*****Standard Disclaimer. I do not own FFX or the characters in it. They are owned by Square-Enix. I do own this story, and my original characters. The title of this chapter is from a song performed by Carly Simon.******
The night after they defeated the Sanctuary Keeper, they started a driftwood fire at the edge of the Zanarkand Ruins. As they all sat around the campfire, Tidus tried to get everyone to talk, to reminisce, anything to postpone the inevitable meeting with Lady Yunalesca. Some distance along the path, off to one side, a pile of debris shifted. A lone figure dozed under the rubble. It seemed that the late afternoon through early evening twilight was a good time to get some rest, as the fiends were less active then. Being buried under the city's wreckage also helped. Amidst her dreams of Zanarkand, her lost Zanarkand, the young man's voice had woven in and out of her trance with the breeze. Those were the good old days. Other, unfamiliar voices had drifted into her dream, and then one clear, unmistakable, "Enough," in a deep, rough voice jolted the sleeper awake. Was it even possible? Finally? The lone camper scooped up her few items and settled her pack on her shoulders. As soon as the light wind brought the young man's voice back to her, she started off in what she thought was the right direction. Her pace quickened as the voices grew louder. When she heard a grunted, "Hmph," at one of the younger man's inane comments, she began to jog down the path, then run.
Tidus said "Hey! There was more, right? I mean, like that time...uh... Anyone?" And Yuna responded, "I think we should stop...maybe. For now."
Tidus walked up the hill behind the party, to look toward the ruined city, and saw the dark figure running toward them along the path. He didn't know how, or why, but he knew. He slid partway down the hill, and yelled for Auron, as he pointed toward the rushing figure.
They all turned in the direction that Tidus had indicated, but, with the advantage of height, Auron could see the dark shape barreling towards the group without climbing. He should have thought it was a fiend, but he didn't. Instead, he lowered his glasses, intending to put them inside his coat. He wanted to be sure the figure wasn't an illusion. But it was the same illusion that stopped his heart, as she always did. For the first, few tortured seconds, he saw her, as he had seemed to so many times before, with both eyes, running towards him, and he knew. His glasses dropped from his nerveless fingers. He started to walk toward the distant figure, then he, too, began to run. As he sped down the path, he tore at the clasps that held his collar in place. One unfastened, one broke off. It didn't matter. The collar fell by the side of the path, unheeded.
She concentrated all her effort on running, on keeping her footing on the broken pavement, until she heard the thudding of his heavy boots heading towards her. Then she looked up to see him moving to meet her. He caught her up in his arms, and swung her around, holding her high up, just for the sheer joy of looking up at her, feeling her lithe body in his arms again, after the long despair of believing her lost forever. She slid down slowly, until her feet were on the ground and her arms were around his neck, his broad back to the distant group. Then he touched her face with his hand and looked into her eyes. "Are you a dream?" he asked. "No, love, I'm real. I'm real. I'm here," she responded, as she pulled his head down to hers, to prove to him just how real she was, and to let herself drink in the taste of him after the long months without him. If this is a dream, I don't ever want to wake up, he thought, as he bent his head to kiss her again, and again. After so long, neither of them could stop, or let go. Her hand speared through the hair at the back of his neck, caught in the tie that bound it, snagged. When the slight pain didn't wake him, he was certain this was no dream. She could feel his lips curve in a smile as they trailed down her neck. Real. Including the damn armor. She had missed him so much. The need to connect, again, in every possible way, overwhelmed her senses; his tongue was hot in her mouth. Her hand was under his coat, grabbing his backside with her nails. She could drive him insane this way, as she often had. He was happy to do the same to her, with one hand inside her shirt, the other cupping her bottom, pressing her lower body against his as tightly as possible as his mouth slashed over hers. She writhed against him, in a combination of pleasure and quickly mounting frustration. Where could they go to get away from the audience back at the campsite? passed through his fevered brain. Audience…campsite…HELL. With a sense of reluctance, he tried to put Mercy's clothing to rights. His hands caressed her face again, as he reluctantly raised his head. "I forgot," he said, in considerable embarrassment. "We have an audience. I believe far enough down the road. The rest of the Summoner's party. And Tidus." She would want to know about the boy.
