Chapter Five: Love And Hate Is Fair In War
Amanda's Ramble:
Amanda: Whoo hoo! After much time has passed, another chapter.
Auron: Whoopie-fucking-do.
Amanda: Punk ass. There is some smoochin' in this chapter! Whooo hoo! Please remember to read and review.
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"What in hell?" Wakka's voice broke the silence of the group, and he moved to the front, rubbing his eyes as though he couldn't quite believe what he was seeing. Machina cannons were everywhere, and they were being worked on in hundreds. Al Bhed and Crusaders alike had rolled up their sleeves and were tinkering with the metal hulks, paying no mind to the small, tightly-knit group moving among them.
"What the hell is going on?" Wakka turned back to the group, his brows lowered.
"Operation Mi'ihen." Seymour seemed to step from thin air, and Ophelia felt a wave of apprehension and revulsion from the sight of him.
"Operation Mi'ihen?" Auron's voice contained a note of derision, and Seymour frowned for a moment before continuing.
"Yes. The Crusaders and the Al Bhed, though two very different groups of people, have come together with a very common goal."
"Common goal?" Tidus scratched his head a moment, giving Seymour a puzzled look. "But I thought the Crusaders were all about Yevon and the Al Bhed didn't buy all that mumbo jumbo about machina."
"Precisely. But both hate Sin. They have joined together here, with machina and chocobos and weapons, to end Spira's sufferings. A gallant effort."
"Beggin' your pardon, Maester," Wakka began, bowing, "but don't the teachings say that machina are forbidden?"
"Pretend you didn't see them," Seymour said flippantly, a small smile touching his lips.
"Pardon me again, but that doesn't seem like something a maester of Yevon should say."
"Then pretend I didn't say it." Seymour beckoned them to follow and began walking away. Everyone looked at each other and then at Wakka before following the demi-Guado Maester toward what looked like a command post. Ophelia moved closer to Auron, and he glanced down at her, his expression concealed by his collar and glasses. As they entered the compound, Ophelia glanced around, realizing it was much bigger than it had been in the game.
"Auron!" A fat bald man, sweating profusely, veritably glomped Auron, nearly knocking Ophelia over. She gave the interloper, whom she recognized as Kinoc, a cold look before turning her back on them both, miffed.
"It is good to see you my friend. Ten years, has it been?" Kinoc pulled away from Auron, and in the split second embarrassment showed on Auron's face, Ophelia caught it and raised a brow. Were the yaoi fangirls right? Was there more than just friendship between those two in the past?
"Kinoc." Auron's voice sounded cold, making Ophelia wonder what had brought bad blood between the two. "What is going on here?"
"I'm sure you've already heard. Of course, it will never work, but we'll let them dream a little while longer, hm?"
"What?" Tidus looked aghast, as did everyone one else save for grim Auron and stoic Kimahri. Ophelia shook her head and began to walk away, turning back when a stray flicker of anger pulsed through her.
"How does it feel to be the father of disaster?" She felt the wind pick up, blowing harder against her back, but ignored both it and the stray strands of hair that whipped in her face. "What is it like, knowing that you will be responsible for the deaths of thousands?"
"So, the power has risen." Kinoc gave her a thoughtful look. "This," he said, gesturing to Ophelia, "is the salvation of Spira?"
Ophelia's vision went red, and a bolt of lightening came from the clear sky, striking the earth very near Kinoc. The pudgy man jumped and gazed at Ophelia wide-eyed, visibly shaken.
"Be glad her aim is still off." Auron swept his glasses off and gave Kinoc a hard look. "The next insult will be cause for me to attack, and, as I'm sure you know, I never miss." He turned and took Ophelia's arm in what would look like to everyone else a protective gesture, but his grip was like steel. When they had moved out of earshot, he released her and gave her a menacing look.
"What?" She pouted a moment, scuffing her boot against the ground. "It was a lucky shot. Who knew lightening could strike like that?" She motioned at the clear sky and frowned. "I thought clouds had to be around for that kind of thing to happen."
"That's because you caused it," Auron snapped. Ophelia blinked up at him, obviously confused. "Be glad your aim is off. You would have us all branded as murderers if that bolt had struck home."
