Whooooo. Trying to come up with things that have not been done before.
Mwahaaa. They are so out of character it's not funny! But I digress…
*has anyone noticed that after Tidus wakes up Yuna in Djose, when he comes out, the little mousie thingies are like, jumping up and down between and underneath Auron's legs!? o_O LOL!*
Chapter 8 The Nightmare
The atmosphere on board the airship was hushed. Only a few clunks of shoes on the hard metal floor resounded throughout the ship, and even then the powerful engines below drowned out most noise. Tidus gazed out the cockpit windows to the starry sky. His thoughts were blurry, unfocused. So much to take in… He sighed. And in it all, he had blamed Rikku, who was only trying to help. Despite the bite and agony of Yuna's pilgrimage, still, he felt the twinge of guilt. Standing, he began a trek to go find the young Al Bhed. She deserved his apology. And he needed to take his mind off of his summoner…
After a half an hour of searching the brightly colored corridors of the air ship, he'd had no luck locating Rikku. Even her father had no idea where she was. Jeez, Tidus thought, she needs a bell around her neck or something. He'd already walked in on a person sleeping in what were apparently private quarters. That had been somewhat embarrassing. Err…
Almost ready to give up, he wandered into a quiet little room on the third level. He stopped immediately. In the dim light of a single lamp, two forms merged atop a worn couch. She was right there, curled up on top of Auron. Like a cat, she was nestled into the larger guardian's torso, half of her face buried in his chest. Her arm and head peeked out from under a thick quilt, laced in the letters of Al Bhed. Her waist tapered off onto the cushion behind him, her legs thrown over Auron's beneath the heavy blanket. The older man's foremost hand rested behind his head, deeply sinking into the pillows while his other gently gripped Rikku's upper back. His entire face was visible, the cloak and glasses nowhere to be seen. The dark eyebrows that were usually knitted had relaxed, his face calm.
Struggling to remain silent, Tidus winced when his sneakers squeaked on the metal floor. Auron stirred and mumbled softly, but did not wake. Rikku, however, opened a jade eye at the intruder. Tidus gave a sloppy grin, attempting to back out to the door. Rikku smiled sleepily. As the door shut behind Tidus, she nuzzled her face against Auron's warm chest, perfectly content. Painful memories aside, this was... nice. She was being lulled back to sleep by Auron's heartbeat when the steady rhythm suddenly picked up it's pace. Auron stirred again, moaning softly, his voice vibrating through his chest. His hand gripped her back tightly, then released. Rikku frowned.
She leaned forward, gazing towards Auron's face. His forehead was beaded with sweat. He forced his cheek deeper into the disarray of pillows as he moaned again. Still atop his chest, Rikku felt his muscles tense, and his breathing became irregular. Concerned, Rikku touched his sweat-covered face. He grunted softly, leaning into it and running his scratchy cheek into her palm. His breaths came rapid and short, while his weighted body squirmed slightly against the soft cushions of the sofa. He was having a nightmare.
"Shhh," she gently hushed, trying to calm the moaning swordsman. She gently stroked his forehead, and was shocked when tears glistened around his closed eyelids. My gods. What on Spira could do this? Never in her entire life would she expect his solid resolve to shed tears. Well, he really had no control of his dreams, did he? The soft lamplight filtered through his hair, creating strange shadowy shapes on Rikku's nearby face. So much pain was etched on his features… the same pain she realized he would never show to her, Yuna or Tidus. An emotion that one might only catch a glimpse of in his sleep, where he was defenseless and unable to mask his feelings. Rikku felt her own tears burn her eyes as she clung to his chest.
Auron let out a strangled gasp, his back arching slightly against the cushion. She grabbed his large hand, squeezing it. Please, stop! She begged silently. Her face was mere inches from his, and she touched him forehead to forehead. Such pain, such torment… Prayers answered, his back reclined to the sofa again. But his tears spilt now, dampening his face. His dark eye suddenly flew open, and in that moment, Rikku saw terror. He was still lost in his dream.
Rikku grasped his shoulders, kissing his tear-streaked face. He inhaled shakily, struggling to emerge from his nightmare. He reached around her waist beneath the quilt, holding Rikku to him forcefully, the swordsman struggling to evade the horrible emotions cascading throughout his mind, body, and soul. "I... I'm sorry…" He hoarsely whispered to the fading images of his nightmare. Rikku clung to his frame, her slender arms grasping his shoulders for dear life. She could feel his arms trembling around her, hinting at his unease.
"Rikku, I…" Auron struggled to speak, but his voice caught. She looked up at him, her tears still fresh. She shook her head, and simply reached around his head and clutched him to her. "I need to tell you something." He finished, his breath sliding across Rikku's neck. His voice was thick, serious. She lifted herself from the comfort of his shoulders, sitting upwards on his lap, as Auron was still stretched out. He placed his elbows beneath him as he struggled to lift himself into a sitting position.
