Chapter 2: The Contract.
The sun was beginning to duck behind the mountains in the distance, a barley detectable color of orange already foreshadowing the coming of the night. Tidus dragged the old man behind the cabin and buried him next to an old well that a lone vulture sat atop, watching him quietly while he dug up the hard, dry earth and tossed it into the air behind him. Even when he went to the well himself to fill a bucket for Cid, the bird never moved, black eyes still scrutinizing him.
On his way back to the restless horse he poked his head inside the cabin window, and the family of mutilated, naked corpses and that awful stench of death had been enough to make him stumble backwards a little ways, water sloshing out of the bucket in his hands. Only then did the vulture fly away, shattering the silence with the beat of his dark wings and shrill, foul call. Tidus caught his breath and coughed into his sleeve.
That better've been the whiskey, because I don't need you goin' soft on me, now.
The taste of vomit still hung on his lips, and for a moment he put the bucket down and drank graciously from his canteen, dipping his head back so he could let the water spill over his hot, scarred face, and when he was finished he didn't bother wiping his arm on his sleeve but just let it dry slowly, savoring it's slight chill. He closed his eyes and repeated the image of the man's head blowing off in his mind about six times, until he was positive of immunity to it. Coughing, he began to walk again. He could usually make it from Besaid to Luca in a day's journey, if he rode fast.
No reason at all to waste time.
Back at the front of the cabin he came across a dog, sitting silently the house. His fur was a light brown and a lot frizzier than most dogs Tidus had seen. He was a creature of about seventy pounds, innocent looking despite his size. Tidus knelt slowly and reached out towards the animal, letting his fingertips brush against a wet black nose.
"You alright there, boy?"
The dog looked at him for a moment with uncertainty. He tilted his head to one side, and then once again turned his eyes to the ground. Tidus looked him over and saw that for some reason, the creature hadn't been injured.
"I ain't gonna hurt you."
Tidus reached his hand out a bit further and touched the dogs head, scratching it a little before easing his whole self closer, so that he could pet the creature down his back. The dog gave Tidus' hand a little lick when he pulled it away, taking off some of the sand and creating a tongue shaped portion of a different color. Tidus reached into his sack and withdrew a biscuit which he set at the ground in front of the animal, a smile tugging at his lips as he watched the dog suddenly jump to his feet in fascination. He watched it prod the white oval with his paws before lowering his head and eating it, and after the mutt had finished he let it drink from the bucket, and got up to leave.
He rode on with the colored sun setting beside him like an ominous ticking clock, a painful reminder that the night was on its way and that there was no time to loose. All the while, the wild man's words echoed in his head. "False prophet?" Tidus supposed any man of god to bring forth a slaughter like that would have to be. But men of god were as abundant as whores are in brothels, and the word of a bare-ass wild man wasn't a particularly favorable one.
When he got into Luca the sun was long gone and navigation was reliant on man-made light and the yells and laughs and passionate moans that filled the air like some wild choir in a church of the devil. Luca is likely the safest town around regularly; but in the night when all the bad people who hide from the day while the rich folk prowl come out and hit the bad places it comes alive in all the ways god doesn't want it to. Tidus didn't mind. It made no difference to him.
He led Cid into the stable behind Auron's house and he could already see the great giant eying him through the window, working a cloth with his hands. Tidus passed a gentle wave that wasn't returned and made his way back around to the front of the house where Auron was already waiting with the door open. He peered down on Tidus with that dark left eye of his, the other permanently shut tight due to a deep scar that ran over it.
"You're back already?" His tone was calm and firm as usual but his voice still boomed like thunder and the strange accent he was so well known for had Tidus staring at his boots within seconds.
"I'm lookin' for more work."
Auron hurried him in the door and gently shoved him into the kitchen. He directed his hand at one of the two chairs which were hosted by a thick oak table.
"Sit."
Tidus did as he was told, and he waited patiently until Auron did the same. He looked over the man before him with an honest admiration and respect that he never spoke of as it was plain clear in his eyes. Auron was the closest thing Tidus ever had to a father, and it was he who had raised him when Jehct died of tuberculosis. He owed Auron plenty, and their relationship was a silent, mutual understanding that both were undoubtedly proud of.
"How've you been keeping?" Auron asked.
"Pretty fine, I reckon."
"But you already need more money?"
"Yessir."
"What happened to the money you made last week?"
"I spent it."
"I know that. How did you spend it."
Tidus busied himself by coughing into his sleeve. Auron tilted his head.
"Are you okay?"
"Fine."
"So how did you spend your money?"
"I gave it to a friend of mine. To help her."
"Which friend?"
"Rikku."
"The whore?"
"That don't make no difference about anything."
"No?"
"No sir. We're friends. She takes care of me and she's a real nice girl."
"I see."
"What do you mean by that?"
"Just what I said."
"Okay."
Auron brought his hands to his face and massaged his brow for a moment before speaking again.
"Do you know Reverend Braska?"
"Up on the Bevelle ranch?"
"That's the one."
"Of course. He's mighty poperlar."
"Popular."
"Right, popular."
"He thinks he's got a couple bandits camped out there. Asked if I could send somebody to investigate."
"Why doesn't he go do it?"
"He has a family to defend and work to do."
"You don't got nothin' else for me?"
"Not at the moment, no."
Tidus sighed. He'd been hoping for something with a little more adventure.
"Well I guess I'll see to him." He stood and thanked Auron, who said nothing for a moment.
"And where are you going?" he asked.
"To get a room, I reckon."
Auron shook his head and gave a little smile, which was not in his nature.
"What?" Tidus asked.
"Come off it. Stay here tonight, we can eat breakfast tomorrow."
Inside, Tidus' heart gave a leap of victory. "Yessir. Thank you sir."
"You don't have to call me sir."
"I know. I like to."
"I've noticed."
Tidus smiled at Auron now, and nodded his head toward the stairs.
"Do you mind if I go to sleep now?"
"Not at all."
"Okay. Goodnight then."
"Goodnight, Tidus."