Event || The Enemy Within

[melodiesmods]

Characters: All characters who signed-up for the event.
Where: In their heads.
When: January 15th.
Summary: The Heroes of Light have a vision-- They are living through a hypothetical future where the Sage share his knowledge with them, and things went horribly wrong as some Heroes of Light became the villains in this timeline. Maybe they'll revise their thoughts on getting all of that knowledge.
Warning: The apocalypse, deaths, tragedies, overall a lot of very bad things.

Mingle Threads: The Antagonists || The Protagonists || The Others || General
Free Open Threads: The Two Years || Other Events

#01 Attempts at Negotiations || Trano Golsaucia
#02 Tactical Espionage Action || Aqures Ixen
#03 Judgmental Glares || Aerilon
#04 The Fight for the Crystallized Bodies || Aqures Tosf
#05 The Dusk of the Heroes || Mysidia
#06 The Fight for the Moon || Lunar Gate
#07 Conflict Above the Stars || Moon Base
#08 The Birth of a God || Crystal Life Tree
#09 The Death of a World || Moon Base
#10 Where Everything Ends || Pandaemonium

Conclusion || The Sage in Mysidia

Comments

[waterstrikes]

"It might deter them, but there's a way around it," he argued, more as a retort to her than an actual disagreement. What was Rikku even thinking? He gave the door a few kicks and punches before he finally gave up. He shook his head. He hated hearing Yuna sound like that.

It hurt.

"We all have other things to do right now," He wasn't terse, but it was close. There was an underlying defeat in his tone. Even if he was done trying to escape for now, he didn't move from his spot. He tried to keep as much space between them as possible. After all, wasn't that what Yuna wanted?

"Look, it's not that I don't appreciate you...trying to apologize for her. But-- it's fine. I know Rikku won't keep us in here forever," It just felt awkward, like some reluctant parody of what they used to have.

[grandsummon]

Funny, how that unwillingness to give in that had once inspired her, now only drove the nail deeper into her chest. There was nothing more to say as he continued to try and beat his way to freedom, an act she turned away from, trying to pretend she was somewhere else. She'd gotten so good at that lately, it had almost become second nature, so... why wasn't it working now?

In the end, Yuna deserved this -- she kept telling herself so. It was her fault that things were... well, the way that they were. She hadn't been strong enough for either of them, hadn't been able to save either of them from what seemed like infinite paths to tragedy.

She'd been in this supply room before, many times in fact. She knew exactly where to find the candles and flint, and tried her best to be quiet as she rose to fetch them from the spot on the shelves.

Several times, Yuna tried, and failed, to make tools work together. It was probably about as painful to watch and hear as his struggles with the door. When she gave up, she was quiet about that too, retreating to her corner to hug her knees close for warmth, leaving them in the centre, neutral ground between them.

Turning away, she muttered something about the coldness of the night, even though there were more unforgiving things than the weather happening here.

[waterstrikes]

Tidus had long since given up on wondering why Yuna had made the choices she did. Yes, it had hurt. But he had made his own choices too. He tried to convince himself he was over it. Now he couldn't pretend anymore.

An awkward silence permeated the room during Yuna's attempts to light a candle. He wasn't sure if it was worse than their stilted conversation from before. He decided there was no better option.

Finally he couldn't take it anymore. Just because this was difficult didn't mean he wanted her to freeze. He had nothing to offer in terms of a jacket, as he just didn't care anymore, but he could try to start a fire to light the candles. Keeping his eyes on the floor, he edged to the tools and picked them up, trying to pick up where Yuna left off.

[grandsummon]

There was a slight glance over his way. Just a little over the shoulder so that she could turn away quickly again if she was caught. Every time the flint struck against itself, it lighted his face just enough for her to make out his features. Did he look different than she remembered? Was he still feeling all right? Whole? Frowning, she wished that she could find the courage to say something.

Something about how it was nice to see him... but she couldn't bring herself to do even that. It would be selfish to give those thoughts a voice, and so, she turned away again, looking down at the knees she huddled closely together.

"I didn't know... you were even in Aerlion."

[waterstrikes]

His hair grazed his shoulders now in haphazard layers. Scars littered his body too, a particularly deep one angrily coiling its way around his leg and mostly hidden by his shorts and boots. As far as he was concerned, in that respect he was lucky. They all had their scars by now.

Ever since they had gone their separate ways, it felt as if something was missing. It felt physical, often making it even harder for him to focus. He had learned to accept it, but as for this? This was infinitely more painful. A part of him knew it wasn't any easier for Yuna. When he was finally successful in creating a small flame, he yelled a victorious, "Got it!", rushing over to light the candles before the fire died. Maybe he had some sick fascination with getting hurt then, because as soon as he was done, his eyes flickered to Yuna. He wanted to see her...to see how she had been.

"I joined Captain Kidd's crew for a little while, and this is where we ended up." For a moment it had almost felt normal, but he glanced down, his voice more dejected than he wanted to admit. "I don't think we'll be here long. If that's what you're wondering."

[grandsummon]

It was worse, infitely, when she finally got a look at him as the fire sparked to life. It reflected something empty in her eyes, knowing also that feeling of something missing inside of her. But when his words finally registered, she had to look away again. So it was true... Tidus had joined with Kidd, Saori and...

