In Your Place -- Chappu, Lulu, and Wakka
Title: In Your Place
Setting: AU.
Theme + Number: #13, "Alternate universe/reality".
Character/Relationship/Pairing: Chappu, Lulu, and Wakka.
Rating: K+.
Warnings: Character death, het, all-dialogue fic.
Summary: As some rise and others are brought low.
“So, what do you say? Are you with us?”
“I…look, let me think about it, okay? I mean, it’s not just me, you know?”
“Of course. Take as much time as you need.”
“Thanks, Luzzu.”
------------------------
“Say, Lulu, I’ve been thinking.”
“Oh, really? That’s a change.”
“No, I mean it. I…this is hard to say, but I’ve been thinking about joining the Crusaders.”
“…Oh.”
“I mean, blitz is great and all, but I feel like I should be doing something more, ya? And the Crusaders never have enough people for the operations they need to do.”
“Because they all die.”
“I didn’t say it wasn’t dangerous! Just, there are more important things. Things that make it worth it. Things that mean more than…anything.”
“…”
“Lulu?”
“If you go off and die because of me, I will never forgive you, Chappu. Never.”
“I didn’t-”
“That was what you meant, wasn’t it? ‘More important things’. Let me tell you right now, there is nothing more important than your life.”
“…No, there is. There is, Lulu.”
“Not to me.”
“…”
“Did you think I wouldn’t care? Well?”
“No, it’s not, I-”
“You know I care. You know…how much I love you. And you still can even think about doing this?”
“But it’s because of that, Lulu! You have to know I just want to keep you safe, because I couldn’t bear it if-if I lost you?
“And you think I could? Aeon’s breath, Chappu, can you possibly believe I could bear it any better?”
“I-I guess I didn’t think. I’m sorry.”
“You should be. You make your own decision, but if you’re going, I am going with you. To protect you.”
“Lulu…”
“I’m not staying home until someone comes to tell me you’re dead, Chappu. I’m not made that way. You know that.”
“Yeah. I just…I love you so much, Lulu. If it would keep you safe, I’d…I’d do anything.”
“I know. Just remember that it goes both ways, mmm?”
“I’ll remember. I should probably go tell Luzzu I’m not enlisting, then.”
“It was Luzzu’s idea?”
“You know Luzzu, ya? He’s been practically on bended knee with everyone he thinks he might stand half a chance of persuading. It really means a lot to him.”
“I know. I will go with you, if it’s that important. Wakka would probably come too.”
“Nah, you know, an audience would just spoil my heroics. Besides, I think this is gonna be the season, ya? When the Aurochs finally take the cup.”
“Just like last season? And the season before that?”
“I really mean it this time! I promise, Lulu, one of these days I’m gonna bring that cup home and give it to you.”
“And what would I do with it?”
“It might make a good hat stand.”
“…Do we even know anyone who wears a hat?”
“Coat rack?”
“In this climate?”
“Paperweight?”
“Oh, Chappu…”
------------------------
“You want to join?”
“Hey, what’s that supposed to mean?”
“Nothing, I’m just…surprised, that’s all. I never thought you’d leave blitzball.”
“Yeah, well, nine years isn’t bad for a career, ya? Besides, it’s different now.”
“Oh?”
“Well, you know, it’s about having something to protect, ya?”
“…I see. So why now?”
“You know how happy they are. But what if Sin comes along and, boom! Gone. It’s worth a little risk to keep that from happening, ya?”
“I suppose so.”
“Besides, with my luck, the one year I’m not on the team, they’ll take the cup. Maybe then we’ll finally get to see a wedding around here.”
“I wouldn’t bet on it.”
“Yeah, but you never bet on anything. Gotta lighten you up a bit, ya?”
“I think I’ll pass.”
-------------------------------
“They claimed to have a stronger team than ever this year, but once again it looks like the Aurochs aren’t living up to their promises.”
“That’s right, Jimma. Their center forward just doesn’t seem to have his head in the game. That’s the key position, as we know, and he’s just taking the fire right out of his team.”
“What was that out there?”
“…He didn’t see you?”
