Chapter 12

The next day bright and early, Rikku and Baralai headed out of the Travel Agency and over to the house they were going to help build. Rikku was reluctant at first, wanting instead to enjoy his company alone in the privacy of her hotel room underneath soft, cotton sheets, but Baralai insisted he get back out there and help her do at least a little work while Paine was away.

"You didn't come here to work, Lai!" Rikku pouted as he picked up a tool belt that hung at the end of the scaffolding, fastening it to his waist. She wasn't complaining, however, at the sight of him in his white, skin tight tank top and found herself zoning out somewhere between his cocoa brown skin and muscles that had just started developing newly formed beads of sweat from him being out in the hotness that was Home.

"It's quite all right." He said, waving a hand to the front of her face to snap her out of her stare and she blushed, quickly turning around to grab a can of paint left on the ground. "I am always inside at the temple, so here I get to be out in the sun, I get to help out, and most importantly, I get to spend time with you." Baralai smiled at her as she turned back around, lingering on her for a moment as well before getting to work.

"Excuse me, young man." A voice from behind Baralai called as he was screwing in a panel by the house's window pane. "Are you helping to build this house?"

When he turned around he noticed an older al-bhed woman, just a hair under him in height with a graying blonde braid that fell past the small of her back and the same eyes as Rikku but in a richer, emerald hue. "Oh Hello!" Baralai blushed, putting the screwdriver in his hand down onto a bucket. "I'm afraid I've only just gotten here yesterday, and I haven't done anything but the shutters."

"I just want to say it's wonderful of you to help, Mr. Praetor." The woman said, extending her hand. "My name is Keke; it's nice to meet you."

Baralai took the hand in both of his and shook it warmly. "I'm honored, and please just call me Baralai. We don't need any formalities, I'm not even dressed for that!" He laughed, pointing out his casual wear. "I'm here helping Rikku out for a day or two. I want to do all I can while Paine is away."

"That's very sweet." Keke's eyes hovered on Baralai's, as if studying his face and she seemed distant. "You remind me of someone I used to know of a long time ago. You have the same kind eyes he had." She broke the gaze, focusing her attention to Rikku who was busy painting the house's garage, and then back to the Praetor, catching him as he watched the young woman as well with a loving look in his features. "Well, I'll let you get back to your work then." With a pat to his shoulder Keke turned around and started walking away. "Thank you again, for all of your help."

"The pleasure's all mine." He responded, bowing to her before returning his attention to the panel once more.

Rikku noticed the woman and skipped over to see her. "Keke! Whaddya think?"

"What, of the house or of that young man standing there?" She teased as Rikku blushed once again.

"Omigosh, the house! Don't make fun!" She put an arm around Keke and put her face closer to hers to add "But yeah…he's not too bad to look at either, isn't he?"

Keke grinned at Rikku, tugging on the end of the younger blonde's scarf. "So…he's here to do more than just rebuild, isn't he?" Keke made Rikku's acquaintance the month before when she and Paine started working on what was to be her new home. She acted as sort of a mother figure to both Rikku and Paine, bringing the girls lunches and offering friendly advice. Keke had grown close to Rikku and watched over her. "Is this something serious?"

"Yep!" Rikku nodded enthusiastically, stealing a look back over at Baralai for a moment. "We've been writing back and forth for a coupla weeks now, and he surprised me by coming to see me last night!"

"I see." Keke released Rikku's scarf, linking her arm with hers as they strolled. "Has he said anything to anyone at Bevelle Temple about you?"

"Lai says pretty much everybody knows. The nuns gossip about him all the time. It's cute!"

"So they don't say anything about you being Al-bhed?" The woman asked curiously, noticing Rikku becoming tense with every step.

"Not that I know of…and it's none of their bees wax anyway!" She declared. "He can love anyone he wants to…can't he?" Rikku furrowed her brow with uncertainty, not sure where her friend was going with what she was saying.

As they reached the station near the Travel Agency, Keke let go of Rikku's arm and headed over towards the public hover busses. Turning to face her, Keke placed Rikku's hands in hers, squeezing gently.

"I'm not saying you have anything to worry about…" she began cautiously. "…but people…especially in Bevelle may not be so willing to accept you yet, so be on your guard." Keke could tell Rikku didn't like what she was being told and hoped she didn't take it personally. "I'm only looking out for you, you know."

"Yeah. I guess we'll just take things as they come, and I'll convince anyone that fights us that we belong together! Don't worry bout me, Keke...and thanks!" Rikku hugged the older woman and watched her board the hover bus, waving frantically. "Bye Keke!! See you soon!"

The bus vanished into the horizon and Rikku was left standing there with new, uncomfortable thoughts in her head. Was it really possible that people wouldn't approve of them being together? Rikku hadn't taken the time to think about that since they got together because, as she told Keke, she just didn't think it was anyone's business. As she headed back to the house, she thought about Baralai and his position, remembering just how important he was to so many, and that his actions were probably being scrutinized by some in his city and temple. She began to worry about his reputation and felt selfish for not doing it sooner.

Baralai attached the last freshly painted shutter to its companion window, screwing it in with the flathead he had taken out of the tool box. He looked over to see his Rikku walking back towards him but she looked troubled. Making sure the shutter was secure; Baralai put the screwdriver back into the box and made his way over to her. The closer he got he could see she was on the verge of tears.

"Rikku what's wrong?" He asked, immediately wrapping his arms around her. "Why do you look so upset?" She put her own arms around his waist and dug her head into his shoulder. Hot tears absorbed into his tank top as he ran his fingers through her hair in an attempt to soothe her. "Did someone say something to you?"

"Lai, I'm sorry!" Rikku said sadly, hiccupping against him. "I didn't realize the risks you're taking by coming here to be with me…"

"What are you talking about?" Baralai brought her face to his so he could make eye contact with her. "There aren't any risks…No one tried to keep me from coming here." He kissed her cheek softly. "What has made you think about this all of a sudden?"

She knuckled away her tears, blinking the last of them out of her eyes. "Keke said there are people who won't approve of us…and I got ta thinkin' that maybe I'm putting you in danger by being with me. I guess I was just so happy to be with you that I didn't think about that…"

Baralai pressed her to his chest to stop her from continuing, hoping that by his actions she could be comforted. "Please, don't worry about that. No one is going to do anything to you or me. Even if there are those that don't approve, we are still allowed to love one another as other couples like us had in the past and do now." He took her face in his hands; thumbing away the remnants of her tears from both sides of her cheeks and spoke hopefully. "I think we'll be the lucky ones- the ones that break down that barrier and get acknowledged like every other couple in Spira. Just think…if we can do this, so many could benefit as well. So no more tears, Rikku, ok?"

She meekly nodded; a small smile crept into her face and grew wider as she gazed into his soft, brown eyes which held nothing but love and understanding only for her. "I don't ever think I told you how much I love you, Lai. Thanks."