On the Road – Chapter One – Strained Relations
They had been on the road for two days and Jecht was trying to decide if Auron would really try to kill him if he walked away. The situation was rapidly becoming intolerable to the laid-back blitz player. Sure, he had made a commitment to take care of Braska and the man was, so far, his only way home, but he didn't realize the pair was going to bicker so damn much.
This morning was a replay of the morning before and Jecht was feeling pretty uncomfortable. He figured that Auron was either stubborn or not very bright. Jecht had seen enough now to be pretty sure it was the former. It didn't help that he was hung over.
~~You'd think Auron woulda got the message yesterday.~~
After Braska obtained the Aeon, the group stayed at the temple for two days. Auron insisted that he was not feeling well due to his injuries, but it was clearly an excuse to keep Braska from traveling. Instead of resting, Auron spent all his time drilling Jecht in the use of his new sword. The two shared a small room in the garrison barracks while Braska stayed in the temple and there had been no escaping the warrior's watchful eyes. To say that the blitzer was a bit sick of the guy by the time they left would have been an understatement.
Then, instead of staying at the travel stop Auron had simply popped in to replenish some supplies and they were off again. They had two skirmishes with fiends before selecting a campsite in the woods just off the main path. Auron, all business, set a "watch" schedule for the group. Jecht was to take first shift, followed by Auron at second, and Braska last. No one really had a problem with the suggestion.
After sharing some cold rations, Auron insisted on drilling Jecht in another kata lesson. Much as the blitzer wanted to tell the warrior to stuff it, he knew the man was right. After about an hour of sparring, and a bit of friendly chatter between Jecht and Braska, the group settled in for the night.
Jecht's watch was uneventful and he was rather reassured. Given what had happened the last time he was in the forest at night, he couldn't help feeling a bit nervous. Eyes darting, the blitz star kept on constant alert after Auron and Braska drifted off to sleep. It seemed like very little time passed when Auron woke up and relieved him. Jecht was starting to get tired from the stress and was glad to turn over the responsibility. While he had a bit of new found confidence using the blitzball as a weapon, he still was untested with the sword and he wasn't all that eager to try it out.
The next thing Jecht knew, Auron was waking him up. The sun was just breaking and Braska was still lying, asleep, on the ground to his left. He thought it was pretty odd, but didn't say anything. Auron handed him a pack of rations and quietly told him to get the rest of the things together. Then the fireworks started.
Auron went to Braska and woke him up. When the Summoner realized it was morning, he was very displeased. A heated argument between the two ensued and Jecht did his best to melt into the background and keep some kind of watch while Braska gave Auron a verbal dressing down.
Braska felt very strongly that he should not be treated differently. He made it clear, in no uncertain terms, that he expected to take a turn at watch and would not stand for Auron pulling a double shift.
"This is completely unacceptable!" Braska's placid voice was stern and his face clearly showed his anger. "I am not a child that must be coddled, nor am I some relic that must be protected. I am perfectly capable of taking a turn at watch and I will not tolerate being patronized."
"It was not my intent to be patronizing, Lord." Auron attempted to justify his actions. "You were exhausted and, after two days of rest, I was not. I simply felt it better to allow you the extra sleep."
Braska wasn't buying it. "Auron, I fail to see the logic in your argument. Instead of three rested men capable of fighting, there are only two. I can tell you are tired. It will affect your reflexes and your healing. We have, at minimum, a hard day of travel and another night of watch before we reach the Thunder Plains. For you to deplete yourself like this without necessity is foolish!"
Jecht figured Braska had a point but wasn't about to say a word. The glower on Auron's face made it clear the warrior wouldn't have taken kindly to a comment.
The argument continued hotly for several minutes. Finally, the tongue-lashing was finished and the group got under way. Walking in silence, both Braska and Auron brooded and spent quite a bit of time glancing at each other in what Jecht was pretty sure was irritation. There was something else going on, but he wasn't sure what. Unable to stand the quiet any longer, the blitzer started questioning Braska about their next destination. While it seemed to irritate Auron to no end, the Summoner quickly fell into easy conversation and seemed to put the argument out of his mind. Since Jecht could have cared less about what Auron liked or didn't like, the glares he received made absolutely no difference.
It wasn't long before the attacks started. While the appearance of fiends still startled Jecht, Braska and Auron were not caught unaware. The pair, though barely speaking to one another, worked in perfect synchronicity. Both would call out suggestions to Jecht as they flew into the fray. Braska, in particular, attempted to give the man from Zanarkand information about what he was fighting – making sure to name the fiend and give a known weakness. After the fight, the Summoner would give more details and try to explain the magic he had used. Jecht found it fascinating.
