DISCLAIMER:  I do not own any locations, characters, or names associated with Final Fantasy X or Final Fantasy X-2.  I do, however, own this story J

Author's Notes:  Thank you so much for the reviews I have received so far.  I really like knowing that people are reading and enjoying this story as much as I like writing it.  Below is chapter 4.  Leave a review and let me know what you think J

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SILVER WINGS

by akksgurl

Chapter Four:  Closer

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In the month that passed after the wedding, Lenne hadn't seen Shuyin at all.  For reasons the young summoner didn't understand, she was disappointed.  There was something about him that made her smile.  Of course, Yunalesca was thrilled that Lenne hadn't been around Shuyin, saying that it was for the best and that he was 'only trouble'.

Lenne hadn't had much time to ponder her feelings or Yunalesca's opinions, though, because she was preoccupied with finding a job and repaying Yunalesca for her kindness.  The new bride had moved in with her husband, leaving her old home for Lenne to live in free of charge, but Lenne was still determined to pay her something.  She couldn't just live off of Yunalesca's kindness and charity without repaying her in some way. 

Lenne sat the newspaper down on the table and stretched.  Searching the Want Ads was something she hated doing.  She really wanted to just get a job singing, but A-East didn't seem to be in need of a songstress at the moment.  Her stomach growled, reminding her that it was time for lunch, and she began walking toward the kitchen when a knock at the door caused Lenne to jump a little.  She laughed to herself at her nerves and walked to the door.  Her eyes widened for a minute out of shock when she saw who was standing there. 

Wearing a dark blue shirt unbuttoned halfway down the chest and black shorts with sandals, Shuyin looked even more handsome then he had the last time she'd seen him.  His blue eyes sparkled when he smiled at her, "Hey, Lenne.  Is Zaon here?"

Lenne's mind was unable to communicate with her mouth that words were necessary to answer the blond haired man in front of her and she had to force herself to remain calm as she said, "No, I think he and Yuna went to lunch."  She paused, "They are living next door, you know."

Shuyin nodded, "I know.  Their door was locked so I figured I'd try over here."

An uncomfortable silence settled between the blitzball star and the songstress as they both let their eyes wander over each other.  Lenne tried her best to keep herself from giggling like a silly little girl.  She hadn't been this close to a handsome man in quite a while.  Although Yunalesca kept telling her that he was bad news – and in spite of the fact that she had witnessed his dalliances with those two girls the night of Yunalesca's engagement – there was something about him that Lenne liked. 

She gave him her most charming smile and motioned with her hand, "Would you like to come in and wait for them to get back?  I was just about to make myself some lunch."

"That'd be great," Shuyin accepted readily as he followed Lenne into her new house.  He glanced around the room and nodded approvingly, "This place looks much better than when Yuna lived here." He said, "Less pink…"

Lenne laughed and motioned with her hand to a chair as she walked into the kitchen.  Once she was certain that he wasn't following her, she began quietly shuffling through pots and pans as she yelled out, "I hate pink.  Blue is my favorite color."

Her mind quickly flashed to the fact that he was wearing a blue shirt and had the most gorgeous blue eyes and she cringed to herself, Oh no!  Now he's going to think I'm flirting with him! her mind screamed before it admitted, I AM flirting with him!

Lenne decided to quickly change the subject and shouted from the kitchen, "What are you in the mood for?"  She felt a blush creep into her cheeks at the sudden realization that the different ways you could take that simple sentence and she reworded with, "What would you like to eat?"

Shuyin was suddenly poking his head into the kitchen and Lenne felt like a deer caught in headlights – bright, blue headlights.  The blond smiled at her, "Whatever you were going to make for yourself is fine with me."

"A grilled cheese sandwich it is, then."  The songstress said. 

The blitzer left the room and she could see in the reflection from one of the pots that he was sitting on the sofa again.  She let out a slight sigh and then immediately realized that she had to keep the conversation going or else he might leave.  Her mind spun with different things to say to him but none of them seemed right and as the time went by, Lenne panicked and said the only thing that came to mind, "Do you like cheese?"

As soon as the words were out of her mouth, Lenne seriously considered summoning Bahamut to put her out of her misery.  She felt a groan forming in her throat at that stupid sentence.  Instead of saying something witty and charming, she had asked quite possibly the most attractive guy she'd ever seen if he liked CHEESE!

She waited and fully expected to hear the door slam behind his retreating form, but to her surprised she just heard a little chuckle as he approached her and responded with, "I like cheese, but I really love bread." 

He was standing behind her now, offering if he could help her with anything and she immediately relaxed.  Maybe he wasn't as bad as Yunalesca seemed to think.  He was offering to help her cook.  Yunalesca tried to make it sound like he would rather starve to death than lift a finger to do anything other than his "willing" fans. 

"No, I've got it." She said finally.  She almost regretted saying anything.  She liked the way he was standing behind her.  She could feel the heat radiating off of his body and once those words were out of her mouth, he backed away and she felt cold and alone. 

