Love Her and Despair Remaster [47]

[auronlu]

Title: Love Her and Despair
Chapter 47: "Thorns"
Final Fantasy X/X-2
Characters: Auron/Lulu, Zuke, Rikku/Wakka
Rating: G
Word Count: 3500
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With Yu Yevon finally defeated, Lulu, Auron, and Wakka and Rikku's family enjoy a much-needed respite in the strained hospitality of Yevon's capitol.

Lulu was knitting herself back together as methodically as she used to repair lace-embroidered sleeves before the campfire. Auron saw it each morning when they awoke. The shreds of dream that fled her eyes at first kiss were human now, most of the time. Her nightmares were fewer. The red marks at her wrists had faded to ghostly white. On good mornings, he would wake to find her in his arms, instead of curled up coverless facing the wall.

She had dismissed the disquieting tug of the pyreflies, almost convincing him that she could not sense their pull. When he pressed his doubts, she parried with a lecture. "Sin, the aeon that bridged the Farplane and Spira, has been eliminated. Pyreflies seek to close that breach, calling home souls who stray beyond their time. Of course, I need not fear you will answer the summons."

Outside, her eyes were acclimatizing to daylight. She readily joined Rikku and Wakka's family in their games of catch and toss around the fountain, honoring the memory of the High Summoner who had so treasured laughter. Not that Lulu laughed often. She moved with mute grace among the children, allowing herself to be teased and targeted. Soon she was evading their throws, pivoting out of a missile's path with belled white skirts and braids swinging.

Vidina kept trying to teach her the rules. "You're supposed to catch the ball, not dodge it!"

Two handfuls of fluffy snow materialized above his head in answer. Then all the children had wanted snow, and the lawn around the fountain had nearly become a bog before the abbot stormed out to forbid black magic’s use in the garden. Auron caught Zuke's smile as he returned to chambers, head shaking in wonderment.

Auron guarded. Lurking in the colonnade, he saw the glances cast by passing clergy at the Al Bhed in their midst. Not all glances were friendly.

Sometimes Wakka "benched himself" to watch as well, staring at Lulu as if trying to solve an impenetrable defense. Auron was occasionally implicated in that scrutiny. Mp>Father Zuke had resumed Lulu's lessons. After some coaxing, Wakka had relented enough to let Yuna attend their sessions, provided there was no talk of summoners, aeons or pilgrimages. The girl would play on the floor of the abbot's office, amusing herself with folded paper toys and her shoopuf doll. Sometimes she pretended to heal its trunk while Zuke talked Lulu through white magic visualizations. During their work in the training sphere, Yuna would lean against Lulu's legs, head propped against her knee, waiting for them to stir from dream-trance. She never disturbed them. Lulu confided to Auron that the child's presence made it easier to enter and exit the pyrefly simulation without losing focus.

"She won't be with us in Zanarkand." Auron said.

"I know that." A hard smack of water emphasized the mage's retort.

Lulu and Auron had taken to drilling on the balcony where they had watched the fireworks. There was room for swings and lunges, and a stray spell would not imperil passersby. At least she refrained from fire spells, since her borrowed robes had no magical shielding against combustion. Auron was mostly inured to frostbite by now.

The little white magics she was learning made practice easier. They were mere self-indulgence, however, as he told her bluntly. A caress of magic that soothed away hurts was pleasant enough. But how much power could she afford to waste in the thick of battle?

Auron’s boots skidded on wet flagstones. He swung his sword out and around, forming a horizontal barrier at her back.

Lulu halted, one hand raised in the claw-cast that meant Blizzara. Exhaling, she lowered her arm and pivoted, gaze dropping to the low balustrade and plunge beyond it. Bevelle's mountain-city leapt away in steep tiers, spires cutting through wisps of morning mist. Far below, the harbor was a pool of fog.

"Oh." Lulu smiled. "Quite a view, isn't it?"

He stared at her until she rapped the blade with her knuckles and moved away from the edge. She had not shared Auron's fondness for heights in the old days, but a decade as Sin had clearly left its imprint.

He resumed without warning, throwing his weight into a swing. Lulu lurched sideways. A mask of ice caught his face on the blind side. His blade nearly hamstrung her on the backstroke. They were not pulling punches now.

"Gravity control was Sin's," he said, an oblique rebuke. "If you still have it, we should test it."

"No." She scattered ice-nodules at his feet, causing him to stumble. "No more flying. Just Ultima, and I won't risk that here."

"Anything else?"

"Aero." She leaned away from his next swing. "Brace."