"But I didn't-"
"Enough. I suggest you ask Lulu to help you learn to control your magic."
"But, Auron-"
Auron turned on his heal and walked back to the others, leaving Ophelia to fume impotently. Well. He glanced back once and Ophelia flipped him the bird, wishing she could strike him with a bolt of lightening. She pushed her hair out of her face and on impulse pulled the sticks from it, letting the thick locks fall past her waist. Damn him. What did he know, anyway? And he wasn't even that great of a guardian, leaving her to fend for herself most of the time.
Now would have been a great time to explore, but Auron had killed her excitement, and she began aimlessly wandering around the compound, trying to think of the most gruesome way she could murder Auron. Nothing was bloody and painful enough.
"Hey!" Ophelia pulled herself from her thoughts of torturing the older guardian and saw Tidus coming her way. He reached her, took one look at her face, and nodded knowingly.
"You've gotten your first Auron lecture, I see." Ophelia nodded and glared at the red-clad figure some distance away, and snickered when she realized he was being harrassed by Kinoc again.
"Serves him right. I didn't do anything."
"Aw, don't let him get to you. The only reason he does that is 'cause he's looking out for you, and he really doesn't know how to show you he cares."
Ophelia snorted and crossed her arms. "Right."
"I'm serious!" Tidus shrugged and looked back at Auron. "I know he's pretty rough around the edges, but he's a good guy. He's the closest thing to a real dad that I've ever known."
"Well, even so, he had no right to snap at me like that. I didn't do anything! And when I tried to explain that to him, he just walked off like he had a cactuar up his ass."
"Here's a trick I always used. Next time he hauls you in for some minor thing like that, just imagine him in his underwear. You'll have too hard of a time trying not to laugh to listen to what he's saying."
Ophelia flushed and glanced away. "That won't work for me."
"Why not?" Realization dawned on Tidus's face and he grimaced. "Ew! You like him?!? But he's so old!"
Ophelia laughed and shrugged. "Ain't life funny that way?"
"Uh oh, shush up if you don't want the old geezer to know. Here he comes." Sure enough, Auron was making his way over to them, a deep scowl pulling at his brows.
"You," he said, giving Tidus a light shove that nearly sent the younger man sprawling, "Go and talk to Yuna. And you," he said, turning that menacing scowl on Ophelia, "the soldiers want youf blessing before this battle commences."
"My blessing? Isn't that Yuna's job?"
"No. You have to judge to see if this battle is holy or not." Ophelia looked down at her feet a long moment, not knowing what to say. "It doesn't make you as bad as the ones leading these people into this futile battle. Everyone has a duty, no matter how wrong or right it may be." She nodded and he watched her walk to where the soldiers had gathered, her body language screaming with reluctance. He could understand that, but she had to be shown that all things weren't happy, and that all stories didn't end nicely. He couldn't hear her words, but the soldiers sent up a cheer and she was running back in his direction, her face streaming with tears. She surprised him by burying her face in his jacket, and he surprised himself even more by pulling her closer, and arm around her shaking shoulders.
"It was all you could do. Remember that." He felt her nod and he glanced back at the crowd, spotting what they did not see behind them. Sinspawn. He watched as they became aware of it and charged into battle, many never making it far, being struck down accidentally by their comrades arms. This was going to be hell, he could see that already, but he didn't want to leave Ophelia by herself. She pulled away from him and gasped at the carnage that was unfolding before her, stumbling back a few steps.
"My god," she whispered. "How could you let me do something like this?"
"I must go. They will not defeat it." He turned to face her, noticing her panic-stricken expression, and on impulse bent and pressed his mouth hard against hers. Later he would try to decipher why he'd done that, and come up with answers that were better left unexamined. He pulled away and ran off into the melee without glancing back, knowing that if he did, he would stay with her.
Ophelia watched Auron disappear into the thick of the battle, stunned. He's just kissed her, hadn't he? Why? She shook her head and stuck her hands in her pockets, not knowing what else to do. Well, this was a fine turn of events. She knew she'd never be able to look at him squarely anymore. And here she was, watching a massive battle as if it were not happening for real, unable to believe that people were actually dying out there. She turned her back on it, not wanting to witness what she had helped to bring about. It was too awful, too shameful to think about.
