In Her Eyes

by parry

Sir Auron has always been quiet and kept his true emotions inside, wrapped up in his deep red coat. However, when his coat is tossed aside and he finally admits to caring about a certain young Al Bhed girl perhaps to much, will she meet his eyes?

13. For You, Jecht

Ta-da!!! Chapter 13! Maybe I'll reach 100 reviews!!!!! XD Hope you guys like! Sorry, no Auron sexiness. But I seriously will consider making him take that Bevellian armor off in the next chapter!! . Just for all the Auron lovers out there!!! Yep! I can see it now! Auron sitting in the desert...topless....:P Okies, here's the next chapter: MAJOR Aurikku fluff in Chapter 14, promise. There's LOAD of fluff to come.

FOR YOU, JECHT – Chapter 13

An eerie silence had fallen over us. Each and every face solemn and grim, not a smile, or a hint of a genuine laugh in sight. But I couldn't help think... Since when was anyone smiling? Since when was a journey to one's death...supposed to be happy? I found myself isolated from the others once more, stuck brooding and thinking to myself as I contemplated the recent turn of events. The Guado chasing us out of the temple, Tromell smashing his own Lord Jyscal's plea in his hands, and the ice breaking. Sending us into the depths below the Temple of Macalania. Why am I doing this? There were so many things I had planned to do...but this wasn't one of them. I never intended to lead my friend and Lord to his death...and I certainly didn't plan to lead his daughter...

It was so simple...

All I had planned was to stay in Zanarkand—the dream world—the city that never slept. A place where nothing was real. A place that was very...safe. This life...in Spira... It was the child. That child who claimed to be a part of the Fayth who claimed my dreams, telling me what to do. That little child guided me to Luca, to Yuna and Tidus. It was funny to see that Tidus and Yuna were traveling together. How ironic. I could only assume it had been Jecht's plan...

I frowned and touched my brow briefly before leaned back upon the stony wall, my eyes closing as I let myself sink down to the floor. I let my sword slip from my hand as dexterously let my fingers undo the strap that held my sake jug firmly by my hip. Was this what I was resorting to? I reminded myself of a pure drunk, washing away all of my problems with yet another tainted world...

"Auron, now what do you think you're doing?"

"You are dead, Braska." I whispered hoarsely, "Why do I dream of seeing you?" I didn't bother looking up, but I did drop the jug and sat almost lifeless.

"Look at you, Auron," My Lord said, ignoring my comment completely. "You know, if Jecht saw you, he would definitely bring up the shoopuf incident."

"I don't drink often," I said through gritted teeth.

There was a pause of silence, until I was almost sure I was speaking to nothing, talking to myself. I looked up, however, and saw Lady Yuna's father standing over me, a look concern and yet a hint of amusement in his eyes.

"What is troubling you, Auron?" He kneeled before me, his hands propped up on his knees.

"I am leading your daughter to her death, My Lord." I whispered hoarsely.

"I feel..." Lord Braska said quietly, "that her story...will have a happier ending then my own."

I blinked, "Happier?"

When I looked up to see him, however, Lord Braska was gone. I stood up and frowned slightly, and focused my attention on the Hymn of the Fayth that could be heard in the distant background. I tried desperately to understand what my Lord meant by a "happier" ending, but my heart couldn't hope. I couldn't afford to be crushed once more...

I sighed and brushed the hair out of my face. My Lord had never proved me wrong, and I had no reason to doubt him now. But this story...it was tearing me apart. Especially with this little side-quest with Rikku...

The Hymn was slowly being recited in the background, which soothed me somewhat. I furrowed my brows and pushed myself up, gripping my sword for support.

"Auron?"

I glanced up, meeting the gaze of the son of Jecht, his gaze somewhat questioning. I frowned and beckoned him closer, however wary I was of his pestering. He was going to want to ask about Seymour, I was almost sure of it. His face showed signs of curiosity, and I was nothing but reluctant to speak with him at the moment, to say the truth...

