KUMANDRA (Short Story)

Chapter 10

Namaari inhaled and held her breath for a while then exhaled sharply. She didn't use to do breathing exercises that much as a child but because Raya was so agile, the Princess had to up her game too, to match hers. She started doing yoga during her free time some time ago and breathing exercises were one of those. Namaari couldn't sleep either so she really didn't see any harm in practicing more at night.

The Princess closed her eyes, feeling her muscles ache in her lower area and sighed in embarrassment. Despite that Namaari's been doing this nearly over ten months now, stretching wasn't really her forte, at all. She didn't like the feeling of not excelling at something. It annoyed her. The Princess used to consider those exercises a challenge at first, but it soon turned into a huge pain in her ass. Literally and figuratively.

Namaari didn't mind the discomfort, though. It distracted her from thinking about Raya... which she was doing in this very moment so those exercises couldn't do much apparently. "I miss you..." The Princess sighed, those words coming out of her mouth without realization. If it were for her, Namaari would've dropped everything she was, here and gone to Heart, to live with Raya instead. But the Princess had so many responsibilities towards Fang and as a Princess, Namaari had to put those interests above anything and anyone else. Her mother, Chief Virana needed her here so how could she leave?

She then heard a muffled grunt which immediately snapped the Princess out of her thoughts. Namaari would've been immensely grateful for this salvation were it not coming from a possible threat. She forcefully stood up, her legs still numb because of the exercises she was doing not so long ago and carefully looked out of the window. The Princess couldn't see anyone in the distance. Was she secretly hoping that it would've been Raya? Probably. Definitely.

Namaari was being naïve. Why would Raya ever travel from Heart to Fang, just to be with her?!

The Princess sighed and turned around, only to notice a dark hooded figure stand merely a few inches away. She gasped in shock and grabbed them without hesitation, smashing them to the wall. The figure grunted again, moving their hands up to resist Namaari who was pressuring her arm against their neck. "Dragons... I should really start using the stairs." Raya suddenly whispered, her cheeks getting bright red because of the encounter. Namaari's eyes widened and the Princess immediately moved away.

"Raya..." She whispered back, trying to calm herself down. "Wh-What are you doing here?"

"I wanted to see you." The Princess answered matter-of-factly and caressed her neck. "And I needed to be discreet so there's the hood... Gotta admit though, it would've been way less exciting without it." She smirked, her gaze falling over the other Princess's lips. Namaari's cheeks quickly flushed in answer and the Princess took a few steps towards Raya, kind of pinning her against the wall once again. She giggled, playfully exploring Namaari's flustered face. Raya was enjoying this definitely more than she should have.

"What?! Did you miss me, Dep La?" Namaari whispered and saw the Princess's smirk slowly turn into a frown.

"I did." She mumbled, her voice cracking a bit. "I missed you so much." She then added and wrapped her arms around Namaari, unexpectedly embracing the Princess in a tight hug. "Can we stay like this? Just a little longer?" Namaari nodded and buried her face in Raya's hair, inhaling her calming scent. Something about her girlfriend being here was enough for the Princess to suddenly become serene. Raya was the missing half of herself and with her around, Namaari was finally at peace.

"I missed you too." She whispered and ran her hand through Raya's messy hair. "I can't believe you left Heart because of me. You like me that much, don't you? Dep La." Namaari asked cockily and snorted when Raya nudged her shoulder in answer.

"Maybe I do." The Princess answered calmly and moved away from her girlfriend. "Maybe I like you more than you think." Namaari's cheeks flushed even more. "Your room's huge, Dep La." Raya then noted innocently and started to walk around the Princess's bedroom in awe. "Don't you ever get lost in there?" She pointed at Namaari's gigantic bed in the center of the room.

"I don't know... How about we find that out?" Namaari smirked and quickly wrapped her arms around Raya from behind. The Princess gasped and shook her head in disbelief.

"Don't be so horny, Namaari. It's only been three and a half days."

"Maybe I missed you more than you think." She whispered in Raya's ear with a raspy voice.

"Well, in that case..." She smirked, turning around to face Namaari who raised her brows in answer. "I have to make it up to you, somehow..." Raya's smirk only grew wider when she grabbed Namaari by the collar and pushed her towards the bed, pinning her down under her with one swift movement. "Princess."

***

Raya was sleeping soundly in Namaari's arms. Just being around her girlfriend was everything the Princess's ever wanted and more. She craved being with Namaari, without being afraid what Kumandra might have thought about them, without putting the future of Heart and Fang in grave danger. Right now, that didn't seem to be possible but Raya only hoped that one day, they wouldn't have to hide. That one day, they could be together. Unconditionally.

In this very moment this was the only thing the two were allowed to be and the Princess didn't mind climbing Palaces at night, menacingly wearing a dark hood, just to see the love of her life one more time.

Namaari held the Princess tightly in her arms. She didn't wish to let go. Raya's presence alone calmed her beyond anything she could've ever imagined. Namaari's nightmares wouldn't dare approach her, her self-doubts faded away and every toxic thought that usually engulfed her being, were nowhere to be found.

Raya's changed the Princess's views tremendously. She made her believe in herself, that Namaari wasn't such a terrible person after all, that she would've been easily able to become the best version of herself if the Princess was to leave her past behind. Not by disregarding its consequences, of course, but by learning from them and by not letting them control her.

THE END.