.
"Two on one huh? Pretty impressive there." Poco ruffled her hair.
"I wasn't even trying to get involved! I was trying to pull her off Udon!" Falco defended.
"Sounds about right." Colt threw in. Reiner kept silent behind the group. Thoughts rushing through his head. Poco and Ymir's close encounter still had him uneasy. Would Poco remember her? Ymir seemed like she certainly remembered him. He needed to assess the situation sooner rather than later. How did they all end up together in the first place?
"Don't you think so Reiner!?" Gabi asked.
"Sure Gabi." Reiner had no idea what she had just asked him.
"Ha!" She pointed at Falco in victory. Reiner watched as the young boy's body posture deflated.
"I need to head out guys. Have some business to attend to before the next deployment." Reiner placed a few bills on the counter. "Should cover everyone."
"Don't need you to pay for me." Poco pointed out.
"Then give it to the waitress as a tip." He waved off making his way out of the restaurant.
"Reiner wait!" Gabi ran after her cousin.
"What's up?" He asked. Gabi frowned.
"I was just… never mind." She almost pouted. Reiner smiled, patting his baby cousin on the head.
"I'll be over soon. Then, we can talk about what to expect when you ship out with me and the others." He promised. Her face lit up instantly.
"Okay!" She watched Reiner head out before running back into the restaurant. Reiner needed to think about something. Alone. So, he made his way towards an Eldian cemetery, towards two grave sites that he visited all too often. Marcel and Bertholdt's. Annie would have had her own if it were not for her father's refusal. He claimed she was still alive, and Reiner could only hope that he was right.
"Hey Bertholdt. It's been a while." Reiner sat beside a tall tombstone engraved with is lost friend's name. Betholdt Hoover, Marley warrior. Noting more, nothing less. Guess it was not too much of a big deal, since his body would never be found or recovered.
"I meant to come sooner but I've been tied up." He paused, feeling a wave of emotion pass through. He swallowed it down.
"I need you buddy. I don't know what to do. I think Ymir is going to remember everything soon. She will want to go back. I want to help her but there is so much at stake right now. I just… seeing her, remembering, loosing you and Marcel." He felt a tear stream down his cheek.
"You miss him huh?" a voice called from behind, making the warrior stand quickly.
"Ymir! What are you doing here?" He looked around seemingly looking for someone else.
"Pieck is back at the shop. She doesn't know I left. Probably won't be long before she figures it out. I wanted to talk to you alone though." She walked over to him. Reiner watched as she stared down at the tombstone that he was just recently talking to. She looked between that one and the second, reading Marcel's name carefully. She plopped herself onto the ground and patted the spot next to her. Reiner complied and took a seat.
"What's up?" He asked not bothering scolding her for wondering around… again. It was not his place anyway.
"Pieck told me about Marcel." She picked at a blade of grass by her foot.
"Oh." Reiner turned away and gazed at his old friend's grave.
"This one though. Bertholdt. That's shitty." She showed a hint of remorse but, that was all.
"You remember Bertholdt?" Reiner asked, more excited for her then worried.
"I remember that he slept like a damn fool." She scoffed. Reiner chuckled, shocked by the sudden humor her felt.
"Yes." He smiled.
"He was quiet, kind. I never suspected the weight he carried on his shoulders." Ymir rested her arms on her knees.
"But when you did, you showed understanding and remorse to him. The only one we betrayed to not see us as the monsters we had no choice but to become." Reiner explained.
"That's why I left Historia? Because I felt bad for you two?" She asked, not quiet believing it. Reiner frowned.
"I'm not sure Ymir. We didn't understand either. You said that taking you would make sure that we wouldn't go home empty handed. Bertholdt was so upset with the idea." Reiner looked at her.
"I loved her. I still love her." Ymir looked back.
"I know." Reiner agreed.
"I would do anything for her, to protect her. Yet, I abandoned her for this country. I just don't understand." Ymir clenched her jaw.
"You did it to protect her. You kept us from going after them. You convinced us to leave, to take you instead." Reiner insisted.
"Instead of who?" Ymir asked.
"Eren." Reiner said.
"Eren?" A man whispered distantly in the back of her mind.
You know how cruel this world is more than anyone.
If anyone can lead paradise to a future worth living,
It's Historia.
Please keep her safe.
"He was one of our friends" Reiner's voice replaced the stranger's. Ymir shook her head, it felt fuzzy.
"What did he look like?" Ymir forced a smile.
"Dark brown hair. A little shorter than you. Kid had spunk I'll give him that. Loud, headstrong." Reiner shrugged. Ymir shut her eyes and tried to remember the tint of blurry faces that would occasionally pop into her head during memories of her and Historia. Besides Reiner and recently, Bertholdt, she could not see the faces of those that were around her. Only a small sense of familiarity would wash over when one would strike a distant conversation in her mind. Reiner watched her. He noticed her face was scrunched up in concentration.
