"It's not stopping, is it?" Rikku trembled, her short hair bounced softly from the force of her shaking. Her shoes made squeaking noises against the marble floor from the rain outside. The group stopped at Rin's Inn, just in the middle of the Thunder Plains. Rikku's fear of thunder kept the group grounded from the outdoors. Outside there was rain, thunder and more rain. She was drenched, soaked to the bone and it made her shirt transparent. The outline of her bra teased Auron with every movement she made. He wanted her so bad, he wanted to just hold her and kiss her and feel her. But he could not. He had a duty and his morals were held higher than that, or so he thought.

"Don't tell me you were hoping it would." Was his reply, as he walked closer to the door of the inn. A clasp of thunder scattered across the sky and Rikku screamed, throwing her hands over her head as if shielding herself from the electricity. Auron grunted, although she was attractive, he was fed up with her behavior. The man had never seen such beauty in such a small, feeble, immature being yet he was repulsed by how she handled the situation. Didn't she understand that it was just easier to cross all at once and get it out of the way? Didn't she understand that thinking before doing could save her a millennium of time? Didn't she have the knowledge that Auron already obtained? Didn't she yield the experiences that molded the weak from the strong? She was everything that Auron was not. The warmth of her gentile smile, the wonder that rested in her eyes, the naivety of her decisions. Auron was born tough, born strong and noble. He had never felt love and witnessed grace. He had never been so mesmerized by the small things in life like she was. He had never dreamed of all the good things in life. Sure, he was still a human being, with all the emotions of a normal man. But he was stripped from the joy, love, and happiness that was given at birth. He was stripped of his friendships when the only two men he had ever cared about so much, died. He was alone, he was sad, and he was desperate. Desperate for recognition for his final promise to his good friend. The only duty he had ever wished to complete so feverishly. He was stripped of his life, of his memories, and of his sorrow. To think that one mere girl could replenish those longing needs for him, terrified him. Because Rikku was not stripped of them, she was his opposite. The end of the magnet that, no matter how repulsing it is, is drawn to the other. She had grace, beauty, mystique, happiness, naivety, care, hope and love. All of it drove him mad, mad with desire and mad with repulsion.

"Fine. Stay here." Auron spat, opening the door of the inn and stepping outside into the storm. He leaned up against the colorful curved wall, rubbed his right gloved hand through the disheveled mop he called hair, and sighed. He couldn't handle his emotions, he couldn't handle her constant teases and the way she smiled. The way she cheered while swaying her hips and the way she laughed. He couldn't handle it.

"All right, already. But! You didn't have to say it like that, you know! You could be more comforting or something!" Yelled Rikku, through the inn's door. Auron looked up into the sky, the rain pellets crushed against his face, covering his sunglasses in spots. He could hear Rikku's voice. Her milky, sometimes timid, voice. He wanted to be comforting. He wanted to hold her and protect her from her childish fear. He wanted to wipe the fallen hair from her face and kiss the top of her forehead. He wanted to gently fit his hand in the groove of her back, feeling her muscles twitch under his foreign touch. But he didn't know how. He had never been exposed to such things. He was a man of honor, respect, dignity and hard work. He damn well knew how to protect and guide someone, but he didn't know how to protect and guide her. She was so different from him, it scared him to think about it too long.

"You know, try to cheer me up? You just don't get me at all, do you? Hey! Are you listening? I'm not scared! I'm not scared, you hear?!" Auron was listening, loud and clear. He heard Rikku scream again. She was right, right in every way. He didn't understand her, couldn't grasp the idea of her at all. And when he tried to, it filled him with such an alien emotion that it scared him to continue.

"I'm sorry.." He whispered, as he turned his head out towards the path. Rikku suddenly bolted out of the inn door, stomping up to Auron and poking him repeatedly in the chest.

"I told you I'm not scared meanie! You never listen to me!" She kept poking him and he froze, his stomach doing back flips and somersaults. He praised himself for continuously wearing his monk outfit, for it covered his blushing cheeks and uncontrollable smile. "I am listening." Auron said, facing Rikku head on instead of cowering behind harsh comments. He had to admit to himself that he was cowering. All the rude things he had said to her was a cover up, a facade. He didn't want her to heal his heart. He didn't want her to melt his soul. He was scared, so he ran. Ran away from the problem that had haunted him ever since the Moonflow. But today, he wouldn't run anymore. Her hand dropped to her side and she stared at him. She stared long and hard at his amber eye. Auron glanced behind her but to his surprise the group was still inside the inn.

"So," Auron spoke, "you're not scared anymore?" Responding to his comment, Rikku repeatedly nodded, her braids and loose hair bouncing uncontrollably. Auron took this opportunity to touch her. To finally be able to feel her. As bold as it was, he decided to. He slowly raised his left hand and put his index finger in the middle of Rikku's forehead, stopping her from nodding.

"One nod is enough." He stated. Rikku's eyes grew wide from his touch and they stared at each other for what seemed like years. Auron's stomach was not doing flips anymore, but settled down and soothed his body with a warm feeling. Her skin, only being felt by one index finger, was so soft that he wanted to strip her down right here and feel every part of her. Auron tried so hard to keep his composure, tried so hard not to just lose himself right here and devour her. Fortunately, the rest of the group finally left the inn and everyone started walking outside. Auron quickly removed his hand and started walking ahead of them. He thanked all of Spira, because if it wasn't for them, he probably would have taken Rikku right there. Just one touch from his index finger, it scared him how much he wanted her. If one touch like that could almost pull him over the edge, what else was Rikku capable of doing to him? He shuttered to himself and kept walking, despite the calls from Tidus and Wakka, as they ran after him. Yuna turned to make sure everyone was there, and started walking after the three. Kimarhi followed close behind her, as always. Lulu turned quickly to Rikku,

"Let's go." She said as she started walking. Then Rikku was left alone, frozen in place. Her eyes were still wide as the group continued to walk. A clasp of thunder and a shot of lightning fell from the sky, but instead of screaming in fear and covering herself, Rikku placed both hands over her forehead where Auron had touched her. She felt weird, different and she didn't know what to make of it. She suddenly realized that she didn't jump when the thunder came. She didn't scramble for the ground when the lightning stricken.

"Did he, really cure my fear?" She spoke out loud, gazing around her. Realizing that the group was far ahead, Rikku scrambled to collect herself.

"Hey guys wait up!" She yelled, as she ran through the Thunder Plains after them.