Something landed on Felix's throbbing head. It smelled like stale flowers, alcohol, and sweat. He flung it in the general direction of the door. "The fuck you want?" He groaned. "You have any idea how goddamn early it is?" Sake always gives me the hangover from hell!

Yuna laughed. "Not as early as you think! We just docked in Besaid."

"Thank you so very much for the information." Felix rolled out of bed and pulled the blinds on the cabin window up. The sun glared into the otherwise darkened room, and Felix closed his eyes again. "Dammit," he growled. He turned to ask Yuna just why the hell she felt the need to get him up, and Felix burst into laughter as he realized why she was covering her eyes.

Apparently, he should wear something other than just boxers when around her.

"Sorry," Felix laughed, pulling on his pants.

"It's… okay. Are you… um… decent?"

"Yeah." He grabbed his belt from the floor and pulled his pistol from under his pillow. "What'd you hit me with?"

"Your vest. Lulu washed it." Yuna scratched her chin. "What are those pads in it for?"

"Armor." Felix took his vest from Yuna. "Thanks for washing it. You did take the armor out first, right?"

"Yes. It wouldn't fit in the wash with them in."

"Thanks for putting 'em back in, too."

"Must be fairly weak armor, if it's that thin."

"Stops bullets," Felix chuckled. "I know, I know, I didn't trust it at first either. Saved my ass a handful of times, so it works pretty goddamn good."

Yuna shrugged. "Do you remember where your hut is?"

"Up by the huge-ass church."

"The temple in the village, yes. That's where we're staying as well."

"Temporary lodging?"

She shook her head. "Wakka, Lulu, and I live in the village. You're more than welcome to stay there, as well."

Felix reached into his pants pocket and flipped Yuna one of his coins. "How much that coin worth?"

Yuna glanced at it. "A hundred Gil," she replied. "Why?"

"Keep it."

"I have eno-"

"It's my rent. I owe you for givin' me a pad."

"Pad?"

"Quarters."

"It's the village guest shelter," Yuna laughed. "You don't have to pay rent!"

Felix shrugged. "Keep it anyway. I ran up a helluva tab."

She giggled again. "I've never met anyone who could drink so much sake!" Yuna seemed to remember something painful again before changing the subject. "There's something I should warn you about."

"Shoot."

"In Spira… it's very… unusual for the High Summoner to be constantly around someone who isn't their guardian."

"Or someone like me."

"Or someone like you," she agreed. "So… I'd like to ask if… you'd be willing to be one of my guardians."

Felix rubbed his shoulder. "I'll let you know before tonight," he said. He wasn't about to talk business right after waking up – shit, he hadn't even had a smoke yet! "Tonight," Felix repeated. "Now how about some breakfast?"

He tossed his belt onto the unmade bed. "Home sweet home, I guess." Felix slipped his pistol from the holster and stuffed it into the back of his waistband. "His" tent remained exactly the same as when he left, right down to the cluttered shelves and a circular stain on the rug from where Felix's muddy gear sat. He tugged the blankets on his low bed into an arrangement that wouldn't have passed even the most liberal inspection. Felix tried not to give a shit about that after leaving the Army, but he still had to fight a quiet urge to neaten his room before the Cap-o came in and chewed some serious ass.

His own ass still had bite marks from violating Captain Garcia's OCD-driven neatness standards.

Felix exited his tent again. A brown dog tore past Felix, and he jumped to the side. A small boy hurried by in pursuit. Yuna stood at the entrance to the temple, talking with a hunchbacked old man in a green robe. The old man stared at Felix for a long time before shaking his head and shambling off.

"The hell was that about?" Felix asked as he jogged over to Yuna.

"It's nothing. So your quarters are… satisfactory?"

"Yuna, I've slept in much worse places."

"That's a yes?" She asked.

"Yeah. They're just fine." Felix leaned against a pillar of the temple. "So what's the plan for today?"

"I'd like to have a quiet evening at home. Sound good?"

"Sure." Felix placed the unlit cigarette in his mouth and turned to look for Lulu. "We'll talk about it over dinner." He sauntered back through the village, glancing into each tent to find the one person in the goddamn capable of striking a flame. Lulu sat on a small log next to Riko, the small boy busying himself with an assortment of brightly colored toys. "Hey, Lulu!"

She turned and smiled. "Hi, Felix. Need something?"

"Yeah, a light."