He held her loosely, in the circle of his arms, as she did a better job of putting her shirt the rest of the way back on. Then she just hugged him, tight. "I should have remembered, too. Tidus' voice woke me up. I was sleeping, back there." She pointed behind her, well down the path to a pile of rubble. "I thought I was dreaming, about the 'good old days', until I heard the other voices." She smiled up at him, "Then I heard you, and I began to hope, that it might not be a dream, after all."
He chuckled. "They're not exactly…dreamboats, not any of them. They know about you, by the way…blame the boy."
"It's okay. It might make this a little easier." She paused and took a deep breath. "But not much." Still, she loosened the grip she had around his waist, and looked up. "Let's go."
"Before we go, there's something I need you to do. He peeled the black glove from his right hand, as she looked on in puzzlement. As he finished, she understood. He twisted the ring from his finger, and dropped it into her waiting palm. Then she took his left hand in hers, and put his wedding ring back where it belonged, on the third finger of his left hand. The same hand rose to spread itself over her cheek. "Mercy…my lady, I love you."
"I love you, too, Auron." You don't know how much.
Yuna moved close to Tidus, standing behind him. "Is that…?" "Yes," he replied, the grin obvious as he spoke. Rikku scooped up Auron's discarded glasses, folding and unfolding them in her hands. She just breathed, "Wow," to no one in particular, as they all watched the dark figures in the distant twilight.
Auron and Mercy walked to the camp in a companionable silence. There wasn't enough time to say any of the things that really needed to be said. Walking together still seemed as natural as breathing. She took her position on his right, and he automatically accommodated his pace to hers. They walked side-by-side, not touching, as they had when they were hunting in the hills outside the dream city. She looked over at Auron striding beside her. This is his world, not mine, she thought. I need to play by his rules. He probably has a reputation to protect here. I certainly don't.
Tidus resisted the impulse to run out to meet them, but when she was just a few steps away he found himself moving forwards, his arms outstretched, as she quickened her pace to meet him in a hug. Always openly affectionate, Tidus kept one arm around her shoulders as he turned to face the rest of the group, "Hey, guys, this is Mercy…"
Tidus voice trailed off as Auron tugged Mercy away to his side and finished the sentence with, "my wife." He clasped her hand briefly then let it go. Okay, he might have a reputation to protect… and he's every bit as possessive as the next man, she thought to herself.
The kid was still grinning about something. "Let me introduce you to everyone," he was saying. She just nodded, consenting to the inevitable. The first was a very serious young woman with shoulder-length brown hair and odd-colored eyes, one blue, one green. "Mercy, this is our Summoner, Yuna." There was something in his voice as he spoke, and the way he brushed his hand against Yuna's back, that told Mercy there was a relationship between these two. It made her both happy, and sad, considering the choices Yuna would face inside Zanarkand. She must be Braska's daughter.
"Auron told me many stories about his journey with your father," Mercy informed the young woman.
First, Yuna turned to Auron. "Sir Auron, this is so wonderful." Then, she bowed to Mercy deeply, showing great respect, which surprised her, and said, "Lady Mercy, I am honored to meet you. It is a great miracle that you were also able to make the journey from the other Zanarkand to Spira. Praise be to Yevon." Then Yuna made the 'sign of victory' that she thought was a prayer. Mercy's mind was whirling. Sir Auron. Lady Mercy? What was that all about?
Kimahri, standing guard behind Yuna, as always, was next. Forced to look way, way up to meet the Ronso's eyes, Mercy decided that Auron's descriptions had not nearly done the Ronso or his people, justice. She also knew he owed Kimahri a debt of honor. What could she say?
"Auron told me of your people. I know your people are fierce warriors in battle. I also know they are honorable people in peace and in war." She tried to meet Kimahri's eyes steadily, to convey that she meant more than she said.
Kimahri inclined his head, just a fraction. He understood. "Kimahri glad to meet Lady Mercy." The Ronso stepped back to allow Rikku to move forward. Lady again. Lady who? Lady had Auron forgotten to tell her something? Damn the man.
