Disclaimer: You know the drill. I don't own them, you don't sue me, and everyone lives a happy poor lifestyle. This is just a story for my own amusement. Oi, read!
My long strides got me up the first two sets of stairs in no time. I just wanted to go home…finally…truly home, and just die there. Somewhere familiar. I came to a complete halt as I saw Lady Summoner and her guardians. Then that man clad in red flinging some poor blonde kid…hey that blitzball player…towards her. That voice was unmistakable. Just a little more older but it was still the same. It was my Auron. IT WAS MY AURON! Oh it so good to hear my head say that…but then I snarled at the same time…he was still alive? Why…why didn't he come…never mind that…that was my fault. I left the house. I decided to go closer to the group. My hand reached up and just barely touched his unarmored shoulder.
"Auron?" My voice was full of emotion, wonder, curiosity, anger, love, every emotion you could possibly think of. He whipped around and I couldn't help but stumble backwards at the sight of his face. The collar obstructed almost half of the view of that beautiful face I dreamt of. That scar…that hideous scar, oh Auron what happened to you? My eyes grew wider as he removed the sunglasses, his eyes. Rather eye. "Auron?" I repeated, boldly stepping closer. I let my gaze take in his entire body, there were the prayer beads I gave him long ago, and there his right shoulder plate is missing…Ah I'm wearing it you nitwit brain! The silver streaks that marred his ebony locks. Diffidently my hand reached up to touch the soft spikes. "Auron…it's really you isn't it?" I felt the tears sting the back of my eyes, why wasn't he speaking to me? Auron, my love, please talk to me.
"You've been drinking horrendous amounts of Sake haven't you." I basically flung myself at him, hugging him, bringing him closer to me. His soft whisper tickling my ear as he leaned down to speak to me quietly. I inhaled his natural musk and reveled in all of its memories. I nodded sheepishly into his chest as I just held him like he was going to disappear from my life again. He cleared his throat, and immediately I backed away and stared into his eye. Without realizing it my hand reached up to tug on the leather strap that held that collar in place.
"Auron, who's the cute chick?" The blonde blitzer hiked his thumb at me as he and his group came closer to observe us. He didn't respond, instead he placed his Masamune against the railing, detached his collar and placed it beside the sword along with his sunglasses.
"Your arm…Auron?" I looked at him quizzically and stroked the hand that peeked began the red trench coat.
"Auron? Yo, Auron! Who is she? She has your other shoulder plate!" The blonde insisted on knowing who I was, but maybe…Maybe Auron didn't love me any more. I drank in his form once more, just enjoying he was here with me, whether he loved me or not. His aged face told me of his unspoken hardships.
"You haven't aged a day." He murmured freeing his arm and placed it on my cheek, the pad of his callous thumb stroking my jawbone.
"Auron, where were you all these years? I felt a piece of me die when you and Braska defeated Sin. Before the news that was telecasted telling the world the Calm was here. Did you ever come home to…" I trailed off as his gloved hand reached into his jacket to pull out a piece of white paper. He opened it skillfully with one hand, as his other stayed on my face. Surely there was my note I wrote him long ago. "…When?"
"A few days ago. I was taking care of this runt for a friend of mine." His gloved hand pointed to the blonde next to him, then tucked the note deep inside his trench coat.
"Sir Auron, who is this woman?" I glared at the obviously black mage of the group, with her nifty skirt and, oh dear I think I'm enjoying her presence. No, that's the Sake speaking. I'm…I'm bitter. I can't oh to hell! I wanna be me again! I'm me! Auron's here! I'm me!
"I'm Cynthia." I took Auron's hand and held it in my own almost seemingly delicate hands when placed next to his. I said no more, not knowing if Auron wanted to tell them.
"Aren't you a little young? Are you Auron's daughter?" The blonde asked, he really was annoying.
"What? Me? Oh no! No! No! I hope not! I'm only twenty-eight! Auron's only thirty-five he's to um…young to be my father." I glanced up to my old lover and stared at him amused. Some group he's got here. Oh the way Auron is holding onto my hand, please tell me he still loves me.
