Don't be afraid of the Thunder.
Rikku x Auron
"I hate thunder! I hate lightning!" squealed the frightened voice of the young Al Bhed girl, Rikku. She had been jumping and squealing ever since they got in the Thunder Plains. Clinging to Tidus' arm, Rikku cried out again and again how she was afraid and wanted to rest at a nearby Al Bhed shop. Her naturally thin arms clinging to the dark tanned arm of Tidus, who looked just as annoyed as everyone felt inside. Near the back of the group, the oldest male of the group, Auron, had spoke up first.
"This storm never stops…" His deep timbre stilled the group for a moment, even the skittish Rikku. She stopped and looked to the man, peering at the only eye that was open and scowling at her, just over the top of his glasses. She swallowed, goose bumps crawling over her skin.
"I-I know… but can't we rest for a little while?" she pleaded toward the man, knowing he was something of the leader, despite always being near the end. Everyone looked up to this man. He was the strongest, save for Kimahri, and he seemed to know the most about Spira. He also seemed to share a slight distrust for Yevon, as Rikku did. It was not surprising that everyone listened when he spoke. His voice was so deep and calming, even when he was scolding you. Rikku felt even smaller when he spoke directly at her. And the way that he seemed to stare through her, made the girl as still as possible. All was silent for a while, Rikku's eyes darting away from the man from embarrassment and fear. When she visibly jumped to a sudden booming thunder, a soft voice came from behind.
"I am…a little tired…" Yuna murmured, to which Rikku almost sobbed in joy. She wanted to leap at her cousin, but Auron's tight gaze was still glued at her, keeping her in place like a chocobo that's been spotted by a fiend. She wondered if he was going to insist on moving on, but Tidus had already burst into agreement with the woman he obviously had a thing for.
"Alright! So we're taking a break then!" he began to trudge toward the Al Bhed shop, everyone tagging along with their own murmurs of agreement. Rikku blinked, twitching a little, her body kicking into movement when Auron's gaze fell away from hers, allowing her to move again. Her happiness slowly crawling back, Rikku practically ran into the Shop, unaware of Auron's hard gaze toward her fleeing form, eyes wandering down the exposed backs of her thighs as the muscles flexed with her running. Saying nothing, he followed shortly after the large beast Kimahri, who thankfully noticed nothing.
Inside, Rikku was already skipping around, blabbing on about how thankful she was, taking her time to grab Yuna into a hug, who had looked blank in the face. Though this worried Auron, and practically begged for questioning, the man's gaze was busy zoning in on the contact of the two young female bodies gripping at each other. More specifically, the barely-there curve of Rikku's breasts against Yuna, the girl bouncing up and down in happiness. But before he could get a good enough look, Rikku had already let go, giggling. She had said something about taking a nap, and left down the hall, nodding toward the Al Bhed shop keeper.
Al Bhed. He had known the moment he saw her that Rikku was an Al Bhed. She was smaller in form, and her attire had been eccentrically out of place, just like most of the Al Bhed he knew. The only thing he had needed to confirm this was a look into her eyes. The memory was still there; Rikku's unique green spiraled eyes, which she had tried to hide from him. If there was one thing he'd enjoyed about the Al Bhed it was their eyes. So strange and yet so interesting. And this young girl who had joined their group had to have been the most interesting girl he had ever laid eyes on. Jumpy and giggly, always smiling. She was so full of life. Unlike the hoards of seductresses and whores who had thrown themselves at him in the past. He didn't like women who tried too hard, or where too obvious with their intentions. And yet, even those who had offered their hand in marriage to him, had only wanted to drag Auron down into a pet-like trophy husband, good looks and massive strength. Auron had long grown tired of being used. And yet, this Al Bhed girl who had insisted on chatting everyone up, hadn't pestered him as much as the rest. He had the feeling she was either very afraid of him, or too shy to speak to him. Was it his scar? Which had only seemed to increase his warrior-like attractiveness. Was it his general physique, capable of melting women everywhere at a mere glance at his bared chest? He knew not, but it didn't bother him. In fact, the man was as interested as ever to know more about this Al Bhed girl, who seemed to blush so easily. At least when around him. In the secret depths of his mind, he found that very attractive. That adorable red tint to the girls round face, and the way she seemed to try to hide it by lowering her face as much as possible. He was glad for the masking collar of his clothes, for there were many times he had cracked a grin at the way the girl reacted. So carefree. So…innocent.
A man could lose himself around such an untainted spirit. And being a man of strong appetites, Auron couldn't help but wonder more about the girl. Afraid of thunder? He wondered if there wasn't something he could do to help. The beast inside him rumbled, and was already carrying him forward and down the hall. He didn't need to tell anyone where he was going; they would assume he would take a nap in his own room. But once he was out of sight, he hid a tiny smirk and wandered down the hall, toward the room Rikku had been staying in. He might curse himself later, but for now he would blame it on the storm and his own pent up aggression. He knew from experience that it was simple to take that aggression out on the younger ones. Innocent flowers who could be taught how to please a man, molded into an ideal partner, if just for a night. Auron felt his long dead body heat up, his hand reaching out and gripping the doorknob. What was he waiting for? He was Auron, damnit. Who had ever denied him from what he wanted? No one, that's who. Without warning, the man turned the knob, unlocked of course, and slid inside.
"A-Ah?!" came Rikku's startled gasp. She quickly covered her own mouth, just in case she was loud enough for others to think something was wrong. But how could she pretend something wasn't wrong? Auron was standing inside her room, and from the look in his eye, this was no accident. His broad frame almost covered the door behind him, which he had gently locked, making Rikku twitch in slight surprise.
