Words left unspoken

I'm back! Thank you all for the reviews! I feel so happy I have plenty written up ready to post after this one so hope you'll enjoy it. It gets pretty weird later on and they will be a bit out of character at times but I have a reason. In the game you don't see Gippal too much, you see him with Rikku all laid back and you see him more serious in the Crimson Squad and farplane. So he may be a bit more serious at times cause that's just how I'd think his character would react in that situation. But don't worry his cocky attitude will shine through even then Anyway hope you enjoy! This chapter and the next one are a personal favourite so far.

Quick note to iridescentwings: sorry it makes it more gamish but I have no better way of having then fight. They will only use them during big fights though and maybe to heal but that's it. Promise.

Rescue

I remember that day you'd needed me there to protect you. I felt so special to be able to rescue you from death's grip, I didn't even care about what it cost me. But you were seven then, and already strong. Just not strong enough to go up against that Zuu. Then again neither was I, it was luck I had that powerful grenade with me. But I guess luck had known I needed to feel important. I needed that alpha male thing, knowing I would protect my girl no matter what.

But after that day your strength began showing itself, you didn't need me to fight fiends away anymore. You were far better than I could be in a fight, I found myself being rescued by you instead of the other way round. And part of me didn't like it. That male ego part didn't want you to be independent, obviously. It wanted you to rely on me, to reassure myself that you would always need me there.

I was glad that you could defend yourself, that you had a chance to prove what our people could do. But then I began to realise you would leave me one day. You would want to be independent and have fun with different people. I was scared of that day, scared when you would leave me for the world of adventure. I wanted you to stay with me.

And then it began, you would talk about the missions to capture summoners, talk about the salvaging. You hinted so often you wanted to go that I knew it would come. But never did you hint you wanted me to come as well. You needed the adventure alone. It was something you needed to do, to be able to be strong and not hide the whole of your strength just to make me feel better. That's when I began to lose you, that's when I knew I had to leave first.

At first I wasn't going to break up with you. I was going to join the crusaders and travel Spira, I was going to write letters to you and tell you the adventure. I would write and you would write back telling me of your adventure. Then when we were tired of the thrilling life and ready to settle down we could meet up again and be like we were before. Except maybe we'd be closer because we wouldn't feel the other was holding us back anymore. That was the plan.

That's why I don't make plans anymore, they suck. I act on the moment because at least then you can't be disappointed with what lies ahead. If I'd done it back then I wouldn't of cared that I wasn't 'eligible' for the Crusaders. I wouldn't have cared what your father said to me that night. We would still be possible.

I act on the moment now, but its already too late. I've lost the thing I wanted the most, what I needed to make me complete. Now I am destined to be half a person due to trying to be grown up. So what if I act immature? I'm not planning ahead anymore, I might end up losing you completely. I can't go through that again. Not anymore.

"I'm fine Baralai, really." Paine insisted. She found herself in one of the tents at the village, panicked people were outside wondering what the mahina was doing here. Paine sighed and gazed over at Yuna and Tidus on a bed nearby. Even though Tidus had been badly hurt he'd carried his lover here, showing just how much he really cared for her. She didn't know where Rikku was though and she was worried. "I have to go fight, Rikku can't do it alone."

"You're not going anywhere in your condition. That thing really hit you hard." Baralai said firmly his voice full of concern. "Rikku will be fine, you told me once she has her own machine."

"Yeah I guess, but alone…"

"You can't do anything Paine. At least she's led it away from the village while they call for Youth League forces."

"You're right." She said in defeat. "Maybe it isn't even after Rikku anyway."

"You mean the scan it did?" Baralai asked thinking hard about it. "It seems it targeted you and me. As soon as it identified you as a potential target it struck, it would have done the same with me if High Summoner Yuna and Rikku hadn't come." He looked over towards the two unconscious heroes. "I guess they were a target too."

"I can understand you and Yuna, but why me and Tidus?"

"I don't know, I just hope we can find it out before whoever's doing this manages to finish their task."