In no time, the group fell into a rhythm. Flans and elements quickly went down with casts of magical fire. Auron and his huge blade made swift work of mafdets and their tough shell-covered exteriors. Jecht found that he could swat a wasp or an evil eye out of the sky with a flick of the wrist and his blitzball.
Things like wolves, xiphos, and chimera were another matter all together.
While Jecht could dodge just about anything, Auron had some serious issues. It was swiftly apparent why Braska had a tendency to cast haste on the warrior. Twice, wolves he couldn't dodge had bitten the young man. Another time a xiphos had taken a good swat and Braska was forced to heal him. The luck had come into play when a pair of chimera accosted them. There were several areas where butterflies were thick and it was all but impossible to avoid touching them – the chimera seemed to be their favorite form of defense. Braska was about to summon an Aeon when a pair of Crusaders had shown up on patrol. Augmented to a party of five, the group rapidly had the situation under control. The whole incident left Jecht a bit worried though. He didn't know much about the whole Summoning thing, but he had the impression that it was difficult and drained Braska. He thought he remembered Auron saying that the Aeon could only be called a few times before Braska had to rest.
~~ If Braska couldn't call an Aeon, we'd be in serious trouble.~~
Snacking as they went, the group didn't stop to rest until Auron picked a campsite for the night. Everyone, especially the young warrior, was exhausted. Even Jecht could tell the man had over extended himself. Braska offered to take first watch but Auron argued against it. The warrior suggested they stick with the previous night's roster and made the point that it was better to have the Summoner fully rested before his shift.
The next few seconds were an obvious test of wills. Jecht had been a sporting man most of his life. Half the game was the psych-out before the match. If you could assert your will over your opponents before you ever got in the blitz sphere it gave you an advantage - just like having someone play on your home court gave you an advantage. It was clear from Braska's body posture and gaze that the Summoner was attempting some kind of power play. Auron, in turn, was standing there like a rock; completely unphased.
Long moments past as the two continued to silently stare at one another. Jecht found it rather interesting. In the two weeks since he met them, he had seen several moments like this – as though the two were having some kind of silent argument. Finally, Braska shook his head slightly and said, "Fine. I will accept it for now. But, I reserve the right to revisit this."
Auron's almost miniscule nod included a bit of a bow. Jecht almost laughed at this tiny toss off of a gesture. Now that the warrior had won the contest, he was happy to show that Braska was still boss.
Dinner was another cold and quiet affair. Auron did not suggest sparring as he had the day before and swiftly rolled himself up in a blanket to rest. The Summoner looked at the young man as he laid there, his expression filled with concern, and then finally went to sleep himself.
Toward the end of Jecht's shift, he heard something moving. Prepping his blackout, he crouched a bit and headed for Braska's sleeping form, intending to wake him. Suddenly, there was a grunt. The shadowed silhouette of Auron was illuminated as pyreflies filled the air. Jecht bounded toward the path and let the ball fly at a remaining bee. "You OK?"
The warrior sagged a bit, as if in relief, before addressing Jecht. "Yes, thank you. I was about to come to you for my watch when I saw them."
"Why didn't you say somethin'?" Jecht was more than a little concerned. "I didn't even hear you leave camp."
Auron didn't bother with words. His look said it all. With an arched eyebrow, the implication that Jecht was incapable had been hurled into the conversation. The blitzer was instantly pissed off. He'd opened the door to it, and he was just as mad at himself for giving Auron the opening as he was at Auron for taking it. Seething, Jecht glared at the warrior and said, "Next time, maybe I won't save your ass."
The response was a simple swift shrug of indifference.
Jecht stalked back into camp, snatched his bag, and grabbed a blanket. Smarting from the insult and the implication that he was inferior, the man did what he usually did. He opened a bottle of Al Bhed whiskey and drank. Glaring at Auron as the warrior paced around the area he nursed the bottle until he passed out.
In the morning, Jecht was awakened by the hushed tones of arguing voices. There was something wholly unsurprising about it. Lying still, he tried to keep from being noticed as Braska raked Auron over the coals.
"Auron, this is intolerable! I cannot believe that you have done this!"
"I was simply trying to take care of you, Braska. You were so drained by the joining at the temple…"
Braska cut him off. "And you believe that gives you the right to ignore my requests? Is this how a Guardian fulfills the Oaths?"
"Yes, it is! I swore to put your needs and well-being before my own – to protect you and ensure your safety!"
"You also swore to obey me." Even at a low pitch, the accusation in the Summoner's voice was unmistakable. "Auron, I did not want to do this. I told you I wanted a friend on my Journey and not a retainer. I did not want to give you orders, but you give me no choice. I see now that I must."
There was a long pause. Jecht itched to roll over and see what was happening. Finally, Braska sighed deeply and said, "You are relieved of your watch duties."
