Set weeks after the movie Raya and the Last Dragon ends. Would reccomend watching the movie first! :)
Despite Raya and her team finally achieving Kumandra throughout the land, LGBT+ relationships are still outlawed. Royalty is especially expected to...
Later that day, once Namaari had said an awkward, oddly tense goodbye to Raya, she began the ride back to Fang.
The cold cat lady, she thought scoffing. No windows or doors, only walls. That's who she needed to become again. That kept them safe.
Stupid emotional venturi heart of hers. She would tear it out if needed.
Anything to keep her safe.
Namaari couldn't believe how foolish she had been. What was she thinking? If anyone had found them sleeping side by side, they could've been exiled from Kumandra or jailed. Even killed by a mob.
Kumandra was many things. Tolerant of "outsiders", it was not.
But Raya's bright eyes, her unstoppable smile, gods, even the feel of her skin against hers during sparring-
-yeah, Namaari was in over her head.
"Duty to country, duty to family, all before self" she whispered, remindingly.
She had a duty to Fang and her mother Virana. That was all she could afford.
But what if...?
No.
She spurred her cat to go faster across the rolling plains, a thunderstorm trailing them not far behind.
For an inexplicable reason she couldn't define, tears began to stream down her cheeks, her heart beating faster in synchronous tempo with the pounding of her cat's paws against the ground.
If this was what love felt like, she wanted no part of it. Namaari was accustomed to pain. She had to be, growing up fatherless in Fang, surviving droughts and starvation.
But this type of pain, this knew exactly where to cut her deepest. These were the first tears she'd shed in years.
Raya; her greatest weakness.
(<:>)
Upon arriving home to Fang, Namaari's mask was firmly affixed to her face. Pure marble and stone. She strode through the gates and up to the throne.
Her toned body was a deadly combination of lean muscle and tough sinew, bound by dextrous joints and flexible bones. She had been raised a weapon, and what a weapon she was.
Krav Maga, Japanese Jiu Jitsu, Muay Thai. Knives. These arts composed the rhythms of her life.
No faults. Well, except for one...
-no. She couldn't think about that now.
She bowed as she came across the regal Chief Virana, her mother.
"My daughter, it is good to see you."
"And you."
"The time is coming for you to take your rightful place on the throne."
Namaari's heart quickened. This was the moment she had been waiting for. At least, until-
"It is time for you to choose a man as consort."
Namaari's mask hid her growing dread. Gods, no. Not now. Not after Raya had given her a semblance of hope.
Still, Chief Virana saw through her. "I know what it is like to rule alone. It is not a fate I wish upon you."
"But mother-"
"No buts. I know what is best for you. You know the law, and thus will begin to see suitors next month."
"What about a woman as consort, mother?" Namaari ventured casually. She'd never dared to stand up to her about anything before, but this was different. It had to be.
Chief Virana turned and looked down at her daughter. "If you wish to face the wrath of our trained military and resourceful civilian populace, by all means try to overthrow the law that has allowed our population to grow and thrive."
Namaari suppressed a wince. "So be it. Suitors next month" she whispered, pretending to give in as she mentally calculated how many soldiers she could take on at once.
"That's what I thought" her mother replied primly, until she hesitated.
"Daughter, you should know, however, you may need to fight less people than you believe."
She gestured to their hair with a devilish wink, her demeanor changing "our hair cut is popular for a reason, no?"
She turned on her heel and walked out of the throne room, leaving Namaari agape, watching.
Did she just reference the underground gay culture?!
Namaari had thought her mother was just a little clueless. Perhaps the times were changing. She just hoped she would survive the coming battle to see it.
She had to tell Raya the truth, and she would soon have a day off next week. She let out a shiver.
And then she would find out if Raya felt the same.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
______________________________________
^^Not my fan art, just think its cool. Think this is possibly how Namaari has convinced herself she wants to be percieved. Also feel like this would be her reaction if someone threatened Raya.
Or maybe I've had too much sugar today and have thus started to hallucinate lol 😎.
