Uh…okay, so my brother was letting me know his thoughts on this, and he mentioned that the whole back-and-forth thing was getting a little boring. And I was horrified.
Is it getting boring for you all? Are you all mad at me? (cries)
Let me know if it ever gets annoying to have to see everything through two different perspectives.
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Rikku
Wow, this was going to be awkward…
I try not to look at his face as I work on the snow-slider. I fumble with the machine parts in my hands, drop something once or twice, and then curse in Al Bhed. Why am I so nervous? I should be angry…not…scared. Focus, Rikku…look at what's going where in the engine…pay no attention to the big meanie behind you in the red coat…Untrue to my words, I glance out of the corner of my eye at him. He's standing there, sunk into his cowl, and I can't see where his eye is looking cause of those stupid sunglasses. Maybe I should steal them one day, just to look at his face. In all its glory. Yeah. Good idea, Rikku...
I stand up, sighing. "Well...erm…it's done now…." I mumble, suddenly ridiculously shy.
He doesn't do anything at first, but then says something very important.
"I don't know how to drive it."
I freeze, realization dawning upon me. If I sat in the front, his arms would be around….my………………I can't breathe. My chest constricts and I swear my heart is somewhere in my vocal chords, because I can't answer, either. I think about the other possibility. He would be in the front, I would be sitting behind him, hugging his torso once more…the safeness of him would envelop me. I would risk being not able to think or speak for most of the journey, as well as risk being dead, considering he doesn't know how to drive it. He would feel so nice…like a knight…taking you somewhere no one would ever know about…you and him, just alone on a snow-slider, forever…
I shake my head slightly. Stop it, STOP IT! You're MAD at him, remember?! What he said about Yunie? REMEMBER??
…oh, he had a good enough reason to say that, I'm sure…
I inwardly groan. What's the use?
"Okay then…I'll drive, and…you, uh…well…yeah." I mutter stupidly.
I get on the seat, and lift up the goggles from around my neck to my eyes. Gotta be safe, you know. I then grip the handlebars, a little harder than necessary. He doesn't move. I sit there, the cold freezing my legs into submission, and wait. There's so much tension, I don't know where to begin cutting it. I'm about to turn around in agitation and snap at him for making this more awkward than it already is, but I feel the slider suddenly shift as he sits behind me…and……and………..
There are spasms all over me. His arm is around my waist.
BREATHE, RIKKU! GODDAMNIT, BREATHE!
I will myself not to totally freak out. My heart needs to stop doing flips and pounding in my ears. Alright, listen up Rikku, you need to show this guy who's boss. He can't know that you're ready to drop to your knees for him….ignore the warm breaths coming onto your neck…ignore the feel of his chest against your back….I shiver inwardly…
Then I'm hit by a very devilish idea. I steel myself, and smile deviously. "You ready?"
He grunts an affirmative. I take a deep breath and yell, "Hang on!" as I clinch the handlebars. The slider suddenly zooms forward, causing both of us to be jostled around violently, and he grips my waist more tightly,
Hehehehe…you are a genius, Rikku.
We zoom forward for awhile. The snow and ice bits fly up into our faces, as my goggles keep them out of my eyes. The wind bites at my legs and arms, but I'm alright, because I'M ON A SNOW-SLIDER! WOOOO HOOO!!!!! I laugh loudly, yelling, "YEE-HAAAA!!!!" in triumph. I can't help but show off for Auron, 'cause I bet he's never seen a gal drive a slider like this before.
My thoughts turn to Wakka, and…suddenly I'm full of unadulterated rage. Diss my people, will he? I clench my fists on the handlebars. No one would survive without our technology. They'd all be SCREWED, and they'd then come to us, BEGGING FOR MERCY, and GROVELING on the ground, and CRYING their eyes out cause they're COMPLETE IDIOTS, WHO DESERVE TO HAVE THEIR STUPID FACES RIPPED OUT! Cdibet, kuttysh Oajuhedac! Ruf TYNA drao, fedr draen BUSBUIC, camv-YPCUNPAT daylrehkc, draen chud-hucat raytc crujat ib cu vyn ehdu draen parehtc dryd drao lyh'd ajah CAA yhodrehk pacetac draen ufh VEMDR! E'MM GEMM DRAS YMM! YHT DRAH FA'MM CAA FRU'C MYIKREHK!
