FFX: "Recruitment" for cyrnelle
*Title: Recruitment
*For: cyrnelle
*Medium: Fic
*Request(s): FFX/X-2, Rikku and Yuna, post FFX, something to bridge X and X-2. Extra points for Rikku getting into trouble with Wakka for convincing Yuna to leave Besaid!
*Fandom(s): FFX/X-2 (see prompt)
*Characters/Pairings: Yuna, Rikku, Wakka, Lulu
*Rating/Warnings: G
Feedback: If you wish
Spoilers: Basic premise of X-2
Word Count: ~1700
Summary: Yuna didn’t much like the thought of shooting anything, but Rikku had insisted that “smacking people with a stick” wasn’t what sphere hunters did.
Notes: Hope you like it! I haven't really written FFX or Yuna much but appreciated the ability to do so!
“Ugh, Wakka, hello. Do you ever actually go outside? It’s hotter than Ifrit’s morning breath!”
Rikku’s voice could make it all the way to Kilika if she really put the effort in. This was day six of Wakka versus Rikku, and Yuna was usually a patient person. It seemed her cousin would not leave Besaid until Yuna agreed to join her sphere hunting expedition. To be honest, Yuna wasn’t entirely averse to the idea, but she would probably let out a squeal in complaint if the arguments continued.
“But I saw the stuff you brought!” Wakka shot back. “They’re too…too…there’s too much…”
“I think the word you’re searching for, Wakka, is provocative,” Lulu interrupted, voice laced with amusement.
“Yeah! What Lu said!”
Rikku was furious. “Oh come off it, Grandpa! She needs to be able to move!”
“Who you callin’ Grandpa?!”
The conversation made Yuna blush as she laced up the front of the new top Rikku had bought. It was far less constricting than what she usually wore, and if she was going to be running up and down the beach all afternoon, she could see the advantage of wearing less.
Day after day in Besaid was a blessing. There was no doubt in her mind that being able to swim in the blue-green ocean, help with the mending of the fishermen’s nets and play with the children in the temple made her happy. With Sin gone, the cloud that loomed over Spira had all but disappeared. People lived free and easy now, and Yuna was grateful to be a part of it.
The smiling faces and fishing boats and swaying palm trees were images she’d brought along on her pilgrimage as memories. The thought of returning, of living in Besaid again, had never crossed her mind. It was truly a gift to be alive. “To get to be a nineteen year old girl,” Lulu kept teasing her.
She was happiest here, wasn’t she?
“Look, if we’re going sphere hunting, there may be some creepy stupid annoying people competing with us. And fiends, Wakka,” Rikku was still carrying on just outside. “Fiends with big pointy teeth. Rawr!”
“You’re not doin’ a good job convincing me,” Wakka grumbled back. “We got peace and quiet now, ya? Yuna’s got time to relax and you wanna get her back out there?”
She smiled, wishing her cousin would give poor Wakka a break. Of course it wasn’t Wakka’s decision whether Yuna went adventuring or not. It was her own choice. But he’d always been overprotective - and he liked butting heads with Rikku more than he realized.
For six days, Rikku had told Wakka that Besaid was “boring” and that sphere hunting was “totally cool” and that together, she and Yuna would make a good team. And for six days, Wakka had come up with excuses for Yuna to remain in Besaid - finding a mother who needed help with babysitting or having her help rethatch the roof of his hut.
“Yuna can’t possibly leave,” Wakka would complain. “We need her here!”
“That’s for Yuna to decide!” Rikku would fire back.
And yet, neither of them had really asked her directly, had they? It was more of a negotiation between Wakka and Rikku. Besaid was safe, and Besaid was home. But all those days on the road, meeting the other people of Spira - their strength and gratitude had kept her on her summoner’s path even when her resolve wavered. Together with her friends, she’d earned this peace. The world was hers to explore now that Sin was gone. Maybe Rikku was right - maybe sphere hunting would be something fun to try.
And so, despite Wakka’s protests, she’d agreed to see what sphere hunting was all about, at least from the comfort of home. Rikku was dragging her down to the shore to stage an impromptu sphere hunt, just to see if it was exciting enough to go on the road together.
She tugged the shorts up her hips and frowned at herself in the hazy glass inside Wakka’s hut. Rikku wanted to give her some weapons training, but her usual attire was apparently no good. Her cousin had brought some new things from Luca, and Yuna had never been good at saying no or declining presents. But was this really the kind of clothes sphere hunters wore?
Yuna emerged from the hut, feeling a little bit overexposed, but Rikku just smiled. “Okay! Gunner training at the beach, let’s go!”
Wakka could only shake his head.
