1 Thanks for being so patient. Finally! I have some ideas for this plot
again! ^_^
2 Chapter 29 Whispers
"Auron…"
The guest room aboard the airship was dark, the air slightly chilled. In his sleep, Auron moaned, twisting with the bed sheets while a sudden cold sweat broke out on his forehead. Jecht's voice was clear in his ears, even as he was unconscious. The swordsman almost whimpered as he buried his face beneath the pillows, the sheets clinging to his naked body. He was unaware of his moans as his fingers grasped the place where Rikku had been.
In the cockpit, Rikku sat alone with her father. Outside, the darkened sky was beginning to lighten above the clouds, faint hints of light seeping through the mist. But for now, only the light of the various machina in the cockpit lit Rikku's face as she spoke to her father.
"Daddy… I… I need to tell you something."
She sat facing him in one of the comfortable swiveling leather chairs next to the observation console, to the right of the map-sphere. He held her hand gently, running his rough fingers over her palm. His eyes were warm as he urged her on. With a tear, she recalled the events prior to Bevelle. She told her father about her fall… her death. Her voice was trembling as she recalled the events, her body soon heaving in spasmodic emotional pain.
Cid was trembling himself, and enwrapped his only daughter in a tight embrace as she tried to continue.
"Auron… I… I love him, daddy," she heaved. Cid briefly tightened his embrace, perhaps in anger, she couldn't see his face. She quickly went on to describe the events leading up to the present, the Lune, the feather. She left out the more intimate details, of course.
"And… when the time comes, I'll… I'll be sent too. Auron and I… I hope we go together," She murmured, her eyes wide but unseeing as she rested her cheek on Cid's shoulder. Thus far, the man had said nothing of her relationship with Auron. Please, don't hate me, she prayed as she buried her face in his strong neck. Butterflies raced in her stomach as she awaited his reaction.
Cid released her slowly, and as Rikku saw his face, she gasped at the warm tears that flowed freely out his wetted eyes. One hand rose to her face, cupping her cheek.
"My little girl…" he whispered, his voice hoarse. "So… soon… You're still so young-"
"Daddy, I had to, I just had too! It was Yunie's life, it was Auron's life, whatever it was!" She cried through quaking breaths, "That was my right and duty as a guardian… we will defeat sin, once and for all. When we bring the eternal calm… you, you'll know it was worth it."
Cid was taken aback by her words, so full of strength and maturity. It was only then that he realized how wise and true his daughter truly had become. He held her close for another hour as they watched the sun begin to rise over the clouds.
******************
"Auron… Auron, can you hear me?"
Auron moaned gruffly and thrashed violently in his sleep, his bare chest rubbing raw against the thick blankets that were twisted around him. His stubble brushed harshly against the pillow as his face dug deeper into the damp fabric. In his dreams, he saw fire and blood, screams and agony. The world was a blurry haze, as seen through Jecht's tormented eyes.
"Auron!" Jecht's voice ran out over the din. In his confusion, Auron managed to pick out his red bandana in the chaos. "Auron, you gotta hurry, there isn't much time!" His friend howled, suddenly falling to his knees. Auron turned to run to his fallen comrade, but the heated flames licked at his body, creating an impervious wall of fire and grief.
"Jecht!" He cried out, his eye flying open in horror.
Visibly shaken, Auron trembled beneath the web of sheets and bedding. Yevon… Jecht…
In a brief moment of uncertainty, Auron slid back under the covers to the safety of the hidden world beneath. Nuzzling the dampened pillow, he contemplated his dream. Was it a dream? Or was Jecht… no, it couldn't be, there was simply no way. No way…
**************
Auron strode into the corridor fully dressed a little while later. He hadn't the slightest idea what time it was, and he prayed he wasn't the last one up. That would be somewhat embarrassing. Approaching the deck, Auron saw through the open doors. Rikku was talking to Tidus while Yuna and Lulu were having their own conversation. Dammit, Auron cursed, before settling back against the outer corridor wall. He hoped Yuna didn't mind.
As the door whooshed open, Rikku bounced outwards, smiling that brilliant smile that had the uncanny ability to melt his ancient heart. Her hyper and energetic steps were subdued when she saw him. Without a word, she slowed her pace and she moved to his side and rested her head against his right shoulder, her forehead pressing against the cool of his collar. She grasped his gloved hand, her own small fingers submerging in his palm.
"Come on," She said softly, gently tugging on his arm. Auron gave a look of protest, he was not welcome-
"It's alright, Auron, he knows now. It's alright," She soothed, using his own words to ease his worries. She briefly pressed her lips to his chest, her kiss feeling the cool of the leather shirt and the hardness of his muscle beneath. Auron closed his eye at the feeling, enjoying the simple gesture. When he opened it, her bright green eyes were shining into his own.
