Y'vett Bhell

Y'vett was a sickly child, born in Old Sharlayan to a reclusive father who was obsessed with his research, and a mother who wasn't cut out to be one in the first place. From the time he was very young, he got sick often, and hit development milestones much later than his peers. He was small, round-faced, curly-haired, and sugar-sweet. He struggled in school, no matter how hard he tried (and he tried very hard), and loved to watch the stars.He hardly knew his father growing up, and though he followed his mother around like a lost puppy, she never had much interest in him. She was always angry, and so, Y'vett's older sister, Y'zii, ended up raising him for the most part. Zii helped him try to learn to read, and taught him to sing.Despite all of Y'vett's gentle kindness, he was bullied relentlessly for the majority of his childhood. Growing up in Sharlayan and being largely unable to read or pay attention to classes made him an easy target, and he often came home with scraped knees and hands from "accidents" caused by the other boys at school. He quickly became shy and reserved, and hid his heart behind shy smiles and pretending not to care.His mother wanted him to become an archer like his older sister, but his poor eyesight gave him problems, and he had horrible aim. He never found a place or skill that seemed to fit, and so he clung to his sister and her friends and never really made any of his own.Aside from, of course, the voices of elementals. From the time he was born, he'd been able to hear them, their feelings deeply woven into his own. He saw them every so often, too, and they played with him when he was alone. His mother was unsettled by it, and pushed him further away from her because of it, no matter how hard he tried to cling on.

On the night of the Calamity, Y'vett and Y'zii were watching the stars. It was a clear, brilliant night, and the sky seemed to sing to them. Almost unnaturally so, in Y'vett's case. The elementals were in a frenzy, their voices making him agitated and antsy. And then, a star fell. One after another, streaks of light fell from the heavens, crashing into the land somewhere far in the distance. And then, one of the two moons did not rise.Though Y'vett asked what was going on, his sister had no answer for him.Soon after, he and his sister began hearing Hydaelyn’s voice. Y’vett was unsettled by it, as he was used to only feeling the elementals’ feelings rather than hearing words. Zii kept her Echo to herself, but Y’vett was only eleven years old, and didn’t understand. And, upon asking his mother about it, she flew into a rage that Y’vett had never seen before. She told him to never speak of it again, and shoved him out of her room, slamming the door behind him.The truth was, she had also awakened to the Echo, and was terrified of it. But she was unstable to begin with, and as time went on, she only got worse. Until…When Y’vett was thirteen, he came home from school to find his mother holding a gun to his father’s head. His father begged for his life, but his mother only shouted and shouted about all of the things he’d put her through. And when Y’vett tried to wrestle the gun from his mother’s grasp, feeble hands fighting against someone he loved, he accidentally pulled the trigger.Screaming bloody murder, his mother blamed it all on Y’vett. She claimed that he’d killed his father on purpose, and was trying to blame it on her. And as neighbors and curious onlookers gathered outside of Y'vett's childhood home, he made a run for it, ducking under legs and dodging arms that tried and failed to catch him.He stowed away in the earliest boat out of Old Sharlayan, with little more than his childhood poncho and a stuffed animal. And thus, his adventure began.

After three years of wandering and doing odd jobs to keep himself fed, Y'vett arrived in Gridania and joined the Adventurer's Guild. Mother Miounne took him under her wing shortly after meeting him, looking after him more than she really needed to. He became quite attached to her, after being separated from his family for three years, and missing his own mother, whether he wanted to or not. He was a lost, homesick sixteen year old, and she gave him a warm place to sleep and a helping hand when he needed it.It was Mother Miounne who set him on the path of conjury, as well. He was a poor archer at best, but it was the only skill he even remotely had to protect himself after all these years. After failing yet another archery test at the guild despite all of Miounne's encouragement, he came crying to her, explaining that he just couldn't do it, and never had been able to. And after listening for a while, Miounne smiled and told him to visit the Conjurer's Guild instead.He was hesitant at first, frightened of the responsibility of keeping others alive, but conjury came so naturally to him, like breathing. He reached for the elements and they reached back, a give and take that many other students in the Guild had been struggling with for months, or even years. Y'vett helped Sylphie along her path of conjury, too, showing her through his gentle kindness that nature isn't as frightening as it seems. And it was soon after that Brother E-Sumi-Yan tasked Y'vett with assisting the Senna siblings as they performed the Quieting.

Meteion

Y'vett's connection to Meteion is one which transcends time and space, and ties them together by their very essences. He was the first friend she ever made, and he adored her from the moment they met. Their time in Elpis together was short, and yet, she felt special to Y'vett in a way that he couldn't describe at the time.There was not a moment in which Y'vett did not believe he could save her, and she believed that if anyone could prove her wrong, it would be him. She found that she was right, of course, as he held her at the edge of the universe, and sang with her.At the very end, when Zenos stole his life and Y'vett dreamed of that time in Elpis once more, Meteion tied her soul to his, becoming an anchor to bring him back to life. And now that he draws breath again, and is free to wander, he rarely finds Meteion out of arm's reach.

