16: Bartering
"Jecht! Stop staring!" Rikku planted her elbow into his side.
With a wheeze, Jecht tore his eyes away from the frosty Guado standing at attention near the temple doors. Auron grunted his disapproval at their behavior, and Rikku stilled, drawing the hood of her threadbare cloak closer.
For once, Jecht seemed inclined to do the same and kept his usual antics to a minimum. That probably had less to do with their Guado guard or even Auron's stern eye. It was Macalania Temple itself which inspired a feeling of gravity in its visitors. Not that there was anyone else to impress – apart from the clergy who maintained the temple, the only other people Rikku saw were the stern Guado guards.
The atmosphere was quiet but for the ever-present Hymn and the soft ringing of the ice surrounding them – and even that was muted by heavy velvet banners of Yevon decorating the crystalline walls.
"You would do well not to antagonize the Guado," Auron murmured once they were out of the guard's range. "They've only been initiated into the church recently. There are still many disbelievers among them and they're extremely secretive. They prefer to keep the details of their culture and settlements to themselves, and they look upon outsiders with suspicion."
"In other words, even if they're guardin' the place, the Church don't trust 'em yet, right?" Jecht crossed his arms.
"And neither should we," Auron replied. "Don't go looking for trouble, because this is one place you're likely to find it."
Rikku made a face at Auron's choice of words, but bit her tongue and kept her opinions to herself. He was right, after all - the Guado of this time were still a proud, hostile people whose greatest amount of contact with the rest of Spira was relegated to their Blitzball team. That they were allowed to guard the temple at all was a surprising concession on the part of the Yevonites, and a testament to Lord Jyscal's powerful influence over his own people. Seymour's father was not yet a Maester, Rikku knew, but he'd already married into humanity and adopted Yevon's teachings as his own. Judging from the guards' attitudes, she could only wonder at the reaction that must have caused among their tightly-knit community.
"You should not say such things, Auron," Braska interrupted, giving Auron a reproving look. "The Guado are doing their best to understand us, and it is only fair that we observe the same courtesy."
"Yes, Lord Braska, forgive me." Auron looked uncomfortable and as convinced of the Guado's good intentions as Rikku felt. She wondered how Braska could turn a blind eye to the other race's obvious hostility.
"They don't look like they're tryin' too hard to me," Jecht said. "Did you see the look that one twisty-haired feller gave us when we came in? I thought he was gonna stick us with his pike just for showin' up!"
"They all have twisty hair, Jecht."
Jecht snorted. "An' they all gave us that look, too. Especially you, Blondie. If it weren't for Sin, I'm guessin' your people would be winnin' the competition for Spira's Most Unpopular." His look softened and his tone became somewhat less belligerent. "Don't it bug you sometimes?"
Not just sometimes, Rikku thought, tightening her grip on her cloak. She opened her mouth to make a glib reply, but stopped short when she caught sight of Auron. Was he watching her? What for? It wasn't like Jecht made a particularly ground-breaking observation there. Rikku shrugged. "You get used to it," she said.
"You should not have to," Braska murmured, killing Rikku's chance to divert the unpleasant conversation into a more light-hearted direction. An uncomfortable silence followed, one that was made heavier by the stillness of the temple.
Rikku suppressed a flinch, her eyes darting to the center of the room - the place where Yuna and her team had confronted both Seymour and the warped remainder of his mother. This will always be the place where we first killed more than just a fiend – where everything started going wrong, even worse than it was before. It didn't matter that Seymour had been trying to kill them, that Yevon's religion was as warped and twisted as Anima, or even that the act itself wouldn't occur for another decade. To Rikku, the very stones of the floor oozed guilty memories.
"I'm being paranoid," Rikku mumbled, trying to hide within the folds of her cloak.
"Whatever," Jecht said. "I still think these Guado guys make the guards back in Bevelle look like amateurs." He took another look around the nearly-empty temple. "Why are we the only ones here, anyway? Those guards scarin' all the other visitors away?"
