Auron scratched his head as he listened to Tidus talk to him in a quiet voice. "So he told you just like that?"
Tidus nodded, "yeah. He thought I was just a nun. So he told me."
Auron could tell the teen was greatly troubled by all of this and sympathized. He could remember what it was like. When you started realize you might have feelings for the same sex. It was really hard.
Placing a comforting hand on Tidus shoulder, Auron whispered, "and how do you feel?"
Tidus looked up, tears streaming down his face, "that’s just it. I don’t know. I’m so confused." Tidus looked away, blushing, "but Auron . . . I liked . . . erm . . . um, kissing you. Does that have to mean I’m gay?"
The stoic man smiled briefly, "it doesn’t have to. Maybe you just like kissing. When you were kissing me, was it me or someone else you were thinking about?"
Tidus’ blush grew. Now that he thought about it, it wasn’t Auron he was thinking about. But who was he thinking about?
Warm brown eyes.
Flaming red hair.
A carefree smile.
That was Wakka before. Now. His eyes are dull, and his hair is unkempt, his smile gone. That hurts me more then anything. Wakka the best guy I know. I want to bring that smile back. I want to see that spark in his eyes again.
Wakka.
Why did I care that we’re both guys? I shouldn’t care. Wakka’s my best friend, and I love him. But do I really love him?
Auron frowned. Tidus had gone in thinking mode again, his eyes glazed over, a thoughtful look on his childlike face.
His hearty laugh.
The friendly embraces.
The looks of approval when I do something right.
I miss those things. I want them back. I really do.
A smile passed over Tidus’ face. "I do like Wakka, but I still have a lot of thinking to do. Auron, please don’t tell him about any of this. I don’t want him to know I know."
Auron nodded, "all right, but . . . "
"Please, I need the time to think."
"Very well. But Wakka deserves to know, you know."
Tidus sighed, looking down at the lodge’s floor. "I know. Give me time, kay?"
Auron patted Tidus on the head, "you’re a good kid, not to mention a good kisser," he said with a smirk.
"Aur-on!" Tidus whined, covering his face. "Don’t tease me. I think I was possessed when I did that."
Auron snorted. "I see." Auron walked over to where Luzzu lay. "We’ve got to get this one to wake up."
Tidus nodded and walked over to Auron, "there’s always that kissing thing."
"You’re not going to forget that I told you I was gay, are you?"
"No way, mister, I’m going to tease you for all you’re worth."
"Annoying brat," Auron muttered.
Tidus stuck out his lip and started to pout. "I heard that."
"I said it with love . . . don’t you dare blush! I didn’t mean it like that."
Tidus smiled, "but you do love me, don’t you?"
Auron stayed quiet.
"Awww, how cute. Auron loves me! Auron loves me!"
"You’re your old self again, that’s for sure," Auron said, shaking his head.
Tidus was pretty much his old self again, now that he accepted that he might like another guy. He wouldn’t stress over it. He would think really hard about it, and not jump the gun. No more running from my feelings. Whatever they are.
Gippal smiled, hearing his boyfriends excited shout. Looking up, he saw him running over to him. Huffing, Baralai plopped down next to him.
"Why do you sound so happy," Gippal asked, leaning over giving Baralai a kiss?
Baralai blushed, and happily returned the kiss, placing his hand on Gippal’s knee. When they came up for air, Baralai grinned. "Guess?"
"Um." Gippal pulled Baralai closer for another kiss, "hint please," he asked, after the kiss ended?
Baralai ‘hmmed’, making a thoughtful face. "Well, it’s about love."
"Something to do with us? We’re the only ones I know that is in love. Or haven’t I told you, ‘I love you?’"
Blushing, Baralai gazed into Gippal’s green eyes, getting lost. "I’ve heard something like that." Baralai leaned into Gippal’s chest, and smiled, when Gippal wrapped his arms around him. "Nope not about us."
"I’m drawing a blank. Did Wakka get a girlfriend? Or Lulu, did she get a boyfriend?"