"I remember you when you were too young to talk, that you’d cry and cry until I held you in my arms and sang you whatever came to mind. How you’d giggle when I’d try to hit a low note and miss it, or how your eyes would light up when I’d pick your favorite book to read to you at night. That curly, sunset pink hair, always so unruly, no matter how much I’d brush it. How you’d insist on braiding my hair and picking out matching outfits on your birthday no matter how much I insisted that it was a day for you to look cute, not me."

From the day that Y'vett was born, Zii loved him. She was nine years old, and had been quite cross upon learning she would no longer be an only child. But when their father offered to let her hold her little brother, she immediately took to her role as his big sister.Their parents had fully expected her to reject him, and resent him for taking away their attention. But she instead smoothed his flicking ears, held him more gently than her most treasured stuffed animal, and nuzzled her forehead against his like she'd had him forever.He was a sickly child, just as Zii had been, and their mother visibly struggled with having to deal with yet another problem child. But, where their mother neglected him, Zii nurtured him. She skipped school to read books to him and watch over him as he slept, and sang him to sleep when he wouldn't stop crying. His first word was her name, and when he opened his eyes, far later than most miqo'te children should, the first thing he saw was not his mother, but his big sister.As he grew up and grew strong enough to go to school, Zii helped him learn to read, even though he continued to struggle with it. She kept him close, brought him with her to the library, and let him sit in on her study sessions. In turn, he begged her to go out on clear nights and watch the stars with him. They played, and sang, and loved each other more than anything.And then, when Vett was only thirteen, their mother took it all away from them.When Y'vett escaped Sharlayan, Zii was only moments too late to catch him. She came home to find their mother screaming bloody murder, and the neighbors searching for her little brother, who she knew had never hurt anyone or anything. And when she looked for him herself, he was long gone, smuggled away on a boat, far out of her reach.

• NEXT

"I remember the day I saw you there, in the Waking Sands, your hands shoved in your pockets and your eyes downcast. Your hair was pulled back so hard it looked straight, and your skin was caked with sand. It had been three years, and you’d grown taller than me, and I’d missed so much of your life that I felt sick, and yet, I’d never been happier to see anyone in my whole life."

It took three years for Zii to find him. Three years of travel, and searching, following leads that went nowhere and doing chores on the side just to have enough money to keep going. Y'vett had done everything that a young boy could do to keep from being found, and, somehow, for those unbearably lonely three years, it worked.Zii joined the Scions in hopes of finding some better information on him. She tried everything, and even begged Y'shtola for help, only to repeatedly come up short.That is until he showed up on the Waking Sands' doorstep, exhausted and afraid and, somehow, making a name for himself as a hero.They both had to fight to let each other go after that.The Scions discovered that the Bhell siblings made a powerful pair. Zii's foresight mixed with Y'vett's healing abilities proved to be quite useful, and together with the other Warriors of Light, they began slaying primals and saving the common folk.Zii was reluctant to let him into such dangerous situations—situations that could so easily take him away again—but he kept everyone alive, and was determined to be useful, even if it meant risking his life. He wouldn't let her go alone if he could potentially save her.But, even Zii's foresight and Y'vett's gut feelings didn't save them from one fateful night in Ul'dah. She watched him get thrown into the banquet hall, tied up and bruised and whimpering, and nearly killed someone.Together, they almost made it out of the tunnels beneath Ul'dah...But then she had to leave him.

All that remained of the scattered Scions of the Seventh Dawn stood before her, and Y’zii felt her heart tugging her toward him, her little brother frozen and quivering and so, so scared. She watched Y’vett’s eyes widen, the last remaining shreds of hope left in a beaten-down, broken boy slipping from his fingers. Y’zii knew that look too well, had seen it on his face over, and over, and over, more times than she could ever begin to count. Too many times, she had watched him die. So many times, she had, by the grace of Hydaelyn, been able to save him.Once again, she would not fail.

TO BE CONTINUED...

Y’zii was the last family he had left. She was the only one who came looking for him. She was the only one who curled up with him every night in every inn that never felt like home and told him it was okay, no matter what happened, just to make sure he slept okay. What would he do if he really, truly lost her?

Haha yeah i'm gonna finish this i swear

All that remained of the scattered Scions of the Seventh Dawn stood before her, and Y’zii felt her heart tugging her toward him, her little brother frozen and quivering and so, so scared. She watched Y’vett’s eyes widen, the last remaining shreds of hope left in a beaten-down, broken boy slipping from his fingers. Y’zii knew that look too well, had seen it on his face over, and over, and over, more times than she could ever begin to count. Too many times, she had watched him die. So many times, she had, by the grace of Hydaelyn, been able to save him.Once again, she would not fail.