"Well..." Braska said, "In a manner of speaking, yes. The remote location of this particular temple, coupled with the oddity of the new Guado initiates has made Macalania one of the least popular stops of any Pilgrimage. The Summoners that do venture here generally prefer not to linger."
The slight undercurrent of anger in Braska's tone caused Rikku more surprise that she had expected; it wasn't really that odd to discover that her uncle felt strongly about more than just the Al Bhed cause. That he would defend the xenophobic Guado annoyed Rikku, and, on a much deeper level than she would've liked to admit, made her feel even more guilty.
Why does he have to be so good all the time? Rikku thought with frustration. She glanced at Braska to see Auron reaching out to rest his hand on the Summoner's back.
"You alone cannot change the way an entire people think. Especially not when they..." he inclined his head back towards the guards, "do not want or even welcome your assistance."
Braska's jaw twitched, and then his shoulders dropped as he let out an audible breath. "I know," he replied, sounding tired. "I have already tried, after all."
"Then concentrate on fulfilling your own duty and leave the philosophical questions for others," Auron replied, pushing Braska towards the door to the inner sanctum. "Maybe one day the tension with the Guado will disappear. Today is not that day. Your only task now is to gain the power of the Fayth. Let the Guado take care of Guado problems."
Braska straightened, wiping away his disappointment and settling his face into a passive mask. "You are right, of course. Come, let us make our way to the Cloister of Trials." He lead them up the steps towards the heavy double doors, and with a perfunctory nod to the priest, passed through.
The temperature of the room behind the doors was frigid. Rikku watched the plume of her white breath rise in front of her when she sighed. "And here I was getting used to feeling my toes again."
"Whoa..." Jecht stared at the snow-covered platform they'd stepped onto. "This ain't anything like that other place! It's kinda like bein' outside, huh? So... what're we supposed to do here?"
A very relevant question, Rikku had to admit; apart from a few large snow drifts scattered around the platform, the Cloister presented few clues as to where to begin.
"Well... I suppose we could start with that," Braska said, pointing his staff at one glowing sphere set into the niche of a tall column. Auron strode forward before anyone else could and faced the group.
"Allow me to handle the spheres. We still don't know what the nature of the trial that awaits us will be." He turned his attention to Rikku and lifted an eyebrow. "Will you be so kind as to assist me, Rikkma?"
Rikku peered at Auron from under the shadows of her hood. "Hey, why me? Why not ask Jecht?"
"Ask Jecht for help?" Auron repeated, his gaze shifting to the man. Jecht looked up from where he was squatting, as he carefully placed his weapon on the snow.
"You talkin' to me or about me?" Jecht asked, straightening up and testing the sword with a pink-booted foot. Seeing the others' incredulous looks, he scratched the back of his head. " 'Sup?"
"What the heck are you doing?" Rikku asked for everyone else.
"Oh, this?" Jecht looked back down at his sword. "Snow-swordin'! What else?" His smile dropped when Auron's glare intensified. "What? It's not like the Stiff over there is gonna ask me for help. Might as well have a little fun, right?"
"... right," Auron finished for him, turning a smug eye back towards Rikku.
"Auron, please. It might actually be enjoyable to unlock the puzzle this time." Braska smiled helpfully.
"It's too dangerous," Auron said, and Rikku resisted the urge to smack her forehead. It wasn't that she wanted to slow down their progress… I just hate this temple. It felt a little unfair, too - when it came to the Cloister of Trials, Rikku was a walking cheat sheet. She huffed; even if Braska was destined to obtain every last aeon, that didn't mean she was going to make it any easier for him.
"Oh, come off it, Auron!" Rikku said, exasperated. "It's not like Braska's gonna break if he does a little work. Besides, isn't this supposed to test a Summoning party's worthiness to receive the aeon? Correct me if I'm wrong here, but I always figured the Summoner was the most important part of that party."
