the wings that you burn turn to ashes, my dear

Auron leaned against a tree on the shoreline. His katana was nowhere to be seen. If she didn’t know any better, she swore he smirked behind his high collar.

“Don’t let me disturb you,” he said. His good eye lingered on her. She would have cursed anyone else who ogled her.

With Sir Auron, well… Lulu wasn’t opposed.

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Fujin stopped before him, looking him over. Seifer preferred to be back at Garden, standing in front of Headmaster Cid, waiting for his punishment. Cid he could handle. Disappointing Fujin was worse. Gripping his chin, she turned his head, examining his face.

“WORRIED,” she finally said, dropping her hand.

“I’m sorry.” Seifer rarely said those words and meant it.

“Like I said, we know you. This?” Raijin pointed to him. “This is the guy I remember, y’know? Not the one leading the Galbadian army.”

Rude sipped at the martini. It was sweeter than he liked, thanks to the apple schnapps, but it was a nice change from his usual pints at whatever dive bar they could find. “I am having a good time,” he said.

“I know, I know. But there’s a new club down the street from here. No cover charge for Shinra employees.” Reno wiggled his eyebrows. “Do you want to try it out?”

“Maybe.” Clubbing all night with a bunch of strangers could be fun, but Rude was content right where he was. Maybe he’d see if there was a bookstore along the boardwalk and pick up something new to read. “Contrary to popular opinion, one does not need to stack their days full of activities in order to enjoy a vacation,” he reminded his partner.

“And someone” - Reno clinked his plastic cup against Rude’s martini glass - “needs to remember to cut loose every once in a while. We’re off duty! We should act like it.”

One dim streetlight lit the alleyway in a yellowish glow. Crates and cardboard boxes, soggy from the previous day’s rain, lined either side. A brown bit of fuzz stuck out from behind a pallet.

Sure enough, a wet dog curled up, hiding. Brown and white fur stuck to their side in clumps, in desperate need of a good brushing.

“It’s okay, I don’t want to hurt you,” Rinoa murmured. Big brown eyes took Rinoa in as she approached. “I just want to see if you’re okay.”

Their tail wagged, tongue lolling out of their mouth.

“You’re a good dog, aren’t you?” She held one hand out so the dog could sniff it. “See? I’m good, too.”

runicmagitek

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Darill was more to him than a peer, a friend, a confidant. What had once started as a rivalry between two likeminded souls grew into solid, true love. Darill was going to prove herself to the world someday as the best pilot and mechanic that ever lived. Setzer’s own skills paled in comparison to Darill’s, but he learned more every time he watched her. This sort of race provided them both with a thrill unlike any other. Setzer chased it at poker tables and he found it in the arms of this insatiable, incredible, genius woman. A woman who would rather fuck in the engine room than on a bed of silk and flowers, and Setzer loved her all the more for it.

The last thing either of them expected was a malfunction in the engine room. Her ship, the Falcon, burst into flames, large enough for Setzer to see from a kilometer behind her.

This was no longer a race - this was a rescue mission. Darill’s ambition could cost her life.