Proverbial Revitalization

Written by Whimsical Symphony

Finally got around to writing this. It was a little difficult since the Zanarkand Abes are a blank slate when it comes to personalities. As such, I had to construct my own for each of them. I hope it turned out okay. Please tell me if you see any issues with the chapters or you want to tell me something I can improve upon. Constructive criticism and comments are always appreciated.

Chapter 9 - Salvation

Tidus led her through the hallway, his fingers intertwined with hers. It made her feel warm, like if heat travelled straight from the point of their hands all the way to her heart. It brought her comfort when she felt a little intimidated by the fact that she would soon be meeting his teammates, the people Tidus played Blitzball with, people who also cut through the water like a knife, similar to him, though with a different sort of grace than what he possessed.

"Hey, Yuna – I know you're nervous, but relax. Trust me, like I said earlier, Cetan's one of a kind," Tidus comforted, giving her that same grin she recognized from the first day she met him, that sunny smile which made her feel welcome in a place she felt so lost in. Even now, when she thought about the insults that Tidus' fans threw at her earlier, calling her plain, calling her different, she knew that Tidus didn't care, didn't feel any differently because of her upbringing, she was Yuna and that was all that mattered.

"Thank you, Tidus," she whispered. Tidus, as expected, smiled back at her though she knew for certain he had no clue what she thanked him for, that she thanked him for everything, for all the treasure he brought her, old relics from ancient tombs, priceless artefacts she couldn't have otherwise gotten. To her, his friendship turned out to be just that, and her friendship with Rikku, Lulu, Wakka and all the people who made her feel so loved in the city she dreamt about living in since she could barely count to ten. She remembered that she would listen to stories from older, wiser people with such excited eyes, begging to whatever deity that she could get the chance to travel there someday.

Her wishes were heard.

"Hey, no problem – that's what friends are for, right?" he answered. Yuna smiled in return, flushing a little, and the thought ran through his mind that he hoped to Yevon (even though he claimed that he wasn't pious) that Kiryl didn't need a girlfriend.

Opening the door to the locker room, Tidus saw his teammates grabbing lounging around or getting ready in some fashion or another. For all the splendour that Blitzball games had, Tidus recognized that their locker room really was shabby – a few light wooden benches, a few shower stalls and change rooms, generic. Passing a glance at Cetan, he resisted the urge not to just go there and give him a taste of his fist, for all the crap he put him through recently – first with Dona, and then the ordeal with Yuna. Hell, to Cetan, Dona might've been a bombshell, but he had no idea that Yuna fell into much higher standards as a woman, not just as Braska's daughter.

When they entered, eyes were on them immediately.

"You got yourself a new girlfriend, Ti'?"

Tidus didn't know how relieved he was that Kiryl had been the first to speak to him. Out of anyone on his team, Kiryl he could stand the most. Though he didn't often like to get in the way of his and Cetan's ongoing daily battles, he did step in when things got too rough, often helping out Tidus. Tidus always made sure to remember when people were kind-hearted enough to help him out. The numerous times that Kiryl helped take Cetan home after the man crashed on his couch, passed out from too much alcohol, snoring so loud that it sounded like an earthquake would destroy his home, without so much as a call to let him know, amazed Tidus. He often did so without being asked. Kiryl had to reason to take responsibility for Cetan's behavior either. The man was, to put it simple, too kind and would help random people on the street even if they didn't ask for it. It shamed Tidus to admit it (since he did have some pride) that the closest that any girl could get to Prince Charming would probably be Kiryl. He'd also been the one Tidus had been closest to telling about Jecht's mask and how the man really was just an annoying drunkard who took every chance to piss him off. It also helped that Kiryl never raved about him like most Blitz players tended to do.

"Hey Kiryl, this is Yuna, a… precious friend of mine." He settled for that and took a quick glance at her expression, noticing she smiled a little with that cute flush in her cheeks like roses bloomed on her skin. He supposed that meant he introduced her appropriately then. Suddenly, he felt uncomfortable and too embarrassed, like someone tripped an alarm out of the blue, sending his heart racing a mile a minute.

"Hello, it's nice to meet you," Yuna greeted shyly, giving him a low bow much like she had to Tidus first time she met him. He looked kind and handsome, but even more than that – she was struck with a sense of familiarity then. His smile reminded her of someone.

