6

"That was Rikku," Paine said to Baralai as she walked back into the room they were sitting in.

She had a confused expression her face as she sat down on the velvety feeling green love seat. Her eyes were narrowed in thought as she rested her chin on the palm of her hand. Baralai watched her for a few moments without speaking. Even though they had been living together for a few months she still wasn't very open.

Paine stared at the window, not really seeing beyond the glare of the glass. Something moved in the corner of her eye, causing her to turn her head. Baralai was sitting next to her silently on the small couch. He was staring at the floor in silence, biting in inside of his cheek as he thought about things unknown to Paine. He looked up at her slowly, shaking his head quickly to get a piece of hair from his eye.

"Paine," Baralai said quietly. She looked at him, her head tilted to the side slightly, "Why don't you tell me anything?" Paine shrugged, and started to turn. He grabbed her shoulder, keeping her from completely turning her back, "I'm serious."

"I don't like pouring my feelings and thoughts all over people," Paine said, jerking her shoulder to get Baralai's hand off it, "So don't ask, okay?"

His eyebrows furrowed, but he nodded, looking away from her. There was no expression on his face, not even a hurt one. Baralai was staring blankly at the floor when Paine turned to look at him. His eyes were narrowed slightly. He looked back at her for a moment, blinking slowly. He shrugged, sighing lightly. He stood, giving Paine a vaguely cold look.

"I'll be back later," Baralai said quietly as he turned on his heel towards the door.

Paine watched him for a moment, a small crease forming between her eyebrows. She stood, calling out, "Baralai, wait," He opened the door, causing her to walk after him, "Please."

The Praetor stopped, looking over his shoulder at her, his head tilted to the side slightly. She walked towards him, a slightly sad expression on her face. Paine stood before him, and leaned towards him, kissing him. He pulled away from her after a moment, a small smile lingering on his lips. Baralai nodded at her, running his fingers down her cheek.

"I'll be back soon," He said and left the room quickly.

Paine smiled to herself placing her hand in front of her lips. She walked back to the loveseat, spreading her arms across the back of it. She closed her eyes, leaning her head back. She chuckled under her breath. How did he put her into a good mood? She, sadly, didn't know the answer. It was almost like magic how he could turn her from the worst mood to the best one. It aggravated her how some guy could be the meaning of a good or bad day. It didn't seem fair in her case.

Paine sat there for a while, thoughts floating around in her head. She started to drift off; the mixture of the warm sunlight heating the room and her physical exhaustion was making her rather sleeping.

A light vibrating feeling came from her pocket, followed by the chiming of her cell phone, awaking her from her sleep that seemed to last a good time. The sun had moved positions so the sunlight came in at an angle. Long shadows from the window frames stretched across the floor.

The phone chimed again. She hesitated, then pulled it out of her pocket slowly, wondering if she really should answer it. Paine shrugged, flipping open the cell phone and placing it to her ear. She stayed silent for a moment.

"Hello?" She asked into the phone, her eyes still closed.

"Yeah, hi," Gippal's voice said in return, "He there?"

"Baralai?" Paine responded, "No, not that I know of."

The Al Bhed's slight chuckle sounded through the phone, "Good," His voice sounded rushed, distracted almost, "You need to update us on his well-being."

"I need to?" She asked, her eyes opening, "I think not," Her voice was cold and uncaring, "I don't need to do anything."

Gippal growled, saying something in Al Bhed that Paine didn't fully hear. Someone else picked up the phone. It was Nooj.

"Look, Paine," His voice said, "We need you tell us if he's doing anything…" Nooj's voice seemed to trail off, "Stupid," He sighed, "We just need to know if he's doing any better, ok?"

Paine frowned, "He's doing a lot better then when I got here, if that's any comfort," Her voice was still cold.

Nooj seemed slightly taken aback, "Paine, I'm not Gippal, would you might not biting my head off?" She didn't really, but she sounded like she was on the verge of doing so.

She chuckled, still in that cold manner, "Yes, but this whole spying shit was your idea, was it not?" She took in a sharp breath, "Speaking of which, I don't want to do this anymore."

"Woah, Paine, stop," Nooj said, surprised by her sudden lack of interest, "Where the fuck did you get spying out of this?"

"Am I paying attention to Baralai's actions?" She asked sharply.

"…Yes."

"Am I reporting to you what he's said, or what plans he doesn't have to you?" She asked in the same sharp tone.

"I suppose."

"Does Baralai know about any of this?"

"No, but I don't see-" Nooj started.

"Exactly, it's spying you little fuck," She growled, "Stop calling me, I'm not helping you with this shit anymore!"

"Paine! Wait!" Nooj said.

Paine was tempted to hang up the phone, but she didn't. She stared at it for a moment, and then placed it back to her ear. She stayed silent for a moment, causing Nooj to think she had hung up. He called her name again.

"What?" Paine asked.

"Look, we're doing this for the better," He said in a slightly desperate tone, "He seemed to be really unstable when we sent you to him; we weren't sure if he was doing better or what. Since you've been there he seems to be getting better."

