It was the middle of the night and no sound could be heard in Djose Temple but the sound of humming machina and the pitter patter of Rikkus feet. Pulling her long blonde hair back she walked across the tile of large temple making her way to the door in back. It may have been the middle of the night but Rikku know that Gippal was up, he had always been late to bed and late to rise. She had to admit she only took the job helping him out because of their past: Ex-boyfriend and Ex-girlfriend working close together why even the other day they were working so close in tight quarters they might as well have been on top of each other. Rikku had been waiting for a sign something to tell her that it was time for their passion to rekindle. Earlier today when she was handing Gippal some mech pieces if when the sign came:

"You know Rikku it means a lot you came out to help jose temple get these machina ready and shipped to Rins shops. I don't know what i would do without you." he said turning around he put his hand her shoulder before giving her a tight hug a walking away. They had been working so close and he would make jokes with her, nudge her, and be playful like when they had both started dating

Now here she stood in a very small orange silk robe with matching lace thong and push up bra. Her make-up was perfect her pony tail in place and she smelled like the oceans of Besaid. Rikku let out a sigh and shook her head from side to side trying not to let fear get to her and now there was no going back. Pushing the door open and not bothering to knock Rikku untied her robe exposing all she had to offer covered in lace.

"Gippal I-" Rikku stopped mid sentence her jaw hanging open. Gippal was there but he was not alone. On his desk was Nhadala her orange suits buckles open to her naked body, one of her boots clinging to dear life on her foot that dangled from the desk, her gloves thrown to the floor with her goggles, and her wet suit ripped up. Gippal was naked minus the baggy pants that her stuck around his thighs and from where Rikku was standing she could see exactly what Gippal was putting in Nhadala.

"Cred!" Gippal looked to see Rikku then turned his back to her grabbing Nhadala by the wrist he pulled the Al-Bhed woman into his chest to cover her naked body. Nhadala let out a yelp of embarrassment and surprise as she scrambled to get her suit back on quickly. Gippal quickly pulled up his pants once Nhadala had secured her buckles.

"I'm..I'm sorry." Rikku stood not a moment longer before turning her heels as fast she she could slamming the door behind her.

"Rikku!" Gippal called after her cashing her down the hall and into the center of the temple. He grabbed her wrist tight pulling her back towards him.

"I'm sorry Gippal I just thought...I just thought.." Rikku stammered unable to find the words her throat searched for as she cupped her blushing face into her hands. Gippal gave Rikku a blank stare for a long time before he blinked away the fog in his eyes.

"Awe geez Rikku..." Gippal shook the back of his head, "Look Nhadala and I aren't serious but...I mean I know what we had but..."

Buddy started laughing, he was laughing so hard he had to remove his goggles to wipe the tears from his face. Brother as way was laughing so hard he had fallen out of his pilot chair. Even Paine was snickering at Rikkus story. It took a whole fifteen minutes for everyone to calm down before Buddy hung his goggles in front of him on his navigation desk and Brother was holding his ribs from laughing so hard he finally got back into his chair.

"Are you done?" Rikku asked her voice thick with agitation.

"vneaht wuhat" Brother chuckled as he put the Gullwings airship into auto pilot.

"Excuse me?" Rikku crossed her arms raising her eyebrow.

It was Shinra who popped up from his computer shaking his head thinking of the idiots he worked with, "Friend zone refers to a platonic relationship wherein one person, most commonly a man, wishes to enter into a sexual relationship with no strings of a dating relationship only gaining the sexual parts."

"How does a boy know that?" Paine asked tapping her hands on the screen in front of her in the co-pilot seat opposite of Brother.

"I'm just a kid." Shinra shrugged plopping back down in front of his computer. Paine scoffed at the child and looked back at her screen typing away. Rikku groaned rolling onto the cold metal ground of the bridge. Her reputation was dead and she had come out looking like a fool.

"So then what happened?" Paine asked wanting the noise of Rikkus groaning to end.

"He told me I couldn't 'handle' the relationship he wants and I left with little pride I had." Rikku sat back up and shove her hands into her green shorts.

