! Warning! Mature content! The fully uncensored version can be found on AO3. !

Chapter 17: The Celsius

"Missing? What do you mean he's missing?"

Rikku heaved a sigh. "I mean he got away. Sorry, I got a little distracted by the big boom over Bevelle!"

Gippal groaned, rubbing his forehead. "So Berrik got away again. Great. Just great. You know he'll be back, right?"

"I know already! Stop being a jerk about it! I'm the one he'll be coming after anyway." Puffing out her cheeks, Rikku stomped through the doors leading to the bridge.

"Hey Rikku." Buddy didn't look up from the controls on his panel, which were all flashing alarmingly red. "Thanks for doing what you did out there."

"No problem. How's the ship?" she asked, moving in to get a closer look at the warnings on the view screen. She stopped when the hairs on the back of her neck prickled and looked up.

Brother was staring down at her, his mouth twisted and his eyes boring into her balefully.

"… Hey?" she tried. "So the good news is we lived!" Brother didn't stop glowering, so she glanced around the cockpit. "Umm… where's Calli?"

"Calli is treating her wounds." Brother transferred his glare to Gippal. "Did you know about this?"

"Know about what?" Gippal asked, his face carefully blank as he resettled himself at the other control panel.

Stabbing his finger at her, Brother's voice rose in pitch. "This! This… new dressphere Rikku is wearing! Where did you find it? How did Berrik get one too? What is it?!"

"It's a story for later," Rikku said tiredly, ignoring his theatrics. "How long until we reach the city?"

"Well, with the damage we took, it's a miracle we're still flying," Buddy said. "I figure we can reach the palace in another five minutes or so, though."

"You're gonna dock there to do the repairs?" Rikku wondered how much goodwill Shelinda had left for the Celsius after weathering the Al Bhed attack that decimated parts of her city.

"It's not like we have a choice," Buddy said, the first hints of anger clipping his usually laid-back tone. "I can't believe they actually shot at us! What the hell were they thinking? We're all Al Bhed here!"

"I can't believe Yuna's aeon destroyed Spira's only other airship," Gippal answered, shaking his head. "All that ancient tech… gone, just like that. Vaporized."

Brother scowled. "Yuna did what she had to do. It was the right choice!"

Rikku sighed, planting her hands on her hips. "Are you serious right now? Calli went out there and got shot for you, and you're still obsessing about Yunie? She's married! When are you going to grow up?"

Brother flushed red but had no answer for her, sinking low into his piloting chair. "Thank you," he mumbled. "You were a big help."

Some of her ire faded. "You weren't so bad yourself. Leave me off the ship the next time you want to ram something out of the sky, though," she added pointedly.

They shared a brief, knowing smile – despite how annoying he could get, he was still her brother. The relief at seeing him – and the rest of the Gullwings, really – alive and healthy after that showdown did a lot to mitigate their ongoing disagreements. She knew from the way he rolled his eyes and huffed, refocusing on the horizon, that he felt the same way about her.

"I'm gonna be on deck," she told the others, backing away. "I wanna take a look at the city while we pass over it."

"Don't fall off," Gippal called out after her as she left.

.x.x.x.

The palace was just as busy as when they'd left, though at least the excitement seemed more controlled this time. Shelinda was back in her office, her two beefy guards standing by her doorway as if nothing had changed. Snow even tipped a finger at her, winking.

Inside, Shelinda wasn't so relaxed. On the bright side, she wasn't mad at Rikku. On the downside, Yuna was there. Her cousin was unusually reticent and the rims of her eyes were tinged with red.

"What's going on here?" Rikku asked, glancing between the two women.

"Lady Rikku! Good that you're here. Maybe you can talk some sense into her," Shelinda said by way of greeting. "Your cousin, after that masterful display of power, simply refuses to ascend to her seat as a Maester." Her hands clasped together and she performed the Yevonite bow as she turned back to Yuna. "My lady. You are a High Summoner without peer. How can you possibly turn your back on your divine duty as the protector of Spira?"

The pained look in Yuna's eyes told Rikku everything she needed to know. "Okay, that's enough." Stepping up to Yuna's side, she grabbed her cousin's elbow and jostled her towards the door. "You know you sounded just like Berrik right now?" she growled at Shelinda.

"Wha— why, I never! No such disrespect was meant, High Summoner! But you cannot deny the power which you wielded to defend our city. We all saw it!"