"Ya. I can see him." She said lightly. She opened her eyes and looked at him. He was watching her, a small smile on his face. She felt her cheeks warm. She flinched away. "W-why are you looking at me like that?"
"You're happy that you can remember." Reiner stated smiling.
"I… Why wouldn't I?" Ymir stuttered. Reiner went to say something but shook his head.
"I'm just grateful. Out of all my regrets, I'm glad you didn't have to be one." He spoke softly returning his gaze to his old friend's grave. Ymir brought a knee up to rest her arm over it as she cocked her head at Reiner's words. She blinked a few times before letting out a loud cackle. Reiner looked at her, eyebrow raised in mock amusement.
"Wow! That was pathetic! Talk about a PTSD to the max." She quickly covered her mouth after the words left her. She gave him a sheepish smile. "S-sorry. Did not mean to sound like a bitch. Don't know where that came from."
"Nah it's fine." His laugh surprised her. "You're sounding more like your old self. It's refreshing."
"Oh. Well in that case, it felt refreshing to me too." She gave a smug grin.
"So, about Historia." Reiner began.
"Ya?" Ymir's attention was taken by the name.
"I'm going to try my hardest to make sure she sees you again." Reiner looked back over to Bertholdt's grave. He held his fist out and tapped it lightly on the stone. "Catch you later buddy."
"Where to now?" Ymir watched him stand and shove his hands into his jacket pocket.
"Getting you home. Pieck doesn't need anymore stress. Quite sure having Poco almost seeing you was enough to put her on edge for a few days." He pointed out. Ymir stood as well.
"Ya, sorry about that. I guess being alone for so long messed with my head." She laughed nervously.
"It's not your fault." Reiner shrugged.
"It would have been if he recognized me." Ymir spoke. Reiner looked at her for a moment.
"Also, would have been our fault since we didn't lock you up like we discussed." He smirked. Ymir knew he was joking and rolled her eyes.
"Like you could." Ymir challenged.
"I'll hold you to that." Reiner threw back.
"
Ymir? Where are you?" Krista let out a shriek that was quickly muffled by someone's hand over her mouth.
"Boo." Ymir laughed. Krista turned quickly to scold her tall companion but could not help but falter to the brunette's small smile. It was genuine and loving.
"Hi Ymir." She smirked standing on her tippy toes to play with her girlfriend's loose hair.
"Hi Krista. Come with me. I wasn't to show you something." Ymir took her hand and squeezed it making the blonde's head get very fuzzy all of a sudden and led her away from the base.
"Ymir! We can't leave!" Krista pointed out as she finally realized what was happening.
"Shh. It's fine. Bertholdt is covering for us." Ymir winked.
"Bertholdt? Ymir that is the most random thing you have ever said to me." Krista was confused but could not help but giggle at Ymir's dorky smile.
"I know! That's the fun in it though." She chuckled. With Ymir, she never felt worried about their shenanigans. It always worked out for them. "He saw us before, outside. I caught him looking. An accident of course, but it was good blackmail."
"Ymir!" Krista glared at her.
"Aw it's fine. Good kid, he offered as an apology to cover for us." Ymir winked.
"Your too carefree sometimes." Krista squeezed her hand letting the brunette lead her through the near by forest.
"No. I just don't give a shit." Ymir explained.
"Yes, you do. Don't use that tough girl persona on me." Krista rolled her eyes. They began ascending a small hill.
"Fine. I give a shit." Ymir reached down to help Krista walk the rest of the way up. The blonde smiled up at her and took the offer suddenly finding herself pulled into Ymir's chest. "Only bout you though."
"Your ridiculous." Krista could not help but blush at the way the taller woman looked down at her. The moonlight made Ymir's eyes glow a golden hue, almost unhuman like. It thrilled her.
"Close your eyes." Ymir ordered. Krista did and felt her body being guided into a sitting position. "I'm going to stomp on the ground so don't get startled. Just open your eyes when I do."
"Again, random." Krista giggled.
"Hush." Ymir playfully whispered into the blonde's ear. Her breath made Krista shudder. Even though Ymir had warned her she still felt herself involuntarily jump as she opened her eyes.
"W-woah." Krista watched in amazement as hundreds of fireflies bounced from their blades of grass that hid them from the world. Krista had seen fireflies before. Little of flickers of light that kept her company during her lonely childhood. But nothing like this. Thousands of tiny mushrooms lit up the forest in front of them, glowing a fluorescent green under the full moon.
"Crazy huh? I haven't seen these since I was a kid." Ymir sat down next to a bewildered Krista.