“Who didn’t? What’s happened?”
“Luzzu…Luzzu came to see me right before the game.”
“They’re back? But then-oh, no. No!”
“He said, there was a group of recruits that cut off, and he went after them. A Sinspawn cut him almost in-oh, Yevon, Wakka!!”
---------------------------------------
“I’m joining Father Zuke on his pilgrimage.”
“You’re leaving? I thought you said you weren’t going to be a guardian again.”
“That was before.”
“…Yeah.”
“This shouldn’t happen, Chappu. How can we be so used to it? He died…to protect us. You know that. It can’t be for nothing.”
“But if you die, it will be! You know how he-”
“Don’t. Don’t say anything.”
“I’m sorry, Lulu. But are you really sure?”
“Yes.”
“Then I’m coming with you.”
“…”
“That’s what you said, remember? And that it goes both ways. I can’t sit home alone either, Lulu, especially not since…”
“I suppose not. All right, we can ask Father Zuke in the morning. He’ll probably agree to another guardian.”
“Good night, Lulu. I love you.”
“I love you too, Chappu. Good night.”
“Sweet dreams, ya?”
“…Of course.”
----------------------------------------
“So that’s Mount Gagazet. It’s a pity I won’t get to see it up close.”
“Father Zuke?”
“I’m sorry to have brought you all this way for nothing, but I’m giving up, going back to Bevelle. Try not to be too angry with me.”
“But…why?”
“Let’s just say I don’t think any of us have our minds in the game, to use one of your turns of phrase.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“I grieve for your loss, both of you. But you have to know that this isn’t the answer. The pilgrimage isn’t for vengeance; it can’t be, if it’s to succeed. I thought you might work through it given time, but I don’t have enough to give you.”
“Father Zuke…”
“Go home. Live; it’s harder than dying.”
---------------------------------------------
“I have decided to become a summoner, like my father. To bring joy to the people of Spira.”
“No!”
“I’m sorry, everybody. I know it’s sudden.”
“Yuna…if this is for Wakka, you have to know he wouldn’t want you to die.”
“I know. But this…is something I have to do. For myself, and for everybody in Spira.”
“But you’ll die!”
“Yes. I’m sorry, Lulu.”
“You mustn’t do this. No one expects you to.”
“I know you don’t, but it would make people happy, wouldn’t it? If I defeated Sin, like my father did? That’s all that matters.”
“Is it really? Doesn’t it matter at all that we’d…that we wouldn’t be happy?”
“Chappu…of course it matters. But I have to go. I must.”
------------------------------------------------
“We’re going to be your guardians.”
“Oh? Don’t I get a choice?”
“You’ve made too many choices already. No, I apologize. I shouldn’t have said that.”
“It’s okay. Kimahri’s coming too. He didn’t ask me either. So I’ll let you all come, but on one condition.”
“What’s that?”
“I want my journey…to be a happy one, with all my friends beside me.”
“Anything you want, Yuna. But you know, Lulu’s always been kinda grumpy. You might have a lost cause there.”
“Oh, you.”
“That’s fine! Thank you so much!”
“There’s still the trial, you know. She might not succeed.”
“Do you really think she’ll let herself fail?”
“…Not really.”
“Nor I. That’s what worries me.”
“What do you mean, Lulu?”
“Yuna will keep pushing herself in the trial even if it doesn’t work. And we won’t be able to help her for that part.”
“You think she might get hurt?”
“Maybe. If we’re lucky.”
“Between Sin and Sinspawn, ya?”
“Yes.”
“It’ll be okay somehow, Lulu.”
“How can you say that?”
“Practicing for the pilgrimage, ya? Gotta get my optimism into shape.”
“Your optimism is in too good a shape as it is.”
-------------------------------------
“So, about that kid I found on the beach.”
“Why are we talking about this now?”
“Hey, you’re not gonna sleep anyway, right? We might as well talk now, ya?”
“All right. Talk.”
“He’s…I mean, you’ve seen him. I don’t think he knew what he was doing, though.”
“How could he not know that?”