Yuna bit her lip. "You don't even understand what you saw," she said softly. "I'm sorry. But my decision is final. This has all been too much. I'll still help you train your Senders, but I just can't anymore. I can't join the Church again. This isn't the life I wanted."

Shelinda's lips pursed, and then she bowed deeply once again. "Of course, High Summoner. Please, take as much time as you require. Bevelle will be awaiting your happy news once you see the light of revelation."

Grimacing, Rikku escorted Yuna out the door. "Hey," she whispered, leaning in. "Are you alright? Where is everybody else?"

Yuna took a shuddering sigh, then glanced around the corridor. "Not here," she whispered. They speed-walked their way back towards Yuna's private chambers; it was disturbing how many of the people milling around the hallways stopped to drop everything and stare at Yuna in awe. Some reached out in the hopes of receiving a blessing. Still others simply performed the bow and remained low, waiting.

"This… is kinda creepy," Rikku whispered back, eying the faithful. On the plus side, none of them were giving her the stink-eye, so at least this new form of Yuna worship hadn't devolved back into Al Bhed hating, despite Berrik's best efforts.

"Yeah." Yuna visibly relaxed when her doors came into view. "Let's get inside before they start bowing again."

Once the double doors shut behind them, Yuna leaned against them and thumped her head backwards, closing her eyes. "I just want to go home."

"Where's Paine in all of this?" Rikku asked, crossing her arms. "Heck, where's Tidus?"

Yuna looked up sharply at the last. "I was hoping you could tell me. He… he disappeared after he was finished as… as that…"

"Alexander," Rikku supplied. "He calls himself Alexander when he's in that form. What do you mean he disappeared?"

Yuna trembled, making her way towards her bed and all but collapsing into it. "I mean exactly what I said. He promised. He promised he'd stay with me, but then he had to change, and afterwards… he was just gone." Rikku could hear the tears underneath Yuna's words; her uncertainty coming back full force.

"Yunie," she sighed, settling next to her and pulling her into a hug. "Tidus isn't that fragile. I think he used his overdrive for the first time in that form. I bet he's just sleeping it off right now. He'll come back to you when he's rested."

"Yes… but how long will that take? And where is he now?"

Rikku closed her eyes, thinking of how even Tidus hadn't known where his Fayth stone was stored. "He's off the coast of Besaid somewhere, I'm sure of it. Somewhere near where you first found him. And he's tougher than you think. I say you should go back to Besaid and whistle for him. I betcha he'll come running faster than I can say 'I told you so!'"
Yuna let out a watery laugh at Rikku's enthusiasm. "You really think so?"

Some of her manic cheer faded as Rikku touched her chest and inhaled deeply. "I know so. I think… we'd all feel it, if one of the others really disappeared forever. Just the way you would." She removed her hand and tapped it against Yuna's breastbone. "You know he's still alive. And we both know he loves you way too much to stay away forever. Have faith in him. He'll be back before you know it."

Sniffing heavily, Yuna patted at her eyes and cheeks, trying to soothe away the redness from her crying. "Thanks, Rikku. That... actually makes me feel a little better."

"No problem. Besides, Shelinda's getting all creepy on you. It's time to make a fast exit before another cult springs up."

Nodding, Yuna grimaced. "This is reminding me of the early days when the factions were competing to get me to join them."

"What can I say? People are greedy and tasteless. Take it from a front-row offender."

That finally wrought a laugh out of Yuna. "You're being ridiculous. You know you're not that bad."

Rikku huffed. "I know, but I have a reputation to keep up here. So shh! This is my way of repelling stray worshipers too, you know?"

Yuna giggled softly. She stopped as she considered Rikku, her smile fading. "It's okay if you don't want to wait here with me, you know. I know you want to find Auron. Paine will be coming by soon, she just needed to visit her Guardians for a report before returning to me. She's a natural-born leader."

Rikku huffed in agreement. "Why couldn't she be the one attracting all the followers, huh? Paine would know how to handle them."

Yuna nodded. She glanced at Rikku. "Do you think it's over now? The Restorationist movement, I mean?"

"The movement might be. But Berrik got away again." She raised her hands at Yuna's stricken look. "Hey, remember what Jecht said? This isn't your problem. If he comes back, he'll be coming back for revenge against me. And when that happens, we'll be ready."

"But how are you going to Send him?" Yuna twisted her hands together. "He'll just keep returning, stronger and more fiendish every time you fight him."