Auron's scowl deepened as a grateful smile appeared on Braska's face. "Thank you for your support, Rikkma," Braska said. "Now if only Auron could have your faith in me as well..."
Ouch, Rikku thought as she smirked at Auron. Braska really knew how to hit below the belt.
Auron grimaced and then sighed. "Fine. You may accompany us, Lord Braska, but stand back and don't touch the spheres until we've determined they're safe." He turned towards the pillar and stopped again with a distinct look of impatience at Rikku's obvious hesitation.
"Umm, actually, why don't you two try it by yourselves? I've got something I need to do over here," she said.
"Yeah! Get Auron to lend you his blade!" Jecht hollered as he sailed by, balancing expertly on his sword. He twisted to a stop next to her.
"Jecht," Rikku sang as she felt Auron glowering at them both. "You're not helping! Go... swordboard over there." She shooed him away. Getting moral support from Jecht was too much like painting a bull's-eye on your back.
"And no, I don't wanna slack off just to screw around," Rikku added, fishing out her supply pouch and dangling it in front of Auron's nose. "I wanna check out the loot we collected during our break. I need a little alone space to do it, and I think you guys are gonna be busy, right?" She tried her best to ignore Auron's disapproval. Braska came to her rescue.
"Auron, let Rikkma stay behind this time. She must be weary from our travels, and I for one am looking forward to this challenge." His tone was soft, but the command was clear. "I am sure we can manage this one by ourselves."
"Hnn," Auron said. "Very well. Stay alert and keep an eye on Jecht. If the need for battle arises, I expect both of you to be prepared." He paused, and Rikku wondered why he hadn't dragged Braska off towards the pillar. Then she watched with surprise as he reached into his coat and flung a tattered pouch at her. Catching it, she heard the familiar jingle of coin in her hands.
"You're trusting me with the money?" Rikku blurted out before she could stop herself.
Auron's lips twitched with a hint of humor. "You might as well count it while you're tallying our inventory," he told her. "Besides, I haven't seen very many places for you to waste it here." The smile dropped off and a more familiar expression of annoyance returned as Auron regarded the pillar with the sphere. "Let's get to it," he told Braska, who nodded.
"Auron," Rikku called out before he walked away. She beckoned him closer, ignoring his look of confusion. "I'm real sorry I can't help out this time," she said, and then lowered her voice when Braska glanced their way. "... but if you find another one of those... y'know... pink spheres, maybe you could give it to me before Braska sees it."
Auron's eyes widened in understanding. "You... you believe we'll find another one here," he murmured, and Rikku tried to tell herself it was the cold that made her shiver then.
"I'm just saying in case you find one," Rikku replied, feeling her guilt once more.
Auron stared at her, and Rikku fidgeted.
"No. You're certain we'll find one," he stated. "You want me to protect Braska. How do you know of these spheres and what they are doing here, in the Temple?"
Rikku swallowed. "Braska's starting to wonder what the hold-up is," she told him, meeting his flinty gaze. "Keep this up and you'll be hand-feeding Jecht even more material to throw at us. Or am I really that fascinating?" She batted her eyelashes at him.
"Fascinating isn't the first word I'd choose," Auron replied, but he did back away. "One of these days you won't be able to slip by my questions. I'll do as you ask for now. For Braska's sake. But I warn you, my patience isn't infinite."
"Grumpy," Rikku muttered as he stomped away, wondering what explanation he gave to Braska, who was now watching them with interest. Well, there was nothing she could do about Auron's suspicions at the moment, and besides - what she told him hadn't been a complete lie.
After stomping on the snow to pack it, Rikku settled on the ground and dumped the contents of her pouch out before her. Despite all the back-breaking teamwork between herself and Auron on the snowfields, their supply of items was still meager. There were a few gems in the assortment of goods they'd managed to win or steal from fiends since the start of their journey - the crowning one being the small bottle of swirling, black wind from the Espada. Rikku put that away first, unwilling to let the Farplane Wind throw her into another strange trance. It was much too precious to waste on what she had in mind, anyway. She sorted through the remaining goods and frowned at the results.
