A.N: Finally I've gotten my muse back and have decided to write a long awaiting Auron/Lulu. It's been a while, yet never the less, enjoy.
Winds of Change, Chapter I
Hesitant of what lay beyond the threshold the dark haired woman glided a delicate hand across the fabric. Amethyst nails grazed the heavy cloth and with a slight tug the division between the outside and the in was broken. A footstep inside the room and a slight murmur, near a whisper of a voice, "Hello?"
No answer. Her well endowed chest heaved beneath the heavy dress she wore. Lulu was getting rather sick of how her so called friends had started to treat her. It wasn't always this way, but ever since they saved the world at four years ago she was no more than some sort of washer woman, a maid.
Four years ago she was renowned for her unique talents, most probably the most powerful black mage in all of Spira. Four years ago she would have been able to face off some of the most powerful of fiends and without a scratch too. Yet, that was four years ago, and inevitably people change. Sometimes for good, sometimes for worse, it was a natural thing in life, no matter who you were. Lulu did not regret the change, in her life or her friend's lives. She was rather glad of it to be honest. No longer was Yuna so down, because she had Tidus back in her life. Rikku seemed happy enough with what she did, sphere hunting, salvaging machine and travelling Spira. Innocent carefree fun, maybe the mage was a little jealous of that, maybe. Kimahri had proven himself to his fellow Ronso, who once upon a time had doubts in Kimahri. However being Ronso leader, there was little doubt left.
Wakka, well Wakka was perfectly fine. Happy? Yes. Content? Most probably. Of course what man in his position wouldn't be? He was doing what he enjoyed the most, and rather well by the looks of it. Besaid Aurochs were finally bringing home the crystal cup more often since after the pilgrimage. He had the woman of his dreams, Lulu, who he himself knew he loved since before the death of his late brother. Even thought he now had her, he did not acknowledge her presence. Which for him, was something he didn't even know he was doing, but for her, it was rather hurtful. Yet, the mage being a tender soul, past her cold visage, let him. She knew that he was happy and although her annoyances toward the situation were many, his happiness came before hers. After all, she was a good wife, wasn't she?
Nobody was there. Typical, he was probably crashed out at Letty's house, or Bobba's. Lulu knew that after practice they shared a drink of sake or two, the mage wasn't that naïve. Still, even if it was a drunken Wakka splayed across the couch, it was better than no Wakka at all.
Feeling quite alone the enchantress slumped down upon the chair. Darkness shading her features from the few tears which began to fall from her eyes. Even though nobody was there to see her cry, it still gave Lulu a little security knowing that if somebody walked in, they wouldn't be able to see. It was highly doubtful though, that someone would visit. Her own child wasn't even here. Vidina was sleeping at his aunt Yuna's with his baby cousin, as he called her, he himself no less of a baby. Yes Yuna and Tidus had a child, a little girl named Lilly. Vidina had taken to her so well, and she he, so it seemed. And for Lulu it meant that there was even less company for her here, since her son persisted to sleep at Yuna's home.
Sometimes this made the mage feel like a bad mother. Vidina was only two, yet he already wanting to be rid of her. She hardly felt the motherly bond she used to. Was there just something about her which repelled people?
She stood gracefully and began to strip herself of her long heavy dress, which she was accustomed to wearing. From under her pillow on the bed Wakka and she were supposed to share, she pulled out her long black night dress. Silken material adorned with lace, typical of the woman. She laid her dress over a chair and with precision began to neatly unravel her ebony locks. People often commented on her hair, no matter where she was. Asking how she could plait it so, 'It must take hours!' they'd gasp. Yet for Lulu it was no feat, considering the things she could do, her hair was nothing. It was a skill, probably the only skill she had learned from her mother. Over the years it had become routine, and mundane. However, each time she found that, she could always think, albeit a little while, whilst undoing the long black plaits.