"It won't be like it was with Seymour," Rikku assured her. "I think Berrik's grown powerful enough to resist a Sending by now anyhow," she grumbled, thinking of his dressphere. "We'd have to soften him up with a fight first anyway, and by that point… eh. Might as well just drag him by force back to the Farplane anyhow and toss him in."

Yuna giggled at the image. "I suppose that could work. But promise me you'll call if you need me." She cast her eyes down. "I just can't stay here. Not when everyone is looking at me like I could save them."

They sat for a moment in silence, which was soon broken by a knock sounding from the door. Before either of them could stand up, they swung inward.

"Yuna! Rikku! Are you hurt?" Paine strode into the room, her eyes roving over them looking for any obvious signs of injury. Finding none on Rikku, she focused on Yuna instead.

"I'm fine," Yuna said demurely. The catch in her voice clued Paine into the fact that Yuna wasn't, really, and she approached the bed quickly. "It's Tidus, isn't it. Where is he?"

Yuna squeezed her eyes shut, and Paine let out a sigh and settled next to the other girl, encompassing her in a hug. As she did so, she looked over Yuna's shoulder at Rikku.

"Auron was with me until just now. He's making his way to the Celsius. He thinks you're on it. If you hurry, you can catch him."

"Yeah, but…" Rikku glanced at Yuna, who was still leaning against Paine and looking exhausted.

"I've got this. And I think maybe you should find Auron," Paine added, a note of warning in her voice.

"Yes ma'am," Rikku said, springing to her feet. She was nearly out the door when Paine stopped her.

"Did you get Berrik?"

"No." She turned part-way, and gave Paine a tight smile. "But that jerk is the least of my problems right now."

Leaving, she raced down the corridors, opting to sprint up the long stairs rather than wait for one of Bevelle's lifts. Paine's softly-delivered order had her imagining the worst. Is Auron's eye glowing? Did he threaten the clergy in the Palace? Is he going to attack the Gippal or the Gullwings once he realizes I'm not on the Celsius? The fears pooling in her mind sped her feet, and she flew up the staircase so quickly she nearly crashed into Auron's back face-first when she came across him unexpectedly.

He turned and caught her before they could go tumbling down yet another set of stairs. "Rikku," he breathed, and she looked up in time to see the grey receding from his hair.

Oh. She reached up, smoothing away some of the deep lines on his exposed cheek and impatiently tore off the headdress hiding the rest of his face from her. "You got older again."

"I was worried." He crushed her against him. "I didn't know what was happening when the Fahrenheit exploded. I thought they might have destroyed the Celsius first." His grip loosened marginally as he pushed her back to inspect her. "You're hurt," he said, brushing his knuckles against the tender spot on her chin.

Soothing white magic flowed through her from his whispered spell, easing the dull ache. He stroked a finger down her jaw, repeating the spell again and only relaxing when he was satisfied with the results. As he dropped his hand, he met her gaze. "I think I worried your friend Paine."

"I'll say," Rikku agreed. "The way she put it, I thought you were going full fiend on me."

Auron twitched, his stern expression packing the years that he'd just melted off in her embrace back onto his face. "Don't joke about that. It's a real danger. At least Braska's seal is still holding."

Grabbing his hand, Rikku led him up the steps at a more sedate pace. "Relax. Lemmie catch you up on what happened so far." She began to chatter, telling him of her adventure the airship, what she'd seen over the city, of her encounter with Shelinda and Yuna, and of Tidus's disappearance. Auron said nothing as she talked incessantly, but he didn't release her hand. He gradually returned to his youthful appearance by the time they exited onto the roof of the palace. The Celsius was still parked there, and a wave of her hand had whoever was helming the cockpit dropping the rope ladder for them quickly.

"… Do you think Jecht disappeared too?" she asked as Auron grabbed the ladder and held it steady for her.

"Jecht has lived in Spira as an aeon for far longer than either you or Tidus. He'll be able to handle himself. If he doesn't return to the Celsius before we're ready to leave, we can simply pick that lazy jackass up from Macalania again."

"I hope you're right," Rikku said as she climbed up the ladder. Auron followed closely behind; her hand sought out his again once they were both on board. Together, they made their way towards the bridge. "How are you doing, though? I saw that Tornado you unleashed from the sky. Are you okay?"

"I am now." Auron squeezed her hand. "I feel… tired. More tired than I should be, after a battle like that. But we are together, and that is all that matters." He stooped to plant a brief kiss against the side of her mouth. "In fact, I think this attack has given me something more to focus on." He stopped moving, and pulled on her arm until she was facing him.