"A few potions... fine... a couple of hi-potions... those will come in handy," she noted, tucking them away. "Hmm... hey, we actually have ethers!" Rikku squealed with delight. She counted them and then frowned, placing the vials aside. Stabbing her finger into the snow, she drew a careful circle around them. "Let's see what else we've got," she continued, grabbing a few more items. "Fish scales... fish scales... and more fish scales. Geez, these things are worthless!"
She threw the small handful into the circle, and then sifted through the remaining glass vials. "Maybe this isn't so bad… some musk, a couple of hypello potions... is that an arctic wind?" Her eyes lit with glee as one small marble rolled away from the rest of the items, crackling with energy. "A lightning marble! Somebody up there loves me!" She picked up the tiny bead and kissing it, wincing as it shocked her on the lips.
Once the rest of the items were either packed away in her bags or sorted into what Rikku was starting to call her "magic circle," she reached into her travel pack and laid out the real reasons she had asked to stay behind.
The metal glinted against the white snow, practically screaming with potential at her. Rikku grinned and fingered the silver necklace, the one she had whittled into the shape of Jecht's tattoo. "Alright! It's tinker time!"
Pulling a few tools out of her belt, she squinted in concentration and began to work, falling into the single-minded trance required of any skilled Al Bhed synthesist.
In what seemed like moments later, a shadow fell over her, and Rikku hissed in irritation. "You're blocking my light," she grumbled. When the shadow refused to move, Rikku grunted and pushed her bangs away from her eyes, searching for the source of her distraction. She did a double-take as she noticed Auron's quizzical expression. "What the... hey, I thought you and Braska were gonna solve the Trials! Why're you back already? What gives?"
"I told ya, she's been like that for a while now." Rikku whipped her head around, finally noticing Jecht, who was sitting cross-legged behind her rather than sledding across the snow on his sword. From his bored expression and the way his chin was planted into his palm, it seemed like he'd been there for a while. "At first I thought she was havin' one of them seizures, but I don't think she could be weldin' like that if she wasn't all here."
"Welding?" Auron lifted an eyebrow.
Rikku blinked. "Huh? Oh, this is just a little something I carry around with me," she explained, waving the small tool in her hand. "I picked it up in Bevelle! It's not up to Al Bhed standards, but it'll do in a pinch."
"Do what?" Auron asked.
"Solder, dummy. It is a soldering iron," she replied with a smirk. It was getting a bit easier to orient herself; from the crick in her neck and the uncomfortable damp of melted snow under her butt, Rikku figured that she'd lost track of more time than she thought during her work. She stretched, taking in her surroundings and noting with some approval that Auron and Braska had managed to make progress - if the shifting locations of the various ice pillars and snow drifts were any indication of success. "Hey, where's Braska?"
"Braska is on the lower level of this puzzle chamber, piecing together our next step." As he spoke, Auron discreetly pulled a shining pink sphere out from the depths of his coat and displayed it to Rikku, who mouthed a small "Oh!" of understanding. "But what are you doing?" he asked, hiding the sphere as he looked over the no-longer-quite-silver jewellery that was scattered around her.
"Well, you didn't think I bought all this decoration for nothing, did you?" Rikku picked up another vial and put the finishing touches on the circlet with her soldering iron. "There. Braska and Jecht's stuff is done. I even made a bracelet for myself!" Rikku proudly displayed the blue bangle dangling off her wrist. "Of course, I didn't make you anything, Auron, since you didn't want anything." Seeing their confused looks, Rikku grinned at her two companions and waved the small tool at them. "Didn't I tell you guys? I'm a synthesist."
"I'm not familiar with the term." Auron crouched in the snow beside her and plucked the circlet out of her hands.
Rikku concealed a faint smile of pride at his look of surprise; Cid always said she was one of the best. Being able to create a good, stable armor required more than just the know-how; like most Al Bhed inventions, it also took a bit of luck and a fair amount of creativity - things that she had in spades.