Rikku silently handed Auron his abandoned glasses. He absently stuffed them inside his coat. Good, the rest of this evening will be simpler if I'm not trying to interpret his expression though those dark lenses, she thought.
"Hi, I'm Rikku. Pleased to meet you," said a chirpy little voice from a perky, blonde-haired woman-child with swirling-pupilled green eyes.
"Hello, Rikku. I've never met an Al Bhed before. I hope we have a chance to talk about machina sometime. My brother and I used to use them in our performances in Zanarkand."
"Sure thing," said Rikku in surprise.
Then Tidus introduced the other man as, "Wakka, the captain of the Besaid Aurochs."
He was big, almost Auron's height and build, but she found herself wondering what kept that red hair styled into that shape, and why? He spoke first. "Lady Mercy, it is truly the blessing of Yevon that you are here," as he made that prayer sign again.
Something exploded in Mercy's head. He was the third person to call her "Lady Mercy". This was getting ridiculous. When she looked at Auron, the smirk on his face told her that he had been wondering how long it was going to take for her to react. She rounded on him, "Would you like to tell me when, exactly, I became, 'Lady' Mercy? I don't seem to recall," she said sarcastically.
His expression didn't change as he drawled, "I hope you remember. It was the day we were married."
"I see. We'll talk about this later," she gave him a dark look as she spoke. Tidus grinned at both of them. Their act was so familiar to him, it was as though a part of his world that he hadn't been aware was unsteady had finally righted itself.
Lulu spoke up, without being introduced. "It was very convenient, your appearance here. How did you manage it? Where have you been?" Her voice was colder than the snow on Gagazet.
"And you would be?" Mercy asked the voluptuous, dark-haired woman.
There was a long pause, as everyone waited for someone else to answer. Mercy noticed that Auron did not answer, which itself answered one of her questions. Wakka was the one who filled the silence with, "This is Lulu, our black mage."
"Thank you for the introduction, Wakka. Why don't we all sit by your campfire, and swap stories? I would be happy to go first," Mercy said coolly.
They all sat down around the fire. Mercy got the pack off her shoulders, and pulled her swords out of her belt. It was a great way to wear them, but she couldn't sit with them. She dropped easily to the ground, and sat with her legs crossed, the swords lying in front of her in case they were attacked. Tidus lounged to her right, with Yuna on his other side. Auron sat to her left, putting her on his right. That was normal. What surprised her was how close he was. A lot could be said with body language, and he was saying a great deal. He did not touch her, but he sat closer to her than she thought he would have to anyone else, close enough to demonstrate intimacy, even without touch. She could feel the warmth of his body along her left side, across the bare inches that separated them. Their body language showed a closer relationship than any others in this party, save one. In the firelight, Tidus and Yuna leaned towards each other, his shoulder occasionally brushing hers.
Mercy began to speak. She had agreed to tell her story first. She started with Auron, since that was where it had begun. "After you left, I looked out the windows. I saw the tidal wave heading towards the city. It looked like it was coming straight for the building. I also saw the ball of water overhead. It looked, well, different from the tidal wave in some way, less threatening maybe, because it wasn't sending out projectiles like the tsunami was."
"The projectiles were Sinspawn," Tidus told her
"I just saw that the water ball seemed less hostile than the tidal wave. I don't know why, but I took my backpack and headed up to the roof of the building. You know it was a very tall building. I guess I thought that if the 'ball' got me, it would be less violent, and I might have a better chance to reach the Farplane that way. Why I picked up the pack, I'm not sure. Force of habit, I guess." She looked down as she said that. Auron thought that there was something 'off' about part of the story, but he wouldn't challenge her in front of the others.
"I went up to the roof to wait for it. Our apartment building was in one of the tallest buildings. Instead of being killed, I was swept up into the edge of the ball. Next thing I knew, I found myself here, still in Zanarkand, but in Spira."
"If you knew where you were, why didn't you just walk out? Why wait here?" Lulu was clearly skeptical.
