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On the airship, Rikku was bouncing around, excited for having a new sphere as two men came from the bridge to the elevator.
Yuna~Do you think we over did it, Brother?
Brother~Over did it? There’s no such thing! The Gullwings shall be notorious throughout Spira!
Paine~They weren’t very happy we took the sphere. Notoriety can be a bad thing.
She moved through the door the two men came through
Rikku~But there’s no fun in just being regular sphere hunters. Don’t you agree Buddy?
Buddy~Don’t do anything to get us in hot water.
Brother~I agree with Rikku!
Paine~Oh no…
Auron~I’m too old for this…
A boy in a full body suit came in
Yuna~Shinra? What’s wrong?
Shinra~Bad things happen when those two agree to things. Oh? Hello.
Buddy~Right. Hey. Yuna, you didn’t say you brought guests?
Brother~Guests? Who are they?
Rikku~Sir Auron and Ann. They helped us get the sphere!
Shinra~They’re quite interesting.
Ann~So are you. I’m Ann
She shook hands with Shinra, and they both looked each other over.
Shinra~You dress different.
Ann~So do you…You seem to carry a lot. It’s okay if you don’t know everything.
Shinra slowly titled his head, processing what she said.
Shinra~I…Thank you?
Rikku~Wow…You actually stumped him…
Auron~Yuna, is there a place to rest?
Yuna~Yes. That elevator can take you to the cabin.
Auron~Ann, come take a nap when you’re done playing.
Ann~Yeah, Daddy. I will later.
By the time “daddy” registered for Brother and Buddy, Auron was already gone.
Buddy~Sir Auron has a daughter?!
Brother~You’re his daughter?!
He grabbed Ann and on reflex she jabbed him in the stomach, making him drop. Ann gasped when she realized what she did.
Brother groaning~He has a daughter???
Ann~Oh…I’m so sorry.
Rikku~That’s okay. It’s only my brother.
Shinra~Brother needed to calm down anyway. Is Sir Auron having a daughter a big deal?
Ann~Apparently. Rikku, your brother’s name is Brother?
Buddy~It makes it easy. I’m Buddy. You’re really his daughter?
He leaned down to take a closer look.
Ann~Yes. Can’t you see the resemblance?
She gave a cheeky smile and pointed at her eye scar

After a few hours of hanging out with the Gullwings and seeing what they did as sphere huntsers, Ann went to the cabin area. She walked past the bar to get to the stairs at the end of the room and found Auron asleep in the first bed at the top. After kicking off her shoes, she nudged him to make some space then climbed in with him for a nap.
Auron~Finally tired, honey?
Ann~Yeah.
She pushed against him, taking in his scent to help herself relax.
Auron~Anything interesting?
Ann~That sphere they got is weird. It showed someone who looked like Tidus and some ancient tech. I didn’t say anything about the look-alike. Everyone acted weird to the machina. I didn’t get it.
Auron sighed~I’m definitely too old for this…That spells trouble.
Ann yawning~You think so? I guess we’ll see, huh?
She cuddled into his chest and quickly fell asleep. Auron on the other hand was now awake. That sphere was ominous, because of what it showed. He’d need to make sure that whatever comes of these factions and that sphere, they aren’t a part of it. Auron would do anything to support her story choices, but not if it meant letting Ann run recklessly into trouble that could potentially cost her her other eye, or worse.

Auron laid down for only a short while longer before he finally had to get up. He rose out of bed, leaving Ann undisturbed, and made his way to the bar downstairs. He had something to eat and was nursing a drink when the girls sat with him.
Auron~Did you three need something?
Yuna~We wanted to make sure you had a chance to get some rest, but we had some questions.
Auron~What are your questions?
He sipped his drink. Thankfully he asked Barkeep for something strong already.
Paine~Back at Kilika, Ann moved with precision. She knew where to strike to make the most damage. It was more than instinct.