"Synthesis. It's what we Al Bhed do to create our superior weapons and armor," she explained, enjoying the flash of annoyance that stole across Auron's face. "Oh, don't be such a grouch. I'd be happy to synthesize something for you, too, if you'd just leave me your bracer."
" 'ey now! Stop flirtin' with Auron and show me what you made me!" Jecht said, pushing between them. "I know I heard my name in there somewhere!"
Rikku snickered and selected the necklace, which she handed to Jecht. "I call this the Serene," she told him. "Because you're always complaining about the cold," she added, flicking the pendant and causing it to spin. As it did, a few bright blue sparks jumped from the metal and swirled around it before fading away. "It'll keep you from going berserk if a fiend hits you the wrong way, and it has a little frost-guard in it, too. It's not much, but just put it on and you shouldn't feel so cold anymore."
"This looks just like my tattoo!" Jecht caught the pendant and let out a low whistle. "How'd you do it?"
"I looked," Rikku replied, digging a finger into Jecht's chest. She drew it back when a lewd smile spread across his face.
"I knew you were ooglin' my chest that time!" he crowed. "Sorry, Auron, didn't mean to be movin' in on your girl like that, but I really am too sexy for a shirt." He smirked as he donned the necklace.
Auron covered his eyes and Rikku planted her palm right into Jecht's face and shoved him away. "Dream on, horndog. That tattoo of yours is more like an eyesore that can't be avoided. But hey, maybe now that pendant will distract a few people before they hurt their eyes!"
Jecht stretched out, a lazy grin on his face. "Yeah, yeah. Get in line, you know ya want me."
Sighing wearily, Auron renewed his observation of the circlet. "And this is for Braska...?" Seeing Rikku's nod, he rotated the piece in his hands. "What does it do?"
"Well," she began, feeling nervous. Auron's stern, probing expression hearkened back to the older, intimidating man from Yuna's Pilgrimage whom she was more familiar with. She received the fleeting impression of being graded on her efforts, and cleared her throat. "It's just a little something I threw together to make casting easier for Braska. I hope you don't mind, but I used up all of our ethers on it." Auron's face remained just as unreadable as before, and Rikku plowed on. "Uh, and, I also used a few sleeping powders, too. That should keep him awake if a sleeper fiend attacks!" She trailed off and worried her lower lip, waiting for Auron to pronounce judgement on her efforts.
"... and you need my bracer, you said?" he asked, looking up at her.
Rikku's eyes grew round. Was he saying what she thought he was saying? Not only was he trusting her with the money, but also with their protection. She scrambled for an appropriate reaction. Gratitude? But that would imply she was a suck-up - and to a former Yevonite, of all people. Then again, it was Auron, the not-yet-legendary Guardian, giving her his vote of confidence. What was the appropriate reaction to have?
Unfortunately, while Rikku's mind was stalling, once again her mouth decided to open and answer the question for her independent of her brain. "Actually, what I really need is your sword and Braska's staff, too." She winced. Oh, that wasn't quite what I meant to say…
"You want our weapons," Auron said slowly. "You want to disarm us and experiment on our weapons." He set the circlet down.
"When you put it like that…" She grimaced. "... yeah?"
"Well, she got balls," Jecht muttered behind them.
A chilly silence rose, and then Auron reached towards his chest and unfastened the buckles there. The heavy sheath on his back clattered to the ground; it was followed by the bracer on his arm. "Braska can decide for himself whether or not to lend you his staff when he returns," Auron said. "I trust you won't damage my sword. If you do, I assure you that I can find other things to stick you with."
A damning silence fell as Auron realized what he'd said. He whirled around to Jecht, eyes narrowed. "Open that mouth of yours…"
Jecht's smug smirk said more than enough as he pantomimed zipping his lips.