“Well, the kid’s a serious blitz player, I’m talking league quality, but he’s toxin-touched in a big way. Doesn’t remember his name, where he came from, anything. I mean, I asked him what team he played for, and he said some team in Zanarkand. Sin knocked him loopy, ya?”
“He must be toxin-touched. Can it even be that bad?”
“I dunno. Anyway, I thought I’d bring him along to the tournament. Like I said, he’s league quality. Someone’s bound to recognize him from his moves.”
“You’re having him play?”
“Yeah. There’s an empty slot, ya?”
“You’re giving him Wakka’s slot.”
“Look, it’s not like that.”
“Of course it isn’t.”
“It really isn’t, ya! He’s good, that’s all, and he doesn’t have anywhere else to-”
“Who do you think you are?”
“What?”
“This is something Wakka would do, not you. I know you miss him, but you can’t just turn yourself into him like this.”
“But I’m not-”
“When was the last time you used a sword, Chappu?”
“But-”
“No excuses!”
“But, Lulu, I don’t get it. What makes you say I’m acting like him with this kid?”
“Because. He looks a lot like you, when you were his age.”
----------------------------------------
“Chappu? Hey, man, what’s wrong? Shouldn’t you be out celebrating? I mean, we won!”
“…I used to say to him, when we won the cup, that’s when I’d propose to Lulu. And then he’d say, ‘Anyone’d think you didn’t want to marry her, ya’ and we’d laugh. But I always brought a ring to the tournament, just in case. See? Here it is. I forgot it in my locker last year.”
“It’s pretty.”
“Thanks.”
“So what’s the problem? We won; shouldn’t you be out proposing?”
“How can I? When he - we laughed together about it, so much, and he always said I’d better hurry before he got too old and blind to see it, but now - I mean, he was her best friend too, ya? And she never said, but I know - it’s my fault.”
“Whoa, hey, slow down! What do you mean, it’s your fault?”
“I was gonna join the Crusaders that year, but Lulu talked me out of it. If I had, he wouldn’t have gone, ya?”
“You don’t know that. I mean, I didn’t know him or anything, but from the way you guys talk about him, it sounds like he was just that kinda guy, you know?”
“You don’t know. It was my fault. I could’ve at least gone with him, ya? Been there for him. What kind of brother am I?”
“What, so you could’ve both died? You think he’d want that?”
“No, I guess not. But that doesn’t make me feel better, ya?”
“…I think I get it. But it’s like what you said about blitz, you know? I mean, you gotta think about what’s good, right, not the other stuff.”
“Do you only pay attention to me so you can use my own words against me?”
“You know it. C’mon, let’s go. You have to see a girl about a ring.”
“Thanks, Tidus.”
“Ah, it’s nothing.”
-----------------------------------------
“So, we finally won the cup, and you know what that means, ya? Yup, I finally let Lulu make an honest man of me. Sorry we couldn’t invite you to the wedding, but you know how some people are. Besides, we didn’t really have much of a wedding to speak of. It turns out Sir Auron knows Maester Kinoc, so when we ran across him - I’ll tell you about that later - he had him do it. Pretty cool, ya? It was just us and Luzzu and Gatta…I’ll tell you about that later too. But it’s done, and that’s the important thing, ya? She’s not getting rid of me so easy now.
“I’ve been missing you real bad. This kid turned up; Lulu says he looks like me. Neither of us sees it. But having him tagging around…it reminded me of us, only switched. Man, why did you never tell me how hard it is having a little brother? Maybe you did and I was too busy asking fifty questions a minute to listen.
“I wish you could actually talk to me. Letting me have a one-sided conversation’s not like you, ya? Guess I’d better take advantage by telling you all about the tournament. The first game…”
“So that’s Chappu’s brother?”
“Yes. That’s Wakka.”
“They look a lot alike.”
“I suppose. We knew each other since we were small, so I don’t see it. And then he went off to join the Crusaders, instead of Chappu.”
“Uh-huh. So why aren’t you talking to him?”
“I don’t have anything to say.”
“Still, you might as well say something, right?”
“I suppose. Goodbye, Wakka. If it matters, you’re still the best friend I’ve ever had.”
