A/N: A month since an update...I'm sorry! I have been super busy! There's just so much to do! Anyhoo, thank you all for the great reviews. That's really all I have to say...
Disclaimer:
Roses are red,
Violets are blue,
I don't own FFX,
So please don't sue!
Hahaha! I'm a poet!
Chapter 12: Confrontations
xxxx
"Did you do as I instructed?"
"Yeah, yeah, I did what you told me to do."
"And?"
"And what?"
"What happened!" an undoubtedly angry female voice hissed out.
With a disconcerned sigh, Tek threw himself down on one of the repaired sand mobiles. "What do you think happened? She slapped me."
"I don't care about that! I mean, what happened with Auron?"
Gazing up at the rather chafed raven-haired woman before, the Al Bhed shrugged. "How should I know! She slapped me- thanks for caring, by the way- then stormed up to the palace. If she told Cid, I doubt I'll have a job. Why I even agreed to your stupid plan is beyond me."
Leaning over the handle bars, Zarinia tossed her long hair over her shoulder. "You know why, Tek. You did it because you want what everyone else wants."
"Oh?" Moving so that his face was mere centimeters from Zarinia's, he propped his elbows on the metal bars. "And that would be," his gaze flickered from her ebony eyes, to her painted lips, to her rather exposed chest, "what exactly, Z?"
At the nickname, she tensed, seemingly angry, yet as quickly as it came it passed. "Money." With a sly smirk, she righted herself and sauntered over to the counter along the far wall. Snatching a small bag of coins off of the cluttered work space, she tossed it to the mahogany-haired man. "And don't call me Z."
With a disgruntled sigh, he slid off of the sand craft. "Look, I probably lost the friendship of one of my oldest playmates. Her brother is my best friend. I did what you asked, and all I get is some spare change? How fair is that?"
His heavy boots thumped on the concrete floor of the garage as he made his way over to Zarinia, leaning casually against the counter. She made no move, nor did she protest as his arms encircled her waist. She didn't shy away when she felt his lips on her neck. She did give Tek a gentle shove when he tried to move his lips to her own, however.
"Hey, I didn't tell you you had to kiss Rikku, I only asked you to. I only want to separate her and Auron. You did what you did because you wanted to. If you lose her friendship, then it's your own fault." She attempted to slip out of his hold, but he had her pinned between himself and the counter.
"Tek, move."
"Hold on. Why do you want to break up Ri and Auron? You got a thing for him, or something?"
With a short laugh, Zarinia replied, "Please. Me and Aurrie are a thing of the past. It's simply...for the best if they aren't together." And in my way, she added silently.
Tek saw something hidden behind her dark eyes, but ignored it. He didn't care to pursue the topic. Obviously, this woman had a hidden agenda. "Oh? So...Why did you come to me?"
"Because you are the only person I thought would be shallow enough to ruin his relationship with an old friend for something as common as gil."
With a hollow laugh, Tek continued, "Is that so? Well, you see, I get the impression that it's a different matter entirely."
"Oh?" Becoming annoyed with this man, and feeling slightly intimidated, Zarinia forced herself to relax. If he tried anything funny, she could easily take him. Master had taught her well.
"Yes. I think that you were so attracted by my manly looks and boyish charm that you came to me for help because secretly, deep down, you want me."
"You are serious, aren't you?" Unable to contain her laughter, Zarinia tossed her head back. "You're a card, you know that, Tek? You are sadly mistaken, though. As I said, I came to you because I knew you were a man that didn't have a conscious."
"Those are some harsh words," Tightening his hold on her, Tek forced her to meet his emerald gaze, "for a woman to say."
"Are you going to deny them?" The intimidation she felt moments earlier was quickly giving way to full-blown anger.
He appeared to ponder her words before a grin split his handsome face. "Nope. Just wonderin' how it is that you figured it out so quickly."
"Let's just say I'm a lot like you." At his inquisitively arched brow, she added, "I am more than what I appear."
"A woman after my own heart." Once again, he lowered his mouth to her neck, but Zarinia wouldn't tolerate it for even a second.
"I told you earlier to back off. I won't warn you again."
