Ok, Sea monkeys! The past 5 days have sucked for me. I think I have a case of the flu. Which means I have only been able to eat soda-crackers and soup. No cookies... (pathetic frown). That is the reason I have not posted or even been able to work on this chapter. So I'm sorry if this took too long for those of you craving updates! Hehe.
So, let us find out who had to break the door! Could it be Cid? Or Brother, maybe? But how could they find out about Rikku and Gippal being together? And what about Rikku's breakfast?! (Before you ask, breakfast is my favorite meal of the day. And I love bacon. Pancakes are wonderful with real maple syrup, and the bacon gets all smothered in it, and buttermilk biscuits with jam...) Ok, story time, tagg, not that you could eat any of that right now anyways... that is such a sad thought. Me not being able to eat... (sighs) Here we go!
I don't own FFX-2, but if I did, I would have a private chef only to make me yummy breakfast food!
Chapter 9: The Breakfast Blues
The second the door burst open, Gippal pushed Rikku behind him. She was about to tell him that she could fight just as well as he could when she remembered that she was unarmed and wearing a dress. Elizza would be so upset if something happened to her dress. Actually, she would be more upset about her being in a fight than about the dress getting ruined. Then she realized that Gippal was being protective of her. This thought completely changed her mood. No one had ever felt the need to protect her because she could defend herself. Anyone that knew her knew that.
A warm fuzzy feeling filled her, and she stepped closer to Gippal, putting a hand on his back. She even went so far as to lean her head against him. The fact that he had not launched into action, coupled with her feeling the muscles in his back relax, let her know there was nothing to really worry about. She lifted her head when Gippal started talking.
"What the hell are you doing, breaking the door, and the frame, I might add. I'm going to have to pay for that." Rikku heard heavy breathing from the direction of the door, and peeked around his shoulder to see who it was. She frowned at who her eyes found. It was Plaazt. He was soaking, ringing wet and bent over double, hands on his knees. He said something unintelligible, and shook his head. She came out from behind Gippal, still frowning.
Plaazt looked up at her movement. He certainly looked like he felt guilty about the door. He also looked a little scared for some reason. Damn right he should be scared! Man I'm going to throttle him! Rikku kept up this train of thought silently, because Gippal had given her a 'look' that said not to berate the man yet. She held onto the 'not yet' part, waiting to hear some kind of explanation.
Plaazt had finally caught his breath somewhat. "Sorry, Gippal, but I was down at the docks and Cid's coming here! I ran as fast as I could to get here before he did..."
"Why would he be worried about Pop coming here?" Rikku asked, biting down the urge to hit the man over the head.
"Because he's pissed. Somehow he found out you stayed here, Rikku...you didn't see the look on his face. I haven't seen him this upset since you mother passed away." Rikku was taken aback. How Cid had found out she slept here last night was beyond her. She turned to Gippal, grabbing his arm. He looked down at her curiously.
"Gippal, Pop nearly went crazy when Mom died..." She was starting to get a bad feeling in the pit of her stomach. Cid could be very dangerous. "He might try to hurt you!" Gippal chuckled at her, covering her hand with his own.
"I think I can handle Cid, Rikku." he said. She did not look reassured. "It's not like anything happened."
"He won't care about that, not if he's that angry. You've never seen him in a fight." she responded.
"Rikku's got a point, Gippal. I don't know what he'll do. Cid can take on odds you and I wouldn't have a hope of winning against. How do you think he got those moonstones for his wife?" Plaazt broke in, trying to make Gippal see just how bad the situation could get. Before he could answer someone else stormed into the room.
It was Cid. He looked around the room, noting the messy bed and Rikku standing next to Gippal, his hand on hers. His face darkened, and he strode angrily up to Gippal.
"YOU GET YOUR HANDS OFF MY DAUGHTER!"
Gippal stepped in front of Rikku again, shielding her from her father's gaze and anger. Rikku was not afraid of her father, but she knew when he was really and truly pissed off. Now was one of the few times she had seen him really and truly pissed off. When her mother had died, everyone had been afraid Cid would have to be committed, he had raged on so. Only the sight of his daughter saved him. She looked just like her mother. They even had the same smile. Cid had taken hold of himself because he realized that he still had a piece of his wife in this life, and he had to take care of it or loose it forever. Not that it made him a great father, but he had tried his best. The other time was when she had been playing with a baby marlboro and its mother had come looking for it. Rikku would have died if her father had not saved her. Cid had been livid, not even able to yell at her for doing such a stupid thing. She had been sent to her room by a pointing finger and a growl. Later on he had yelled at her, which she was comfortable with since they were always yelling at one another. She did not know what her father would do at the moment, but at least he was yelling. She could deal with yelling.
"It's nice to see you too, Cid. How are things?" Gippal sounded like he was talking to an old, not-angry friend, but he was tense, and kept his gaze on the advancing Cid. When Rikku started to move so that she was not behind him, Gippal put a firm arm out, hampering her movement. She frowned at his back, and stayed put for the moment. She would let him play 'over-protective-male' for a while. Not for too long though. Rikku could handle her father better than anyone else.
