“I’m okay, Aten. Just a little tired,” she tries to soothe. 

He flickers uncertainly. "I- you didn't have to- you should've said you were tired-"

Yuna looks twice as guilty at that. “I should’ve, yes. But you two were working so hard, I didn’t want to disturb you. When I’m stronger, I could leave Ifrit out for hours. I’m sorry I can’t do that now.”

"I- no. It's fine. I- should've remembered. I-"

“It’s okay that you didn’t! You looked so happy to be learning. And tomorrow you’ll get to learn some more!”

“Yuna needs food. Then rest,” Kimhari rumbles, handing the summoner food. 

Yuna takes it with a smile. “Thank you, Kimhari. What would I do without you?”

“Yuna will never know,” he says warmly. 

-Good. It's good that Yuna has people looking out for her. (People who remember human constraints.)

The night goes on, and after finishing her food, Yuna wishes Aten a good night and goes to sleep, curled up with Lulu. 

Aten settles in to keep watch again.

A few hours later, Yuna awakes with a gasp, heart racing and brain desperately trying to banish the images. They were so real- he was there and she...

Yuna lets out the tiniest pained sob as tears flow down her cheeks. She gets up and stumbles away from camp, trying to keep herself quiet as she cries. 

Then there's a blanket of fire settling gently around her, warm and comforting but not burning. (Never burning.)

Yuna gasps, looking at the fire. It’s not...it’s not hurting it’s...holding her? 

Aten is giving her a hug. 

That comfort, that warmth, makes her sob even harder, raising one hand to her shoulder, touching the aeon’s flames in thanks. 

Good. Good. It's good that he can help.

Its some time before Yuna calms herself. She takes a few shuddering breaths in, wiping tears from her face. She cuddles into the fire a little more, feeling calmer. “Thank you, Aten.”

Well then. He's just gonna stay here for the rest of the night.

Yuna soon goes back to sleep, sniffiling a little, curled up beneath Aten’s warmth. 

Auron is the first to “wake”, and spot Yuna and Aten a little ways from the camp. He’d heard Yuna wake in the night but hadn’t known how to comfort her. She’s lost too much already, and he didn’t know how to tell her soft things to soothe  

He keeps quiet and watches them from afar. 

Aten is still immediately aware of the attention and flickers away from Yuna, making himself into a small, unobtrusive ball.

Yuna stirs sleepily.

Auron takes that as his cue to start rousing the others. 

Once roused, Kimhari rebuilds the fire and toasts bread over it.

Yuna blearily tries to reach for Aten, but can’t physically feel him. 

She sits up and rubs her eyes, finally spotting him. She’s confused, he gave her affection so easily last night, is he okay?

She waves at him, trying a sleepy smile, rather than the worry she feels. 

He flickers a little. He's alright, but-

(But there's a faint memory there, of the fact that he doesn't really...like physical contact. Doesn't have an expectation of it not hurting.)