Hellooo
I had this idea for a little while so here is a rather quick try at it. I may re-do it later but for now it just had to come out of my brain and onto... well not so much paper now but onto the computer i guess! hehe
I hope it's enjoyable

Disclaimer: Nowt is mine, as i own none of these characters or any of the concepts in their little worlds.

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1. Why?

"Why's she doing that?" Gippal asked as he stared at the blonde thief and silver haired warrior across the room.

"Doing what?" Baralai couldn't quite figure out what on earth Gippal was staring at, let along talking about.

"That!….staring at my girlfriend! It's as if… as if she fancies her or something?" Gippal then stared at the priestling with wide eyes. "Do you think she does? Do you think Paine likes Rikku in that way?"

Snorting Baralai checked his friend was still sane! "Seriously? You really think that?"

"Well come on, that look she's giving her! That's a little odd isn't it – I mean girls don't look at each other like that!"

"But why on earth would she fancy Rikku, she's not a lesbian!" Baralai reasoned, "After all, you should know that with the amount of times you two got it together in the Squad!"

Gippal didn't look at all impressed with the Yevonite. "That doesn't mean anything! She could have just been experimenting!"

"And you were quick to lend a hand eh?"

"It meant nothing between us! I'm with Rikku now!"

"Yeah but do you want to be?"

With a look of disgust, Gippal shot down the idea of doubt quickly. Of course he did, he loved Rikku, everyone loved Rikku - she was fun and sweet and kind! Most guys wanted to be with her, she was one of those innocent but sexy types. He was always fighting guys off, almost like a big brother – he had always been more protective than her real brother anyway. Everyone had presumed that he and Rikku would end up together, ever since they were small when she followed him everywhere! They were inseparable.

"Then why are you so bothered about this? It's not like Rikku is gonna run off with her or anything – if either of them did swing that way then it wouldn't cause any trouble to your life!" Baralai explained as he filled up his drink from the table in front of them.

"Well it's not right is it? I have enough trouble with other guys but girls too? Especially Paine!" Gippal wouldn't be able to face the thought of Paine really fancying the other person in his relationship… because it wouldn't be him! Not that he'd ever admitted it to anyone, but Paine had meant a lot to him all those years ago. When he was young and actually a lot less experienced than he let on, he'd really fallen for the crimson eyed girl he'd spent all of his days and most of his nights with. There was something different about her, unique and refreshing. He still felt he needed that, he wasn't ready to just settle for what he was expected to. He wanted challenge and adventure, he wanted some mystery in his life – and Paine certainly was a mystery! As he observed the two girls across the room, he tried to depict their actions, the small movements between them and the glances Paine was giving Rikku. The thought that she could now prefer girls, it scared him – had he been any influence to this change? What if he was so ridiculous as a man he'd put her off them for life? Nah it couldn't be! He was Gippal; sex-god! Rikku certainly never complained – but then again had she ever been with anyone else? Seriously with anyone, except for him? He wasn't sure, if so she never said.

"It doesn't look as though she likes her much at all, if you ask me!" Baralai broke Gippal's thoughts, it appeared he'd also been studying them.

"Well what does it look like?" They must have looked strange, both men standing next to each other examining the girls like health inspectors scrutinising a dirty kitchen. Gippal's voice indicated the extent to which he was annoyed, whereas his face just showed his confusion. It bugged him that he didn't understand what was going on between the girl he was going out with and the girl he couldn't get out of his head.

"This is Paine; you know when she isn't fond of someone. I would have thought you'd recognise that more than anyone." Gippal didn't know what Baralai was getting at, but as though the white haired man had read his mind, he continued, "Paine looks just like you do."

"Excuse me?"

"She's jealous."

"How on earth can you tell that? And that makes no sense! I don't do that! And I'm not jealous!" Gippal protested but there were too many questions to mention without sounding desperate for information about the situation before them.

However, the psychic man answered the Al Bhed straightforwardly, "You both try and hide what you're feeling, and even though she says nothing and you say too much, the principle is the same – you don't want to be shown up. You can just tell from the way she keeps looking at her – it's not lust, it's nearer to anger or longing. A longing for something SHE doesn't have."

"What would she ever be jealous of Rikku for!? They are complete opposites."

"Exactly, Rikku has something Paine doesn't and as 'complete opposites' how does she ever stand a chance of getting what a girl like Rikku has?" Baralai raised his eyebrows at the blonde man next to him before turning around to the table again and greeting someone Gippal hadn't taken the time to notice.

Gippal wasn't sure of what that meant; Rikku had something Paine would want? Paine never wanted anything that had any association with Rikku, in fact anyone or anything that wasn't completely in line with her way of thinking, she didn't want! She had wanted him though, once, on Binkanel. She'd desperately whispered his name on several occasions and he'd been happy to give himself to her. He was perfectly happy to be hers if she wanted him. But now he didn't know what would make her happy, even satisfied! Then again, he shouldn't know, she wasn't his to make satisfied. He was supposed to make Rikku happy now, but she was never anything but that - so how could he do his job if it was permanently done for him? That was the problem, there was no excitement, she was always joyful and it bored him intensely. There was something fun about a miserable person every now and then; like Nooj – he loved that guy. He was fun to tease and so deep, Nooj was interesting, he had a story, and he had issues that made Gippal curious. Paine had that same effect on him – in fact she had a lot of effects on him! Effects he shouldn't be having and he certainly should not want to encourage.

Then before he even realised Rikku was calling to him, she had strode over to his side, her blonde hair swinging behind her and her tanned legs almost dancing beneath her body as she walked. She smiled as she began to give him a hug, and over her shoulder he looked at the other girl who it was clear was now giving the blonde a disgusted look. Catching her eye, they stood staring at one another. The distance between them felt like miles but they were looking into the other's eyes as if they were standing less than a metre apart! He shouldn't have liked feeling this connection with the warrior, more than hugging his girlfriend, but he did nonetheless.