….HUFF…..HUFF….
Oh cred, how fast are we going???!!!
"Rikku, stop it, now!" I hear Auron call from behind me, and his voice sounds panicked, and before I can do anything, a burst of oil spurts up from the front of the snow-slider. The engine makes a weird, whining noise, and….TYSH ED, TYSSSSHHH EDDDD!!!!!!
We've stopped.
I slump in the seat, my arms hanging limp by my side. I'm pretty sure there's nothing left of the engine, and we're now stuck…..in the middle of nowhere….which wouldn't be so bad if there hadn't been snow ALL OVER ME….I sigh and get up meekly, avoiding Auron's glare and tossing up the front lid of the engine.
Oh no…
The engine was dead. And by dead, I mean chopped-up-then-put-under-a-steamroller-dead. The machine was mangled, its insides twisted and turned about, and there was a dull scraping of steel against steel when I push some of it apart with my gloves. I get up, defeated by the obscene malfunctioning system, and pull off my goggles. It wasn't going to start up anytime soon. I needed to wait until it cooled down.
I look over my shoulder at Auron, who is standing behind me, studying the snow-slider warily. He looks up at me sharply, and I wince, because his gaze is harsh.
"Is it going to move?" He asks, frustration evident in his voice.
"…We need to wait a little…the engine needs to cool down before I can move it around." I squeak, very frightened of his reaction. He looks at me, hard, and then turns around.
"…So we're stuck here." He says, and I hate the way that he sounds, so…disappointed, so….angry with me. I can't take it. I shut my eyes and plop down, ignoring the cold, frigid snow on my butt. My hands come up to cover my face and to my utter and complete horror, I scream. Loudly.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
The sound echoes off the walls of the frozen lake, reverberating everywhere so I bet even the temple hears the pain and sadness that is in my scream. I look down, frustration building up inside of me. Why me? Why? If it's not enough that I just got embarrassed in front of everyone, we now have to WALK to the temple? In this freaking ice blizzard? With…HIM? When he's so upset with me? What. The. HELL.
I hear the sounds of snow shifting and black boots enter my vision. God, I feel like a pile of-
"There's a place where we can rest over there." I look up, his tall and red form barely visible in the blurry snow winds. "Huh?" I ask dumbly. He points, to an alcove near the edge of the lake, on one of the frozen ice walls. I let out a breath, nod, and get up slowly, wincing at the pain that is in my legs suddenly. Auron begins to walk, his retreating red back in my vision. I try following- OW! HOLY CRAP, THAT HURTS!
I look down at my legs, and refrain from gasping. They're….all…
Blue.
I feel faint…STAY AWAKE, DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT….so much…pain….can't move…ugh….Yevon, I can't….
MOVE, NOW!! YOU CAN DO IT, JUST FREAKING PUT YOUR LEG IN FRONT OF THE OTHER AND WALK, DAMMIT! ...so much anger….Auron….help me…..
I try to walk, but fail. I fall in the snow, the coldness reaching my cheeks and finally, my brain…..I submit to the audacious pain and close my eyes.
………………………………
….So, this is what it's like to be dead, huh?
All dark…and…..hold on, there's a random light shining…Auron? Yes...that's you...I peer up at what looks like his face.
"So. The Farplane got you too?" I mumble woozily. Tysh, my head hurts.
"…What?" He asks, sounding slightly taken aback.
"Who sent you? Was it Yuna? Did she send me too?"
"Rikku…you're not dead." He says, and suddenly my eyes flew open. WHAT?!
I sit up quickly, but shooting pains in my head make me wince and slow down.
"Oh….where are we?" I look around, but all I'm able to see is his face, his form, and slightly blue darkness. I'm warm though, so it's a good improvement.
"I…we're in a cave of sorts." He says. Then I notice the small fire. Aha! There's the entrance too…I look out of the small mouth of the little cave ….and I see the snowstorm, blowing and blowing like there's no tomorrow. Luckily, we're deep inside, so we can't feel the effects of the ice...actually, the walls are made of ice too, now that I look...