"Berrik will come for you. This is a certainty, not a possibility. And so I will continue to remain by your side until he is defeated." He paused, and then chuckled lightly. "It isn't as grand a purpose as destroying the Church of Yevon. But it helps keep the insanity at bay."

Rikku scowled at his blunt appraisal of himself. "You know, I'm not gonna stick around and see if he comes back for me. If there's one thing I've finally learned, it's to stop waiting for someone else to give me my happy ending." She clapped both of her hands around his face, pulling him down so she could look him in the eye. "You're my happy ending, Auron. I don't care what Berrik tries to do next, or what Shelinda wants from us. We're going to Zanarkand as soon as Jecht gets here."

"You'll have no argument from me," Auron replied, leaning in to kiss her once more.

Pulling back, Rikku grinned. "Okay, let's check in so we can get some rest. I think we both earned it."

Grunting in agreement, Auron followed her onto the bridge.

"Hey every…Buddy." She looked around in surprise. The bridge was empty, save for Buddy manning his station.

"Rikku," Buddy said distractedly. His fingers didn't stop flying over the control panel as he greeted her. "Just a minute, Gippal needs me to test this..." A claxon sounded, and the entire ship shuddered. Buddy's control panel lit up with several different flashing alarms in red. "Ooooh-kay, that didn't work." Tapping a few more buttons, he cut the power and turned to wave at her. "Ah! You brought Aaron, too. Good to see you both back."

Rikku nodded, crossing her arms. "Where is everyone?"

"Where do you think?" Buddy pointed at his control panel. "We're all trying to fix the ship. I think Gippal and Brother are in the engine room right now. Calli's on a supply run. We figure she'll have better luck than the rest of us, since she's the only non-blonde on the crew."

"Really? That's the reason?" Rikku crossed her arms, smirking.

"… Yeah, so maybe the big fight she had with Brother had something to do with that, too."

Rikku puffed up, feeling her face heat as she got ready to yell invectives. "That idiot! How can he be so mean to Calli after all she's done for him? I'm gonna rip him a new –"

Auron's hand landed on her shoulder, clamping down tightly. "Your brother isn't even here. Save your ire for its proper audience."

"You know," Buddy offered conversationally, "They weren't arguing about Yuna for once. Brother was pretty angry at Calli for rushing to the deck to fight during the battle. He was furious that she got hurt."

Rikku's mouth snapped shut. "Huh. You mean…"

"Well," Buddy sighed, turning back to his control panel. "They're both being childish. But if you ask me, Calli's gonna win this argument." A grin flickered over his face as he glanced back at her. "About damn time, huh?"

"Right! Maybe I won't need to kill him after all! I'll just hurt him real bad," Rikku cheered, dancing in place.

"Not before the ship repairs are done, please," Buddy said drily. "And about that, Gippal said he could use your help when you got back. He's–"

"Going to have to wait," Auron cut in, pulling Rikku back. "We've earned our rest. May we stay on your ship for the time being?"

"This is Rikku's ship just as much as Brother's and mine," Buddy answered easily. "Go get some shut eye. I'll keep the guys off your back, Rikku."

"Thanks," she said with warmth. "You're the best, Buddy!"

"I know," he smirked, waving her off.

As they made their way towards the elevator, Rikku noticed Auron was sulking. "Alright, grumpy. Spill!"

"It's nothing."

Rikku squinted as she hit the panel that would take them to the communal bunk. "Your face isn't saying it's nothing."

Auron glared at the ceiling for a moment, before sighing. "Buddy. I just made the connection."

Rikku decided to wait him out. It worked; after a few more moments of uncomfortable silence, he cleared his throat.

"He was your first."

She blinked, and then tilted her head, her eyes widening. "Wait, you remembered I told you that?"

Auron finally turned his head enough to meet her eyes. "I remember everything you've ever told me about yourself."

Rikku's cheeks heated with a blush – more from Auron's blunt admission about his interest in her than his eidetic memory about her sex life. "Jealous much?" she teased.

Groaning, he pinched the bridge of his nose. "This is why I didn't want to mention it. No. I know you two are merely friends."

She leaned her chin on his shoulder, ignoring the elevator doors that swooshed open. "I think you are jealous. It's cute!"

Rolling his eye, Auron stomped into the hallway. "Contrary to your beliefs, I am not suspicious of every male acquaintance you have, Rikku. I simply…" He paused before the doors to the bar, a faint blush dusting his cheeks. "I wanted to be your first."