Auron set his feet and crouched as a burst of shearing wind slammed into him like the downdraft of a Garuda's wings, pistoning the air from his lungs. Gravel and slush peppered his face and arms.

"Use on Gagazet," he rasped. "Knock down foes."

"Only if we're back to back." Lulu stepped over another scything stroke. "Hold."

He straightened and leaned on his sword. Lulu gathered a handful of fire to herself for more subtle work, pacing their impromptu arena. Ice chips and puddles steamed away.

Auron observed her steps. Her footwork today had been flawless.

It was time.

"When do we leave?" he said.

Her movements arrested. "I don't savor crossing the Calm Lands on foot again. Three times is enough."

"You said you can't fly any more."

"Auron, don't be dense!"

He considered and discarded the prospect of chocobos. "An airship?"

"Why not? Surely your Al Bhed friend will ferry you on one last journey."

"Maybe." The corner of his mouth ticked up. "He'll expect payment."

"Then perhaps we should adjourn to Macalania Woods," Lulu said. "Time to test my spells on real fiends again, hmm? We should collect some hunting spoils to cover expenses."

"Oh, no you don't!" Rikku came trotting around the corner. "There you are! Blitzball tournament today, remember? Shake a leg!"

Auron took in the games with resigned boredom. His thoughts drifted to old friends from Zanarkand who might have enjoyed the spectacle, assuming they did not make one of themselves.

Lulu, at least, was enjoying herself, childhood memories sparked by the athletic forms darting through the water. Even here, she could not help analyzing.

"There. The Goers' right defender. Watch his off-hand. When he cocks it by his ear and thrusts, it's a Blind spell." Lulu pointed.

Yuna, seated in her lap, imitated the gesture and giggled.

"Ha!" Wakka winked over at Rikku. "See? Lu was always good at spottin' the sneaky stuff."

"That's because Lulu's sneaky," Rikku said, elbowing the mage. "I still haven't forgiven you for that Lightning Eater, you know. You about gave me a heart attack."

"What's a Lightning Eater?" Vidina said, not peeling his eyes from the match. "A machina? A fiend?"

"A shield against lightning," Rikku said. "Lulu's favorite spell. Meanie. She sent it to me as a reminder of what we were in for, when we went to rescue her."

"Zap zap zap!" Etta said, bouncing on his father's knees.

Yuna perked up. "Thundara?"

"Not here." Lulu brushed her cheek. "Too many people." To Rikku, she said, "I knew I'd answer to Wakka if anything happened to you."

"Damned straight," Wakka said.

Auron stretched his legs to block Mbela, who was crawling stealthily towards the aisle. The girl squeaked and scrambled back to her mother.

"Hey!" Wakka said. "He did it again! I saw it, that time. You're right, Lu, look. The shooter can't aim."

"Or swim." Lulu shook her head as the Ronso plowed into the opposing goalie. Yuna burst into giggles. "So, are you going to explain why you've enlisted me to scout?"

"Uhhh," Wakka said. "Who says we're scouting? We just thought you'd like to see a tournament."

"Wakka. Aren't you getting a little old to be coming out of retirement?"

Wakka reddened. "I'm not that old, Lu!"

"Shhhhh!" Rikku's cheeks creased with laughter.

Lulu arched an eyebrow.

"I'm just coaching," Wakka said, lowering his voice. "Rikku's a pretty good midfielder, though. We're rebuilding the Al Bhed Psyches."

"Yeah, Pops went ballistic when he found out Rin was betting against Team Al Bhed," Rikku said. "Rin's been backing the Luca team. We've promised to bring the Cup back Home."

"I see. So that's how you convinced Cid to leave you in Bevelle." Lulu's soft chuckle transformed into a gasp, lost in the crowd's roar.

"Lulu?" Yuna squirmed round to look at her. "What's wrong?"

"Ow!" Rikku said. She rubbed her arm. "Yo, prickly lady! What was that for?"

Lulu shook her head, gathering the girl in a quick hug and depositing her next to Rikku. "Excuse me." She stood and moved towards the aisle. Auron rose and moved with her, scanning the crowd.

There. At the top of their section stood a Guado, his crest of forking hair singling him out from the other spectators. His attention was fixed the Al Bhed family. Even at this distance, Auron recognized the hostility radiating from that elongated figure. Auron gently pressed Lulu's forearm down as she started to cast. Her skin felt clammy.

"I'll deal with him," he said.

Stealth was impossible, and Auron's prey saw him coming. With the eel-slippery speed of his kind, the Guado wheeled and dove into the nearest access tunnel. Auron followed, breaking into a run as he passed the top tier of seats. His quarry had a formidable head start. Fortunately, the guard at the bottom of the stairs heard them coming and stepped into the fugitive’s path.