Auron was terrified. He needed to tell the girl… or was it selfish? What if she rejected him? What if it pushed her away? Would she accept his death? Regardless… He could no longer ignore the affection he held for the girl. He must do what he feared most. He had to expose his wounded soul.
"What were you dreaming about?" Asked Rikku, pulling Auron away from his thoughts. He swallowed slowly.
"I… I dreamt about the past," He replied, his voice hoarse. "It happens often. So many memories…" He smiled. "Of myself. Of Braska, being ever optimistic. Of Ject, being a complete idiot. When they died…" Rikku watched as Auron's eye fell and his jaw clenched. Unsure, she reached a small hand to the top of his leg, squeezing softly, urging him to continue. "When they died, I returned to Yunalesca. I… I wanted to avenge them. I wanted their deaths to have meaning…" He paused, his voice barely above a whisper. "I was a fool."
The older man turned away, his face grim. "I attacked her. I was enraged for I had allowed my misted emotions to gain control… She… She struck me down and-" Before he could continue, Rikku pounced, gasping his arm. He turned, and found her eyes large, burrowing into his opened soul. "She killed me." He whispered, and closed his own russet eye, enclosing himself to his own pain. It was done. He fully expected the girl to release him, curl into a ball, and-
Auron felt her soft lips on his forehead. Her hands reach up to his face, one per cheek. His eye sprang open to see hers a breath away. They stayed that way for what felt like eternity… Rikku searching his very soul, it seemed. In the end, she closed her eyes, and pressed her lips to his. Shocked, Auron inhaled sharply, but fell to her embrace. She did not ask for entrance, she did not open her mouth. The tender feel of her lips to his was not meant to be erotic or seducing… she simply wanted his kiss.
Pulling away, she slid her head to his stomach, curling into a little ball on his lap, quilt draped over her shoulders. She stared into the black wall of his abdomen, breathing slowly. "It doesn't matter to me, you know," She whispered. "I still… I still love you."
Auron's mouth fell open, clearing expressing his shock.
Rikku did not see his face, because at this point, it was far past two in the morning, and she was using Auron for pillow. It was late. It was warm. And her thoughts of his confession were threatening to take her whole, although she hid her feelings well. He was dead. Yet he was here. It made no sense. But he was with her, and he was going to stay. That's all that mattered to her. And as she fell to slumber on his lap, her ears did not hear his soft words…
"I love you…"
***Fweeee! O_o So tired. Must pass out. Have idea for last couple chapters, but um… I dunno if you will like it, tis kinda sad… we shall see. Mwaahaha!
-Spazkit
*has anyone noticed that after Tidus wakes up Yuna in Djose, when he comes out, the little mousie thingies are like, jumping up and down between and underneath Auron's legs!? o_O LOL!*
Chapter 8 The Nightmare
The atmosphere on board the airship was hushed. Only a few clunks of shoes on the hard metal floor resounded throughout the ship, and even then the powerful engines below drowned out most noise. Tidus gazed out the cockpit windows to the starry sky. His thoughts were blurry, unfocused. So much to take in… He sighed. And in it all, he had blamed Rikku, who was only trying to help. Despite the bite and agony of Yuna's pilgrimage, still, he felt the twinge of guilt. Standing, he began a trek to go find the young Al Bhed. She deserved his apology. And he needed to take his mind off of his summoner…
After a half an hour of searching the brightly colored corridors of the air ship, he'd had no luck locating Rikku. Even her father had no idea where she was. Jeez, Tidus thought, she needs a bell around her neck or something. He'd already walked in on a person sleeping in what were apparently private quarters. That had been somewhat embarrassing. Err…
Almost ready to give up, he wandered into a quiet little room on the third level. He stopped immediately. In the dim light of a single lamp, two forms merged atop a worn couch. She was right there, curled up on top of Auron. Like a cat, she was nestled into the larger guardian's torso, half of her face buried in his chest. Her arm and head peeked out from under a thick quilt, laced in the letters of Al Bhed. Her waist tapered off onto the cushion behind him, her legs thrown over Auron's beneath the heavy blanket. The older man's foremost hand rested behind his head, deeply sinking into the pillows while his other gently gripped Rikku's upper back. His entire face was visible, the cloak and glasses nowhere to be seen. The dark eyebrows that were usually knitted had relaxed, his face calm.
Struggling to remain silent, Tidus winced when his sneakers squeaked on the metal floor. Auron stirred and mumbled softly, but did not wake. Rikku, however, opened a jade eye at the intruder. Tidus gave a sloppy grin, attempting to back out to the door. Rikku smiled sleepily. As the door shut behind Tidus, she nuzzled her face against Auron's warm chest, perfectly content. Painful memories aside, this was... nice. She was being lulled back to sleep by Auron's heartbeat when the steady rhythm suddenly picked up it's pace. Auron stirred again, moaning softly, his voice vibrating through his chest. His hand gripped her back tightly, then released. Rikku frowned.