Setting: AU.
Theme + Number: #13, "Alternate universe/reality".
Character/Relationship/Pairing: Chappu, Lulu, and Wakka.
Rating: K+.
Warnings: Character death, het, all-dialogue fic.
Summary: As some rise and others are brought low.
“So, what do you say? Are you with us?”
“I…look, let me think about it, okay? I mean, it’s not just me, you know?”
“Of course. Take as much time as you need.”
“Thanks, Luzzu.”
------------------------
“Say, Lulu, I’ve been thinking.”
“Oh, really? That’s a change.”
“No, I mean it. I…this is hard to say, but I’ve been thinking about joining the Crusaders.”
“…Oh.”
“I mean, blitz is great and all, but I feel like I should be doing something more, ya? And the Crusaders never have enough people for the operations they need to do.”
“Because they all die.”
“I didn’t say it wasn’t dangerous! Just, there are more important things. Things that make it worth it. Things that mean more than…anything.”
“…”
“Lulu?”
“If you go off and die because of me, I will never forgive you, Chappu. Never.”
“I didn’t-”
“That was what you meant, wasn’t it? ‘More important things’. Let me tell you right now, there is nothing more important than your life.”
“…No, there is. There is, Lulu.”
“Not to me.”
“…”
“Did you think I wouldn’t care? Well?”
“No, it’s not, I-”
“You know I care. You know…how much I love you. And you still can even think about doing this?”
“But it’s because of that, Lulu! You have to know I just want to keep you safe, because I couldn’t bear it if-if I lost you?
“And you think I could? Aeon’s breath, Chappu, can you possibly believe I could bear it any better?”
“I-I guess I didn’t think. I’m sorry.”
“You should be. You make your own decision, but if you’re going, I am going with you. To protect you.”
“Lulu…”
“I’m not staying home until someone comes to tell me you’re dead, Chappu. I’m not made that way. You know that.”
“Yeah. I just…I love you so much, Lulu. If it would keep you safe, I’d…I’d do anything.”
“I know. Just remember that it goes both ways, mmm?”
“I’ll remember. I should probably go tell Luzzu I’m not enlisting, then.”
“It was Luzzu’s idea?”
“You know Luzzu, ya? He’s been practically on bended knee with everyone he thinks he might stand half a chance of persuading. It really means a lot to him.”
“I know. I will go with you, if it’s that important. Wakka would probably come too.”
“Nah, you know, an audience would just spoil my heroics. Besides, I think this is gonna be the season, ya? When the Aurochs finally take the cup.”
“Just like last season? And the season before that?”
“I really mean it this time! I promise, Lulu, one of these days I’m gonna bring that cup home and give it to you.”
“And what would I do with it?”
“It might make a good hat stand.”
“…Do we even know anyone who wears a hat?”
“Coat rack?”
“In this climate?”
“Paperweight?”
“Oh, Chappu…”
------------------------
“You want to join?”
“Hey, what’s that supposed to mean?”
“Nothing, I’m just…surprised, that’s all. I never thought you’d leave blitzball.”
“Yeah, well, nine years isn’t bad for a career, ya? Besides, it’s different now.”
“Oh?”
“Well, you know, it’s about having something to protect, ya?”
“…I see. So why now?”
“You know how happy they are. But what if Sin comes along and, boom! Gone. It’s worth a little risk to keep that from happening, ya?”
“I suppose so.”
“Besides, with my luck, the one year I’m not on the team, they’ll take the cup. Maybe then we’ll finally get to see a wedding around here.”
“I wouldn’t bet on it.”
“Yeah, but you never bet on anything. Gotta lighten you up a bit, ya?”
“I think I’ll pass.”
-------------------------------
“They claimed to have a stronger team than ever this year, but once again it looks like the Aurochs aren’t living up to their promises.”
“That’s right, Jimma. Their center forward just doesn’t seem to have his head in the game. That’s the key position, as we know, and he’s just taking the fire right out of his team.”
“What was that out there?”
“…He didn’t see you?”
“Who didn’t? What’s happened?”
