Yulivia Stories

Yunan and Olivia pt 12: Confessions

The last part, as promised ;)

A week and four days after Yunan had been brought to the castle, Olivia was finally admitted into the infirmary by a harassed-looking healer. The doors felt like they weighed nothing as she burst through them, frantically scanning.
The infirmary hall was full of beds, lined up along the walls in rows and bathed in the sunlight that came through the large windows. The healers believed that sunlight helped heal injuries and illnesses as much as other medicines, and had endeavored to build the hall to let in as much as possible.
About a dozen of the beds were currently occupied with people in various states of distress. On their bedside tables, Olivia spotted bandages, vials of medicine, and buckets containing suspicious liquids. A few of the beds were encircled with curtains, concealing their inhabitants.
Olivia didn't see any glimpse of short-cropped blonde hair or hear anyone boasting loudly about her scars, so she turned on the healer who had let her into the hall. "Where is the general?" she half-demanded.
The healer let out a long-suffering sigh. "As I was saying, my lady, I will take you to her. Please follow me."
The healer led Olivia to the end of the hall, where the very last bed on the right side had been curtained off. Olivia could just barely make out the outline of someone through the hazy material. Her heart started pounding, for some odd reason.
The healer pulled open the curtain, stepping aside to let Olivia through. "I'll let you two talk," she said, "but the general still does need rest, so try not to do anything too taxing."
"Thank you," Olivia said, meaning it. "I will take care." She stepped through the curtains, and the healer let them fall shut.
Olivia's eyes fell on Yunan immediately. The injured general lay on a bed close to an open window, bandages encircling her torso and legs. One of her arms was in a cast, and her left eye was bruised a deep purple. She had a scratch running through her eyebrow. Despite all that, Yunan was propped up on some pillows, eyeing a glass of water at the far end of her bedside table as if gauging whether the pain of grabbing for it would be worth it.
Something in Olivia's chest loosened for the first time in over a week. She let out a small, choked almost-sob.
Yunan looked up at the sound. Her who demeanor brightened. "Liv!"
"Yunan," Olivia whispered. She cleared her throat, remembering herself.
She abruptly recalled everything that had led to this situation and felt her smile fall into a scowl. She marched up to the bed. Anger simmered in her chest. Yunan looked more and more nervous with each step she took.
How dare you," Olivia said, reaching her bed. She could feel her voice shaking slightly. "Do you even know how brainless you are?"
Yunan smiled feebly. "Errr - well, I guess you remind me a lot, so... yes?"
Olivia threw her hands up. "I was so worried, you gigantic, pretentious, reckless idiot!"
The corner of Yunan's lips twitched. "I take it you're glad I'm back?"
Olivia let out a sound of pure frustration. How dare she be so flippant about this? She almost died!
"If you ever do that again, I'll - I'll -"
Yunan reached over. Olivia could see the effort it took from her, as much as she tried to conceal it - the lines around her eyes tightened nearly invisibly - but she took her hand anyway.
"Don't worry, Liv," Yunan said, stopping her a sweet smile. "I'm not going anywhere."
Olivia brought both of her hands around Yunan's, holding her tight. She comforted herself with the realness of her presence; Yunan's hand in hers felt solid and warm and so very necessary. It was possible she'd never release it.
Olivia closed her eyes against relieved tears, and, because she couldn't help it, gave a small, tremulous laugh. "Oh, Yunan. I might break if you leave me again."
"Liv -" Yunan's tone was so gentle Olivia had to look back at her. "- I can't promise I'll never leave, but for now, I am here. And you're not breaking. That's just half the bones in my body."
Olivia sniffled and let out a watery chuckle. "You are quite beaten up. I've hardly seen anyone get off worse from a fight."
Yunan grinned. "What can I say? I always strive to be the best. I think I can take a trophy for best almost-death, don't you think?"
"Why can you not be the best at flipwart, or something reasonable?"
"Because, my lady, I would be less fun if I were reasonable."
Olivia bit back more laughter. "I wish there were more ways to call someone a fool, but I do believe I've used all them up on you by now."
Yunan smiled, just a touch bitterly. "Plain old stupid always fit me just fine."
Olivia sighed. She looked down at their conjoined hands. "Yunan..." she began, "I'm sorry. You are not unintelligent. Not in any way. And I know you give the utmost effort in all your endeavors. What happened that night... it wasn't your fault. You are tough, brilliant, and -" Olivia struggled to find the words to capture everything Yunan meant to her. "-  just incredible, I suppose," she finished helplessly. She met Yunan's eyes. "Nothing I said to you before was true," she said softly. "Nothing. I was just hurting, and - while I know it's no excuse - you were the closest person to me, and I wanted you to feel the same. I am sorry. I am so sorry."
Yunan was silent for a breath. Then she said, "Its okay, Liv. I know you didn't mean it. But it still hurt, and it wasn't fair." She slipped her uninjured hand out of Olivia's and held it up, halting more of Olivia's apologies. "You don't have to say sorry again. I was being annoying. I think you're pretty amazing yourself, you know."
