Can't seem to turn aside these thoughts are yours and mine
I stayed up all night to see the dawn
The air was cold the sky was grey with shades of black
I stayed up all night to see the dawn
Stormy Waters - Ash
"I dunno Lu, it just seems awfully convenient for her to be at the agency, ya? Maybe she an Al Bhed spy!"
Lulu shook her head in disgust. "Wakka, would you listen to yourself? We know she is Yuna's sister, how can she be Al Bhed?" The dark haired woman silently offered a prayer up to Yevon to forgive the small lie. It was for the sake of keeping harmony in the group after all.
Wakka stuttered, indignant. "But, how come she don't want Sir Auron to know about her pilgrimage then? What she got to hide from him?"
"It is none of our concern. Enough Wakka!" She hissed; walking away to leave the blitzer slumped in defeat. He sat heavily on a nearby tree stump, holding his head in his hands while he contemplated Lulu's words.
A different voice broke into his thoughts. "Gil for them?"
He looked up into Lesca's eyes, startled by her interruption. "Huh?"
She grinned. "Gil for your thoughts. You look pretty serious."
The red haired man shook his head. "Nah, I just…never mind. So, it's been a while, ya?"
"Yeah. I heard about Chappu. I'm so sorry."
Wakka stiffened slightly. "It's ok. Why didn't you come back to Besaid? Yuna, she waited for you everyday. Right up until we left Besaid a few months back, she was still waiting for you to come back. You hurt her, you know?"
Lesca sighed. "I never meant to. One day, when this is over, I'll tell you. I'll tell all of you. Just not now, ok? Please don't force me into something I'm not ready for."
He nodded slightly, looking around the crystalline forest of Macalania. "Sure is pretty here, ya?" He remarked absently.
"It's beautiful. Just a shame we can't stop and enjoy it for longer." She turned around, searching the woods for their companions. "Where are the others?"
Wakka spun the blitzball on his finger while he thought. "Rikku and the other women are going to some spring, said something 'bout getting cleaned up. Sir Auron and Tidus are sparring and Kimahri's catching butterflies."
Lesca blinked. "Catching butterflies?"
The two looked at each other for a moment before beginning to laugh. Wakka wiped a tear from his eye. "Yeah, I think I might go and see how that's going. Gotta feeling it might be pretty funny!" He turned to leave, apparently thinking the better of it as he turned to face her again. "What's going on with you and Sir Auron?"
She faked ignorance. "I don't know what you mean. I'm going to catch up with Yuna and the others."
Lesca turned from the man and walked away quickly, her heart pounding. Am I that obvious? We should never have agreed to keep this a secret, Auron! It may make things easier for Yuna, but it sure as hell complicates things for us!
~*~*~
Auron batted the boy's blade away easily; looking almost bored as he removed the heavy collar while Tidus was readying his next strike. He returned his own sword back to its resting-place on his shoulder with a grunt. "Come on, boy. I know you can do better."
"I can't! I'm doing my best, Auron, stop criticising me!" He whined.
"Then you should have stayed in Zanarkand. You're not fit to guard Yuna."
Tidus slashed at the older man, eyes narrowed. "Take it back."
Auron chuckled. "That was a lot better. Did I hit a nerve?"
The younger man began to shake with anger. "What do you know? Take it back, old man! I am fit to guard Yuna, I am!"
The red robed Guardian rolled his eye. "Very well. You're fit to guard her. Are you satisfied?"
Tidus grinned smugly. "Yes. Yes I am."
An unspoken truce was called and they stood apart, Tidus idly gazing around the clearing while Auron watched him intently. The boy began to shift uneasily under Auron's scrutiny and so the older man turned his attention to the sword he had resting on his shoulder. He let come to rest by his side, running a gloved hand over the mottled surface. The Guardian sighed in slight irritation and laid the blade on the ground. He pulled a small, soft cloth from inside his coat and began cleaning the metal. "I've seen the way you look at her, you know."
