Otherworld Year One: Chapter 7




Auron was bent over the floorboards of the porch on one knee, a line of sweat trickling down the valley of his bared back, as he punched the last rivet in. Rising to his feet, he wiped his arm across his forehead and assessed his work. He was no carpenter, but the repairs to Sahna's front porch were adequate, he thought.

Setting the rivet-gun down on the porch railing, he brought his left hand up to his right shoulder and rotated his arm back and forth for a moment. The pain was almost gone he realized, and his mobility was much better as well. Then he brought his hand to his face, running his fingers gingerly down the right side. The wound was almost completely closed now... only remaining open where it tracked across his eye.

He lowered his hand and turned toward the water, the wind catching his hair and moving its layers back in soft waves from his face. He would miss the beach. His morning walks along the shoreline as the sun rose in the sky had been his favorite part of the day during his stay here.

But it was time. He was strong enough to work, and his episodes of grief were mostly under control now. Only the nightmares still horribly vivid, but he could deal with that. And once he got settled at Gabe's, he would seek out Tidus and his mother. He needed to assess that situation, and decide what needed to be done in order to fulfill his duties toward the boy.

************

Sahna sat in the big chair across from the couch, quietly humming to herself as she mended a pair of Remie's pants. He had an uncanny ability to rip the knees out on a weekly basis, she thought, smiling to herself as she looked across the room at him. He was laying on his back with his knees drawn up, his new book propped up against them, his brow furrowed... lost in the story.

Then she looked over at Auron, reclined at the other end of the couch... his legs stretched out on the floor in front of him, his eye far away in thought. She knew he was getting ready to leave. He had been acting a little restless these past few days. But she sensed he was reluctant to broach the subject, most likely out of concern for Remie and herself. Perhaps it would make it easier for him if she brought it up.

"Auron?"

"Mmm." Auron mumbled, bringing himself back from wherever his thoughts had been to look over at her.

"I was just thinking how much better you seem... do you think you might be well enough now to help Gabe? I know he really needs it."

Auron sat up and leaned forward, his forearms on his knees, as a fleeting look of relief passed across his face. "Yes, I believe I am well enough... and it's time I did something more productive than track beach sand across your floor." He finished, with a crooked smile.

"That's wonderful Auron. Although we'll miss you terribly... I'm very glad you're feeling up to it." Sahna smiled back. "Well, what do you say to a special breakfast in the morning to see you off?"

Before Auron could reply, Remie piped up from beside him... "Will you make pancakes mom? Those really good ones with the berries inside?" Auron nodded his agreement to that, as he and Remie exchanged a knowing glance. "For you two? Absolutely." Sahna said, laughing.

************

"Will you promise me something Auron?" Sahna asked, as she and Remie were seeing him on his way the next morning, after their breakfast. "What is it Sahna." Auron replied solemnly. "Promise me you'll visit us, at least once a week... so I can know you're okay, and cook you a decent meal."

"That, will be the easiest promise to keep I have ever made." Auron replied, with a bittersweet smile, then added... "And always know that if you ever have need of me, you have only but to ask."

"Can I come visit you at Gabe's?" Remie asked forlornly. "Whenever you wish it." Auron answered, laying his hand on Remie's head for a moment.

"Get going now Auron, otherwise I'm going to cry and make a complete fool of myself." Sahna said, patting Auron on the back as he walked to the door. He opened it and started through, then stopped and turned back... removing his glasses to look down at her.

"Sahna..." Auron began, then she stopped him... bringing her hand to his lips for a moment. "Don't Auron. I know." Sahna said softly, then smiled. Auron smiled back, and for the first time, Sahna saw it reach his eye. It transformed his face for a few moments... and she caught a glimpse of what he had been before his pain changed him. It was thanks enough.

************

Gabe looked up, as Auron came through the door, and grinned. "Hey there, looks like you might be finally willing to tear yourself away from Sahna's cooking, eh?"