“Luzzu…Luzzu came to see me right before the game.”
“They’re back? But then-oh, no. No!”
“He said, there was a group of recruits that cut off, and he went after them. A Sinspawn cut him almost in-oh, Yevon, Wakka!!”
---------------------------------------
“I’m joining Father Zuke on his pilgrimage.”
“You’re leaving? I thought you said you weren’t going to be a guardian again.”
“That was before.”
“…Yeah.”
“This shouldn’t happen, Chappu. How can we be so used to it? He died…to protect us. You know that. It can’t be for nothing.”
“But if you die, it will be! You know how he-”
“Don’t. Don’t say anything.”
“I’m sorry, Lulu. But are you really sure?”
“Yes.”
“Then I’m coming with you.”
“…”
“That’s what you said, remember? And that it goes both ways. I can’t sit home alone either, Lulu, especially not since…”
“I suppose not. All right, we can ask Father Zuke in the morning. He’ll probably agree to another guardian.”
“Good night, Lulu. I love you.”
“I love you too, Chappu. Good night.”
“Sweet dreams, ya?”
“…Of course.”
----------------------------------------
“So that’s Mount Gagazet. It’s a pity I won’t get to see it up close.”
“Father Zuke?”
“I’m sorry to have brought you all this way for nothing, but I’m giving up, going back to Bevelle. Try not to be too angry with me.”
“But…why?”
“Let’s just say I don’t think any of us have our minds in the game, to use one of your turns of phrase.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“I grieve for your loss, both of you. But you have to know that this isn’t the answer. The pilgrimage isn’t for vengeance; it can’t be, if it’s to succeed. I thought you might work through it given time, but I don’t have enough to give you.”
“Father Zuke…”
“Go home. Live; it’s harder than dying.”
---------------------------------------------
“I have decided to become a summoner, like my father. To bring joy to the people of Spira.”
“No!”
“I’m sorry, everybody. I know it’s sudden.”
“Yuna…if this is for Wakka, you have to know he wouldn’t want you to die.”
“I know. But this…is something I have to do. For myself, and for everybody in Spira.”
“But you’ll die!”
“Yes. I’m sorry, Lulu.”
“You mustn’t do this. No one expects you to.”
“I know you don’t, but it would make people happy, wouldn’t it? If I defeated Sin, like my father did? That’s all that matters.”
“Is it really? Doesn’t it matter at all that we’d…that we wouldn’t be happy?”
“Chappu…of course it matters. But I have to go. I must.”
------------------------------------------------
“We’re going to be your guardians.”
“Oh? Don’t I get a choice?”
“You’ve made too many choices already. No, I apologize. I shouldn’t have said that.”
“It’s okay. Kimahri’s coming too. He didn’t ask me either. So I’ll let you all come, but on one condition.”
“What’s that?”
“I want my journey…to be a happy one, with all my friends beside me.”
“Anything you want, Yuna. But you know, Lulu’s always been kinda grumpy. You might have a lost cause there.”
“Oh, you.”
“That’s fine! Thank you so much!”
“There’s still the trial, you know. She might not succeed.”
“Do you really think she’ll let herself fail?”
“…Not really.”
“Nor I. That’s what worries me.”
“What do you mean, Lulu?”
“Yuna will keep pushing herself in the trial even if it doesn’t work. And we won’t be able to help her for that part.”
“You think she might get hurt?”
“Maybe. If we’re lucky.”
“Between Sin and Sinspawn, ya?”
“Yes.”
“It’ll be okay somehow, Lulu.”
“How can you say that?”
“Practicing for the pilgrimage, ya? Gotta get my optimism into shape.”
“Your optimism is in too good a shape as it is.”
-------------------------------------
“So, about that kid I found on the beach.”
“Why are we talking about this now?”
“Hey, you’re not gonna sleep anyway, right? We might as well talk now, ya?”
“All right. Talk.”
“He’s…I mean, you’ve seen him. I don’t think he knew what he was doing, though.”
“How could he not know that?”