"Hey, you! Halt!”

The passageway was illuminated with a white flash, and the guard staggered.

The Guado had pulled up to cast, and that was all the time Auron needed. He barreled into the foe, ramming him against the wall and pinning him with bracer pressed against his throat. "Don’t try it," he growled, as the Guado struggled to raise his arm for another spell.

"Sir Auron!" The guard came up in a wobbly salute. "What's this man done, sir?"

Ignoring the question, Auron pushed harder. "Who was your target?"

The answering croak was full of spite. "Whom do you think, guardian? She who destroyed my race!"

"Sin is dead."

"A lie. You know what she is."

A whispered argument at the top of the stairs alerted Auron to more witnesses. Glancing up, he saw Wakka's orange crest silhouetted against the sunlight. Lulu evaded his arm and descended, coolly appraising Auron's prisoner.

In his peripheral vision, Auron caught an upward movement: a furtive spell-cast. Without thinking, Auron punched the Guado's wrist. He felt bone snap. His victim jackknifed and began whimpering in pain.

"Sir Auron!" the guard said, touching a glyph on the wall. "Please leave this to security. I don't want to have to arrest you."

"What did he do to you?" Auron growled as Lulu halted beside him. Her pallor seemed even more pronounced than usual.

"Only Bio. Rikku had an antidote."

"She's a fiend," the Guado said.

Wakka followed and planted himself on the other side of her. "Look, I don't know what your problem is, man—"

"The Guado have a grievance against me," she said, expression remote. "Remember what happened to Guadosalam."

"Well, yeah, but..." Wakka spread his hands. "That wasn't you. You didn't want to do it."

"Didn't I, Wakka?"

"Were Lord Seymour still alive, this traitor would pay for her crimes against my race and the High Summoner she betrayed!"

To a stranger, Lulu might appear unmoved, but Auron saw pale lips tighten.

Wakka's belligerent, "What?!" masked the sound of the Guado's choking.

"Auron," Lulu said. "This isn’t important."

He heard only the fatigue in her voice, not her gentle remonstrance. A surge of bile swamped rational thought. Hoisting the Guado so his feet pecked feebly at Auron's knees, he began jerking him from side to side. It took a cold spill of water inside his collar to snap the world back into focus. All but snarling, he lowered his arm.

"That is enough." Juno came jogging into view, her sword halfway out of its sheath. "Release him."

Clamping down on fiend’s urgings, Auron pried open his fingers and stepped back. The Guado shrank away from him.

Juno and the guard exchanged nods. "Sergeant. Tend him. Sir Auron, you are under arrest for—"

"Hey!" Wakka said. "Auron got a little hot, ya, but that Guado attacked Lulu first. He magicked her with poison. I think he was trying to kill her." His outrage was tinged with incredulity.

"Is this true?" Juno asked her subordinate.

"Unknown, Captain," said the guard. "Their dispute began in the stands. I intercepted them here. He did cast a spell on me. Sir Auron was pursuing."

Juno pursed her lips. "All right. Sergeant, escort this Guado to the healers. Lulu, you will return to Yuna's Cloister and remain there. Sir Auron may accompany you, provided there are no further incidents. Of any kind." She fixed the mage with a pointed look. "Do I make myself clear?"

"Quite clear, Captain." The mage raised a finger to stopper Wakka's protest. "Wakka, stay. Reassure the children. You must let me know how the tournament comes out."

"But, Lu!" Wakka balled his hands into fists, eyes tracking the shambling Guado being led away. Finally, he gave Auron a grudging nod. "Look after her, ya?"

Lulu turned and glided off, trusting Auron to follow. Juno waited with her hand on her sword’s hilt until they were gone.

“Man, sorry,” Wakka said, rubbing the back of his neck. “Never seen Sir Auron go off like that before.”

Lulu did not speak until they were halfway back to the cloister. "Remember that I can defend myself. Rikku and I had a rather interesting shopping expedition, the other day."

"You didn't mention any trouble.”

"He wasn't much," Lulu said. "Although Captain Juno may guess who put one of her monks in the healers' quarters. Rikku's powders confused him so he won't remember.”

Auron scowled. "If Gippal isn't here in three days, we leave."

St. Bevelle, the holy city. The holy terror, he thought dourly. Long ago, he had pledged his life to guard it from Sin. Considering life’s ironies, it was no surprise that he was guarding Sin from Bevelle.

