Daddy Issues (Jecht)

[malachi]

At Shuyin's words, Jecht looked down. He was exhausted. It was clear the Final Aeon form had taken quite a lot out of him. At first, it looked like he was ashamed. Then... he laughed. At first, it was a low chuckle, which then grew into a full-bellied laughter as he leaned as he seemed to laugh at the heavens. When he finally calmed down, he looked over at Shuyin and thumbed his nose.

"Beat you?! On a technicality? Heh, you just ticked me off a little, that's all!" Jecht boasted as he walked over to the kid. He grabbed Shuyin's shoulder and stood him up on his feet. "Although, I gotta admit, you got guts, kid! I like that!" Jecht then shoved an X-Potion into Shuyin's hands and gave him a hearty pat on the back. He then walked back, picked up his sword and started walking off. "Now go find your 'Lenne', kid. No real man lets their girl wait on them." Jecht continued walking... then stopped, looking over his shoulder at Shuyin.

"... I know I ain't your old man." Jecht said, "But you ain't got anything more to prove to him, kid. You're your own man. It doesn't matter if he'd be proud of ya or not. In my eyes, you're better than he ever will be." Jecht then turned back around and waved as he continued back towards the exit.

[shuyin]

The Blitz Ace blinked at Jecht's reaction, not expecting such a proud man to be looking down in defeat or shame like that. Shuyin's guess was correct it seemed, Jecht was too tired to continue fighting like he had been. Despite the fact that his transformation made him stronger, Shuyin was able to hold his own against Jecht just like the Dream of the Fayth... Though Shuyin didn't know this, it was quite a feat.

Then Jecht laughed, earning him a glare from Shuyin. When he started to talk and then walk towards him though, Shuyin could only blink before letting out a small cry of pain as he was stood onto his feet. He put some weight on his bad leg, the pain was starting to subside a little, though he'd definitely need to take care of it if he was going to go on his journey to find Lenne. Almost on cue with what he was thinking, he found an X-Potion shoved into his hands before he winced at the powerful pat on the back from the former Sin. He looked Jecht after Jecht as he started to leave, listening to what he had to say.

Despite what had just transpired, he could only smile at Jecht's words. He nodded back at him, bringing his free hand in front of him in a fist and nodded. "Don't worry, I'll find her and bring her back to show you just how beautiful she is. She's the best in the world, fit perfectly for someone like me!" Shuyin shouted proudly to Jecht as the Blitz King turned his back to him. What was said next made Shuyin's eyes go wide, and he looked down at the ground for a moment as he let it sink in.

He was being told by someone that acted just like his father that he had nothing left to prove, that he was his own man. In a way, Jecht was saying that he was better than him, though he knew in his heart that Jecht was referring to his old man. He looked back up at Jecht, then held his hand beside his mouth as he shouted after him.

"Don't worry Dad, I'll show you my worth! After I bring Lenne back, we'll have ourselves a first class Blitzball Match, whatcha say?!" Shuyin grinned at that, opening the X-Potion before quickly downing it. He wiped his mouth, tossing the empty bottle over his shoulder to let it fall into the magma below.

He still didn't know who Jecht's son was, but whoever the kid was... He was lucky to have a father like Jecht. He wasn't as much like his old man at all, he actually gave a damn. And that's what's important.

Shuyin follows Jecht through the exit, and leaves the thread behind him.