1real Emotion
Chapter 4: Hard Drinkin'
Amanda: Oh dear lord, I've returned.
Auron: It's about damn time.
Amanda: stuffs a dirty sock in Auron's mouth Can it, you.
Beserkliegerzerobluestrea: Arrogant? Auron? Never! LMAO Seriously, you try keeping that tight ass in character. 99 He's such a pain. Glad you like the story.
Jenna: As requested, another chapter. :)
Dragon Of The Midnight Moon: I impressed someone?? squeals Will do. I'll try to pump these chapters out as fast as I humanly can.
ialaraB: I agree. Auron and Nooj would be good buddies. I hope you realize you've given me inspiration. XD Potato-headed. LMAO That's great. I laughed for a while at that.
christine: Why the tears? Thank you so much.
Kat: Thanks! I'll update as often as I can.
Gryphon Tears: Ah, you called it my work. swoons Thank you.
Lianna/Firiku: I'm glad you're writing something!!! I'll have to stop by and check it out. Yay for authorness.
To everyone else, I'll get to your reviews next chapter. I'm sorry it's taken so long to get this up, but life is crazy. XD
Oh, I'd also like to pimp my new story...An AU for this AU...What would have happened if Seymour had gotten to Ophelia first? It's in the FFX section, in the PG-13 stories. Just click my username, and go to the story Nothing But A Need and review, review, review. XD
Okay, now if you know me, you know by now that I like cliffhangers. Hee hee. Onto the chapter.
"Ding ding ding! Let's see what she's one!"
"Is she feeling alright?" Lulu shot a glance at Auron, who shrugged.
"I have no idea. But my best guess would be no." Auron frowned. "Maybe I should take her back to the airship. I don't think keeping her here in the village is a good idea."
Yuna looked like she wanted to object, but Paine spoke up. "I agree. It's obvious being here has been a bad experience. Do you need any help?"
Auron shook his head, and leaned down, whispering something to Ophelia. She nodded, and he helped her stand, and her knees nearly gave out underneath her. Auron swung her up into his arms and left the tent without another word.
When they were gone, Yuna shot a scowl at Paine. "She should have stayed. We need to figure out what we're going to do."
"She's in no shape to do much of anything. I know she's your sister, but you have to be more understanding. Besides, I think she and Auron would like a little time alone together, don't you?"
"But-"
"They both need lovin', if you ask me," Rikku piped up. The others grimaced. "What? Tell me you knew they were doing it before all of the crazy stuff happened."
"No," Yuna said, "I didn't, and I would have preferred to keep it that way!"
Rikku rolled her eyes and fell silent, finally getting up and leaving the tent.
Auron was the only Gullwing to have his own room, which was smart of the others. After all, they knew how much he valued his "alone time". In truth, he could have cared less, but that's the way they seemed to want it. Part of him wondered if it was the fact that, for most of the time he knew them, he was an unsent, and that they still worried he might become a fiend, even though he was now fully alive.
Auron nudged the door open with a boot, twisting as he entered the room, both so that he could keep Ophelia from knocking about in the door frame, and Brother from trying to paw her. He kicked the door shut in Brother's face, and sat Ophelia on the bed, frowning at her faraway expression.
"Are you going to be alright?" She nodded, but it was obvious from the frown he still wore that he did not believe her. "Don't tell Yuna, alright? She'd kill me, but you look like you need it." He bent and dug under the bed, grunting in satisfaction when he apparently found what he was looking for. He stood and held out a very familiar site to her, and she took the tokkuri and pulled out the cork, chugging like there was no tomorrow. Auron felt his good eye widen in surprise as she sat it back down, empty, and recorked it without so much as a grimace. Either she was that fazed by what had happened, or the little summoner could really hold her liquor.
"Hmm."
Ophelia shook her head, as though clearing a thought. "What?"
"You just drank the whole jug."
She laughed hard. "That stuff isn't as strong as you think it is. But thanks, I do feel better."
"Want to talk about it?" He sat in the chair across from the bed, giving her that stare that had always seemed to go right through her.
"I'm not sure. This has got to be the weirdest thing to ever happen to me...Well, with the exception of ending up in Spira in the first place." He continued to stare, and she frowned. "What?"
"You cut your hair."
"So did you, you know." She sent him a look that said 'that's completely off subject, moron'. "You know, if some of the fayth are still around, how come Tidus isn't here? I would think, with some fayth still dreaming, he'd have a hold on life."
"That's something I can't answer." Auron's mouth tightened, and Ophelia realized that that was also a touchy subject, much the same way she had been. Too damn bad. The Gullwings had given Auron his way long enough. He'd really turned into a big baby in the past two years. And she realized that it was up to her to shake him out of it.
"Look, I know everyone's been hush hush about it, but it's time it was openly talked about." Auron's mouth tightened further, and the old Ophelia would have shut up then. "Tidus is alive and out there somewhere. Tidus will be alive as long as I am. Some fayth still dream."
"You don't know what you're talking about." Auron's voice had gained a waspish tone, but Ophelia purposely ignored it.
"I know better than you think I do. You're not a fayth, I am. Tidus is out there, Auron. And, if I'm the only one who feels like looking for him, so be it." She stood and started to walk away, but Auron hauled her back into a sitting postition on the bed.
"Rikku's right, you know. You really are a grump." He shot her a murderous look, but she ignored it. "For once, trust my instincts instead of yours."
"I've done just fine trusting my own."
"Right. And that's why you were dead for ten years."
Their gazes clashed, daggers thrown from both to the other. Ophelia felt a little pleased in a perverse way when he looked away first.
"So, what do we do?"
"I gotta think on it. Talk to the fayths. If anyone knows what's up, it's them."
Auron nodded. "I have a question. Have you not tried to summon since you've been gone?"
Ophelia shook her head. "Nah, when I got back home, I finally beat the game, so I figured I didn't have aeons to summon."
"That's how you knew about Tidus."
"Um hmm." Ophelia yawned deeply, and glanced out the window. "Dear me, it's gotten late. Alright, show me where to sleep, and I'm there. It's been quite a day."
Auron didn't say anything for a few seconds, then cleared his throat. "To be quite honest, I have no idea. There's really not any room."
Ophelia facevaulted a moment, but quickly regained her composure. "Hmm. Okay..." She mumbled under her breath a moment. "Think one of the Aurochs would mind if I kicked them out of a bed?"
Auron's mouth flattened. "You're not going to be sleeping there."
Ophelia scowled. "I can sleep there if I want. Last time I checked, you aren't my father. And I don't think we're on 'sharing the bed' terms just yet."