This is … a weird combination.

Ymir scowled. She gazed out the window to regard Headquarters' courtyard below as she wracked her brain for what to say. Starting conversations wasn't one of her strong suits.

We'll be there in a few minutes though, and I sure as hell ain't going into this blind.

"What happened between you and Eren, anyway?" Ymir asked.

The person who'd been walking down the hall at her side came to a stop. Ymir looked over her shoulder with a quirk to her brow.

"Why would you think something happened between us?" Marco asked.

Why does he seem … Ymir thought, brow furrowing.

… afraid?

"The Commander asked the two of us to talk to Eren because we're the only ones who haven't tried to drag him out, yet," Ymir said, crossing her arms. "I thought you two were close, so it came off as weird you had to be forced into seeing him."

Marco looked away. He ran a hand through his hair. The uneasy nature to his expression almost made him appear ill.

"You know …" Ymir said. Her stomach flopped in an uncomfortable manner. "I know I gave Annie some shit, but I was wrong. I regret pushing her away."

It took a moment for Ymir to gain the courage to raise her eyes. She was grateful her comment brought a gentle smile to Marco's face.

She and Marco had never been particularly close, although she was certain Marco would argue otherwise simply out of his nature. His 'goody-two-shoes' attitude used to piss her off to no end back in the Cadets. It didn't help his relationship with Historia gave the impression he was sweet on her. This made Ymir push away any real attempt at getting to know Marco beyond the surface level.

I know you a little better, now, Ymir thought with a frown. I still find you annoying as hell, although it doesn't mean I enjoy it when you look sad.

Marco started to walk, Ymir matching his gait.

"Annie respected you," Marco said. He paused as they climbed a set of stairs. "She admired how you never held back expressing yourself. You would always stay true to your convictions and speak your mind. I like that about you, too."

"Geez," Ymir said. "Shut up about that – you're gonna make me sick."

"Sorry," Marco said with a chuckle. He pulled an object out of his pocket. It was a silver ring, Marco running his thumb over the metal as he studied it with a forlorn expression.

"Wasn't that Annie's?" Ymir asked.

"Yeah," Marco said, tucking the item back in his pocket. The light behind his eyes appeared to dim. "Ymir, can I ask a favor?"

"You can ask," Ymir said, regarding him from the corner of her eye. "Doesn't mean I'll do it, though."

Marco nodded. "Can you go see Eren on your own? I don't think seeing him right now would make things better for either of us."

There was nothing in Marco's voice conveying he didn't believe that to be true. Ymir let out a groan. "So something did happen between you guys."

Marco looked away, his hands balling into fists. Ymir took in the unusually tense gesture before giving him a weak punch to the shoulder.

"Fine," She said, watching him through heavy lids. "You'll owe me, though."

The rest of the journey down the hall was one Ymir took on her own. A weak wave over her shoulder had been her last dealing with Marco before reaching her destination.

This sucks.

Ymir knocked. There was no answer.

Well, I did what I could.

She took a step away, but paused. Marco's sad smile flashed before her eyes.

"There must be something about farmer hicks and them having the same goody-goody smile," Ymir said, irritated. She hated that she'd caught a glimpse of Historia behind Marco's gaze.

Ymir spun on her heel. The door shook on its hinges as she repeatedly slammed her fist into the wood. It swung open a moment later, Eren's disheveled appearance giving the impression he'd leapt out of bed.

"What is it?" Eren asked, an urgent nature to his tone. "What happened?!"

"Nothing," Ymir said. She regarded Eren with a slow blink. "I just came to say 'hi.'"

Eren grit his teeth. His attempt to slam the door shut was blocked as Ymir held it open.

"They're expecting us to start training," she said. "A new plan is in the works to plug the wall. If you haven't guessed, you're the crucial element, so start showing up when you're supposed to."

"Why?" Eren said. His voice shook, rage behind his gaze. "So I can get kidnapped again? So I can be useless again? Why … Do I always need to be protected? Everyone keeps dying because I can't look out for myself. How many more people have to die?! Should I just head to the wall so the entire Scout Regiment can be wiped out?! Levi's squad … then Historia … now Conny and Annie … they're all gone because I was weak."

