A/N: This chapter is really really long…so sorry; I guess I got carried away, heh heh.

Also, any similarities to 'Ying Ying 54's fic: Paine's Story in this chapter is purely coincidence.

Thank you Annie for being so understanding!

Chapter 9: Something to Talk About

And So…

The days passed after the events that occurred in their usual tedious manner. People went to their jobs, tended their gardens, loved their children, and cleaned their homes: the same as always. Life too, seemed to go on for the four since their lives were altered slightly by the big reveal just weeks ago. Gippal honored Baralai's wishes by staying away from him and Rikku. He figured it was the least he could do for his friend: well, 'former' friend. Secretly, he and Paine had hoped that maybe Baralai and Rikku would come around one day and things would be like they used to; only they knew they were just fooling themselves. Still, their relationship was thriving; one good thing in their lives these days. It really is true what the song says: you can't always get what you want, but if you try sometimes you might find you get what you need. If they couldn't have their dearest friends, at least they had each other and for the time being that was enough to sustain them.

The darkness was slowly taking over the light in the sky outside the window as evening fast approached. It was a Saturday night and that was always the cue to relax and have some much needed fun. Paine picked up an onyx stud from her jewelry box and inserted it into her ear, pushing the back into the silver post, securing it tight. She put a hand to the top of her head, manipulating the short hairs between her fingers until they sat just right. She never used a brush; her hair was so short her fingers became the ideal styling tool. Taking one last look at herself in the mirror, her eyes stare herself up and down making sure the snug fitting black leather tank went smoothly with her equally black hip huggers.

She smiled contentedly at the reflection and sprayed her perfume about her body: a luxurious, oriental, sensual bouquet of flowers collected from all over Spira; Gippal had bought that for her because he felt it suited her personality. Turning off the light to their bedroom, Paine sauntered into the living room where Gippal was sitting on the couch in a nice pair of dress slacks and a white collared shirt waiting for her. His right leg was resting over his left and he gave her a look as if to say she had taken too long, although she knew he was only joking by the expression on his face.

"Whoa!" he expressed, a palm placed to his face in amazement. "You look…beauteriffic!" he declared, smiling proudly at the genius of his new word. Paine looked at him and rolled her eyes in disgust, folding her gloved hands to her chest before a grin cascaded across her lips.

"Now I know where Rikku gets it from." Paine drawled as she walked over to him and extended her hand to help him up. His hand gripped hers and he propped himself up off the couch pretending to crash into Paine. He took this opportunity to kiss her, biting her lips playfully, once again making Paine delirious with desire. He peered at her, her eyes closed and her hands subconsciously running themselves up and down his back. Their lips parted and she opened her eyes to see him smirking at her. She went into the defensive and scowled at him teasingly.

"What? Why are you smirking like that?" She demanded; her arms still wrapped around his nicely built shoulders. He held her tighter, there wasn't a space between them and his eye never left hers.

"I just love the reaction I get from you when I kiss you." Gippal breathed, becoming serious, brushing his lips once again to hers. She went to return the kiss but he pulled away sharply and walked to the door. She threw him a disappointed glare and he took her hand as they left the apartment.

"Come on," he reasoned as they walked out to the parking lot. "If we were to continue what we were doing in there we'd never go out. It's important we enjoy some of the nightlife that Luca has to offer us." He held the hover door open for Paine and she stepped in, making herself comfortable. He then closed the door and headed to the drivers side entering the vehicle. They headed toward Luca; there was a nice twenty-something club that they were dying to experience for the longest time.

---Meanwhile---

Baralai stepped one foot out of the shower onto the bathroom mat that lay on the green tiled floor. Steam escaped the stall with him, whizzing past his face like random pyre flies on the far plane. He watched as it disappeared quickly into his bedroom, for he had the door open. There was no need to keep it closed because he was there alone; in addition, it peeved him when the fog clung to the mirrors. His hair took on a kind of silvery tone when it was wet, and it was slicked back, appearing longer than it really was. With a towel around his waist, he walked into his bedroom, the wooden floor felt slippery and cold beneath his feet, causing goose bumps to form on his shoulders. Sliding the mirrored doors open to his closet, he stuck his head in searching for a shirt and pants to wear for the night.