"What!" Auron's voice was loud and would have been enough to wake Jecht if he hadn't already been listening.
"I can no longer trust you. You are relieved."
"Braska this is ridiculous! Why not simply change it so you take first watch?" Auron's voice raised another notch.
"Since it is an easy enough task for one of my Guardian's to pull a double shift, then it will be even simpler for Jecht and I to share the entire watch, no?" Braska's voice was laden with sarcasm. "I am sure Jecht will not mind the extra work."
~~Excuse me?~~
Jecht heard a rustle of fabric and the sound of soft footfalls heading in his direction. Apparently, Braska felt the conversation was over and intended to settle the matter by waking the man in question. He wasn't sure what to do. The idea of having to stand watch twice as long was not appealing. Suddenly this argument was more personal. After being so vividly shown his lack of capability last night, the blitzer was more than a bit apprehensive. He would never have admitted it to anyone, but the fact that those fiends got so close to camp without him knowing had really thrown him. Auron was right. He wasn't competent.
As if the young man could hear Jecht's thoughts, the words came flying. "Lord Braska, you must be joking! After watch last night, he drank until he passed out. Had we been attacked he would have been of no use at all. The man has to be given direction during battle, cannot wield a blade, and didn't even see fiends approaching the campsite! How can you possibly expect that he can…"
Braska had put a hand to Jecht's shoulder when Auron mentioned the fiends. The blitzer felt the man's hand go rigid before it left him. The Summoner's voice was soft and angry. "What?"
Though he couldn't see, Jecht knew Auron realized his mistake. The silence said it all.
Figuring that pretending sleep any longer wouldn't help, he made a snap decision. Auron was right. Sure, the guy shouldn't have pulled shifts and should have respected Braska's request – but putting them a man down in the dark was just as stupid. Someone had to start talking sense.
Rolling over to face the scene, Jecht blinked a bit and said, "Hey. What's up?"
Actually seeing the two of them was worse than imagining. Braska was livid. Jecht made the decision right then and there that he was never going to piss Braska off if he could help it. Auron looked absolutely mortified and the Summoner was stone.
Without turning, Braska said, "I'm sorry, Jecht. Auron was just explaining to me that fiends approached the camp last night." If the air had been frosty in the Macalania Woods before, it was down right frigid now.
"Uh, yeah. He took care of it." Jecht leapt to Auron's defense. "I didn't do much. Just tossed a ball at a little wasp is all. He had it under control."
The response was not entirely unexpected, but still wasn't pretty. The mocking tone rose in pitch as Braska let them both have it. "Oh, really? How nice that the two of you have become such friends that you make decisions for the entire party without my input." He strode over and closed the distance between himself and Auron. "I am so disappointed in you."
What happened next was strange. Braska closed his eyes in an expression of sadness. Then, he placed his hand softly to the side of Auron's face. The warrior's eyes shot open and he gasped. The look of shame that passed over the young man's face stunned Jecht. The blitzer had no idea what to do.
The Summoner resolved the issue for him. Without a word, Braska withdrew his hand and began to pack up his blanket. "Jecht, if you do not mind, we will eat as we walk. I no longer wish to stay here."
Jecht just nodded and rushed to pack up. Auron was still standing there, frozen in place with that look on his face. Just when it seemed that the young man might not come with them, he jerked himself forward. Picking up his pack, the warrior addressed Braska. His face had become an emotionless mask but his voice was angry. "My Lord, I will take point if I am allowed."
The stress on the last word might have made another man cringe. Not Braska. He didn't even look at Auron as he responded. "No, you are not allowed. I will take point and Jecht the rear. Until you prove to me that I can depend on you and your decisions, consider yourself censured."
Auron stood and watched Braska in disbelief as the man swept past him to the path. Jecht hesitated only a moment before he darted after him.
~~This is gonna be a long trip.~~
~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~
A/N:
Hello all. I must apologize for taking so long to update this fic. The trip to China was VERY productive. I managed almost 200 rolls of black and white, about 35 of color, and almost 2000 digital pictures. So far, if early statistics hold, I'll have at least 40 "perfect" black and white negatives for printing. I have FAR too many "good" ones to count – but "perfect" negs mean I couldn't mess up the print in darkroom if I tried. At this rate, I'm hoping for a gallery showing some time in July.
Needless to say, with the kind of numbers I just mentioned, I've been more than a tad busy with "real life." I will continue to be so. However, don't fret. I won't be taking this long to get out my next chapter. While I doubt I will be updating several times a week as I did with LG, I will definitely be shooting for a chapter a week starting in January. I may not always make the goal, but I'll do my best. Since I have some family and social responsibilities for the Holiday season, I'm giving myself until the end of the month to get back up to speed.
Thanks to all of you who are reading – both for your input and your patience.
A