Project ID: Bottles of Summer
Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy X, or Final Fantasy X-2.
Commercials: HEADCANON; have it your way.
Author Talk: Make that FIVE chapters in the same day, holy cow. What I can accomplish when my internet's turned off. Maybe I should do this more often. But then I would probably go into withdrawal, or something equally unfortunate.
Prompt Used: Photography – #24

"So, what're you going to do now?"

Paine, who had been standing with her hands braced against the small of her back, turned away from edge of the ship and looked at Rikku calmly.

"That's him, isn't it?" she clicked her fingers towards Tidus and Yuna, their lovely embrace, how beautiful they looked, back on Besaid. Rikku smiled without meaning to, her eyes wet.

"Yeah, that's Tidus."

Paine nodded, but went on studying him warily, almost as though he were a criminal. Rikku looked at her, and opened her mouth suddenly, feeling as though she should defend Tidus somehow.

"We're done, aren't we?" Paine asked softly. Rikku frowned, shaking her head.

"What're you talking about? Of course not. Tidus will just come with us! He's really cool, promise. He won't mind."

Paine smiled a little, waving towards the group on the shore line, and starting down the ramp. Rikku fell into step quickly, sighing as the sea breeze ran through her hair, and tasting warm salt upon the air.

"Yuna's the one who won't want to leave," Paine explained, and gave herself a running start, leaping over the last few feet of ocean, and landing neatly on the beach.

Rikku didn't follow her.

Because she knew, abruptly, that Paine was right. Yuna wasn't restless in the way Rikku was. She wasn't solitary like Paine. She had suffered enough, had walked far enough, and was now, quite simply, done.

Rikku's throat closed, and she looked at the couple again, at how happily they smiled at each other, and glued her own smile on.

She would worry about it later.

"I guess I'll stay in Besaid," Rikku announced later. Yuna smiled delightedly, and Tidus ruffled Rikku's hair the same way he had in the past. It was strange, now. Tidus wasn't older than her anymore. She pretended to be fifteen and it was easier, after that.

Paine said nothing, but her dark eyes glittered, and she'd been carrying around her old recording equipment all night. Sometimes she filmed, sometimes she just took pictures. The ones of Yuna and Tidus all looked lovely and soft. The ones of Rikku seemed to be a study of bad angles and horrible lighting. Rikku suspected this was not an accident.

Rikku focused on being happy, on enjoying the rich, fruity food the feast had to offer, and laughing at all of Tidus' dumb jokes. She focused on how happy Yuna looked. She focused on the baby Lulu held to her breast and the fast, hesitatingly grateful look Wakka had shared with her. She focused on all of these things so that when Paine stood and moved away from the party, Rikku could pretend it didn't hurt.

She got up, and ran after the other girl.

"You could have said goodbye."

Paine shrugged. "I don't really like to."

"Oh." Rikku said, a little lamely, and licked her lips, "Are you going very far?"

Paine sighed and settled on the pier, her legs hanging over the side. She looked coolly into the dark ocean. "I'm sure it will seem that way."

Rikku nodded, and looked down, "What do you think I should do? I mean. I mean, I can't stay here. Not long."

Paine shrugged. "I can't tell you what to do, Rikku."

Rikku grimaced, and then brightened, "What if we went together?"

Paine snorted, "I'd probably kill you."

"Oh." Rikku squatted, and then settled herself back on her hands, hooking the backs of her knees over the edges of the dock. She rested her head against Paine's shoulder. "Yep, you would. Yunie is my human shield."

"Right," Paine agreed, and then gestured, "I think I see the ferry. It heads to Luca, doesn't it?"

"Yep! Unless it's a pirate ship. Paine, I bet it's a pirate ship. Don't get on."

"Whatever," Paine snorted as she dug through her pockets. She dropped a picture into Rikku's lap, though in the darkness, Rikku couldn't make it out. "Say goodbye to Yuna for me."

"Can I say goodbye to Rikku for you?"

"No, I'll say goodbye to Rikku for me," Paine corrected. They both waited until the ferry drew alongside the dock, and Paine swung herself onboard. She looked back, waved, and called, "Don't worry about figuring it out, Rikku. Trouble loves you. You'll probably get dragged into something if you just wander around a bit."

"Oh, thanks," Rikku grumbled, and then wailed, "Bye, Paine! I love you!"

And even if she couldn't see, Rikku knew that Paine had rolled her eyes. "Later, Rikku."

Rikku went back to the party, and held the photograph near the fire. She blushed, and hid it immediately. Yuna dropped beside her.

"Rikku? Where'd you go?"

"Paine's gone," Rikku said, and kissed Yuna's cheek quickly, "She says bye."

And then Rikku took a step backwards, waved with both hands, and took off into the night, yelling her farewells as she went.