Lah... The italics are for flashbacks.
Auron returned with a sizeable amount of wood, and tossed it in a pile on the ground. Rikku, shivering by that time, tossed a fire gem into the pile and it combusted in a burst of licking flames and coiling smoke.. Rikku quickly dragged a few thin sticks from the mass. Two were rooted on opposite sides of the flames, and one suspended above. She had drenched her attire in water since he had left, and took care to suspend them above the flames to dry. All was done with one hand, since the other held her towel up; pinning it against her chest.
Auron sat down by the fire, silent.
"You don't really tell us much 'bout yourself, ya know."
"What's there to tell?" His voice was rather plain, a low rumble emitted from his throat; behind his collar. One gloved hand reached upwards to remove his lenses, slipping them into a hidden pocket.. The other peeled his collar away from his face. Rikku only watched, she had never seen his face in full, and was surprised to discover the actual length of his grotesque scar.. Disappearing past the collarline of his shirt.
Silence ensued.
Rikku decided that she had to be the one to initiate and keep the conversation alive.. Auron wasn't the easiest person in the world to talk to. ''Well.. Um.. You were supposed to get married, right? What happened?"
Auron replied with a grunt.. That reminded him of the sphere they recovered. Damn. Maybe he shouldn't have allowed the group to break the seal the Spherimorph had set.. He replayed that portion of his history over in his mind.. At the time, Auron remembered his engagement to the High Priest's daughter.
It was a marriage made in Yevon. The Maesters had arranged it; the rising monk was certainly an item of power back then. Many clamored to have their names associated with his own, including potential brides.. And so, seizing the opportunity to blind the people with hope, they set up a match which would inspire Spira. Auron, the warrior monk who rose through the ranks, and the daughter of the High Priest of Bevelle.
He couldn't help but notice the similarities the situation had with Yuna's own; between herself and Seymour.. Though, his own experience gave him insight into Yuna's plans with the Guado Maester..
The people of Spira would be thrilled. The daughter and priest would be honored. The Maesters would be content.
Though, what of Auron?
He was obedient to the fayth, the Maesters.. However, he wasn't going to be their pawn in a game of politics. He refused. Normally, that wouldn't result in such a stripping of rank, and how he had been outcasted.. It was the manner in which he rejected the girl. He had to make it known he wouldn't be used.
They were standing before Maester Mika, along the lavish red carpeting of Bevelle. The numerous monks, soldiers, and such gathered around for the ceremony. Most of which were only aquaintences for show. And as Mika gave them a moment to speak their own vows, under the name of Yevon, Auron remembered his quite well.. They were the words which crashed his career.
'My loyalty to the fayth has become a light for the people, a bit of hope in the darkest of times. Your's has done the same..' He then averted his gaze away from the priestess and to the onlookers, dropping her hands. 'And after years of service, you ask me to give into false love? When I have denied something true to be able to serve in the first place?'
'Auron..!' Kinoc was surprised. Auron read the look on his face.. And knew the mixed emotion. The future maester was shocked, and outraged for his friend, but then again.. The blind decision of the monk futhered his position on the political and social chain of Yevon.
'I only wish that I may continue my services without this.. Dilemma.'
Maester Mika bowed his head, casting his glance towards the humiliated girl.. And then towards Auron, who continued.
'That is my wish.. Maester Mika.'
'With much regret. That is a wish I cannot grant. As of today, Auron, you are no longer a warrior monk. I shall not excommunicate you, but you may no longer call yourself a warrior in Yevon's name.'
Then.. He heard of Braska. The gentle man who was fueled with a vicious passion, inspired by the death of his beloved Al Bhed wife. He took the hand of an Al Bhed against the will of the believers in Yevon. He denied the Maesters' system in true pursuit of happiness.. Much as Auron did. That must've been what drew him to Braska.. A man who found his drive for life in one Al Bhed..
He would journey with Braska, a man who always spoke of his deceased wife.. And shortly after, Jecht, a drunkard who showed a passion for returning to his wife and child. Both men of passion, men who's women were unreachable.. And Auron, a man without love.
"Well?"
Auron snapped back from his daydream, realizing the lengthy amount of time he had sat there in silence.. Flashing back to his memories, things he left behind in his life. "That's none of your concern."
"Okay.." Rikku noticed she hit a sensative note.. And decided to lighten the mood, smiling towards him as she held out one hand, the other remained against her chest pinning the towel in place, and in her open palm were her clips and hairties.