"How long have I been….you know…" I said, suddenly alarmed.
"Thirty minutes. We'll have to catch up to the others soon." He notices my anxious expression, and then adds, "It takes an hour to get to the temple. I believe we will be alright for another thirty minutes or so." I let out a sigh of relief. Then, however, I look more closely, and see that he….doesn't have his coat on…..
In slight horror I look down at myself and realize…his coat is on me.
Lord help me…I'm wearing his coat. His RED coat. His. Auron's. Coat. Me. On.
"Eh…heh heh heh…." I giggle nervously, suddenly all flushed. "Auron…why am I…wearing your coat?"
He tilts his head and looks at me for a minute, then says slowly, "You….were….almost dead…of hypothermia…" He stares at me like I'm a bit on the slow side. I smile, but then my smile freezes. If I'm wearing his coat….then…wait, if the slider didn't work, then…how-?
"But…how did I get here…exactly?" I ask carefully.
He is silent, then he coughs. "I…carried you. Here." He looks away quickly, into the fire.
I'm in such shock I can't respond. He…CARRIED me? I was…in his arms? Oh my god…OH my GOD!!!!!!! AURON CARRIED ME! NO WAY! HOLY YEVON!
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I begin to giggle madly. Like a little girl.
"You…..carried me here? Like, as in…heeheeheee….you lifted me up and….brought me here…and then….heeeeheeheeeeee…..…..let me wear your coat?" I can't stop giggling. My face turns red and I look down and my toes start to curl on themselves. I feel all warm and fuzzy inside, for some reason. I feel like doing a bunch of flips and twirls, and then maybe a few dives.
He looks at me, slightly alarmed. "Yes, because you would have died if I didn't." Oh sure…tell yourself that, Auron….giggle
I look at him, blushing insanely, and am even more tickled to see him furrow his brow in frustration. Then he scowls, turns away, and I realize he's without a shirt…oh, but that damn armor!
I crawl and sit next to him, slightly closer than usual. "Thanks." I murmur, grinning like an idiot, and looking down. My face heats up even more.
He glances down at me, obviously uncomfortable at my closeness. "…Rikku, what are you doing?"
I then realize that…….I….I'm nuzzling him!
Something in my brain tells me to stop, but I can't. My body can't act in accordance with what my mind tells me to do. I bury my face in his very, very muscular shoulder, and slowly begin to wrap my arms around his arm. "Mmm….." I mumble blearily, and my senses are on fire. He smells so nice. I hug his arm to my chest and sigh. But then…."Hmmm?" I say, as he suddenly, but gently, pushes me away and stands up.
"Rikku, stop." He seems pained.
"What?" I ask, now serious. He looks disturbed, and his voice sounds kind of….shaky.
"You…you're not thinking clearly."
I think for a moment…..nope. I'm sane. But he sounds like he's saying it to console himself rather than me. I stand up too and look at his face. Which is turned away from mine. "I'm thinking fine. See? My name is Rikku, I'm Al Bhed, and you're Auron, and you're a legendary guardian, and you're dead."
He glances at me through the corner of his eye, and I catch a flash of guilt.
"What's wrong?" I say, now a little worried.
"…Why did you hug me?"
Oh. So that was it. I almost begin giggling again.
"Cause you smell nice, silly." I have no idea why I'm so giddy. Or why I have the boldness to say that….
"…what?" He sounds really confused.
I sigh, now a little bit tired of his obvious lack of common sense. I decide to lay it on him, straight and simple. "Look, I like you. Okay? You smell nice. You're handsome. And I know you think it's weird and all, and I'm a little fifteen-year old Al Bhed freak, and you probably think it's gross too, but I really, really like you. A lot. So that's why I hugged you. And besides, when someone saves my life, I'm not one to say a stiff thank you and walk away, all polite and cold. Maybe that's your thing, but I prefer to show my gratitude, uh….more…better. So there."
