A/N: For the 'Something New' fic challenge in LJ. Since I never write a non dialogue story before, here it goes...

Bliss

----

In the world where we have an invincible, merciless monster that attacks everything that moves, marital age was early. My parents got married in their early teen. My father admitted that he has to continue the family line, seeing that he's an only son. I was born when they were barely twenty, and they absolutely have no idea how to raise a kid. The earliest memory of my childhood was how my mother kept feeding me with whatever she could find or grab a hold to. When I grew slightly older, I found out that it was to shut me up. Croissants, Behemoth steaks, mashed potatoes, fried chocobos… I could eat five meals a day and usually still got up in the middle of the night for two bags of potato chips.

My old man has always told me, be happy in whatever I do. Smile was a rare find in Spira, and my memories of him always consisted of his laughter and grins. I grew up to a big, jolly size and was fifteen when Sin attacked the village. Rebuilding was out of the question. I was one of the few numbers among the survivors, and most of them had left to bigger, better cities.

I left the ruins of my village, carrying my father's shield with a new shiny hope in my chest. But I have no monk material in me, let alone a summoning talent. My daily menu has been decreased to twice a day, and at the middle of the night I still sat right up, smothering my grumbling stomach. But as long as I have food in my stomach and air in my lungs-

Ormi, whatever you do, please be happy.

-I prayed that someday a summoner will banish Sin forever.

I sang, sang so damn loudly till I felt my voice was gone when the airship flew up there with Sin tailing dangerously, and the long awaited Calm finally came. This is happiness, I imagined. I could finally grasp the original meaning of happiness. But an even creepier leader came and he purified the 1000 years old organization, declaring it as his 'New Yevon'. I wasn't the brightest tool in the shed, Logos told me this repeatedly. The monks and priests, for another. My diligence and taste for extra meal didn't stand up to the New Group's standard. When the whole world was still celebrating the arrival of Eternal Calm, we walked along the windy streets of Bevelle in late autumn and started to scrape through garbage can, searching for anything edible. When the only thing you can find in a foul smelled place were fish bones and rotten bread, can you refuse if someone offer you warm food and a place to stay for the night? I already smelled worst than the trash back then.

That woman came out of the blue when the first snow fell, with thick blankets and a basket of butter rolls. She even promised that there're even warm soup and more meat if I go to her place. I didn't like her style, I hated the way she talked, the way she smoothed her blond hair and shook her hips while she was walking. The scent of her perfume made me nauseous, yet I didn't mind.

And I followed Leblanc wherever she goes since that day, announcing that I'm happy to be of service to her.