Black Dreams, White Dreams
By Lulu-san
Chapter 13 – Changing room blues
Inside their changing room at the Luca stadium, the Besaid Aurochs were changing nervously into their blitzball gear. Their captain had left about half an hour ago to find out the match line ups for the tournament, and he had not yet returned.
"I wonder what's keepin' him, ya?" Datto said aloud as he completed a series of warm up stretches.
"Dunno…" Tidus replied. "But don't worry, man. No matter who we play, I'm sure we can kick their butts any day of the week."
The Aurochs chuckled appreciatively and the pre-match tension lessened a little bit.
"Remember how our first match was with the Kilika Beasts last year?" Jassu grinned.
"Yeah!" Tidus laughed. "Final score was 6-0…and two of their players retired due to over-exertion."
"But…then again" Letty interrupted with a frown. "Those two players were the ones that were taggin' you and Capt'n Wakka…"
"Yeah, without you guys, I bet we couldn't even win a single match on our own." Datto complained loudly, but he was smiling.
Tidus laughed, but he secretly agreed. Without him or Wakka…well, the Aurochs wouldn't be much of a team. It was as though he and Wakka were the leaders – the main actors, while the rest of the Aurochs were the supporting cast that kept things moving along. Of course, the leads couldn't sustain a show without the supporting cast – and the supporting cast would be at a loss without the leads. And, Tidus thought, it was just lucky that the Aurochs made a great supporting team; never letting them down in a match.
"Capt'n Wakka!"
The Aurochs turned immediately to their captain, who had just walked through the change room door.
"Alright boys." Wakka began. "It's not too bad this year- not too bad at all. First, we're up against the Guado Glories. If we beat them – then we're in the finals, ya."
"Not bad!" Tidus exclaimed. "That's fantastic – we've got an easy walk straight to the goal! The Guado Glories are a real pushover."
Wakka frowned at him.
"Don't you go underestimating the opponent, ya!" he snapped. "I hear they've put together a really strong team this year – and they've invested in a hoard of new blitz gear! Get sloppy, get pushed out of the tournament!"
"Alright, already!" Tidus retreated with his palms face up. "Just trying to ease the nerves!"
"What nerves!" Wakka practically snarled. Then, realising the contradictory nature of his statement to how he delivered it, he chuckled.
"Okaay…so, maybe I'm a li-ttle bit nervous, ya?" he grinned sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head. "But, I just want to make sure we go into this game with full force and determination."
"Capt'n!" The Aurochs saluted.
"Okay, boys!" Wakka clapped his hands together. "We're gonna do some warm ups, ya? Game starts in little under an hour! Best not be forgetting the basics! To start, 50 sit ups and 50 push ups! Get to it!"
"Sir!" The Aurochs saluted once more, before beginning the exercises with renewed enthusiasm.
oooXooo
The streets of Luca were absolutely packed. People from all over Spira had turned out to see the tournament, and the sense of anticipation was overwhelming. Lulu hurried through the crowds – who, just like her, were pushing and shoving in order to reach the blitzball stadium.
It was another stiflingly hot day and Lulu was almost regretting her choice of outfit – her usual pilgrimage dress. She had only worn her new clothes once –but she was already missing their comfortable lightness. She growled in her throat. What was she thinking? Couldn't she stand a little heat anymore? This was the dress that had served her dutifully on the pilgrimage after all! She sighed, and wished that Yuna and Rikku had come along with her – if not just to take her mind off the stifling heat and pushy crowd. She had left them in the hotel room; Rikku was still not feeling well enough to get out of bed yet.
"Can't you do a cure spell or something to remove the symptoms?" She had asked Yuna, but the young girl shook her head.
"I would do it straight away if it would do anything to help…but that's the point, really!" Yuna had sighed. "There just really isn't such a thing as a cure to a hangover!"
Thus, Lulu had promised to go on ahead to the tournament, leaving Rikku in Yuna's care. Yuna had assured Lulu that Rikku would feel much better after a shower and some food – and that they would catch up with her later at the stadium, hopefully before the first match had started. Lulu had nodded, and agreed to let the boys know in advance.
"Don't worry," Yuna had smiled. "We'll definitely be there! I'm sure Rikku would rather watch the match with a headache, then not at all!"