After some time pondering his wardrobe, Baralai settled on a nice pair of steel gray khakis with a black muscle shirt. He reached under his bed and pulled out a pair of Bevelian loafers, the finest one could get and he sat on the bed, sliding them onto his feet. He walked back into the bathroom and reached for a black headband that hung on a hook next to every other colored headband he owned. Baralai fashioned the headband and grabbed his hairdryer; the air was hot against his neck as he went through the grueling ritual of creating his signature hairstyle: straight up, with hairs on the sides and flopping over the headband randomly. After giving his dome another quick mist of hairspray, he gave himself a look and walked out, turning out the light.

Baralai stood in the middle of his bedroom and surveyed the area, checking to see if he'd forgotten anything. He reached into his pocket and realized he didn't have his wallet; he spotted it across the room and grabbed it from his bedside table. Lying open beside it was the poem Rikku had written him. Baralai picked up the paper and smiled softly, remembering how good he felt when he first beheld it, like he really wasn't alone. They hadn't seen each other in the past few weeks and he decided tonight he was going over to her apartment to see if she'd like to accompany him for a drink. He'd figured he'd been recluse for long enough and was ready to go out, although he really didn't want to go solo. She had no idea he was coming and he hoped she'd be there and mostly, hoping she would go with him. Folding the poem up like a piece of origami, he put it in his pants pocket and left the bedroom; walking through the living room he exited the house to his black hover in the driveway.

---Djose, Rikku's place---

The apartment was bright and the radio was blasting as Rikku danced around, cleaning and dusting. It had been a long time since she actually stayed in her apartment and she figured it would be a great opportunity to pick up on the chores she had neglected for so long. She wore a white t-shirt that had the words 'Al-Bhed Angel' in blue glitter across her chest and a pair of beat up navy boxers. Her blonde hair was held at bay by a blue bandana tied up at the nape of her neck, some of her bangs poked out from beneath it haphazardly. Grabbing the broom from her kitchen closet, she proceeded to sweep the floor, but quickly taking the handle and morphing it into a guitar, pretending to play the solo that was blaring from the speakers.

Parking his hover in her parking lot, Baralai stepped out and glanced up at the building before him. He wasn't really sure which one was hers so he tried to see if the windows would reveal which one she occupied. Most of the apartments were dark, indicating the residents were either out for the night or sleeping. He prayed she wasn't in one of them, although his fears were ceased when he spotted the apartment on the third floor in the corner. The light was blinding, the shades were wide open and he saw the silhouette of a girl playing air guitar with a broom handle. He let out a hearty laugh and with the cold wind to his face; he strolled over to the apartment's entrance. The buzzers were black with a red light ring bordering them for night use. Pressing the buzzer that read 'Highwind', he waited for her to pick up her intercom.

Rikku was engrossed in her 'guitar solo' when the buzzer rang, causing her to jump up and scream. She ran over to the intercom and pushed the 'talk' button; eager to hear whom it was that was paying her a visit.

"Hello?" she spoke questionably into the intercom. "Probably some other tenant that forgot his key or something." She thought to herself as she spoke. She was quite surprised, however when the voice spoke, revealing Baralai as her visitor.

"Rikku? It's Baralai. Um…I was wondering if you'd accompany me to Luca tonight for a drink. We could go to that bar we were at a few weeks ago." He rambled, suddenly feeling nervous. Rikku grinned to herself as she pondered the invite.

"Mmm," she thought, scratching her head. "Sounds fun Baralai, here, come up I'll buzz you in." She pushed the button unlocking the door to the lobby and he walked up the carpeted stairs to the third floor. Rikku met up with him halfway in the hall and he blushed a bit at her outfit. Rikku didn't notice as she smiled at him warmly, wrapping her arms around him in a friendly hug.

"How have you been Baralai? It's been a while, huh?" she beamed. Entering her home, Baralai perused the apartment and back to Rikku.

"So, you like?" Rikku asked; her arms folded behind her as she wobbled back and forth. "Just doing some cleaning, hadn't done it in ages!" she exclaimed. She walked over to the stereo and lowered it down so they could talk in a normal tone. He nodded in approval at her question.

"Its really great Rikku, nice decorating. You have good taste." It seemed Baralai couldn't get rid of his 'ramblies'. He was never really comfortable talking to girls and Rikku was no exception to that rule. Rikku just giggled at his demeanor.

"Please sit down, take a beer." She said as he sat on her emerald couch. She went to the kitchen and snatched a bottle of beer out of the fridge, tossing it over to Baralai. Rikku headed to her bedroom, stopping in the doorway.

