Disclaimer; don't own it. Just the OC
..............................................................................................................................................
"Is this what death is like?" Firailc murmured aloud as the light gave way to utter darkness.
"No." The soft almost-reply made her tilt her head to the left so that she could see Auron by her side. There was no blood, from either of them, and despite the lack of real visible radiance they could still see each other clearly.
"Where are your comrades?" She asked. There was no point in asking him about his death at the moment, what she quested for was more substantial than a memory.
"Just there." He gestured with his hand off to his left. Leaning so she could see around him, she saw the others lying sprawled out over a rather expansive area. They seemed asleep. Stepping forward, she turned so that she could stare Auron in the eye.
"So this is what you looked like when Mum met you?" She asked. He seemed to be his 25 year-old self again. His skin was smooth, young and all the gray from his hair had vanished. The collar was there, however, as was the scar. His glasses, nearly forgotten in the battle, rested loosely on the bridge of his nose.
"I don't know what she saw here." He said, leaning away from the touch of her palm to his cheek.
"You're not the only one who has had a hard life you know." She said, turning so that she faced away from him. "You know, it's almost funny."
He watched her curiously as she raised a hand to the darkness and traced out some shape. He didn't have to ask what she meant for she paused only long enough to release a soft, sad sigh before starting her narrative.
"I feel almost like my mother just now. It's strange how a single moment such as an evaded touch can bring up memories you never knew you had."
{([0]) Firailc's Flashback {([0])}
A young girl, barely turned five, crawled into her mother's lap and looked into her Caribbean blue eyes. Sadness lingered there, but also immense joy.
"Mum, I want story." The little girl said pleadingly, giving her bright emerald eyes a puppy-dog teary-ness as she looked up hopefully.
"Alright." Her mother laughed softly and started to reach for the book on the table at her side.
"No, no." The child said decisively.
"What? I thought you wanted a story?" The mother laughed. "Are you toying with me, Fire?"
"No, mum, no. I want to hear about daddy." She said hastily. As her mother closed her eyes, the toddler tilted her head to the side in confusion. "What's wrong, mummy?"
"Nothing baby, it's nothing." Her mother said as she hastily wiped away the tears. "What story do you want to hear?"
"Daddy's last name." The story had been told many times before, but the young girl thought she would never tire of hearing her mother's soft voice recall the memory.
"Alright, now you settle down here and I'll tell you." Rushing off, the child snatched up her blanket, a soft canary yellow thing worn thin having been passed down through the generations of the mother's family and affectionately known as 'Big Softy'. Curling up in her mother's lap she drifted off to sleep before the third sentence was completed, but the story continued as the older woman's eyes turned misty again.
{([0])} End Firailc's Flashback {([0])}
{([0])} Auron's Flashback {([0])}
"Would you care to join me over something to drink? I know a place a short distance off that serves chilled saki. We could maybe discuss finding you a last name?" Illia suggested, gesturing down the road a ways. "You really don't strike me as the kind that likes Blitzball very much."
"It's not my favorite thing." Auron said and they fell into step as they move toward the small shop.
"So you do like it a little." She said, looking up at him across the four-inch difference in their heights.
"Hardly." He said. Stepping forward, he held the door open for her as they stepped into the establishment. Unlike nearly everything else in the machina city this shop was a small homey place that had been furnished to truly welcome its guests. It had a warm honey décor and the chairs were padded just enough to provide comfort without over doing it. Sitting down at a table for two near a window, a waiter approached them near silently.
"What would the couple like?" He asked politely.
"Two of my usual. Thank you, Daven." She said and turned to look at her companion. "What are you surprised about? This is a simple enough place."
"We are not together." He said quietly.
"Oh." She said and began to laugh. Soon what had been a soft giggle turned into a laugh of complete delight.
"I don't see any humour." He said, a curios amusement twinkling behind his eye.
"But we are a couple. We're two people, a man and a woman, sitting down together for a drink and a talk." She pointed out once she had sufficiently calmed again. Pulling her policeman's badge from its slot within her jacket, she placed it on the table and removed the garment. He glared at her, silently conceding the truth in the statement, and turned to watch as Daven placed chilled saki before each of them and a small black square about the size of a deck of playing cards.
"Thank you, Daven." She said and the waiter nodded as he walked off.
"What's this?" Auron asked, looking at the box.
"Watch." She picked up the saucer-like bowl and drained it dry in one long sip. Setting it back down, she picked up the black box and waved it once across the top of the bowl. In a small flash it refilled with the chilled saki and she set it back to the side.
