"Auron?"

The familiar voice came to him through his sleep, as though a part of his dreams. He smiled a little, but merely rolled over to sleep some more.

"Auron!"

This time he sat up straight, slamming his head into the roof of the rusted metal tent. He fell back to the sand with a painful groan, holding his forehead in agony. Someone began shaking his shoulder, and Auron's eyes flew open to face…

"Braska!"

Auron sat up straight again – being careful to watch his head this time – and embraced his long-time friend happily.

"I thought you might've been killed!" he admitted.

Braska merely patted his back and gave a small laugh.

"Quite the opposite, my friend."

They pulled away and Auron saw a beautiful woman with golden hair standing directly behind his friend. She smiled, and Auron could see through the dark her shining, swirling green eyes.

"Auron," he said, standing beside her, "This is Kahdma. This is my wife."

Whatever color was left in Auron's face left it. He was too flabbergasted to be polite, and blurted, "You're serious?"

The woman's smile faded and she crossed her arms. Braska actually managed an unhappy scowl. He was always a kind-hearted and accepting person, ignoring peoples' rude comments about his family and himself, shrugging away insults and bad fruit hurled his way in the streets. He would always give them a kind smile as he walked away, never giving them the satisfaction of having hurt him. Now, as his eyebrows were furrowed in angry disappointment, Auron felt a wave of shame wash over him. Of all the people he could have given that absolutely painful look, of all the people that deserved it, it was him. Auron hung his head as he got to his feet, rubbing his head not only in pain now but in embarrassment.

"I apologize. That was quite rude of me. It is a pleasure to meet you, Kahdma."

He held out his hand, not daring to look either of them in the eyes, and she took it.

"The pleasure is mine, Auron. Braska has told me a lot about you."

At this, Auron looked up in gratitude to his friend, then back to his new wife.

"I wish I could say the same for you, but this…" He faltered, afraid of being rude to either of them again. Kahdma finished for him.

"Was quite a shock?" She laughed. "Braska and I just…"

"Fell in love," he said, his usual smile returning to his face. His arm was around Kahdma.

"Braska… I am happy for you both… truly! But… your family is already outcast…"

"So there's no more harm!" he laughed. He sounded even happier than usual.

"My brother, of course, will most likely not approve…" she said.

"You're damn right I won't!"

They all turned on the spot to see Cid, his hands twitching near his waist, where a few small weapons were holstered on his belt. Auron rested his own hand on his father's blade; would the first time he needed to use it be wasted on him? Kahdma held her hands up in peace, however, and Cid lowered his own just slightly.

"Cid, brother, be grateful that I have found happiness with Braska, not angry!"

"He's not one of us," he growled.

"Since when do you hate him?" she snapped. "As I recall, you two were getting along quite well just three days ago, before we left, and for several years before that. Why now?"

"Because… because…" Cid seemed to be struggling with something internally, though did not seem to want to admit it.

"And do you not know what it is to love? Shall I tell Cemahd? I'm sure she would have something to say!"

Kahdma must have been referring to Cid's wife, as the man's scarlet face turned white. Kahdma raised her eyebrows and Cid turned back to red, gritting his teeth.

"She would agree not to let our blood be soiled by an outsider!"

"Soiled? Soiled? Who is it that has been defending us for years, our home and way of life and people? Hmm?"

Braska looked completely out-of-place, as did Auron, and they looked at each other awkwardly as the Al-Bhed siblings battled.

"That's what makes it so disgusting!" he snapped. "If he really cared about our way of life, he wouldn't soil it with his Yevonite filth!"

"WHAT?!" Kahdma's voice had become shrill. She pointed a warning finger at her brother. "You take that back!"

"Never! Yevonite scum!" he snarled.

Kahdma fired a warning shot with a previously unseen gun, but Braska pulled her backwards quickly and the bullet slammed into the ground at Cid's feet instead.

"I don't ever wanna see either of you again, you hear me? Get out! You're a disgrace to this tribe, and a disgrace to your family!"

Kahdma suddenly turned away and bolted through the nighttime desert, Cid spitting in her direction as she did so. Braska and Auron followed her, tripping over rocks, dunes, and rusty scrap metal until after what seemed like miles, she collapsed in the sand, crying hysterically and hyperventilating. Braska knelt down, merely holding her as she cried into his priestly robes, wailing incoherently with her sobs. Auron hung around awkwardly, then walked a small distance away to stand watch as an excuse to leave them alone. He sighed; at least Braska was safe. He felt badly about his new wife's falling out with her brother, and yet, strangely conflicted. Was it right that they had outcast themselves simply for a chance at love? Couldn't Braska have found a woman who wouldn't be so condemned?

But, Auron decided, Braska had been right when he said that things could probably not get worse. He and his family were already at odds with the Temple, and Kahdma herself wasn't accepted by them anyway. They might as well be happy as pariahs together, following their hearts, than two people who had decided that acceptance from people they didn't even know was much more important. Auron decided that all Braska and Kahdma had done was fall in love; what was so wrong with that? They were brave in deciding to marry. Auron gained even more respect for his friend, and smiled as he approached him.

"Thank you, Auron, for all that you have done."

He bowed, but Auron stopped him and performed the gesture himself.

"I did nothing but watch a man stick up for what he believes in. I am lucky to have been able to see that." He looked over to Kahdma, who had dried her tears and was straightening her clothes out distractedly. He placed a hand on his shoulder. "And I am happy that you are happy. It took a lot of courage to do what you did, and defend yourselves, and I will be here to help you in that effort."

"Auron? What are you saying?"

"I am saying that, as far as I am concerned, you have not lost any pride or good standing; instead, you have proved yourself a greater man than any I have ever met."

Braska lunged forward, hugging his best friend for the second time that night.

"You are a true friend, Auron. I am blessed to know you."

"Ah, enough," Auron muttered, feeling suddenly awkward as both their eyes began to glisten in the moonlight. Kahdma approached the two men, and Auron looked to Braska for approval before hugging his new wife. She smiled and patted his shoulder, reaching for Braska's hand as they pulled apart. Though their journey back to Bevelle was not one full of laughter, it was one filled with joy, happiness, and excited cheer.