"I need to get a shower." She said, her head peeking out of the bedroom door. "I shouldn't take long, so make yourself at home. Oh, and change the CD if you want, I don't know if you like this or not." She referred to the song that played in the background as he sat there. Baralai drank his beer as he concentrated on the singer's words crooning from the speakers.

"I feel great.

I lied to save your feelings.

Truth convened, my head smashed through the ceiling.

I lost an arm, no one harmed, you diplomatically alarmed.

I sulked away to lick my thin skin.

I'm not over you. I'm not over you. I'm not over you."

As the song ended, Baralai wondered if Rikku related to it in any way. Maybe it was an inclination of how she felt about Gippal, he wasn't sure.

After a brief interlude, Rikku emerged from the sanctity of her bedroom and Baralai's jaw dropped to the floor. Rikku stood there in a pair of form fitting jeans with a white blouse that cut just below her chest. Her hair was tied back, her braids placed strategically amongst her head, a white headband helping to hold it all up. She wore an emerald choker and matching chandelier earrings that almost touched her neck. The soft scent of apples and pears squared the room and impregnated Baralai's nose. She looked at him funny and spoke, waving a hand to his vacant face.

"Hello…Baralai, you there?" She queried, snapping him out of his gaze. He turned a slight shade of pink, but fortunately Rikku couldn't tell because of his dark complexion.

"Sorry," He stammered, his gaze to the floor. "You look terrific. Shall we go?" Baralai extended his arm and she linked it with hers as they exited her apartment and headed for his hover. Sitting in the hover, Baralai started it up and Rikku looked over at him, whom she had to admit looked very handsome with the moon's light bouncing off his face.

"Are you sure you want to go here?" she asked as he drove. "I mean, what if that bouncer recognizes me and doesn't let me in?" Baralai answered her, the streetlights reflecting off the windshield as the scenery whizzed by.

"Don't worry about it." He assured her as they reached the club. "That was ages ago. And besides, you're not here to drown your sorrows. We're here to have a drink or two and enjoy our newly found single-dom." She laughed at the last word he spoke, her hands to her face as she did so.

"Is that even a word? I thought I was the only one who made them up." Rikku exclaimed. Baralai laughed nervously himself. He turned off the hover and exited the vehicle, walking over to her side opening the door for Rikku and helping her out.

"Yeah, that was pretty dense of me." He replied as he closed the door and they walked through the plaza to the club. Once again, the plaza was crowded with the bustling nightlife that took over the town for the night. They entered the club, it was busy as usual and hazy with smoke and deafened by loud music. The two sat at the bar and ordered their drinks, making themselves comfortable. Each with a glass in hand, they faced each other and smiled clinking them together as they did before.

"To having a good time tonight, my friend." Baralai said as they drank their drinks in a celebratory fashion. Rikku smiled and nodded in agreement, sipping her vodka and orange juice happily.

"You said it! It's about time, don't you think?" Rikku replied. The two put their glasses down and engaged in an inaudible conversation. Little did they know they had an audience; a couple which was sitting in a booth to the back of the club consisting of an Al-Bhed man and a short haired warrior woman. Both looked a little surprised at the sight before them.

"Hey, look who's here." Gippal said, pointing toward the bar. Paine nearly spilled her drink on herself seeing Baralai and Rikku talking and laughing. Curiosity was taking a hold of her and she looked at Gippal.

"Are they seeing each other?" Paine pondered, putting her drink to the table and staring at them nosily. Gippal shrugged, taking a swig of his own beer, fixated on them as well.

"This is just a little awkward." Gippal said as he watched them. They seemed to be the most interesting people on Spira right now, at least to the two sitting there surprised. "If we just stay here for a while, we'll soon find out. Now it just seems like they are just talking, nothing else." The two watched engrossed as Baralai and Rikku continued to talk, Rikku laughing and slapping Baralai's shoulder playfully. They seemed to be enjoying each other's company until a fast song came on and they saw Rikku fly off the barstool.

Feeling pretty good once again from the vodka and orange juice, she grabbed Baralai's arm and pulled him off his stool as well. He stood there awkwardly and pleaded with her to leave him sit this one out. She stuck out her tongue at him and smiled.

"Come on, don't be a shoopuf in the mud." She whined, dragging him out to the dance floor. She positioned herself in front of him, her back to his face as she put his hands on her hips. "Just move back and forth with me, feel the music!" They rocked side-to-side, Baralai growing extremely embarrassed at this point.

