Final Fantasy X: The Birth of Fascination
The first time he had seen Rikku she had been standing in front of the Moonflow, pyreflies sparkling and shifting through the air behind her. She had been dripping wet with clothes clinging to a body he had seen but ignored, because that was right and proper. Wakka knew beautiful, had lived his entire life with two women that were that way, but she had been different. His bad mood had vanished, thoughts of the Al Bhed melting away as he watched her. She had been cheerful looking with a touch of worry he had picked up, but not understood, before she was all bright voice and happy smiles. He had been flustered. He understood what it meant, his heart beating faster, feeling like he had just sloshed out of the water on Besaid after a hard workout, but hadn't wanted to admit it to himself. He had shoved it down because he was a guardian and it wasn't the time or the place. He replaced his misplaced and inappropriate feelings with fast words he hoped sounded friendly and not desperate, welcoming but not forceful. He had been embarrassed for himself when he had been so excited when Auron gave her the okay to join their group. He felt awkward, which wasn't new, but this feeling was, keeping himself from examining it was hard, and he was glad when they left the edge of the water.
Wakka spoke to her a little on the walk to Guadosalam, He was tentative, not wanting to come on too strong, sharing stories about growing up with Yuna because the girls seemed to know each other somehow. Wakka could remember every smile and giggle, how she hopped around, full of energy. It had been real regret he felt when she had bounced back to walk with Yuna, tangled with guilt over being selfish. He had continued on the road alone, walking behind the women and watching her, and he had smiled.