Olivia blushed. "You're too kind."
Silence fell between then. Yunan tentatively took her hand again, and Olivia allowed herself to just enjoy the moment - Yunan holding her hand, alive and well and as infuriatingly adorable as always.
"You scared me," Olivia admitted in a wobbly tone. She slowly drew her thumb across Yunan's palm, feeling the edge of a short, silvery scar that ran the length of one of her fingers. "I thought you were going to die. Die, Yunan. I - I hardly got any work done this last week. I was too busy being terrified."
"No work?" Yunan said, looking amused. "I  feel special."
Olivia glared at her, but it was without venom. "Don't joke around. This is serious!" She took a breath. "You don't - you don't have anything to prove, you know. I apologize again for ever saying otherwise, but you really are incredible. Please -" She brought Yunan's hand closer. "- please be more careful."
She didn't realize she was crying until Yunan reached up and gently swiped away the tear rolling down her cheek. "Okay, Liv," she said softly. "I promise."
Olivia suddenly felt exhausted, as if the last week of sleepless nights had finally caught up to her. It must have shown on her face, because Yunan patted the bed. "Sit down. You look tired."
Olivia gratefully obliged, sinking her weight onto the mattress beside Yunan.
Yunan sighed. "If I have to promise to be more careful, you have to promise to work less."
"I just said I've barely worked at all this week!" Olivia protested.
"And you still look awful."
"You're saying I look bad?"
"Liv." Yunan stopped her with a look. "You may be the most beautiful woman I've ever met, but the bags under your eyes could carry produce."
"That is - one moment." Olivia's cheeks heated. "You think I'm beautiful?"
"Not the point, workaholic, but of course I do. I mean, I kissed you, didn't I?" Yunan looked down a bit. "I think my feelings towards you should be pretty obvious."
Oh. Oh. A warm feeling blossomed just below Olivia's breastbone. She said, very carefully, "And just what are those feelings?"
Yunan fidgeted with the corner of the sheet, but she lifted her chin and met Olivia's eyes. "I'm in love with you," she said quietly. "I have been for a while."
It was just as world-shattering as seeing the stars fall from the sky. Olivia felt heartbeat staccato, jumping unevenly in her chest. She suspected if she had been standing, she would have needed to reach out for something to steady herself.
"You love me?" she echoed faintly.
Yunan's answering smile was both soft and sad. "I do."
"I - Yunan -"
"You don't have to say anything."
"No, you don't -" Olivia closed her eyes briefly. When she opened them again, she made sure to look at Yunan directly. "What I mean to say, General, is that I am also in love with you."
Yunan looked entirely startled. Her cheeks were lightly dusted in pink. Slowly, her smile grew, breaking across her face like dawn. "Really?"
"Really."
Olivia felt ridiculously like a teenager confessing a crush. Only this wasn't some random girl from university. This was Yunan, her Yunan, who she'd argued and laughed and watched stars fall with. This was the same woman she'd worked with to restore this kingdom. The same woman she'd kissed and dreamed about kissing again.
What did one do after confessing their love to someone anyway, other than stare dumbly at them like they were the most incredibly amazing person in the world?
"Wow. Well. Thanks for telling me," Yunan said, laughing a bit nervously. Olivia had to admit her awkwardness was terribly endearing.
Yunan reached out her hand. Olivia realized a moment later what she was doing and, blushing, put her own on top of hers. She curled their fingers together again, mahogany with sun-washed gold. Was it normal to feel this giddy from such a simple contact?
"Yes," Olivia agreed, biting her lip. "I am glad we have... erm, worked that out."
Yunan tilted her head and smirked up at her from the bed. "Oh, I'm sure there are some details we could finalize later."
Olivia raised her eyebrows, giggling despite herself. "Are you flirting with me?"
Yunan looked pleased. "Kind of you to finally notice. Besides, I thought it was a very clever line myself."
Olivia rolled her eyes. "Oh frog, is this what I have to look forward to? Quippy and suggestive one-liners?"
"You mean poetic and eloquent demonstrations of my admiration for you?"
Olivia smiled. "You may be a tactical genius and brilliant commander, but I believe I will win romance."
"You can't win romance... my most competitive and dazzling lady."
Olivia stifled laughter. "Started already, have you? Very well, my dearest general. We shall pit ourselves against each other once more."
Yunan shot her a cocky grin. "I look forward to it. Brace yourself for my serenades. Or - wait - no, I mean, brace yourself because they'll be too awesome, not because they'll be horrible or -"
Olivia burst out laughing.
Yunan stopped talking to watch her with the silliest expression she'd ever seen.
"What is it?" she asked once she'd caught her breath, feeling self conscious.
"I just love hearing you laugh," Yunan said.
Olivia blushed. She would have tucked back a curl that had fallen in her face when she'd laughed, but that would have involved letting go of Yunan. Yunan, who's stare lingered so intensely on her face, as she wanted to memorize the littlest details.
Perhaps losing would be more pleasurable than she'd thought.
"Stay with me and I might laugh a little more," Olivia told Yunan.
Yunan squeezed her fingers. "Like I said, my lady, I'm not going anywhere."

