Chapter 16: I'll Take the Rain
The bedroom was softly lit only by the streetlights outside since the moon was covered in a blanket of clouds. The rain continued to come down heavily, beating against the windows by force of the wind. Lightning lit up the sky sporadically, like a fireworks display from 'Spira Independence Day's' passed. He sat in the dark, switching his sight from the paintings that hung on her bedroom walls to Rikku herself as she fought back tears trying to escape her evening by attempting to sleep.
After about an hour of muffled sobs and sniffles, Rikku finally gave into sleep's charms. Her breathing became relaxed and calm, no more was she gasping for air from crying. Baralai hadn't left the spot he sat in for that time, continuing to run his hand gently up and down her arm in an attempt to soothe her. The bed had absorbed most of the water that he brought in with him from outside; it was damp and cold underneath him, but he didn't mind. He wasn't about to leave Rikku alone until he was certain she was out for the count.
He watched her sleep silently, an appearance of serenity adorning her features. Her hair was spread out behind her on the other set of pillows, still slightly wet from the rain as well. Her hands were clasped together as if in prayer, tucked neatly under her chin. He smiled when he heard a couple of snorts emit from her indicating she was in some other place, hopefully a happy one. It had been a rough night for Rikku; one that Baralai promised to himself that she would never have to experience ever again.
Baralai flashed back to the club, remembering the rage he felt when he saw her running away with tears in her eyes as Gippal stood there laughing at her callously. He wondered how someone who once loved this woman with all his heart could treat her so poorly. The way he acted tonight was contrasted from the way he spoke about her during their squad days; marveling at how beautiful and full of life she was, and how he couldn't wait to spend the rest of his life with her. In a way it made Baralai jealous, because at the time he hadn't realized his own love for Paine until much later and he also wondered at the time if he'd ever find anyone who resembled what Gippal described as the 'best thing going on in his life'.
"He never deserved her." He thought to himself as he examined his right hand, which was throbbing from the impact it had to Gippal's face. There was a minimal amount of blood on it; the rain had taken care to wash most of it off. He cringed slightly from the pain that shot through him, although he recalled it didn't seem to hurt when he was practically feeling Rikku up about an hour ago. He blushed at that thought, and rather relieved he'd stopped when he did. Baralai didn't know if it was just plain dejection or really what she wanted when she advanced on him so suddenly. He wasn't even sure how he felt about her; he wasn't about to try to read her mind at that point. Still, the more he thought about the events that transpired, he couldn't help but think maybe the way he felt for her was more than he was really letting on.
Before they reached the club, Baralai went through many 'scenarios' with Paine in his head. He'd had an idea of what he'd say to her to try to convince her that she was missing a lot by not being with him anymore, yet, when it came time for him to step to the mound and pitch his excuses, he fell short of words. He really didn't feel the need to plead his case. He silently realized he would always love Paine but she wasn't what he was striving for any longer. This bubbly blonde haired woman who had shut her life off to help him move on slowly consumed his thoughts, making him want to know more about her, what she was feeling, how she was doing, what made her tick. When Gippal said those horrible things to her it triggered something in Baralai's head that said 'no one hurts Rikku and gets away with it', thus forcing him to almost black out and lunge at him in retaliation for her. He beat up his old friend. How could he have done that? It was at that point Baralai glanced back over to the sleeping woman before him and realized it truly for the first time.
He was in love with her.
"I am. I'm in love with Rikku." Baralai said to himself, unable to control the smile that washed over his face. He wanted to wake her up right there and tell her but he became afraid. Afraid that maybe she didn't share his feelings. They did agree that love was something they wouldn't try for any longer and she might be angry with him for trying to go back on that promise. "I should go. It's not a good idea that I stay here." He thought, launching himself off the bed. Rikku stirred a little bit, but turned around to sleep in the other direction, unaware that he had moved. He sighed relieved and turning around, he left her bedroom and headed for the front door. Getting into his hover, he sped off toward Luca so he could catch the early ferry back to Kilika.
As he drove, he slapped himself mentally for not waking her up at that moment to tell her, but he was happy enough that he had finally had the chance to console her. She finally needed him for a change, and he didn't want to take advantage of that. She never did when he was down, so why should it be different for him? He decided that the time they had then was enough for now. It was either their moment in the rain or one he could possibly live to regret if she didn't feel the way he did. "I'll take the rain." He answered himself confidently. Tomorrow was another day and there was no use rushing into anything. "Yeah, tomorrow is the day I'll tell her."