Final Deviation chapter 2

No Means Yes

Paine's POV

Myself and Rikku enter the cabin to find Yuna at the bar with Barkeep.

"Hey!" She smiles happily at both me and Rikku, and Rikku bolts up to her cousin, engulfing her in a hug. I roll my eyes, as my usual sign of acknowledgement and sit down with a glass of water Barkeep hands me. I thank him and sit down with my drink, awaiting my usual order from Barkeep.

Rikku, shortly after, was sitting next to me, clinging to her arm in an unusual manner. So I send her one of her famous looks and Rikku grins, causing me to become suspicious.

"Paine, there's a favour I wanted to ask you…" Rikku looked back at Yuna and she nodded Rikku onwards. I look up to try and read Yuna's eyes, but to no avail, she wasn't going to give away anything.

"What?" My monotone voice sounds a little shaky, a bit like the way my hands are shaking. The accent comes back as the language of Al Bhed flows from her lips once more.

"E geht uv fyhd oui du pa sa kenmvneaht." Rikku looked pleadingly into my eyes and visibly flinches when I stand up, knocking the glass over, shaking my head violently.

"Hu, hu qyo! Hu Rikku!"I respond immediately, as Yuna watches on unknowingly. Yuna you see doesn't know a word of Al Bhed.

"She said no, no way." Rikku explains to her. "Paine, all you'd have to do is hug me, and give me a kiss on the cheek from time to time. I swear that's it! I don't want Gippal trying it on with me anymore. Please Paine."

"Why me, why not Yuna? Or Buddy or something?" Why me? It's like they're backing me into a corner, just because I'd scare him.

"Buddy is like a brother to me, and Yuna's my cousin, and Shinra's just a kid. Paine, Gippal wouldn't go near me if he thought we were dating. He knows you'd kill him! Please Paine! No-one will laugh, ok, I promise or I'll kill them!" Rikku's almost hysterical as she begs, and somehow I felt my mind weaken. Maybe it was just to help out a friend, but I knew it was something tugging at me inside.

"Alright, but if anyone laughs…" I point out to Rikku purposefully, and she stands up, taking my arm and leading me back towards the deck. Confusion clouds my mind as we arrive up there. "What are we doing up here?"

"Paine, if Gippal's to believe that we're a real thing, it means you and…well, it means we have to kiss." My eyes widen in shock. I panic, looking around me. Rikku holds my hands so I calm down. This is my friend though, why would I kiss her? "If you can do it out here, you can do it in front of Gippal."

I watch her close her eyes and I tell myself it's purely for our friendship. I let her hands go, put my hands either side of her waist and before I know it, I'm kissing her. The kiss is light, until she deepens it, only so it will be more convincing.

"See, how hard was that? Oh, and Painey, we're going to have to share a bed, and you're going to have to be more protective of me in front of Gippal." I nodded nervously and panic again. She hugs me as she did this morning to assure me we are still friends, and I guess that she appreciates it. We both head for the bridge, and await the entrance of Gippal onto the ship.

Both Rikku and I look at each other as he enters, a bit like a signal to say its all go. I move slightly closer, a little more comfortable now that I know the crew is in on the whole idea, as Gippal begins to walk over. Gippal smiles at Rikku, and I shoot him a hard look.

"Whoa! What's up with Ice-Maiden there?" He questions, as he approaches Rikku.

"She's just a little over-protective." Rikku smiles and Gippal smiles back; warm smiles I note. I walk past him and into the elevator, looking pissed off, and Rikku runs to catch the elevator. I can only just hear a small part of the conversation before the lift begins:

"Paine, wait!" Rikku's voice sounds pained, no pun intended.

"Rikku, why are you so worried about her? She'll get over the fact that we have something she could never have." This, I know Rikku was expecting.

"She's my girlfriend! Of course I'm worried about her!" This would have Gippal gawping, and I laugh to myself, before hearing those words that'll make this harder to convince him with. "We love each other!"

Now I have to act all lovey-dovey?

I don't think that was part of the deal from where I was sitting. Her respect points just went down to 40.

Al Bhed Translations---------------------

I kind of want you to pretend to be my girlfriend – E geht uv fyhd oui du pa sa kenmvneaht.

No, no way! No Rikku! – Hu, hu fyo! Hu Rikku!

Thanks to all my lovely reviewers. :D Well, all three so far. Lol. Neways, enjoy this. I know it's a lil fast and ridiculous, but hey, what the heck! Final Fantasy is just that, a fantasy world. Neways, enjoy. ;)

Xxxxx Laney D. xxxxX