Young Love
A groan escaped Yura’s lips as she grasped at her side, letting her head flop back as she slouched lower on the bench upon which she sat. It had already been some time since she had nearly had taken the beating that left her within an inch of her life, but she yet felt the lingering pains ghosting her body. She had been out of commission for what seemed like a lifetime, and the fact that her father flat out refused to let the girl leave her quarters made it all the worse. She had grown extremely antsy, deciding it best to hop out a window at her nearest opportunity, doing what she could to avoid her beloved father’s ever lingering guard over his daughter. She had taken to settling on a bench not too far out of the way of her home, though situated enough that it was just out of sight. “Mayhaps it be that you intend to continue to torture your father with your chronic disappearing acts?” A familiar voice give Yura a slight jump, one that caused her to fall back in pain once more, bending her head back to look in the eyes the one that had finally come to drag her home.
“Here to turn me in?” Yura enquired, her upside-down gaze fixated upon Alphinaud. She watched as he approached, rolling her head to the side to watch him as he sat down next to her, pulling her tail into her lap to give him room.
“Not quite, though I very well should.” He gave her a light smile, but it soon melted into a look of concern. She watched him as his gaze seemed to search everywhere around him, before he finally settled back upon her. “We were worried. I was… worried.”
Yura scoffed at his words, fidgeting with her tail, finding it a bit ridiculous everyone was clambering after her so. ”I can’t imagine why. I’ve been worse off than this, you know.” Maybe that was a stretch but she’d come out of the worst of it by now. “Besides, it’s not like I’m going anywhere,”
Alphinaud didn’t respond, instead standing up and making his way towards the ledge not far from where the two sat. Evidentially he had decided the view of the land before him was easier to take in than that of Yura at the moment.
Yura recoiled a bit at his action, and cursed her own crude wording and attitude. She let go of her tail, getting on her feet and walking over to stand beside the Elezen. “I’m sorry.” She mumbled, somewhat ashamed of her own insensitivity.
“You could have died.” Yura was shocked at the young man’s sudden words. She held her breath, unsure of how to respond. “Watching Iemori and Vetelle carry your crippled body out… we were all sure you were gone.”
Alphinaud never once looked at Yura. She never realized just how much her stupidity could have hurt everyone else around her. She felt a bit selfish at that point. Her life wasn’t really just hers, she had to think of everyone around her. The people she had never even realized cared. The people she had never truly realized she cared for.
In a somewhat hesitant motion, Yura placed a hand on Alphinaud’s arm. He looked down at her grasp for a moment, eyes lingering on her hand for a moment before looking back up at the young Au Ra. Yura’s tail twitched a bit in anticipation, unable to grasp what she was about to do. Not that her body really seemed to care. She had a point to make. She leaned in towards her childhood, her nerves shot but never once letting that show. The kiss was slow and a bit clumsy, unsurprisingly, but pleasant none the less.
It was a good moment before either of them pulled away, both of them keeping their eyes closed as their foreheads rested against one another's. Alphinaud soon let his head begin to slide, carefully avoiding Yura’s horns as his head found her shoulder, eyes continuing to remain closed.
Yura finally exhaled after what seemed like an eternity, resting her own head atop his, making a solemn vow that she intended to keep: “I’m not going anywhere. I mean it."