Chapter Text
Yuna
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Someone had told her years ago that dying was like falling asleep. They had lied. Every inch of her screamed out in pain. Yuna couldn't tell how long it took for the sea to suffocate her After seconds or weeks, she opened her eyes. Making anything out in the murky waters was impossible. Yuna surfaced and tried to set her mind straight. Where was Valefor? It hadn’t responded to her call. Could it be flying over the white buildings in search of its summoner? The crowd on the balcony was the size of rats. None of them seemed to be looking down towards the sea. Yuna paddled away frantically, hoping she was right.
She sprinted through a patch of trees until birds were the only thing she could hear. Stopping gave her brain time to process what brought her here. Jumping was meant to be a way to get to safety. It had been so easy to trust in her aeons, in Yevon. She wondered what she had done wrong. Her trust had never failed so spectacularly before. Trying to perform any magic left her sweating. Sobs started to echo the birds cawing. Yuna sank into a pile of moss. Maybe if she stayed here long enough it would grow over her enough to hide her shame.
Yuna finally moved when she heard a male voice. She tried to pull back her hair, but the salt water had left it a tangled, brittle mess. It fell in her face and she didn’t the Guado until he was only feet away. She feared how her guardians might react if she returned, but Seymour scared her more. Grabbing a nearby branch, she braced herself for a fight as he inched closer.
“I'm glad to see you're still around,” Seymour said.
She had taken her makeshift staff and smacked it against his chest. He was to blame for what happened! Seymour frowned and grabbed the branch after being hit a second time.
“Lady Yuna stop this.”
She started making the motions to send him. Yuna regretted waiting for so long. But he stepped forward, interrupting her motions and backing her into a tree.
“What are you trying to do?”
“I should’ve done this long ago!” Yuna hadn’t expected to scream those words.
“Would you rather send me to the farplane? Or help Spira?”
“Our ideas of help are very different.”
“Are they? We both are heading to the same destination. We want to complete the same summoning.” Seymour paused before insisting, “Let me help you.”
“How can I trust you now?”
“I understand we’ve had our differences, but you and I both know you aren’t getting to Zanarkand by yourself.”
Yuna worried he had gained the ability to read minds. Every thought was fuzzy. She reminded herself she did not have to trust him to make use of his abilities. And that Seymour would not bother if he thought her powerless. Fiends were becoming more common by the day. Some of the most skilled summoners she knew were falling on the roads between temples. But she still had a task ahead of her. That had to be why she stayed tethered to this world.
“I will accept your help, Maester Seymour.” The bow she gave wasn’t deep enough for the title.
He did not mention the slight. “Then we should avoid wasting any more time.”
The forest wasn’t large and soon she was avoiding the people spending their evening on the outskirts of Bevelle. The lights of every home seemed to invite her in. Exhaustion had turned her into a stone that was nearly impossible to move. Resting would do wonders. And so would a sleeping bag. She bemoaned their lack of supplies.
“I promise we will get what we need on the way.”
“I should go back. I’m sure my things are still at the inn.” She needed to get back. Her friends would know what to do.
Seymour didn't bother to look at her when he spoke. “There's no need to go back. I can acquire anything you want.”
“Unfortunately there are some things you can't replace,” Yuna replied. “Besides we can’t be seen out shopping together. It’s the best way for us to get what we need.”
“And if one of your guardians saw you in your…condition?”
“We don’t know what they would do. And they wouldn’t want to see me go.” She sounded confident, but her hesitation before speaking showed otherwise.
They wouldn’t try to send me, would they? Yuna wondered.
Seymour tried to stifle his laughter.
“What is wrong Maester Seymour?”
“Nothing at all. The sentiment is just sweet.”
Yuna had felt many things since she jumped. But the wave of rage that crept over her was new. Her next words came out with a harshness that could only be the wave's fault.
“You could have had any number of people make this journey with you. Please don’t pretend like you want to make this trip with me.”
Even with the emotional tidal wave crashing against him Seymour seemed more interested in adjusting his sleeve.
“I have my reasons for wanting to travel with you. For now, let’s focus on finding a place to rest for the night.” The scowl he gave had been the most emotion he’d shown since the wedding. It made her want to flee all over again.
It was hard to stay angry at someone who was right. Going back wouldn’t be worth the risk. Not when she was so close to the end. She followed him through patches of mushrooms. Planning how she would handle things once they got to Zanarkand made the dread disappear. Seymour paid the first merchant they encountered an obscene pile of gil for discretion. Yuna hugged the sleeping bags to her body. She sucked in their warmth as if they could replace the natural warmth of a human body. They spent two more hours finding a secluded resting spot. She wasted no time placing the new sleeping bag over sun-burnt grass. Now that they had stopped fear grabbed Yuna again. Yet she didn’t fear her new companion. He’d be stupid to harm her while they were working towards the same goal.
Even so, it’d still be better if her bedding was further away. She laid down facing away from her “ally”. Maybe if she couldn’t see or hear him she could pretend this wasn’t happening. That this was just another night on the road with her friends. With Lulu and Rikku fussing over her. With Tidus and Wakka practicing bliztball moves in the clearing. With Kimarhi and Sir Auron keeping a watch over the group. Even in the darkest nights, their camp was a place of warmth. They would tell her not to worry, that she would be able to summon like normal after some rest. Yuna hoped to wake up there.