"Cen! Dra machina ec avvaldehk dra creb! fa haat du myh yfyo vnus ed!" (Sir! The machina is effecting the ship! we need to land away from it!) The pilot called. Gippal cursed now dressed ready for battle. He needed to get down there, he was pretty certain that machina running from it was Rikku's special dress sphere.

"Ugyo! Pid tnub sa uvv vencd icehk dra fenac! Dryd bancuh haatc ramb!" (Okay! But drop me off first using the wires! That person needs help!) He could tell they were considering telling him how crazy that was but once he showed his serious look they shrugged and complied. They knew who was down there and knew he wouldn't let it go.

Gippal took in a deep breath readying himself. Living life for the moment had brought him here. Hopefully this time he wouldn't screw it up and get them both killed.

Rikku yelled out in pain as the fourth thunder spell coursed through her machina. She quickly changed to her thief outfit needing to escape the pain of the thunder. Now she was helpless in front of the large machina and she could only try and stop tears of pain. One of the arms began to lift up slowly, obviously enjoying the moment, making her suffer more than necessary. She glared at it with defiance as it began to lower its arm…

The machina had suddenly turned its powerful arm from and turned to scan the sky. Rikku looked up to see the largest, most powerful ship she'd ever gazed upon. A thick wire he been fired and had penetrated into the sand near to her. She grinned and climbed to her feet as she saw someone sliding down. She tossed a Hi potion to herself and started dancing on the spot again as the person reached the safety of the sand. Well…not that the location was very safe.

"Lusa du zueh dra vih?" (Come to join the fun?) She asked the Al Bhed, he just nodded at her and took a place beside her. He wore one of the underwater suits which covered his face with a mask. Rikku wasn't sure but the way he stood looked kinda familiar…

Her thoughts were interrupted when she heard the familiar sound that was the machina beginning a scan on the new Al Bhed beside her.

"Fa haat du pnayg drnuikr dra ynsuin!" (We need to break through the armour!) She told him, he nodded silently and placed one hand on his hip while dipping around in his pocket for something. He seemed so familiar.

The boy threw something at the machina and it was blinded in light, she had no idea what it was. But when she put her arms down that had been shielding her eyes she could see a slightly weaker area in the armour. She grinned and struck out with her daggers and saw that it had actually effected the thing.

"Frah drec ec ujan naseht sa du gecc oui!" (When this is over remind me to kiss you!) She yelled as she watched him take another one of those grenade things out and use it again. She giggled happily spinning about when she saw another part of the armour weaken.

"Iden…identified, Gippal. Leader of Machine Faction. Primary target!" Rikku gasped and gazed at the Al Bhed beside her. She should have known! His hip action, the cocky stance…

"Drana kuac dryd bmyh." (There goes that plan.) Gippal muttered quickly changing to his normal Alchemist outfit and producing his enormous gun. He shot at the machina and watched with satisfaction as it sank to the ground slightly. Rikku growled in annoyance before finishing the machina off with her daggers. Why him? Why did it have to be him! She watched the machina shut down on the floor and was about to move to begin disassembling it when she felt someone grab her arm.

"Tu e kad dryd gecc huf?" (Do I get that kiss now?) he asked with a cocky grin on his tired face. Rikku glared at him and then gave him something he wouldn't have expected, although not as nice as a kiss. Well, certainly not in his opinion anyway.

"What happened?" The man yelled in disbelief, his voice echoing through the forest. "How did those rats hurt you?" He growled at the screen showing a young Al Bhed girl kick her rescuer in the…the man winced visibly. If the man hadn't hated Gippal he would have felt sorry for him. As it was though…

"Do you really think you can win that easily?" He yelled at the image while taking his remote device and fiddling about with it. "I am not that easily defeated boy, it's time you remembered that."

Tidus woke with a groan and an aching feeling running through his entire body. What the hell had hit him? Then he suddenly remembered.

"Yuna!" He called sitting up way too quickly. Praetor Baralai was instantly beside him.

