(A/N): Beta-read by yours truly. This is Sorrow's b-day gift to me! February 20th! Yay!
Another day at the office, another mountain of paperwork from tax politics to religious matters to chocobo rights activist concerns. And another year older, although Baralai didn't plan on acknowledging it. Twenty-one years subtracted now from some unknown number until the time he'd breathe his last. He didn't remember when he'd come to see it so morosely, but it probably had something to do with a little too much time in the Farplane. Or, maybe his depressing meetings with Nooj, where the ex-Meyvn spoke often of his last day, ar the main reason and how much better off Spira would be without either one of them to disturb it. "It's only a matter of time," he'd said. Either way, however young he still might actually be, Baralai preferred not to note his birthday.
Heaving an exasperated sigh when he saw the large stack on his desk, Baralai stepped forward, only to jump out of his skin when he heard the door slam behind him. Guard going up in an instant, he swiped the razor rod from its mount on the wall, and flung around to face his intruder. On the floor, a single chocolate fudge cupcake sat, with a small candle lit in its center. Relaxing for a margin, Baralai broke his battle stance, and approached the gleaming morsel with caution. It seemed the perfect set-up for a practical joke, although he doubted anyone within the temple walls had the taste for such things, aside from the children.
Leaning down to investigate the mysterious treat closer, he could smell the rich, warm fudgy flavor emanating from it; it seemed like it had just been baked. A small taste wouldn't hurt, would it? Eyes shifting from left to right, half expecting to be busted in his gluttonous act, Baralai poked at the creamy frosting top, quickly licking the sugary substance from the guilty pointer finger. A delectably smooth frosting, he savored it, not swallowing all at once. And that's when four shadows encroached upon his position, and his heart nearly stopped in momentary horror. It was a trap!
"Wow, Gippal! You weren't kidding. This guy really likes his chocolate!" Gazing overhead, Baralai exhaled in relief to see that it was Rikku, Lady Yuna's cousin, who spoke. Gippal, Paine, and Yuna herself also loomed, smiling and giggling at his expense.
"You never could resist, B." Gippal agreed with her, slapping the crouched Praetor on the back.
"Too bad I don't still have that sphere of when Baralai ate half a pan of chocolate cake just before a major exercise." Paine smirked, nudging Yuna forward to present the rest of the gift.
Rising from the floor with cupcake in hand, Baralai found the two Al Bhed turning him to Yuna's direction, still surrounding him. She blushed, smiling happily at him as she handed him a box with at least a dozen more of his favorite flavored treat. "I made these for you. Happy birthday, Baralai."
Salivating, he carefully accepted her delicious gift, so very much wanting just to rip the box open and shamelessly devour every last one in a single sitting. "Thank you, Lady Yuna. A pleasant surprise..." Still acting the polite and dutiful Praetor, Baralai neatly set the box aside on a small table nearby. He had to wonder, however, at why Gippal and the acting members of the Gullwings continued to hover around him.
"Yunie, Yunie... you should give him that other present. You know, the one you've been wanting to give him a while now?" Rikku giggled, tongue sticking out in playful mischief. Baralai could hardly speculate on what the younger woman was talking about.
"My Lady?" he inquired, curious of what else Yuna might have for him, and why she was being so thoughtful of his birthday in the first place.
"Right... that one..." Yuna echoed, her timid blush deepening by three shades. Standing high on her tip-toes, she held Baralai by his shoulders to support herself, and quickly kissed his cheek. "...I hope you don't mind..." she laughed softly, coming back down, "Spend the day with me?"
With a nervous and embarrassed chuckle, he shook his head, reassuring her that he wasn't offended at her silly flirtation. "I'm flattered. Yet, even today, there remains too much for me to do..."
Taking a seat on top of Baralai's desk, followed by Paine, Gippal began snooping through the papers. "What have we here? Application for tourism license for the Farplane from Tobli Entertainment... a legal threat from the LeBlanc Syndicate... a one hundred page apology from the Guado... a petition for Ronso inclusion in Yevon affairs... Seriously man, this stuff can't wait for a day?"
"You can stay here and work if you want, but you do realize that Nooj plans on stopping by later, right? Last he told me, he was hoping to polish off a bottle of sake with your help." Paine advised, knowing that it would stir memories of the first bonding session he'd shared with the man, and the torturous hang-over he'd paid for it with.
It then occurred to Baralai what his choices truly were. Spend the day relaxing and playing with the innocent, honest Lady Yuna, who appeared to harbor cute, infantile affections for him; or, he could work himself into a pulp until Nooj arrived, and listen to the drab and dreary regrets and ruminations of the broken war veteran. Together, they'd mutually drink away their will to live, yet all the while, cower in growing fear of death. The latter was pointless; a vain act of self-pity.
"Perhaps those matters can wait." Baralai sighed, perplexed and disappointed in his former attitude. The very point of a birthday is to celebrate one's life; yet, he'd made it to be about dying. Soon enough, he'd have to counsel Nooj on the issue, but for now— "What does my Lady have in mind?"
"Ooh, well... first..." She reached up, swiping at the chocolate on his upper lip with her thumb, and popping the finger into her mouth. "Sorry. You kind of missed some."
"Why do I get the feeling you and I are going to be competing for my present?" Baralai smiled, pulling out another cupcake.
Cracking her knuckles, Paine devised a wicked idea on the spot. Yanking the frosting-laden treat from his grip, she proceeded to rub it right into his face. "There you go, Yuna. Served just the way you like it."
Shocked beyond words, Baralai stood still, delightfully confused and surprised when smaller fingers began to swipe away at the mess, and licking noises signified Yuna cleaning her fingers every so often. "Mm... yummy..." Yuna giggled, before adding a napkin into her efforts.
"Maaaybee we should leave those two alone. This is getting a little weird for me." Rikku suggested, half-kidding. "We'll meet you guys outside when you're done, okay?"
Paine followed her silently, while Gippal lingered a moment behind, drooling over the remaining eleven cupcakes, wondering if maybe one of the other two women would like to use his face the same way. Even if only for spite. "Never know unless you try..." he mumbled, and pilfered one for himself, chasing after them.