"You should keep this door locked… You can never know who might walk in…" Auron spoke softly, his voice deep and vaguely commanding. Rikku only nodded skittishly.
"O-Okay." She squeaked. When Auron only stood there, she fidgeted a little. "Was…Was there something you needed?" the girl had to ask.
"…" Auron was still silent for a while, merely watching her stare at him like some kind of scared rabbit. Every now and then thunder would crash, making her twitch violently, as if struck. It was almost painful to watch. "It looked like you could use some company." He spoke slowly, and began to move towards her. Rikku squeaked and backed up, cowering before him. When the man's hand only landed on her shoulder, giving it a reassuring rub, she stopped long enough to peek up at him with those intriguing spiraled eyes. "It's alright.." he murmured.
Rikku blinked at him for a moment, brow furrowed. When her bottom lip started to tremble, Auron figured she would start crying soon. But before he could open his mouth a boom crashed overhead and lightning flickered. The shock of it sent Rikku's tiny body straight into Auron's arms. With a slight exhale, he allowed the girl to latch onto him, whimpering audibly, body trembling as if some massive fiend was coming after her. Her arms could barely reach around him, but it hadn't stopped her from clinging with all her might, blubbering like a baby. Because he dislike hearing females cry, Auron's arms went around the skinny body, to which one hand began to rub gently up and down her back, soothingly. He didn't speak, and they stood there for what seemed like minutes. Thankfully the scared girl was calming down, her fears slowly giving away to embarrassment. She was trying to pull away from him, wiping at her teary face.
"I-I'm so sorry, Auron sir… I shouldn't…I'm acting like…such a baby…" she sobbed, sniffling loudly. Auron couldn't help the tiny grin, though she couldn't see it. His large warm hand rose to help wipe her face. The sensation of it stilled her, wide eyes looking up at him helplessly.
"There's nothing to apologize for. But you don't have to be afraid of the thunder…" he spoke softly, peering down at her. They fell silent, Rikku's sobbing coming to soft sniffles every now and then, her eyes trained up at him. Because it was difficult to see her, Auron slipped his glasses off, setting them down on the table, Rikku still clinging to his chest. He hadn't expected her to feel so warm, he could even feel her heart beating, quickly. More thunder boomed, but when Rikku's flinch was softer than before, he figured his presence was helping some. "Would you like me to stay with you?" he murmured, his hand still on her soft back. The girl didn't speak, only nodded to him. He smiled.
"Are…Are you smiling, Sir Auron?" she asked after a curious blink at him. His collar came up to his nose, it was hard to see his mouth at all especially at her height.
"Yes." Auron slowly detached himself from Rikku long enough to remove and part his clothing enough to expose his face and neck once more. And since it got in the way, he removed his monk robe in general, letting his defined muscles be exposed clothed in the thin shirt he wore beneath. He still had a faint smile, but it vanished when Rikku's hand reached up towards him. So her fear of the thunder was a lot weaker now, vanishing under her overwhelming curiosity. Rikku was reaching his face, and feather-light her fingers touched his cheek, just against the scar that raced up his left eye, keeping it perpetually shut. Her fingertips stroked up the scar, so light as if she feared it would hurt. Though for Auron it left his flawed skin tingling to her touch. Ages had gone by and he had been without a woman's touch, he almost forgot how warm it was. Rikku continued to examine him, eyes wide with curiosity.
"Your scar…it's so…" she paused, brow furrowed as she tried to find the right word, "…cool." Her eyes slowly met his. Auron wasn't sure if he wanted to laugh, or scold her. This curious little sprite tantalizing him with her sweet touch.
"I have more if you wanted to see…" he grumbled, his voice more hoarse than he expected before he spoke. Rikku almost looked like she wanted to shiver; her soft cheeks tinted the faintest pink. He wanted to kiss those cheeks. He knew they'd be so warm under his lips.
"I'd…like that." She flinched faintly from the blast of thunder, but her attention was solely on Auron's eyes. The room fell silent, Rikku's expectantly waiting and staring at him, Auron's body warming to the feel of her hand on his chest, where she had dropped it after touching his scar. It was all too much to bear. Giving in to the inevitable, Auron's mouth lowered and captured hers in a soft kiss.
Rikku inwardly gasped and pressed into him, her hand gripping his shirt, as he dragged her closer. Her lips were so warm and soft, her mouth so much smaller than his, yet so consuming in its own way. She trembled, but it wasn't from the thunder. A hand cruised down Rikku's back, leaving it just above the curve of her rear, his other hand sliding up her side to press her into his chest. Because of this, the girl had relaxed into this new experience, and her lips softened even more against his, her hands moving as if pulled on strings, arms sliding around his neck to hold on for dear life. And they both sank into the kiss.
A low growl of satisfaction rumbled against his chest, and he angled his head to deepen the kiss, Rikku's mouth opening on a gasp of surprise. He immediately swooped in and claimed that open mouth, his warm tongue pressing inside to search for hers. Her tongue shyly touched his, her body giving another surprised tremble. Her taste was so sweet. Like some kind of foreign fruit that he had yet to experience. Auron soon found out she was a very quick learner, for her tongue began to war against his, seeking more pressure and more of his taste. She even dared to suckle her small mouth against his lower lip, liquid fire spreading through his blood. This girl was good. But he could show her even more.