Proverbial Revitalization

Written by Whimsical Symphony

So, long wait guys. I've been in and out of the doc's office for things and I also started on my paid VN work online. BUT inspiration for this story finally dropped by and I started working on it and lo-and-behold, it wrote itself.

Not what you'd expect out of Dona here.

Hope you enjoy. All reviews, criticism, telling me how bad it sucks, is all appreciated.

Chapter 11 – Heart Bonds

"So, hurry up and tell me already. And then do all of us a favour and leave," Tidus said in about the rudest tone he could manage.

Since he knew her, Dona always had the bitchiest attitude with a bullheaded attitude to match. The only way he could make her go away and leave him and Yuna alone was to act equally bitchy.

Tidus took a glance at the girl beside him, looking rather unnerved, and seriously wondered whether Yevon planned on getting back at him for all the times he didn't take his teachings seriously. He swore that if Dona walked away without a fight right now, he'd retreat into the mountains and become a celibate monk. Kind of like Suzam.

But the celibate part really didn't sound too appealing. How did Suzam even survive, now that he thought about it?

"Cruel, Tidus. You don't miss the nights we spent together?" Dona looked up at him with sultry eyes and he felt Yuna back away from him even more.

Tidus cursed when he thought of how hard Dona tried to piss the meek girl off. He knew it when he saw her glance at Yuna and smirk. Again, just like before, she didn't have any interest in him particularly, she just wanted someone to screw around with and make other people angry. Her unfaithfulness proved that just fine. While he never considered his relationship with her serious per say, as he honestly was just a hormonal guy when it came to her at that time, he stayed faithful to her.

He didn't like seeing Yuna sad at all, and though he knew that it had nothing to do because of some possessiveness over him like he hoped, he felt that fluttery, sappy feeling in his stomach hoping she did kind of like him. He liked her, so of course Tidus wished that she kind of liked him too. He imagined his old man calling him a wuss when he thought about it. Slowly, he wrapped his arm around Yuna, comforting her just a little, wanting to tell her that no way in hell did he want to spend time with Dona, that he wanted to talk to her like he intended even if he knew that Yuna wouldn't kiss him or anything that he'd comply with readily like that. He sighed in defeat.

"Those nights are long gone, Dona. I really don't want to talk to you, so tell me what you're here for or go away," Tidus told her with a glare. "I'm not in the mood for you right now."

Or ever, he thought. She gave him a huge migraine every time he heard her voice.

"Fine, love." She frowned but chuckled slightly, noticing how frustrated with her he seemd. Dona stopped putting her hands on his person and backed away just a little, before she said, "Cetan pissed me off." She looked to the floor and clenched her fists. "Can you believe it? I caught him in bed with another woman!" Dona looked to Yuna and looked over her strange, modest attire and said waspishly, "So while I'm going through this, you're off gallivanting with another woman, hmm? Not even a pretty one, I'm afraid."

It seemed like all the nasty comments for the day took their toll on Yuna whose eyes watered a bit. When Tidus was about to say something, like to defend the girl because Dona of all people shouldn't have been insulting her, and he was pissed at Dona because he cared a hell of a lot for Yuna, she surprised him by opening her mouth and saying, "Why do you speak to me like this? You hurt Tidus deeply didn't you?"

His eyes widened when he heard her. He remembered when that conversation came up, so long ago, when Cetan blurted out nonsense and he was forced to argue that Yuna was indeed better than his cheating girlfriend. Yuna knew all along but didn't say a word. She knew exactly what happened and judging by the determined look on her face, she wanted to defend him too.

Tidus' heart unwillingly warmed at the thought of that.

"Hurt, Tidus? He's just a naïve little boy and you're a distraction from me. He always wanted me and he couldn't get me," Dona said confidently, looking from Yuna to Tidus in such a way that it pissed the latter off.

She always thought she knew him, every single damn thing about him, just like his old man often did. She had this sense of entitlement he loved to ignore when he was with her, but one look at Yuna's expression, her lips stretched into a thin line, how she looked so sad, and he remembered exactly why he didn't want to have anything to do with Dona. Besides all the shit he went through because of her deal with Cetan, those two cheating on each other and Dona cheating on him and one or the other running to his door and crashing on his couch, empty beer cans all around them as they whined and griped about stupid problems: she was rude.

