I could feel the sweat on my body.

The perspiration swelled into a drop, sliding down my stomach until it was absorbed into the band of my shorts.

I panted and released myself from my squat, standing straight and groaning a bit. I put the bar back onto its frame and sighed, tilting my head back as I felt the burn in my thighs and calves.

"Fuck."

Leg day would be the end of me.

I heard a small clap beside me as I tilted my head to the side, seeing Historia cheering me. Though, I could feel the cheek in it.

"Bravo," she teased, admiring my form.

"Hah," I rolled my shoulders, huffing, trying to take a breather.

"Told you," I managed, "the gym is better than just running once in the morning."

Historia smiled.

"I can tell—I get to see you working hard," she hummed, sipping from her bottle.

"Yeah? Well, how about you? Are you going to do anything than hog a treadmill here and there?" I nodded towards where she was earlier.

"Oh, ha-ha," she rolled her eyes.

"Unlike you, I don't think I'd look good being ripped."

"You might. Never know unless you try," I retorted, lifting my shirt up to wipe the sweat from my forehead.

"Oh, I do love your abs," Historia swooned, watching as my shirt rode up.

I laughed.

"Who doesn't?" I replied and she gently smacked my thigh.

"I don't know whether I want to slap you or kiss you," Historia stood up, pulling my shirt down from my face and poking my nose.

"Hoh? Well, if I had a say—"

"You have no say in this," she smiled and I felt my heart jump a bit.

Oh. I never thought of her to be a sexy control freak, but I was starting to humor that idea.

I opened my mouth to say something, but only a grunt came out when I felt my phone vibrating in my short's pocket.

"Hold on, control freak," I snickered and she pulled me close, kissing my cheek before I smiled, fishing my phone out and answering it.

"'Ello?" I propped it between my ear and shoulder.

"Ay! Lesbian!"

I frowned and sighed. It was Jean.

Some days I loved the shit out of him and other days—just like this one—I'd want nothing more but hear he broke his nose.

"What you want?" I asked and Historia glanced up at me, wondering why I was so sour. She wrapped my arm around her shoulder as we walked towards the locker room where we stuffed our clothes.

"Oh, stop being so pissy. I was calling you to say everyone is coming out and was wondering if you wanted to go—with your new girl, hm? Hm""

The fucker was pining for details already.

"Why couldn't you have text?" I asked because I wanted him to know I didn't want to hear his voice. Ever.

"Oh, because I thought we hadn't talked in forever and that you'd be oh so relieved to hear my beautiful voi—" I hung up on him and turned my phone on silent.

"…who was that?" Historia asked once we were in the locker room.

"A douchebag that I take pity on—a friend. Sometimes."

"Oh," Historia didn't seem to understand but there was really no explaining it better.

I quickly shot a text to Sasha for the location.

"Did you want to come out for drinks? Sasha and Connie will be there. Along with other people I know." I told her.

Historia hummed, thinking about it for a while as we went into our respective stalls and got to changing.

"I'm not big on drinking—"she mentioned, "and I'm not old enough…?"

"Oh, right, right," I sighed, kicking myself for not remembering, "well, we can find a place where you can go…like a restaurant or something?"

"But, Ymir, everyone decided to go to a bar—"

"Oh, whatever. I will text them and tell them to meet us at Tomato Street. They can get their beers and whatever there. Only person who'll complain is Jean because they don't have the most handcrafted fucking beer imported from Mount Olympus and pissed in by angels." I rambled on to show how pretentious he was.

"Oh, Ymir! Be Nice!" She laughed as I got out of my stall to see her already waiting.

"Well, he is that way."

"I'm sure he's not."

.

.

.

"Oh! Wow, she's smoking hot!" Jean clapped his hands together, smirking and sitting right across from us at the table. Everyone else sat down—Mikasa, Eren, Armin, Jean, Sasha, Connie, and even Annie was there.

Yet they kept pulling up more chairs.

"Oh, some others are coming, too!" Sasha smiled but Jean was all over Historia.

"Where's your squeeze, huh?" I muttered, trying to get him to back off as Historia only nervously laughed.

"Busy!" Jean dismissed me and leaned in.

"So, darling," he ran a hand through his overly done hair, "are you lesbian or bisexual?"

Historia turned a bit red at the sudden attention.

"Lay off, Jean," I growled but everyone else was busying themselves, pretending to not hear or whatever.

"W-Well… I think I only like girls."

"Oh! Too bad! How did you two meet? Fuck buddies?"

I glared at him and tried kicking him in the shin but only managed to land a blow on poor Armin who cringed.

"We met at the park," Historia seemed to brighten at that.

"Oh, I guess that's better than the bar," he huffed, disappointed there wasn't anything juicier.

"But—"

"How about you leave her alone," Mikasa suggested and that shut him up quick.

"Oh, I was only—"

"—making her uncomfortable." Annie added, sipping her water and glancing at the door a few times.