Lulu had smiled wryly at the time, but as she fought her way through the busy, sticky crowd, she felt enviously that she wouldn't mind switching places with Rikku at that very moment – no matter how bad her hangover was.
oooXooo
"Right! Match begins in 20 minutes, so I think it's about time we had a warm up swim in the sphere, ya?"
Wakka stood in front of his players, and gave them a reassuring smile.
"I know we've got the skills, and I know we've got the talent!" he said confidently. "So all we gotta do…is…"
Wakka gulped as a surge of anxiety hit him and took a deep breath.
"All we gotta do is get out there and win!" Tidus finished loudly. "Right, Wakka?"
"Y-Yeah!" Wakka straightened up and gave the team a determined look. "Get out there and win!"
"Capt'n!" the Aurochs shouted, before heading out into the sphere to warm up.
Tidus had been about to follow them when he noticed that Wakka was still hanging around nervously by the changing room bench.
"What's up, man?" he asked. "Surely you're not that nervous?"
"Huh! No- wha?" Wakka started and looked anxiously at Tidus. "Uh, yeah… no…not really that…"
He sat down on one of the benches and nodded his head in the direction of the clock on the changing room wall.
"Just thinkin'…that, well, the girls are pretty late, ya?" he finally stuttered.
"Yeah…maybe." Tidus cocked an eyebrow. "They're probably just fighting their way through the monstrous crowd out there. You saw how big it was, I'd bet anything that it's slowing them down."
Wakka merely coughed in response and turned his head away.
"Ya…s'probably it…" he muttered. "I mean- they're definitely coming, ya? It's not like…y'know…"
His voiced tapered out and he continued to stare grumpily at the clock.
"Aw, man…Wakka, no!" Tidus groaned suddenly. "Please, please don't tell me this is still all about Lulu…"
"So? I mean, what?" Wakka blurted out. "I mean, no! No!"
He looked guiltily up at Tidus.
"Well…maybe." He eventually mumbled. "A little."
"You're going to wreck yourself over this, Wakka!" Tidus sighed, sitting down beside him. "And, you're going to screw the game up too, if you continue to act like you are now."
When Wakka did nothing but look sadly down at his feet, Tidus sighed and continued.
"I mean, it wasn't always like this, was it? Why's it getting you down so much at the moment!"
"Wha-What!" Wakka suddenly shouted in disbelief. "What do you mean WHY! It's all YOUR fault, ya!"
"MY fault?" Tidus repeated incredulously.
"Yah…" Wakka scowled at the floor. "You made me more…aware of it, you know? Like before, I was just content around her like a friend. But now, I'm always thinking of how I have to hold back – and then I think that I don't want to hold back anymore, ya? So then I get confused, caus' I don't want to force it, but I don't want…well…you, know…to be just 'friends'…ya?"
"And that's MY fault?" Tidus asked again, with one eyebrow raised.
"Well, I hadn't really thought about it before." Wakka frowned. "And, it doesn't help that we're sleeping together (Wakka turned a delicate shade of pink and coughed) – I mean, sharing a bed – and then the whole walking in on her and-"
"Whoa, walking in on her when?" Tidus interrupted. "I didn't hear about THAT!"
"Wha- no, nothing!" Wakka quickly backtracked. "That…was some other thing…got mixed up….ya…"
"Look…Wakka." Tidus stood up and clapped a hand on Wakka's shoulder. "I think it's best if you think less about it all, and just take it slowly."
Wakka sighed.
"Yeah, I know – but…"
"No buts- okay?" Tidus smiled sympathetically "Worrying isn't going to do you any good – and it's not going to do her any good."
Wakka smiled sadly back, but he didn't look convinced.
"Well, we'll see." He finally replied.
"But changing the subject…" Tidus said, looking up at the clock. "The girls really are late now. The match starts in 10 minutes – they won't be able to get to their seats!"
Just as they were exchanging concerned glances, the change room door clicked open and a rather dishevelled and grumpy Lulu walked in.
"Lu!" Wakka exclaimed, standing up immediately and walking over to her. "What's going on? Are you all alright? Where're the other two?"
"I'll tell you in a minute – just stop crowding me, Wakka!" she said, glaring at him in irritation. "I've spent enough time being pushed and squashed by people this morning. That crowd out there…is truly horrible."
"Well?" asked Tidus as Wakka backed off. "Where are Yuna and Rikku?"
Lulu sighed and pushed some of her hair back in frustration.