"That isn't a surprise." Paine replied with the whole crew nodding in agreement, "You want to settle down get a Tidus-Yuna lovers nest going. He just wants to-"

"Clnaf ajano ruma eh Cbeny. Ra ec hu kuut vun oui Rikku! Pa rybbo ra dinhat oui tufh!" Brother shouted. Everyone groaned and complied in unison at Brothers choice of 'every hole in Spira'. Brother cursed under his breath focusing back on the task at hand which was flying his airship. Rikku played with the fray part of her green shorts thinking of Paines words. "I could be that..." Rikku muttered.

"You turned soft from Yuna." Paine said making a tsk tsk noise and waving her finger in the air. Rikku stomped her foot and following her brothers ways she choice some choice curse words in Al-Bhed before stomping her way to the elevator. Rikku pressed the button the summon the elevator so hard she thought she was going to break it. Rikku thought about Gippals words, Paines remarks, and her humiliation. It had been true though since Tidus came back Yuna was swept away they had begun to nest: get their own place, work in the temples, and in a year Tidus would be touring for blitzball again. Lulu and Wakka were already expecting their second kid hell even Donna was settling. Everyone was finding someone the the lot of them still single apparently just want to poke their body parts at each other. It wasn't that Rikku wasn't like that it was just she had always had relationships. Dating Gippal had been her longest relationship and dating wasn't what he wanted.

"Rikku!" Buddy called after the small Al-Bhed girl as he followed her up the elevator. Rikku pressed the Engine Room button so hard she thought she fractured her finger. The elevator shift down shaking a little before moving.

"Look you know were just messing with you right?" Buddy admitted.

"I know." Rikku replied letting all the air out of her lungs, "I could get him back you know." Rikku added her words with heavy and conceited. Her eyelids fluttered as she looked Buddy up and down, "Buddy you're just like him."

"I am?" he asked putting his hand over his chest as if taken aback by her words.

"Being caught getting massaged on the Commsphere by Rins ladies. I've seen those ladies leaving the airship when we stop in Luca or Besaid. Some of those Al-Bhed from Home ARE girls I grew up with. It is no secret you get around." Rikku shrugged as the elevator shifted and doors open. Buddy took a step in front of Rikku keeping her from leaving. She could see his Al-Bhed green eyes sparkle in the light of the elevator and a grin on his face she only saw when he had been drinking too much.

"Rikku do you want to get Gippal back?" Buddy asked.

"Yes..." Rikku asked backing away from Buddy who was giving her a look she didn't like. He looked like he was planning something or cooking a scheme in his mind.

"Then you have to play the field or the game like he does. Make him jealous, make him see you can have fun without the ties of dating. I could teach you that you know?" Buddy stepped forward as the elevator doors closed again.

"How do I do that? I can't just find a guy to just you know..." Rikku felt her words getting small as Buddy put his hand on Rikkus shoulders and pushed her back against the wall. Rikku could feel her heart pounding and the scent of musk training from Buddy as he moved his body against hers. She knew what was happening before it even began but for some reason she thought of the idea of Buddy and she didn't push him away. Buddy took his hand and tilted Rikkus chin up as his lips met hers. His lips were burning hot and tasted like the sea salt waters of Spira, he tasted like Home. Rikku pressed her lips hard against his feeling their teeth hit as she wrapped her arms around his neck. Both let out small gasps between their kisses taking only seconds for their lips to part as Buddy put one hand around Rikkus waist the other he began massaging her breast. Rikku let out a moan which Buddy replied with his wet tongue making its way into her mouth. Rikku let his tongue enter has it danced around her his teeth biting away at her lips. His hand grouped at her breast and his finger grabbed at her nipple through the fabric of her bikini top. Rikku moaned and called out his name as their lips parted both gasping for air. Buddy moved his mouth to Rikkus neck bitting it hard and she could feel him sucking away. The pain shot through her body and no matter how much it hurt she let it happen. Buddy moved his swift fingers to the tie in the front of Rikkus and pull the strings like they were nothing. Rikku took a step to the side cupping her hands over her breast keeping the material over her chest. Buddy had that look in his eyes still, like a lion looking at its dinner still twitching with life.

"Buddy.." Rikku was still gasping her chest heavy her body hot especially between her legs. Buddy smirked as Rikku turned her back to him re-tying her bikini. He walked up behind her and Rikku realized how much taller he was to her. She could feel his breath on her neck as reached passed her pressing the button to the Bridge.

To Be Continued...