Auron glanced from her hand and slowly up towards where she stood.. In slight confusion. "You want me to wear these..?"
"No, silly! Get your own hairclips.. Can you do my hair for me?"
"And you cannot do it yourself?"
"Sure I can.." Rikku slightly blushed. "But I gotta use both hands."
Auron sighed, his left arm slipping from where it hung in his coat to rest on his lap. "What's the problem then..?"
"If I use both hands, my towel might fall!"
Auron smirked, a slight chuckle almost escaping his lips as he let his eyes rest shut for a moment. "The problem?"
Rikku huffed. "You!"
Auron opened his one russet orb slowly to look up towards a frustrated Rikku.. And the frownlines which graced his visage were drowned by a steady smirk. "I never said I had a problem with it."
"Auron..!" Rikku pouted; though quite playfully since Auron was able to share a bit of humor with the girl.
"I don't know how to do hair, but if you sit down, I'll try." And so Rikku did, handing him the hairclips and miscellaneous accessories as she sat; back facing the man. Auron though, was completely baffled as to where he should start. And took the time to remove his glove from his other hand, unbuckling the latches and such as he slipped it off.. Idly did he comb her hair with his fingers.. Rikku let her lashes flutter shut as she relaxed.
"Dirty old man can do hair.."
"Shh. Don't tell anybody." Auron's smirk didn't break into a real smile, but it was some indication he was enjoying himself.. Until the time came that he had to actually work on her hair.. And he remembered it to be quite the complicated mess, braids, clips, feathers, pins.. Quickly he came up with an excuse.. Clearing his throat nervously at first. "Ahem.. Your hair is.."
"Mhm?" Rikku was in a dreamy state, when somebody did her hair, it always relaxed her.. And it was nighttime.. Though, still early on in the evening. It had been only two hours since they had left camp. And had a whole night ahead of them.
"Better down." And so he tapped her shoulder indicating that he was done combing those unruly locks, and for her to move.. Though she was tired and only fell back against him, in his unwilling arms. He decided he'd wake her when her clothes were dry, and let her lean back against him. Arms dull as they rest at his sides.. Though when she began to shiver, he had no choice but to coil his arms loosely about her form, and sat there in silence.
- - - -
Please review! More chaps soon.
Auron returned with a sizeable amount of wood, and tossed it in a pile on the ground. Rikku, shivering by that time, tossed a fire gem into the pile and it combusted in a burst of licking flames and coiling smoke.. Rikku quickly dragged a few thin sticks from the mass. Two were rooted on opposite sides of the flames, and one suspended above. She had drenched her attire in water since he had left, and took care to suspend them above the flames to dry. All was done with one hand, since the other held her towel up; pinning it against her chest.
Auron sat down by the fire, silent.
"You don't really tell us much 'bout yourself, ya know."
"What's there to tell?" His voice was rather plain, a low rumble emitted from his throat; behind his collar. One gloved hand reached upwards to remove his lenses, slipping them into a hidden pocket.. The other peeled his collar away from his face. Rikku only watched, she had never seen his face in full, and was surprised to discover the actual length of his grotesque scar.. Disappearing past the collarline of his shirt.
Silence ensued.
Rikku decided that she had to be the one to initiate and keep the conversation alive.. Auron wasn't the easiest person in the world to talk to. ''Well.. Um.. You were supposed to get married, right? What happened?"
Auron replied with a grunt.. That reminded him of the sphere they recovered. Damn. Maybe he shouldn't have allowed the group to break the seal the Spherimorph had set.. He replayed that portion of his history over in his mind.. At the time, Auron remembered his engagement to the High Priest's daughter.
It was a marriage made in Yevon. The Maesters had arranged it; the rising monk was certainly an item of power back then. Many clamored to have their names associated with his own, including potential brides.. And so, seizing the opportunity to blind the people with hope, they set up a match which would inspire Spira. Auron, the warrior monk who rose through the ranks, and the daughter of the High Priest of Bevelle.
He couldn't help but notice the similarities the situation had with Yuna's own; between herself and Seymour.. Though, his own experience gave him insight into Yuna's plans with the Guado Maester..
The people of Spira would be thrilled. The daughter and priest would be honored. The Maesters would be content.
Though, what of Auron?
He was obedient to the fayth, the Maesters.. However, he wasn't going to be their pawn in a game of politics. He refused. Normally, that wouldn't result in such a stripping of rank, and how he had been outcasted.. It was the manner in which he rejected the girl. He had to make it known he wouldn't be used.