"No, that's not what I --" a double edged sword. Surely whatever she was trying to say would feeling something like that. She wanted to see him, more than anything, but at the same time... nothing frightened her more. There was a reason she had to stay away; something she reminded herself of endlessly.

Her head bowed low again, her hair longer as well, falling over her shoulder with the lean. All of this felt so unfair, but none more so than the weight she felt pressing down on her. "I'm sorry..." Yuna finally managed, after more silence. "For leaving so suddenly," the start of all of this, the thing she felt a sharp pang of guilt for every day she woke.

[waterstrikes]

He glanced up at her, but it was in false hope. When Yuna trailed off, disappointment veiled his eyes, and he found it easier to look at the ground. There was an empty crate nearby, and he felt like kicking it. Instead, he sat down, still keeping his distance from Yuna. The wounds had never healed, but he felt them reopening, stinging at her rejection. He was being stupid, and he knew it. How could he let one person impact him this much? The only thing he could do was try to hide it from her. That almost made it worse, because out of everyone, she was the best at reading his emotions.

He bit back a comment on her appearance. It would have only reminded him of what he missed. Did he even have any right to say anything now? Still, he was glad that as far as he could see, she was faring better than some of the survivors. He couldn't say the same when it came to her emotional and mental wellbeing, though.

So suddenly? That was what hurt, wasn't it? She didn't regret leaving, just leaving without any warning. There were so many things he wanted to say and ask. There was an unvoiced 'why', guarded by his walls of sunlight, false laughter, encouraging words and anger. His lips twitched into a forced smile.

"You can't keep regretting things like that, Yuna. We have a fight to finish. And if you're thinking about that instead of what's going on in front of you, someone you care about might get hurt." He was perfectly aware she knew that, and making the statement was pointless. It was just a feint to try and keep the conversation from hitting too close to home.

[grandsummon]

Someone she cared about was already hurt. She could see it in the way he spoke, hear it in his voice... feel it in the pit of her stomach. The fact that here he was, trying to encourage her to go on -- it felt like this was some sick joke. Much like this whole situation, it was just another thing to add to the abyss of things that were her fault.

Had she been honest with Rikku about what had really been going on, perhaps this could have been avoided. Tidus could have gone about his business today like any other... and they could have forgotten this pain for a little while longer. But that terrible habit of keeping everything to herself had reared its ugly head again. She thought she could have handled this...

"And what if... there's no way to avoid that?"

[waterstrikes]

"What do you mean?" His voice took on an uncertain edge. He didn't like where this conversation was going. Did Yuna...really think this had been unavoidable? Maybe she was right, but if that was the case, he was more to fault than her. He had to be. Seeing Yuna acting so defeated, he couldn't stand it. He shook his head adamantly, clenching his fists in anger. Maybe he was upset. His emotions had been numbed for so long, and now they came rushing back to him, threatening to overwhelm him like a tidal wave.

"Why are you giving up now? You say there's no way to avoid seeing the people you care about get hurt, but there's always a way! I guess maybe it's fine for you if others get hurt, as long as you can avoid being there when it happens?" He didn't mean that. Deep down he knew that wasn't Yuna, it never had been, but he had so much he wanted to say, and couldn't for too long. He found himself standing up, pacing with nervous energy.

"Why, Yuna?!" His voice cracked. His face felt warm, and his vision began to blur. "Why did you leave? Was that necessary? What did I do?!"

[grandsummon]

Every word was worse than a knife to the gut. Every question drove the blade deeper, the pain physical enough that she actually winced. This was terrible, everything was terrible -- made worse by the fact that she had never wanted to leave.

Tidus deserved an explanation. After everything they had been through, the things they had seen and experienced together... "You didn't do anything," the idea that he thought it was his fault made her stomach turn. "Please, don't think that..." she couldn't look at him, and clenched her eyes shut to force herself from doing so.

"I didn't --" want to leave, why couldn't she just say it? "It was because I had to." She clasped her shaking hands together, willing them to stop. Everything he said was true, that was exactly how she was acting... she had turned away from it all for so long, turned away from him...

"Can't you see that I --" she choked, trying her hardest -- and failing, to hold back a sob, "that I still love you?!"

[waterstrikes]

This wasn't the time to lose control over his emotions. A bitter laugh escaped him. After everything they had been through, and here he was, crying. But it hurt, more than anything had in a while. He knew Yuna was hurting too, but how much?

Yuna's words froze him in place. There was no way he had heard her correctly. He couldn't look at her when he was like this, but he had to ask, voice quiet and hesitant, "I don't understand."

He suddenly felt cold, all of the fury he had felt washed away by shock. "What do you mean 'still'?"

eek lost in the abyss of my inbox, sorry!!

[grandsummon]

Her hands relaxed only for a moment, enough to uncurl from themselves, and instead grasp harshly at the skirt of her robes, anything to stop them from shaking -- though the tremors seemed to reach her shoulders by now. She tried so hard to repress a cry, but when she looked up at him -- the battle was lost.

Silently, tears streamed down her face. "I always..." it had been so long now, that he had been part of her life -- it was hard to imagine a time where she hadn't loved him. But until now, those were feelings she had always buried... the unfairness of the world forcing her to keep them to herself -- and hurt him in the process.

"I'm sorry," Yuna looked down again, squeezing those eyes shut one more time to try and stop the tears from coming. "I could never bring myself to tell you... I was so afraid..."