"Here," she said, taking the cigarette from Felix's hand. Lulu lit it as easily as before, but this time she extended a slender flame from her thumb.

"Shit," Felix said, aiming a cloud of smoke into the jungle away from Riko, "that still gets me."

"Not everyone can cast black magic," Lulu admitted, "but I've become rather skilled at it."

"Is that what I need to learn to light up? Magic?"

Lulu laughed. "I don't think you can learn it!"

Felix's face turned a dark red, and his eyes narrowed. "I'm not stupid."

"That's not what I meant," Lulu apologized, hurriedly. "I meant that only certain people have the natural gift to cast. If you aren't born with it…"

Felix grunted.

"I didn't mean to offend you."

"No, it's okay." Felix smiled down at Riko. "Hey little guy. Whatcha doin'?"

"I'm battling fiends! Wanna play?"

"Ooh, Yuna wants me to help her with something. Tell you what, though. I'll come and play with you some other time."

Riko grinned. "Okay!"

Felix straightened. "Lulu, can I talk to you for a moment?"

"Sure."

"Yuna wants me on security."

She frowned. "Did she ask you?"

"Yeah." He blew another cloud of smoke. "Thing is, I'm not sure she knows what the hell she's doing."

"Yuna's been through more than you know."

"With all respect, whatever it was wasn't enough." Felix crossed his arms. "She locked up under fire. Not something I'd expect from a girl who defeated something that could wipe out entire cities."

Lulu narrowed her eyes. "You are comparing two things that can't be compared."

"Apples and oranges?"

"Possibly." She looked over her shoulder at Riko before continuing. "You can't judge her based on your world's standards. She defied ancient teachings-"

"I've heard the story."

She put her hands on her hips. "You don't believe it, do you?"

"Let's just say I find the whole thing very improbable."

"I was one of her guardians."

Felix leaned forward. "So why the hell didn't you back me up?"

"I can cast magic on fiends," Lulu said, jabbing a finger into Felix's chest. "Or on Sinspawn. Do you know what it's like to watch a man-"

Felix grabbed her thin wrist. "Don't ever get physical with me unless you mean it," he warned. "And I've killed too many people for you to try and play the sympathy card here." He released his grip.

Lulu balled her fists and hissed. "I was scared, okay?"

Felix frowned. "Scared?"

"The children's area of the stadium is just across the way from the V.I.P boxes. I thought that-"

Felix shook his head. "I get it."

"Besides, I couldn't let Yuna see me do that. She's always looked to me as kind of an older sister. It's my job to look out for her. If she watched me kill someone, I don't know that she would trust me anymore."

"You implying she doesn't trust me?"

"I didn't mean anything other than what I said," Lulu scowled.

"In which case, you still didn't explain why Yuna froze. Or why you froze."

Lulu frowned. "She wasn't very involved in any combat during the pilgrimage. The other Guardians and I saw to it that she never had to fight anything directly."

"Yuna always lets someone else fight her battles?"

Lulu scowled. "That's not what I meant."

"I don't like being led in circles, which is what you're trying right now. It ain't gonna fuckin' work."

"I'm not doing anything other than trying to explain something that is very difficult to explain."

"You're doing one shitty-ass job of it," Felix said. "So Yuna can't fight, is that your point? That still doesn't explain why you didn't help me."

"Yuna grew up without parents. Wakka and I looked out for her, as did Kimahri Ronso."

"Heard about him. What's this got to do with-"

"I'm the closest thing to a mother Yuna's ever had. If her happiness matters to you at all, you'll not mention this conversation to her."

Felix sighed. "It doesn't. I'm not getting paid to be a shrink. Hell, I'm not getting paid at all. I won't say anything to Yuna, though. Not because you told me not to, or because it'll hurt her feelings, but because I still don't have a fucking clue what's going on. Getting an up-front answer here is like ordering a Whopper at McFilthy's," he spat. He knew Lulu wouldn't have any idea about McDonald's, or fast food in general, but that didn't matter. The point would get across.

"What?"

"Nevermind, goddammit. I'd just like an answer that doesn't come in riddle form for once."

"Would you like me to sound it out for you?"

"Would you like another stick shoved up your ass?" Felix leaned forward. "I'm sure I could arrange for that."

"You touch me, and you won't know what hit you."

"I'm sorry," Felix said, "didn't you just tell me that you can't cast magic on people?"