"Yuna, huh?" Kiryl took a glance at her, then Tidus. "She's much better than all the other girls, Ti'. I can tell she's a good girl. From Bevelle, right?"

"How did you…" Yuna trailed off, looking at him confused and expectantly.

"My paternal grandfather is a diplomat from Bevelle. I moved out of my grandfather's house when I was young. My mom took care of me in Zanarkand and my grandfather rarely visited for reasons," he continued awkwardly, "but anyway, he tried, and always called. Always made time for me, and whenever he did come he'd bring back souvenirs and stories," Kiryl explained. "Funny enough I think he met a girl called Yuna once, told her all about Zanarkand." He smiled and continued, "Said she was Lord Braska's daughter and was practicing to become a Summoner. What a coincidence, right? You are that Yuna, I believe?" Yuna nodded in response, looking shocked.

All the memories shot into her from when she was a little girl, like an arrow straight to her heart. She remembered the old bearded man with a kind face, warm, wrinkles caused from years upon years of smiling, wise like an aged tree which planted its roots in a forest for many, many years. She remembered all the stories he would tell her of the city which never slept and all the stories she heard about Blitzball. He must have been happy to hear that his grandson had become a practitioner of the sport he enjoyed watching. He rarely visited Zanarkand – something must have happened in the family after his son died. She frowned when she thought about how often he smiled in front of her in Bevelle, when in private, she knew he cried.

"Yes, your grandfather is a nice man – he was the one who got me interested in Zanarkand," Yuna explained, looking bashful. "It's strange, I don't know what to say to you even though I talked to your grandfather quite a bit." She turned to Tidus then, who watched her curiously. "Ah, Tidus, his grandfather always treated me kindly back in Bevelle."

"Is that so," Tidus started. "Hey, that's pretty cool you're meeting in a place like this." Yuna smiled and nodded in agreement. He expected to be somewhat shocked that Yuna studied to become a Summoner, but felt none of it. He kind of felt guilty he never asked. She must've been a Sender then. He wondered what her dancing looked like, but at the same time, never wanted to see it. When a Sender danced, that meant that someone died. But, Tidus was happy that one of his teammates could make her feel secure like that. Most people looked at the Zanarkand Abes and thought they were a bunch of shallow people only looking forward with a hope of getting a next date. So far, on their team, Cetan was the only one who fit that description to the T. The rest of them, not so.

"Well, I should introduce you, right Yuna?" he started awkwardly. "This is Kiryl, as he just introduced himself." He pointed next to two cheerful looking friends, the two troublemakers on the team, always up to no good, though generally good-hearted people unless one of them got mad. They were the best of friends, attached at the hip since they were in diapers. "These two are Naya and Toma."

"Nice to meet you, Lady Yuna," Naya said, taking her hand and kissing it, making Tidus frown rather visibly. He did forget to mention they were flirts.

Toma swung an arm around her shoulder. "Hey, let us know if Ti's being an ass, okay? We'll beat him up for you."

"N-nice to meet you…" Yuna stuttered, flushing darkly, standing tall, her back hurting from her forced posture. This kind of kindness never was found in Bevelle. People often refused to touch each other, give each other hugs, even within the family sometimes. She didn't know how to feel about this kind of treatment, though she did know Tidus would never be mean to her like they implied. "Tidus… has been nothing but kind to me."

Naya and Toma frowned while Tidus grinned.

"Like you could beat up Tidus anyway." Suzam spoke next, a perpetually cross individual with a frown on his face and a cutting tone to match. He'd been one of the ones Tidus absolutely abhorred at first until he found out that Suzam spoke that way to everyone. Tidus found it hard to believe he grew up with a priest for an old man with some strict rules to match, a pretty early curfew back when he'd been younger. He managed to move out but still found himself to be a bird still trapped in a wrought iron cage, not allowed to fly free. He cussed like a sailor, and if Tidus had any way to describe it, he found Suzam all too similar to a rebellious kid. But, even so, he still had some old policies ingrained into him – he didn't date. Not once. With that one rule, he effectively set himself up as the son of a priest, still some loyalty toward his crappy old man. Tidus found himself relating to Suzam just a little – they both had shitty old men. "He'd probably beat the shit out of you," he muttered dryly. He looked at Yuna though, and greeted, "Hey, I'm Suzam. Nice to meet you, Yuna. You're probably much better company than those shitheads over there."