"Rikku's still not feeling very well, so Yuna stayed back to look after her until she feels better." She said. "They promised they would try and get here in time for the first match- but well, with that crowd outside…I don't think they'll be getting here for some time."
"Ah." Tidus nodded. "Aha. I see. Well, that just leaves us no choice. We'll just have to definitely win this first match, so that by the time they get here, they'll still get to see us play. Play in the finals that is! Right, Wakka?"
Wakka looked at Tidus and made a sort of choking noise that could have been either yes or no.
"Aw, c'mon, man!" Tidus exclaimed. "Don't freeze up on me now!"
"Are you alright, Wakka?" Lulu asked quietly, noticing for the first time how clammy he was looking.
Wakka made another choking noise and jerked his head in a nod.
"Well, anyway, I'm going to go and warm up in the sphere now, okay?" Tidus said over his shoulder as he left the change room. "Don't take too long, man."
"Y-ya, sure thing, brudda." Wakka managed to reply.
Tidus gave him a sceptical look, before shutting the door with a click.
Lulu stared in silence at Wakka for a few moments, before she gently placed a cool hand on his arm.
"The game starts soon, Wakka." she said softly. "You're not feeling unwell, are you…?"
Wakka shook his head, and Lulu's brow furrowed in concern.
"Then- what's causing you to behave in such a-"
Lulu's sentence was cut of with an almost inaudible gasp as Wakka suddenly, yet tenderly embraced her in his arms and pulled her body tightly closer into to his.
It didn't seem right to speak, so Lulu simply encircled her arms around his wide back and rested against him in a comfortable hug. She closed her eyes and let the warmth that they were sharing relax her.
Certainly, she was surprised by his action, but she soon discovered that she wasn't really bothered by it either. If Wakka needed some support at this moment, she was quite content to remain where she was until he was ready to explain.
She remembered a similar incident just after they had started Yuna's pilgrimage – just after they had met Tidus – and just before Wakka had won his first ever Blitzball tournament. Wakka had been badly hurt in their first match, and had collapsed onto her. Yet, she remembered how she had held him, and how they had embraced so similarly to now. He had leant against her, with his hand gently holding her lower back, while she rested her cheek against his chest. In just one moment, Lulu had experienced a feeling of contentment and ease; more than she had could ever have remembered feeling before.
Now, as they embraced in the Aurochs changing room, Lulu was reminded strongly of those feelings, yet amongst the warmth and tenderness, another emotion Lulu had not realised was present was beginning to reveal itself.
"Lulu…" Wakka suddenly whispered into her ear, his voice hoarse and strained. As his warm breath tickled her skin, she felt a shiver go up her spine – a kind of tingling that made her feel as though her body temperature was rising rapidly.
"Yes?" she replied softly, in a voice guarded of emotion.
"Lulu, I…"
She felt her heart jolt as he whispered her name once again into her ear, and wondered why she was suddenly finding it harder to breath, when it wasn't as though he was holding her that tightly.
"I'm…really…scared…" Wakka finally finished, and he bent his head so that his forehead was resting on her shoulder.
"Of…what?" Lulu asked, finally breaking the embrace by resting both her hands on his shoulders and pushing him up so that he was looking her in the face. She hoped her cheeks weren't as hot as they felt. Even though she was feeling slightly flustered, she kept her face a cool mask.
"Of letting the team down, ya!" He smiled bitterly as he looked down at her. "Ten years without a single win in a Blitzball match doesn't exactly leave fond memories."
Lulu sighed. What had she been expecting? Of course he'd be nervous.
"I just…don't know if I can do it…" he mumbled. "Sometimes…I wonder if it's all just been a huge fluke."
He closed his eyes and exhaled deeply. Something in his face tightened and his lips were pressed so hard together that they had turned white.
"Stop right there." Lulu placed her hands on her hips and glared up at him. "Now, you listen to me. I've watched you play since you were a little boy, and I've seen you win the tournament each year for the past 3 years! I believe you will win this year, just like last year and the year before."
"You believe we will w-" Wakka interrupted, but Lulu cut him off.
"Let me finish." She said, holding up a hand. "I believe you will win. I know you can win – I have absolutely no doubt in your abilities to win this tournament hands down. But, I believe you will win. I have faith in you."
Wakka smiled awkwardly, and Lulu was relieved to see that his expression had relaxed a little.
"Thanks…ya?"