"How are things?! You get your filthy paws off of my daughter and you stay away from her!" Cid was within striking distance now, but did not lash out yet.
"I don't hear her saying that. Until I do, my hands will stay right where they are. It was so nice of you to visit. Come back when you can talk like a civilized person instead of yelling and disturbing the others guests here." Gippal was talking to Cid like he was a child. Cid certainly was acting like a child; a very angry, strong child.
"Don't you talk to me like that! You aren't worthy of my daughter, you never will be! Now get out of my way." Cid yelled, inches away from Gippal's face. "Rikku! You get over here right now. We're leaving!"
"She's not going anywhere with you, Cid. Not while you're in this temper. Like I said before, come back when you can talk like a civilized adult."
"No way am I leaving her with some man-whore like you! I know all about those girls of yours."
Rikku had been listening, letting Gippal have his way for a while. She was actually glad he was there, taking the brunt of her father's anger for her. Cid had never yelled like this at her, and she did not want him to start. When she heard Cid calling Gippal a 'man-whore', Rikku felt her temper flare. She jumped out from behind Gippal despite his insistence that she stay there. It was her turn to yell.
"How dare you barge in here, throwing insults?!" Rikku stood in front of her father with fists clenched and a glare in her eyes that would scare even the most determined of fiends away. "I don't remember calling for help, and I don't need to be saved. What business is it of yours where I stay and who I stay with? You haven't had any say in what I do for years, so don't start pretending to care what I do now!"
Cid stared at his daughter for a moment, shocked that she was talking to him like that. Rikku had always done what she wanted, but she never really did anything that went against his wishes. She had been a good, if some what stubborn, daughter. It was another similarity between her and her mother. She had gone her own way, marrying Cid against her own father's wishes.
"I might not have been the perfect parent, but I raised you with more sense than to become another name on Gippal's list of women! I am not going to watch you get hurt because of him!"
"So what? It's my decision, and I will take whatever comes from it! Now leave us alone! And call off your little spies. I am not going to be watched over by a grumpy old man who can't realize I'm not a child anymore!" Rikku intended the words to sting, to make him walk away and leave her alone as she wanted. She watched as Cid's face flamed red and he stammered.
"Fine! You want to be his little slut, go right ahead! But don't you come crying to me when he casts you off like yesterday's newspaper!"
Rikku's jaw dropped. How could he say that? I'm not like that...She felt tears well up in her eyes as she slapped him across the face with as much force as she could muster. It made Cid rock backwards and rub his cheek. Then Gippal came into her view and punched her father full in the face, nearly knocking him to the ground. Things were about to escalate when a voice boomed out from the doorway.
"ENOUGH!"
Everyone turned to the voice, which belonged to Raas. He took up the entire doorway, standing there with his jaw clenched. Raas proceeded into the room and grabbed Cid by the shirt.
"That's enough, Cid. You're leaving. Now." With that, Raas propelled him out of the room and out of the inn. Plaazt went to the window to make sure Cid was really leaving. Rikku stared at the spot that her father had been in just a few moments before. His words kept ringing in her ears. She felt hands on her shoulders, and turned so that she could bury her face in Gippal's chest. He hugged her tightly, not saying anything. Rikku did not want to talk at that moment anyway. She thought that maybe she could forget those hurtful words if she stayed right where she was, in Gippal's arms.
Heavy footsteps were coming down the hallway and into the room. She felt Gippal stir slightly, looking at whomever had entered. The footsteps came closer and Rikku felt a heavy hand on her shoulder. A sigh escaped Raas' lips and he moved away to sit in a chair. Gippal murmured something to her, and she lifted her head to look at him. He looked guilty for some reason. Then she realized he thought this was his fault.
"Don't you dare say you're sorry Gippal! It's not your fault he's acting like a cave-man." He opened his mouth to argue, but she cut him off. "I mean it. I won't have you blaming yourself for someone else's actions!"
"Girl's got a point, boss-man. Cid just doesn't want to loose his daughter." Raas said from his chair. Gippal turned to glare at him. With out the eye patch, the scarred eye made him look sinister. Raas held his hands up, saying "I'm not saying he had a right to act like he did. I'm just telling you the reason."
"Well, saying hurtful things to me isn't going to endear him any." Rikku said bitterly. Gippal turned his attention back to her, his eyes full of concern.
"I can't believe Cid said that to you. How could he say that about his own daughter?" Gippal said the past part to himself. Rikku laid her head on his chest again. She did not want to cry in front of him and Raas. "Come on. Let's get out of here. We can get breakfast, like you wanted."
"I'm not hungry anymore."
Both Gippal and Raas stared at her in surprise. Rikku not being hungry was like the sun being out but not shining. It just was not natural for her to lose her appetite over anything. Even after the encounter with Vegnagun, Rikku had been ready for a feast. It was a sign of how upset she really was about the incident with Cid.
"Well, let's go somewhere anyway. Plaazt?" Gippal turned to look at the man next to the window. He stepped forward, awaiting orders. "See about fixing this door, would you? I'll be back later."
