Title: Secret
Author: Micayasha
Summary: Baralai has a secret and Gippal is determined to find out what it is—by any means necessary…
Rating: K+
Word Count: 513
Warnings/Spoilers: None.
"Hiya!"
Baralai refused to believe that Gippal's irritating cheerfulness and horrible timing was purely coincidental. "Good afternoon, Gippal," he said through his teeth.
He was right. The grin on Gippal's face was a familiar one—devious and plotting. "What'cha got behind your back, Baralai?"
"Nothing," he answered, much too quickly.
"Really? Mind if I take a look, then? You know, if it's nothing." Baralai could almost see the horns growing out of that spiky blonde skull.
"Yeah, see, I'd rather not."
"Oh?" Gippal smirked. "Not nothing, then?"
"It's—it's your birthday present."
"Planning a little early, aren't we? You know, like… four months early?"
Baralai gave a nervous chuckle. "Well, you know me: always planning in advance."
"Oh, really?" Gippal made a snatch at the thing behind Baralai's back, but was quickly evaded.
"You don't want to spoil the surprise," Baralai scolded, his tone of voice meek despite his rebute. They both knew Gippal wasn't buying it.
Gippal didn't answer, only dived for him again. Finally, after this pattern had continued for some time, the Al Bhed simply grabbed him by the collar and, as Baralai began to slip out of his hold, gave Baralai a long and lingering kiss, adding in each and every trick he knew. It wasn't until Baralai had regained his ability to stand on his own that he realized his little secret was gone—and saw Gippal's jaw drop as he looked at the cover. "'The Lady and Her Stableboy'!" he yelped incredulously, his eyes bulging at the sensuous cover. "You're joking, right?"
Baralai was silent. Anything he said now would only incriminate him more.
"Oh, dear gods, you're not. The Praetor of New Yevon reads pornographic romance novels!"
A rosy pink began to spread along his copper cheeks and Baralai pouted. It usually got his way. He crossed his arms like a small child, just for good measure.
At last, when all Gippal had done was laugh, Baralai muttered, "It isn't pornographic."
"You wanna bet?" Gippal flipped to the place where Baralai's bookmark was and began to read.
" 'His hands glided down her body, and she wished desperately that there was considerably less clothing between their flesh. Pulling his tunic over his head and starting on the buttons of his undershirt, she met resistance from strong, rough hands. "My lady," he murmured, low and husky. She shivered at his tone of voice and heard his give a low moan of desperate need as his arousal brushed her thigh, large and throbbing. "Yes," she whispered breathily, "oh yes." Slowly, tenderly, he—' "
"All right, all right!" Baralai cried, throwing up his hands.
Gippal slammed the book shut, grinning triumphantly. "If that wasn't written to make someone horny, I don't know what was."
Baralai huffed. "I'm never going to hear the end of this, am I?"
Gippal chuckled, looking positively evil. "Oh, you might. But you'd have to do me a biiiig favour, first." He tugged on a strand of silver hair. "My lady."
Baralai could only groan his defeat and pull his lover in for another kiss.
Okie-dokie, in case you didn't get what the 'favour' was, it was a little role-playing. If you know what I mean.
Also, I know I keep saying mentioning Baralai's title in my ficlets like it's some sort of mantra. It's getting annoyingly repetitive, but I can think of nothing to replace it. I guess it's because these stories are about expanding their horizons, learning new things about them that you would never in a million years suspect (like a tendency to read porn), and so to make a point I constantly remind the reader of Baralai's status and position—as well as Gippal's, but not nearly as often.
Thanks for reading!
Love
XOXO,
Micayasha