Running in front of him, Rikku ducked low as she paced backwards through the bar, grinning like a fool. "I don't see why being first is such a big deal. If you ask me, being last is the most important. And you're definitely the man I want to end up with."

Some of his embarrassment faded into a slight smile, and he reached out to turn her around before she could trip over the steps leading to the communal bedroom.

They climbed upstairs, and Auron made a beeline towards one of the beds in the corner. He sat down onto it with a thump, rubbing a hand over his face. After a moment, he stood back up and shucked off his soiled coat, throwing it against the floor with a look of disgust. His scuffed breastplate soon joined the pile, before he took a seat and began pulling off his dusty boots. There was nothing special about it; he was simply unwinding after the battle. Yet watching him slowly divest himself of his armor made her pulse speed up. She thought about the way he'd grabbed her in the palace beforehand, reigniting a thin thread of interest that he'd initially sparked in her.

Noticing her scrutiny, he glanced up as he worked. "Is something wrong?"

"No," Rikku replied, holding her hands up. She sank down next to him and kicked her own boots off, wiggling her toes. "It's just been a really long day."

Auron dropped his boots off into the pile and then turned to her. "Don't blame yourself. You tried your best, but Berrik took everyone by surprise." He shook his head. "Despite everything else, he is still a good tactician."

Rikku scowled and dug herself into Auron's side. "Stop talking about him. I was just about to successfully distract myself by watching you undress."

His chuckle was low and rich. "We are in the very public communal bedroom of your brother's airship. You might want to rethink your priorities right now."

The fragile thread of desire that had been pulling at her thickened. She inhaled deeply, taking in his scent. Sweat and leather, and hints of the cloying incense that always haunted the halls of Bevelle's palace. But underneath all of that was the musk of him; a rich, earthy tang that evoked memories of his muscular body flexing above her. Licking her lips, she glanced up at him from under her eyelashes. "We already did it on The Love Boat. Don't you think we should be fair to the Celsius?"

She felt him tense as he considered her words. His eye darted towards the stairs, then back to her. "This is a very bad idea."

"Haven't you heard?" She crawled over him and planted her knees on each side of his hips. "I love bad ideas." Drawing close enough for her breath to fan out over his mouth, she ran her hands up his sides. He leaned forward to kiss her but she jerked back before their lips could touch, a wicked smile curving on her lips. "Oh, are you changing your mind now?"

His eye darkened. "What if someone walks in on us?" he asked, though the hand on her thigh pushing up under her skirt didn't match his words.

"Then I guess we'll have to be quiet." She spread her knees, allowing the heat of their bodies to seep into one another. When he arched into her, she lifted herself up, echoing the tease of her lips. His fingers tightened on her hips and he pulled her off of him, pushing her to the side.

"You know, it's really hot the way you can lift me like I weigh nothing," she grinned, refusing to give up.

"That's because you weigh next to nothing," he growled, reaching down to adjust himself. His breath left him in a whoosh as she slipped her hand over his own and palmed him. "Rikku," he managed to bite out in warning.

"Shh. Let me do that," she whispered, sliding off the bed and twisting until she was situated between his knees, spreading them wide. She let go of his legs to trail her fingers up his inner thighs, finally brushing them over the front of his pants. Stroking him through the fabric, she licked her lips in anticipation. When she popped the button on his trousers, the tiny grunt that escaped him transformed the thread of longing she'd been pulling on into a thick silken rope, tightening and threatening to suffocate her if she didn't ease the building pressure between them. Peeling back the fabric, she pushed down his underwear and felt her body pulse in response as she exposed him.

Fingers clamped around the back of her neck, and she looked up to meet his eye. Auron shuddered.

"Are you sure you want this?" he asked, his breath ragged.

"I've never been surer," she answered, leaning down to blow a soft puff of air against him. He hissed and she soothed him. "But if you want, you can check to see if I'm lying." The scent of their desire rose and mingled together, turning the air between them rich and heavy.

"I believe you," he ground out, pulling on her neck to lower her face back towards him. His other hand worked its way behind her ear, fingers threading hypnotically through her hair. She didn't even need to ask him anything as she sunk back down. "Rikku." His voice shook in the charged stillness between them. "Please."

She began to suckle him in earnest, adjusting her movements to follow his cues as he encouraged her and set the pace.

He thrummed with tension, his hand spasming against her neck as she pushed him closer towards his release. The fingers that had been carding through her hair turned into a slowly tightening grip. When she glanced upwards, she saw that he'd thrown his head back. His Adam's apple bobbed, and it sent a lance of desire through her that saw her redoubling her own efforts.