"But Rikku, I don't dance, I'm a praetor! What will people think?" He whined, not realizing they were still dancing. His face was already flushed because his hands were gripping the bare skin of her hips. Rikku glanced back at him and made another face.

"Who cares what people think, Baralai? First of all, they are all too drunk; second of all, you'll never see these people again, so no more whining. Just dance!" She rocked her hips faster to the beats and defeated, Baralai did too. The effects of the beers he had were kicking in and he began to finally enjoy himself. Gippal and Paine watched them in shock. Paine would have never guessed Baralai would even consider dancing. Well, she was having a hard enough time accepting the fact that he was even at the club, being as they never really went when they were dating.

The fast song ended and Baralai promptly removed his hands from her hips, the color was in no way leaving his face tonight that was for sure. A slow song came on and being more comfortable with that, he extended his hand to Rikku and bowed.

"Now, can we dance my way?" he asked as she took his hand. Rikku gripped his right shoulder with her left hand as her right hand melded effortlessly with his left. He in turn put his right arm around her waist, pulling her into him. It was her turn to blush now, but she dismissed it as the alcohol taking control. She did like the feeling of being in his arms though; they were tough, but docile at the same time. Still, she just convinced herself she missed being in anybody's arms after being single for so long. Looking over her shoulder she spotted their admirers who seemed to look puzzled and fixated on the two as they danced. Nonchalantly, she eyed Baralai.

"Seems we have an audience." Rikku giggled, pointing her eyes in their direction to the back of the bar. Baralai, drunk as he was, began to smirk devilishly.

"I got an idea." He said a grin widening. "Why don't we give them something to talk about?" he suggested. Rikku just looked at him quizzically. Without prior warning, Baralai leaned into Rikku's face and brushed his lips to hers, as if asking for permission to kiss her. At first, her eyes were wide as she stared at him in shock; his eyes were closed. His lips felt soft as silk, and so inviting. She closed her eyes as well and reciprocated the kiss, gripping onto him tighter. They didn't notice they stopped dancing to the music at this point, actually, they didn't even notice that other dancers were even watching them. The targets of their joke sat there with their jaws to the floor, unable to remove their eyes from what they were seeing, kind of like a car wreck.

"I guess that answers our question." Gippal said to Paine, growing increasingly uncomfortable. Paine too seemed a little uneasy watching and turned away. The two agreed they should leave, and as soon as possible. Paying their bill, the two made their way out of the club without Baralai and Rikku noticing. Not that they would anyway, being they were still lip locked at this point.

Rikku felt a tingling sensation shoot through her body as he kissed her. She couldn't believe she was kissing someone else after all this time, but it felt so good. He held her face in his hands at this point, and she could do nothing but go along with the ride, holding him closer to her.

Eventually, Rikku opened her eyes and looked over in the direction of the booth, noticing it was empty. She tried to break away from Baralai, but his hold on her was tight. She tapped his shoulder a few times, grunting frantically. He opened his eyes and looked at her, their lips separating quickly. Suddenly, his face went white and he began to fidget nervously.

"They're gone! I think we really got them with that." She said, feeling a little flighty from the kiss. Baralai looked at her remorsefully, sobering up quicker than he ever thought he could. She stared him up and down, confused by his composure and asked him what was wrong.

"I'm sorry…I shouldn't have done that. That was totally wrong. Please don't be mad." He pleaded, walking nervously back to the barstool and sitting down. Rikku came up behind him and shouted in his ear.

"It's ok. It was just for fun! Don't think anything of it." She assured, trying to help him to understand. Still, he was uncomfortable and asked her if they could leave as well. She agreed and he drove her home, a thicket of quietude grew in the hover as they reached her apartment. She climbed out of the car and stuck her head into the window.

"Call me sometime; we'll go out again ok? I had tons of fun!" she smiled, but nothing she could say was making him feel any better about what happened between them. He still couldn't believe he let himself be so daring and straightforward, especially toward Rikku. Did he like her? He wasn't sure. He just waved her off and headed home as quickly as he could. Even though it was a revenge tactic, he couldn't help but feel some disappointment that she thought that's all it was…just a prank. He in a way wished she felt like he did, which was something he himself couldn't even fathom.

Rikku plopped onto her bed, the blankets wrinkling underneath her as she burrowed underneath them. She couldn't stop thinking about that kiss. What did it mean? She knew she was going to have a hard time sleeping that night, but little did she know she wasn't the only one.

Song in italics: 'Not Over You' by R.E.M.