"C'mon," he murmured, trying to capture her lips.
Instead of a kiss, he received a quick jab to the nose. Recoiling in pain, he immediately released her, bringing his hand to cup his injured face.
"What was that for!"
"I told you to leave me be," she responded calmly, forming a fist. "Touch me again, and I'll break it."
"Oh, Yevon, I come here to unleash my anger in a healthy way and he's already bleeding."
Whipping her head in the direction of the ajar side door, Zarinia forced herself to retain her groan. "Aurrie." If Tek opened his mouth and said a word about her paying him off to kiss Rikku, she'd do more than make his nose bleed.
"Oh, this is great," Tek grumbled, grabbing an old greasy rag and holding it to his bleeding nose. "She hits me, and you've come here to add more to her blow? Peachy!"
Raking a hand threw his dark hair, Auron groaned. He had wanted so much to beat the life out of the mechanic for placing his lips on his girlfriend's, but the warrior never condoned kicking a man when he was down. And Tek was whimpering like a small child.
"Heavens, man, it's a nose bleed! Buck up!" Auron declared, tossing him another old rag, seeing as how the one currently positioned on his nose was the covered in the color crimson. Momentarily, he forgot that he was angry with the Al Bhed and had come down to the garage with the intention on knocking some sense into him.
"I think she broke it!" Tek cried. "Geesh! All this for kissing Ri!"
"No, that was for putting your hands on me."
Remembering his mission at hand, Auron advanced forward and hoisted the Al Bhed up by the shirt. As long as he didn't hit Tek then he wouldn't be breaking his rule.
"You know Rikku is in a committed relationship; you shouldn't be kissing her! You shouldn't even look at her! And while I'm not entirely sure what you did to Zarinia, you must deserve that injury. You never put your hands on a woman Any woman."
"Yevon, man! I didn't hit the chick or anything!" Tek defended, his feet inches away from the ground, his hands grasping Auron's. "I just tried to kiss her! And as for Ri, she paid me to!"
Flashing the Al Bhed a glare that could chill the desert its self, Zarinia swiftly interjected. "Liar. You wanted her to come live in Home with you and be your partner!"
"Well, yeah! She's a great mechanic!"
"She's my mechanic," Auron growled, tightening his hold on the man's shirt, and slamming him against the counter.
Wincing, Tek stuggled in the vice-grip of a hold Auron had him in. "Look, I did what I was told! Z offered me money to kiss her, so I kissed her! Don't take it personally!"
"You are such a liar!" Zarinia grabbed the bag of gil and shoved it in her pocket. "This is my money! I offered to take you to lunch, I never paid you to kiss Rikku!" Stupid man. If he had kept his mouth shut, he would have been able to keep the money.
Auron opened his mouth to question the two individuals in the room, but quickly closed it when he spotted a familiar blond standing in the entrance of the garage.
"Hey, Auron, Daddy said he's ready to- Auron!" Rikku's announcement to leave turned into a gasp of shock. "You punched him! Not that I expected any less, but still!"
"I hit him, Rikku," Zarinia confessed. "He tried to kiss me, just as I am assuming that he kissed you."
"Tek! You are such a...such a man whore!"
"Yevon, Ri! She's full of it! She practically begged me to kiss her, prancing around my garage in that halter top! She's just begging for attention! And-"
"Shut up, Tek!" Zarinia growled, her ebony eyes flashing dangerously. "We have to leave! Yuna and Lulu have a wedding they must attend, and they still have last minute plans to wrap up. We must be going."
Tek immediately ceased his ranting. There was a message behind those enchanting eyes, and it was not pretty. "Fine." He opted for saying a quick good-bye, instead. "Look, I'm sorry that I kissed you Ri, I was outta line. I was never trying to invade on your territory, man, so you can just let me go now. I guess I'll see you all when you visit Home in the future."
Rikku still stood in the doorway, weighing his words. Slowly she said, "I'm not telling Brother this time, Tek, because you're like his brother. Touch me again, and I'll squeal so fast, and have your job so quick it'll make your head spin. Got it?" At Tek's nod, Auron lowered him, the glint in his eye telling Rikku that it was a struggle for him.
