Chapter 3: Lost In A Dream
Amanda's Ramble
Amanda: Once again, I have returned.
Auron: *hmph*
Amanda: He's just grouchy because I haven't scratched his head lately. Oh well.
Ophelia ran into battle, swords swinging, sure she could help defeat the monster. After all, how many times had she beaten the crap out of this thing playing the game? It would prove to be a nearly fatal mistake. As she closed in on the chocobo eater, one of it's giant claws swung toward her on her blind side, and she never even knew she'd been hit.
It was a good eight hours before she regained consciousness, and when she did she was lying in front of a campfire, something warm and heavy covering her. She sat up, and brushed the covering aside, recognizing it as Auron's ever present jacket. That was odd. She figured that he would have left her in the middle of nowhere after the spectacular way she'd proven how she couldn't pull her own weight. She groaned and rose to her feet, every muscle screaming in pain. She could see the others on the other side of the fire, each engrossed in conversation, so they took no notice of the spare girl limping toward them. With a heavy sigh, she lowered herself onto a log next to Wakka, and he turned, giving her a bright smile.
"Hey, welcome back to the world of the living, ya?" Ophelia returned his smile and rubbed the sore spot on the back of her head.
"How long have I been out?"
"Oh, about eight hours now."
"What?!?" She gaped at him. How in the world had she been out eight hours? And how had she gotten to this place if she's been unconscious? She surely hoped no one had felt the need to carry her. If she wasn't mistaken, they would get involved with the operation to defeat Sin tomorrow, which put them a good ten miles away from the travel agency. "How in the world did I get here?"
"Sir Auron, he carried you, ya? Said you at least tried to help, and that it was commendable." Wakka gave her a puzzled look. "You're really not from here are you? You would have known not to charge in like that."
"No," she began, shaking her head, "I'm really not. Though I can't figure out how I got hurt by that thing. In the game I pounded it a million times without anyone getting knocked out."
"Game?" Wakka looked extremely confused, and for some odd reason, that expression fit his face well. She smiled and patted his hand, feeling slightly sorry for him. He was kind of dull, but very sweet, and she knew that he would never get the respect he deserved. Wakka's face turned crimson at the physical contact and he ducked his head, looking like an overgrown kid.
"It's kinda hard to explain, Wakka. I'm not really sure I can. Or that I want to." The last part was more to herself than anything, and she turned away. She felt tears sting her eyes for the first time since discovering she was in Spira, and she tried to force them away, not wanting to be seen as a big crybaby.
"Hey, you ok?" Wakka turned her face back to him, his face lined with concern. "It's been a long day. Well, not for you, you got to sleep all day, ya?" Ophelia realized he was trying to tease a smile out of her, and she felt her traitorous lips curve upward the smallest bit. "Anyway, you're probably hungry, so I saved you something from dinner." He pulled out a bundle from behind the log and handed it to her, his hand jerking away when it brushed hers. "It's not much, but it'll tide you over till morning."
"Thanks, Wakka. That's really sweet." She unwrapped the slightly squished biscuits, feeling her stomach rumble. Ophelia had to force herself to eat slowly, knowing she'd look like a pig if she ate the way her stomach was protesting. For field cooked food, they were surprisingly good, and when she finished she wiped her hands on the cloth that had covered them, feeling sated.
"Well, it's good to know you got a healthy appetite, that's for sure." Ophelia scowled and Wakka gave a soft chuckle, shaking his head. "You don't see many women who eat normally, ya? It's nice to know someone's not afraid to let you know they appreciate food."
"Oh, well, I usually don't eat like that. I'm not used to going this long without food, you know?"
"Ya."
A silence fell between them, and Ophelia felt that there was more to it than just a lack of conversation. Wakka seemed slightly agitated, and she couldn't for the life of her figure out why. He had seemed like such an outspoken and lively guy on the game, yet he was quiet and shy with her. She picked up pieces of the other's conversations, yet they really held no interest for her. It really had been a long day, and weird, as well. She stifled a yawn and turned back to Wakka, surprised to see him gazing into the fire, his expression one of deep thought.
"Something wrong?"
"Huh?" He pulled his gaze away from the fire and met her eyes for a moment before blushing and looking away. "Nah, I was just thinkin'. You and Tidus, you're in the same boat. Yet, you don't seem that upset. It's just odd, is all."
"Well, if we had about three years to sit here, I'd give you a rundown of the reasons why I really don't want to go home." She sighed and looked into the fire, her eyes glittery with tears. "I don't have any real friends back home…and my family…….well. I won't go into that. I had to grow up real quick, you know? Mom's dead, and Dad's so busy I'm sure he forgets where he lives half the time."
"How can you forget where you live, ya?"
Ophelia shrugged, the tears streaming down her face. "I don't know. How can he forget he has a daughter? He does that, too. I know he's under a lot of pressure, but family should come first, right?"
"Ya. I don't mean to make, you know, judgements, but your old man, he sounds like a real bastard." She nodded and felt a sob well in her chest. She knew it would come out, and that there was no way to stop it, but she tried desperately anyway. She choked on it and then they wouldn't stop coming. It felt as though she would cry herself to death.
