#maybe Yugiri already has an inkling

[efrmellifer]

Sapphistry

I’ve been promising some wlw content with Etien for a while so... here it is!

Etien had known for several years now that she would be pleased to extend her affections to more than simply men. Maybe not soon enough to have had any clarity on why she’d felt the way she did when A’beilnah had left the Twelveswood, but long enough that it didn’t come as a surprise to her when she took a stronger interest in the welfare of the Doman refugees.

Particularly their leader.

When she and Alphinaud had sat down for that long discussion about why a boat full of Domans had come to port in Vesper Bay, Etien had been cautiously curious about the woman sitting before them dressed all in purple and symbols Etien didn’t recognize.

The way that Yugiri kept her face obscured, but the hood of her coat gave suggestions of what lay below had further piqued Etien’s curiosity.

Of course, she had other things on her mind—both of them did, in fact—as they stood before the Syndicate so Yugiri could plead her case.

Still, the layers of clothing still worn close to the body, the long protrusions covered in cloth extending from her head, her stance, Etien studied it all with an eye half assessing and half appreciating.

Even as the Syndicate deliberated, Etien’s mind wandered to thoughts of being trusted enough that the Lady Yugiri might remove the mask and let her see who it was that they had been striving to assist.

Her soft manner of speaking was soothing to Etien, too, the way she made her case while keeping her tone level, her voice on the quiet side while still carrying to those who needed to hear it.

It was only as Etien was handing over a sackful of gil-- “to pay the healers, so the young ones could getthat care they need,” she’d explained—and Yugiri’s hands brushed hers as she took the coinpurse that it all properly clicked for her.

The warmth that spread across her back at the realization, like a too-hot coat in the springtime sun, made it all very clear.

She didn’t just admire Yugiri. She liked her.

Well, plenty of the other Scions liked Yugiri, and wanted to help.

No, this was different from that. Etien pushed herself to put the words together, in the din of her mind.

She wanted to trace with her eyes, and possibly her fingers, the curves of Yugiri’s face implied by the mask, to press a kiss to her forehead. Perhaps the lips that spoke so softly.

She wanted to peel away the almost-white gloves and hold, then kiss, Yugiri’s hands.

Etien had caught a glimpse or two of the glossy black hair in braids that hung down Yugiri’s back, and absently thought of running her fingers through it, of redoing those braids after a long day. Perhaps they could drink tea and do each other’s hair, and relax into domestic comfort, after all the fighting they had to do. For their lives, for their livelihoods.

Catching Roaille together, Etien suppressed a thrill at how they walked side by side, bringing up the rear. They were almost close enough to touch

_

When it had all burned down, and Etien feared that she was about to be hauled away for a murder she didn’t, wouldn’t, couldn’t have committed, it had been a relief that she had been welcomed by a friendly face in the Coerthan highlands. But it had been some other sort of feeling entirely when she’d met with the few of her comrades who had made it to Camp Dragonhead as well.

That is to say, she much preferred the butterflies in her stomach when she recognized the shade of purple to the sickly dread she’d been feeling since she ran from the banquet.

But there was a bit of a shock as she finally got a look at the lady behind the mask.

Yugiri’s hair was neat, two locks hanging down, bangs stopping just above her eyebrows, and drawing attention to her light green eyes. Oh, what a beautiful contrast to the deep purple she always wore!

Etien was aware she was staring, only able to shut her mouth and blush when Yugiri spoke, clarifying the situation as best she could with a “Hm? Ah, yes, my mask—it was lost in the struggle.”

Well, these weren’t the circumstances Etien had expected this first look behind the veil to take place under.

“Pretty, isn’t she?” Tataru asked.

“Very,” Etien replied, blinking a few times as if she had looked into a bright light.

Tataru continued the tale of how she and Yugiri escaped Ul’dah and Urianger had disguised the Waking Sands, but Etien was only half paying attention, tracing with her eyes the edge of every scale on Yugiri’s cheek.

As she left, saying that the rest of the Domans would keep up the search for the other Scions, Etien watched her go, a little sad as her eyes tracked the swish of Yugiri’s retreating tail.

There would be a next time they saw each other, Etien assured herself.

And next time, she would not stare.

#fic #I don't know if Etien would have/will ever confess tbh #maybe Yugiri already has an inkling #also considering how much of 2.x takes place seemingly all at once #Etien was Having A Time And A Half #what with the fighting dragons and being accused of assassination #while juggling several crushes. how DOES she do it #also also maybe I'll talk about A'beilnah someday #lavender and seashells