The tide sloshed slowly against the side of the houseboat with the same rhythmic lapping as a dog grooming its underside. The thousand lights of Zanarkand's skyline glittered on the surface of the black water and the blinking red light of a passing sailboat was a meteor interrupting the calm of the submerged stars. A chill wind swept over the glossy water and sent the flags at the ship's bow whipping back and forth.

Auron carded his fingers through his hair and sighed deeply, wiping away the beads of tears gathering at the corner of his eye. His back arched over the railing and he dipped his trembling fingers into the water, swirling a tiny whirlpool, mesmerized by the undulating reflection of the lights as his thoughts spiraled with equal dissonance. Is everyone gone? Has he come out of his room? I don't like how I look in this suit. I'm cold. A voice beside him caught his attention.

"Thanks for … you know ... being here, Auron," the breathy sound of a stifled sob following her words, Tidus' maternal aunt, a thin woman with tremulous hands, gingerly touched Auron's shoulder. He nodded, frowning, and noting her purse clutched tightly to her side and her husband lingering impatiently nearby, Auron stood to bid her farewell.

"It's … good to know you're around," she hugged him tightly, and he stiffened. "For him, ya know? The boy needs a father in his life and ... we know you're a good man. I'll do the best I can for him, bu-but my Edin never was good with kids … ugh, sorry ... " She bit her lip and drew in a deep breath, wiping the tears from her eyes, turning around to blow her nose into a balled-up tissue.

"It's alright."
"I miss her so much … " she sniffled, "Guh, sorry, Auron. You'll be alright for tonight? Sorry, we're on our way out now." Gathering her things, she motioned to her husband who curtly shook Auron's hand and ushered his wife down to the dock. She turned and smiled, waving a hand before tucking it into her coat pocket.

"We'll come by to pick him up when he's feeling better. Edin will be over next week to sort some things out with the school. Good night ... please call us if you need anything. "

"Goodbye, Caela."

Auron turned to leave, watching the pair clip briskly down the dockside to escape the wind which began to pick up. He pressed his hand against the door post, steadying himself before stepping down the stairs into the parlor of the house, his vision wavering slightly as the houseboat gently rocked in the current, the alcohol in his system leaving his extremities feeling unusually prickly. Everything, the room, the floor, the space in the kitchen, seemed so suddenly empty. The woman, depressed and inconsolable, who had secured herself to the sofa indefinitely, was gone now, only the imprint of her knees in the cushions left behind. For months her chin sat perched upon the window sill, her face sunburned, waiting for Jecht's ship to roll in, waiting for any news, barely able to turn her head when Auron would stop by with the groceries. In full view of her son she left herself to waste away into a tangle of bedsores and graying hair, until one morning, when Tidus woke before the sun to dress himself for school, he found her body cold on the floor, limbs curled in, dead.

Leaflets and napkins, crumbs and empty glassware littered the house and was the only remaining evidence of her memorial. I suppose I'll have to get to that, too. Exhausted, Auron moved through the living room and into the back of the house, pushing open the door to the guest room where he had been situated since the funeral. He shrugged off his jacket, kicked his shoes into a corner of the closet, folded up the black slacks and tie he had borrowed from the neighbor, and dug about through the dresser for his pajamas. Tucking his flannels and singlet under his arm, Auron spied his reflection in the vanity.

Scar tissue ran up and down his body as if someone had splashed it on him with a bucket. The dark barbs of his chest hair flowed in orderly lines down his torso but disappeared on his left side. He passed a hand over the blank skin of his left breast and silently wondered if he should shave his right armpit to match the bald flesh of his left. Looking quite the literal yin and yang, he dressed himself, and shuffled into the hallway, pausing at a door to his left which was covered in stickers and posters, any and all kinds of blitzball memorabilia.

"They're all gone now. You can come out."

He heard faint signs of movement from behind Tidus' door, the shifting of bed sheets, sniffling, the back-and-forth patter of tiny feet on a cold vinyl floor. The doorknob clicked, and a little red face with wet eyes peered up at Auron from the dark of his room. His dirty blond hair hung in his face in a tangled mess, and Auron pushed the boy's bangs back with a firm thumb, smiling softly. They were quiet for a moment as they looked at each other, neither knowing exactly where to begin.

"Are you alright?"

" … I feel kinda sick … " He squeezed his stomach.

"Your belly? It's late, little one. You should get some sleep." Auron pushed into the room and sat at the foot of Tidus' bed, leaning his elbows on his thighs as the little boy crept under his blankets, centering his head on his pillow as he looked up expectantly at his caretaker.

"Something wrong?"

"Auron? … I'm scared … "

"Why's that?" Auron asked as he stood to tuck the boy securely in, pushing the mess of Tidus' hair back to feel his forehead for a temperature with the back of his palm.

"I'm scared ... 'cause what if you leave me too? Like mom … and da-… and I don't wanna be alone … not anymore."

Tidus pressed his palms against his eyes to stop his tears, but they flowed down to wet his pillow despite his best efforts. Auron frowned. I'm so selfish. His nerves urged him to pull away, but when the young boy fell out of bed to embrace the warrior, sobbing into his chest, little knees digging into Auron's lap, he let his arms wrap themselves around Jecht's child, his child, and swayed him back and forth as comfortingly as he could manage. Why can't I comfort him? What do I say? He's going through the same thing that I am, and I'm .. supposed to be strong.

Auron smiled, nervously leaning his cheek against the boy's mop of hair, surprised by how hot the top of his head seemed to be burning. My own cheeks feel hot. Am I crying?

"I don't want you to leave ... please stay?"

"Now, how could I ever leave you? You're holding on too tight!"

They sat in silence for a long time, the tide rocking them into a sleepy trance, arms tight around each other, breathing synchronized. The gruff man had nearly fallen asleep cross-legged on the floor until the small voice of his charge roused him awake.

"Auron…?"

" … yeah?"

"You're too fat to fit in my bed. Can I sleep in your room?"

Auron laughed, and lifted little Tidus in his arms as he stood, turning off the light behind him as he left.