-
The little guns in her hands felt so strange. With Sin gone and Yevon still in a bit of disarray, the Al-Bhed had started spreading their favorite machina toys around like wildfire. Yuna didn’t much like the thought of shooting anything, but Rikku had insisted that “smacking people with a stick” wasn’t what sphere hunters did. And besides, her cousin had continued, nobody was intimidated by a girl with a stick. So Yuna had left Nirvana behind in the hut.
The training was without real ammunition, just some Al-Bhed trick rounds that made a little pop and a puff of smoke. Yuna had almost broken her arm, or so it had felt like when the pistol recoiled from her first shot at the old clay pots Rikku had set up at the edge of the pier.
She’d fired standing still first, then she’d tried sprinting and shooting. And then Rikku had insisted she try doing a flip before sending off a shot because it would apparently look “super awesome,” but that had just ended with Yuna falling into a sand dune. She was suddenly grateful that she hadn’t been wearing one of her nice skirts.
“Okay,” her cousin said, ensuring that the pots were all lined up. “Your aim’s pretty good, but let’s use some real stuff!”
The pistol was pried from her hand, and she frowned. Wouldn’t the little bit of smoke and the bang be enough to scare another hunter away? Why did she have to shoot at them? Rikku loaded the weapon, making an almost gleeful giggle at the powerful little thing in her hands. There were some things Yuna would never fully understand about her cousin, especially her obsession with explosions and the loud noises brought about by said explosions.
“I don’t know, Rikku. You really think there’s going to be so much competition for spheres that I have to shoot at somebody?”
Rikku handed one pistol back and snatched the other. “Um, Yunie, seriously? These are the hottest things in Spira right now. You find a message that could have been recorded ages ago. They’re super valuable. And now that people aren’t afraid to leave home, there’ll be a ton of people out there.”
“Okay,” she mumbled, feeling the added weight of the pistol in her hand now that there was real ammunition inside it. “I’ll try.” She took aim at the first pot. “Just like before? Pull the trigger, don’t be stiff, don’t get hurt?”
Rikku gave her a reassuring pat on the shoulder. “Yup! And say ‘Back off! That’s my sphere, you big meanie!’”
“I…I don’t think I could say that.”
“Ugh, fine. Just…can I say it?”
The pistol was shaking in her hand as she pointed it at the pot. On the pilgrimage she’d been more supportive than anything - healing, calling her aeons. This was a lot more than smacking with a stick. Sure, there’d be fiends on a treasure hunt, just like there’d been fiends along the road on her last journey. But shooting another person? She’d worked so hard to defeat Sin, to ensure that people around her could live to see their grandchildren some day.
She tried to aim. There’d be no little pop this time - it would be far more decisive. Were the spheres and other treasures really worth it? She might seriously hurt someone - someone with a family. “Rikku…”
“Come on, Yunie! You can do it! Just think of how much fun we’ll have!”
Her eyes itched and burned as she brought her hands down, settling the two pistols back in Rikku’s surprised grasp. “I’m sorry. I don’t think this is what I want to do with my life right now. I’m so sorry.”
“Yunie!”
She hurried away from the beach. Besaid would have to be enough for now. When she got back, Wakka gave her a knowing smile, as if his victory over Rikku was assured. There were nets to mend, blitzball practices to cheer for, and a myriad other things.
Adventure was out there, Yuna thought, but it could wait.
-
“Back to cause trouble again?”
“I don’t cause trouble,” Rikku groaned, stirring Yuna from sleep. “Look, is Yunie around?”
Wakka sighed in irritation. “What is it this time? Digging through graves?”
“Eww, you are such a grouch!” She stirred, getting to her feet and moving outside. There was no napping when her cousin was around. Rikku was just as bouncy as ever, carrying a satchel over her shoulder. “Oh good, you’re here! I thought I’d get stuck talking to Wakka all day!”
He rolled his eyes. “I’m gonna practice now. Don’t you even think about kidnapping her, ya?”
“Yaaaaaa,” Rikku replied, making a face that made Yuna laugh. Wakka stomped off while her cousin produced a shiny sphere from her bag. It seemed that Rikku didn’t really need Yuna for adventuring after all. “You have to see this.”
“What is it?” she asked, feeling the cool sphere in her palm as Rikku passed it to her. It had blue swirls, moving across the sphere like clouds, hypnotizing her almost instantly.
“Kimahri found it.” She moved her finger over to activate it. “You’re going to change your mind about sphere hunting, believe me.”
Yuna laughed. No matter what Rikku tried, it wasn’t going to work. “Alright, alright. I’ll watch.”