She felt Wakka pull her to him and she sobbed against his chest, not caring who saw. He was solid, secure, and she needed that right now. She needed someone to just let her cry without judging her, and no one was more suited to the task than the former Aurochs' captain.
Wakka gazed down at the tiny woman in his arms, his heart aching. He didn't understand it, but she had somehow invaded his conscious and unconscious with all the skill of a master thief. And now, well, anyone could see she needed a friend. He held her close, letting her cry herself out, knowing that no words he could say would take away the pain she was feeling. Especially if he was the one to say them. How many times had he stuck his foot in his mouth talking to her now? He'd lost count. And he felt guilty, because even though he truly wanted to comfort her, he had also wanted to know if her skin felt as soft as it looked, if she'd feel fragile and small in his arms.
She did. He hadn't planned on her smelling so good, either. She grew still and quiet against him, and he just held her, reluctant to break the contact. This way those honey brown eyes weren't boring into him with such a keenness, and he could stop himself from blushing like a kid every she smiled or touched him.
Finally, he felt her pulling away, and he let her go, not wanting to completely make a fool out of himself. She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, looking embarrassed.
"Sorry 'bout that. I usually don't cry."
"Hey, don't worry about it." He smiled and glanced away, forcing the heat out of his face. "You can cry on me anytime. Don't bother me none." He bit his tongue, feeling stupid. He always managed to say the wrong thing every time he opened his big mouth. Maybe Lu was right. Maybe he should just not speak.
"Thank you, Wakka. If you don't mind, I will. But I may become dependent on you, you know." She smiled and he felt something in his stomach curl into a tight ball. He couldn't fight the blush that came to his face and murmured something unintelligible before standing and cracking his neck.
"Well, gotta get to bed, ya? We got a long day tomorrow." He watched her stand and glance around the camp uncertainly, her brow furrowed. "Oh, I almost forgot. Sir Auron said you could have his bedroll tonight 'cause he's gonna be taking all three watch shifts. Guess he's got a lot to think about, ya? Well, see you in the morning."
Ophelia smiled and then, on complete impulse she went up on tip toe and wrapped her arms around Wakka's neck, kissing him softly on the cheek. "G'night, Wakka. Thanks. I owe you one." She smiled again and then made her way back to Auron's bedroll, leaving the confused blitzball player to stare after her, his face as red as his hair.
Auron stuck the tip of his katana in the soft ground and used the sword as a prop, his one-eyed gaze scanning the darkness around him. Things had been quiet today. Too quiet. He didn't like that feeling. It was as if pressure was building up in the air around the small encampment, coiling and waiting to spring.
He couldn't trust the others with the watch tonight. They were simply too inexperienced with Sinspawn to deal with what might jump out of the otherwise calm, clear night. It was probably stupid of him to go on watch by himself, but he'd been more than just a couple of days without sleep, so one night wouldn't matter much. And then there was the girl. Ophelia. It was an odd name, and she was an odd girl. He couldn't shake the feeling he had about her, either. She was here for a reason, and he was reasonably sure that it was a major role. Of course, everyone else in the party had taken to her immediately, and he couldn't deny that he'd felt his heart lurch inside of him when the chocobo eater had swiped her. When he'd reached her small crumpled form, he feared her dead, but luckily she had just been knocked unconscious.
He'd carried her all day as they'd made their way down the road, her light form barely weighing on him at all. It was strange, but he felt uncomfortable even letting her out of his sight now, even though he knew should would be fine. He couldn't explain it, and really didn't want to examine it. At least, not now.
He sighed and settled himself into a sitting position on the ground, uncapping his jug and taking a long swallow of sake. All day she'd been in his thoughts, and it seemed as though she would still stay tonight. It wasn't clear why she had him so ruffled, and he had no idea why he'd snapped at her this morning. She'd really done nothing wrong. She addled him, and he hated being addled. She was right, he acknowledged with a soft chuckle, he was a prick. Well, she had a right to her own opinions. And he had the responsibility to admit she was right, though not necessarily in a verbal way.
Then there was that other feeling that had possessed him. She was small and fragile, he'd known that already, but when the chocobo eater had attacked her, he'd seen red, his vision hazy with anger. Why did she bring out this need to protect in him? Even Yuna could take care of herself, yet this girl……She'd tried to help. Honestly tried. And had gotten nothing but a lump on her head and a lost day for her trouble. Auron decided that in the morning on their way to Djose he'd begin showing her how to use those swords of hers, and he promised himself that he wouldn't let her get out of his sight again. That girl needed a guardian more than Yuna ever would, and he made a silent pact that he would watch over her from now on, not letting anyone know what he was doing. He couldn't neglect his duties to Yuna, but he certainly wouldn't let that girl die because no one was looking out for her.
He let out a long breath and looked up at the stars, the tangle of thoughts in his mind growing thicker. Instead of dulling them as the sake usually did, it had heightened them, and he knew that there was no escaping them for once. Maybe it was time he came to peace with what was happening, and what was still to come.
What's up with Wakka? Has he got a crush on Ophelia? Will she ever know why she's in Spira? Chapter 4 coming soon.