Chapter Text
Hoisting the cardboard box out of the trunk, you dropped it with a crash from whatever junk was held in it. Wiping droplets of rain off your brow, you stepped back and observed the house before you. Shrouded in the shadows of tall pine trees stood the old cabin you'd grown to know throughout the recent summers. Your sister's cabin.
Smiling, you kneeled down and picked the box back up. You could now see it was labeled “Fine China.” Groaning, you walked up the damp wooden steps and forward toward the red door that was pushed open with your foot. The hallway was enveloped in darkness, yet it still smelt like that lavender perfume she wore every time you saw her. Her scarves were still hung up on the hooks like she never left. A lamp, left on, caught your eye, and you saw what seemed to be a note next to it. Shrugging off your coat, this time, you placed the box down gently and walked towards the light. You stared down at the pile of letters and books next to the note; you'd deal with those later. Picking up the paper, you opened it; eyes scanning over the neat writing on the page.
“Welcome back. I'm Historia! I'm so sorry about what happened to your sister, I know how close you two were. I'm happy I'll finally get to meet the person I've heard so much about, though! I've been looking after this place for a while since it's been vacant. Sorry about the state of this place, I only found out you were moving here a few days after Petra passed and didn't have enough time to properly fix it up. Get settled in and then come into town, I own the little café by the repairs shop- It's got a bright pink door if you can't spot it. I want to give you something! -Historia.” You gently folded the paper back up, letting the information sink in before turning around, switching on the light switch, and letting the room light up fully.
"What did she mean by ‘the state of this place?’ This place is cleaner than Petra ever kept it." You mention, to nobody in particular. You moved throughout the rooms, turning on lights as you did. You half expected to turn around and find her sitting in the living room, ginger hair pushed back with concentration, occupied with a poetry book she'd found in the library, or pen in hand scribbling away at some illustration or other. Looking down at your shoes, you took a deep breath, opting to gather up the rest of your belongings to take your mind off it.
Shaking your umbrella off at the door, you basked in the warmth of the café with the bright pink door that despite Historia’s instruction, did actually take a while to find. You looked around, aromas of clementine tea exploding in your nose, small cakes and cookies decorated the glass display cabinets and the soft flow of music entered your ears. Your eyes immediately fell on a figure, tall, brown hair, hands moving around hastily whilst they explained something to the small blonde girl before them. The black hooded jacket they wore hung from their shoulders as if they'd been in a rush to put it on.
You coughed, two pairs of unfamiliar eyes looking at yours. Your breath hitched, you met their eyes, a walnut brown- glasses hanging from the bridge of their hooked nose, mouth hung open in the middle of a sentence. A feeling came over, one you don't think you've felt before. You smiled, and they smiled back at you. Dimples appeared on the sides of their tanned cheeks and their hands fell to their sides.
"Hey, you made it!" A voice broke the silence and your eyes flicked down to behind the counter, falling on the little blonde girl you assumed to be Historia. She waved you over. "I'm sorry! I was so engrossed in conversation I didn't hear you come in. Hange here was fixing something in the back." She explained. You looked at the presence next to you- toolbox in hand and a lightbulb in the other, they smiled at you. “Oh yeah!” they exclaimed “Hey, I used to fix Petr-'' They paused. "Sorry about... that." They said sheepishly, dropping the toolbox. They held a calloused hand out to you and you took it; the warmth of their hand enveloped yours. Being so close meant you could smell the aroma of pine and diesel that wafted off of them.
You introduced yourself, reluctantly letting go of their hands before you turned toward Historia, butterflies still dancing around in your stomach. "Sorry, I'll be off. Hey, Historia? Please make sure Ymir checks those wires out, I don't feel good about it" They shouted, suddenly halfway out of the door, hood pulled over their head; partially drenched in rain. "Of course! Thanks again Hange." You heard from in front of you, turning back to face the voice. "Hey! We finally meet." She said sweetly, blue eyes dancing around your face. "Yep, It's great to know I'm not alone out here. What did you need me for?" You spoke, however nice a person was; You were still shy around new people.
"Yeah, right." She spun around, digging around below the counter before she shot up with a small, black box in hand and placed it on the counter. "I didn't want to sell it, she would have wanted it to be yours." She spoke, a sudden somber tone enveloping her usually warm voice. Picking the box up, you opened it, a set of keys laid on top of the plush velvet interior. Ones you think you vaguely remember. Are these the keys to Petra's bookshop? You breathed out shakily with the realization before you gently placed the lid back onto the box.
"It'll need a few, uhh... Let's just say it needs some fixing up. It's been a while since I've been in there, and I couldn't muster up the courage to go. I already asked Hange to help you out with redecorating, if that's okay?" You knew how much that shop meant to Petra. You still can remember the look on her face when she finished decorating and officially opened the doors, and the hours you two spent sorting through books in the summer.
You nodded your head. "Thank you, Historia." Eventually looking back up to see another box on the counter, this one baby pink, decorated with the words “H's cake” on it. "And here. Just a little housewarming treat!' She exclaimed and you laughed, carefully picking it up, admiring the white ribbon holding the box together. "And thank you for this, too." You smile. Historia was nice. At least you had someone to call a friend here. "No, it's nothing! Don't be a stranger, come back tomorrow and we can hang out or something! Hange should be up quite early in the morning to drive you down to the shop; they take their work seriously, so be ready."
"Yeah, sure. Thank you again." You let out, waving your goodbyes as you turn to walk out into the rain. Your car keys jingled in your hands as you moved to shield the box cake box from the rain. Lifting your head up to look out towards the stormy sea in front of you, you breathed out, letting your shoulders slump. Finally, it was time to go back home.
Sliding into the wooden seat in the kitchen, you put the pink box on the table and opened it. Blue fondant greeted you. "Welcome home." You read out loud. Grabbing a fork from the drawer, you sat back down, digging into the soft cake. How long was it since you last ate? Leaning back against the chair, you rubbed your eyes. You'd clean up later. ‘Too tired.” You thought. Now that you finally got a chance to look around, it was so strange, being here without her. Sniffling, you smiled down at the cake and closed the lid, dragging your feet along the floors towards the green sofa, perched in the middle of the living room. Collapsing on it, you let your eyes shut...
‘Hey, isn't that person coming tomorrow?’ You thought; the one at the café. What was their name again? You rolled over with a sigh, kicking off your boots. ‘Who cares, I’ll deal with that in the morning.’ That was your closing thought as you drifted into a blanket of darkness.