• NEXT

Y’zii was the last family he had left. She was the only one who came looking for him. She was the only one who curled up with him every night in every inn that never felt like home and told him it was okay, no matter what happened, just to make sure he slept okay. What would he do if he really, truly lost her?

Haha yeah i'm gonna finish this i swear

All that remained of the scattered Scions of the Seventh Dawn stood before her, and Y’zii felt her heart tugging her toward him, her little brother frozen and quivering and so, so scared. She watched Y’vett’s eyes widen, the last remaining shreds of hope left in a beaten-down, broken boy slipping from his fingers. Y’zii knew that look too well, had seen it on his face over, and over, and over, more times than she could ever begin to count. Too many times, she had watched him die. So many times, she had, by the grace of Hydaelyn, been able to save him.Once again, she would not fail.

• BACK

A boy around his age stood beside him, snow white hair, hands on hips, and a stance that said "I know just who I am, and I know that I'm right, and I won't take no for an answer." Polar opposites: Y'vett's shy smile against Alphinaud's self-assured grin. And yet, there they were, listening to the same presentation, Y'vett nodding along to Alphinaud's musings on Gridania, packed into the crowd like sardines, and Y'vett had never felt more comfortable in his life.

Alphinaud Leveilleur was not someone that Y'vett ever intended to befriend. He knew of him, of course; everyone in Sharlayan knew of the Leveilleurs. But Y'vett had never met him, and in fact, was terrified of the idea. But when they met, listening to the Ceremony of Remembrance in Gridania, they were, for one fleeting moment, nothing more than two sixteen-year-olds in a crowd.It was this basis, a shared age and a shared heavy responsibility heaped upon them by an unstable world, that provided the foundation for their friendship. They made a powerful duo: a brilliant strategic mind, paired with a good judge of character and a smile that could change the world.And it was this pair that brought Alphinaud's Crystal Braves to life, brought the names of the newfound Warriors of Light to the lips of the people of Eorzea, and built and carried out Operation Archon. They reopened Ishgard's gates, felled primals, and rescued dear friends.But it was also this pair that brought it all crumbling down. And as the dust from a disastrous night in Ul'dah settled, they found they had almost no one but each other.

Alphinaud always left much unspoken, and, often, Y’vett didn’t understand, but here, he didn’t need to ask; Alphinaud wanted someone to prove to him that it would all be okay, and if there was anything Y’vett knew how to do, that was it.

• NEXT

“It’s going to be okay,” Alphinaud said, and it was the first thing he’d felt sure of since that sword’s edge appeared by his throat. “You don’t have to be alone again. I’ll… I’ll learn to keep myself safe, so you don’t have to. And then I can keep you safe, too.”

The light of hope was left to two children, alone, carrying the weight of the world on their weak, shivering shoulders. The burden of the lofty goals of the Scions of the Seventh Dawn had fallen to them, and how were two teenagers to fill such massive shoes?They could do their best. They had each other. That was all that they knew, and it was all they could cling to.Somewhere along the way, Alphinaud realized he had feelings for Y'vett. It was an unfamiliar feeling, and, for the moment, wholly unwelcome. There was no time for entertaining any such ideas; they had the entirety of Ishgard watching them, not to mention lost family besides. But it didn't stop him from blushing at the slightest brush, despite having been best friends for more than a year.Y'vett, for his part, was always one to crush easily. However, Alphinaud Leveilleur was something else entirely; something impossible, someone he would only ever be able to love from afar, and be useful to up close. For one with such a low view of himself, every one of Alphinaud's very obvious signals went right over his head. For who, of Alphinaud's status and brilliance, would love someone like him?When Y'vett returned after having defeated the Gnath's ravenous god, bloody and forever scarred and on the brink of death, it took everything Alphinaud had not to tell him he loved him, just in case he lost him.But Y'vett wasn't ever easy to get rid of, and Alphinaud was never one to share his closest secrets. Especially not ones that might crush his heart, should he give them away.

Alphinaud’s chest grew tight. He wanted to say, “I always miss you when you’re not around,” or, “I just wish I could go with you, so I wouldn’t have to worry, and I could always keep you safe,” but all that came out was a small laugh.

• BACK
• NEXT

"The world is ending," Alphinaud thought, as Y'vett rolled his shoulders back, straightened his sleeves, and turned to smile at him. "I might die from this," Alphinaud's heart screamed as Y'vett took his hand, a gesture of their closeness that made Alphinaud feel more sick by the minute these days. "If I don't tell him, I'm done for."