Tidus started and began to stumble over his words. "Wha-"
He didn't look up from his task. "Don't bother trying to deny it. I think you and I should talk."
Tidus sat heavily on one of the nearby crystal formations. "What about?"
"Your relationship with Yuna."
The youth crossed his arms sullenly. "What have I done now? Don't tell me, I've done something forbidden by Yevon. Again."
Auron smirked. "No, for once you haven't. It is not unheard of for a Guardian and their Summoner to have a relationship."
The blitzer cocked his head to one side. "So why do we need to talk if I've not done anything wrong?"
"You've not done anything…yet. I need to make sure the pilgrimage continues, Tidus. You could be a threat to that."
The blond frowned. "What do you mean?"
This is going to be harder than I thought. Auron scratched the back of his head. "Raising you was never easy Tidus…"
"Ah, come on, Auron! I wasn't that bad to raise, was I?" He interrupted impatiently.
Well, I certainly failed in teaching you manners. "You were evil…In fact, I take that back. You were worse than evil. You were the spawn of Sin. You're lucky you still draw breath, boy."
Auron took a swig from the tokhari at his side, a small smile playing about his lips as he remembered back to his 'adventures' in Zanarkand. He glared at the younger man who had begun to prod his arm, eager to know his thoughts. "What?"
"You're joking, right? I mean, I thought I was a great kid."
"You thought wrong." Auron commented.
Tidus kicked at one of the loose pieces of glass on the forest floor and winced. "Jeez, what did I ever do that was so bad?"
A raised eyebrow from the elder of the two. "Are you being serious?"
"Duh!"
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"Auron! Auron!"
The man sighed in frustration and sheathed his blade; his training once again brought to an abrupt end by his young charge. He laid the sword against the wall, listening for any further calls. Sure enough, the boy bellowed again. Auron rolled his eye, deciding that the summons seemed sufficiently urgent to warrant at least an inquiry. "What?" What is that damn smell?
The groan emanated from Auron's own chambers. "I dun feel so good…"
As he walked to the room, realisation dawned on him. The acrid odour was vomit. The boy was being sick in his room. He groaned and began to mentally prepare himself for a moaning Tidus and the task of cleaning up his mess. His eye widened as he took in the sight of the fourteen-year-old Tidus and two of his cronies sprawled over various articles of furniture, all green in the face, all totally inebriated. He cast an eye around the destruction, finding his jug upturned and empty on the floor. The rage threatened to consume him when comprehension decided to grace his weary brain. The teenagers were blind drunk. The teenager's were blind drunk on his sake.
"Auron…" The sickly moan invaded Auron's murderous thoughts.
His soft tone belied the danger the young blitzer faced. "Tidus?"
The youth hiccuped, gallantly trying to keep down the last remnants of his stomach. "I feel sick."
Auron turned to the boy's two friends who were watching with interest. "Out. Now."
They looked at each other, nodding and stumbling, whether in their haste to leave or due to the alcohol the older man could not decide. He left the room wordlessly, returning a few moments later with a glass of water in one hand, a scrubbing brush in a bucket of suds in the other. He proffered the water silently to his charge, wincing at the stench of vomit on the boy's breath. The younger man nearly grabbed the glass in his alacrity, gulping it down quickly. He closed his eyes as he felt the water begin to work its magic, a small smile playing about his face as the nausea began to fade. A weight was dumped in his lap, a warm wetness spreading over his shorts. His eyes shot open in surprise to find the suds slopping over the sides of the pail which now resided in his lap.
"What the?"
"It's your mess, you clean it. You can forget that dance next week."
Tidus' face registered shock. "You cannot be serious!"
The russet eye darkened. "I am deadly serious."
"My dad wouldn't have done this to me. Sheesh, it's only a bit of fun…" He muttered obstinately.
For the first time, the fine thread that was Auron's patience snapped. "He'd have done a hell of a lot worse! You've not only disgraced yourself; you've disgraced your father. I hope your 'bit of fun' was worth that."