I had watched him nonchalantly; I had noticed how he babbled incoherently with Rikku and Kimahri, often motioning towards Lulu, a smirk on his lips. I didn't strain myself to hear their conversation, however. I was all but alert...and I was just tired at that moment...

"Auron, Yuna is awake, and I think it would be best if you...er, were there..."

I nodded and promptly stepped towards Tidus, who generously led me to the others, who had taken it upon themselves to crowd into a small group, the Lady Summoner in the center.

Yuna caught my eye briefly, and I nodded, ushering her to begin. The girl hesitantly took a deep breath, and murmured faintly, "I wanted to confront Maester Seymour about his father—"

More babbling. I didn't want to pay attention. My mind was straying. Perhaps I was growing old, Yevon knows. I wanted to chuckle and let out a small portion of me, just to get it out into the open. However, Yuna continued, and was suddenly interrupted by Lulu.

"In exchange for marriage?"

The Summoner only nodded silently, her eyes grim and heavy.

"And what did Seymour say?"

"He said...nothing..." Yuna whispered.

I suppose being silent wasn't what I wanted to do at the moment. I felt that if I didn't stop this pointless conversation, I would've exploded. There was no point in Yuna explaining this. If it was her decision to confront Seymour and he had nothing to say, then so be it. We killed him. We killed a Maester of Yevon, and at that moment, I didn't think I wanted to even dwell in my thoughts. I didn't want to think about it. I was tired of regretting. I was tired of remembering. Damn tired.

"Enough." I said quickly, interjecting anyone's further input. "Dwelling in the past is futile."

I said it harsh, and I meant it harsh. Tidus frowned and bit his lip, Kimahri stiffened, and the Summoner nodded quietly, though she did seem a bit disappointed. Young people had nothing better to do than think, and thinking only made the heart grow softer...

Rikku, I think, seemed upset at my comment. Not that I was surprised. I really didn't care anymore. I just wanted to leave. I had spent a lot of time since the battle with Maester Seymour considering his words. What if I had allowed him to send me? Wouldn't it just be so easy...to die?

"Hey!" Rikku said, a slight whine in her voice, "You didn't have to say it like that!"

I snorted. "You want to waste time listening to her regrets?"

I had my own regrets to think about, let alone a little girl's...

Rikku stared at me for a moment, a little taken aback at my tone of voice. Something that evening did overcome me, however I wasn't too concerned with it. I was in a foul mood then, and it showed no signs of letting up any time soon. She sighed and turned to Yuna, her arms hung limply at her side in defeat as she whispered under her breath, "You didn't have to say it like that..."

"Our immediate concern is Yuna's pilgrimage." I said quickly, stepping towards the young Summoner. Yes, cut to the chase. Are we going to continue or not? How will this affect your journey? Not you, as a person, but your journey? If Jecht were there... I would have never heard the end of it. "Are you willing to go on?"

Yuna paused, her hands clasped together as she fingered the hem of her dress nervously. The dress that had been made by that woman Braska knew in Luca while Jecht and I sparred in a friendly match. His sword against mine. It was I who taught him how to hold the sword correctly, however Jecht had learned to use it well. He had that wild and outrageous streak in him, an animalistic fire inside that blazed wildly in battle, almost like himself when drinking. Anytime Braska was in trouble, Jecht would jump up and seize the opportunity, slashing incoherently at anything that moved. That one morning...involving the shoopuf...

"Yes," Yuna said, her voice slamming me back into the scene that lay before my eyes. "But...do you think Yevon would allow it?"

I grunted. "The Fayth are the ones that give power to the Summoners..." I muttered. It was true. Never was Braska welcomed by Temple priests. Nor was Jecht's outrageous behavior. Braska, having married an Al Bhed, was always scorned by Yevon, and our journey was harsh, very cruel. But we kept our heads up and moved on, proving to Yevon that love for an Al Bhed did not scar the pilgrimage at all. "The Fayth—not the temples or the teachings—give Summoners the power of the aeons. If the temples try to stop us...we will defy Yevon, if we must..."