Ah yes, the two friends and Suzam never got along since the latter always held a grudge. One prank and they'd effectively walked their way off his good books.

"Hey!" they protested.

"Now, now Suzam, that isn't nice, is it? We should be creating a pleasant atmosphere for Yuna," Shaft told him calmingly, to which Suzam just snorted and got back to reading an old Blitz manual with tricks and strategies. "I'm Shaft, nice to meet you," the man greeted amiably, sticking out a hand for Yuna to shake, which she did, a bit flustered from all the cussing.

"Nice to meet you," she whispered, feeling a headache coming on from all the attention on her. Yuna wondered if she truly was too plain to be with them, like a grasshopper amongst majestic lions and tigers, and mythical beasts. Those women had been dolled up, pretty hair, pretty clothes, maybe much prettier than the blue on her skirt she thought had been the most beautiful shade of blue, like the sea on a calm spring day, the surface gently bobbing up and down. Belgemine made if for her, she treasured it, but then wondered maybe if not even the pretty clothes made especially for her could turn her into a princess who wouldn't be questioned for standing next to kind, charismatic and handsome people like Tidus. She frowned, clutching the fabric of her skirt tightly, feeling the tenseness in her arms travel to the rest of her body, then straight to her heart, making it pitter-patter.

"Hey, you're not still thinking about what those fans said, right? I told you they were wrong, you know? Stupid, jealous and petty," Tidus told her, snapping out of her reverie.

"But…" The words wouldn't come, trapped in her throat like the cork on the top of a wine bottle, clogging the passage of the solution. His sunny smile, the fact he called her a precious friend when much prettier girls stood outside cheering for him with all her might, the thought of it all made her feel like she was delusional, and it made her eyes burn even though she wanted to slap herself for her own self-doubt.

"Don't cry." Looking up, she saw the last member of the Zanarkand Abes who never greeted her, just gave her a handkerchief, a pointed look and then proceeded to the door. "We'll be late." With that, he walked out the door. She held the handkerchief close to her, thanking the man for his generosity, for somehow knowing she'd probably need it, and giving her those two words so firmly that she had to listen, to not cry, to not feel sad, to believe Tidus and not feel like the world would shatter into irrecoverable pieces and she would die as a result. People would always dislike her and all that mattered was that those who liked her mattered, that they were the treasures she guarded.

Luperis managed to be the glue that bound them all together even though none of them knew much about him. He didn't talk much, but he did try to comfort people in his own strange way when they felt a little conflicted and emotional, just like he did with Yuna. He never did anything to anger anyone, and much preferred peace. Tidus heard rumours that he had a drastic personality change after his sister died, becoming much more quiet and reserved.

"That Luperis, he has a soft spot for cute girls, right? Even though he doesn't say anything," Cetan contributed, giving a small chuckle. Tidus glared at him anyway. Anything he did, he found too annoying these days. No wonder he and Dona hooked up – they both just failed as human beings. "And Lady Yuna is cute!" Tidus groaned when he winked, wondering if he'd ever outgrow his ability to suck up to important people.

"Much cuter than Dona, that's for sure," Tidus contributed. Poor Yuna looked confused, and Cetan simply glared at him, about to open his mouth and give Tidus a piece of his mind. Not that Tidus was scared. Of Cetan? No way.

"We're going to be late though, best listen to him," Kiryl said in an effort to break the tension between Cetan and Tidus like he often did. Giving a hesitant smile toward Yuna he continued, "I do hope you'll enjoy our practice."

"I will!" And that smile formed on her lips again and her eyes looked as dreamy as they often did when couples had a romantic evening watching fireworks bursts into gold and silver in the night sky. The thought of her eyes on him like that while he played Blitzball made his heart soar. Then, he questioned when he became so poetic and corny.

"You, with a woman?"

An image of his old man appeared in his mind. He wondered what he would think now that he had a cute girl like Yuna cheering for him. He'd probably be in denial, Tidus chuckled – probably would think that Yuna was there for Cetan, or another idiotic thought like that.

