This originally was longer but the second half is just pure sin so I split it into two. If people like this, I might post the second half???
Raya wouldn’t say she was going soft on Namaari whenever they sparred, but every hit packed less of a punch than the week before. Bruises get fainter and her knuckles are no longer sore the next day from repeated blows.
Their weapons often neglected in favour of hand-to-hand combat despite them both preferring the former option. If you ask Raya, she’ll tell you it is because they need to improve their skills in hand-to-hand in case they lose their weapons in an actual fight.
But when she’s alone in her room, she’ll stand on her balcony and think about how she could feel Namaari’s breath on her neck as she blocks a punch or how her eyes so naturally fall to the Fang Princess’ lips when she’s panting from exhaustion.
She’s addicted to the feeling of being so close to Namaari she can see the beads of sweat trickle down her neck antagonisingly slow until it dissipates below her shirt, making Raya ache to be able to follow it all the way.
She won’t say the words that bounce around her heart, not even to herself. Raya knows she needs to get a grip and pull herself together, they’ve worked so hard on becoming friends. She cannot ruin it now by wanting more. Besides, If Namaari has noticed her lingering stares and hesistant blows, she hasn’t said anything. She can totally be close to Namaari without wanting to leave bite marks instead of bruises (that’s what she tells herself anyway)
“Focus dep la, it’s no fun beating you if you aren’t trying.”
Namaari’s almost impatient tone fills the training room as Raya shakes herself out of her head.
They circle each other like prey, neither one landing more than a few punches and kicks. Namaari grabs Raya’s leg mid-kick and throws her a few steps backwards, Raya crashing her fist into Namaari’s jaw on the way, bringing them both down to the floor. Namaari almost pauses when she realises she’s on top of Raya, their bodies completely flush with only her arms lifting her head up. Raya can feel her heartbeat banging against her chest, entirely sure Namaari can feel it too. Her entire skin burns at the close contact until she cannot take being so close anymore, rolling to the side pushing Namaari off as they both climb to their feet.
“Can’t pin me down that easily, Princess Undercut”
Raya has to focus, she can’t let herself get that close again. Her will power to not kiss the Fang Warrior almost faltered, she cannot ruin it now. They throw punches once more but Raya is beginning to pant, too focused on blocking any attack to give out her own. Unfortunately, Namaari notices. Conscious that they have less than an hour before they’re expected elsewhere, she works out a plan unable to help the smug grin forming. She aims a punch at Raya’s hip, preparing to launch as she watches the smaller girl bend her body down to block the lower punch. She walked right into the trap.
Before the Heart Princess even had time to realise what she’d done, Namaari moves her hand upwards and grabs Raya’s neck, putting pressure slightly on either side with her fingers . She forces Raya’s head up to face her, shock evident in her eyes as she looks up at Namaari.
“Looks like I win, Dep la”
Namaari says in a whisper, her breath brushing against Raya’s ear as she pushes her into the wall less than a foot behind them and pins her there by the hips with her own. She’s too busy waiting for the Heart Princess to make a snarky comment or attempt an escape, she doesn’t notice the way Raya’s eyes flutter shut or how her head tilts ever so slightly back. The snarky comment never came. In fact, what she did instead took Namaari completely by surprise…
Namaari dropped her hand in shock, moving back to look at the girl in front of her. Raya’s lips were parted slightly and her lower lip was between her teeth. Had she heard what she thought she had? Her thoughts answered however as less than a second later Raya’s brain seemingly caught up with what happened as her eyes snapped open and her hand slapped against her mouth. Their eyes were locked together, mirroring each others shock. Raya had moaned. Because of her.
Namaari couldn’t use her voice. She wanted so desperately to say something, anything, hell even ask her to do it again but when she finally managed to open her mouth, Raya beat her to it.
“I am so sorry Namaari I - fuck”
Before Namaari could respond, the girl had already ran out the room, leaving her frozen in place, wondering what just happened, and why she so desperately wanted to hear it again.