Everyone gasped, not to my surprise. Tidus laughed a little, impressed, it seemed. Rikku gasped and let her hands come up to her mouth, and Lulu blinked at me blankly, searching my face for any sign of remorse. Wakka, however, amused me.

"Count me out. We have to atone, to make up for the sins we have committed."

I chuckled lightly. He sounded like myself...ten-years-ago. Never would I have chosen to assist in the death of a Maester. Never would I have defied Yevon. But I suppose...the truth, along with the influence of Jecht, changed me somewhat. It wasn't my age that made me wiser, nor was it the fact that I was dead. It was the fact that I had done this before. The fact that I knew what was coming.

Lulu nodded with Wakka in agreement, "Yes, but still, we have transgressed and must face our punishment..."

"Yuna?" I whispered.

She frowned and paused thoughtfully, glancing at Kimahri for advice. He met my eye, and immediately nodded.

"To Bevelle, Kimahri say. Kimahri say we speak with Maester Mika and Ronso."

"Alright..." Yuna said wearily, "We will go to Bevelle, if that is alright?"

"I agree." Wakka said loudly, a hint of warning in his voice.

Yuna turned to me, her eyes pleading and shining, "Please, Sir Auron..."

"So it is decided." I muttered.

"So you will come with us?"

I chuckled, my hand twitching from where it hung limply in my coat. "I am the trouble maker, after all." My eyes were glued onto the ground as I mumbled that, and they continued to babble incoherently, seemingly meaningless chatter to me. I heard Tidus laugh and say something along the lines of me complicating things, but then I heard Rikku say something. I looked up, and saw her imitating Kimahri and heard her say my name.

Though I barely bothered to hear what they were talking about, I snorted loudly, silencing them immediately. "I never asked you to follow me."

NEXT SCENE...

I had once again retreated to the back, where I sat, slumped over a fallen ruin, staring up at the temple in awe, almost, with my jug settled over my lap. I glanced at it for a moment, then let my fingers curl around the handle and took a drink, then raised it up to nothing. Celebrating nothing.

"To you, Jecht," I said hoarsely, "This one's for you."

The Hymn of the Fayth pounded in my ears, the song scrubbed into my mind. Absentmindedly, I hummed the Hymn, but I knew it only soothed the faithful. I chuckled as I thought to myself, Was I a faithful believer in Yevon's teachings?

It was then that I heard Jecht's voice in my mind, laughing. Hell, no, Auron. I don't think you ever were. You were a warrior-monk, right? Well, I still don't think you ever agreed whole-heartedly on anything Yevon had to say.

I laughed. "This one's for you, Jecht."

That was right before I heard Lulu shout, "The toxin! Watch out!"

Now that I recall that day, I must've been one hell of a drunk to have not seen you, Jecht. Hmph...I was probably drunker than you the day you attacked that shoopuf.

NEXT SCENE...

My head was spinning when I regained consciousness. Barely was I able to make out that vague feeling around my body. The intense heat...the scratchy feel of...

Sand... I was covered in sand! In my hair, inside my coat, sand was everywhere...

I was lying face down in the damned rocks. I turned my cheek to the side, letting my muscles in my neck give way to the heavy burden of my own head. It felt as though I had neglected the use of my body for centuries and I was just beginning to take note of my surroundings. I shifted my legs slightly, and realized my new glasses were gone and my sword once again out of place. I groaned and slowly brought one hand down upon the ground and, with great effort, pushed myself up. I stumbled back a couple steps before fully regaining my senses; however the sun hit my good eye immediately, the feel of heated metal upon my cheek. I gasped out and shielded my eyes, glancing around frantically for my sword.