I almost choke after that, and strangely, now my mind seems to work completely fine. Where did all that come from!??!??!?!?! Oh my god, HE THINKS IM AN IDIOT NOW! STUPID, STUPID RIKKU! WHY DID YOU HAVE TO SAY THAT?! AWWWWWWW HEEEELLLLLL…you didn't have to tell him EVERYTHING! WHO SAYS THAT YOU LIKE HIM LIKE THAT, HUH? SUDRANVI-OH, FORGET IT…you've dug your own grave, Rikku. Now he'll never look at you again. Great going, genius.
Auron stares at me, in utter bewilderment. For once, he actually looks like he's got nothing to say. His eye is wide open, his cowl covering what I think is an open-mouthed, jaw-slack expression, and his entire body is frozen. I feel stupid, and immediately look down. "Uhhhh….um….that…wasn't meant to come out that way….eh….heh heh heh…" I turn away and walk to the wall. I stand up against it, my back pressed to the cold ice, and sink to the floor. I groan to myself and cover my face in his coat.
It's silent for the next few minutes, and I wish I could melt into the floor like a puddle….oh god, that is so DAMN humiliating…I can't believe I had the GALL to say stuff like tha-
"I don't think you're an Al Bhed freak." I sit up and look at him in awe.
"What?" I say, trying to contain my pounding heart from bursting out of my ears and tap-dancing on the floor.
"….I said, I don't think you're a freak." He says quietly, and walks over to me. I gaze up at his face, as he sits down (oh my gooooddddd…) right next to me, and looks straight ahead.
"….Dryhg oui." I said, once again spontaneously shy.
"….I think you should know how old I am." I look up at his face, eagerly.
"I don't care, Auron….I really don-"
"I'm thirty five. You are…you said, fifteen…?" I nod.
"I'm dead. You're more than half my age younger than I am." He said, but I stopped him before he could go on a full rant.
"I don't care, Auron." I said softly, and looked at his face in the firelight. The sparkle of the flames bounced off of the icy walls of the little cave, and his russet eye glowed as it looked into my green ones. His face turned towards mine ever so slightly, and he bent his head down near my ear and muttered, "Rikku…I am not the best choice…you know what will happen when we reach Zanarkand…"
I shiver as his breath tickles my neck. "I…know." I say, and gently lean my forehead against his. I close my eyes trying not to see a life without him in it. "I know what'll happen….but…let's just not talk about it right now, okay?" I say weakly. His closeness is warming me from inside out, and my legs feel like jelly. I bring my hand, shaking, up to gently touch his face, and my fingers brush against his jaw, his rough stubble.
I am sent into spastic mode once more as I realize something. He hasn't said that he doesn't like me back!!!!!!! Does it mean that….oh my god…..I'm consumed by this sudden overwhelming feeling of warmth, and I nuzzle my head closer to his. We sit there for a few moments, not doing anything but reveling in the presence of each other. He then sighs slowly, and mutters, in that wickedly, ridiculously sexy voice, "Very well then…oh, and I apologize."
I move away slightly to look in his face. "For what?"
"For…what I had said earlier…about Yuna. It….wasn't meant to sound that way." He murmurs, suddenly sounding slightly sad. He continues. "I love Yuna like my own daughter. You must understand that it….it is painful…for me as well."
I look down as I remember what he had said, and my heart fills with ache. "Auron…I understand. I-I don't want her to die. She won't. I'll think of something." I say, suddenly filled up by an anger I can't suppress. Stupid Yevon…
Then I remember something. "Thanks for stopping Wakka…I needed that. It meant a lot to me." He looks down at me in slight surprise. Then he searched my eyes with his, and nodded.
"He…needed it as well." He says thoughtfully, after a few seconds.
I lean back against the wall, and sink my head slowly to the side to let it rest on his shoulder. His hand covers my own on the ground and I'm sent to Happy-Rikku-Land all over again.
Soon, I can't help but wonder, "Where's the snow-slider?"
He grunts. "So…that's what that thing is called."
I look up at him, laughing a little. "What did ya think it was called, huh?"
He looks down at me indignantly. "….I didn't know what it was, so I referred to it as a scooter-mobile…thing." I begin to laugh. Loudly. He was so cute!!!!!
He seems offended by this, and makes a noise much like, "Hmph." Then he gets up slowly, and stands in front of me.