Beyond rude, she insulted people he cared for a lot, like Rikku who swore at her in Al-Bhed, called her a 'yhhuoehk, vemdro ricco' which apparently meant 'annoying, filthy hussy' and proceeded to ask if she dared address her mother with that mouth. She also attempted to insult Lulu – intimidating Lulu of all people she could have insulted. The woman promptly banned Dona from her store, told her to take her pathetic self somewhere so that it wouldn't infect the beauty of the clothes she designed, and then, much to Tidus' fright, began to lecture him. She told him that he should have found someone by now and not stuck with idiotic floozies who didn't have the emotional depth to support him when he cried. Which was a lot, she noted.

But, point was, he didn't like Yuna being insulted now. It pissed him off and rightfully so. Yuna probably unintentionally convinced him that going for someone like her was way better, that he could relax and talk to her and walk through the Zanarkand streets at night without a care in the world, as they felt the heat from each other's' bodies mingle with the slight chill from the night air on their skin.

Tidus considered himself pretty loyal to his friends if nothing else. And he'd admit that Yuna was probably more than a friend, so he did what any sensible guy who kind-of-liked a girl does in front of his crazy ex determined to get a rise out of them both and defended Yuna.

"Shut up, Dona. Stop acting as if you know me – Yuna is precious to me and I'm glad I'm done with you." Tidus frowned and held Yuna closer to him. When she cuddled up to him, clearly blushing, just a little he couldn't help the small smile that teased his lips. "You do know you're speaking like this to Braska's daughter right? When she didn't do shit to you. You always assume, you always think you're so much better than anyone else. Just get it through your head that the world doesn't revolve around you, you know?"

His annoyance surfaced when it came to Dona and before he knew it he started to blurt out everything he thought about her, chastising her – all their arguments every time they saw each other started this way.

Yuna backed away form his embrace, and made him proud by maintaining eye contact with the snake. Not many people could maintain eye contact with Dona. She was like Medusa or something, turning those who looked at her the wrong way into stone. Tidus remembered how many favours she weaseled out of him since he was kind of scared of her – the next new purse, those high heels in Luca-made leather, the same brand of makeup that High Summoner Yunalesca once wore, back when she was alive.

Now that he thought about it, Dona made him spend a lot of money on useless things.

"Are you kidding? Just because she is Summoner Braska's daughter doesn't mean anything to me. Not unless she can stand on her own two legs for once. Can't you take a little joke? I know that we're over," Dona stated, hand on her hip. She brushed his complaints off like always, frustratingly enough. She didn't bother to look to Yuna's hurt expression, nor Tidus' predictable frown. "Let's go inside. I should speak to you. It's important – believe me, I have no desire to be here otherwise. Hurry along, Tidus and Braska's little girl, and I'll tell you why I'm here." She said his rather mockingly as she, without an ounce of shame, grabbed Tidus' key that he fished out of his pocket earlier and sashayed to the door, walking in.

"Sorry Yuna, I don't know what she wants now. It's always this or that with her, she's unpredictable and annoying, you know?" Tidus said, defeated, looking to Yuna hoping that she wouldn't hate him now. He knew that'd hurt pretty bad. "I honestly just wanted to talk to you today."

He also forgot that Yuna didn't know what happened between Dona and he before this meeting. He didn't want her to think he was one of those guys her old man must have warned her about hanging around. Hell, he improved since Dona. If anything, he thanked her for evading her type now and not messing around with fans anymore. He knew without her, he would have become a clone of his father.

Yuna shook her head and gave him a small, weak, strained smile. "It's okay, Tidus. Don't worry about this. This Dona… looks like she wants to talk. Let us listen to her, shall we?"

When she followed in after Dona, Tidus wondered if he'd ever catch a break. Not only did he have to deal with Dona, Yuna seemed clearly upset and probably not because Dona was an ex, probably just because she was rude and 'hurt Tidus'. No matter how lovely and caring he found that, he hoped to see Yuna upset because she wanted to be his girl.

Nah, like that'd ever happen. And he didn't like her so much in that way anyway, he just really cared for her. He didn't care at all how much that made him sound like a bumbling schoolgirl. Not at all.

Yuna sat on the couch near Dona, who looked rather bored, examining her nails as she was. Tidus went to go fetch some drinks for himself and Yuna, leaving the two of them alone for the most part, except for the sounds of clinking glasses coming from the kitchen. No matter how Dona spoke to her though, she found it somewhat refreshing to not be seen for her father's accomplishments. She loved her father, but to live under his shadow? No, she wanted to become a summoner good in her own right.