"How do you know I'm not from here?" He asked, looking up at her suspiciously.
"It's obvious really." She stated leaning forward with her arms crossed on the tabletop. "You carry a sword. The most anyone here carries is a pocketknife. Police such as myself carry side-arms, like this piece."
His posture strained marginally as she pulled the gun from its holster around her thigh and sat it on the table by her badge. The gleaming metal of the weapon shined in the light overhead as she pulled out the clip and removed a single bullet.
"What is that for?" He asked his eyes trained on the small object.
"This is the same bullet I was first issued as a trainee. I have never been forced to shoot anyone and I hope to keep it that way. If I have to shoot, I shoot to kill." She said solemnly. Placing it back in the clip, she placed the clip back into the gun and placed the gun back in the holster. "So, are you unemployed or do you do odd jobs?"
"I'm looking after an old friend's son. I promised him I would." He said, cautiously lifting the bowl to his lips and taking a small drink.
"I would say it's not poisoned, but I have no way of knowing without doing a search." She said, smiling at him. He gave a small 'hmph' of a laugh and took another sip, the tension gone for the moment.
"What about you?" He asked.
"What about me?" She asked in surprise.
"Aside from being a policeman, what do you do?" He asked, gesturing at the necklace around her neck. Pulling forth the medallion, she twirled the small serpent in her fingers.
"I used to be part of a gang of a sort. We were called Lancers. About three years ago we broke up and I haven't seen any of them since." She dropped the necklace back under her uniform shirt and shrugged as she drunk more of the saki.
"What's that tattoo?" He asked, nodding to her shoulder.
"I didn't come here to talk all about me you know." She laughed, rubbing over the aforementioned spot. "So what about you? Were you part of any group? A band maybe, since you look like the sort? What about a tattoo or body piercing of your own?"
"I was never a part of a band. I grew up with a very strict discipline and as far as a tattoo or piercing the answer is no, never." He said and took another sip of saki.
"Never? Not a single one, huh? Well how did you get that scar?"
Silence prevailed as he closed his eye and tipped his head forward ever so slightly. Sighing heavily, she ran her tongue along her teeth for a moment and then picked up her saucer of saki. He spluttered as he jumped to his feet when the saki splashed him in the face. Turning in shock and anger to face her, he paused when he saw her amused expression.
"Why did you do that?" He asked sharply.
"Too introspective. If you have a bad memory associated with it then just say so. Don't just grow silent and ignore me by delving into memories. It's impolite. Besides, I wanted to find out if your hair looks as cute wet as it does dry." She replied and refilled the empty bowl in her hands. Swallowing it and the three that followed in rapid succession, she set the saki to the side and looked at him tentatively.
"Cute?" He murmured softly.
{([0])} End Auron's Flashback {([0])}
Seemingly from nowhere a chill fire flashed through Firailc's body and she shivered, knowing its cause. Auron watched, his emotions masked as she lowered herself to one knee and removed something from a hidden pouch within the duster at her feet.
"Mum told me that if I should ever find myself face-to-face with you she would like me to give you this." She drew forth a rose of bright red, the tips of its petals a surprising sapphire blue. "She never would tell me the story behind it, but that if anything then this would prove to you I'm your daughter. I just had to be stubborn and challenge you though and now I've paid the price."
"What price?" He asked softly as his eye remained riveted on the rose in her hand. She held it out for him and waited as he gingerly took it into his bare palm. After a moment he looked up to her face and noticed that her eyes were closed, her hands clenched into fists at her side.
"Because I'm from Zanarkand I'm a memory, just like Tidus. The ones who dreamed me, should you care to know, were Shiva and Ifrit, the Queen of Ice and the King of Fire. Even she felt the passion boiling in the two of you, just as he did. Unlike Tidus, however, I was kept 'between' the realities by my two Aeons so that I could train and become strong enough to find you without help from any others." She leaned her head to the side and opened her eyes, studying him closely as she felt the energy she was granted slowly begin to drain.
"You'll be gone." He said softly, letting one hand cup around the rose as he looked to her hands. They were already beginning to fade in and out a bit and a single pyrefly formed, drifting lazily around her right hand knuckles.
"Eventually, yes. I have just enough time and energy left to send seven people back to the real existence, Spira. Do I have the honor of knowing that my father has accepted me as his?" She asked, flexing the muscles in her fists to keep her form stable.