"Regretfully, yes." Auron replied, with a small smile, his sole possessions attached to his belt and slung across his back... as he walked to meet Gabe, coming out from behind the counter.

Gabe whistled in appreciation, as he walked behind Auron to get a better look at his sword. "That, is one serious piece of hardware, my man. We'll need to build a spare room, just to store it properly." Auron didn't reply, merely raising an eyebrow as a smirk touched his mouth.

"Well, first things first. Let's get you settled in to the apartment today, then I'll give you the grand tour of the rest in the morning." Gabe said, as he turned and led Auron up the stairs to the mezzanine above.

Auron followed, as Gabe crossed the second floor to the far west side, and stopped in front of the last door. He reached up to a touchpad on the wall, and mashed one finger against it, as the door tracked open with a metallic wooshing sound. Then stepping to one side, he extended an arm toward the interior. "Men with giant-ass swords first." He said, with an impish grin.

Auron stopped at the end of the small entryway past the door, and surveyed the room. In contrast to Sahna's home, this one-room living space was starkly sleek and completely in keeping with the rest of Zanarkand.

The left hand wall had a series of high, south facing windows near the ceiling, and below, a rectangular plane of smooth black metal jutted from the wall, a desk of sorts, he supposed. Above it, was an array of flat glass panels built into the wall, a single amber light blinking on and off in the centermost panel. The west wall was entirely constructed of tinted glass, with what looked to be an outdoor deck beyond. Against the north wall, was a low bed, and a single chair with a table beside it. Next to that, an archway led into a bathroom. Turning slightly to his right, Auron could see a small galley style kitchen along the east wall, ending against the entryway where he now stood.

"Well? Think this will suit you?" Gabe asked, as he walked to stand beside him in the entry. "Yes, it is more than adequate... thank you Gabe." Auron replied, walking further into the room and carefully propping his sword up against the wall next to the bed.

"Here, let me show you a few of the finer points." Gabe said, walking to the panels above the desk. He touched the blinking light in the center, and the panels lit up across the wall... a series of patterns and words appearing in primary colored lights across their fronts.

"The left panel controls lighting, temperature, audio, door locks, that sort of thing. Basically all the interior environment. The Center panel gives you access to the city-wide network... better known as 'ZanNet.' From this you can receive video feeds and exchange messages, as well as access all the public data bases available. The last panel is simply for personal work and data storage, if you need it."

Auron understood little of what Gabe had just explained to him, and he suddenly found himself wishing that he was an Al-Bhed, instead of a disillusioned Yevonite. He would just have to figure it out as best he could... and pray he didn't blow anything up in the process.

Gabe hit one of the lights on the left panel, and one side of the glass wall retracted back, allowing access to the deck. "Check this out, it's my favorite thing about this place." Gabe said, as Auron followed him outside. Two large lounge chairs faced a low railing across the front of the deck that looked out onto a stunning westerly view of the city.

"Kicking-back here at the end of the day, watching the sun go down is pretty sweet." Gabe said, turning to him with a grin. "Indeed." Auron replied, admiring the view. "There's also an exterior stairway here, so you can come and go without going through the shop." Gabe said, pointing to a narrow stairwell extending off the southern end of the deck, winding down toward the front of the building.

"The kitchen and bath are pretty self-explanatory, so I won't bother with those." Gabe said, as he walked back inside. "I need to get back downstairs now, but you should just relax and get used to things. There's nothing pressing going on today." Gabe continued, walking to the entryway.

"Thank you Gabe, I truly appreciate all this." Auron said. "Hey, no problem... I'm looking forward to putting your skills to work. I have a feeling we're going to make a good team." Gabe replied with a smile.

After the door had closed behind him, Auron turned slowly, looking around the room, and sighed heavily. He hoped that he was up to all of this. Making a fool of himself on top of everything else would... as Remie had taught him to say... totally suck.