In the middle of the night, snow began to fall in Macalania. The powder-soft flakes made their descent, and blanketed the already-covered landscape of the frosty tundra. Nestled right in between the outskirts of Macalania woods, and the frozen plains, Rin's travel agency sat like a picture on a greeting card. Smoke came from the chimney, gathered from the many fireplaces of the Inn. The lights of the main lobby glowed cozily on the glittering snow. Only the receptionist, and a couple of insomnia-struck guests stirred. All the rest of Spira slept.
Auron was not one of the ones who could not sleep. Niether was Wakka, who was bunked down with Tidus. In fact, the only one in our little group who could not sleep was the very person who should have been the deepest in dreams.
Lulu had awoken a few scant hours after Auron had finally passed out. The timepiece which rested on the bedside table beside her, told her that the hour had reached 2:00 AM. She had tried to move, to get up from the bed, but as she started to raise herself up, she gasped softly, and dropped back down to the bed.
The pain in her side burned like a hot brand laid against her flesh. Her muscles screamed in fury at her. For a few moments, she could do no more than merely lay there, and pant as the pain washed through her belly in waves.
'So, I shall not be rising.' She thought to herself.
Which really was a shame, because she was thirsty. But she'd survive until the morning, when someone would come and help her get out of bed. She had no doubt that once she was standing, her wound would be much easier to bear.
She sent a hand questing down, gingerly, to prod the wound, and measure it's severity. Blessedly, her corset had been removed, and her dress as well. The tightness of the corset, obviously, would not have helped the wound, and the leather of her dress would have only aggravated it, and kept the air from it. She lay in her underwear, and a thin, strapless chemise. Beneath the light, grey silk, she could feel a great bandage covering the whole of the area. Lulu's prodding brought the firey pain back to the gash, and so she let it be. The scent of medicine hung in the air.
After that, Lulu'd had nothing to do, but gaze around the room, and out the window.
It had been to her great shock, to see Sir Auron propped up in a chair across the room, asleep. In fact, she'd almost bolted upright, and screamed in terror to see a figure there. Auron was cloaked in the shadows; only one candle burned in the room. At first, she not seen his face, only the outline of a masculine form. But she'd seen his scar first, and then realized who it was, and then lay there on the bed, with heart pounding.
'Fool.' She scolded herself. 'Of course, there'd be someone in the room with you, idiot.'
For a while, Lulu'd merely gazed at Sir Auron. She did not understand why he was up here. Surely, Wakka would be the more obvious choice to keep watch. Or perhaps Yuna. But perhaps something had happened after she'd passed out. Maybe Wakka had not wanted to deal with her.
For some reason, the thought hurt Lulu.
One minute, she'd been resting her head against his shoulder. She had been so very tired. She'd been dizzy. Only a second of rest, she thought.
And the next moment, blackness, all around. Waking up had been her most recent memory.
But she did not mind waking up to see Auron there. He looked immeasureably changed, now as he was, asleep. His eyes which usually squinted in speculation, and seemed to be sizing up everything, now seemed peaceful. There was no crease in his brow. His mouth was relaxed, and he did not frown. He seemed so at rest, and the site of him like so, put Lulu at ease.
She turned her head to gaze out the window.
It was snowing again. Little shock, that. It snowed every day in Macalania, just as it stormed every day in the Thunder Plains.
Ah, now there was a thought to consider. Lulu's eyes went back over to Auron.
The Thunder Plains. What had happened there, between she and him? Why did the air seemed changed, she wondered?
And it was then, that Lulu realized that she was attracted to the man.
She felt a blush light up her face in the dark of the room.
Attracted to a legendary guardian. She sounded just like a fangirl. She sounded just like one of the crazed girls who crowded the blitzball arena in Luca. Of course, she was attracted to Auron. Who the hell wasn't?
But that wasn't it. Lulu knew herself very well, to a degree. She knew she wasn't usually attracted to people, unless she felt there was a chance that attraction would be reciprocated.
And Yevon, it had certainly seemed so in the Thunder Plains.
That tender caress. The way Auron had touched her face.
Lulu was lost in such reminiscences when Auron woke up.
Auron had come to, suddenly, and silently, and without a single movement, as was his style. He'd developed the habit on his pilgrimage with Braska. The better to take the advantage of surprise on a fiend that was sneaking up. He let his eyes wander around the room, and they rested on Lulu.
Truthfully, he would have thought her still asleep, if he had not seen the candlelight shine off of her ruby eyes.
And Yevon help me, he thought, I know she's not feel well, but doesn't she look absolutely breathtaking?