Whilst being alone and in the dark, this night, she thought about the forgotten guardian, Sir Auron. Of course whilst he was alive practically everyone in Spira knew of him, he was a well renowned warrior. Yet, after being sent, the attention upon him dwindled and dwindled. Sure people knew of the great guardians of High Summoner Yuna, and even Lulu herself was often known as Lady Lulu. Yet Sir Auron…no, Auron, he wasn't mentioned as much. Not even between those who would have once considered him friend. Lulu too was rather guilty on that remark, but it wasn't that she never thought about him.
In fact the black mage often thought of the warrior monk. Some of the fondest memories she had included him. Back during the pilgrimage she often felt that there was, or could be something more between them. Something more than comrades or friends even, a deeper connection. Yet Lulu being Lulu often dismissed it, but in actual fact never denied it. Maybe the obvious choice for a husband would have been Auron; they shared a lot in common. Both rather aloof, yet both were able to share things with each other. Most often casual talk, but that was better than nothing. She remembered how often they did talk. The idle chat with a meaningful comment twisted in. Auron always had a certain way of saying things, certain things, things Lulu wouldn't nor couldn't forget. Yes her thoughts were right. They would've made quite the pair, if it weren't for him being an unsent.
Yet his being an unsent wasn't the thing which deterred Lulu from ever making her 'moves' on him, so to speak. No, because, if she had a chance to snatch at happiness, no matter how little a period of happiness it was, gladly she would have accepted it. Yet, no, she didn't. Maybe, if ever things had progressed between the mage and the warrior, maybe she could've lived with the fact that he was unsent, and when he was eventually sent she might have been happy, well at least happier than she was now. At least she would have known what happiness was. The reasoning for her not to follow what her desires wished was because, no matter how strongly she felt for him, they were all on a mission. Guardians on a pilgrimage, and Lulu wished not for anything to come in the way of that. Nothing at all, not even love. Why? Because she always seemed to put others before herself.
Her head graced the cold white pillow and she sighed, her frame moulding into the eiderdown bed. Her eyes scanned the area where her husband would usually rest. He obviously wasn't there, and Lulu would've been quite the fool if she was to think that he would have wanted to come home to be there, quite the fool indeed. However she doubted that the empty space would have been warmer than it was now, Wakka was learning how to be cold, in fact cold enough to give Shiva a run for her gil.
"Lulu…"
A voice, not just any voice but 'his' voice. Lulu heard it as plain as day, as if he were standing right next to her. But he couldn't be Sir Auron was sent four years ago.
"Must be dreaming", her voice echoed out the loneliness she felt as it echoed into the night. Her hand clutched to her pillow, hugging it near her, as if it indeed were her husband…but not Wakka, no, the man she longed for, Auron.
How he yearned to be able to touch her shoulder. It was as if he could feel her delicate porcelain skin now. So much pain she was suffering, and from those she held dear. Betrayal was always the worst, he knew first hand. She began to cry…yet again. All he could do was watch, a legendary warrior, not even able to help a delicate mage. A fragile work of art, a woman who he cared about dearly. Not that she knew, nor would ever know. All his ties with Spira were severed, or so he thought. Maybe he could find a reason to come back, a new bond worth existing for. Not one of friendship, like the promises he made to Jecht and Braska. But a bond of an entirely different nature, something which he wished for. Because he too was tired of putting others before himself.
"Soon…"
Lulu heard it again, was he actually there? A wave of hope shot through her as she sat upright and scanned the room, darkness, empty, nothing. Her hand came to her cheek and she wiped away the tear stains. Maybe it was an illusion? Crimson orbs blinked and focused upon the foot of her bed. A string of beads with a feather like tassel on the end, the mage recognised this from somewhere. She held it carefully in her hand and she remembered. It was attached to 'his' armour. A rare smile came to her lips, and she hoped that he could hear her.
"Soon…"
Maybe it was foolish but she didn't care. Because she was taking a snatch at happiness, and she didn't care how long it lasted, because to know happiness, is to have been happy.
A.N: Ok so to be honest it's kind of my first actual try at writing Auron/Lulu, so I'd love it if you could tell me how it is so far. I know this chapter is a little boring, but it gets better, promise. I had to kind of introduce the story first.