I'll be damned if you are at fault for the loss of my new sword, Jecht...

Thankfully, the blade wasn't too far off and I had caught sight of it soon enough. I scrambled for the sword, reaching out for it, when suddenly, I heard a small chuckle.

"I'm not a fiend, Sir Auron."

"Lulu." I breathed, straightening myself out and turning to face her with my sword in hand. "Where is the Summoner?"

"Truly, you are a Gaurdian." Lulu said quietly, smoothing out the edge of her dress.

"Where is the boy? Tidus?"

"I don't know, Sir Auron," Lulu answered dully, "All I fear we can do is pray they are somewhere nearby,"

I snorted. "That boy couldn't kill a fiend alone if his life depended on it."

"What do you propose we do, then?"

"We search." I replied, hoisting my sword over my shoulder and stepping off. However, all that was around me was sand. Desert, sand, mountainous deserts of sand...

I had never encountered such a place, even in my travels with Braska.

I thought numbly of Tidus. Images of the boy wandering aimlessly in the desert plagued my vision. I thought of Yuna, the little girl I once knew in Besaid clinging to my pantleg, begging for me not to leave her. I thought of her now, alone in the scorching sands, longing for company. I humored myself with the vision of Kimahri, the strong and bold Ronso accustomed to the cold winds of Mt. Gagazet, pushing his way through the desert.

I thought of everyone, alone...and how horrible it was that I couldn't be there to help them.

I guess Braska was right. I had always been a man who gave his services as a warrior to others for no benefit. My Lord always told me I was unselfish type, the kind that would save your life and be gone the next moment. He always said I became bored easily, and I needed travel.

Now that I think about it, he had been right...

"Where do you think we could be?" Lulu asked, quickly moving beside me.

"I don't know."

"You would think you would know where we are, being that you have been everywhere, according to Tidus." Lulu said mischievously.

I blinked and came to a halt, my heels clicking together. I turned to face Lulu, a look of caution on my face. "What did Tidus tell you about me?"

Lulu continued walking as she spoke, forcing me to keep up with her. Damn women.... "That you were a man with little needs. That you aren't very social—which doesn't take Tidus' approval to note, if I may say—and that you have been nearly everywhere, including his Zanarkand."

I cursed quietly under my breath. No one needed to know...

"And," Lulu said slowly, "I must say, I believe him. I believe he comes from another Zanarkand. I believe the stories he tells me, and I believe that Sin attacked his home."

I glanced at her for a hot second and then turned my head back down, my eyes glued to the sand. "Why?"

"Because he hides nothing in his eyes. He has no reason to lie." Lulu stated.

"He was always like his father..." I said quietly. "He was just like Jecht..."

"He also told me," Lulu said quickly, interjecting me, "that you were a great father figure."

I stopped now, staring at Lulu long and hard. "A great father figure?"

Lulu smiled and nodded. "He speaks with me at night, telling me of stories of his blitzball and his Zanarkand. He told me how you have been living with him for almost ten years, and how you took care of him and his mother."

"I wasn't his father." I muttered. "I was never Jecht."

"Somebody! Help!"

Lulu and I both exchanged glances and bolted forward, heading for the voice—which sounded ironically like Tidus.

It turned out the boy was being attacked by an air fiend. In other words, a fiend he would not win against. The boy had been struggling desperately to hold onto the fiend's claw. The fiend was thrashing around, swinging his leg around wildly in a feeble attempt to get the boy off it. Lulu and I couldn't help but chuckle and shake our heads in disbelief when we saw what young Tidus had gotten himself into. Immediately, Lulu cast a small thunder spell upon the fiend, freeing it from Tidus, but also shocking it in the progress.

The boy hit the ground with a dull thud and groaned, shifting slightly onto his back.

"Need some help?" I said gruffly as I lifted my sword over my head and threw it at the fiend. The creature let out a horribly squelch as the sword penetrated it's stomach area, causing the bird to fall to the ground. "I need my sword back!" I shouted.