Rikku, for her part, tried to stop her face from self-combusting. I can't believe he said that! "Uh, sure Auron. Anytime, I think?" She glued her eyes to the equipment Auron had dropped to avoid his reaction. "You know, it's gonna take me a while to get used to this."
"Get used to what?" Jecht asked, scooting closer to her. "Havin' the Stiff at your beck and call?" He snickered and Rikku zapped Jecht on the shin with her soldering iron. "Oww! Damn it, Blondie! What the hell was that for?"
"Why don't you go help out Braska?" Rikku told him. She brandished the iron in a clear threat when Jecht opened his mouth to protest. "I don't care how you feel; get motivated or else!"
"A woman with balls ain't always a good thing," Jecht groused as he stood up. He trudged past a smirking Auron, pausing only to mutter "At least she ain't my problem. Just behave, kiddos - I don't think Yevon approves of doggin' in the temples."
Rikku waited until he was gone before she spoke again. "Jecht's an okay guy when he can keep his mouth shut. Which is like never!" Rolling her eyes, Rikku put the iron down and turned her attention to Auron, beckoning him closer.
After a moment of hesitation, he approached her and sunk to one knee.
"What I meant was... well, it's gonna take a while to get used to this," Rikku said. "You know. Being one of you. Being... trusted." She wondered what he thought of her confession; Auron had a killer poker face.
Auron said nothing for a long moment, and Rikku caught herself studying the curves of his youthful face and comparing it to her memories.
"When you look at me that way," he said, and Rikku snapped her eyes back to his. "Who are you seeing?"
Rikku shook her head at him.
"It isn't just Raenn, is it. I remind you of someone. He is the reason you're here with us. This man who was taken by Sin."
Unable to answer him, Rikku could only nod.
Auron sighed and looked away from her. "His memory binds you to the past. That's why you feel you don't belong with us."
To the future, Rikku corrected. But she watched in fascination as Auron continued to speak. This time, he was reaching out to her, and she wasn't going to do anything to jeopardize the moment - even if it was fulfilling the very guilty desire he was trying to advise her against.
"You shouldn't let obsession with the dead rule your life. You have potential. Live for yourself instead of your memories. Be more than a simple thief and exile." He gestured at his sword and armor. "Rikku. All jests aside, I trust you. You've proven that trust to be well-founded. Why, then, are you surprised?"
"Say, what'd you do with the Auron I know?" Rikku asked, a small smile crossing her face. "What's with the pep talk? I think Braska's rubbing off on you." Her smile clouded as Auron's gaze grew fierce. He caught her wrist and held it still.
"And again, you try to deflect the conversation with your jokes." He sighed in frustration. "I want you to understand what I'm trying to tell you, Rikku. I want you to be able to move on."
Rikku held his gaze. "Why?" she asked, her breath hitching. "Is it because you want me to move on?" Do you want me?
Auron didn't answer her for a long moment. "I don't want you looking at me as though I am someone else," he replied. "I'm not. You can't recreate the past out of memories and your own desires. You asked if we were friends, before. I want to be, Rikku, but it's not easy if you don't see me for who I am."
"It's not that simple." She reached up and traced the outline of his future scar across his face, stopping when he flinched away. "I know that you can't get back what you lost," she said bitterly. Not unless your name is Yuna. "But I can't just drop everything and start over again." With you, she added to herself.
"Why not?" he asked. "A Pilgrimage is a fresh start for some. A last chance for others. It's a vehicle for change. Will you not even try?"
Who was this man, holding her wrist and making her heart race as he probed her with his questions? This wasn't the cool, distanced legend of memory; the stoic, self-sacrificing, hard-assed hero she had journeyed with before. This man was infinitely more dangerous; just as hard-assed as she remembered, but full of something she hadn't even realized the other Auron was missing – a passion and vitality that refused to remain hidden, either in his brief flares of temper or now, in his searching gaze. Suddenly scared, she refused to answer him. You want to go home, Rikku reminded herself sternly. And every Fayth you meet is a chance to do just that.