"He was a drunk! You said so yourself!"
"He was a good man. He knew where his responsibilities lay and he knew what had to be done. If you turn out to be half the man he was, I'll be happy. In all honesty I can't see that happening. You will not disrespect him again, do you understand me?" The red robed mans eyes flashed angrily as he growled at the blond.
The tears that threatened made the youths eyes shine. "I, I'm sorry."
Auron softened slightly. "He was proud of you, you know. He loved you so much…try and be the man he wanted you to be, not this idiot swayed by pressure from his peers. The man who cares what others think of him is weak. Your father despised weak people. Perhaps…despise is too strong a word. He pitied them. Do you really want his pity, or would you rather have his respect?"
"His respect."
"Well, then you know what you need to do."
The boy didn't answer; instead he began to scrub at the floors marred by vomit. Auron nodded in satisfaction, leaving the child to his task.
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Tidus scratched the back of his head, laughing nervously. "Oh yeah, that! That was a one off though."
Auron raised an eyebrow. "Really?"
He gulped. "Ok, maybe not. Well, what do you want to talk to me about? I'm sure it's great for you remembering how much of a brat I was, but there must be some other reason for wanting to talk to me, right?"
"Aren't you remarkably astute today?" Auron quipped wryly.
The blitzer began to tap the flat edge of the sword against his leg; a habit he knew irritated the older man. Sure enough, he sighed and began to talk. "Stop that. You and Yuna, you will be careful?"
Tidus frowned. "What do you mean?"
Auron took off the glasses, rubbing the bridge of his nose between forefinger and thumb. "I know we haven't had that talk, but I thought you would at least know some basic human biology, boy."
It took a moment for his words to click in the blonde's brain, but when they did he jumped up, a look of horror on his face. "God's no! Jeez, we haven't, I mean…" He hung his head, red faced.
The Guardian could not keep the small smirk from his lips. "I know what it's like to be young and in love Tidus. I'm not going to lecture you on what you can and can't do, I just ask you to be careful, for Yuna's sake."
"Thank the God's for small mercies." Tidus murmured.
"Watch your tongue."
"Sorry." The red robed man got up to leave; satisfied at the outcome of the conversation. He turned at a shout from his younger companion.
Tidus looked thoughtful. "Hey Auron! You were married at my age, right?"
He narrowed his eye suspiciously. "I was."
Tidus carried on, heedless to the unspoken warning. "So, what was she like? You never did say…hey, do you think you'll meet her here in Spira again?"
Auron chuckled. "I think it is very likely." He walked away into the depths of the forest, leaving the younger man to ponder his cryptic words.
~*~*~
"Wakka! Hey, Wakka! C'mon, look at this!"
The red headed man ambled over to where Tidus was waving furiously to him "What's the big rush?"
"Look, through there!" He pointed gleefully at a gap in the thick vegetation before parting the leaves himself. The elder blitzer peered through; his breath catching in his throat as the four women came into sight. Their clothes lay at the edge of the spring while they washed and chatted. Though all still had clothing on to some degree, Wakka could not help but feel a small thrill as he watched.
He nudged Tidus, glaring at him in mock anger before they both broke into wide grins. The two strained their ears to listen to the conversation.
"I don't see why you have to marry him, Yunie! There's something about him that freaks me out." Rikku shivered at the thought of Seymour Guado. "You agree, doncha Lescy?"
Lesca lay on her back, gazing up at the stars. "It's Yuna's decision. But I do agree, the man's a monster."
Yuna turned to Lulu, her eyes pleading. "You understand, don't you Lulu?"
The mage nodded slowly. "I understand. But my opinion is the same as the others, I do not think he is a man who can give you happiness. I would rather you married for love than duty, Yuna, but as Lesca said, at the end of the day it is your decision."
"What are you two gawping at?"
