Quintessential Author's Note: Hello there! This is a series of mismatched drabbles. The only thing any of them have in common is that they're from Final Fantasy – most likely Final Fantasy X, Final Fantasy X-2, and Final Fantasy XII. They were all written for various reasons, but best bet is for some sort of challenge, or on a random whim. Either way, they're scattered about LiveJournal and until recently have not been available to the viewing public on FFN. But, finally, here they are for your enjoyment!
Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy. This includes any division, sub-division, or bacterial strain of it. This applies to all current and upcoming chapters.
Title: Personal Justice
Series: Final Fantasy X-2
Characters/Pairings: Baralai, Paine; Baralai/Paine
Author's Notes: Written for the first challenge at Eye Dialogue, a Baralai/Paine community on LiveJournal. The challenge is to write a fic, any length, that begins with the phrase: She couldn't understand why he was being so difficult. And oh my god, it is so Friends. Haha. Didn't do that on purpose, but I guess that's what happens after you marathon three seasons straight.
She couldn't understand why he was being so difficult. It was a simple request, really.
"Step aside, Baralai." Her arms were crossed in that no-nonsense way, her lips in a terse white line, her eyes level with his, silently testing him.
"No," his voice was infuriatingly steady, "I won't let you do this."
Paine felt torn between wanting to sigh and wanting to yell. "I don't want to hurt you," pause for effect, hesitation, deliberation, she wasn't sure, "but I will if I have to."
She wanted him to cross his arms, put his weight on one foot, pace, anything. He just stood stone still, completely calm in the way only Yevonites could be in the face of danger. "You have no right to –"
"I have every right," she cut across him. "I'm only taking back what was stolen."
"I didn't steal it."
"You didn't ask for it," she said, stepping forward; he did not move. "That's as good as stealing."
"Paine..." His voice was sympathetic.
"Baralai," she said sternly. "Step aside."
"No."
"Move!" Paine marched forward until her face was inches from his. She couldn't mirror his neutral expression so didn't bother trying. "I won't warn you again."
"I cannot seriously believe you would –"
"Enough," she muttered and shoved past him, shoulder roughly colliding with his. He didn't stumble, only stepped out of her way, sighing and shaking his head. Paine thundered to the fridge and opened it, inspected it for a few seconds, and turned to face him, more annoyed than ever. "Where is it?"
He smiled just the slightest bit and finished, "I cannot seriously believe you would think I'd leave our last star fruit right where you would find it."