He gave no protest as she led him, hand in hand, into the cockpit. Auron was taken by surprise when the bright morning sun washed over his face, and he reveled in the feeling. He stood beside Yuna, while Rikku relinquished his hand and bounced over to her father. Auron had received no dirty looks or glares so far, and he wondered why.
"We have established Sin's location," Yuna said softly, glancing at Auron for approval. He looked at her with confidence, and nodded.
"Go on," He encouraged.
"It is just outside of Bevelle… Rikku was up early this morning working on some kind of long-range scanner and we know it to be true now. There is nothing stopping us…" Yuna trailed off, her gaze falling to the sunrise. Auron sensed his summoner's hesitance… nothing like this had ever been attempted before. He placed his gloved hand to her shoulder, allowing the touch to convey his full support in the matter.
"So it is decided. We leave for Bevelle," She said, nodding her head, her hair falling in front of her face. As the crew and party began to talk excitedly amongst themselves, Cid moved almost lethargically to the map and entered the coordinates for Bevelle. One by one, the party left the bridge to prepare for the battles ahead. Rikku moved past Auron, whispering that she would be in their room. He nodded. Suddenly, Auron found himself face to face with Cid, alone. He groaned inwardly, not wishing to involve himself in any conflict. But as his gaze found Cid's face, he saw something new in the Al Bhed's eyes. He couldn't pinpoint it's source, but he did not find the look aggressive, as it had been before.
Auron nodded, and turned to leave when he heard the softest of whispers.
"Auron…" Cid said softly from behind. Turning, Auron again faced the father of the woman he loved.
Cid glanced briefly to the floor before he spoke again.
"When… when you go with her… I…" At a loss for words, the man struggled to articulate his feelings. "Watch over her when you go, for me?" It took Auron a moment to realize that the man meant not sin but… the farplane. Auron took a step towards Cid, lifting his head. Rikku truly /had/ told him everything…
"Always," he replied sincerely, "I will always be with her and by her side."
Cid nodded slowly. "Then perhaps I can think of her with the thought that she's… happy."
Auron allowed the smallest of smiles to capture his lips as he turned and left the cockpit. Always…
***/sleeeeep/….. x_x Must do paper… (whines)
-Spazkit
2 Chapter 29 Whispers
"Auron…"
The guest room aboard the airship was dark, the air slightly chilled. In his sleep, Auron moaned, twisting with the bed sheets while a sudden cold sweat broke out on his forehead. Jecht's voice was clear in his ears, even as he was unconscious. The swordsman almost whimpered as he buried his face beneath the pillows, the sheets clinging to his naked body. He was unaware of his moans as his fingers grasped the place where Rikku had been.
In the cockpit, Rikku sat alone with her father. Outside, the darkened sky was beginning to lighten above the clouds, faint hints of light seeping through the mist. But for now, only the light of the various machina in the cockpit lit Rikku's face as she spoke to her father.
"Daddy… I… I need to tell you something."
She sat facing him in one of the comfortable swiveling leather chairs next to the observation console, to the right of the map-sphere. He held her hand gently, running his rough fingers over her palm. His eyes were warm as he urged her on. With a tear, she recalled the events prior to Bevelle. She told her father about her fall… her death. Her voice was trembling as she recalled the events, her body soon heaving in spasmodic emotional pain.
Cid was trembling himself, and enwrapped his only daughter in a tight embrace as she tried to continue.
"Auron… I… I love him, daddy," she heaved. Cid briefly tightened his embrace, perhaps in anger, she couldn't see his face. She quickly went on to describe the events leading up to the present, the Lune, the feather. She left out the more intimate details, of course.
"And… when the time comes, I'll… I'll be sent too. Auron and I… I hope we go together," She murmured, her eyes wide but unseeing as she rested her cheek on Cid's shoulder. Thus far, the man had said nothing of her relationship with Auron. Please, don't hate me, she prayed as she buried her face in his strong neck. Butterflies raced in her stomach as she awaited his reaction.
Cid released her slowly, and as Rikku saw his face, she gasped at the warm tears that flowed freely out his wetted eyes. One hand rose to her face, cupping her cheek.
"My little girl…" he whispered, his voice hoarse. "So… soon… You're still so young-"
"Daddy, I had to, I just had too! It was Yunie's life, it was Auron's life, whatever it was!" She cried through quaking breaths, "That was my right and duty as a guardian… we will defeat sin, once and for all. When we bring the eternal calm… you, you'll know it was worth it."
