When No One Can See

I think about Tidus a lot, perhaps strangely. For whatever reasons, he gets no respect or appreciation either from his companions in the game or from fandom in general. He's almost always depicted as being witless or being the butt of some abuse or another in fanart, and he gets more than his share in the game, too. From his childhood, where he was ignored by his mother and verbally abused by his father, to his caretaker Auron (who's not much better than Jecht), to his traveling companions in Spira who have barely a tolerant word for the kid who just had his world totally shattered. Only one person...Yuna, of course... seems to take his feelings on anything into account. Wakka isn't too bad, but his lack of comprehension doesn't help matters.

And yet, he can't do anything about it. If he expresses his upset, he's a 'crybaby', and thus subject to even more ridicule. I can tell you right now, if I was in his place, I wouldn't be in nearly such good shape. And yet, through everything, from the destruction of his home, to weathering the slings and arrows of those around him, to finally realizing that he has the choice of -living- or saving the world and the girl he loves... he addresses all of it with a grin and the determination to make sure 'everything will be okay'. Still, when he's alone, I can't imagine that the cocky smile doesn't fade, and the tears come.

Silent, of course, so no one can hear.