"Don't worry she's fine. Take it slowly okay?"

"What about that machina?" Tidus asked while rubbing his sore head.

"Well I saw an airship land near to here not so long ago, I think it's Gippal's men because they were Al Bhed. They were headed towards the beach…" He was interrupted by a cry outside, followed by a lot of Al Bheds speaking. Why hadn't he learnt Al Bhed when he had the chance? He glanced at Paine to see the sleeping potion he'd given her still in effect.

"I'm a bit rusty," Tidus began. "But I think they said something about a barrier over the beach."

"Well…that can't be good." The young praetor said with a sigh. The tent flap opened and Nooj came shuffling in followed by LeBlanc.

"I finally found one that spoke common." He muttered, obviously not in a good mood. "Apparently Rikku is on that beach, along with Gippal. And the machina they just defeated has restarted itself."

"Tyssed Rikku!" (Dammit Rikku) Gippal groaned behind her as she allowed a smile to cross her features. Maybe she had gone a bit far, but he did tease her a lot. She distracted herself from his whines by changing the dress spheres in her garment grid. White Mage, Alchemist, Black Mage, Dark Knight, Thief and Berserker. She didn't want to be unprepared again.

"Canjac oui nekrd vun paehk cilr y banjand!" (Serves you right for being such a pervert!) She said swinging around and sticking her tongue out. Apparently Gippal had finally recovered because he stood upright again, hand on hip, looking pretty tired and angry. Rikku giggled nervously. He quickly grabbed her wrists tightly and came in inch away from her face. She could feel his soft breath against her mouth and she swallowed.

"Oui uvvanat." (You offered) He said with a smirk before letting her go and walking in a circle around the fallen machina. "Dryd fyc aycean dryh E druikrd ed fuimt pa." (That was easier than I thought it would be) He commented before trying to remove the weakened armour from the front. Rikku didn't bother helping.

"What do you mean easier!" She yelled in common. "That thing took out Paine, Yunie and Tidus with one swoop for each! It damaged my machina! How was that easy?" Her face was red with anger and Gippal smirked at her reaction.

"I'm just saying that I doubt we hit the core of the thing. It seems doubtful it malfunctioned just because of couple of hits." His cocky attitude fell for a moment as he checked her over. "You okay? You seem pretty shaky." Rikku just stamped her foot and turned away from him. She wasn't about to let him know how badly the thunder attacks had hurt and scared her.

"Where did this thing come from anyway! Can't you ever keep your machina under control!" Gippal frowned at her then moving away from the said machina and closer to her. His height was very intimidating.

"It's not from the Machine Faction." He said coldly. "We just got a report it was headed here and I figured you might need backup."

"I don't need your help thank you very much!" Rikku spat out, why did he make her so angry? "I helped defeat Sin and Vegnagun when you would have died."

"True, but I was better prepared for this." He said, cocky grin back as he tossed one of the grenades to her. She caught it expertly and examined it with a frown. "It's a powerful grenade mixed together with the armour break ability. Pretty useful for strong machina." Riku just grunted and pocketed the grenade. She was beginning to feel slightly guilty for her…quick action before.

"I didn't even get to use my new sphere thing." He said catching a glowing sphere. Rikku rolled her eyes. She wasn't in a good mood. She was scared, hurt, angry and very very embarrassed by being rescued by him!

"This isn't a game Gippal! The calm should have finally come and now this is happening! It's not fair!" She said stamping her foot madly.

"Yeah I know, but at least…" He was interrupted by the sound of machina moving about behind him. He turned round and saw the machina waving arms about as if nothing had even damaged it before. "Cred." (naughty word) He moaned. "E ghaf ed fyc duu ayco." (I knew it was too easy) Rikku just mumbled under her breath while tossing herself a potion before readying her daggers.

"You're going down!" She yelled happily while running and slashing at the thing. This was the adventure she needed! Just as long as Yuna and Paine didn't have to be dragged unwillingly into it.