His mood was improved by the gift they found waiting in the lower room of their suite. Two packs marked with Yevon's official crest had been placed upon the cot. A sealed scroll was tucked into the straps. Lulu broke the wax and read:

Defenders of Spira:

To those who undertake the sacred duty of pilgrimage, the College of St. Bevelle is honored to donate these offerings. We pray they may ease your hard road. All glory and praise to you, our brave champions! Rest in the knowledge that you walk Yevon’s true path. The hopes of Spira rest with you.

Thus far the traditional wording, or so Auron gathered. Braska had received neither note nor gifts on his departure from Bevelle. However, a different hand had added at the bottom of the official scroll:

I will pray for you, friends, that you find what you seek. Your deeds have ensured no other will ever be so provisioned. If you need aught else, ask.

Zuke, Abbot, Yuna’s Cloister.

"He knows my fear. Oh, Auron, this could outfit ten pilgrimages. When I think of those little gifts the villagers brought Lady Yuna when she left— why, this could pay for a whole new temple in Besaid."

Hearing how abruptly her voice died away, Auron pressed a hand against her shoulder before drawing a pack towards himself. "Let's sort through these and decide what we need."

They had just finished repacking when there was a rapping on the door.

"Enter," Lulu said, shaking her head as Auron drifted towards the stairwell.

Rikku burst in bearing a bundle of folded fabric and a bag of parcels. Yuna followed her, carrying a pair of ladies' boots half her height.

"They're done!" Rikku said, heading for the stairs. "We stopped by the tailor to pick up your new clothes. Auron, shoo, out! Oh, wait, this one's yours. With a few modifications." She thrust his old red coat at him, mended, pressed, and shockingly clean.

"Thanks."

"Okay!" Rikku said. "Come on, Lulu. Time to de-nun-i-fy you!"

Led by an eager Yuna, Lulu strolled into the garden almost an hour later. Rikku sauntered over to Wakka and mimed pulling back a curtain. “Ta da!”

Gaping, Wakka almost took a blitzball toss from Vidina on the nose.

Auron's inspection was more discreet, but he was drily aware he usually reserved this sort of scrutiny for weapons, enemies or terrain.

The mage was girded once more in a stiff corset. Its scalloped neckline had probably caused Wakka’s distraction. The matching gown was a dark burgundy like the shadowed folds of Auron’s coat. Instead of belts, her skirt was formed of overlapping bands of textured brocades, furled like the petals of a closed blossom. A subtle pattern of rosebuds and leaves was picked out in dark green, purple and navy threads twining along hems and edges.

Rikku or Yuna must have done something to Lulu’s face, but Auron’s practical experience in such matters limited his observations to: Violet lipstick. Still odd. Hairsticks, earrings and necklaces of lacquered wood picked up the subdued hues of her gown’s embroidery, supplemented with beads of purple shell and malachite.

He inclined his head. Lulu raised her chin, accepting the subtle homage as her due, before turning away to face the children's uncensored critique.

"Why's she still wearing a dress?"

"'Cause she's the Lady."

"Frydc y dress?"

"The dye looks like blood."

"Zu blood."

"Cooool."

Rikku snapped her fingers in front of Wakka's face. "Beep, beep! Eyes up!"

"Sorry," he said, blushing. "Lu, you look great. You look like you."

"Thank you, Wakka."

A distant rumble which had been growing in the background finally caught Rikku's attention. "Whoa-ho. Guess who's back?"

"Gipper-Gipper-Gipper!" Mbela cried, dancing around. The children began to whoop, looking up at the sky. The drone of engines grew louder.

Wakka turned to Lulu with a pensive smile. "So, hey, Lu. Done anymore thinkin' about whether you're ready to come back with us?"

There was a shrill pop. Gippal's voice crackled from somewhere close by. "Rikku, come in. Rikku, come in. Pick up the frickin' sphere!"

Rikku fumbled in the pockets of her cargo pants and pulled out a sphere. "Yo, Gip! Keep your hair on."

"Rikku, find Auron, quick."

"He's right here, Gippal. What's up?"

"Uh..." There was a weighty pause. "Shinra, tell them."

The young man's scratchy voice cut in. "My sensors detected a massive energy node coalescing over Mt. Gagazet. The wave form is unstable, but consistent with an extremely high concentration of fiends."

"And that means...?" Wakka said.

"Our foe." Lulu raised her eyes to meet Auron's. "Sin is reforming."

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Next Chapter: "Race to Gagazet"

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Author's Notes

Chapter renumbering: originally Chapter 49, posted Nov 2012