"Auron told me about Spira. I knew where I was. Also, the ruins of the dome up ahead are the Blitzball stadium, and I'd recognize that anywhere." She grinned affectionately at Tidus. "You dragged me to too many games for me to ever forget the place." Mercy faced the fire again. "But the only way out of here is over Gagazet. I do not have any cold weather gear. And Auron had told me about the Ronso. I wasn't sure how they would react to someone who came alone from this side of the Sacred Mountain who they knew had not started from the other side. I figured they would think I was a fiend, and just kill me before I had a chance to explain. I was waiting for the first summoner's party to show up, so I could get news and cross back over with them. What took you guys so long?" She wanted to get the focus of the group away from herself, as much as was possible, under the circumstances, before they started asking too many questions.
Tidus immediately took up the story, "Well, first we…"
Mercy held up a hand to interrupt, before he got into his non-stop talking mode, "Tidus, I love you dearly, but can you please give me the really, truly, extremely short version, just this once?" She grinned from ear-to-ear. Yuna tried to stifle a laugh, and failed. She collapsed in giggles, as did Rikku. Tidus blushed furiously, as Wakka laughed out loud. Even Auron and Kimahri chuckled. Lulu just raised one eyebrow in derision, as Tidus began to regale Mercy with a supposedly condensed version of their journey, but whether her attitude was directed at Mercy's person or Tidus' storytelling was impossible for Mercy to judge.
As she listened to Tidus relate the story of their journey to the ruins, with occasional commentary from a few of the others, she felt herself to be the object of everyone's curiosity, and tried very hard not to catch them watching her. She stared into the fire as the story unfolded, and wondered what her husband was thinking.
Auron thought there was a hole in her story somewhere, but he couldn't quite find it. He thought that what she said was the truth, but that there was something that she did not want to say in front of the entire party, or a clue that he was not seeing. His brain really was not working very well right now, and he wasn't sure that he even cared at the moment. He found himself staring at her profile, as she gazed into the fire.
She could feel his gaze; the heat it generated was more intense than any fire. She turned her eyes to his. For a split-second, the raw need showed on his face, before he could control his expression. Her breath caught. She could feel how much warmth he was generating; she had to grip her wrists to stop herself from reaching out to him. His right hand had formed a fist, to keep himself from touching her. He was just grateful he wouldn't have to stand up for a while, hopefully a long while. She wondered what was going to happen when it was time to set up camp for the night. If necessary, she would lay her bedroll down next to Auron's in camp with everyone else, but nothing would happen, not even a good cuddle, and neither of them would get any sleep. This was not exactly her idea of a good time. Or his. She hoped he would 'think of something' before then, otherwise, it was going to be a very long night.
As Tidus finished their story, her stomach rumbled. "You hungry?" Wakka asked.
"I'm starving. Have you got anything I could eat? I was lucky, my pack had most of the trail rations, but I ran out of those a long time ago. There are a lot more fiends around here than beasts. I mean, those clouds of pyreflies are really pretty, and it's very tidy not having the carcasses lying around, but there's nothing for the stewpot, if you know what I mean. I don't suppose you have any fruit? Even raisins would be a real treat." This statement was greeted with mirth by most of the party. Everyone looked in their packs, and after a brief search, produced a slightly wizened apple and some raisins. Mercy was in heaven. Both Tidus and Wakka had a snack, just so she wouldn't feel uncomfortable, eating alone.
When they finished, Yuna said, "I think we should camp here, for the night. Then we can get a fresh start, in the morning." Tidus was relieved. One more night before they met Yunalesca. There was an awkward silence, as the rest of them tried to figure out how to handle the camping arrangements, complicated by the latest addition to their party.
Kimahri's bass voice dropped into the stillness. "Camp here. Kimahri, Tidus, first watch. Wakka, Rikku, second watch. Kimahri, Lulu, last watch. Auron not watch. Auron and his lady camp on other side of hill. Come back in morning."
Everyone was nonplussed for several seconds. Mercy was the first to recover. She thought that being a Ronso must give Kimahri a tremendous advantage in situations like this. He didn't blush the way the rest of them did. She was blushing furiously, but it didn't stop her from getting up and bowing respectfully to the Ronso. "Thank you, Kimahri." Auron was speechless, but at least he was moving. She picked up her swords and her pack, while he collected his gear. His face was red under his tan, and there was an abruptness to his movements that further indicated his embarrassment. She hoped it was only the method he objected to, and not the result. She said, "Good night, everyone," before they walked out of the camp together. The only sound out of Auron was, "Hmph."
