Free from the Thunderstorm

Free from the Thunderstorm

Chapter One: Waking Dreams

Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy X-2 or any of its characters. Those belong to Square Enix. All that's mine are my thoughts, my abilities and a bit of pocket fluff.

Summary: The Gullwings have been disbanded for a little over a year, with Yuna living with Tidus, and the rest of the gang living on the Celsius. Rikku, however, is having some trouble getting to grips with her new feelings. Rated M for some later content.

WARNINGS: Yuri pairing. If you don't like girl-on-girl pairings, you can access my complaints department by clicking the left pointing arrow in the top left of your browser. Also some lemon-flavoured stuff.

Pairings: RikkuxPaine, TidusxYuna

Chapter Summary: Rikku and Paine have some trouble shaking what they dreamed last night.

"Breakfasht ish ready, Mish Rikkoo." Barkeep waddled into the room.

"Ymnekrd, E's ib, E's ib," mumbled Rikku into her pillow. (1) She hadn't had the best night's sleep in the world. Scenes kept flashing under her eyelids. Sparks of light. Silver. Red. Tears.

Why in Spira can I remember that? thought the young Al Bhed girl. She looked at her pillow and saw patches of damp where her eyes had been watering. She slouched towards the dining room.

It's just Barkeep's cooking, she thought, though she knew that had nothing to do with it.

Barkeep was a great cook.

"Took you long enough to get up," the grey-haired warrior was sat at a table, head cradled in one hand, fork in the other, reading a book. She glanced up at Rikku.

"Ev uhmo oui ghaf fro. Whatcha reading?" Rikku tried to get a better look at Paine's tome. (2)

"Quit it." Paine scowled.

"Nuh-uh. I wanna find out what you're reading!" Rikku jostled at Paine's shoulder.

"Minus five respect points, Rikku"

"Ohh, poopie!" Rikku said, looking deflated. Sighing, she went to get a bowl of Hypell-Os. "How many have I got left?"

"Thirty-five."

"Ohhhh!"

Damn, she can be annoying sometimes, Paine smirked to herself.

"Sooo… what we doing today then?" Rikku smiled, sitting down opposite Paine. "I was thinking of kissing you right on those bright red lips of yours!"

"…What?" Paine exclaimed.

"Oh, you are awake!" Rikku chimed. "I said, what're we gonna do today?"

Paine shrugged. "I dunno."

"Well, I was thinking maybe we could go shopping in Luca!"

Paine growled. "You know how much I hate shopping."

Rikku nudged Paine. "It'll be no fun by myself. Please?"

"Take Buddy with you then."

"Nuh-uh. I want to go with you."

Paine shook her head in exasperation. "Any particular reason why it has to be me?"

Rikku stuck her tongue out. "Maybe."

Hell, it might be fun, thought Paine. "OK, I'll come, on one condition."

"Yeah?"

"I get to choose which shop."

"Aw man!"

"Your choice"

"Ohh, alright. That's only on one condition."

"Name it."

"You tell me why you're so out of it this morning."

Paine snorted. "Just had a bad night, s'all." Yeah, and the dream didn't help. Images flashed before Paine's eyes. Flashes of light. Gold. Green. Tears. Paine felt the moisture on her face.

Rikku went around the table and put her arms around her friend. "What's wrong?"

Rikku's touch sent shivers down Paine's spine. Instinctively she flinched and pushed Rikku away

"Nothing." Like hell is it nothing.

"Well, OK, if you insist. I'm gonna go get ready. Meet you on the bridge in, say, half an hour?"

"Fine."

I need some time to think. Paine rose and started to head towards the deck.

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AL BHED TRANSLATIONS

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(1) Rikku: "Alright, I'm up, I'm up"

(2) Rikku: "If only you knew why."

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