Seriously. This is all I could think about while playing the game. I wonder what that says about me?

Tan Lines

I could tell he was about to gripe.

Tidus, after all, is about as easy to read as a primer. When he's happy, he's grinning like an idiot. When he's sad, he cries, or he seems to be on the verge of it. And when he's exhausted and grouchy — well, you can see it in his posture. His shoulders slump further than necessary. His arms drag. He barely lifts his feet. He even has the audacity to moan, as if he were mortally wounded. That's when I know to prepare for the worst.

"Hey, you guys, let's take a break, huh?" Most of us ignored him, but Yuna cast him a coy smile over her shoulder. Of course, it encouraged him to complain more. "Come on, please?" he whined. "We've been walking all day!"

I rolled my eyes at him and heaved a sigh. "It's a pilgrimage," I told him.

"Even people taking pilgrimages need a break."

Sir Auron came to my aid. "Stop it, Tidus. You're acting like a petulant child. We walk."

It was that moment our group arrived at a pond by the side of the road. At the sight of water, Tidus immediately perked up, the same way a puppy might at the mention of a treat. "Hey guys, how 'bout a swim?"

"I love swimming!" Rikku exclaimed from behind him.

"We're not swimming," I snapped back, just as Wakka said, "Hey, that's not a bad idea."

Tidus beamed.

Curses.

"Come on, Yuna, whaddaya say?" he asked, whirling towards her expectantly. He must've known that Sir Auron and I would crumble if Yuna wanted to stop. She looked about to answer in the affirmative, but Kimahri thankfully interrupted her answer.

"Do not bother Yuna."

Tidus openly gaped for a moment, before bursting, "Oh my God, it talks!"

I massaged my temple.

"No, it's okay, Kimahri," Yuna told him, touching him gently on the shoulder. Then she turned to Tidus. "I'd love to."

"Lady Yuna, we don't have time for such frivolity," Sir Auron pleaded, but it was too late. It was four against three, and Tidus knew it. He gave a loud whoop and raced toward the pond's edge, Rikku and Wakka hot on his trail. Yuna was practically immobilized from laughter.

I humphed. I came on this trip to be a guardian, not a baby-sitter.

"Last one in is a rotten egg!" Tidus cried out.

By Yevon, he was loud.

The other girls began to laugh as Wakka and Tidus raced to undress. Tidus quickly kicked off his shoes, and at once, I could not help but gape.

His feet were white — startlingly white. I realized that I hadn't seen him without his shoes on. Come to think of it, I'd never seen him take off any part of his outfit.

Ever.

It became clear to me that there might have been a good reason for that. Even Wakka, who favored his own outfit, had faded tan lines, probably because of all his time swimming in Besaid. Tidus, on the other hand, seemed to live in the same outfit. His skin underneath was probably untouched by the sun. The fishnet on his right knee and left elbow created splotches on his skin, making his coloration even more irregular. His cut-off jacket and overalls tan lines made it look like he was still wearing clothes.

"Beat you, Wakka!" he laughed before diving in.

I realized only then that I had been openly staring at Tidus' body for the past minute, and I hurriedly averted my eyes. Beside me, Auron started to chuckle. It was a strangled laugh that started in the back of his throat, and finished there, too. "Don't hurt yourself," I advised him. He glared at me from behind his sunglasses, but then he smirked.

"Don't worry. I won't tell Wakka."

It was my turn to glare.

For real. It would be an eyesore to see Tidus without clothes. Please review!