Yuna sat in the crowd then, like everyone else though in a VIP box even though she insisted that she would be fine, that just watching them practice would be enough for her. They wouldn't hear it. Tidus made her turn as red as a beetroot when he said what he did, even if she did recognize that it was only a way to persuade her into taking his side of the matter and sitting where he told her to. The very thought of it made her skin turn warm, and it felt as if her insides would turn to mush, pleasantly of course, like the thawing of winter ice to bring forth spring's grasses and flowers.

"Hey Yuna, you should sit in the VIP box! I can see you better from there too," Tidus started, looking at her with a sly smile. "And you know? That helps me too."

"How does it help you?" Yuna inquired, confused, looking at him with wide eyes – already somewhat stuck in the trap he laid out.

"Well," he began again, swinging an arm around her shoulder. The rest of his teammates crowded around them, knowing full well Tidus was about to work his charm on Yuna. "It'll always help me if I can see a cute girl from wherever I'm swimming in the Sphere Pool."

When she was about to open her mouth and tell him that there were plenty of cute girls in the Sphere Pool, he continued again by saying, "And, the cutest girl in the Stadium, nah, Zanarkand, is you, Yuna. So, whenever I'm in the Sphere Pool, I want to see you. Catch my drift?" And with a grin, he finished, effectively silencing her, leaving her unsure of what to say, what to tell him, and having a shameful feeling inside of her, growing so happy, radiating with warmth.

"Thank you," was all she could say.

"Fryd y cinbneca, Yunie!" Startled, Yuna looked and saw Rikku entering the VIP box, giving her a sunny smile, waving at her, before settling down on the cushy seat next to her. "I didn't think I'd see you here!"

And really, neither did Yuna. She felt surprised, and very happy. From the moment she met Rikku, she felt a connection with her and only hoped Rikku felt the same, that they would be able to become friends. And Rikku, she was a person who gravitated toward Tidus, sunny, full of smiles, not even a tidbit of gloom buried deep in her heart. Yuna would never forget how friendly Rikku was to her the first time they met, teasing her, joking as if they were long-time friends, as if Yuna belonged in their world constructed purely out of fabric made from dreams, a place she never thought she would belong to fully, only yearning to be part of the intricate embroidery on the topmost layers.

"Rikku," Yuna greeted, bowing her head a little. "I'm so happy to be able to see you." Yuna tried to give Rikku her best smile.

"Yeah, have to cheer Tidus on for the games and for practice," Rikku explained, chuckling. Looking at her slyly, she added, "Did he invite you personally?"

Yuna turned red as she thought about that invitation. Tidus set her emotions aflame, drenching them in oil so their light wouldn't go out even with rain. It was because of him that her world widened so significantly. She never imagined talking to people like Rikku, Lulu or Wakka ever. She always thought that it would be an unattainable dream for her, but Tidus made that dream come to life, to jump off the pages of fairytales she read as children where comrades would travel together to defeat evil, where there was true friendship. She nodded in response to Rikku's question. "He… told me he wanted to watch him play. I… I'd never been so happy for a long time. Really, meeting all of you has made me so happy…"

Rikku looked at the sweet girl beside her who looked so honestly happy just to have Tidus tell her he wanted to watch her play and just by meeting them all, she'd smiled so brilliantly. Rikku knew now why Tidus felt the need to take such care of her, and why he felt he needed her affection. Yuna was the salvation he looked for and gave him such kindness he couldn't help but like her, especially after his poor track record with manipulative women. She could imagine Yuna sitting next to him, listening to him confess his problems with his dad and Dona, and Cetan, not judging him at all. Tidus trusted her.

"Your smiling hasn't ended yet, you know? You'll be smiling a lot more with all of us, I guarantee it, Yunie!" Clasping her hands in her own, she made sure Yuna knew that – Rikku would take care of her, and she would make sure that Yuna had the time of her life in Zanarkand, nothing but smiling, no sorrow or gloom to kill the flowers sprouting in her heart.

"Thank you, Rikku," Yuna replied, giving her a smile. Ever since she came to Zanarkand, there had been less apologies from her, and more thank you's. She thanked them all from the bottom of their hearts for standing by her.

Word Count: 3 479

Al Bhed Translations:

Fryd y cinbneca, Yunie!/ What a surprise, Yunie!