Free From The Thunderstorm
Chapter Six: Two and Two
Chapter Summary: Well, that would be telling!
"Rikku!" Paine called after the blond-haired Al Bhed. She heard the voice from earlier tell her:
See, told you you should have thought about you two together.
Paine picked up her sword and walked towards the elevator. The doors were closed while it was still in operation.
"Come on!" Paine growled impatiently. She kicked the door, receiving only a stubbed toe for her trouble. "Damn it!" She aimed a kick again just as the elevator doors opened. She tumbled through and crashed against the far wall. Dragging her sword through the threshold, the silver-haired warrior clambered to her feet and looked at the control panel. Someone had wedged a note into the gap between the wall and the panel.
"What's this?" she muttered to herself. She plucked the note out from its resting place and saw that it was folded over in half. She selected the cabin from the menu on the panel and opened the note. She saw her name at the top of the page:
Paine,
I'm sorry for saying that on the deck. I should've guessed you weren't... You know, like that. If you need me, I'm in my room.
Rikku
"She must've written that pretty damn quick," Paine said, noticing the letters were smudged by teardrops. "Well, first I gotta put my sword away, then I'll check up on her"
"Mish Paine, what can I do for yoo?" Barkeep stared balefully at the warrior stomping through to the storeroom.
"Right now, Barkeep," Paine said menacingly, "you can stay the hell out of my way."
"Yesh, of coursh. Any food or drinksh?"
"When I want something, I'll ask for it."
The Hypello, sensing he was about to become Paine's new training dummy, backed out of the room.
"That's better, I can finally think," Paine grunted, walking through the storeroom doors. Barkeep's words floated through her head:
Food and drinksh?
Drinks… No, that would just be irresponsible. And it's not like I'd want to…
Would I?
No, she told herself firmly, you don't. I think you know what you really feel about Rikku.
"Ugh… I need a drink."
With that, she stalked out of the storeroom.
"Barkeep!"
The Hypello waddled through to the bar.
"Two cups of cocoa."
"Yesh, Mish Paine. Do yoo want them brought to your room?" he asked.
Paine shook her head. "No, I'll wait for 'em here."
"Drinksh being sherved ash shoon ash they're ready, Mish Paine."
"Thanks."
Paine walked up the corridor to Rikku's room, tray in hand. She knocked on the door.
"Who is it?" She heard Rikku trying to stifle her sobs.
"It's me," she said lightly.
The door opened to the tearful young girl.
"I guess… I guess you got my note."
"Yeah. Here, I got you some cocoa. Thought you might want it"
Rikku gratefully took the cup.
"Come in, though I don't know where you're gonna sit. I ain't got any chairs."
Paine glanced around the small room. "Well, I could always sit on the bed with you."
Rikku gulped. "Really?"
Paine put an arm around Rikku and steered her towards the bed. "Sure."
They sat down and nursed their cups. Rikku kept stealing glances at Paine, who seemed deep in thought.
"Watcha thinking 'bout?"
That shook Paine out of her trance.
"Oh, nothing…"
They looked at each other. Red into green. Rikku's face seemed to be coming closer and closer to Paine's…
Rikku's lips met Paine's.
Paine, for her part, didn't pull away. Thoughts raced through both girls heads.
Flashes of light. Silver and gold, red and green, in a kaleidoscope of colour. No more tears…
Rikku pulled away.
"I thought…"
"Well," Paine said with a smile, "I guess you thought wrong."
They kissed again, deeper this time. Paine put her hand amongst Rikku's gold braids. Rikku's tongue traced Paine's lips until they opened, granting her access. She put her legs around Paine's waist, and Paine stood up, supporting her. It went on, until…
"Rikku, Paine, fa'na yd Luca huf! " Brother's voice rang through the intercom.(1)
The girls broke the kiss and stared at each other.
"Damn Brother." Paine said.
Rikku chuckled. "Just like him to spoil our moment!"
Paine smiled at Rikku. "No more tears, ok?"
"Only if you promise not to either! Can't have my big, tough warrior going to mush every five minutes!"
"Promise. Come on, better go see what Brother wants."
Rikku scratched her head. "I think it was something like "We're at Luca, get your asses down here now!""
Paine and Rikku left the room, leaving the cocoa forgotten.
--
AL BHED TRANSLATIONS:
(1) Brother: "Rikku, Paine, we're at Luca now!"
Haha! Fooled ya! Don't worry, it's coming.
Wow! Two and a half pages! I must be coming down with something.
There ain't gonna be any more warnings. Hell, if you've read this far, ain't no way in hell I'm gonna be able to offend you now… apart from death or BDSM, and to be honest, I ain't into that stuff.
--