Lulu nodded, "When you get the chance, move!"

The stoic, black mage cast darkness upon the fiend, causing him to lash out all around him. I looked up at the bird and frowned. "That's not going to do any good."

"Hey, I know some magic, too!" Tidus protested. He lifted his hand and smiled triumphantly as he yelled out, "Slowga!"

The bird stopped momentarily and then began to move in an extremely slow pace, allowing me to run up to the creature and grasp the hilt of my sword. The fiend immediately knew where I was and began crying out in pain as I took one deep breath and pulled with all my might, the sound of the sword slipping out of it's belly.

Tidus moaned in disgust as Lulu cast Firaga, scorching the thing until it finally collapsed in a heap of fried feathers and flesh. It was still jerking around, until finally, I cried out and slammed the sharp end of my sword on its neck, ending the battle immediately.

It was a quick and yet skillful match, however it proved worthy of a battle. Tidus only blinked blankly when he saw the bird-fiend upon the ground, its tongue lying out of the corner of its mouth in a most grotesque manner.

I chuckled and lightly slapped Tidus' back, congratulating him.

"It seems he was no match for you, my friend." I said mockingly, ruffling the boy's hair.

Tidus only frowned and pulled away, dusting himself off. "I had it under control," He protested.

"Jecht liked to say that,"

"I'm not Jecht!"

Lulu blinked and stared at me, her eyebrows rising.

"No." I said quickly, "No, you're not. You're name is Tidus. Star player of the Zanarkand Abes."

NEXT SCENE...

The first night in the desert was sardonic. Amazingly enough, the temperature had dropped drastically, forcing us all to huddle together. Lulu had so happily obliged to casting fire upon various sticks and the occasional desert flower, however her efforts were in vain. We were forced to sleep without fire, without food. The night was long, and I didn't know how long I'd be able to bear it...

The first to fall asleep was Tidus, thanks to my coat. I had willingly offered him the coat, and he hesitantly accepted it, wrapping it around his frame. He fell to his side gradually, his knees curled up to his chest in an effort to keep warm. Lulu sat beside him, gently stroking her moogle, who had been thoroughly upset that he had nothing to flame.

"I'm afraid..." Lulu started, her eyes glued to the fire, "for Yuna..."

I shifted slightly, but otherwise didn't whisper a word. I only closed my eyes briefly and traced the creases along my forehead, my frown deepening.

"I've known her...most my life."

"You were the child that accidentally set Kimahri's tail on fire." I laughed softly. "I remember you. And Wakka, as well."

Lulu smiled and blushed. "Yes. We were only kids then. And Yuna. She was so...quiet."

"She had a right to be." I said rather harshly. "Having lost her father. With no family to care for her."

Lulu shifted slightly as her moogle bounced towards Tidus, curling up beside the boy. Perhaps for warmth.

"I only stayed for two weeks." I muttered, "But I trusted Wakka and yourself would take care of her, as well as the Ronso."

"Chappu...he was the only one who wasn't afraid of Kimahri at first." Lulu laughed a little, her eyes shining as she recalled her days on Besaid. But when I turned my head to the side to catch a glimpse of her, she had tears in her eyes. "And, you too, Sir Auron... We were all so afraid of you. The mysterious man from Bevelle, they called you..."

More fictitious laughs. An image I hated to witness.

"Chappu." I said quietly, testing his name. "He was the boy who looked like Tidus?"

Lulu laughed and sniffed slightly. "Yes..."

"Wakka's brother and your lover." I whispered.

Lulu quickly turned her face towards mine, astonished at what I just said.

"He loves you." I said quietly, tossing a stray pebble out into the darkness.

"Yes..." Lulu murmured. "Yes...Chappu did. I hope...wherever he is...he still does."

"No." I said quickly. "I meant Wakka."

NEXT SCENE...