One month later*

As ever, Yunan, posing as the attacker during a self-defense lesson, was very close to Olivia. Too close for Olivia not to be at least a little dazzled by her. She couldn't help it; the sun lit Yunan's features in gold, sliding gilt over the lovely, sharp lines of her face. Olivia could feel herself smiling like a lovestruck idiot.
Yunan tilted her head. "Aren't you going to try the new move?"
"Mmm." Olivia's smile grew. "One more thing I have to do."
She leaned forward and pressed their lips together. She felt Yunan tense for half a second in surprise, then she was kissing her back with enough ardor to make her knees go weak. Olivia surrendered what was left of her self-control with delight.
Yunan slid an arm around her waist, which was good, because she was half-worried she might simply fall to the ground without it.
She finally drew back, breathless. Yunan had her pinned against the wall. Her nearness meant Olivia could feel her sides rising faster than they normally did as well.
Yunan grinned down at her, her cheeks flushed with color. "Good technique," she said. Olivia was pleased to hear that her voice was slightly uneven. "But we should practice more."
"Shut up and kiss me," Olivia told her, pulling her down again.
She did.

The End. Whew! It's over (for now)! I had so much fun writing this. I am definitely going to keep writing about Amphibia and Yulivia, but for now, I think this series is over. Feel free to tell me what you liked and didn't like about it.
*A last minute note: some of you may be confused as to why I skipped a whole month, but I felt like Yunan and Olivia needed a little time before they could move into being a couple. They needed yo process the ramifications of their fight, and let go of the pressure of their jobs a little as they figured out how to navigate their new feelings. And yes, I did not want to write the whole thing out. I could be persuaded to at a later date, but for now I really wanted to get this chapter out.

Thank you for everyone who's read this! I hope you enjoyed reading. Don't worry; I will definitely write more Yulivia soon. :)