Lulu's hair was spilled around her like a pool of ebony water. That little piece of hair that hung over her face was thrown back, and both of her lovely eyes were revealed. Again, Auron was struck by how delicate she looked. Perhaps that delicacy was enhanced more so because he so rarely saw that half of her face.
His eyes traced over the curve of her jaw, down her throat, to her bare shoulders, pallid and creamy in the candlelight.
He couldn't help the sigh that escaped him.
Lulu's face jerked towards him.
"You're awake." She said softly. "I hope I didn't wake you."
"No." He said simply.
"May I ask a favour?" Lulu's hand went to brush at her cheek. She was moving as little as possible, and Auron could not blame her.
"Of course." He leaned down from the chair, and stood.
"I'm so thirsty. May I have some water?"
Without a word, Auron moved to the bedside table. A pitcher rested on it, as well as a cup, and he poured it for her.
"Here. I'll help you." He said. Gently, he settled himself on the edge of the bed. Careful to avoid her injured side, he slipped his hand behind her head, and raised Lulu up just enough so that she could drink.
She sipped the water down greedily, and asked for more, and when she'd drank two glasses, Auron set the cup aside.
For a moment, neither said anything. Lulu and Auron only stared at each other in the candlelight.
'This is crazy.' He thought, even as he bent over.
Auron's lips met Lulu's. They roamed over hers gently, teasing, and pampering, ever so soft. Much softer than such a gruff man has any right to be. His fingers came up, and laid against the smoothness of her cheek, and Lulu's own fingers rose and laid over his. Her lips parted beneath his, and accepted him deeper. Their tongues met in a sweet dance.
The kiss was broken, and Auron sat up. He gazed down at her. Lulu stared up at him, half-shocked, and half-blissful.
"Why?" She asked softly.
"Why not?"
"Kiss me again." Lulu commanded in a husky tone.
Again, Auron lowered himself. This time, when his lips met hers, they were not so gentle, and more hungry. He nipped at her lower lip, and sucked on the tip of her tongue. He explored the confines of her mouth, and reveled in the sweetness. His fingertips traced down her jaw, and her neck, and over her shoulder. He felt her skin go to gooseflesh, and felt the shiver that went down her spine.
Auron shuddered in sudden, painful desire.
He broke the kiss, and gazed down at her. Yevon, how he wanted her. He wanted her so much that it hurt. A sweat had broken out on his brow, and he was embarassed to have to stand up. He knew his desire would show. Auron wished he was still wearing his coat, to cover up the bulge in his trousers.
"I cannot..."
"Obviously not." Lulu said. "Unless you want to undo all of Yuna's healings."
A faint grin went over Auron's face.
"You're still mourning Chappu's loss. I will not take advantage of you."
Lulu's hand came to rest over Auron's fingers. He folded her tiny digits into his, and rubbed a thumb over her knuckle.
"Chappu...is gone. He is gone forever. I remain..alive." Lulu's eyes focused on a faraway point for a moment, and then went once more to Auron's face. "You say you will not take advantage of me. Do I have no say in things?"
Again, a faint smile crossed Auron's face.
"Of course, you do."
"Why do you never take these glasses off?" She asked. Her free hand went up, and her first two fingers slipped beneath the dark glass.
Auron stiffened in instinct. He had the urge to slap away her hand, but he forced himself to sit, and endure, and to see where she was leading.
Gently, she pulled the glasses from his face. Her thumb went over the scar, ever so delicately. She felt the mottled flesh, traced it from his forehead, down over his cheek.
Auron shivered beneath the delicacy of her touch.
Her forefinger traced once more over his eyelid. She felt the emptiness of the socket underneath. Of course, he would not have been able to keep his eye. Whatever weapon had struck him here, it must have split the surface of the eye in two. If it had not been removed, it would have rotted, and poisoned the tissue around it.
"It's gruesome." Auron replied.
"I do not think so."
Her hands left his face, and she carefully put his sunglasses back on his face.
Auron gazed down at her. He could have kissed her for her tenderness. Indeed, he did.
His thumb brushed over her lips, when he was done claiming them.
"Go to sleep." He commanded. "I need you at full-strength."
"You, or we?" She asked.
Auron turned his cheek, and smiled gently at her.
"Sleep."
With that, he stood up, and carefully tucked the blanket around her bare shoulders. Auron retreated to his chair, and leaned back in it, eyes wandering between Lulu, and the window with the snow falling outside.
As for Lulu, she nestled beneath the covers as best she could, and let sleep carry her off.
And for the first time in as many days, she did not have nightmares of Chappu.