"Ymir this is amazing." Krista could not taker her eyes off the gold and green hues under the moonlit sky. Ymir on the other hand, could not take her eyes off Krista. Ymir felt her chest grow tight at being the one responsible for Krista's amazed expression. They sat like that for a while when Ymir eventually found her head in Krista's lap as she watched the bundles of fungi glow through the night. The blonde hummed a familiar lullaby making Ymir's eyelids heavy as the Krista ran her fingers through her short hair.
"You still never told me about where that song came from." Krista pointed out.
"Mmm. What song." Ymir yawned. She felt Krista's slender fingers ghost her skin before gently cupping her cheeks and turning her head upward so hazel eyes could look at crystal blue.
"The song that always put you to sleep when I hum it silly." Krista chuckled leaning down and capturing the older girl's lips.
"Oh. That. My mum." Ymir spoke softly. Ymir never talked about her family. Krista honestly believed she never had one. An orphan on the street from the very beginning.
"What was she like?" Krista decided to proceed with caution, not knowing if it was one of the subjects Krista had found would cause Ymir to completely shut down when talked about.
"I.. Don't remember." Ymir spoke after a while, turning her attention back to the glowing fungi.
"Hmm." Krista hummed not wanting to intrude too much. She felt Ymir shift and sit up. Without talking, Krista moved back towards a boulder that laid on top of the hill to rest her back against it. Ymir moved between her thighs and rested the back of her head on Krista's chest, taking the blonde's arms and wrapping them around her.
"I had a brother too." Ymir kissed Krista's wrist.
"A brother huh?" Krista rested her chin on top of Ymir's head.
"Yep. Him I remember well. He was older. A lot older. He built me so many wooden toys and would always take me fishing. I think my mother died giving birth to me so, he was her replacement. That's how I knew about the mushrooms, saw them on our way out here. He called them Foxfires. Suppose to guide lost children home or something." Ymir rambled. Krista said nothing. She just pictured the Ymir, who just a few days ago kicked Connie so hard int the lower abdomen that he couldn't walk for half a day after he mocked Krista for skipping training because she was on her period, as a little girl playing with wooden toys and listening to bedtime stories.
"What happened to him?" Krista asked.
"Died." The way Ymir said it did not make her prowl any further.
"Hey Ymir?" Krista moved to sit up further causing Ymir to whine a little before sitting up as well and turning towards the small blonde. Krista pulled her down gently. "Thank you." She whispered, pulling her in for a passionate kiss. Ymir sighed, finding herself pushing Krista gently onto the soft grass. They pulled apart. Ymir looked down at her, studying Krista's flushed expression. Slowly, Ymir brought her lips back to her. The brunette ran her fingers through the blonde's hair as she deepened the kiss. Ymir move a hand down between them to rub Krista through her skirt.
The blonde arched into their touch, breaking the kiss, and throwing her head back allowing Ymir access to her neck. Krista moaned Ymir's name as the brunette hiked the blonde's skirt over her thighs and quickly unbuttoned the smaller girl's shirt. Ymir prodded Krista's mouth with her tongue as the hand fondling her through her skirt joined the other to pin her hips down. Ymir was on top of Krista removing her bra. Long fingers traveled up Krista's ribcage as the older girl's tongue swirled around an erect nipple.
Krista grabbed a fist full of hair and pulled Ymir's head away from her swollen bud. The lust in the brunette's eyes had Krista's stomach doing front flips as she pushed Ymir's head forward to recapture plump lips. It was getting to be to much.
The small blonde found herself clawing at Ymir's shirt trying desperately to pull it off. She felt the brunette smile into their kiss before pulling apart and removing her own shirt only to reattach herself to Krista's lips. The blonde shifted and pawed at her own skirt pushing it down past her hips.
Ymir took the hint and began rubbing Krista through her undergarment as the girl beneath her gripped at Ymir's chest. Ymir growled, removing her hand from Krista's need once again to cup the small girl's rather large breasts as she kissed lower and lower before her tongue brushed over the last piece of clothing that separated her from Krista's core. Krista watched her through hooded eyes as Ymir brushed her tongue over a sensitive bundle of nerves through damp under wear.
"Ngh! Mir!" She panted, arousing the eager brunette even more. Krista came before Ymir could even remove the fabric. The brunette slowed her actions, giving the trembling blonde a small reprieve before pushing the fabric aside and placing her tongue flat against Krista's sensitive body. The blonde held Ymir's head close to her core as she felt pressure build up once again in her abdomen. Ymir responded flicking her tongue quickly over her lover's clit. Krista's eyes rolled to the back of her head as her second release hit her harder than the first.
Ymir moved up to kiss Krista breathlessly as the blonde came down from her high. Once she caught her breath, Krista flipped their position. Krista looked down at Ymir. Her tan cheeks were a dark shade of red, her bare chest heaved up and down as she stared up at Krista, begging her for release. The blonde pecked Ymir on the lips before tugging at the brunette's pants. Ymir bucked her hips up helping the blonde remove them. She smirked at her lover, running soft fingers down the Ymir's toned stomach.