"Obviously."

This was met with a grimace. Eren tried to close the door again; Ymir didn't allow it to budge an inch.

"You're weak," Ymir said. She closed her eyes. "And so am I."

"What are you talking about?" Eren asked. The nature of his voice gave Ymir a perfect picture of his shoulders slumping. "You're not the reason everyone keeps dying."

"No," Ymir said, opening her eyes. "But I haven't been able to stop it. You're so absorbed in your own self-pity you didn't put together I was also there during all of those incidents you mentioned. All those people died under my watch, too. Thinking about it makes me feel like shit. There was a time I was so consumed by those thoughts I figured it would be easier to just sit around doing nothing in the hope one day my body would give up on living like my mind had. It was at that moment the people around me called me out on my bullshit."

Ymir extended her free hand. She couldn't blame Eren for regarding it with apprehension.

"You told me …" Ymir said. Her voice took a soft tone she didn't use often … at least not since what'd happened at Stohess.

"You told me I could rediscover who I am. You also mentioned I didn't have to do it alone. The same thing applies to you, Eren. So, stop pretending you're the only one who's ever felt worthless, and become who you want to be."

Eren raised his hand. He hesitated. "I haven't been able to protect anyone. What if I can't?"

Ymir withdrew her palm. A moment passed as she looked down on Eren in thought. "I think … Historia would want you to have this."

"Have what?"

Eren's shoulders went stiff as he was pulled into a tight embrace.

"She would say you have the ability to protect the ones you care about," Ymir said. "I would say you need to grow a pair."

Ymir withdrew. She turned and began heading down the hall. "I'll see you in training tomorrow. If I don't, the next time I come here I'm kicking your ass."

"Hey!"

Ymir slid her hands into her pockets, turning to look back with a scowl. "What? You better not say shit about that – it's never happening again."

"Are you … good?" Eren asked. The light had returned behind his eyes. Ymir couldn't say when she'd suddenly found herself caring about Eren's wellbeing … but she found it to be a relief.

"Yeah, I'm good," Ymir said.

"Even after what happened?"

Ymir kept her hands in the pockets of her loose slacks. It meant she could curl her fingers without Eren noticing. "Why wouldn't I be?"

Eren's face hardened. A hint of the rage which usually churned beneath the surface flared up. "Because even though Reiner was a piece of shit, you still killed him."

Ah, that.

"Who cares?" Ymir said, dismissing the notion with a shrug. "What, am I supposed to cry over the piece of filth that killed Historia? Fuck that. I'd grind Reiner between my teeth a thousand times over and still ask for more. And now I get the chance to piss on his entire legacy by using his power to fight for the people Historia would've wanted to protect. And you think I'm supposed to sit around and cry over that?"

Eren's jaw clicked shut. His eyes wandered over Ymir as if he'd never seen her before.

"What?" Ymir asked, irritation growing in her gut.

To her surprise, Eren laughed. He regarded her with a grin. "I never thought you could be nice."

"Fuck off."

Eren laughed again. He looked out the window, his smile growing soft. "Annie had been … smiling. It was unfair she looked so happy when I had to be the one to take her life. It was unfair she'd been the one protecting me and died because of it."

He looked back to Ymir, his back straightening. "Annie would also kick my ass for giving up." He put his hands on his hips. "Man … why is everyone I hang out with so violent? I think Armin is the only one who's never tried to hit me."

"Not directly," Ymir said, tilting her head. "Armin is the type to figure out a way to get other people to hit you if he wanted. It makes him a coward, but also the one to watch out for the most."

The expected reaction of Eren getting angry on his friend's behalf didn't come. Ymir wondered if he'd finally gotten around to developing a sense of humor.

"I'm gonna wash up and get changed," Eren said, hooking a thumb over his shoulder. "You wanna go with me to the mess hall for dinner?"

"That's not what this is," Ymir said, turning on her heel. She heard Eren chuckle at her back, causing her to smirk.