"Well, then," Auron said, dropping her wrist when she didn't answer. His voice lost its warmth; he withdrew the destruction sphere from his cloak and handed it over. "Then can you at least explain this? How did you know it would be here?"
Rikku gripped the sphere tightly. Her relationship with Auron was one of bartering, she realized. He had just given her more than she ever expected to receive. Trust him, her mind whispered, he's Auron. He won't break apart. She nodded slowly. "These things... they're called destruction spheres," Rikku explained. "They're created by the Temples, just like all the other spheres."
"How can a thing of such evil exist in a Temple of Yevon?" Auron asked.
Rikku sighed. How to explain it all without sending Auron into a religious crisis? "It's not a question of good or evil," she said. "In case you haven't noticed, the Church of Yevon isn't all smiles and sunshine. I... well, I don't really know for sure how everything works, but the temples reflect the Church. And the Church has its dark side, too."
She shivered as she thought of the festering hatred and hopelessness that had created Anima. But in the end, despite its evil, Yuna mastered that summon, just as she had every other known aeon. "There's a little bit of darkness in every Temple, but it's how the Summoners use their aeons that matters in the end."
"So we should expect to find these pockets of evil in every temple we visit?"
"Pockets of profit," Rikku said, climbing to her feet. "If you find the right place to plant the sphere, something good will happen for sure. Now let's see..."
Auron reached for his equipment when she stood up, but Rikku waved him down. "Don't bother. There won't be any fiends in the Cloisters. It's never a physical challenge, you know?"
"No, I don't," Auron said. "My question is, how do you?" Stopping, he looked her over with newfound interest. "You were telling the truth in the forest that night, weren't you. You really were an Al Bhed Guardian."
"I still am," Rikku told him with a slight smile. "Now come on, I don't really remember where this thing is supposed to fit, but we don't want Braska seeing it." She set off, approaching the first empty sphere slot she could find. Wedging it in, they waited, but nothing happened.
"That's not it," she mumbled, removing the sphere and moving on to the next column. "How many of these niches did you find, anyway? We might have to test them all..." Rikku trailed off as she slotted the sphere into the recess and a blaze of pink spiralled down into the floor. "Or not. Jackpot!"
"That light... it's moving directly towards Braska and Jecht," Auron noted, his eyes widening as they traced the path of the glow. He reached for the sword that he normally kept on his back and closed his hand around empty air, then cursed. The sound of a loud crash echoed through the hall, followed by Jecht's yell.
"Oww! What the hell was that?"
"Jecht!" Braska's voice sounded strained. "Do you think you might be able to stand - oomph - someplace other than my back?"
"Well, I guess Jecht is fine. I dunno about Braska though," Rikku observed. "I bet that explosion uncovered a treasure box, too!" she continued with excitement. "Whatever it is, I call dibs on a fourth of the booty!"
Auron let out a barely restrained sigh. "I'm surrounded by infants," he muttered to himself, stalking towards the plateau leading to the lower level of the cloister. He paused as Rikku pulled on his coat. "What is it?"
"Umm..." Rikku beat down her rising blush. "Thanks. For lots of things," she said. "What you asked me to do - it's not exactly easy for me. But I've thought about what you said, and I really want to get to know you."
Auron inclined his head towards her. "I look forward to it."
"Well… you better get going now. I wanna finish your stuff before we leave here."
He nodded at her, and Rikku watched Auron until he disappeared. Returning to her own workstation, she looked down at his sword and bracer.
"I guess I saved the best for last," she murmured. Her smile slid off her face as a hand crept to her belt, lingering over the Samurai sphere. "You know, I don't wanna to fall in love with you, not now." Shaking her head, Rikku cracked her knuckles and settled on the ground, grabbing Auron's bracer. "Well... it isn't the time for this." She let out a panicked giggle. "Definitely not the time."
edited 7/16: there were a lot of small but subtle tweaks to Auron and Rikku's conversation that are probably worth reading again.