"I hate to, but you're twanging my last nerve right now."

"Want I should bust out a saw and speed things along?"

Lulu scowled. "You are, without a doubt, the biggest asshole I have ever had the misfortune to come across."

"Yeah? You and Tracy would get along great." Felix turned and began walking toward his tent. Some women need to learn when to shut the fuck up.

"I don't see why Yuna would want a mercenary like-"

Felix clenched his fists. "You better just shut the fuck up right now."

"Are you threatening me?"

He looked over his shoulder. "Call me that again, bitch, and you'll fuckin' find out."

"If Wakka heard-"

As he walked, Felix stuck his middle finger in the air to let Lulu know exactly what he thought of her threat.

Yuna, Felix, Wakka, and Lulu sat around a low table in the center of Yuna's hut. The meat and vegetables didn't taste all that foreign. The meat had a little gaminess to it, the greens were thick, and the white beans in a large bowl tasted like horseradishes. Which, unfortunately, Felix never liked. Oh well. Food is fuel.

Felix pushed his plate away. "So," he asked, lighting another cigarette, "who was the old bastard from this morning?"

Yuna dabbed at a corner of her mouth with a napkin. "High Priest Silber wanted to meet with me about a small issue." She took a drink from her mug. "Why?"

"High Priest, huh? He oughta see about gettin' you some proper protection," Felix remarked, ignoring her question.

Yuna folded her arms. "A little presumptuous, don't you think?"

"No, I don't. I dealt with this kind of thing all the time. It was, you know, my job."

"Speaking of which," Yuna mused, "would you… want to do it again?"

Felix squinted at her. Was this her way of asking for a contract? "Explain."

Yuna coughed.

"Please explain."

"Thank you," Yuna said, clasping her hands. "Now… how long were you a professional guardian?"

"Two years. Served ten in Special Forces, so I got twelve years of combat experience. Never spent more than a couple months stateside at a time."

"Stateside?"

"In the rear, with the gear and the beer. Safe."

"Ah. Um… Special Forces?"

Felix sighed. "Like Crusaders times ten."

"Oh." Yuna's eyes widened. "I see. And you did that for ten years?"

"S'what I said," Felix chuckled, blowing a cloud of smoke out of the tent and honoring Yuna's request that he not smoke up the hut.

"Hmm." Yuna spun her ring around her finger. "I'd like you to… um, I'm not sure how to phrase this, actually, but-"

"You want to hire me." Felix crossed his arms. She'd mentioned it earlier, sure, but he didn't think she'd have the guts to actually ask that of him after the other day. She knows what she needs, though. "Don't see why not." Felix drummed his fingers on the table. "What're you offering?"

"Uh… offering?"

Felix laughed. "This ain't a charity!"

Yuna's face turned a dark pink. "Ah, we can, um, discuss payment at a later date?" She offered.

"How does one thousand every two weeks sound?" Lulu asked.

Felix's eyes narrowed. If Lulu wanted to handle the charges, that meant she would most likely be whom he answered to on assignment. Yuna seemed to bow to Lulu's experience, which gave rise to small concerns in the pit of Felix's stomach. If that bitch's employing me, that means I take her orders, not Yuna's. Huh. I wonder if Yuna knows that. "Eight," he demanded, flicking some ash out of the tent.

Wakka choked. "Four thousand Gil a week? Brudda, I was a pro Blitzer, and I-"

"I made two hundred thousand a year back home," Felix argued. He neglected to mention that after Blacktip, Uncle Sam, and Uncle Sam's legal gimps told his salary to grab its ankles, he was left with less than sixty thousand bucks a year.

"Five," Lulu offered, reluctantly.

"Seven."

"Six," Yuna interjected.

Lulu whipped around.

Even if she didn't know, Yuna just saved herself the trouble of having her security detail under someone else's orders. "Sold," Felix said, flashing Lulu a grin. Eat me.

Yuna withdrew a small pouch from her sash and set it onto the table. "There's twelve thousand Gil," she said, spinning her ring.

Felix reached for the pouch, but Wakka stopped his hand. "That's four weeks," he said, warily. "What happens after that? You just gonna bail on us, Brudda?"

Felix narrowed his eyes. "Are you calling my integrity into question?" He demanded. "Yuna hired me. My ass stays put until she says otherwise. That's how this relationship works." He blew another cloud of smoke. "Now, don't take that as a sign that I'll work for free, because I won't." He slid the pouch towards himself and dropped it into his pocket.