Rikku~She also didn’t hesitate when we got shot at! Most people stop when a gun is pointed at them.
Auron~None of those are questions.
Yuna~What kind of trauma made her not get scared? Where did she learn to fight like that?
He hummed and finished the rest of his drink.
Auron~If I answer, you can’t let anyone know. No one would understand or believe you, so you’d be better off not sharing to begin with.
Paine~What if we say no?
Auron~That’s your right to not agree. However, if you still expect me to answer, I don’t mind. Your ‘no’ just means I’ll allow Ann to explore without restraints and unsupervised. We’ll see how much she can destroy in just two days
Rikku~D-destory? In two days?!
Yuna~W-why risk Spira?
Auron~She told me about that sphere. I think you guys will have an easier time with whatever comes out of that than trying to manage the shenanigans my daughter will cause.
Yuna and Rikku's eyes widened. With Ann dragging them around and still being able to fight that machina, Sin-scale damage didn't seem out of reach for her, especially if she analyzed everything with that same precision.
Yuna and Rikku~Paine!!!
Paine~Okay, okay. I won't repeat what we discuss…
Auron~Good. Ann learned to survive from an early age. My brother-in-law is an assassin. He was the one that taught her how to fight and survive before she had to live alone until only a few months ago when he got to be a part of her life again. I came into her life not too long after.
Yuna~I noticed that Ann was more focused when we taught her magic, and even more earlier. She was still and thoughtful while working out how to cast fire that first time. Today, she was fast and stuck to what she knew. Was that a result of that training?
Auron~Yes. That survival skill is what allows her to hyper-focus when needed.
Paine~Her attacks on that machina were precise.
Auron~You've already said that, Paine. Are you going somewhere with that?
Paine~Does she make those same connections with people? Has she killed anyone before?
They sat in silence as the question hung. Auron signaled Barkeep for a refill before he finally answered.
Auron~Yes.
Rikku~Does it relate to her scar?
Auron~Do you mean her eye?
Yuna~She has more than one?!
She held Auron's other hand. Yuna didn't try to hide any concern from her face. He gave her hand a gentle squeeze
Auron~Yes. To both questions, and any combination of those two questions related to Paine’s.
Yuna~Is she safe?
Auron~As safe as I can make it. She'll still do what she wants if she can help it.
Paine~Has she been shot at before?
Auron~Not that I'm aware of. Bullets are probably less scary compared to what she's faced.
Rikku~What’s scarier than getting shot at?!
Auron~You'd have to ask her. Fear is subjective. *Shrugs* I'm scared of her getting hurt, even if she doesn’t.
He took another sip.
Paine~So you actually care about her?
He gave her a look
Auron~I'm still her father. I trust that she can think for herself and make the tough choices. I'll stand with her if she ever falters.
Yuna~Is she happy?
Auron~Happier than she lets you believe.
Rikku~So then…when do we get worried?
Auron~When she gets quiet and pulls in. She'll be more volatile when that happens, and more…violent.
Paine~You're shielding. What do you really mean?
Another sip.
Auron~Are you sure?
They looked amongst each other before finally nodding together. Auron hummed, but didn’t answer right away. He took another sip first.
Auron~Bloodthirsty.
Rikku~She'd do that?...Like, actually do that?
Auron didn't answer. He gave Yuna's hand another squeeze before downing the rest of his drink and standing.
Auron~She's a kid with the life experiences of a man at war. I want her to be able to live without thinking about that war until it counts. Right now, it’s still in her peripherals. Be gentle if you decide to ask her directly.
He headed back up the stairs.
Yuna~What do you girls think?
Rikku~It isn’t fair. It was better when I thought she was just chaotic…
Paine~She hasn’t hurt anyone though. We’d have heard of that happening.
Yuna~I think we need to help Sir Auron. He’s trying to make sure she has the freedom to choose instead of following a destiny already laid out.

Upstairs, Auron settled back down next to Ann. She rolled into his chest and kneed his leg.