With a strangled cry, the grip on her hair tightened painfully, and he pulled her away. Her eyes watered from his sudden dismissal. "Auron, I wasn't done yet!"

"Not this way," he cursed, his voice low and tense. "I want to see your face." Yanking her head up, he pressed a searing kiss against her. His fingers, turned desperate and clumsy in his desire, tore at her skirt, pulling it halfway down her thighs. Picking her up, he rolled her onto the bed, and for a wild moment, she was struck by the incongruity of their desperate passion with the fact that they were both still almost totally clothed. But then thought fled as he turned his full attention on her.

A cloudy, sparkling haze built in her mind. I love this man. I love his flaws. His stubbornness. His possessive jealousy. His reticence. His devotion to honor. Everywhere his body pressed into hers felt like a burning brand.

Her hand descended to cup the crown of his head. But most of all I love how he throws all of that away just to give us a chance to be together.

She was tumbling uncontrollably towards the edge of a cliff with no bottom. For a moment her existence was nothing more than the burning white of blinding pleasure that overtook her. When it finally receded, she was left gasping in his hold.

He loves me more than he loves himself.

When her consciousness drifted back down into her body, she tugged on his shoulders and he relented, sliding up to her side and circling his arms around her. "Are you alright?"

She didn't grace him with an answer, instead smacking his chest with a boneless slap. "Cheater."

He trapped her hand, cupping it, and brought it to his lips, kissing the back of her knuckles. "You taught me not to play fair."

She tried to muster enough energy to roll over and meet him and failed. "You turned my legs into jelly, you bonehead," she groaned.

He rolled on top of her, about to reply, when they both heard the quiet hiss of the automatic doors sliding open. He froze, and Rikku was suddenly hyper-aware of their surroundings… and how exposed they were.

Auron clapped a hand over her mouth, his eye wide.

"Huh," she heard Calli say as her footsteps echoed against the lower floor. "I could've sworn she'd be in here. Rikku? Are you sleeping up there?" The footsteps came closer.

Auron grimaced, sweat beading on his forehead; clearly, he thought she was insane for initiating their tryst in the public rooms. Even more clear, however, was the fact that he wasn't moving either, frozen in their guilty pleasure.

There was a ping of metal as Calli's foot hit the first step. The doors slid open again, and the footsteps paused.

"Oh! Hey Gippal. I was just looking for Rikku! I'll send her down to the engine room as soon as I find her."

Rikku blinked, her eyes watering. If she could have, she would have rolled them at Auron and sighed, but she was afraid of the noises that would spill from her from even that much movement. She could see Auron's jaw working as he struggled to contain himself, too. She could tell he was one twitch away from cursing the world and ignoring their audience.

Boots clumped into the room; they stopped, and someone inhaled deeply. There was a pregnant pause.

"Yo, Calli. I don't think she's here," she heard Gippal say, a note of amusement clear in his voice.

"Really? But I thought she and Aaron were –"

"Yeah, really. Why don't we try looking for her somewhere else?" Another pause. "Anywhere else."

"Umm… sure, I guess. Well, let's try the deck! Maybe they're sunbathing together."

More footsteps receding. The door hissed open.

"Yeah. Sunbathing. Let's call it that," Gippal drawled as the doors shut.

They'd barely finished closing when Auron drove into her. The long, relieved breath he gasped out matched her own. "You," he finally managed to gasp against her ear, "are a hurricane. You've caught me completely in your storm." He turned his head and nuzzled her cheek. "I didn't know what living meant before you showed me."

"Take me," she murmured back, her hands digging into his shoulders. "Take everything from me. I want you to need me the same way I need you. Irreplaceably."

He paused, and his next kiss sought her lips. It was a slow, tender thing, set against the backdrop of their thundering hearts. "What makes you think I don't?" he whispered. "I love you, Rikku. I don't want to just take you. I want to give you everything." He shifted slightly. "Everything that I am," he repeated, his voice beginning to shake and fall apart. "Can you not feel it?"

Rikku's breathing hitched; Auron was sparking a fire inside of her. Somehow, she knew she would always be an irrevocable piece of him. "I can feel it," she stuttered, losing herself to him.

Awareness came back slowly; she'd collapsed against Auron at some point, and she couldn't have moved even if she wanted to. But oh – she didn't want to, basking in the feel of his chest heaving below her. An odd, savage triumph flushed through her exhaustion.

You're mine. Now, and forever.