Lulu sighed. "I guess you're one of Yuna's guardians, now." The bitterness and anger in her voice were covered over by a smile transparent to Felix.

"Good to have you on board, Brudda." Wakka shook Felix's hand. "'Course, you get paid."

"Damn right I get paid," Felix chuckled. Lulu's gotta be enjoying this. He turned his attention to Yuna. "So, mind filling me in on what, exactly, this contract entails?"

"Well," Yuna said, spinning her ring on her finger, "what did you usually do?"

Felix stretched his arms out. "My job changes from contract to contract. Training local militias and police, defending shit, escorting convoys through hostile territory, logistical support for friendly countries, V.I.P protection – actually, that's really what you're asking for."

"V.I.P?"

"Very Important Person," Felix explained.

"What did that entail?"

"I was their guardian for as long as they needed."

"And they paid you?" Lulu asked.

He responded with a grunt.

"So," Yuna said, "what's your first, um, act?"

Felix laughed. "You're the boss, Yuna. You tell me."

Felix grunted as he rubbed his eyes. For some inexplicable reason, he couldn't get to sleep. He grabbed his pistol from under the pillow and stuffed it into his pants as he ducked out of the hut and into the darkness.

Riko ran around the fire in the center of the village, singing something about Blitzball and Sin. Lulu and Yuna sat on a low log outside a hut, and Lulu checked over her shoulder every now and again to keep an eye on Riko. Wakka was nowhere in sight.

Yuna stood up as Felix approached. "Something wrong? You're up awfully late."

"Nah. Just can't sleep." He leaned against one of the narrow trunks that made up the timberline surrounding the village. Felix sighed. "What's keepin' you up?"

Lulu nodded at Riko. "He needed to work off some energy before turning in. I let Wakka sleep."

"Wasn't talking to you."

"I'm keeping Lulu company," Yuna said, swatting a bug away. She shot Felix a look that reminded him to play nice.

"Sounds like fun," Felix commented as he adjusted the pistol in his waistband. "What's the deal with the reporters?"

Lulu raised an eyebrow.

Felix refused to acknowledge the gesture. He bladed himself toward Lulu and continued his conversation with Yuna. "Anybody know who I am yet?"

Yuna chuckled. "No, Diesel, nobody knows who you really are."

"Good. Last thing I need is a microphone shoved in my face."

"Why don't you tell them?" Yuna asked.

"Because I don't do what I do for recognition." Felix kneeled down in front of the fire, lit a cigarette, and took a few puffs. "I do it because I need to. If I was in it for the glory… shit, let's just say I wouldn't have made some of the decisions I have."

"Such as?"

Felix turned and narrowed his eyes at Lulu. "Ain't your business," he growled.

"I thought you'd be ready to trust us by now," Lulu said.

Yuna nodded.

"I didn't tie my tent shut last night. That's trust enough."

"Felix," Yuna said, "I-"

"I don't mean you," Felix interrupted.

Yuna spun her ring.

"You should at least tell us something about yourself."

"I don't think so," Felix said. "I like Yuna, don't get me wrong, but I'm still not opening up. Besides," he added, "Yuna's my employer now." Blow me, Lulu. I'm not telling you shit.

Yuna frowned. "Usually, a Guardian and a Summoner have some kind of connection."

"We do," Felix chuckled. "It's called Gil."

"Right," Lulu said, narrowing her eyes. "Spoken like a true mercenary."

"If you're going to keep being such a bitch," Felix growled, "you can pitch in when payday rolls around." He blew a cloud of smoke at Lulu. "Otherwise, you can go and bone yourse-"

"Felix, Lulu!" Yuna snapped. "I will not tolerate this kind of hostility! You are both my Guardians, and that means that some semblance of teamwork is necessary."

Felix shrugged. "You're the boss."

"As you wish." Lulu stood up from her seat. "I think Riko's ready for bed, now." She waved to her son and started for one of the huts. "Goodnight, Yuna."

"Goodnight, Lulu. See you in the morning."

Felix took another puff. "Christ, who put sand up her-"

"Felix!"

"Sorry. Point stands."

"I think she's just tired," Yuna sighed. "And the stress of the last few days is showing on all of us."

"Sure. So Lulu copes with stress by bitching at the guy who saved her life once and your life twice?"