“Well, the kid’s a serious blitz player, I’m talking league quality, but he’s toxin-touched in a big way. Doesn’t remember his name, where he came from, anything. I mean, I asked him what team he played for, and he said some team in Zanarkand. Sin knocked him loopy, ya?”
“He must be toxin-touched. Can it even be that bad?”
“I dunno. Anyway, I thought I’d bring him along to the tournament. Like I said, he’s league quality. Someone’s bound to recognize him from his moves.”
“You’re having him play?”
“Yeah. There’s an empty slot, ya?”
“You’re giving him Wakka’s slot.”
“Look, it’s not like that.”
“Of course it isn’t.”
“It really isn’t, ya! He’s good, that’s all, and he doesn’t have anywhere else to-”
“Who do you think you are?”
“What?”
“This is something Wakka would do, not you. I know you miss him, but you can’t just turn yourself into him like this.”
“But I’m not-”
“When was the last time you used a sword, Chappu?”
“But-”
“No excuses!”
“But, Lulu, I don’t get it. What makes you say I’m acting like him with this kid?”
“Because. He looks a lot like you, when you were his age.”
----------------------------------------
“Chappu? Hey, man, what’s wrong? Shouldn’t you be out celebrating? I mean, we won!”
“…I used to say to him, when we won the cup, that’s when I’d propose to Lulu. And then he’d say, ‘Anyone’d think you didn’t want to marry her, ya’ and we’d laugh. But I always brought a ring to the tournament, just in case. See? Here it is. I forgot it in my locker last year.”
“It’s pretty.”
“Thanks.”
“So what’s the problem? We won; shouldn’t you be out proposing?”
“How can I? When he - we laughed together about it, so much, and he always said I’d better hurry before he got too old and blind to see it, but now - I mean, he was her best friend too, ya? And she never said, but I know - it’s my fault.”
“Whoa, hey, slow down! What do you mean, it’s your fault?”
“I was gonna join the Crusaders that year, but Lulu talked me out of it. If I had, he wouldn’t have gone, ya?”
“You don’t know that. I mean, I didn’t know him or anything, but from the way you guys talk about him, it sounds like he was just that kinda guy, you know?”
“You don’t know. It was my fault. I could’ve at least gone with him, ya? Been there for him. What kind of brother am I?”
“What, so you could’ve both died? You think he’d want that?”
“No, I guess not. But that doesn’t make me feel better, ya?”
“…I think I get it. But it’s like what you said about blitz, you know? I mean, you gotta think about what’s good, right, not the other stuff.”
“Do you only pay attention to me so you can use my own words against me?”
“You know it. C’mon, let’s go. You have to see a girl about a ring.”
“Thanks, Tidus.”
“Ah, it’s nothing.”
-----------------------------------------
“So, we finally won the cup, and you know what that means, ya? Yup, I finally let Lulu make an honest man of me. Sorry we couldn’t invite you to the wedding, but you know how some people are. Besides, we didn’t really have much of a wedding to speak of. It turns out Sir Auron knows Maester Kinoc, so when we ran across him - I’ll tell you about that later - he had him do it. Pretty cool, ya? It was just us and Luzzu and Gatta…I’ll tell you about that later too. But it’s done, and that’s the important thing, ya? She’s not getting rid of me so easy now.
“I’ve been missing you real bad. This kid turned up; Lulu says he looks like me. Neither of us sees it. But having him tagging around…it reminded me of us, only switched. Man, why did you never tell me how hard it is having a little brother? Maybe you did and I was too busy asking fifty questions a minute to listen.
“I wish you could actually talk to me. Letting me have a one-sided conversation’s not like you, ya? Guess I’d better take advantage by telling you all about the tournament. The first game…”
“So that’s Chappu’s brother?”
“Yes. That’s Wakka.”
“They look a lot alike.”
“I suppose. We knew each other since we were small, so I don’t see it. And then he went off to join the Crusaders, instead of Chappu.”
“Uh-huh. So why aren’t you talking to him?”
“I don’t have anything to say.”
“Still, you might as well say something, right?”
“I suppose. Goodbye, Wakka. If it matters, you’re still the best friend I’ve ever had.”