Author's Note: Writer's Block can be very quarrelsome...

Awake, Flames'R'Us

"Ahhhhhh!" A shrill scream ripped from the boy's lungs as sweat beads dotted his forehead. He tore away the navy blanket from his perspired skin and sat erect in his disheveled bed. He ran a hand through his blonde locks, his blue eyes darting about the room to make sure his twisted dream wasn't a reality.

He jumped when the wooden door before his bed slammed open and he saw a figure enter the room. The startled man was attired only in his white boxers, swinging a crowbar in his hand as he stomped towards Tidus' bed.

"Where is he?" He shouted, looking about the boy's room for any intruders. He swung open the closet door and riffled throughout his dirty laundry.

"There's no one in there!" Tidus shouted, observing his roommate searching diligently throughout his belongings.

Auron kissed his teeth in frustration and crossed his arms over his tough chest. "Then why did you scream? Do you realize that it is 2'o'clock in the morning, and that it is way too early for this nonsense?" He shouted.

"I know..." Tidus said, sighing. He fumbled with his thumbs, staring down at his hands. "But I had a really weird dream and I just woke up screaming for some odd reason."

Auron sighed sympathetically and sat down beside the blonde. He rested his hand on his shoulder and stared into his clear, blue orbs. "It's okay. And, I didn't mean to over-react this way. I used to have dreams like this too when I was your age."

Tidus furrowed his eyebrows in confusion and pouted at his older counterpart. "What are you talking about?" He asked.

"You know..." Auron said, cocking an eyebrow.

"Ewww!" Tidus shouted. He reached out for a pillow and slammed it against his head. "I was not having an erotic dream! As a matter of fact, it was quite disturbing and retarded."

Auron placed his improvised weapon on the boy's nightstand and crossed his burly arms. He pointed his index finger at him and said, "Just remember: Only scream when something bad happens. Such as..."

Tidus sighed in annoyment and recited, "Terrorist, Murders, Thieves, Perverts, Drug Addicts, or Accidents."

"Good, you remembered all of them this time." Auron smirked and affectingly ruffled the boy's hair. He rose to his feet, and reached out for the crowbar.

Tidus' cheeks blushed a soft tint of rouge when he finally realized that Auron was standing before him practically nude. He gazed over the man's muscular body in wonder, curious as to what he felt like with his clothes off. His blue eyes trailed over the taut ripples of his abdomen and the dark scars on his chest. He quickly turned his head away, his blonde hair fluttering softly. Tidus felt guilty for fantasizing about his mentor in such lecherous ways, especially when his presence was so near.

Auron headed towards the sole door in the room, when he suddenly felt the urge to further drill the boy on when it was most appropriate to scream. He turned around and asked, "If someone throws a grenade through your window, is it okay to scream?"

"Yes..." Tidus droned. He rested his cheek on his palm and rolled his eyes. He suddenly sat up in his bed and said, "But there was a pervert in my dream, does that count?"

Auron gazed blankly at him and retorted, "Scream as loud as you want, just as long as it's in your pathetic dreams."

Tidus cocked an eyebrow, surprised by the sudden shift in attitude. "But—"

Before he could even respond, the swordsman had already retreated and shut the door behind him.

"That was weird…" Tidus murmured, furrowing his eyebrows. Auron was behaving out-of-character but was actually being nice to the boy for a few moments.

Tidus groaned and fell back in his bed, crossing his arms beneath his head. He gazed up at the ceiling, pondering about the surreal dream he had experienced. He closed his eyelids and sighed, his body quickly dozing into a deep slumber…