"Miss- I mean no offense but if you're thrown overboard you're as good as gone- might as well let the ocean take you at that point," one of the many patrons spoke up.

UH SORRY ???

"You don't know how to swim?" Scattered laughter moved through the room.

WAS THAT A SECRET

"Y/N," Ymir pouted, "you weren't supposed to talk about that."

"Sorry-" I muttered under my breath, turning towards our audience. "Ymir taught herself, don't speak on something you don't understand."

was that scary enough?

"Hot-" I could feel Ymir's eyes on my back.

"Have any of you seen her swim?" Hannes, the man we were talking to earlier wasn't any help.

god i shouldn't have brought this up in the first place

"Don't you think it's curious that someone like me is running around with Ymir?" I asked, cutting off any other chatter.

"We've heard the rumors, no need to fill us in."

"Hey- listen to her." Ymir barked out, overcoming her embarrassment to glare at the multitude of people speaking over each other.

"Ymir saved me, I was drowning and she saved me-" I lied easily. "I approached her later because of that incident."

that's far from the reality of our first meeting

or even our second but

i think despite her constant refusal to agree- ymir is somewhat of a hero

"You hear that I can swim," Ymir scowled at the room which quickly backed up.

"Didn't know you were such a hero-" someone teased.

"I'm not, she's just special," she put her arm around me, pulling me closer.

well-

"I'm special but still you're-"

"Enough of that," she cut me off abruptly. "We should be going- I only came to brag," Ymir began dragging me out of the building.

weird

"You didn't have to do that- what's the point in devaluing yourself constantly?"

"I don't see the point in pretending to be something I'm not, I've told you this."

but-

"You're too stubborn," I kicked at the ground. "Who cares? You're a hero to me- can you accept the compliment?"

"I don't know if I like the idea of that at all."

so then what?

"Do you want me to be scared of you? I'm not- you've helped me."

i haven't even begun to repay you for everything you've done for me

how could i ever look at you like the villain?

you aren't

"I don't think that someone truly villainous would be doing so much for me without expecting anything in return."

of course, i'm going to repay you but you're helping me without any guarantees

"You're helping me with my accounting- that's enough."

"No it isn't Ymir- don't pretend."

"You're planning on helping me with a business- that's enough."

it's an entirely selfish task

"Ymir you didn't have any guarantee that any of those things would happen when you saved me."

you're a good person- at least to me you are

"Occasionally people like me have morals-" she shrugged. "I don't mind your compliments- I just don't want you putting me up on a pedestal like that."

"Why not?"

"It doesn't suit me- heroes and villains- those are words for people like you," she nodded in my direction. "I'm a sailor first and foremost- the highest rank I'll ever achieve is Captain- and I'm satisfied with that."

have you-

"Have you never wanted to set your sights higher?"

"Sure I have- but at some point, I realized that dreams like that never get you anywhere but an early grave."

"I didn't think you were the cautious type."

"I'm not cautious- I'm a coward," she hummed, taking my hand in hers. "Bravery comes and goes- I only make bets on things I know are going to win."

like me?

"So you're saying you knew I would be beneficial to you?"

"Something like that?"

"Are you sure you didn't just think I was hot?"

that's also an acceptable answer

"That is part of the criteria for joining my crew- we maintain a certain level of attractiveness," Ymir nodded. "But that's not why, you proved yourself to me before I broke you out from house arrest."

the paperwork?

that's what you said before but

i don't know it doesn't seem like enough

"I'd honestly find you saying that it was because of my appearance more believable than it being the couple hours of office work I did."

i mean i know we had a similar conversation back then

but the more i get to know you

the more i find myself running into contradictions

you're wealthy but feel like you can't associate yourself with anything too expensive

you radiate overwhelming confidence yet refuse to accept a compliment

"This conversation is getting old- can I take you to our final stop?"

you may

"If I say no?"

"Are you?"

"Of course not."

"Well then- there aren't any problems."

"Would you call this place home?" I asked absentmindedly as we continued our walk.

"No not really- the sea is my home- was ever since I snuck onto that ship."

"We're very different people," I murmured absentmindedly. "I don't think I could do that."

more so i don't want to

is it wrong of me to say that-

freedom like that scares me? i don't think i can put blind trust like that in anyone- let alone the ocean

"That's just fine Y/N- I like having a harbor to come back to."

the distance is more of a me problem

"I thought you said you weren't interested in something long-term?"

"Plans change- who knows- maybe after this week we'll both be making compromises."

that would be nice

what are you thinking?

i'm not entirely sure

"I worry I would be less like a harbor and more like an anchor."

"A ship without an anchor gets swept away by the currents and meets a horrible death against some rocky coastline- I personally love my anchor so much I carry it everywhere I go." Ymir flicked my forehead, "stop frowning, we're on a date not planning the next 25 years of our lives."

you make me want to plan the next 50 years of my life

"Look, we're here," Ymir stopped in an empty square overlooking the glittering sea. "No one hates me here."

"We're the only ones here."

"Exactly."

"It's pretty."

"It certainly is," I could feel her eyes on me.

________________________

sorry again for the late update! i had complications yesterday ):

ymir has problems, y/n has problems, everyone has problems..

- ami