He reentered the living room and the two made idle conversation while she made the sandwiches and silently prayed that she wouldn't burn them. 

She never was a very good cook. 

Luckily for her, the sandwiches turned out fine and she filled two glasses with water and joined Shuyin in the living room with their lunch.  He smiled at her when he took the plate, "Thanks, Lenne."

"You're welcome, Shuyin."  She responded.  She loved the way he said her name.  It seemed to roll off of his tongue.  It sounded like a dream coming from his mouth.  All of his words sounded like a dream – slow, languid, and deliciously wonderful. 

The two chewed in silence for a little bit before he spoke again, "Zaon tells me that you're looking for a job."

Lenne nodded, "It's more of a pain then I thought it would be.  A-East isn't exactly looking for songstresses at the moment and that's pretty much all I'm good at."

Shuyin laughed and motioned to the remainder of his sandwich, still clenched in his hand, "I disagree.  You make a really good sandwich.  You could be a singing short-order cook."

"Now there's an idea!" Lenne replied sarcastically and with a laugh, "I'm sure everyone in Zanarkand wants one of those!"

After the two calmed their mirth – which lasted about 5 minutes – Shuyin stuffed the remainder of the sandwich in his mouth, gulped down his water, and said, "Well, the reason I bring it up is because the Abes coach, Wargna, talked a few months ago about having someone do short little shows before the games." He stood, stretching, and smiled at her, "I don't know if he's still thinking about it since nobody really expressed any interest back then, but it might be worth checking out."

Lenne's smile seemed to take over her entire face and she impulsively jumped up and wrapped her arms around Shuyin's neck in a tight hug.  Once she was in that position she immediately regretted it until she felt him tentatively put his arms around her thin waist and hug her back. 

The pull away was slow and they stood staring into each other's eyes for a moment – her arms still around his neck, his hands still on her waist.  She felt herself slowly lifting on her toes to close the distance between them when her front door flung open and Yunalesca walked in followed by Zaon saying, "Lennie, you will never gue…." The newlyweds stopped and stared as Shuyin and Lenne pulled away from each other quickly.  Lenne could see how stood there with his eyes to the floor as if he'd just committed an unforgiveable crime.  Yunalesca's eyes flashed her anger at seeing the one she deemed 'unworthy of Lenne's attention' standing in her best friend's living room and she stormed closer to him, "And just what in Spira are you doing here, Shuyin?"  she sneered at him and stuck her nose in the air, "Don't you have some slutty fan you could be paying attention to."

Lenne half expected Zaon or Shuyin to scream at Lenne, but neither said anything.  Shuyin didn't even look up to acknowledge Yunalesca.  His eyes were focused on the floor and his hands were deep inside the pocket of his shorts.  Zaon seemed to be just like Lenne – waiting for some sort of reaction from the blond blitzer but when none came Lenne felt herself getting angry at Yunalesca's intrusion and she stormed over to her and stood next to Shuyin, "I could ask you the same thing, Yuna." She said, "I invited Shuyin in for some lunch because he was waiting for Zaon.  Is that a crime in Zanarkand now?"

Yunalesca's angered face softened a little and she whispered, "Sorry, Shuyin.  I was out of line."

"Yes you were." Lenne hissed in an angry voice that surprised even herself.  She didn't know why she was suddenly so protective of Shuyin but decided to blame it on the fact that he had just given her a job lead. 

Yes…that was it.

"So, Shuyin, you wanted to see me?" Zaon finally said after a few moments of silence between the foursome. 

Finally lifting his eyes from the floor, Shuyin nodded and said, "I just wanted to know if you still wanted me to teach you some blitzball tomorrow after practice."

Before Lenne could hear Zaon's answer, she was shuffled from the room by Yunalesca who insisted that they needed to talk in private.  When the door was shut behind the two women in Lenne's bedroom, Yunalesca put her hands on her hips, "Just what was that Lenne?!  Were you going to kiss him?"

"So what if I was?  What business of it is yours?"

Yunalesca threw her hands in the air in exasperation, "I've told you the type of guy he is!  Why won't you listen to me?"

Shaking her head, Lenne said, "Maybe he is that type of guy, but then again maybe he isn't.  Besides, he gave me a lead for a job.  Why would he do that if he wasn't nice?"

"I never said he wasn't nice, Lenne." Said Yunalesca, "I just said that he's not the type of guy you want to go falling for."

"Yuna," Lenne began, touching her friend's shoulder, "I know you mean well, but the fact is that I kind of like him a little.  I won't give into it, though."

Yunalesca sighed, "Lennie, why…"

"For the first time I feel something real - some sort of real emotion that hasn't been fabricated by the press or by my stupid head.  Nothing's going to come of it. 

"Lennie!  I know him better than you do!" Yunalesca pleaded.

Lenne pointed to the door again and waved her hand in dismissal of her friend, "I trust Shuyin and I like him.  Get used to it."