"You are- my daughter." He said eventually, a small smile taking shape on his lips as he took a step forward.
"That's good to know." She laughed and held out a hand. Surprising both of them, he enveloped her in a mighty hug that swept her from the ground and into his arms. She returned the embrace with vigor and let the comfort he offered seep in.
"Everything I do comes too late it seems." He said as he stepped back again and held out the rose to her.
"No, this is yours and mum's. Your cloak and her eyes, I believe, were the original explanations for its colours? I don't know, but it's the first thing that came to mind now that I see it in your hands." Firailc raised her fist with the pyrefly and slowly let it rest against her father's chest. As the pyrefly flowed into him, he felt warmth fill his chest and he smiled at her again, although worry tinged both it and his gaze.
"Where will you go when this is all over?" He asked softly. She let her hand drop to her side and thought about it for a moment.
"I don't know really. Shiva and Ifrit's spirits told me not to worry about anything, so I won't I suppose. It's all up to them where I will belong after this, they are the ones who gave me a life here and the opportunity to find you." She found herself nearly unable to keep her form now and felt herself fade in and out.
"Do you have the strength left?" He asked worriedly, watching her flinch as pain began to strike through her now as well.
"I have strength enough for this." She nodded and stepped back. Pulling the duster back onto her shoulders she held her arms wide, like an angel's wings and that was the last impression he got of her as all surroundings faded away. What reappeared before them was the Moonflow in its entire splendor under a full silvery moon.
"Sir Auron?" Yuna's voice broke through to him and he turned his back on the sight to watch his companions slowly awaken and struggle to their feet.
"What happened now? I bet you had something to do with this." Tidus grumbled as he stood up and helped Yuna as well. It struck him as curious that they all paused as they looked at him.
"Dude. Sir Auron, you're young again." Wakka said, his voice reflecting his awe. Confused, Auron turned toward the water's edge and peered in, gasping and taking a hasty step back as what met his eyes was the visage of him at 25, before he got the scar.
"I don't understand." He muttered, raising his hand to feel the un- roughened skin of his face.
..............................................................................................................................................
Please send reviews. I'm positive I need them, and even if I don't they would still be helpful!
Note; if anyone wants to or has used the idea of Auron having a daughter (or son), let me know because I would really like to read someone else's take on the possibility.
..............................................................................................................................................
"Is this what death is like?" Firailc murmured aloud as the light gave way to utter darkness.
"No." The soft almost-reply made her tilt her head to the left so that she could see Auron by her side. There was no blood, from either of them, and despite the lack of real visible radiance they could still see each other clearly.
"Where are your comrades?" She asked. There was no point in asking him about his death at the moment, what she quested for was more substantial than a memory.
"Just there." He gestured with his hand off to his left. Leaning so she could see around him, she saw the others lying sprawled out over a rather expansive area. They seemed asleep. Stepping forward, she turned so that she could stare Auron in the eye.
"So this is what you looked like when Mum met you?" She asked. He seemed to be his 25 year-old self again. His skin was smooth, young and all the gray from his hair had vanished. The collar was there, however, as was the scar. His glasses, nearly forgotten in the battle, rested loosely on the bridge of his nose.
"I don't know what she saw here." He said, leaning away from the touch of her palm to his cheek.
"You're not the only one who has had a hard life you know." She said, turning so that she faced away from him. "You know, it's almost funny."
He watched her curiously as she raised a hand to the darkness and traced out some shape. He didn't have to ask what she meant for she paused only long enough to release a soft, sad sigh before starting her narrative.
"I feel almost like my mother just now. It's strange how a single moment such as an evaded touch can bring up memories you never knew you had."
{([0]) Firailc's Flashback {([0])}
A young girl, barely turned five, crawled into her mother's lap and looked into her Caribbean blue eyes. Sadness lingered there, but also immense joy.
"Mum, I want story." The little girl said pleadingly, giving her bright emerald eyes a puppy-dog teary-ness as she looked up hopefully.
"Alright." Her mother laughed softly and started to reach for the book on the table at her side.
"No, no." The child said decisively.
"What? I thought you wanted a story?" The mother laughed. "Are you toying with me, Fire?"
"No, mum, no. I want to hear about daddy." She said hastily. As her mother closed her eyes, the toddler tilted her head to the side in confusion. "What's wrong, mummy?"
"Nothing baby, it's nothing." Her mother said as she hastily wiped away the tears. "What story do you want to hear?"