"Oh…Don't mind him, ya? He probably thought you were sixteen or something. That boy got lot of ideas floating around that head of his, ya? I'm Wakka! Haven't I seen you before." His heavy Jamaican accent dripped from his voice.
"Yes…I swear I've seen you before." The ivory skinned woman with long raven locks stepped forward, her skirt was quite amazing. "I'm Lulu."
"…I'm from Besaid. I lived away from the village. I liked my solitude." Auron squeezed my hand as I just stared up into that majestic mahogany ocular. "It is so good to meet you my lady Summoner." I briefly let go of Auron's hand to do the Yevonite prayer gesture.
"It is a pleasure to meet you. I am Yuna, and this is Tidus and this gentle Ronso is Kimahri." She bowed in return. I just smiled warmly and held onto Auron's ungloved hand. This had to be a dream.
"How do you two know each other?" Lulu brought a hand to her face to gracefully tuck back a midnight tress. My russet eyes gazed up to Auron's face unsure how I should answer.
"We met thirteen years ago. Through a mutual friend, and I'm grateful for it. Cynthia…she's…She's my fiancee. Well actually…I don't know if she still is." His voice went quiet at the last sentence. He still loved me. After all these years…am I what he thought of at night? I let my gaze linger on his face before I decided to smile.
"Yes…of course Auron. I still am you big lumnut, do you think I'd still wear this shoulder plate, have the leather strip still in my hair. Oh Auron! I've missed you so much!" I flung myself into his open arms, oh Yevon don't let this be a dream. Thank you Yevon! Thank you! For bringing back the love of my life. Suicide? What…silly stupid mind, I thought no such thing. My Red Warrior has swept me off my feet and away from my nightmare.
"Auron! You never told me you were engaged!" Tidus eyed me suspiciously as Auron and I stayed together locked in a missed embrace. "For all these years you raised me, you never told me anything about your love-life!"
"Do you think I would?" I felt his voice rumble from deep within his broad chest as I just loved being in his arms again. Bravely I cupped his face and brought him down to my level, bringing my lips to his in a soft kiss. Oh Yevon he's real! Real! He didn't die! He just left…all he did was leave to raise a runt! I pulled away and laughed at his bemused face.
"Hey! Hey! Does that mean you're not going to be an old stick in the mud?"
"Tidus…shut up." Auron just glared at him as I laughed even more.
"I'm sorry, I don't mean to ruin your godly image Auron." I turned around to face the others, only to feel Auron's loving arms wrap themselves around my waist, his hands resting on my stomach. "I'm sorry Lady Yuna. You're probably anxious to go off and leave an old fart like me behind. That smells nothing of cheap Lucan Sake."
"Oh no! I was wondering, since you make Sir Auron so happy…and you're his fiancee…will you become my guardian? I know its so soon, but I trust Sir Auron. He guarded my father. And if you two are to be wed, if he can trust you, I can." My eyes grew wide as I gazed into her bi-colored eyes. Did she mean it? Would Auron be okay with it? As if on cue Auron just hugged me closer to him, and I just leaned into his chest like old times.
"Of course my Lady! How could I refuse the High Summoner's daughter." I grinned as she warmly returned the smile. It quickly faltered as I noted that persistent gnawing feeling began to get annoying. What the hell was awaiting me that was so bad? I felt Auron's arms release their hold on me, and began to lead the group to their destination. Whatever it was, Auron was here for me now. Right?
Author's notes: Ah-ha-ha-ha! You wonder if Auron and me erm…Cynthia…hey that is me! If we're ever gonna get married. And what is this gnawing feeling that is so viciously annoying? Keep reading and maybe I might have a little surprise for you! ^ .. ^ But I'm surely running out of some spiffy ideas, review! Tell me what you'd like to see happen! I might add it in. o .. ~ Review! Review! Fwee! Feedback is good!