Joker
Rikku
Author's Note: Okay, I'm breaking both rules, here - this is neither romance, nor X-2. But since these drabbles will be both from X and X-2, I thought I'd post it under X-2 since that way I won't spoil for anyone who is still on X. I don't want to post a hundred drabbles separately as it will just crowd my profile. I would appreciate it greatly if no one reported me for this small infraction!
"Who-hoa, is that thing edible?"
Rikku grinned unapologetically at the look Auron shot her – are-you-really-that-stupid? – and shrugged. "Hey, just askin'," she said before darting in to snatch a Star Curtain from the enormous violet blob.
"Don't bother attacking yet," Auron called to Tidus as what was left of his magic soaked into his sword. "I'm going to break its armor first."
Rikku mugged the Dark Flan the moment its armor was gone, but did barely half the damage Tidus inflicted just a moment later. She did acquire a Turbo-Ether, though, and they had their uses.
"Shiny," she said with a tone of false wonder to her voice as she squinted at the bottle. Turbo-Ethers always looked like liquid glitter – they sparkled so brightly they sometimes left light-spots in your eyes. Auron snorted derisively as her childish tone, but Yuna smiled, Wakka and Tidus chuckled, and even Lulu's mouth twitched a little.
Zanarkand was just around the corner, and it was in all their minds. But Rikku was determined to push it away as much as she possibly could.
"Man, that thing didn't go down easy," Wakka panted, wiping his forehead, when the Dark Flan had at last melted away into pyreflies.
"It'll do ya good to break a sweat," Rikku teased, winking at him. "You're getting chubby." She poked his stomach as if to prove her point – admittedly, she hit nothing but hard muscle.
Wakka gave an indignant "Hey!" and Yuna laughed once more.
Rikku knew her role in the group. Sure, she could steal and mix, but that did little good compared to Auron's mighty sword and Lulu's powerful magics. They might call her a thief, but she knew her job, plain and simple - she kept them sane.
And honestly, she sometimes wondered how they'd survived before she'd come along.