Dona unintentionally helped her. Yuna took a glance at her, noticed her exotic tanned skin, her dark hair, and her confident demeanor and uncanny beauty that she hadn't seen in too many people before. She was beautiful. She wondered whether Tidus still liked her.

"Tidus doesn't like me anymore, girl. I thought it was obvious from the passive-aggressive nature of his comments," Dona said bluntly, looking at Yuna's expression. "You can bang him if you want. It's not like I want a corny sap like him anymore." Yuna flushed at her use of language and Dona smirked. "Sorry, I mean you can walk around while holding hands and go get ice cream together."

Yuna shook her head with a small smile, still looking really embarrassed and said, "That sounds nice. But Tidus and I aren't involved that way."

Someone like her, with someone like him? A Blitzball superstar with a sunny grin and such a desire to make everyone feel comfortable, liked by everyone – she didn't think herself suitable, even if to simply go to the corner store and grab ice cream together.

"You're kidding me? You don't notice how he clings to you like-" Dona started, but got cut off by Tidus' voice. Naturally, the boy didn't want Braska's daughter to know yet, and for her to tell her out of everyone who could.

"Dona, don't tell her shit," Tidus said frantically, knowing what Dona seemed about to say.

He walked in with a beer for himself and a glass of orange juice for Yuna. Then, he took a seat beside her, even though she still remained confused about what was so bad about what Dona said earlier. Yuna looked from Dona's knowing smile to Tidus' apparent embarrassment and wondered what the two of them thought. But, as if trying to distract her from that, he passed her the glass of orange juice with a large smile, so similar to when she first met him on the streets of Zanarkand so long ago, when she lost herself in the throngs of people, when he held her hand and led her back to her dear father.

"Now, Dona, what're you here for. Hurry up and tell me so I can kick you out," Tidus grumbled, popping his can of beer open. He looked highly troubled, and Yuna wondered again whether the problem was solely due to the woman in front of them. He seemed a little glum, and when Tidus told her about his parents before, she realized he had far deeper problems than he let on, selfless.

"I told you, I'm pissed off at Cetan and have grown to favour you," Dona started. Then, with a sly smile, she continued, "I want to tell you what he's planning on doing. Cetan may be a dumbass, but he's a malicious dumbass if you don't watch out – and indeed you haven't been watching out, Tidus."

Yuna looked at Dona curiously, then turned her gaze to Tidus who looked tense. He replied, "Don't tell me… again?"

Dona nodded and said, "Last time you got away unscathed. He just can't stand you being on the same team as him. He was never your friend, you know." She gave him a sharp glare. "If you don't heed my warning seriously, it's your own fault. You know his hero is Jecht, and in that case he can't be your friend. Everything he does is to screw you over – I realize that now." She looked at the floor in deep thought. Yuna wondered how exactly this woman hurt Tidus. She seemed thoughtful, intelligent, and somewhere deep inside, Yuna knew she cared at least a little for Tidus' fate or she wouldn't have come here to warn him about this mysterious plan. Dona looked at Yuna then and advised, "Don't you fall for his charm either. Everything, everything he does is for the sole purpose of giving Tidus a hard time. He might try to get rid of him from the Blitzball team for good this time. He has always been an envious one."

Yuna nodded though she didn't know exactly what she agreed to. "I will," she told her confidently. The woman looked quite pleased. Despite this woman's flaws, she couldn't help but believe her, outstretch her hand and take hers in her own. To protect Tidus, she thought, she had to.

Dona, satisfied, stood up, stretched, and prepared to leave then. Tidus looked at her before she left, seeing perhaps just for a moment why he decided to be with her back in the day other than for her appearance. "Hey, Dona… thanks. I'll watch out."

"Just don't cry. I won't be here to wipe away your crybaby tears, Tidus. Your old man always did call you one, didn't he? I agree," Dona mentioned casually. When he scoffed and mumbled a, 'yeah right, you never wiped my tears away anyway,' Dona laughed and then left the building with the same hardheaded dignity she entered with.