"You forgive me, Rikku?"
She had to hesitant, wondering if she should truly give him another chance. He seemed sincere, but they would never have their friendship back. Though just because he would never be her close friend again, didn't mean she should hold a grudge against him. "Yeah, T, I forgive you- this time."
Turning away from her childhood friend, she motioned for Auron and Zarinia to follow her out. "C'mon guys, we gotta get moving. Pops is waiting for us."
Auron threw an angry glance a the mechanic before he exited the garage, calling out, "If there is ever a next time, I will personally bloody your nose...and then some."
"Yeah, well, you don't have to worry about that," the Al Bhed muttered to himself, his gaze on the floor. Rubbing his throat and pulling at his collar, Tek decided then and there he'd never anger Auron again. When the clicking of heels made their way past him, he jerked his head up, catching Zarinia by the arm. "Hey, Z, what do you have up your sleeve? Your a pretty good liar."
Wearing a smirk, she answered, "I have a job to do. Lying comes with it." Moving out of the garage, she paused once more in the doorway as Tek called after her.
"Where's my money?"
Sauntering out of the doorway, she replied. "I told you not to call me Z."
xxxx
Hours later, Zarinia found herself sitting on the deck of the Airship. It was relaxing, having the wind whip her about and feeling the unseen force blow into her face. Something about being alone on the massive hull of the ship was calming.
And she needed calming.
That Tek was such a clown! Trying to blow her cover in front of Auron and Rikku! He knew nothing of her mission, but he had almost flushed it down the toilet nonetheless. Yeah, she had paid him off to kiss Rikku, but Rikku didn't need to know that! It wasn't as though Zarinia wanted to pull her away from Auron, she simply needed them apart for her mission to be a success!
Her mission. It was going to the dingos. She was finding it increasingly difficult playing nice with them all. Not because it was sickening, but because she wanted to. Which was mad, because she was supposed to kill them all. You don't befriend your prey! But Rikku was such a nice young woman! And Auron was...he was Aurrie...
But they all had to die! She couldn't fail her mission. Which was thrust off track once more because of Rikku's earlier announcement. An hour ago Rikku had told her they were going to Gagazet. Gagazet! That snowy region was way of course! It was hours from Home, hours from Besaid, hours from anywhere! But they had to go pick up Kimarhi, the last member of their little group, for the wedding.
Master would not be pleased.
She couldn't drive a wedge between Rikku and Auron- which was why she had enlisted the help of that annoying Al Bhed man who couldn't do a thing right- who were causing the biggest hinderance to her mission, and now they were traveling miles out of the way. Oh, and she didn't want to kill them all. Grand. Just grand,
She was so wrapped up in her thoughts she failed to notice the sound of heavy boots approaching from behind.
"Zarinia."
A first, Zarinia thought the wind was causing her to hear things. That voice sounded like Aurrie's, and she knew he wouldn't speak to unless he was forced. But when she turned around and saw him standing behind her, dressed in black jeans and a matching tee, she knew she had been mistaken.
"Aurrie? What are you doing?"
He mentally cringed at the nickname. He had never been a fan of it. Glancing down at the raven-haired woman, he replied, "You're a smart woman. Why do you think I'm here?" He was rather gruff, and immediately he regretted his tone. Though he disliked her, he should at least show some of the manners he was raised with.
His tone was lost on her, however, she was used to it. With the initial shock of seeing him gone, Zarinia pulled her knees to her chest, resting her chin on her bare legs. "I suppose you want to make up for lost time?" Though she couldn't see his eyes thanks to his black glasses, she could imagine the scowl they held.
"Forget it," Auron said, more to himself than to her. He turned, prepared to leave, but stopped when he heard Zarinia call after him.
"Wait, Auron. I'm sorry. I was teasing." Smoothing out her mid thigh-high peach colored dress, she motioned for him to return.
He hesitated, but reluctantly headed back to his previous spot. Pushing his glasses closer, he mumbled, "May I speak with you briefly?"
Zarinia arched a curious brow to his sudden change in demeanor. "I suppose you could."
Barely giving her time to reply, Auron plunged on. "What do you know about this current state of our fine land?"
