AN:// This is a reposting of a history I started a couple of years ago. My computer crashed and I wasn't able to finish it then, but now I'm back with a new computer and some new ideas. I hope I can find a new audience (or miraculously recapture my old one). I'll probably update one to two times a week. I thrive on reviews so please leave me a comment.
I was not one who often got angry. I was known for my cool, collected, and sometimes arrogant attitude, but tonight I was seething.
He was dancing with her.
Baralai was dancing with my Rikku. And not just dancing, slow dancing, hugging her close to him and whispering in her ear. Dirtbag. Traitor. White haired son of a Chimera. How could he do this to me? He knew how I felt about her. Well, I guess he didn't know- How could he? I had never told him- but he had to know, everyone knew. That's why Rikku had never had a boyfriend; everyone was too scared to put the moves on "Gippal's girl." Everyone except Baralai apparently.
I guess it was partly my fault for never making a move. Rikku and I had dated years ago-if you could even call it that, it was one date- when I thought of her as just a momentary distraction from the monotony of day-to-day life in the desert, and it didn't work out to say the least. At the end of the night when I walked her to her room at Home, she had announced she never wanted to see my ugly face again and slammed the door in my face without so much as a good night kiss.
It was only after I blew it with her that I realized how wonderful she really was. I guess life is like that; you always want what you can't have. Of course, I was too stubborn to ask for another chance with her. Then she left Home to go diving for old machina and I didn't see her for three years. I heard of her exploits: becoming a guardian, defeating Sin, sphere hunting, and the rest, but it wasn't until she came to Djose with Paine and that summoner chick to sign up for the dig that I reunited with her.
And then I couldn't say anything. I had a strict policy about never mixing business with pleasure, and, as much as I didn't like it, she was working for me. So I pushed her away. Then the whole Vegnagun thing happened and there was no time for confessions of love unless you were Leblanc. (I really don't know what Nooj sees in her.). After Vegnagun was defeated all the Al Bhed were drafted to the task of rebuilding Home in the Bikanel desert and Rikku and I were working together again.
Here at this party was finally going to be my chance. Home was done so we weren't going to be working together anymore, the Al Bhed had all moved in, including Rikku -though she still left often to go hunt spheres-so we were going to be together again, and I had finally worked up the nerve. But I couldn't get a moment alone with her. All my plans were ruined because of Baralai.
I motioned to the barkeep to get me a drink. He sat a bubbling glass of green liquid in front of me, and I downed it in one gulp. I shuddered. It started doing weird things to my stomach almost immediately. I sent a second drink down after it to straighten it out. That didn't work, so I sent a third drink down to explain to the second one what it was supposed to be doing and a fourth one to provide backup.
I glared out at the dance floor. They were still dancing. Number after number they kept dancing. Baralai said something to Rikku, and she rewarded him with peals of laughter. I had never seen 'Lai so happy; it made me sick to my stomach (or maybe that was the drinks, I wasn't so sure at this point). I was just chugging down a fifth drink so it could inquire as to what the heck the other drinks were doing when Paine came over and sat down beside me.
"How are you enjoying the celebration so far?" she asked.
"I hate it," I said waving my glass around and spilling the green fluid everywhere, "I hate everything-except for you." I looked at Paine fondly, I had never realized how beautiful she was.. all three of her. "You, you're the only person in this whole crazy world that I can trust." I slung an arm around the left Paine's shoulders.
She calmly shrugged my arm off, "How many drinks have you had, Gippal?"
"'Bout four and a half, why?"
She looked at me wryly, "No reason. Just promise me you won't drink any more tonight."
"I won't if you won't," I said pointing a finger at the middle Paine.
She rolled her eyes and sighed, "It's a deal. Now let's get you back home before you cause a scene."
"No, I'm perfectly fine," I said evading her attempts to lead me away from the bar and out of the party, "Baralai's the one with the problem and his name is," I hiccupped and lost my place momentarily then I remembered the point I was trying to make and continued, "Gippal." I stood up shakily wondering when my legs had been replaced by rubber and walked out onto the dance floor.
I tapped Baralai on the shoulder, "May I have a word with you?"
"All of you." I added after a moment, "Alone."
The bewildered looking Baralai turned back to Rikku, "If you'll excuse me?"
"Fine," Rikku shrugged casting a suspicious glance at me, "I was about to leave anyway."
Baralai and I walked out into the streets of Luca.
I cleared my throat, "It has come to my attention that we are in love with the same woman."
Baralai stopped, "Really? I thought-"
"Whatever you thought you thought wrong, she's mine and I'm prepared to fight for her," I made a wild swing at Baralai, missed, and almost fell over in the process.
"I'm not going to give up that easily my inebriated friend." Baralai challenged.
"You're not? Man, that sucks." I glared at the white haired praetor, "I bet you don't even know what color her eyes are when she's angry."
"Maroon," he said without hesitating.
"Huh-they always looked just like a lighter green than usual to me." I puzzled.
"Green?" Baralai looked confused too now, then his eyes widened with realization, "Oh, you mean.. ." He smiled. "Listen Gippal, Rikku and I are just friends."
"I'll bet," I fumed, "You looked a little too friendly out there on the dance floor if you ask me."
I swung for him again and this time I did fall over. There was a moment of silence until I said, with all the dignity I could muster, "I can't seem to get up, could you help me?"
Baralai chuckled, "Of course old friend, pending you don't try that again."
"Don't. . . don't. . .don't count on it bub," I said not quite managing to sound fierce. I was really tired all of the sudden.
"Close enough," Baralai said.
He and a nearby guard hauled me to my feet and carried me to Baralai's airship. 'Lai flew me back to home but I refused to let him walk me in.
"Don't trust me to get into bed all right?" I slurred accusingly at the six Baralais that danced in front of my face.
He reluctantly let me go. I staggered into the large kitchen by the mess hall, opened up the cabinet, and took out a random bottle.
"Nothing like a chaser to prevent a hangover," I squinted at the bottle's label "Te-quil-a, eh, sounds all right." I grabbed the neck of the bottle and took a swig. I spat most of it back out though, that stuff was stronger than the green gunk. I dropped the bottle and turned to go up the stairs to the living corridors trying to remember where my room was.
After stumbling around for about ten minutes I found a door that looked like mine. I tried it, it was unlocked. That was good sign; I never remembered to lock my door. I eased the door open and stepped inside. Then I headed towards the bed to collapse; the only problem was there was somebody already in my bed, Rikku. She was dressed only in her yellow bikini and her hair was loose and fanned around her sleeping form. She shifted in her sleep and rolled over on her side.
I racked my fuzzy, drunken brain for an explanation to this new development until I found one that made sense to me in my current state.
Somebody had gotten me Rikku for my birthday!
I marveled at the thoughtfulness of the gift. It was just what I had wanted. And my birthday wasn't even for three months! I slipped off my shirt and pants, climbed in the bed, and wrapped my arms around the slim blonde girl. I buried my face in her hair and kissed her neck. It was a thoughtful gift indeed; I would have to write whoever did this a nice thank you note.
And with that thought I passed out.