"Krista." Ymir huffed, watching the smaller girl grab the hem of the brunette's underwear with her teeth and pulling them down her long legs. Krista could see through the under garment how turned-on Ymir really was and did not hesitate to dip her tongue between Ymir's thighs. Ymir moaned at she ran her hands through Krista's long blonde strands.
"Fuck Kris!" Ymir breathed as she felt fingers slip inside of her. She felt Krista inside and out, tongue and fingers. It was not long after Ymir made eye contact with the petite girl between her legs that her orgasm hit her rather hard. She could not help the rather girlish mews that escaped her lips as she quivered under Krista's grasp. Krista removed herself from Ymir and crawled up on top of her to rest her head on The brunette's chest. She listened to Her lovers racing heartbeat as she tried to catch her breath.
"Can we just stay out here? Just live the rest of our days in the woods?" Ymir asked after a while of staring at the stars above.
"I'm not sure that's a good idea." Krista chuckled.
"Aw why not? Live of the land! Get married, adopt a puppy or something." Ymir waved her hand across the sky.
"Look at you. Ready to settle down." Krista laughed glancing at her tall and beautiful woman.
"Nah. Just a thought really. I'll leave it up to you. I'll follow." Ymir pulled Krista close.
"Well, that doesn't sound fair. Don't you think we both have to agree on where we want to both end up?" Krista snuggled into the embrace. Ymir shrugged.
"Doesn't matter to me. I'll be fine anywhere as long as I'm with you."
Of course, like always, Pieck's father had escaped to his room. Ymir barley ever talked to the guy to be honest. Ymir finally realized that maybe knowing that the only way he could give his daughter a chance to live came with an expiration date. That may weigh on the mentality after a while.
"Pieck?" Ymir whispered. She wasn't downstairs. Ymir looked at Reiner. He shrugged.
"Maybe she went back to the condos. It's getting pretty late." Reiner pointed out. Ymir looked at him.
"I don't think so. She would have at least checked on me, barge in if I didn't answer." Ymir went upstairs before Reiner could say anything. She opened her door slowly, finding Pieck asleep in her bed. "Ha. Knew it."
"She did wait for you." Reiner peeked over her shoulder. He watched Ymir walk over and pull the blankets over the smaller woman.
"Yep. Looks like I'm sleeping on the floor tonight." She shrugged grabbing some extra blankets and a spare pillow.
"Can't share a bed?" Reiner asked.
"Nah. Tried that once. I got punched in the face. She sleeps like an octopus." Ymir laughed, setting up her makeshift bed.
"As bad as Bertholdt?" He laughed.
"Bertholdt slept in strange positions, Pieck gets violent." Ymir explained as she laid down.
"Well, I'll cover for her then." Reiner smiled, "Night Ymir."
"Reiner." Her voice made him stop.
"Even if I had died, it was my decision and mine alone to go with you. I remember that. And I didn't regret it." She promised. Reiner nodded.
"Thanks Ymir." He nodded before shutting the door. The brunette pulled the blankets of her makeshift bed over her. She placed her arms behind her head and staired thoughtfully at the ceiling. Slowly she felt her eyes grow heavy.
"Historia, Reiner, Bertholdt, Eren." She repeated the names a few more times. Bertholdt's face was clear in her mind. Eren was still hazy, but she could pinpoint which one was him judging by Reiner's description. There were two others always with him. She rolled over to her side, remembering Eren's words to her. She was sure it was him. But it felt off. She sighed and decided to think on it more in the morning however, three hours later she had found herself unable to stop her mind from racing. She huffed in annoyance.
"Can't sleep?" Pieck's sleepy voice called from above. Ymir jumped at her voice and quickly glanced up at her friend.
"Nah." The brunette gave her a lopsided grin. Pieck shuffled over and motioned her to come up on the bed.
"Come up?" She asked. Ymir shrugged and did so.
"You sure?" Ymir asked as she hesitantly crawled into bed.
"Mhm." Pieck yawned and rolled onto her back. They sat in the dark in silence.
"Sorry for not telling you I was leaving." Ymir finally spoke.
"It's alright." Pieck spoke softly. "Did Reiner tell you what you needed to know?"
"I think so." Ymir whispered.
"What now?" Pieck asked. Ymir slowly looked at Pieck. It was dark but she could tell Pieck was doing the same.
"Now isn't the issue, is it?" Ymir returned the question with another not wanting to think to far into what the future held for her.
Very soon, she would have to choose Historia.
Chapter 5 – Calm Before the Storm
To be Continued.
Yay! Chapter 5 is finished. Again took forever! Next chapter will be the start of season 4! They are almost reunited!
Thank you for al the support keep the comments flowing
Holy fireworks
Happy fourth!