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"Ah, this is the life."
Yunica Yuyuna had come a long way from fighting star moles for scraps in the Silver Bazaar and running from gigantoads. Now she was reclining on a comfortable couch in the Hopescions' common room, enjoying a nice, quiet evening.
"H-Hi Yunica, may I join you?"
The lounging lalafell opened one eye and saw Bylgrael standing at the other side of the room, and sat up.
"Well sure you can, c'mere!"
Bylgrael smiled and sat down beside Yunica, who immediately snuggled up beside her towering friend. Almost reflexively, Bylgrael draped an arm around Yunica, who giggled as Bylgrael hugged her. This was a common sight. Growing up alone and in poverty, Yunica had received very little affection in her youth, and Bylgrael was more than happy to rectify this, as she could scarcely stop herself from picking up and cuddling Yunica like a plush doll. Yunica let out a contented sigh. Bylgrael's warmth was just what she needed to round out the evening. The calming rhythm of her breathing and the soft, gentle hold of her arm filled Yunica with contentment. She loved Bylgrael, more than she could fully articulate. From the day they met she was an inspiration, to say nothing of how kind and affectionate she was with Yunica. But, well, Yunica was just...Yunica. She was tiny even for a lalafell, and Bylgrael was the largest, and prettiest, roegadyn she'd ever met. Besides, Bylgrael already had at least three other women in the Hopescions alone that vied for her attention. Taller, prettier, smarter woman than Yunica. She envied them a little, the love Bylgrael showed them, but she had accepted that affection befitting a beloved pet was good enough.
Unbeknownst to Yunica however, Bylgrael's heart was beating out of her chest. She could do this, she'd been preparing herself for days now...but even still she wondered if it was enough. Bylgrael loved Yunica dearly. To say it was love at first sight might be accurate, she was utterly smitten the day she met the dimininutive pugilist and every day they spent together since then only further confirmed it. But Bylgrael was...big. Very big. Just because Yunica tolerated Bylgrael squeezing her like a ragdoll didn't necessarily mean she reciprocated her feelings or would want to have that sort of relationship with someone over twice her size. Bylgrael swallowed her doubts, she'd come this far. Her other relationships had fallen into her lap as her paramours took the initiative despite Bylgrael's awkward fumblings, but this time she would make the first move.
"Y-Yunica?"
"Hmm?"
"C-Could I um, I mean, may I, uh-" Bylgrael removed her arm from around Yunica's side and sat up, mustering her courage. Yunica in turn moved to face Bylgrael, puzzled by her unusual actions.
"C-Can I...kiss you?" Bylgrael barely squeaked the words out, feeling herself shaking. Now was the moment of truth. Yunica giggled, her cheeks flushing slightly.
"Okay, if you want, jeez, you had me worried."
The request did make Yunica's heart flutter slightly, but she knew better than to get her hopes up. An innocent peck on the cheek, a gentle kiss to the top of her head like those mothers gave to children, surely that's all that was intended. So she was very much shocked when Bylgrael suddenly leaned down and placed a hand on her waist, the other cradling Yunica's cheek, as Bylgrael pulled her into a deep, passionate kiss. Yunica couldn't fully process what had just happened. She could feel the softness of Bylgrael's lips against her own, the heat of her breath, and the closeness of her face, but it didn't seem real. She was numb to the gentle movements of the giant woman's tongue, simply standing in shock as her brain raced to comprehend what was happening. Able to feel that something was off, Bylgrael released Yunica from her embrace to see the lalafell's face tomato red, her expression one of pure shock, and tears welling in the corners of her eyes. Bylgrael nearly started to cry as well, terrified she had crossed a line and upset her beloved friend.
"Oh no, Yunica I'm so sorry, I shouldn't- I didn't-"
Before she could flounder any further, Yunica began to openly sob, flinging herself into Bylgrael's chest and hugging her tight.
"I, I l-love you Byl, I-" Yunica struggled to speak between sobs, her heart felt as if it were overflowing. How long had she wanted this, to say those words, the feelings she'd long told herself would stay bottled up inside. Bylgrael held Yunica tight, gently stroking her hair, suppressing her own urge to cry.
"I love you too!"
Yunica's sobs quieted to sharp, unsteady breaths as she pushed away from Bylgrael's tear-stained bosom, wiping her eyes and taking a deep breath.
"Sorry about that I just- I never thought you'd ever-," Yunica struggled to speak, the overwhelming joy threatening to make her start bawling again. "I never thought you'd ever feel that way about me!"
"How could I not?" Bylgrael was finding Yunica's tears were infectious, struggling not to cry herself.
"Well I'm just...I'm...I'm so tiny and dumb and plain, and you're beautiful and strong, and everyone likes you! What chance could I ever have with you against someone like Galarm or L'zumy?"
"Hey don't say that. You're beautiful, Yunica. Ever since we first I wanted to tell you that but I...I was too nervous to say it."
"Ah jeez, I-I'm not-"
"You're beautiful and sweet, you're brave and strong, and you're so cute that every time I see you I just want to pick you up and take you home with me!!"
"Aww quit it now, you're gonna make me blush!" Yunica spoke as if she wasn't redder than Dalamud mere moments ago.
So that was that. Yunica loved Bylgrael, her mighty protector, and Bylgrael loved Yunica, her feisty companion, nothing left unsaid. The two women held each other close, still reeling from the outpouring of affection.
"So um, with all that said," Bylgrael spoke as bashfully as a schoolgirl, "do you think we could uh, keep going..?"
Picking up exactly what she meant, Yunica grinned and threw her arms around Bylgrael's neck and gave her a kiss of love and bliss in the days to come, one which Bylgrael was more than happy to reciprocate. They tumbled over, locked in a gentle embrace upon the couch, and would remain there for the rest of the evening. As Yunica laid there upon the plush cushions, in the arms of her loving girlfriend, musing on the feeling and taste of her lips, a thought crossed her mind.
"Man, this is the life."