"Exactly, so stop calling me," Paine said in a very final tone.

"Look, we just want to know if he'll continue this was or if he'll change if you leave him or something to that nature," Nooj said, "We need to know if he's going to not snap on us."

"I'm not leaving any time soon, so you needn't worry," She growled, "And I doubt he's going to snap on you guys or something."

"Good," Nooj said, "Just let us make sure and we'll call you maybe two more times."

"No," Paine replied, "I'm hanging up now; don't you dare fucking call back," She started to move the phone from her ear when she stopped, "Oh, do me a favor and tell Gippal that if he hurts Rikku, I'll personally castrate him."

Paine flipped the phone angrily, staring down at it. When she looked up, Baralai was staring at her with an odd expression on his face. It seemed to be a mixture of hurt, confusion, and anger.

……………………….

Nooj stared at the phone for a moment before putting it down on the hook. There was a small smile on his face, but Gippal couldn't tell if it was an amused and angry one. Gippal stared at him for a moment, deciding if he should ask what was said.

"What'd she say?" Gippal asked his voice slightly unsure.

Nooj stared at him for a moment before starting to chuckle. That must have been bursting into laughter in Nooj's book. He shook his head, his smiled widening. Gippal frowned, pushing the man.

"Come on," Gippal said, "What'd she tell you?"

Nooj was still smiling, "She said that if you hurt Rikku, she'll castrate you personally."

The Al Bhed looked down at his crotch for a moment before looking back up at Nooj, "Vilg…" Gippal mumbled, causing Nooj's laughter to increase.

………………………………..

"Who was that?" Baralai asked, letting his hand drop from behind his back.

He was holding a small bouquet of flowers. He got them almost every time he went out without Paine; it was almost like an apology for leaving. Paine looked up from them to his face. His eyes had narrowed, his eyebrows knitting.

"Nooj," Paine replied, trying not to sound guilty or frail.

"Why?" He asked.

Normally the Praetor wasn't this inquisitive about the phone calls she had gotten. By this time, Paine had figured he had overheard her side of the conversation. Paine frowned, looking away from him for a moment. She looked back at him though, not wanting to seem like she was sinking down in front of his glare.

"He was checking up on us," Paine replied coolly.

"Why?" Baralai asked again, "It's not like he's done it before," His eyes narrowed, "Or has he?"

Baralai already knew the answer, they both knew that. Paine looked at the floor again, keeping her lips tightly sealed. The praetor walked towards her, squatting down in front of her. He looked up at her, giving her a look that was kind and loving.

"Paine…" He said quietly, "I'd really like to know if he's done this before."

She hesitated, but replied, "Once a week he's called, asking me if you've done anything weird," Paine said finally, her voice sounded fragile and desperate. It was odd for her to speak with such and unsure tone, "I've practically been spying on you."

Baralai nodded, standing. He tossed the flowers onto her lap and turned. He crossed his arms in front of his chest, biting the inside of his cheek in thought. His eyes narrowed as he stared at the wall before him. The praetor turned, staring down at Paine with his arms still crossed.

"So, you find anything 'weird'," Baralai asked, his voice uncharacteristically cold and angry.

Paine shook her head, "No."

"I didn't think so," He replied, walking to the windows. He turned, looking back at Paine, "How long have you been supposedly 'spying' on me as you put it?"

"Since I first got here," She said, her voice had gained its regular strength again.

Baralai's expression turned from anger to hurt. He shook his head, running his fingers through his hair. He shook his head again, looking back up at Paine. He walked backwards to a chair and sat. He continued to stare at her until she looked away. He spoke, yet slowly.

"So… you didn't stay here because you liked my company?" Baralai asked, leaning his head against the palm of his hand, "You stayed here because Gippal and Nooj told you to?"

Paine hesitated, but ended up shaking her head. She looked back up at Baralai, shaking her head again. She stood, walking over to him. She kneeled down in front of him, looking up at his face. She gave him a comforting smile, but Baralai ending up looking away from her. She moved to touch his cheek, but he moved.

"Baralai," Paine said in a calm, quiet voice, "Had I have kissed you if I was only staying because I was told to?" His eyebrows furrowed, but he said nothing in reply. She continued, "Not to mention that I just told Nooj to fuck off," A small smiled played on Baralai's lips, "I'm sorry, Baralai."

Baralai looked back at Paine. He was a rather forgiving person, it was in his nature. He smiled at her, and stood, pulling Paine to her feet as he did. He hugged her tightly, not letting her go for a few minutes. She smiled, wrapping her arms around him as she closed her eyes, leaning her head on his shoulder.

"Just don't pull something like that again…" He whispered, "Please…"

He forgave Paine surprisingly quickly. Forgiving the other two, though, wouldn't be as easy. Baralai felt that the must be taught some sort of lesson. The two of them had sunk rather low on that one, even if they were worried about him.

((Author's note: Wow, I made it sound like she was having an affair with Nooj and/or Gippal. XD Silly me. And WOAH MY GOD! FORESHADOWING! O.O))