Besaid was where she wanted to be - and nothing could possibly change that.
*For: cyrnelle
*Medium: Fic
*Request(s): FFX/X-2, Rikku and Yuna, post FFX, something to bridge X and X-2. Extra points for Rikku getting into trouble with Wakka for convincing Yuna to leave Besaid!
*Fandom(s): FFX/X-2 (see prompt)
*Characters/Pairings: Yuna, Rikku, Wakka, Lulu
*Rating/Warnings: G
Feedback: If you wish
Spoilers: Basic premise of X-2
Word Count: ~1700
Summary: Yuna didn’t much like the thought of shooting anything, but Rikku had insisted that “smacking people with a stick” wasn’t what sphere hunters did.
Notes: Hope you like it! I haven't really written FFX or Yuna much but appreciated the ability to do so!
“Ugh, Wakka, hello. Do you ever actually go outside? It’s hotter than Ifrit’s morning breath!”
Rikku’s voice could make it all the way to Kilika if she really put the effort in. This was day six of Wakka versus Rikku, and Yuna was usually a patient person. It seemed her cousin would not leave Besaid until Yuna agreed to join her sphere hunting expedition. To be honest, Yuna wasn’t entirely averse to the idea, but she would probably let out a squeal in complaint if the arguments continued.
“But I saw the stuff you brought!” Wakka shot back. “They’re too…too…there’s too much…”
“I think the word you’re searching for, Wakka, is provocative,” Lulu interrupted, voice laced with amusement.
“Yeah! What Lu said!”
Rikku was furious. “Oh come off it, Grandpa! She needs to be able to move!”
“Who you callin’ Grandpa?!”
The conversation made Yuna blush as she laced up the front of the new top Rikku had bought. It was far less constricting than what she usually wore, and if she was going to be running up and down the beach all afternoon, she could see the advantage of wearing less.
Day after day in Besaid was a blessing. There was no doubt in her mind that being able to swim in the blue-green ocean, help with the mending of the fishermen’s nets and play with the children in the temple made her happy. With Sin gone, the cloud that loomed over Spira had all but disappeared. People lived free and easy now, and Yuna was grateful to be a part of it.
The smiling faces and fishing boats and swaying palm trees were images she’d brought along on her pilgrimage as memories. The thought of returning, of living in Besaid again, had never crossed her mind. It was truly a gift to be alive. “To get to be a nineteen year old girl,” Lulu kept teasing her.
She was happiest here, wasn’t she?
“Look, if we’re going sphere hunting, there may be some creepy stupid annoying people competing with us. And fiends, Wakka,” Rikku was still carrying on just outside. “Fiends with big pointy teeth. Rawr!”
“You’re not doin’ a good job convincing me,” Wakka grumbled back. “We got peace and quiet now, ya? Yuna’s got time to relax and you wanna get her back out there?”
She smiled, wishing her cousin would give poor Wakka a break. Of course it wasn’t Wakka’s decision whether Yuna went adventuring or not. It was her own choice. But he’d always been overprotective - and he liked butting heads with Rikku more than he realized.
For six days, Rikku had told Wakka that Besaid was “boring” and that sphere hunting was “totally cool” and that together, she and Yuna would make a good team. And for six days, Wakka had come up with excuses for Yuna to remain in Besaid - finding a mother who needed help with babysitting or having her help rethatch the roof of his hut.
“Yuna can’t possibly leave,” Wakka would complain. “We need her here!”
“That’s for Yuna to decide!” Rikku would fire back.
And yet, neither of them had really asked her directly, had they? It was more of a negotiation between Wakka and Rikku. Besaid was safe, and Besaid was home. But all those days on the road, meeting the other people of Spira - their strength and gratitude had kept her on her summoner’s path even when her resolve wavered. Together with her friends, she’d earned this peace. The world was hers to explore now that Sin was gone. Maybe Rikku was right - maybe sphere hunting would be something fun to try.
And so, despite Wakka’s protests, she’d agreed to see what sphere hunting was all about, at least from the comfort of home. Rikku was dragging her down to the shore to stage an impromptu sphere hunt, just to see if it was exciting enough to go on the road together.
She tugged the shorts up her hips and frowned at herself in the hazy glass inside Wakka’s hut. Rikku wanted to give her some weapons training, but her usual attire was apparently no good. Her cousin had brought some new things from Luca, and Yuna had never been good at saying no or declining presents. But was this really the kind of clothes sphere hunters wore?
Yuna emerged from the hut, feeling a little bit overexposed, but Rikku just smiled. “Okay! Gunner training at the beach, let’s go!”
Wakka could only shake his head.