"Daddy's last name." The story had been told many times before, but the young girl thought she would never tire of hearing her mother's soft voice recall the memory.
"Alright, now you settle down here and I'll tell you." Rushing off, the child snatched up her blanket, a soft canary yellow thing worn thin having been passed down through the generations of the mother's family and affectionately known as 'Big Softy'. Curling up in her mother's lap she drifted off to sleep before the third sentence was completed, but the story continued as the older woman's eyes turned misty again.
{([0])} End Firailc's Flashback {([0])}
{([0])} Auron's Flashback {([0])}
"Would you care to join me over something to drink? I know a place a short distance off that serves chilled saki. We could maybe discuss finding you a last name?" Illia suggested, gesturing down the road a ways. "You really don't strike me as the kind that likes Blitzball very much."
"It's not my favorite thing." Auron said and they fell into step as they move toward the small shop.
"So you do like it a little." She said, looking up at him across the four-inch difference in their heights.
"Hardly." He said. Stepping forward, he held the door open for her as they stepped into the establishment. Unlike nearly everything else in the machina city this shop was a small homey place that had been furnished to truly welcome its guests. It had a warm honey décor and the chairs were padded just enough to provide comfort without over doing it. Sitting down at a table for two near a window, a waiter approached them near silently.
"What would the couple like?" He asked politely.
"Two of my usual. Thank you, Daven." She said and turned to look at her companion. "What are you surprised about? This is a simple enough place."
"We are not together." He said quietly.
"Oh." She said and began to laugh. Soon what had been a soft giggle turned into a laugh of complete delight.
"I don't see any humour." He said, a curios amusement twinkling behind his eye.
"But we are a couple. We're two people, a man and a woman, sitting down together for a drink and a talk." She pointed out once she had sufficiently calmed again. Pulling her policeman's badge from its slot within her jacket, she placed it on the table and removed the garment. He glared at her, silently conceding the truth in the statement, and turned to watch as Daven placed chilled saki before each of them and a small black square about the size of a deck of playing cards.
"Thank you, Daven." She said and the waiter nodded as he walked off.
"What's this?" Auron asked, looking at the box.
"Watch." She picked up the saucer-like bowl and drained it dry in one long sip. Setting it back down, she picked up the black box and waved it once across the top of the bowl. In a small flash it refilled with the chilled saki and she set it back to the side.
"How do you know I'm not from here?" He asked, looking up at her suspiciously.
"It's obvious really." She stated leaning forward with her arms crossed on the tabletop. "You carry a sword. The most anyone here carries is a pocketknife. Police such as myself carry side-arms, like this piece."
His posture strained marginally as she pulled the gun from its holster around her thigh and sat it on the table by her badge. The gleaming metal of the weapon shined in the light overhead as she pulled out the clip and removed a single bullet.
"What is that for?" He asked his eyes trained on the small object.
"This is the same bullet I was first issued as a trainee. I have never been forced to shoot anyone and I hope to keep it that way. If I have to shoot, I shoot to kill." She said solemnly. Placing it back in the clip, she placed the clip back into the gun and placed the gun back in the holster. "So, are you unemployed or do you do odd jobs?"
"I'm looking after an old friend's son. I promised him I would." He said, cautiously lifting the bowl to his lips and taking a small drink.
"I would say it's not poisoned, but I have no way of knowing without doing a search." She said, smiling at him. He gave a small 'hmph' of a laugh and took another sip, the tension gone for the moment.
"What about you?" He asked.
"What about me?" She asked in surprise.
"Aside from being a policeman, what do you do?" He asked, gesturing at the necklace around her neck. Pulling forth the medallion, she twirled the small serpent in her fingers.
"I used to be part of a gang of a sort. We were called Lancers. About three years ago we broke up and I haven't seen any of them since." She dropped the necklace back under her uniform shirt and shrugged as she drunk more of the saki.
"What's that tattoo?" He asked, nodding to her shoulder.
"I didn't come here to talk all about me you know." She laughed, rubbing over the aforementioned spot. "So what about you? Were you part of any group? A band maybe, since you look like the sort? What about a tattoo or body piercing of your own?"
"I was never a part of a band. I grew up with a very strict discipline and as far as a tattoo or piercing the answer is no, never." He said and took another sip of saki.
"Never? Not a single one, huh? Well how did you get that scar?"
Silence prevailed as he closed his eye and tipped his head forward ever so slightly. Sighing heavily, she ran her tongue along her teeth for a moment and then picked up her saucer of saki. He spluttered as he jumped to his feet when the saki splashed him in the face. Turning in shock and anger to face her, he paused when he saw her amused expression.