Cid was taken aback by her words, so full of strength and maturity. It was only then that he realized how wise and true his daughter truly had become. He held her close for another hour as they watched the sun begin to rise over the clouds.
******************
"Auron… Auron, can you hear me?"
Auron moaned gruffly and thrashed violently in his sleep, his bare chest rubbing raw against the thick blankets that were twisted around him. His stubble brushed harshly against the pillow as his face dug deeper into the damp fabric. In his dreams, he saw fire and blood, screams and agony. The world was a blurry haze, as seen through Jecht's tormented eyes.
"Auron!" Jecht's voice ran out over the din. In his confusion, Auron managed to pick out his red bandana in the chaos. "Auron, you gotta hurry, there isn't much time!" His friend howled, suddenly falling to his knees. Auron turned to run to his fallen comrade, but the heated flames licked at his body, creating an impervious wall of fire and grief.
"Jecht!" He cried out, his eye flying open in horror.
Visibly shaken, Auron trembled beneath the web of sheets and bedding. Yevon… Jecht…
In a brief moment of uncertainty, Auron slid back under the covers to the safety of the hidden world beneath. Nuzzling the dampened pillow, he contemplated his dream. Was it a dream? Or was Jecht… no, it couldn't be, there was simply no way. No way…
**************
Auron strode into the corridor fully dressed a little while later. He hadn't the slightest idea what time it was, and he prayed he wasn't the last one up. That would be somewhat embarrassing. Approaching the deck, Auron saw through the open doors. Rikku was talking to Tidus while Yuna and Lulu were having their own conversation. Dammit, Auron cursed, before settling back against the outer corridor wall. He hoped Yuna didn't mind.
As the door whooshed open, Rikku bounced outwards, smiling that brilliant smile that had the uncanny ability to melt his ancient heart. Her hyper and energetic steps were subdued when she saw him. Without a word, she slowed her pace and she moved to his side and rested her head against his right shoulder, her forehead pressing against the cool of his collar. She grasped his gloved hand, her own small fingers submerging in his palm.
"Come on," She said softly, gently tugging on his arm. Auron gave a look of protest, he was not welcome-
"It's alright, Auron, he knows now. It's alright," She soothed, using his own words to ease his worries. She briefly pressed her lips to his chest, her kiss feeling the cool of the leather shirt and the hardness of his muscle beneath. Auron closed his eye at the feeling, enjoying the simple gesture. When he opened it, her bright green eyes were shining into his own.
He gave no protest as she led him, hand in hand, into the cockpit. Auron was taken by surprise when the bright morning sun washed over his face, and he reveled in the feeling. He stood beside Yuna, while Rikku relinquished his hand and bounced over to her father. Auron had received no dirty looks or glares so far, and he wondered why.
"We have established Sin's location," Yuna said softly, glancing at Auron for approval. He looked at her with confidence, and nodded.
"Go on," He encouraged.
"It is just outside of Bevelle… Rikku was up early this morning working on some kind of long-range scanner and we know it to be true now. There is nothing stopping us…" Yuna trailed off, her gaze falling to the sunrise. Auron sensed his summoner's hesitance… nothing like this had ever been attempted before. He placed his gloved hand to her shoulder, allowing the touch to convey his full support in the matter.
"So it is decided. We leave for Bevelle," She said, nodding her head, her hair falling in front of her face. As the crew and party began to talk excitedly amongst themselves, Cid moved almost lethargically to the map and entered the coordinates for Bevelle. One by one, the party left the bridge to prepare for the battles ahead. Rikku moved past Auron, whispering that she would be in their room. He nodded. Suddenly, Auron found himself face to face with Cid, alone. He groaned inwardly, not wishing to involve himself in any conflict. But as his gaze found Cid's face, he saw something new in the Al Bhed's eyes. He couldn't pinpoint it's source, but he did not find the look aggressive, as it had been before.
Auron nodded, and turned to leave when he heard the softest of whispers.
"Auron…" Cid said softly from behind. Turning, Auron again faced the father of the woman he loved.
Cid glanced briefly to the floor before he spoke again.
"When… when you go with her… I…" At a loss for words, the man struggled to articulate his feelings. "Watch over her when you go, for me?" It took Auron a moment to realize that the man meant not sin but… the farplane. Auron took a step towards Cid, lifting his head. Rikku truly /had/ told him everything…
"Always," he replied sincerely, "I will always be with her and by her side."
Cid nodded slowly. "Then perhaps I can think of her with the thought that she's… happy."
Auron allowed the smallest of smiles to capture his lips as he turned and left the cockpit. Always…
***/sleeeeep/….. x_x Must do paper… (whines)
-Spazkit