-
The little guns in her hands felt so strange. With Sin gone and Yevon still in a bit of disarray, the Al-Bhed had started spreading their favorite machina toys around like wildfire. Yuna didn’t much like the thought of shooting anything, but Rikku had insisted that “smacking people with a stick” wasn’t what sphere hunters did. And besides, her cousin had continued, nobody was intimidated by a girl with a stick. So Yuna had left Nirvana behind in the hut.
The training was without real ammunition, just some Al-Bhed trick rounds that made a little pop and a puff of smoke. Yuna had almost broken her arm, or so it had felt like when the pistol recoiled from her first shot at the old clay pots Rikku had set up at the edge of the pier.
She’d fired standing still first, then she’d tried sprinting and shooting. And then Rikku had insisted she try doing a flip before sending off a shot because it would apparently look “super awesome,” but that had just ended with Yuna falling into a sand dune. She was suddenly grateful that she hadn’t been wearing one of her nice skirts.
“Okay,” her cousin said, ensuring that the pots were all lined up. “Your aim’s pretty good, but let’s use some real stuff!”
The pistol was pried from her hand, and she frowned. Wouldn’t the little bit of smoke and the bang be enough to scare another hunter away? Why did she have to shoot at them? Rikku loaded the weapon, making an almost gleeful giggle at the powerful little thing in her hands. There were some things Yuna would never fully understand about her cousin, especially her obsession with explosions and the loud noises brought about by said explosions.
“I don’t know, Rikku. You really think there’s going to be so much competition for spheres that I have to shoot at somebody?”
Rikku handed one pistol back and snatched the other. “Um, Yunie, seriously? These are the hottest things in Spira right now. You find a message that could have been recorded ages ago. They’re super valuable. And now that people aren’t afraid to leave home, there’ll be a ton of people out there.”
“Okay,” she mumbled, feeling the added weight of the pistol in her hand now that there was real ammunition inside it. “I’ll try.” She took aim at the first pot. “Just like before? Pull the trigger, don’t be stiff, don’t get hurt?”
Rikku gave her a reassuring pat on the shoulder. “Yup! And say ‘Back off! That’s my sphere, you big meanie!’”
“I…I don’t think I could say that.”
“Ugh, fine. Just…can I say it?”
The pistol was shaking in her hand as she pointed it at the pot. On the pilgrimage she’d been more supportive than anything - healing, calling her aeons. This was a lot more than smacking with a stick. Sure, there’d be fiends on a treasure hunt, just like there’d been fiends along the road on her last journey. But shooting another person? She’d worked so hard to defeat Sin, to ensure that people around her could live to see their grandchildren some day.
She tried to aim. There’d be no little pop this time - it would be far more decisive. Were the spheres and other treasures really worth it? She might seriously hurt someone - someone with a family. “Rikku…”
“Come on, Yunie! You can do it! Just think of how much fun we’ll have!”
Her eyes itched and burned as she brought her hands down, settling the two pistols back in Rikku’s surprised grasp. “I’m sorry. I don’t think this is what I want to do with my life right now. I’m so sorry.”
“Yunie!”
She hurried away from the beach. Besaid would have to be enough for now. When she got back, Wakka gave her a knowing smile, as if his victory over Rikku was assured. There were nets to mend, blitzball practices to cheer for, and a myriad other things.
Adventure was out there, Yuna thought, but it could wait.
-
“Back to cause trouble again?”
“I don’t cause trouble,” Rikku groaned, stirring Yuna from sleep. “Look, is Yunie around?”
Wakka sighed in irritation. “What is it this time? Digging through graves?”
“Eww, you are such a grouch!” She stirred, getting to her feet and moving outside. There was no napping when her cousin was around. Rikku was just as bouncy as ever, carrying a satchel over her shoulder. “Oh good, you’re here! I thought I’d get stuck talking to Wakka all day!”
He rolled his eyes. “I’m gonna practice now. Don’t you even think about kidnapping her, ya?”
“Yaaaaaa,” Rikku replied, making a face that made Yuna laugh. Wakka stomped off while her cousin produced a shiny sphere from her bag. It seemed that Rikku didn’t really need Yuna for adventuring after all. “You have to see this.”
“What is it?” she asked, feeling the cool sphere in her palm as Rikku passed it to her. It had blue swirls, moving across the sphere like clouds, hypnotizing her almost instantly.
“Kimahri found it.” She moved her finger over to activate it. “You’re going to change your mind about sphere hunting, believe me.”
Yuna laughed. No matter what Rikku tried, it wasn’t going to work. “Alright, alright. I’ll watch.”
Besaid was where she wanted to be - and nothing could possibly change that.