Deciding that it wouldn't pay to play dumb with him- it would only anger him- Zarinia shrugged. "I know that monsters are running free. And that the technology we've had for the past two years is in hibernation." She turned to look at her former betrothed, and found that he staring intently at her. She flashed him a smile, yet she knew that it didn't reach her eyes. She felt..bad for lying.
Auron ran a hand threw his dark hair. "I should rephrase that question: What do you have to do with it?"
Trying to appear shocked by his accusation, she drew a hand to her chest. "Me?"
Scoffing, Auron removed his sunglasses, pinning her with his one-eyed gaze. "There's no need to play with me Zarinia. You know I never liked games."
"Truly, Aurrie, I have no idea what you're talking about." She turned away from him, suddenly unable to meet his gaze. Why did he bring up the past! She couldn't take that. Not at the moment. She was trying to think, and he was interrupting her, bringing up areas that were truthfully still a sore spot for her.
Auron studied her, noticing that the talk of their past seemed to irritate her. He wanted to laugh. Like she cared! She had ended it! Why was she feigning hurt now? After all this time? "You know how to cast spells, correct," he continued, shaking off his thoughts, "If my memory is accurate, I belief you were quite excelled."
"It was required of me," she answered, an edge in her voice. "You know that. Don't pin this on me. I have nothing to do with it." He needed to leave. She was finding it increasingly harder to lie to him. Had Master taught her nothing?
He noted that she refused to meet his gaze. "I know you do. Stop playing. Admit it. You did this. Why, I don't know. But you did, Z. You did," Auron stated, his voice hard. He purposely called her Z, something he hadn't said in years. It was was his endearment for her, and he knew it would get under her skin.
Sure enough, her ebony eyes flashed in anger. "Don't call me Z! And don't accuse of things you know nothing about!" Jumping to her feet, she thrust her finger into her chest. "Just shut up!"
He remained calm, merely stared down at her. "You always were a poor liar."
"Shove off." She resisted the urge to slap him. He always did know how to push her buttons. And because off that, she was letting her master down. Well, not today. She shoved past him, her heel clicking hotly against the smooth, hard surface of the Airship.
Auron watched her go, calling after her, "Why, Z? What's in this for you?"
She remained silent, resisting the urge to call back with a few choice words that would cause her father to turn in his grave.
As she reached the stairs that led to the interior of the ship, she passed Rikku, who waved cheerily at her. But the blond woman's happy smile faded when she saw the angry look on her new friend's face.
"Zarinia, what's up?"
"How do you deal with him? Now I know why I didn't marry him!" Zarinia spoke harshly, walking past Rikku and down the stairs. In turn, Rikku stared at her retreating form with curiosity.
"Auron?" she wondered aloud, now taking the stairs two at a time. When she reached to deck, she spotted the older man standing in the middle of the large area, arms crossed and head down in thought. She jogged over to him and wrapped her arms around one of his elbow. "What did you do to Zarinia?" Though her voice was playful, the look slipped from her freshly tanned face as Auron turned to her.
"Rikku." The word was a sigh.
"Yeah?" She arched a blond brow, her stomach sinking. So far, her day was rather discouraging. She lost an old friend, her new friend looked angry, and her boyfriend had that dreary air about him he got whenever he was really serious. This couldn't be good.
"We need to talk."
xxxx
A/N: Epp. Kinda short! I'm sorry. I was hoping that it would turn out longer, but trust me- next chapter will have conflict, which will make it lengthy. Heh. So, now we know why Tek kissed Rikku, and do I sense a hidden emotion from Zarinia? Does she still have a soft spot for Auron? Hmmm...Well, hope you guys liked this short chapter. Once again, I'm sorry for the late update. Hopefully, you'll see another update within the next week!
Big thanks to: Chibi-Sorrow, Auron's Fan, Kitsu Kurasei, mandyfanforevr, She's Happy2bHardcore, Hello-blondie, GiGgLyGaL, AllPowerfulDaisy, rr1963, Darth-Lexi, bluemoon fairy,and last but not least, BlackDeath6! You guys are the bestest!
