Title: Uncle
Fandom: Tales of Symphonia
Pairing/Characters: Yuan
Warning(s): None
Genre: Gen
Shella wasn't entirely sure how she got there. All she knew was that her feet were bare, her knees were bloody, her sundress was torn and Papa and Mama were gone. She stumbled forward a few steps, cutting her feet on the rubble all around – it was big here, big and warm and cold at the same time, and there was nobody around.
"Papa?" Her voice stretched out, and she imagined it going all the way to Sylvarant and Tethe'alla. "Mama?" Nobody answered. Tears filled her eyes and she fell down, starting to cry.
She wasn't sure how long she sat and cried for, but eventually she was aware of a man standing over her. He had long hair and sad, sad eyes, and looking up into them made her cry even harder. After some time he leaned over and picked her up, running a hand under her eyes to dry them like Papa did.
"P-Papa," she said, sniveling. "W-where's Papa?"
"Your Papa and Mama had to go on a trip," he said, hoisting her onto his shoulder. "They asked me to take care of you while they're gone. I'm your uncle Yuan. What's your name?"
"Shella, Unca Yoon."
"Uncle Yoon it is. Now how about we go back to our house and I make you something to eat?"
Papa and Mama said never to take food from strangers, especially when they were on the road, but even though she'd never met Uncle Yoon before she somehow felt like he was safe. She nodded and he turned towards a nearby cottage built in the shade of a huge tree.
"When will Papa and Mama come back, Unca Yoon?"
He was quiet. "…They'll be gone for a little while, Shella. But if you're a good girl and don't go looking for them, they'll be back soon."
Not far away, two bodies covered in blood and all else slowly began to dry in the noonday sun.