Wow! What a response I got for the last chapter. BTW, if you didn't know, I revised the last chapter slightly in the end; you may or may not tell the difference, I'm not sure.

--10/24/04: I have fixed this slightly not at the request of, but as a suggestion by Ikonopeiston. Thank you for that insight, if you read this again, I hope it sounds more like me. --

Chapter 15: Both Sides Now

--Djose, Gippal's---

They entered the dark apartment and Gippal tugged on the light's chain, brightening the living room. Paine passed him, walking into the bedroom quietly and grabbing clothes, she changed for bed. The drive home was the usual: quiet and awkward; it seemed every time they left that club it caused them to be disinclined to talk. As Paine climbed into the left side of the bed, she pondered the idea that maybe they shouldn't go there anymore. It just opened the chasm for grief she didn't want present in her life or his. Gippal entered the room moments later and walked over to his side of the bed where his dresser was. He pulled out a pair of boxers and a gray T-shirt. Putting them on, he then slipped into bed next to Paine.

"So are you going to tell me how you got that lovely bloody nose?" Paine asked. She was sitting up with her back to the headboard, her hands folded neatly in front of her. Shifting to his right side, he propped his elbow up and rested his chin on his right palm. The look on his face suggested a mixture of embarrassment and anger.

"Baralai punched me." Gippal snorted, placing his free hand to the bruise, flinching from the pain. Paine's face expressed extreme shock, unable to believe that Baralai would even do such a thing. She grew concerned, turning on her left side till she was parallel to him. She fondled the side of Gippal's face with her right hand mildly.

"Why did he do that? He didn't have any right to hurt you. What happened?" she demanded, her contempt for Baralai growing steadily. She waited for him to answer her, desperate to find out why someone who is usually so calm had the urge to punch her boyfriend like that. Gippal turned onto his back, staring at the ceiling as he tried to explain the events that occurred at the club.

"Remember when I went to Rikku's to drop off my set of keys?" he tested, his head rotated to face her and she nodded positively. He continued, gazing back up at the ceiling. "Well, she wasn't there when I arrived so I went inside to put the keys on her island."

"What does this have to do with anything? That was weeks ago." Paine interrupted, a little confused. Gippal arched his knees and stretched them back out, not averting his view of the overhead inside lining of the room all the while.

"I'm getting to that. Let me finish." Gippal insisted. She smacked him playfully for the remark and let him go on with his tale. "I noticed she put everything that was her and I into a bin, like she had decided to discard what we had. I guess I got upset that she could forget me so easily. I wanted proof of this, you know, that she didn't and tonight was an opportune time to test that theory. I also didn't believe that Rikku and Baralai had become a couple, especially so soon." He looked back over to Paine to insure that she was still listening because she seemed so quiet. Noticing her intent gaze on him, he stared upward once again, exhaling and proceeding with his story.

"Our favorite song came on and I asked her to dance, which she accepted. We went to the dance floor and I told her I still loved her, and I kissed her, trying to get her to admit she really did have feelings for me still. Turned out I was right, and I was also right about those two. They just pretended to be dating to try to get us jealous and break up with each other. Anyway, Rikku ran out and that's when Baralai came up and slugged me, demanding to know why she ran off." He breathed in again, his hands resting his head on the pillow. Paine growled and turned away from him, clutching the blankets and throwing them over her head angrily. Gippal sat up and moved over to her side, snatching her arm with his hand, his face to the side of hers as he spoke.

"Paine, what is it, did I say something wrong?" he pleaded, kissing her cheek gently. She rolled over; he was on top of her, his eye searching hers for a response.

"You kissed her?" she asked, offended. "Why did you need to know if she still loved you? Why did you have to prove that? What in Yevon is wrong with you, Gippal?" her questions were shot out like bullets from a machine gun, pummeling him incessantly. He wrapped his arms around her in a feeble attempt to quell her anger toward him. She didn't reciprocate, choosing instead to be a slab of concrete in his embrace. "Can't you believe Rikku and Baralai do care for each other? Are you that dense? Even I noticed and I was pounding the 'Black and Tan' pretty good. Where did you get that idea anyway?" Paine was really upset, she suddenly felt remorse for any hatred she had brewing for Baralai at the moment. Rikku did seem quite serious about her feelings for Baralai; at least Paine thought so, even if it wasn't true.

Gippal released Paine from his hold and slithered back over to his side of the bed. "She told me she still loved me!" He recoiled, his hands to the air in frustration. "If that's not reason enough, I don't know what other proof you need." Paine still glared at him, fury burning in her piercing red eyes.

"So? Baralai still has feelings for me, as I do for him! That doesn't mean I want him back. I chose you- you're enough. Obviously I'm not for you?" She wiped her eye as a tear emerged from it, trying to hide her hurt from Gippal. He noticed though and sat up, looking at her apologetically. He realized maybe she was right, and he touched his nose, feeling bad for what he said to Rikku.

"I didn't think of it that way, I'm sorry Paine." He said, curling his knees up to his chest, wrapping his arms around them. He nestled his chin to his knees and stared ahead to their dresser, not speaking for a few minutes. Paine sat up, put her arm around Gippal and kissed his cheek. He turned his head and kissed her back hard, his arms encircling her into him. The kiss ended and Gippal looked at her lovingly.

"I guess it has to be true, I mean, she didn't really kiss me back, and Baralai did seem pretty pissed about it. Maybe you're right. I guess they can have feelings for each other. That's the only way this all makes sense somewhat." He pointed to his face, emphasizing the damage to his nose. Paine maintained her firm stance on the issue, trying to convince him to let Rikku go for good.

"This is it, Gippal. We have to let whatever attachments we have to them go, otherwise we won't survive. If you want her back, you have to decide now. I won't sit here knowing I'm just second to you." She put her hands to his arms as he was still holding her. A smile spread on his face, looking at her softly.

"You're not second to anyone, I want you here. I don't know what came over me. E muja oui." (I love you). He breathed in her ear then grazing his lips to hers, he kissed her again. This time, he impelled Paine back against the pillows, his hands ran up and down the contours of her body, causing her breathing to become long and drawn out from the sensations they brought with them. Reaching over to the lamp with her right hand, she turned the switch and the room went dark. Before she could be swept away by any other intense emotion, she whispered one last thing in his ear.

"E muja oui duu" (I love you too)