"Why did you do that?" He asked sharply.
"Too introspective. If you have a bad memory associated with it then just say so. Don't just grow silent and ignore me by delving into memories. It's impolite. Besides, I wanted to find out if your hair looks as cute wet as it does dry." She replied and refilled the empty bowl in her hands. Swallowing it and the three that followed in rapid succession, she set the saki to the side and looked at him tentatively.
"Cute?" He murmured softly.
{([0])} End Auron's Flashback {([0])}
Seemingly from nowhere a chill fire flashed through Firailc's body and she shivered, knowing its cause. Auron watched, his emotions masked as she lowered herself to one knee and removed something from a hidden pouch within the duster at her feet.
"Mum told me that if I should ever find myself face-to-face with you she would like me to give you this." She drew forth a rose of bright red, the tips of its petals a surprising sapphire blue. "She never would tell me the story behind it, but that if anything then this would prove to you I'm your daughter. I just had to be stubborn and challenge you though and now I've paid the price."
"What price?" He asked softly as his eye remained riveted on the rose in her hand. She held it out for him and waited as he gingerly took it into his bare palm. After a moment he looked up to her face and noticed that her eyes were closed, her hands clenched into fists at her side.
"Because I'm from Zanarkand I'm a memory, just like Tidus. The ones who dreamed me, should you care to know, were Shiva and Ifrit, the Queen of Ice and the King of Fire. Even she felt the passion boiling in the two of you, just as he did. Unlike Tidus, however, I was kept 'between' the realities by my two Aeons so that I could train and become strong enough to find you without help from any others." She leaned her head to the side and opened her eyes, studying him closely as she felt the energy she was granted slowly begin to drain.
"You'll be gone." He said softly, letting one hand cup around the rose as he looked to her hands. They were already beginning to fade in and out a bit and a single pyrefly formed, drifting lazily around her right hand knuckles.
"Eventually, yes. I have just enough time and energy left to send seven people back to the real existence, Spira. Do I have the honor of knowing that my father has accepted me as his?" She asked, flexing the muscles in her fists to keep her form stable.
"You are- my daughter." He said eventually, a small smile taking shape on his lips as he took a step forward.
"That's good to know." She laughed and held out a hand. Surprising both of them, he enveloped her in a mighty hug that swept her from the ground and into his arms. She returned the embrace with vigor and let the comfort he offered seep in.
"Everything I do comes too late it seems." He said as he stepped back again and held out the rose to her.
"No, this is yours and mum's. Your cloak and her eyes, I believe, were the original explanations for its colours? I don't know, but it's the first thing that came to mind now that I see it in your hands." Firailc raised her fist with the pyrefly and slowly let it rest against her father's chest. As the pyrefly flowed into him, he felt warmth fill his chest and he smiled at her again, although worry tinged both it and his gaze.
"Where will you go when this is all over?" He asked softly. She let her hand drop to her side and thought about it for a moment.
"I don't know really. Shiva and Ifrit's spirits told me not to worry about anything, so I won't I suppose. It's all up to them where I will belong after this, they are the ones who gave me a life here and the opportunity to find you." She found herself nearly unable to keep her form now and felt herself fade in and out.
"Do you have the strength left?" He asked worriedly, watching her flinch as pain began to strike through her now as well.
"I have strength enough for this." She nodded and stepped back. Pulling the duster back onto her shoulders she held her arms wide, like an angel's wings and that was the last impression he got of her as all surroundings faded away. What reappeared before them was the Moonflow in its entire splendor under a full silvery moon.
"Sir Auron?" Yuna's voice broke through to him and he turned his back on the sight to watch his companions slowly awaken and struggle to their feet.
"What happened now? I bet you had something to do with this." Tidus grumbled as he stood up and helped Yuna as well. It struck him as curious that they all paused as they looked at him.
"Dude. Sir Auron, you're young again." Wakka said, his voice reflecting his awe. Confused, Auron turned toward the water's edge and peered in, gasping and taking a hasty step back as what met his eyes was the visage of him at 25, before he got the scar.
"I don't understand." He muttered, raising his hand to feel the un- roughened skin of his face.
..............................................................................................................................................
Please send reviews. I'm positive I need them, and even if I don't they would still be helpful!
Note; if anyone wants to or has used the idea of Auron having a daughter (or son), let me know because I would really like to read someone else's take on the possibility.