Jean just sighed, propping his chin up with a hand.

"Oh, come on, guys, Ymir always gives me shit! Why am I the bad guy?" He whined but I was thankful for the back up.

"Sorry," I apologized to Historia who only sheepishly smiled.

"Before someone made an ass of himself," I turned to the group, "this is my girlfriend, Historia Reiss."

"Glad to meet you!" Eren forgot his inside voice as Mikasa smiled.

"I am Mikasa Ackerman," she introduced, polite, "Eren's girlfriend."

"And I'm Armin," Armin grinned, hugging Eren from the side, "I'm also his boyfriend!"

Historia simply stared for a moment.

"Oh, that's," she paused before smiling, "that's something new. But also very nice!"

She realized that she paused and could've been taken for being rude.

"Oh, it's okay," Armin waved off, used to such a reaction. Eren on the other hand was embarrassed at the sudden attention.

Mikasa didn't seem to care.

"They're here," Annie spoke and we turned to see two tall men come in.

"Thanks for letting me invite my friends," she said, monotone, "this is Reiner and Bertolt."

...Reiner…?

I quickly shot a look to Historia who was horrified.

When I glanced back I saw Reiner smiling and then he saw Historia and froze, turning pale.

Everyone was quiet except for Annie who sat there, blank, and then sighing.

"Oh. I made a mistake."

"You don't say!?" I barked.

Reiner nervously laughed.

"Um…this is awkward…"

"What!? What's going on?" Jean asked, curious.

"Um—" Bertolt was sweating an ocean.

"We are…recent exes." Reiner scratched the back of his neck, sighing.

Practically everyone in the table cringed.

"Oh no," Sasha gasped, glancing between the two of them.

"Um, I can leave—" Reiner suggested but Historia cleared her throat.

"It's okay." She smiled. I was about to tell her she didn't have to play nice, but her hand was on my thigh under the table and I stopped.

"…Are you—" Bertolt nudged Reiner before he could finish and he nodded, deciding to be quiet and sit beside Annie. Thankfully, they were further down the table and not as seen.

I clenched my jaw and glanced to Historia, giving her a kiss on the temple as Sasha mended the awkwardness with questions for everyone to answer.

Usual small talk until the waiter came in and asked for our drinks and if any appetizers.

Everyone ordered some sort of alcoholic beverage and Historia whispered that she wanted some fruity boozy drink after all. I ordered a beer and the drink for myself and the waiter nodded, checking our cards and leaving.

I was going to ask Historia why the sudden change of heart, but I could see it written on her face—she was on edge and just wanted to relax.

I glanced down the table and saw Reiner staring at me. Once our eyes met he smiled and then looked away, talking away with Connie and Sasha.

The rest of the time in between was full of small, forced smiles and constantly glancing at Historia who was beginning to fidget. Everyone got their drinks and didn't waste time to down them, laughing and slowly sliding into a calmer state.

Even Historia drank all of hers and was red faced, smiling and chatting away with Mikasa and the two.

I kept holding her hand under the table as Connie was telling me about his father and how they'd be hunting back home soon.

"So," Jean opened his trap, "I thought you said you were a lesbian?"

All conversations stopped.

"Jean," I warned.

"But yet you were with Reiner, hm?"

"H-Hey, how about—" Sasha was interrupted.

"It's okay," Historia smiled. Quite drunkenly.

"I realized I was a lesbian after being with Reiner."

Jean made a painful hissing sound, glancing at Reiner.

"Oh man… what a sick burn."

Reiner didn't seem pleased at all as he stared down at his untouched food.

"So, you just said you were a lesbian and broke up with him?" Jean laughed.

"Jean! Shut the fuck up," I warned.

Historia stared at him and then me.

"Oh, no, that's not it," she clarified, "well, not all of it—I just didn't want to have sex with him."

"Ouch," Jean pulled away, shaking his head.

"Okay, that's enough," Annie glared at Jean, making him mortified, "stop acting like you're any better. From what I heard, you can't even keep a relationship past a week."

This time Eren choked on his food, barking out a laugh and slapping the table.

"Shut it, Jaeger!" Jean cried out in anger.

"Old wounds, huh?" Connie snickered at the fact Mikasa ignored Jean's obvious feelings and went into a less typical relationship. Which obviously hurt Jean's ego.

"God! I was only joking!" Jean growled but Annie didn't respond as she ate her dessert.

"I think I'm going to leave," Reiner stood up, frowning.

"Um, I will go, too," Bertolt shot up, grabbing his coat from the back of his chair.

"I will be leaving, too." Annie stood up, glaring at Jean.

"Look what you did! You're such an ass!" Sasha hissed at Jean as he cowered in his chair.

"I'm sorry about Jean. He doesn't know when to shut up," Connie apologized profusely, upset that the others were offended.

"It's fine." Annie curtly responded as the trio got up and left, but Reiner put down a large bill.