He was silent as they walked around the hill to the side opposite the other camp. He's thinking too much. We're going to have to talk. Soon. Damn, I was hoping I could put this off until later tonight.
He was thinking. Yojimbo kept his promise, after a fashion. Now that she is here, when the time comes, any Summoner can send her to the Farplane, whether she believes or not. But I hope her time will not come for years and years.
Without speaking, they agreed on a place to camp, and wordlessly laid out their bedrolls and began to prepare for the night. They had done this so many times in the dream Zanarkand, they were able to perform the necessary tasks automatically. His thoughts continued, if Yuna chooses the traditional path, my time should come tomorrow. Is it right to bind her closer again for just one night? Maybe this wasn't such a good idea…
While his mind was occupied, the rest of him went through the same routine that they had usually followed when hunting. He didn't need to think about setting up a campsite. She decided to follow suit. If they were going to talk, they might as well be comfortable about it.
She sat down on the bedroll with her pack between her knees, leaned forward to reach inside for the folded bunch of clothes she used for a pillow. Once she found it, she patted it in place, then she stood, and unwound the red cloth around her midriff. She removed her tunic as well, and put both inside the pack, which she then placed at the head of the bedroll. Her bra and leggings would do for clothing, considering the company. After she checked to make sure that her swords were where she could reach them quickly if they were attacked, she sat down again, her head on her knees. The one thing about these boots, thigh-high boots were a real pain to take off. Auron still wasn't talking, so asking him for help was out of the question. Finally, taking one ankle in both hands, she twisted her right boot off.
He put his pack above where his head would be, placed the katana where he could reach it if they were attacked during the night, then unbuckled his belt and laid it over the pack. The coat he folded to use as a pillow. The pack doubled as a stand for his armor, as well. Stripped to his t-shirt and slacks, he sat on the bedroll to take off his boots. His boots came off easily, and he set them aside.
He remained seated, staring into the distance, lost in thought. Tomorrow, in the Dome, they would all discover the truth of the Final Aeon. Yuna would choose. They would probably fight Sin. He had planned to leave after that battle, losing two summoners and two fellow guardians in one 'lifetime' was enough. He had been tired of his continued existence since he returned to Spira. But now, his two worlds had collided. Mercy was here, somehow. But she was part of the other Zanarkand. If Yuna found another way, then what would happen to her? He thought he knew. All the paths before him seemed dark.
Her left boot was stuck. She leaned back, trying to get a firmer grip on it, and her shoulder bumped into his. To hell with his second thoughts, or his third ones for that matter, she thought, as she braced herself against his broad back and gave her recalcitrant boot a good, hard, twist. At first, he remained still, lulled by the familiarity of her body, but he turned in his seat just as her foot popped out of the fitted end of her boot. The force of her own anger at the 'stupid boot' was still propelling her arms when he turned and she lost the support of his back against hers. She fell across his knees, the now empty boot held awkwardly in her upraised hands. He caught her as she tumbled back, one arm supporting her head and shoulders.
With his free hand, he plucked the boot out of her grip and tossed it aside. Now that he was looking at her again, his dark thoughts fled. All he could think about was how much he loved her, how glad he was that she was here, now, tonight. He stared into her face, her eyes, and thought he saw love, a certain amount of exasperation, and maybe something else, as well.
Without the boot, her hands were empty, and she wasn't sure where to put them. She wanted to reach for him, but she was afraid that if she did, it would push him away. He was not going to like what she had to tell him, she'd rather save it for later. She looked up into his face, and watched his expression change. She saw the moment when he stopped buying tomorrow's troubles and finally saw tonight as the gift it was. Effortlessly, he drew her up into a sitting position, and their arms wrapped around each other, as his lips found hers. Then they fell down onto the mats, pulling at each other's clothes, during and between hard, insistent kisses, discovering reality infinitely sweeter than memory, and that they had not forgotten each other's pleasures. For a brief while, there was only the joy they made together.