"Felix," Yuna warned, "I told you-"

"Yeah, yeah, I know. But still, Wakka oughta just nail the shi-"

"Felix."

He shrugged, and changed the subject. "What's on the menu for tomorrow?"

"I'm afraid there isn't much to do in Besaid," Yuna admitted. "But I can show you around, and Wakka can teach you the basics of Blitzball."

"Why do I need to learn that?"

"It's a great way to pass the time. I tried it once, but I wasn't any good." Yuna's face fell for a moment. "I'm sure you'll do just fine," she said, the temporarily absent smile leaping back into place.

"Wakka said he was a pro?"

"Was. He retired two years ago to be my full-time guardian. Now he just coaches Riko's team, and helps the Aurochs train their new recruits."

"The Aurochs were his old team?"

Yuna smiled. "They were the worst team in Spira's history. For as long as anyone could remember, the Aurochs never won a single game. That all changed when… it changed." She stared into the fire and blinked rapidly. "Star player," she mumbled. "Nobody saw it coming."

"Gotta love the underdogs, eh?"

She pressed her lips together and nodded. "Yes, something like that."

Felix flicked ash at a bug crawling through the sand. "I've heard a thing or two about the 'Al-Bhed'. Think you could fill me in?"

Yuna laughed. "I was wondering when you'd ask. Al-Bhed are a race of desert people that live on an island – Bikanel, to be exact – in the west. They're really the only ones left in Spira who use machina."

Felix narrowed his eyes at the fire.

Yuna seemed to register what Felix was thinking. "No," she said, "I don't think it was them. It's no secret anymore that I'm part Al-Bhed," she added, pointing at her green eye. As Felix looked closer, he noticed that it swirled in the same way as the gunmen's.

"Do all Al-Bhed have those eyes?"

"Yes. It's really the only foolproof way to tell if someone's Al-Bhed or Spiran."

"Are the Al-Bhed the only people who have eyes like that?"

"Yes."

"Nobody else has them."

"No." She frowned. "Why?"

"Nothing," he muttered. If she's half-and-half, it wouldn't be smart to tell her that one half just sent people to put her ass on ice.

"Nothing, or something?"

Felix flashed a grin. "Nothing, boss."

"Do me a favor?"

"Yeah?"

"Don't call me that out in public. I don't want people to know that I'm paying you to be my guardian."

"Why? Everyone react like Lulu?"

Yuna seemed to ignore the jab at her friend. "Professional Guardians aren't very common. You attract enough attention as it is; I don't want any more falling on me."

"Fair enough, Lady Yuna."

She smiled. "That's better."

"How about just 'Yuna'?"

Yuna smiled wider. "That's best."

Felix shifted his weight. "I actually try to avoid getting too familiar with my employers," he admitted.

"Why is that?"

So they don't try and lower the price. So I keep the relationship at arm's length. So I can look at every situation from the outside in. "Just how I work."

"Well, this is a little… different than what you might be used to. Guardians and Summoners are expected to have a close, friendly relationship."

"Same thing goes for Guardians and other Guardians?"

"You guessed it."

Felix sighed. "I'm off to a great start."

"Don't worry. I'm sure Lulu will be back to her normal self tomorrow morning. In the meantime, you ought to get some sleep."

"I'm older than you. Sleep is a luxury. You're the one who ought to be getting to bed."

Yuna smiled. "Perhaps. But I have something to take care of first."

"There's no water around here."

"Hmm?"

"The whistling." Felix pointed off into the jungle. "The beach is that way, and as your Guardian, I'm letting you know that there's no way in hell I'm letting you wander through all that in the middle of the night."

"That concerned for my security?"

"Yeah, and I'm fuckin' tired," Felix laughed.

"Get some sleep," Yuna urged. "I'll go to bed in a few minutes. I just need to think for a little while, is all."

Felix shrugged. "Suit yourself," he said, tossing the butt of his cigarette into the crackling flames. "See you in the morning."

A/N: Shorter than the others, I know. I've got a little bit of writer's block at the moment, so I'm working on other fics and taking care of RL issues. Don't worry, I'm still working on Causes. Speaking of which, I'd like to give a mention to my now former beta reader, Fabs. Without her, you'd all be reading a very different (and not in the good way) version of Causes.. Thanks for everything, Fabs, and best of luck to you with RL! See all you guys next update!