Finally, she realized the noise had died away, and things were far too quiet. How long had she been standing her, her back to it all? She peeped over her shoulder and saw that the Sinspawn had been defeated, but she knew this battle wasn't over. Wasn't Sin supposed to make an appearance?
As if acting on command, the hulk that was now Jecht rose from the waters and Ophelia felt the scream catch in her throat. She was going to die here, she was sure of it, and she had no one to hold her. A great flash of light whited-out the landscape and she was aware of nothing; no sound, no sight, no touch.
"Ophelia." Something smacked her face hard, and she groaned, swatting back and knocking something. That was satisfying. She turned her back to the intrusion, but it pulled her back and she scowled up at it without opening her eyes. Probably just her friend Shawna trying to get her up to do something incredibly childish and stupid.
"Ophelia, get up." Hmm. Shawna sounded an awful lot like Auron. That was funny. She giggled and batted at it again, feeling something fall and hit her in the face. Ouch. She brushed the offending object aside and opened her eyes, finally coming to full-consciousness. It was Auron. She was in Spira. She sat up and spotted his glasses next to her, realizing that they were what must have hit her in the face.
"Finally." Auron moved aside and Yuna's worried face came into Ophelia's vision.
"What happened?" She sat up, taking a quick glance at her surroundings, realizing that this must be the Djose inn. "How'd I get here? Don't tell me I got knocked out again. Please."
"You got knocked out again," Auron said wryly, a grin pulling the corners of his mouth. "You weren't the only one this time. I daresay Kimahri wasn't happy about having to carry Tidus here."
"Dammit." Ophelia swung her legs over the bed and stood, feeling the room swim a bit. "Whoa. What a trip." She weaved over to the single window the room possessed and looked out, frowning. "How many are dead?"
"Nearly all." Ophelia felt Auron come and stand behind her, and she felt her face turn red. "I shouldn't have left you."
"We all have a duty." Ophelia turned and moved around him and out of the door, not wanting to just sit there. "It's over now, huh?"
"Yes." Yuna followed her out of the room, looking as though she wanted to say more, but unwilling to at the same time. Ophelia motioned for her to continue, and Yuna sighed. "We need to go to the temple before I perform the sending."
"Is that all?" Ophelia gave Yuna an exasperated smile and shook her head. "Damn, woman, then let's go! I don't want to hear Auron gripe about how we're taking too long. You know how he is."
"Yes, he can be rather formidable, but he thinks it would be in your best interest to rest tonight before we continue."
"Aw, what does he know? I'm just a little woozy is all." Ophelia turned in a quick circle to prove she was fine, almost toppling over. She caught herself before she hit the floor and gave Yuna a sheepish grin. "Well, I'm not at one hundred percent but it'll have to do. You've got to get that summon, and those people who died have to be sent. End of story."
Yuna laughed. "You sound like a less articulate Auron."
"Been around him too much already." She made a grimace and entered the common room of the inn, nodding at the others.
"Hey, what are you doing out of bed, ya?" Wakka gave her a concerned frown and she waved him off.
"I'm fine. We need to get this summoning and sending business over with." She held up a hand, forestalling Wakka's protests. "Look, I can't always be the reason we're dragging our feet. No one's fussing at Tidus for monkeying around." She pointed at Tidus, who was currently outside, making parodies of Auron for them through the windows.
"Indeed." Ophelia jumped at the sound of Auron's voice, and whirled on him, her brows drawn together.
"Don't sneak up people like that."
"My apologies. However, I do think you should rest more before we go to the temple. The first summon of the Mage of Judgment is also in this temple, and you have to make sure you are up to the task to receive it."
"I get summons, too?" Ophelia's eyes went wide and a slow grin spread across her face. "Awesome!" She started out the door, leaving the others confused in her wake.
End of Chapter Five.
Okay, so that took longer than I thought. Gomen nasai. I've had a major case of writer's block. I hope you all enjoyed the little Auron/Ophelia smooching scene. I know I had fun coming up with it.
Next Chapter: Ophelia gets her first summon, Diablo, the summon of death. o.O Also, there may be more AuronXOphelia action. ^-^