Auron's rich voice resonated throughout the clearing as he peered through to the two younger men's titillation, their valiant attempts to keep him from discovering their secret almost comical to him.
"Uh, nothin' Sir Auron…"
"Yeah, Auron! We were just, uh, looking at some birds!"
The two smiled at each other while thanking the God's that Auron had apparently not seen through the untruth. The red Guardian raised an eyebrow. "Really? May I take a look?"
The blitzer's looked at one another fearfully. "Uh, best you don't, Auron. They might get scared away, y'know?"
Auron growled, pushing the boy to the side and looked through the natural peephole himself. He watched as Lesca pulled herself from the water clad only in a t-shirt and shorts, the water dripping from her lithe body. The other women followed suit and Auron pulled away, a faint blush colouring his cheeks. The slight embarrassment turned to ire as he looked at the shame faced two standing in front of him.
"Do you really think it was appropriate for you to look at the women like that?" He asked, his tone menacing.
They replied meekly in unison. "No sir."
"You won't do that again, will you?"
"No sir."
Auron sighed, shaking his head. "Try and keep your libido's under control." Somewhere, a little nagging voice at the back of his mind began to taunt him. Hah! You're one to talk! He shook his head again; striding back to camp until he heard Wakka's voice as it was carried to him on the faint breeze.
"Hey, did you see Lesca?" A low whistle. "Hoo boy! Wouldn't mind a piece of that…"
He didn't get to finish the sentence; his air supply cut off by the vice like grip around his throat that pinned him to the tree. His eyes were wide in terror, as Auron glared at him. "Don't ever, ever talk about my wife like that again. Do you understand?" He spat.
The blitzer nodded, his face starting to turn a faint blue. Auron released his grip, letting the red haired man fall to the ground gasping for air. Tidus looked at him in confusion. "Lesca, she's your-"
"Wife? Yeah, I am. Sometimes I wonder why when he goes and tries to kill one of our friends, but when all is said and done I still love him."
The group, now reassembled, looked at their newest member. She shrugged. "We would've told you at some point, just not right now if Auron had kept his big trap shut."
Auron smiled. "I apologise. Perhaps it's better this way?"
"Probably. Well, now you all know I'm going to bed." She turned to her husband, offered her hand to him and winked. "Coming?"
~*~*~
Auron woke to Lesca tracing faint patterns on his chest. He grinned lazily at her. "Bored? It's not like you to be awake this early."
"I can't sleep." She offered by way of an explanation. "I stayed up all night."
"Why?"
"It's nothing, my minds just not tired. Too much going on up here." She tapped the side of her head. "Want to come watch the sunrise with me? I need to get out of this tent, it's too damn cramped."
He nodded, flinging his coat over her shoulders as they walked to dying embers of the previous night's campfire. She murmured a chant and the flames began to lick and curl at the tinder wood, warming their chilled bones. Black was slowly giving way to hues of grey and blue, the celestial orbs fading away into nothingness as the sun began to reclaim the heavens, wisps of cloud dancing overhead. The iced air nibbled at their flesh and Lesca shivered, smiling sleepily at Auron as his strong arm pulled her closer into his side.
She rested her head on his shoulder. "This is my favourite time of day. It's so peaceful, like the worlds at rest. Everything's ok for once, y'know? You can pretend that everything bad never even happened just for these few moments and only remember the good." She whispered.
He held her tighter, understanding the hidden meaning behind the innocent words. "I love you."
"I love you, too."
A/N: I am so sorry this has taken so long. Many exams and courseworks PLUS severe writers block do not good bedfellows make. Anyway, my thanks to everyone for their patience but especially to:
Refugee, for without him this chapter would never have happened.
Pierson, my knight.
The Angel of the Lion for unwavering support.
(This is starting to sound very Gwyneth Paltrow Oscars-esque but what the hell!)
Wi11 for putting up with the delays ;)
Auron's biggest fan (hehe bitch slap Yuna!)
Annnnnnd Pickle, hope to see the new fic soon!