Much later, Mercy lay next to Auron in that dreamy, relaxed state where her brain had turned to mush, but she wasn't actually sleepy. I wish I didn't have to do this now, but there might not be another chance. I hope he's just as wiped out as I am, she thought hazily. She raised herself on one elbow, and looked down into his face. He's half asleep. This is going to be about as much fun as the morning he told me about this place.
"Auron, we have to talk."
Why did it always sound so ominous when a woman said 'we have to talk?' he wondered. It did sound ominous. He was awake.
"I didn't tell the others everything about how I got to Spira."
He turned on his side, so he could face her. He didn't think he was going to like this story. "I didn't think so. Tell me."
"When you left, I did watch the tidal wave, and Sin coming, from the windows, that much was true. The wave was going to go straight through the building on its way to the stadium. You were right. The building was a target. I knew I couldn't get away, it was coming too fast. I knew I was going to die, but I didn't know if that would be enough to reach your Farplane." She tried to will him to understand what she was saying. "Love, I believe you, I believe in you, I did from the very beginning, but that doesn't mean I believe what you believe. I knew I was going to die, but I didn't want to die. I didn't believe in your Farplane, just in you. I didn't know whether that would be enough to let me in, or keep me out. I watched the storm coming and said I wished there was another way, and then I heard fingers snapping behind me, and there was a woman, one of the fayth, in the room with me, out of nowhere. She said there was another way, if I chose to take it, but that it involved great trials, and if we failed, great loss, but if we succeeded, our hearts' desire."
"We?"
"Yes, I'm afraid so. Sorry." She was abashed at putting him through this without his knowledge, but there had been no other way.
"Tell me the rest."
"She said that we had set the parameters for your part of the trial ourselves. I offered you your freedom, and you refused to take it. You gave me your word. The trial was, therefore, that someone would tempt you to break your word. It was Lulu, wasn't it, a little over three weeks ago?"
His embarrassed silence was all the answer she needed, but eventually he said, "How did you know?"
"Yuna is in love with Tidus. Rikku was surprised, but happy to meet me. Lulu wasn't happy at all. You were too embarrassed to introduce us. I know about the timing because of my part of the trial." She swallowed, hard. This wouldn't be easy.
"I needed to ride Sin from Zanarkand to Spira, but the fayth couldn't just knock at the front door, so to speak, the way you did. They had to sneak me in the back door. The fayths of Zanarkand, the fayths of the aeons, Sin, and Yevon are all related somehow, because she said this 'other way' of hers would work. All I had to do was take my pack and go up to the roof of the building. She would be waiting for me up there. I could think about everything while I went up. She would throw me into Sin from the top of the building."
"There's more, isn't there?"
"When I agreed, she told me to close my eyes. As soon as I did, she embraced me, her touch was like ice, and then she kicked off from the top of the building. She was much stronger than a normal woman, and she suddenly seemed to be holding me with more appendages than just two arms. She propelled us farther than should have been possible from that one kick. She had warned me that when I pierced Sin's watery shell, I would die. If I could hold my spirit intact through the maelstrom, the fayth said that I could ride Sin back to Spira, and that they would pull me out when you passed your trial, and land me in Spira ahead of you. Then, all I would have to do was survive in human form until we found each other. For almost three months I rode Sin in the belly of a beast. A coeurl. I saw once, through its eyes, its reflection in the Sea of Sorrows. It had turned black, with crimson whiskers. Then I found myself here."
His face was white in the moonlight. She was frightened now, afraid he would reject her, but it was too late to turn back, or to leave the story unfinished.
"Auron, I thought it was the only sure way. I believed in your word a great deal more than I believed I could reach your Farplane on my own. I took the other way that she offered me. Love, I am like you now. I am an unsent."
Anger, fear, awe roiled through him simultaneously. He clasped her tightly in his arms, mostly to keep himself from shaking her until her teeth rattled. If either of them had failed, her spirit would have been lost.
"Why did the fayth do this for you?" he finally asked.
He could be so infuriating! Couldn't he see? As she looked into his face her expression held both affection, and exasperation, as she said, "Love, they didn't do this for me. They did it for you."
End Chapter fifteen