#this is post Toto-Rak but before the Haukke Manor stuff!

[eorzeanflowers]

"Well, Yasha, you asked me out here... Is something the matter?" Yda asked the serious gladiator turned Scion following her to a bridge near the Sylphlands.

"I.. um.." Yasha fidgeted with her hands a moment. "I thought we worked well together... again." She rubbed the back of her head with a self conscious grin.

"We did, didn't we." Yda grinned. She took a couple of cheerful steps towards Yasha, an arm behind her back. "But that's something you could've said back in camp, isn't it?" There was mirth and a flirty tone to her voice. "But instead you asked me to come to this beautiful waterfall."

"I think you're beautiful!" Yasha blurted out nearly immediately after Yda's words. She immediately went red and covered her face.

Yda stepped close to Yasha, taking one of her hands and bringing it to her face. "I think you are quite beautiful too, Yasha." She nuzzled Yasha's hand, dropping her own to her side.

Yasha, a little dumbfounded smiled a goofy grin. She hummed a cheery little ditty before putting her forehead to Yda's aethermeter with a soft thunk. She pulled back with an embarrassed giggle, which Yda joined in with.

Yasha looked at Yda with dreamy look in her eyes, quietly asking, "May I give you a kiss, Yda?"

"Mmm, yes, I think you may." Yda gave a soft giggle and leaned in close.

Yasha leaned in close as well, and gave Yda a soft kiss. One that missed its mark on Yda's waiting lips and instead was clumsily on her cheek. Realizing her error, Yasha reeled back.

"I'msosorryYdaI'vegottago!" Yasha bolted back towards the Gridanian territory, leaving a confused Yda behind.

"Yasha! Wait!" Yda reached out towards the departing Scion, but with Yasha's embarrassed speed, Yasha quickly vanished into the undergrowth. Yda blinked under her mask a couple of times, before sighing.

"Oh my, I think I'm falling..." Yda muttered as she gently touched her kissed cheek.

Bonus:

A day later, back at the Waking Sands.

Yasha was a blushing mess as she recounted her mishap with Yda in the Black Shroud

"So, let me get this straight. You asked Yda to a private place, attempted to court her, KISSED her, and then ran away at the first sign of something good happening to both of you?" Jana directly and bluntly laid out the bare bones of Yasha's story.

"It was quite silly of you Yasha, I do agree with Jana's reasonings. But I'm sure Yda thought you were still quite cute." Eulanne tried to console the mess that was Yasha.

Jana slammed her hands on the table, roaring, "It's not very the worst that you did that night! You had a chance to actually see under Yda's mask and you messed up your opportunity! I am so disappointed in you Yasha!"

"Now, now, Jana. Yasha is still a fledgling. And frankly, the fact that you haven't seen Yda's lovely eyes is a problem of your own." A'tyla finally butted in with a laugh, turning Jana's attention towards her instead of Yasha.

"Wait, what? You've seen Yda's eyes!" Jana incredulously turned to A'tyla.

"Yes."

"Do tell!" Jana scooted her chair over to A'tyla with rapt attention.

"A lady never gives out her secrets." A'tyla taps the side of her nose with a wink.

"WHY YOU MAGE!" Jana flared up again, reaching for her staff.

All while that was happening Eulanne had scooted over to Yasha and patted her on the shoulder. "You'll likely get a second chance hotshot, just close your eyes after you make contact with her lips."

Yasha just sank even deeper into her chair as she turned an even darker shade of red.