Pairing: Auron/Lulu Tidus/Yuna

a/n: Final Fantasy X belongs to SquareEnix.

AU, in our current timeline. Might continue or might not, depending on whether I have the inclination to do it.

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Despite her best efforts, the pile of papers slid into a messy pool on the floor, out of her reach. Sighing in irritation, Lulu got up from her chair to retrieve them. Fridays are always her worst days. There were deadlines to be met, appointments to fulfill and the heightened stress that came with the anticipation of the weekend.

Only, there are no weekends for Lulu.

Her telephone beeped as she sat down again. “Miss Lulu, Mr. Delore has cancelled his two o’clock appointment and wishes to be rescheduled.” Her secretary intoned. Lulu impatiently tapped the polished tabletop with a manicured finger. “I won’t entertain his delays anymore. Tell him the deal is off.”

“Yes ma’am.”

Beep.

Lulu swiveled the chair around and stared at the bleak sky through her glass wall. Thunder rumbled in the distance, and the air was filled with the ominous chill that preceded a storm. Below, humanity scurried about like so many helpless ants, all instinctively trying to get away from the coming rain. Lulu, shielded in her office of steel and chrome derived some comfort in knowing that she need not seek shelter – she was master of her own.

As if following a signal from her thoughts, the sky burst forth with a mighty rumble and droplets began to patter against her window.

Sighing, Lulu grabbed her jacket and pressed her intercom. “I’m going out, Carla. Take any messages for me.”

Far below, a young girl stumbled into a café, her cream jacket drenched from the sudden torrent downpour. Standing in the doorway, she tried to gather her windswept hair into a semblance of order, but failing miserably. Water dripped from her skirt onto the floor, a frazzled innocent caught unaware.

“Can I get you something miss?” A cheerful voice greets her and she looks up in surprise and her hand flew up to her hair, horrified that someone sees her in such a state.

A young man stood there in a neat uniform, and she realizes that he was only being polite. “Yes. Um…tea, please. With lemon.”

“Would you like to sit down?” He gestured to a chair, his bright blue eyes twinkling mischievously. Perhaps he found some amusement in her misery, but she refused to ponder on that. Trying to sit with as much grace as she could muster, she attempted to dry herself with a hanky.

A towel was placed on the table, and she looked up at the smiling attendant. He winked at her. “Must be annoying getting caught without an umbrella isn’t it? Your tea will be ready soon.”

She glanced at the classy tag on his uniform. “Thank you… Tidus.”

His only response was a short bow.

The café was mercifully empty, the lunch hour having come and gone. She allowed herself to relax, knowing that no one was there to gawk at her or point. She could be herself.

A steaming cup of tea was set before her, with a small plate of complimentary biscuits. She smiled up at Tidus again. “Thanks for the towel.”

“Oh no problem. At least you thought of coming in to get out of the rain, unlike that guy over there,” Tidus nodded to a man walking out in the rain, surprisingly unaffected by the weather.

She laughed and patted the table, indicating that he should join her. “I’m Yuna.”

Tidus only grinned. “Pleased to meet you, Yuna.”

Outside, Auron paused and looked at the light shining from the café. Inside, he could see a young couple sharing a simple conversation, and a small smile curved on his lips. Ah, the beauty of youth. He was far too old to enjoy that any longer, but the rain is still of some comfort to him. The rain washed away all color and left the world grey, stark and bare. There are no sounds beyond the drone of rainfall, no feeling other than the numbing coldness.

Standing at a crossroads, he watched the single red light that barred his progress. Vehicles sped by uncaring, their owners sheltered and deprived from enjoying the rain. Yes, he knew they think he’s crazy, but he was as sane as anyone else… if not more.

The red light changed to green, and he stepped onto the crossing. Like a mirror image, he saw a woman step onto the road from the other side, matching his steps stride for stride. Unlike him, she was sheltered under an umbrella, safe and dry. While he was in a shabby coat, faded with age, she was dressed in a sharp suit, a woman in control of herself.

As they passed each other, shoulders brushing just so, he turned his head slightly and saw her do the same. Their gazes met.

And held.

…

And broke when the traffic resumed its flow between them.

Lulu blinked in slight confusion as she looked back over her shoulder. She could see nothing more of the stranger, a succession of large vehicles had hampered her view. Strange.

“Strange,” She murmured as she resumed her walk.

Auron stared at the spot where he knew she last stood. The traffic light had stopped again, a silent invitation for him to cross the road again.

“Strange,” He murmured as he resumed his solitary walk in the rain… only now memories of smoldering crimson eyes lingered in his mind’s eye.

Comments will help me decide, thanks!