She leaned forward, gazing towards Auron's face. His forehead was beaded with sweat. He forced his cheek deeper into the disarray of pillows as he moaned again. Still atop his chest, Rikku felt his muscles tense, and his breathing became irregular. Concerned, Rikku touched his sweat-covered face. He grunted softly, leaning into it and running his scratchy cheek into her palm. His breaths came rapid and short, while his weighted body squirmed slightly against the soft cushions of the sofa. He was having a nightmare.
"Shhh," she gently hushed, trying to calm the moaning swordsman. She gently stroked his forehead, and was shocked when tears glistened around his closed eyelids. My gods. What on Spira could do this? Never in her entire life would she expect his solid resolve to shed tears. Well, he really had no control of his dreams, did he? The soft lamplight filtered through his hair, creating strange shadowy shapes on Rikku's nearby face. So much pain was etched on his features… the same pain she realized he would never show to her, Yuna or Tidus. An emotion that one might only catch a glimpse of in his sleep, where he was defenseless and unable to mask his feelings. Rikku felt her own tears burn her eyes as she clung to his chest.
Auron let out a strangled gasp, his back arching slightly against the cushion. She grabbed his large hand, squeezing it. Please, stop! She begged silently. Her face was mere inches from his, and she touched him forehead to forehead. Such pain, such torment… Prayers answered, his back reclined to the sofa again. But his tears spilt now, dampening his face. His dark eye suddenly flew open, and in that moment, Rikku saw terror. He was still lost in his dream.
Rikku grasped his shoulders, kissing his tear-streaked face. He inhaled shakily, struggling to emerge from his nightmare. He reached around her waist beneath the quilt, holding Rikku to him forcefully, the swordsman struggling to evade the horrible emotions cascading throughout his mind, body, and soul. "I... I'm sorry…" He hoarsely whispered to the fading images of his nightmare. Rikku clung to his frame, her slender arms grasping his shoulders for dear life. She could feel his arms trembling around her, hinting at his unease.
"Rikku, I…" Auron struggled to speak, but his voice caught. She looked up at him, her tears still fresh. She shook her head, and simply reached around his head and clutched him to her. "I need to tell you something." He finished, his breath sliding across Rikku's neck. His voice was thick, serious. She lifted herself from the comfort of his shoulders, sitting upwards on his lap, as Auron was still stretched out. He placed his elbows beneath him as he struggled to lift himself into a sitting position.
Auron was terrified. He needed to tell the girl… or was it selfish? What if she rejected him? What if it pushed her away? Would she accept his death? Regardless… He could no longer ignore the affection he held for the girl. He must do what he feared most. He had to expose his wounded soul.
"What were you dreaming about?" Asked Rikku, pulling Auron away from his thoughts. He swallowed slowly.
"I… I dreamt about the past," He replied, his voice hoarse. "It happens often. So many memories…" He smiled. "Of myself. Of Braska, being ever optimistic. Of Ject, being a complete idiot. When they died…" Rikku watched as Auron's eye fell and his jaw clenched. Unsure, she reached a small hand to the top of his leg, squeezing softly, urging him to continue. "When they died, I returned to Yunalesca. I… I wanted to avenge them. I wanted their deaths to have meaning…" He paused, his voice barely above a whisper. "I was a fool."
The older man turned away, his face grim. "I attacked her. I was enraged for I had allowed my misted emotions to gain control… She… She struck me down and-" Before he could continue, Rikku pounced, gasping his arm. He turned, and found her eyes large, burrowing into his opened soul. "She killed me." He whispered, and closed his own russet eye, enclosing himself to his own pain. It was done. He fully expected the girl to release him, curl into a ball, and-
Auron felt her soft lips on his forehead. Her hands reach up to his face, one per cheek. His eye sprang open to see hers a breath away. They stayed that way for what felt like eternity… Rikku searching his very soul, it seemed. In the end, she closed her eyes, and pressed her lips to his. Shocked, Auron inhaled sharply, but fell to her embrace. She did not ask for entrance, she did not open her mouth. The tender feel of her lips to his was not meant to be erotic or seducing… she simply wanted his kiss.
Pulling away, she slid her head to his stomach, curling into a little ball on his lap, quilt draped over her shoulders. She stared into the black wall of his abdomen, breathing slowly. "It doesn't matter to me, you know," She whispered. "I still… I still love you."
Auron's mouth fell open, clearing expressing his shock.
Rikku did not see his face, because at this point, it was far past two in the morning, and she was using Auron for pillow. It was late. It was warm. And her thoughts of his confession were threatening to take her whole, although she hid her feelings well. He was dead. Yet he was here. It made no sense. But he was with her, and he was going to stay. That's all that mattered to her. And as she fell to slumber on his lap, her ears did not hear his soft words…
"I love you…"
***Fweeee! O_o So tired. Must pass out. Have idea for last couple chapters, but um… I dunno if you will like it, tis kinda sad… we shall see. Mwaahaha!
-Spazkit