Different Kind of Love

Chapter 22 - Awakening

"So," a recognisable voice could be heard as Eren made his way through the house. "Why'd you do it?"

"Well, if you remember it was self defence." Ymir replied, her voice rough as though she was in pain.

"Self defence? You killed him!"

"Kill or be killed."

"What do we do with her?" Reiner asked, he must be with Annie and Bert. Before either of them could answer, Eren butted in, surprising everyone.

"You'll do nothing to her." Eren spoke as he entered the room. Reiner, Annie and Bert were all stood surrounding Ymir, who was on her knees, her hands bound together with a length of rope.

"Holy shit Eren! You're awake!" Ymir exclaimed with joy.

"E-Eren..." Annie perked up. She could feel heat rising on her face, but she quickly turned and covered her face with her hands. Why was she embarrassed?

"Untie her." Eren said with an emotionless tone. "Now."

"Sorry, Eren." Reiner quietly said. "She's the one who murdered Marcel and I'll be damned before I let her take away another one of us."

"Marcel? The one who was killed? Shall we ask Ymir why she killed him?" Eren asked as he faced the still tied up Ymir, awaiting a response.

"Self defence." Ymir answered confidently. "He believed that I was after him. After you all got free, I followed, he found me, tried to kill me, I had to kill him. And if you're wondering how I killed him, the answer is simple. I am one of you." There was shock on everyone's face except Eren's, in hindsight, it was fairly obvious. How she brushed off some questions, how she easily took down the guards, it was so obvious.

"Untie her." Reiner hesitated for a second but slowly began to remove the knot in the rope. "Thank you."

"How?" Reiner asked quietly.

"I played it safe, didn't allow myself to get angry." Ymir stood, rubbing her wrists were the ropes had been. "It's actually quite easy, me and Eren managed so why can't you three?"

"It doesn't matter now does it? We've been living this way for all our lives, there's no point changing now."

"Well then, I guess I'll have to join you, that was the military police in the factory, they'll know who I am now. I can't go back, it'll put Christa at risk."

"Fine, but just so you know we don't forgive you."

"Fair enough, I don't need you anyway, I've got Eren." Ymir smiled at Eren as she spoke.

"E-Eren..." Annie spoke nervously. This made Eren cock an eyebrow. "Why did you leave?"

"Why?" Eren released a quick laugh. "Because I have nothing to live for, you've taken that away from me." There was an awkward tension in the room as silence grew. Eren's life was getting shaken up even more everyday. He's already had enough, how much more will it take to push him over the edge?

- At the hotel -

"Your room is next to Eren's. Make yourself comfortable. This'll be your home from now on." Reiner left in a sassy manner.

"Are they always like this?" Ymir asked Eren.

"Yep, you're better off getting used to it. Well I'll be in my room if you need anything." Responded Eren as he pointed to his room door. "Oh and the rooms are quite nice so it shouldn't be hard to get comfortable."

"Ok, and Eren? Thanks. For everything."

"Don't worry about it, I'd help you a million times if you need it." Eren gave Ymir a warming smile as he waved bye and entered his room.

"Thank you..." Ymir said quietly.

- 3 hours later -

The sun had set and Eren layed in his bed, looking up at the ceiling. It's times like these Eren enjoyed the most, he could reflect upon his best memories. When he was around people he was a stubborn asshole but inside he was weak, he had lost so much, he was ready to call it quits. Eren took a deep breath but it was cut short as a sharp pain attacked the left side of his body. He still hadn't fully recovered. He pulled himself off his bed and stood in front of the mirror, then slowly removed his shirt, revealing his scar covered body.

There was a knock at the door.

"Eren? You in there?" It was Ymir.

"Yeah, come in." Eren replied trying to find a shirt to put on. The door opened before Eren could put on a top. Ymir gasped as she saw Eren's body. Since Connie's party, his muscles had grown bigger and much more defined, his used to be six pack had sprouted into an eight pack and his arms were a lot wider. Another new addition was the large variety of scars scattered around his torso.

"Are they from...?" Ymir started but didn't finish. Eren already knew the question.

"The factory, yeah. But like I said. I'd help you a million times if you need it." This made Ymir blush. She slowly made her way towards Eren who grew confused. "Ymir, what are you..." Before he could finish, his face was pulled into Ymir's, their lips touching.

Pulling apart after minutes of intense tongue battles, the two gasped for air. "What was that for?" Eren asked light-heartedly.

"I never thanked you properly."

"I never asked you to."

"You deserved it." Ymir smiled at Eren who brought her in for a hug. After they separated, Ymir nodded her head as to say bye and left to her room.

"Well... That just happened." Eren mumbled as he managed to find a shirt.
While Eren was just about to put on his shirt, there was another knock at the door.

"I'm coming in Eren." It was Annie's voice. The door handle twisted and was opening. Eren's face turned red.

His crush was about to see him topless.