"You don't look convinced, though." Lulu sighed and shook her head.
"No…it's just that…well…" Wakka stumbled across his words. "I'm still…scared, you know? And I don't want to mess up just because I'm nervous – but I can't just stop being nervous, ya."
Lulu raised her eyebrows, almost wanting to chuckle. Here was Wakka, who acted so big and manly all the time, practically wetting himself with nerves – and over what? Not a battle with Sin, or a confrontation with a life endangering fiend – but a game! Just a game of Blitzball! Lulu knew she could never call Blitzball 'just a game' in front of any male in Spira, but she really couldn't understand the importance it held for them. She looked up at Wakka, and supposed that it didn't really matter this time, whether she understood or not.
"I suppose desperate times…call for desperate measures." She finally said, giving him a small smile. "Hold out you hand."
Wakka looked confused, but held out his right hand all the same. Lulu slid the ring she always wore off her left middle finger and gently pushed it onto Wakka's pinkie finger, where it fitted snugly.
"Wha-?" he stuttered. "But-"
"I'll lend it to you." She said quietly. "It's a guarantee that you'll win. It'll bring you the best luck you could have. So, you can stop being scared now, okay?"
"But isn't this…your mother's..." Wakka began, inspecting the ring on his finger.
"Yes." She confirmed. "It's one of the few keepsakes I have from her. So take good care of it, and give it back to me after the tournament."
"Thank you." Wakka said, so sincerely that Lulu began to feel slightly uneasy and warm again. "But..why?"
Lulu paused, reluctant to admit that she wanted to help Wakka in a similar way to how the shell pendant he had given her had helped her. The pendant was currently secured safely around her neck, its comforting weight resting against her neck. Wakka couldn't possibly have known how special it seemed to her at the moment, and she was not exactly about to tell him any time soon.
She also wasn't sure how to explain the feeling that had compelled her to give it to him in the first place. Some sort of impulse that had taken hold. For, even now when she looked at Wakka wearing the accessory that she had worn for many years, she felt another shiver of heat spread across her body.
"I just…wanted to help." She lamely answered him, while avoiding his eyes. "So, don't be nervous anymore. You don't need to be."
Wakka finally smiled a genuine smile and nodded.
"You better get out there then." Lulu nodded towards the door. "Go and show them what you're made of."
"You bet, ya?" Wakka waved the hand with the ring on it, and practically jogged to the door, stopping only to rest a hand gently on her shoulder in thanks.
Lulu watched the door close behind him, before sitting down on of the benches and touching her face gingerly. It still felt quite warm. It really couldn't be that Rikku's hangovers were contagious, could it? She snorted at her own ridiculous thought, and leant her head back slowly, remembering the tingling feeling she had experienced as he had whispered her name; his lips so close to her skin.
She stopped her thoughts immediately, startled by their nature.
"Damn tournament." Lulu muttered angrily to herself. "It makes everybody super sensitive and tense. Even me…"
She shook her head in annoyance, before realising that the game was going to start soon, and that if she didn't hurry, she wouldn't be able to get to her seat in time. Clutching her ticket, she hurried out of the changing room towards the packed stadium.
End of Chapter 13...To be continued...
Wow.
2 updates in 2 days.
Just trying to make amends for my terrible track record of updating once a year…or something
Anyway, I know it's a shorter chapter than normal (3000 words as opposed to 5000 words) but I feel that this is a good place to end the chapter.
Next chapter finally brings the start of the tournament, and some other…issues. Heheh.
Anyway, I just wish there was some way I could reply to the reviews I got…so I'll do it here, I guess :D
Iria – What a fluke eh! (Actually, I started writing again after I restarted FFX about a week ago…go figure )
GiGgLyGaL : Yes, I'm surprised Wakka didn't get a hangover too. I guess it's true what they say about alcohol VS body weight. And, I'm so happy you'll keep reading o
Yumemiruhana: Well…I updated! And here it is!
Motet: I feel sorry for Wakka too…I'm such a cruel writer…But I'm very glad you liked the chapter.
Casper23: Man, your comment made me totally crack up. Please let your hubby back in now, he's not going away anytime soon TT And now he's got his ciggys, he'll try to keep writing with enthusiasm! Thank you so much for keeping reading it!
ANYWAY! I will try to update again before this time next week, so stay tuned!
Please drop me a review, I love to hear your thoughts!
Until then,
Lulu-san