The liberation of Doma and Ala Mhigo turned into a long mess of separation and loneliness for both Y'vett and Alphinaud. After working together closely for two years, and being attached at the hip for one, being apart left them both feeling like half of themselves. But their talents were needed in different places, and they were split apart, only seeing each other for a week or so at a time. It was dreadful, and it showed both of them how much they needed each other. But there was nothing to be done; they had responsibilities that were larger than them, and they couldn't abandon them just to spend time together, no matter how much they wanted it.And when things were finally starting to look up, Alphinaud went and volunteered himself to run along to Garlemald, despite Y'vett and Alisaie's pleas. Zii insisted on going with him, but that really only made it worse, as Y'vett was left without both his best friend and his older sister.While they were gone, Y'vett worked himself half to death, trying not to worry. He and Alisaie worked tirelessly to see the work Alphinaud had started to completion, knowing he'd be grateful when he returned.What they didn't expect was for Alphinaud to return to them soulless in Y'zii's arms.

"It's over," Y'vett thought, feeling his heart nearly bursting from his chest. "We may never get him back, and I never told him... I never told him...!" He held his best friend close, feeling his downy hair brushing his neck. "What if I never get to tell him...?"

• BACK
• NEXT

"'Tis good to see you, my friend," Alphinaud said, and his voice was like a warm hug. He'd gotten taller. Y'vett's eyes filled with tears, and before he could even move, Alphinaud held his arms out to catch him.

Six months passed in the First, and Alphinaud heard the news from the Exarch that he had been able to call Y'vett from the Source. It was joyous news; Alphinaud had worried himself sick when Alisaie had arrived, knowing that Y'vett was nearly alone against the world, again, and this time, without him. But the fluttering in his heart was crushed all too soon: the summoning had been botched somehow, and Y'vett had been summoned to an unknown location.With each passing day that he was not found, Alphinaud felt less and less hopeful of ever seeing him again. By the time Zii finally arrived, he had about lost all hope entirely. But in Kholusia, he heard the news soon after: Zii had found him, safe and sound, passed out in a field somewhere in Lakeland. It took everything Alphinaud had not to drop everything and run to him. But it was irresponsible, and he knew it. Y'vett would come to him again. He was certain of it.And he was right. Soon after he awoke, Y'vett came to Kholusia, bundled in a warm coat as always, his mismatched eyes sparkling with tears at the sight of Alphinaud. Despite the looming threat, despite everything, they held each other a little longer than they normally would've allowed themselves to. They sat and talked about everything and nothing, just to listen to each other's voices. And despite the fact that Y'vett had other responsibilities, had more of the Scions to locate and help, he stayed with Alphinaud a little longer, and let Zii handle it. He snuck into Eulmore with Alphinaud, under the guise of his assistant, even though his help wasn't really needed. It was different. They were different, and it hung unspoken between them. It needed to, but only for a little while longer.As things became more dangerous in the First, as Y'vett sacrificed more and more to protect everyone, Alphinaud grew antsy. They had almost lost each other too many times now. The guilt of never telling Y'vett how he felt had long lingered in his heart while they were apart, and now they were together, but for how long? How much more until Y'vett would be lost to him forever, and he would hold onto the secret love he'd harbored for so long?Alphinaud had had enough. Far more than enough. He appeared at Y'vett's door in the Crystarium one night, wide awake and claiming he couldn't sleep, and the pair of them went for a walk together...

Alphinaud reached for Y’vett’s hand, holding it between both of his own. He stared down at it, tracing along each small scar and each callous and each claw.“I’m in love with you, Y’vett Bhell,” Alphinaud whispered, and he watched Vett’s hand tense, heard him take in a sharp breath. “If I didn’t tell you now and I lost you, I think it would kill me.”Alphinaud finally looked up at Y’vett’s face, and found the other boy’s eyes, round as the moon and filled with tears. Alphinaud squeezed his hand. “I… I want to have a future, Vett. Past all this. And I want it to be with you.”

What felt like a lifelong era of longing and hiding and keeping their feelings close to their chests finally came to an end. They were 19, in love, and up against bad odds, as always. And yet, they had each other, and that would get them through it. It always had.

I beg you—he is all that I have,
and you have so many heroes and the world has so many more.
Let him be soft, and let him be mine.

Someday, a long time from now, Y'vett and Alphinaud have settled down together with a little house in the Lavender Beds. Y'vett has given up adventuring and moved on to teaching classes with Leveva on combining Astrology/Astromancy with Geomancy/Conjury. Alphinaud learns that he really prefers a more quiet life, though he works tirelessly to make the world a better place every day by teaching art classes around Eorzea.They end up having two daughters, fraternal twins Y'riqi and Lily Leveilleur-Bhell, who they absolutely adore. Although you'd expect them to be spoiled little brats like Alphinaud used to be, they're both much more like Y'vett in that regard. Though, they still have many moments of being too smart for their own good.

• RETURN