"I'll be across the street if you need anything," the owner showed the two of us into the empty building before quickly running off to sit at a coffee shop across the busy road.

alright then

"Dusty," Ymir commented, looking around.

you're right

"That can be fixed," I murmured, beginning to wonder around. Large windows that looked out onto the street provided ample sunlight, the room was spacious with plenty of room to put in jewelry cases or create private spaces for consultations. "Should we poke around?"

"Sounded like we have free reign of the place," Ymir nodded at me, beginning to open random doors that led out of the main room.

"I'll take the upstairs!" I shouted running past her up a winding wood staircase.

"Shout if you need anything!"

"Of course!"

The stairs ended in a short hallway which emptied into a large room I could only assume was the main living area, attached to this was a small kitchen, the windows over the sink peering out into the crowded street below.

it's nice and bright

A door to the side opened into a small but not uncomfortable bedroom, I wandered over to the window, looking out.

oh wow

A small but beautiful garden lay outside the window, Ymir stood in the center of it, looking up at me.

"Took you long enough."

"Oh come on, you can't have been waiting for long."

"You're right I only just got here, how is it upstairs?"

"Wonderful, downstairs?"

"It'll need some work but it's fine."

"Come down here, it's nice out."

"One minute!"

"Slow down! Don't trip," Ymir called after me, her voice growing more distant as I raced down the stairs towards her.

"You're right, it is nice out," I grinned, coming to a skidding stop in front of Ymir.

"Why stop there? Run into my arms."

"We'll fall."

"I'll catch you."

"You'll fall."

"Alright then, I'll come to you," she pulled me into an embrace.

"This is nice," I murmured into her chest, listening to the sound of her breathing.

"Isn't it?" She hummed in reply, "do you like this one?"

"I love it- imagine a cat sleeping back here, it's perfect."

"You're going to replace me with a cat?"

"Well someone needs to keep the bed warm-"

"So unfaithful," Ymir's arms fell to her side, "should we look around at the rest of the space together?"

"I would like that," I nodded, leaning into her side as we left the small garden behind.

"It's spacious, plenty of storage and even a few rooms that could be converted into offices," Ymir led me through the rooms she had explored before.

"If we put your crew to work this place can be cleaned in a couple hours."

"Those fools don't know how to clean."

"If we ask Levi and Erwin to lend us some help this place can be cleaned in a couple of hours."

"That's more like it."

"Maybe your crew can assist with the move in process."

"Certainly," she nodded, "they're good at lugging shit around."

they're definitely good at more than that

"We should probably go find that guy," I shook myself out of my fantasies, looking around the space one last time, "the upstairs is spacious enough."

"Alright."

let's go

"Well that was easier than I thought it was going to be," Ymir chuckled, the two of us walking away from the building post talking to the owner about purchasing the space.

"I was worried we were going to walk away without a deal," I murmured in agreement, "we are one house poorer."

"It's an investment."

"That's for sure."

"We should head back to the ship, let the crew know that we were successful."

i want to show them everything

"Right, we're probably a bit too conspicuous on this main road anyway," Ymir glanced around, "we can never be too safe."

"You're right, it's been quiet."

there's no way my father isn't aware that we've returned

so we have to be careful

still- it feels good to walk around without caring

"Y/N-" Ymir bit her lip, "if something happens, you should run to Levi or Erwin's house, I'd be remiss to say that I could protect you better than they could."

that's-

"That's up to me to decide, I want to stay with you."

"If it isn't safe I want you to run."

"Since when did you lack confidence in your own abilities?"

"Since I had something too lose."

"Romantic."

"Is it?" We rounded a corner, the harbor coming further into view.

definitely

"You're incredibly romantic, makes me wonder how many people you've done this with."

"Would it kill you to belive that you're the first?"

"I would be honored."

but that is a bit hard to believe

"But still it's a bit hard to believe- wouldn't someone like you have lots of people hanging around?"

you're talented, charismatic, well off- the list goes on

"Too scared," she shrugged, "or never the right people, that's just how it is."

sad

"Well they were all stupid anyway," I grumbled, kicking a rock as we walked down the street.

"What about you? Where are all of your suitors?"

"My suitors?"

"Yeah, you had them didn't you?"

"Well-" I hesitated, thinking for a moment, "probably?"

"What kind of answer is that?"

"I guess I've never really thought of it like that?"

im sure that i have HAD suitors but no one has approached me before

"What?"

"I mean they would all go through my father or my brother first- no one really approached me directly."

besides with levi and erwin always hanging around-

"They must've been chased off by those scary friends of yours."

"They're really the sweetest when you get to know them."

"I'm sure."

"I mean it!"

"What's that-" Ymir stopped in her tracks pointing at a spot in the distance.

"Huh?"

"Is that my ship?"

___________

IM SO TIRED

- aRGHmi