Somehow, with that small interaction, Yuna thought with a smile, that even though problems arose and they didn't get along now, had their fights, that together they did have fun in a way that not many understood, perhaps not even them. She saw that they seemed good together, like salt and pepper shakers put together on the same dinner table, but a little different in that circumstances and personalities pulled them apart, leading to irreparable mistakes. They made a good team – perhaps this would repair that relationship, stitch it together at the seams like it once had been, just a little, she thought, just a little…

Tidus looked at Yuna then, who looked oddly happy despite what just occurred, smiling her small, cute smile that made him gush a little sappily on the inside: something his old man would have mocked him badly for. He imagined him now, 'So, you think you're good enough to be attractin' women now? Nah, you just aren't as good as your old man. You see, me? I had women tailin' after me all the time back in the day, and even now. Your mother gets pretty jealous,' and then he often grew pissed off listening to one of his ego-filled tangents of vanity and grandiosity and his old man would make fun of him more when he began to blubber.

Damn it, sometimes he just had stuff in his eye and he teared up… well, now that he thought about it, it sounded like a shitty excuse.

"She seemed nice," Yuna concluded, giving him a small smile, looking up at him with those different coloured eyes.

The silence was a bit awkward between them, he noted, now that Dona's strong presence just disappeared like the wind. Hell, he always knew that wherever Dona was, a party followed, with streamers and screaming, drunk people. Everyone thought her the life of the party.

"More decent than all the other times she came to visit." Tidus shrugged. Now that he thought about it, she was oddly nice. Creepy, he shuddered. Nice and Dona didn't belong in the same sentence together. "She obviously just wanted to kick Cetan's ass. I can't really disagree with her on that point, even if she did cheat on me."

Suddenly, sitting with Yuna now made him really embarrassed. He didn't know what to say or how to say it without turning into a stuttering mess. And he didn't know what to think about the fact that shy little Yuna somehow took a liking to his manipulative, stubborn ex-girlfriend, even if she did come off nicer than she usually did when she and Tidus just yelled at each other until one caved in.

"She… knows you really well," Yuna started slowly, confusing Tidus just a little. He never really considered someone like Dona actually knowing him, only using him for her own purposes and understanding him in terms of some machina that Rikku's old man built, not as a guy with feelings – even if she claimed he had far too many of those for his own good. Yuna shook her head and said, "I wonder what she meant about Cetan though."

He thought about how to tell her this story, because he really did want to tell her. To comfort himself, and to get Yuna a little closer, because they'd never touch each other otherwise, he swung an arm around her shoulder and pulled her closer to his form on the couch. When Tidus saw her blush, he tried to act cool, but he knew that his own face burned like a stove top, or like the temperature of one of Lulu's char kitchen disasters after they made it off the stove, black, ashy, and breaking apart.

"Don't be so embarrassed, Yuna. We're good friends," Tidus tried to say smoothly, holding Yuna's small form to his. He felt the tendrils of her hair brush his cheek and neck when she nodded hesitantly, relaxing a little, and unwillingly shuddered. Dang, if they were friends, he wouldn't know what to think at all. Yuna gave him all her attention then, leaning on his chest, and his heart warmed.

He sighed happily, glad to get closer to her for once and playing the 'friend card'. He leaned back on the couch a little and then started to comb her hair with his fingers when he began to tell the story of Cetan-the-douche and his backstabbing ways.

"Well, it all started when I joined the Zanarkand Abes, got kind of famous due to my drunk old man and Cetan tried to kick me off the team. Then, after that, we hated each other and still do, you know?" He looked at her, and wanted to call himself stupid and dig a hole to hide in since his words just came out so dumb.

He didn't pride himself on being some great politician or something, since he honestly couldn't even string a couple sentences together without sounding like a tool, but he figured this time, he sounded so stupid that even Yuna wouldn't even be able to think otherwise. Probably like some middle school kid telling his teacher about a fight between him and another student where they both decked each other… or something like that.

Comfortingly, Yuna put a hand on his shoulder and gave him a small smile, urging him to continue. Breathing in a little, he prepared to sound like an idiot then, because he knew Yuna wouldn't judge him. He could be a crybaby, a tool, a complete moron and a frustrated little kid and she'd be there.

"Alright, so it started like this…"

Yeah, Dona maybe never was around to wipe away his tears, but Yuna was – and he was grateful for that. If that girl ever cried, he promised to always make her laugh or something. When she wanted to cry, then laughing would cancel it out or something. He could make stupid faces or something to do that right…

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