My Dear Historia

Chapter 7 - Declaration of Love and War

"Ms. Theo? You like girls, right?" Falco's question gave Ymir pause. She glanced at him from the book she was reading.

"I've only liked one person. And she happened to be a girl, yes." She turned the page and continued reading.

"How did you tell her?" He asked. Ymir sighed to herself trying her best to hide her annoyance.

"By telling her." She spoke with a flat tone.

"Oh." He left it at that. Ymir rolled her eyes closing her book and sitting up from her position.

"Her and Gabi are very different kid." She pointed out. He looked at her quickly, surprised that she knew where he was getting at.

"I .. she... but okay?" He stuttered. Ymir stood and ruffled his hair as she walked by.

"Just ask her to the festival." She suggested

***

"You gonna buy something or just sit there and drool kid?" The owner of the produce stand asked the young boy. The child looked up at him for a moment.

"Well, I don't have any money so..." He quickly grabbed an apple and made a run for it. Ignoring the series of shouts and profanities from the owner of the stand.

"Woah easy kid." A female solider warned as he bumped into her. She grabbed his arm and held him steady.

"Thief!... he's.. a thief." The owner was out of breath as he caught up to the two. Ymir threw a few coins by his feet.

"Here. I'll take care of this one. That should cover more than a measly apple that you couldn't bother to spare." She huffed dragging the child away, not bothering to wait for a reply. When they turned the corner into the ally way, Ymir released the young boy and smiled.

"Not bad Tanner." She spoke. His face lit instantly at the praise.

"So? It worked?" He asked hopefully.

"Yep. You distracted him long enough for me to grab enough to give your friends by the orphanage a decent meal." She motioned him to follow her where she had stored two full bags behind a few trash cans. "Let's get these back before your mom catches on." Ymir winked. He nodded enthusiastically and following the older woman down the road.

"You're like a real solider." Tanner muttered through a full mouth as he bit into his honey crisp apple. They had finished handing out their rations to the orphans that Tanner had befriended.

"Dumb kid. I am a real solider." She playfully shoved him while eating her own apple. Tanner shook his head.

"Nah. You're not like those other assholes. The ones that just watch those below them struggle. You actually care." Tanner explained. Ymir chucked her apple core behind her and stood.

"Ya well. I do what I do for myself." Ymir wiped her hands on her pants. "Now let's get back before your mom has my ass." She ignored the way the young boy looked right through her. When they returned, Claire was already ready and waiting to lecture them. Krista and Jonathan awkwardly looking away after failing in their jobs to distract Claire while Ymir and Tanner made their usual run through the city.

When the older woman turned her attention to her son after giving Ymir a quick tongue lashing, Ymir took the opportunity to grab Krista and lead her to the upstairs part of the bar. Jonathan flipped her off as a thanks for leaving him to fend for himself against the single mother's rage. Ymir repeated the action with a grin and continued dragging the smaller girl behind her. When they arrived at Ymir's old room, the brunette quickly ushered the Krista in and closed the door behind them.