A/N: First, I want to thank all of you who are reading and reviewing my fic, I hardly feel worthy of such praise and kindness. Anyway, I'm really sorry if I'm puzzling any of you. It was my intent to keep you guessing on purpose, now as I'm advancing I fear I'm doing it accidentally and I'm not sure how to stop it. I promise I will try to be more clear in the upcoming chapters, please hang on!
Chapter 13: It's Goin' Down
The evening fell harder than Vegnagun's head in the final battle; the sky was a mine luminous with untouched diamonds, but clouds were creeping in slowly like an ore hunter's pickaxe ready to remove the luster it beheld. The Kilikans were settling for the night, eager to get an early start on the next morning. Their lights were extinguished and houses turned black and lifeless. The only house with lights still on was Baralai's as he readied himself for his 'date' with Rikku.
His shirt was a shiny silver one, clinging to Baralai's broad frame effortlessly. He was a big man, muscles shaped his shoulders and his arms were thick. He was able to consume more since his stint with the crimson squad and his possession by Shuyin, thus adding more meat and substance to his once gaunt figure. Baralai liked this new physique and maintained it to the best of his ability daily, treating it like a temple fit for an aeon to exist in. He slipped on his charcoal dress pants and favorite pair of black Bevelian loafers. Directing his attention to his closet mirror, he looked himself over, satisfied with the appearance before him.
Baralai shut the bedroom door and turned off all the lights in the living room and kitchen before exiting the house. He locked the front door and slid into his black hover, the leather seats felt cold against his pants as he started it up. Pulling out of his driveway, he headed for the docks to the ferry that would take him to Luca. From there he could hop on the Mi'hen to get to Djose where Rikku lived. It was ten to eight and he had time to spare.
Even though this was all a ruse for Paine and Gippal, he still felt nervous as he headed closer in proximity to Rikku's apartment. "This is ridiculous." He mused to himself as the landscape of the Mi'hen blurred by him inconspicuously. "I've spent numerous times with Rikku and yet I'm wondering if I'm going to bore her. This is not like me." He slapped himself mentally and blamed his mindless thoughts on the lack of sleep in the last few days. Driving on, his ponderings kept silent for a moment, he drifted subconsciously into a different train of thought. "She's so pretty when she smiles, Gippal better not upset her tonight or he's done." Snapping out of that dimension he shook his head in a futile effort to rid himself of such impurities. "Must stop that. Rikku's my friend, nothing more."
Baralai was relieved to see her apartment building before him and he gratefully parked the hover, heading for the entrance to her building. As he was to ascend the staircase to her floor she flew out of the double doors and extended her arms in triumph. "Look! I'm early! Ta da!" she exclaimed, the smile spread wide on her face, eyes sparkling like emeralds rich with beryl minerals in their purest form. She wore a simple black t shirt with blue jeans, the nape of the neck plunged into her chest enhancing her minimal cleavage, making it seem like there was more there than there actually was. Rikku's hair was totally down, straight with not a single braid in sight. When it was free, it reached her waist and it appeared to be as soft as silk. He couldn't move. He was in awe of her beauty.
She too stopped dead in her tracks when she in turn got a really nice view of Baralai; he looked so distinguished. The two stood with respectful fear of each other, creating a pregnant pause and seemingly ceasing the world all together. It wasn't until another tenant rang a buzzer that they were released from their trance. Rikku put her head down and folded her arms behind her, blushing pinker than the roses that nestled in the bushes surrounding the stairs they occupied. Baralai was embarrassed as well; he looked the other way and tittered uneasily. Rikku then took the initiative and grabbed his arm, spinning him around in the direction of his vehicle.
"C'mon," she said hurriedly. "We should be going- we don't want to keep our audience waiting!" With little effort she pulled him across the parking lot to the passenger side of the hover and he let her in, opening the door for her. She planted herself in the comfy seat, staring up at Baralai who seemed to be cemented to the spot, his eyes fixed on her face and a smile to his lips. She brandished her hand in front of him, trying to liberate him from of his gaze. "Baralai! Spira to Baralai!" she snapped her finger knocking him out of his state of absorption and his face burned with embarrassment. His brow wrinkled as he bit his lower lip apprehensively.
"S...Sorry" he stammered, putting a hand to his face, trying to hide his shame. "It's just you look so beautiful tonight." He admitted. Rikku gave him a favorable glance, smiling softly.
"Thank you, Baralai. You are quite the looker yourself." She agreed, as he walked around to the driver's side and sat down, starting the hover and speeding toward Luca.
They used to be able to talk to each other freely in the last few days, but this hover ride was quieter than the Macalania Woods that time the musicians joined YRP on the Celsius. Rikku sat in her seat, her arms folded in front of her and she nibbled on her lip in a restless fashion. Every so often she'd sneak a peek at Baralai as he drove, his eyes content on the road before him, the area outside looked like a mixture of a children's finger paints, swirled together in a haphazard manner. She found that his features were mesmerizing. She'd never noticed before how really handsome he was, his skin reminded her of her most favorite drink in the world-Coffee. "Not just any coffee, the smoothest you can get in Djose." She said aloud, dreamily. Baralai turned to his right, raising a brow to her in wonder.
"What's this about coffee, Rikku?" Baralai asked, his look resembling a chocobo caught in the headlights. She covered her face in shock that she said that out loud and emitted an audible expression of discomfort.
"Oh...nothing. You know my love for coffee, heh heh. Just thinking about it, that's all." She replied sighing heavily and turning to look out the window in hopes anything outside the vehicle would catch her eye. "Can't believe I said that. Bad girl." Rikku thought to herself, shaking her head in self-loathing.
Eventually, the long drive ceased and the two made it to Luca. Parking the hover Baralai stepped out first and opened the door for Rikku. He reached his hand to help her out; she slid her small hand in his and he pulled her to him, but his retraction was too hard and she crashed into his chest. In an effort to keep her from falling backwards from the impact, he circled his right arm around her back, pressing her closer to him. They stood there for a moment, eyes once again locked on each other; breathing became deeper and hearts pounded louder than the drums at one of Yuna's concerts.
"Thanks...you can let me go now." Rikku breathed as she retreated away from him and leaned against the hover. "What do you say we go? Are you ready, 'boyfriend?'" She extended her hand and he clasped it tight as they walked to the Club. He didn't even notice she could barely walk, her knees went weak being so close to him and his cologne clouded her senses. She thanked Spira for his ignorance of the awkward moment; at that time, he turned to her and grinned.
"Yes, I'm ready, 'girlfriend' let's make them want us back." He replied as they strolled, anxious to see the reactions on their 'friends' faces when they meet them.