Lulu never spoke of the conversation of Wakka and Chappu since it had occurred, and yet it didn't bother me. She and I were comfortable around each other, however. It wasn't like we had avoided each other in the morning. We merely avoided the topic.

The next morning was silent, save for the occasional witty remark on account of Tidus. The boy was notorious for his humorous comments whenever he was grumpy. I had known him for nearly ten years, and I knew him all to well. It seemed in the desert, fiends were common and we were constantly kept on our toes, forcing us to move as quickly as possible and avoid anything we could. Over the course of the next few hours of our lovely wander in the desert, Lulu's moogle had stubbornly refused to respond to any spell the mage had ordered it to perform. Instead, the thing merely trotted around the fiends, attacking physically and whatever else it felt like doing.

I had demanded that we destroy it, but Lulu claimed that it was just being overused.

"So. What do you think we should do with it until then?" Tidus asked, settling his hands on his hips. All three of us were standing in a small circle, watching the moogle slowly dance around before us.

"Kill it." I said darkly, gesturing to my sword.

Lulu frowned, "Sir Auron, I think that is not a wise decision."

"Then what do you propose we do?" I said quietly, "The moogle does nothing but attack physically. And occasionally, it helps the fiend."

"And occasionally, it serves us willingly." Lulu added. I only frowned and shook my head in disapproval.

"Lulu, that thing cannot be allowed it battle."

"Where am I to find a new moogle?"

"Some other time, perhaps." I said quietly, "Until then, Tidus and I will handle all fiends. We must continue to search for Lady Yuna and the others."

"Hey, Auron?" Tidus asked, tilting his head to the side. "Do you think...my old man might've dumped all the others in other places...all around Spira? Like...maybe he brought Yuna back to Besaid?"

I snorted. "I highly doubt that. Jecht has plans for us. He will not let us out of this journey so easily. Something tells me that this is all according to his plan."

Yevon forbid...Jecht had a plan. Perhaps he wanted us to set him free. Perhaps...he was waiting for Tidus to become the next Sin? Many questions were arising, but for now, I needed to focus on the current disaster...

Lulu walked swiftly and quietly ahead of Tidus and I after that, keeping her still struggling moogle in her arms. She was determined to keep it, but just as determined as she, I was bent on seeing that useless thing go. It was doing nothing in our favor, and was helping the fiends that ambushed us. In our frequent battles, Tidus and I found ourselves swinging at Lulu's moogle instead of the desert fiends. It had gotten so out of control, that Tidus threatened to go off on his own and find Yuna by himself.

"Don't be a fool," I said quickly, "You couldn't kill a fiend without me."

"I could, too!" Tidus protested.

"GET DOWN!"

I had seen the spear flying through the air first, and immediately shoved Tidus upon the ground. Lulu let out a shriek and threw her hands over her moogle, which amazingly enough, enveloped us in a white magic sphere of protection. Thinking quickly, I brought my sword upon the spear, splitting it in half. It flew little distance after that, striking the sand clumsily. I was breathing heavily, still in the same offensive position as Tidus slowly stood up, impressed at the sphere Lulu's moogle had so kindly created.

Lulu frowned and straightened her dress as she slowly walked towards the broken spear, examining it, no doubt.

"Sir Auron!" She called me quickly with the spear in hand, "This is not a weapon of any ordinary fiend!"

Tidus laughed loudly, "Hey!! That's Kimahri's sphere!"

"The Ronso is nearby?" I said quietly, turning my head the direction that the sphere had come out of.

"Kimahri probably didn't see us because we were so far away." I muttered, "He couldn't have attacked us purposely."

Tidus only sighed. "He was being overcautious, as always,"

I nodded. Yes, that must've been it.

"Yuna and the others could be here, too." Lulu pointed out, "Perhaps Wakka has found Rikku already,"

"Rikku..." I said quietly. I hadn't even thought of the girl.