Auron~What’d you hear?
Ann~Nothing…I don’t like not being able to eavesdrop. I just heard you guys talking.
Auron chuckled and kissed her head.
Auron~Will you interrogate me too then?
He chuckled dryly.
Ann~What did they ask about me?
Auron~They wondered about your training and if you’ve taken a life.
Ann~What’d you say?
Auron~I didn’t sugarcoat anything or tell them the exact details if that’s what you mean. I said you were trained to survive and that you have killed someone.
Ann~Did they ask for a body count?
Auron~No, but I think they can figure out it’s more than one when they asked about your scar. I accidentally confirmed you had more than one.
Ann~Think they’ll ask to see them?
Auron~Possible. Don’t start with the ones on your back. You have quite a few, and some are deep.
Ann~Anything else they asked?
Auron~How to know when you’re in over your head. I told them you’d get quiet, more calculated, sometimes violent.
Ann~I don’t like that, Daddy…
Auron~I know. I told them that I was helping you move past that. And to be gentle if they ask you anything.
Ann~Why didn’t you just get me?
Auron~You could have come down too, honey
She scoffed and hit him. Auron gave her another forehead kiss.
Auron~Are you hungry?

Later in the evening, Ann was sitting on the deck of the airship when Yuna came up. She quietly sat down with her.
Yuna~Do you mind if we talk?
Ann~Is it about the things you guys talked to Auron about?
Yuna~Yes. Did you hear any of it?
Ann~No. He told me what you guys asked about though.
Yuna~That fight with the machina made us question some things about you.
Ann~Why didn't you guys just ask me before I went to get some rest earlier?
Yuna~Ah…We uh…We wanted a chance to process what we saw before we asked either of you. Just in case we were overreacting then we wouldn't have asked. Since Sir Auron was alone, Rikku and I knew he wouldn't deflect answers.
Ann~That makes sense. Heh, good to know he's always like that.
She leaned against Yuna's shoulder and she leaned back, resting her head on Ann's.
Ann~What was he like as your guardian?
Yuna~Much like he is now actually, but not as affectionate. Paine said he was still figuring out to be a father, but I think he's always been good at it.
Ann~How do you mean affectionate?
Yuna~He makes sure to stay near you. *giggles* And he calls you dear. He's only said that to me a few times when I was seven.
Ann giggled too. She sighed and gently nudged Yuna's temple with her head.
Ann~Just ask me next time, yeah?
Yuna~We will…You're happy though, right? And your home life is safe?
Ann~Yes. I'm very happy. And I'm very safe. Even if I can't fight, I have people who I can trust to fight for me.
Yuna~That’s good. But why did you learn to…to take lives?
Ann~That's not an easy answer, Yuna.
Yuna~Life never has made it easy, y'know?
Ann~Yeah, that's true. Where we're from, there's a lot of war. Different nations fighting for power for one reason or another. It'd be easier if we had something like Sin to join together against.
She scoffed and sighed again.
Ann~My uncle told me this, so I'm not sure how much of it he gathered and how much was experienced. I was born in a nation that got a cruel nickname because of the government's militaristic values. My mom gave me up to my uncle to keep me safe. He trained me the same way he did, but he let me have a choice with what I did with it.
Yuna~But you still had to take a life?
Ann~I'm not proud of that, Yuna. I was…I guess I'm still too young to have done any of that. You've never had to, right?
She sat silent for a moment. Either Sir Auron hadn't told her about Seymour and the Guado yet or he told her a very edited version.
Yuna~No…We…There was…
She sniffed and wiped her eyes. Ann turned and hugged her.
Ann~I will be the last person who would judge you for having to kill someone. I doubt they were anything other than self-defense
Yuna~Thank you. *sniffle* Not many understands.
Ann~Yeah. Hopefully it never increases. Are you ready to go in?
Yuna nodded, and they went back inside together.