Auron sat, wide awake, watching as lightning streaked across the sky and illuminated the darkness of Rin's Thunder Plains Inn. He had once again been elected the night watch. He'd forgotten the last time anyone else had volunteered for the job. It didn't matter, though. This group of Guardians deserved the rare occasions they could actually rest.

He never slept anyway.

But then, neither did Rikku.

Between her irrational fear of lightning and naturally bottomless well of energy, he wasn't sure she'd ever get to sleep. And she talked when she was nervous. The topics were as scattered as her attention span, but at least when she was babbling she wasn't squeaking as much.

She'd made her way around the lobby a few times and her pace was beginning to slow. Periodically, she'd stop walking and start bobbing in place, commenting about whatever object sat before her. The vase of flowers on Rin's reception desk seemed to be a favorite, as she'd mentioned a few times how pretty they were and how she could never get them to grow at Home.

To be honest, Auron admired her spirit. She was Al Bhed, through and through -- a shining example of everything the teachings of Yevon opposed. In joining Yuna's pilgrimage, she had made a decision to protect a friend at the cost of her own persecution. For a moment, before lightning struck the roof and she dove under his chair for protection, he was beginning to understand why Braska had chosen an Al Bhed wife.

She was so young and innocent, but she was also nervous and panicky. If he learned nothing else from raising Tidus, it was that everyone had to start somewhere.

"Stand up," he said simply.

She shifted from under his chair to under the table near him and unclenched her hands from her ears. "Huh?"

"Stand up."

She bit her lip and shook her head, her braids flopping around a bit. "No. It's safer here, you know?"

"You cannot defeat an enemy you refuse to face."

"Uh... what?"

Auron sighed, wondering just how he could simplify things. "You're letting your fear of lightning control you. You will never become stronger if you continue to hide from it."

"Oh." Rikku drew her knees under her chin and involuntarily tensed as another crack of thunder boomed, but her terror was diminished, as she felt more relaxed in her hiding place. "I'd rather just stay here for now, okay? I mean, I don't want to be scared anymore, but I'm not ready to worry about it. Right now, I just want to get out of here and figure out a way to save Yunie, you know? I can't do that if I'm busy 'defeating my enemies.'"

She mustered her best Auron impression for her explanation: her voice appropriately gravelly but still high-pitched. Amused by the way she expressed her opinion of him, Auron smiled; the neck of his coat masked the reaction. Her reasoning was understandable and he had learned not to press the issue of overcoming fears: children would grow out of them with the right motivation.

He stood and collected his sword before heading toward the inn's exit for some fresh air, but paused at the open door when Rikku's voice called after him. "Besides, if my fear really controlled me, I wouldn't have made it this far!"

He chuckled. "That's the spirit."