"I brought the snow….slider….inside. After I carried you in." I begin to giggle a little again, and this time he rolls his eyes. "Stop acting like a child, Rikku." He says nastily, and I can detect a glimpse of dry humor in his voice. I pout and stand up.
"Well…you like me back. Admit it, Red. You do. And there's nothing you can do about it. NYAH, NYAH!!!!" I stick out my tongue and pose triumphantly. He glares at me dangerously, and suddenly I find myself pinned to the wall. My arms are on either side of my head, my wrists being held down by both of his hands. He glowers at me, super-close, with this wild look in his eye that excites and scares me at the same time.
"Do I, now?" He says, ultra-low, near my face. I look up at him. "Yeah." I say, daring him to say more to my snarky comment.
He moves closer to my face, and I can feel his breath near my mouth. "Well…I assume you'd like to see it for yourself, wouldn't you?" I gulp ostentatiously, and nod my head, my eyes imploring him to continue. He bends down more, his mouth inches away from my neck, and I lean into him willingly. But then he moves away just as quickly, with a dark, low chuckle. My hands drop to my sides and he strides away. I let myself breathe. Phew. Close one, there…….awww, so damn close….my mind whines.
"That…wasn't fair…" I say, slightly out of breath. He turns to me cockily, and smirks. The old jerk was enjoying my obvious flustered state.
"Another time….perhaps." He says. I glare at him. Fine, then. I'll make you want me so bad, you'll be ready to shoot yourself. Hope you're man enough to handle it, Auron.
With this firmly in mind, I walk next to him. "Hey, shouldn't we be getting back?" I ask, suddenly aware of our situation and current lateness. He looks straight ahead, into the blizzard.
"Yes. Can you fix the slider?" He turns to look at me. I nod excitedly.
"Yep. Got it covered." I run over to the slider near the back of the cave next to the fire, and work my magic on it, pushing different solenoids and screws back into their proper sockets. I run to the front of the slider and try out the handlebars. The engine roars with a newfound vengeance, and I do a little jig.
"Woo woo, I got it to work!" I cheer. Auron turns and walks to me. He looks over my handiwork and nods. "Well done." I blush furiously.
I slowly unfurl the coat from around me and hand it back to him. He takes it uneasily, asking, "You are sure?" and I nod. "It would look kinda suspicious, doncha think?" I wink sassily at him and he coughs. Hehehe…oh, I better keep score….one to one right now, if you count that little thing back there… I shiver suddenly. He mistakes the shivering for the cold and immediately tries to remove his coat once again.
"No! No, it's fine, it wasn't the cold….." I smile sweetly back up at him, and he smirks.
He drags the slider back outside and we both get on again. I put my goggles up, and when he wraps his arm around my waist I snicker, "You like it, don't you?"
He leans forward to my ear, and breathes, "Yes, actually, I do, Rikku. Is that a problem?" I sigh slowly, ignoring the shivers running up my spine, and respond, "Nope. Though, just watch where you decide to hold." He suddenly moves his hand down from where it was heading off by itself, and he coughs again. "…Sorry." He sounds slightly rattled, and I am overwhelmed again by that feeling of fuzziness. The score is now two to one. Mwahahahaha…Anyways, I just laugh it off. "It's fine…besides. I wouldn't really want it to be anyone but you." I murmur over my shoulder, and am pleased to see a slight smile cross his face.
As we speed off to the temple, to Yuna, I can't help but accept the images that run through my mind of Auron without his shirt on. And maybe his hands where they shouldn't be.
Oooooh, I'm bad.
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First off, I think I should apologize for making you all wait. I had some things to fix in this chapter when I wrote it, and I didn't get to 'em until today! So, yeah, sorry for that one.
Al Bhed translations:
Stupid, goddamn Yevonites! How DARE they, with their POMPOUS, self-ABSORBED teachings, their snot-nosed heads shoved up so far into their behinds that they can't even SEE anything besides their own FILTH! I'LL KILL THEM ALL! AND THEN WE'LL SEE WHO'S LAUGHING!
MOTHERFU-
Thank you
Alrighty then, now please review! I hope I did a good job on this, and I hope you're satisfied. Auron's P.O.V. is going to be fun to write…that is, if I do write it. (cries again)
Loves
-SV