Baralai laughed, twisting so he could look up at Gippal, "nope."
"Gah, I can’t guess. Er, how about Nooj, did he ask Leblanc out?"
"No idea. Nope not about Nooj."
"Luzzu?"
"Nope."
"Paine?"
"Nuh uh."
"Kimahri?"
"Haha, I don’t know anything about the Ronso’s love life, so nope."
Gippal ran his fingers across Baralai’s sides, lightly tickling him. Baralai squirmed, gasping as he laughed.
"That . . . haha . . . won’t make . . . haha . . . me . . . tell you"
Gippal smiled, and nuzzled Baralai’s neck. "I’m running out of people," the Al Behd whined.
"Come on guess." Baralai turned his head, and meet Gippal in a soul-searching kiss.
"Well if I guess right, can I get a prize?" Gippal smirked, thinking about the prize he wanted.
"Of course."
"The only people that are left are Rikku and Yuna."
Baralai’s face twitched, a smile fluttering to his lips.
Oh no bloody way! Gippal’s eyes went wide. "You’re not saying . . . Rikku and Yuna . . . together?"
Baralai laughed, "yep. You guessed. What prize did you want?"
"Oh, I uh . . . Rikku and Yuna?"
"Yes. The prize."
Gippal stood up, causing Baralai to fall out of his lap. "But they’re . . . "
"Don’t say girls . . . "
"Oh, haha, like I’d say that. They’re cou . . . "
"No," Baralai smiled, as he shook his head, "they’re not. Lulu told me the whole story."
"Oh, I see. Then it’s okay." Gippal looked up, "I never expected that."
"Me either. Now about that prize."
Gippal smiled. What he really wanted, he couldn’t have yet. Baralai wasn’t ready for that. "Come on a date with me."
Feeling his heart melt, Baralai beamed, "sure."
Both clasped hands and headed for the Besaid ferry. They would go somewhere nice.
Auron looked at Tidus and rolled his eyes. "Patience Tidus. We’ve waited three years to see our friends. We can wait a little while longer."
A cute pout sprouted on Tidus’ face.
"That pout doesn’t work on me."
In response, Tidus jutted his lip out further, looking more childlike and cute.
"Fiends!" Luzzu jerked up, flailing his arms, his eyes darting from Tidus to Auron. Luzzu started to shake. "It’s very cruel," he whispered, "coming disguised as my friends."
Tidus tried to take his hand, but he jerked away. "No! Don’t touch me, fiend!"
"But Luzzu," Tidus pleaded, "look at me. I’m not a fiend. Neither is Auron."
Luzzu peered up at Tidus through his long eyelashes, and blinked a few times. They look human enough, but there is no way. It’s impossible.
Auron signed, and fetched a small pocket knife from his red robes. "Maybe this will convince you."
Luzzu watched as the guy, who looked like Auron, clicked open the knife, pricking his index finger.
Drip.
Luzzu’s eyes bugged out, as he watched the red droplets of blood hit the floor.
"Fiends don’t bleed red blood, isn’t that right?" Auron stuck his finger in his mouth, sucking. It looked very un-Auronish. Quite cute.
"I bleed too," Tidus said, "please don’t make me prove it."
Luzzu looked back and forth between Auron and Tidus. If Auron bleed, then he was human, so that meant Tidus had to be too.
A smile broke out on Luzzu’s face. "Oh, it’s great to see you guys again. How?"
Tidus smiled, and Auron let a slight smile tug at his lips, "we’ll tell you all in time. But first you must gather the others."
Tidus nodded, "yeah. Wakka, Lulu, Yuna, Rikku, Kimahri and those others that fought with Yuna and Rikku."
"How do you guys know about that," Luzzu asked?
"Once again, we’ll tell you all in time," Auron told him.
"All right." Luzzu climbed off the cot, wobbling at first. Once he regained his composure he headed for the lodge doors. "I’ll go get them."
A/N Please review!
Chapter 15