"This is for all of our dinners." He muttered.

"Give the rest as a tip." He glanced over at Historia one last time.

"I hope you guys enjoy your evening." He threw on his jacket and walked out.

The rest of the group stared and then glared at Jean.

"Good going, dickhead!" Connie growled.

"You're such an ass!" Sasha cried, punching him in the arm.

"That could've gone better," Mikasa muttered as Armin sighed, rubbing his temples.

Eren only gave Jean an eat-shit grin.

"Oh c'mon!" Jean glanced to make sure Reiner and them were gone.

"Reiner is hot!" He admitted. He then glimpsed at Historia and I was near ready to choke him out.

"How could you not want to bang that?!"

"I said I was a lesbian," Historia said, short and to the point.

"Are you asexual?"

"Jean," Mikasa was getting tired, "she said she was lesbian. That means no to men. Absolutely no and nothing could really change that unless she realizes otherwise."

Jean just stared at Historia, waiting for the answer.

"Not everyone wants to bang everyone like you, Jean, "Sasha muttered, glancing at Historia.

But it seemed like everyone was just as curious.

Thankfully, Historia was slightly drunk and just smiled.

"I'm not asexual. I just—" she glanced at me "—I think I need the right person."

I felt my face turn fifty shades of red as I saw her smile as she leaned into me, happy.

"Aw," Armin squeaked, dying of the cuteness.

Eren stared.

"Wow, they're going to bang tonight." He said out loud and Mikasa shook her head.

"Bah, I don't get women." Jean muttered, running his hands over his face.

Everyone dropped the subject after that but I kept a strong hold on Historia. We picked at our food, taking small bites here and there but I was exhausted.

The whole tension with Reiner and Jean being a shitty person like usual… I just wanted to go home and sleep.

"I think we're done," I glanced at Historia to see she was even more tired than me.

"Yeah, we were thinking the same," Armin said as everyone stood up, retrieving their coats.

"You guys don't need a ride?" Sasha asked, used to taxiing me everywhere.

"Nah. Historia got a rig."

"Okay! Are you guys good enough to drive?" She asked, glancing at Historia in specific who was quite drunk.

"Ah, I can drive. I only had one beer." I shrugged and Sasha trusted me enough as she waved goodbye.

I took Historia's hand and walked out of the restaurant with her.

"You know, you didn't have to stick around when Reiner came… or answered Jean at all." I told her, upset that her first experience with my friends was a shitty one.

"Hm? Oh, that's okay!" Historia hummed, completely uncaring.

Maybe she didn't mind, or maybe she was too drunk to realize how bad the situation went.

"Alright. Well, let's get you home… mind if I crash at your place?"

"Oh! Yeah! Please, stay the night with me!"

I felt my ears redden but I knew I wasn't going to pull anything.

She was drunk and I was sober. I'd feel bad if I took advantage of her like some creep.
.

.

.

Sometime, late at night, I woke up to hearing Historia's feet padding through the quiet apartment.

I heard her come up to my door.

Stop.

She was quiet and stood there for a long time.

I shifted in bed and I heard a small gasp.

I waited, wondering what she had to ask.

Slowly, the door was cracked ajar.

"Ymir?" Her voice was small and meek and… hah, it was sickly.

"Hungover now?" I asked, sitting up in bed.

She gave a pathetic laugh.

"Yeah…but, um…did you…I—I don't know why I woke you up for this." She was so shy.

I got up from my bed to show her I was quite awake.

"Hm?" I went to the door and found her in an oversized shirt—Oh.

It was one of the shirts I left over when I spent the night a few times.

"Um…did you want to…sleep in the same room with me…from now on?" She asked but I almost wanted to laugh because she was so sick.

"You ask this when you're probably dying, huh? Sure, sure," I chuckled, walking behind her as she shuffled in front of me, leading me to her room.

When we got there, I couldn't see how it was like—it was too dark in there.

All I knew was that we were nearing her bed when I heard her flop onto it. I nearly tripped on top of her.

I mumbled half an apology and a well-deserved curse as I crawled in behind her.

"I'm so sorry," she whispered and I didn't understand what.

"But…can we use separate blankets…? I-I know I'm being stupid but—"

"Nah. That's cool." Whatever she needed I'd be fine with it.

She probably grew up super conservative.

I snatched an extra blanket and nestled in, yawning, and then I felt her hand on my arm.

I froze and found that she was turning to face me.

She closed the distance and kissed me, slow and loving. I melted into it as I felt her deepen it with her tongue.

Tasted like toothpaste.

Ha-ha. She probably just brushed after puking her guts out.

Hah. Gross.

But I loved it nonetheless.

She pulled away after a moment, putting her forehead against the tip of my nose.

"…hold me?"

"Yeah."

She rolled to face away and I scooted up from behind her, pulling her close to my body and nuzzling her shoulder.

Immediately, I knew I really loved this—it made me feel… well, it made me feel safe and happy.