They were standing before Maester Mika, along the lavish red carpeting of Bevelle. The numerous monks, soldiers, and such gathered around for the ceremony. Most of which were only aquaintences for show. And as Mika gave them a moment to speak their own vows, under the name of Yevon, Auron remembered his quite well.. They were the words which crashed his career.
'My loyalty to the fayth has become a light for the people, a bit of hope in the darkest of times. Your's has done the same..' He then averted his gaze away from the priestess and to the onlookers, dropping her hands. 'And after years of service, you ask me to give into false love? When I have denied something true to be able to serve in the first place?'
'Auron..!' Kinoc was surprised. Auron read the look on his face.. And knew the mixed emotion. The future maester was shocked, and outraged for his friend, but then again.. The blind decision of the monk futhered his position on the political and social chain of Yevon.
'I only wish that I may continue my services without this.. Dilemma.'
Maester Mika bowed his head, casting his glance towards the humiliated girl.. And then towards Auron, who continued.
'That is my wish.. Maester Mika.'
'With much regret. That is a wish I cannot grant. As of today, Auron, you are no longer a warrior monk. I shall not excommunicate you, but you may no longer call yourself a warrior in Yevon's name.'
Then.. He heard of Braska. The gentle man who was fueled with a vicious passion, inspired by the death of his beloved Al Bhed wife. He took the hand of an Al Bhed against the will of the believers in Yevon. He denied the Maesters' system in true pursuit of happiness.. Much as Auron did. That must've been what drew him to Braska.. A man who found his drive for life in one Al Bhed..
He would journey with Braska, a man who always spoke of his deceased wife.. And shortly after, Jecht, a drunkard who showed a passion for returning to his wife and child. Both men of passion, men who's women were unreachable.. And Auron, a man without love.
"Well?"
Auron snapped back from his daydream, realizing the lengthy amount of time he had sat there in silence.. Flashing back to his memories, things he left behind in his life. "That's none of your concern."
"Okay.." Rikku noticed she hit a sensative note.. And decided to lighten the mood, smiling towards him as she held out one hand, the other remained against her chest pinning the towel in place, and in her open palm were her clips and hairties.
Auron glanced from her hand and slowly up towards where she stood.. In slight confusion. "You want me to wear these..?"
"No, silly! Get your own hairclips.. Can you do my hair for me?"
"And you cannot do it yourself?"
"Sure I can.." Rikku slightly blushed. "But I gotta use both hands."
Auron sighed, his left arm slipping from where it hung in his coat to rest on his lap. "What's the problem then..?"
"If I use both hands, my towel might fall!"
Auron smirked, a slight chuckle almost escaping his lips as he let his eyes rest shut for a moment. "The problem?"
Rikku huffed. "You!"
Auron opened his one russet orb slowly to look up towards a frustrated Rikku.. And the frownlines which graced his visage were drowned by a steady smirk. "I never said I had a problem with it."
"Auron..!" Rikku pouted; though quite playfully since Auron was able to share a bit of humor with the girl.
"I don't know how to do hair, but if you sit down, I'll try." And so Rikku did, handing him the hairclips and miscellaneous accessories as she sat; back facing the man. Auron though, was completely baffled as to where he should start. And took the time to remove his glove from his other hand, unbuckling the latches and such as he slipped it off.. Idly did he comb her hair with his fingers.. Rikku let her lashes flutter shut as she relaxed.
"Dirty old man can do hair.."
"Shh. Don't tell anybody." Auron's smirk didn't break into a real smile, but it was some indication he was enjoying himself.. Until the time came that he had to actually work on her hair.. And he remembered it to be quite the complicated mess, braids, clips, feathers, pins.. Quickly he came up with an excuse.. Clearing his throat nervously at first. "Ahem.. Your hair is.."
"Mhm?" Rikku was in a dreamy state, when somebody did her hair, it always relaxed her.. And it was nighttime.. Though, still early on in the evening. It had been only two hours since they had left camp. And had a whole night ahead of them.
"Better down." And so he tapped her shoulder indicating that he was done combing those unruly locks, and for her to move.. Though she was tired and only fell back against him, in his unwilling arms. He decided he'd wake her when her clothes were dry, and let her lean back against him. Arms dull as they rest at his sides.. Though when she began to shiver, he had no choice but to coil his arms loosely about her form, and sat there in silence.
- - - -
Please review! More chaps soon.