"Sure thing."
"Plaazt?" This time Rikku said his name. He turned to look at her apprehensively. "Thanks for trying to warn us." Plaazt grinned and rubbed the back of his neck.
"I thought it would be a good idea. If anything happened to my boss, who would give me a paycheck?"
It was an attempt to lighten the mood, and it made Rikku smile at him instead of frown. Everyone left the room, heading downstairs so that they could leave. In the lobby, Raas retrieved his rain coat from the floor, giving Mr. Helpful an apology for leaving it there. Gippal went over to the desk Mr. Helpful was behind and asked for two rain coats. The man nodded and retrieved the items. Gippal handed one to Rikku, which she put on, grateful that she would not have to get wet again. Almost like an after-thought, Gippal went back to the desk and gave Mr. Helpful a large handful of gil. "For the trouble." he said, and walked away, donning the raincoat. Raas smiled to himself and nodded. "You ready?" he asked Rikku. She nodded and pulled the hood over her head.
The group walked out and headed in the direction of the Sun Rose unanimously. They went quickly, because the rain was cold and the wind whipped it around at all angles, sending cold drips down their necks and legs. When the Sun Rose came into view, everyone was happily thinking about being warm and dry. Upon entering, Elizza greeted them warmly and helped remove rain coats and hang them up to dry. The smell of baking cookies permeated the air, causing stomachs to rumble. Maybe I'm hungry after all. Better eat something before my stomach eats my other internal organs.
Elizza noticed the sad aura of the group, especially Rikku. She knew the best way to cheer people up was with food. "I have some cookies in the oven that will be ready soon, and I'll make us a nice breakfast."
"I'm going to change. Be right back." Rikku headed toward the stairs, letting her fingers slide out of Gippal's hand. She knew he watched her and turned to smile slightly at him. He was apparently still feeling guilty about earlier. I'm going to have to find a way to make him stop that. Might end up being fun! He smiled back, and turned to go into the kitchen with the others. Rikku opened her door, entered the bathroom, turned on the faucet and commenced crying her eyes out. It felt good to cry, like all the bad feelings were washed away with the tears.
She did not cry long. She had never been one for a sob-fest, even when little. Rikku splashed water on her face and quickly changed clothes. Elizza's dress was put on the vanity bench to keep it safe. She grabbed a sweatshirt before leaving her room, hoping her eyes were not to red and puffy. Pulling the sweatshirt over her head, she headed down the stairs and stopped at the kitchen door. Raas, Elizza and Gippal were talking, so Rikku decided to eavesdrop a little.
"What a dreadful thing to say! And to your own daughter! If that man were here I'd give him a piece of my mind! No wonder poor Rikku looked so upset." Elizza said between the noises of food preparation.
"Tell me about it. You didn't see her face when he said it."
"Hey, cheer up boss-man. It wasn't your fault." Raas said with what Rikku thought was a slap on the back.
"I know, but it just feels like it is."
"It's not. Did you hear her blaming you? I didn't. She's not one to let her opinion go unknown."
"Yeah, I know." Gippal said. "Why couldn't he be like a normal father and threaten me with castration or something? At least Rikku wouldn't be up there crying right now."
"Oh, is she? I wonder if I should check on her, poor dear..."
"No, let her be. She doesn't like anyone to see her cry." This was Gippal again. Rikku smiled to herself. She was glad he knew her so well to give her time alone to cry. There was silence for a few minutes, and Rikku was about to enter when Raas started talking again.
"Listen, since Cid didn't give you this, I will. Don't go hurting her. She's very dear to us, and I don't want to see her crying because of you. I'll nail you hide to my front door if you do."
Gippal laughed heartily. "Give me some credit, Raas. I've been in love with her since I was seven. I'm not about to hurt her in any way, shape or form." Rikku had to suppress a squeal of delight. He was probably joking, but it was wonderful to hear him say that anyway.
"Raas! Don't go threatening our guest like that! You'll make him lose his appetite."
"Come on, Elizza. I can't just let him take Rikku away without some kind of threat!" Raas said with a laugh. Rikku decided to walk in then and save Gippal some teasing. They all looked at her when she entered. Elizza came up to her and put a gentle arm around her shoulder, leading her to the table. Gippal just smiled, so did Raas. Rikku frowned playfully at Raas.
"What's this about threatening Gippal?" she asked, crossing her arms over her chest. Raas grinned and shook his head, while Gippal just smiled and patted the chair next to him. She sat down, but continued frowning at Raas.
"I'm playing 'over-protective-father-figure'. Can't be helped, so stop pretending to frown like that."
Rikku dropped the frown and smiled instead. The smile grew when a plate of cookies presented itself in front of her and her over-sized mug was put next to it, full of hot, black coffee. The sugar had even been added to her satisfaction. Rikku sipped it and sighed happily. She grabbed a cookie and dunked it into her coffee, waiting for it to get nice and soggy before eating it.
"What, no sugar Rikku?" Gippal asked. She smiled at him and shook her head.
"Nope. Elizza puts just the right amount in for me." The cookie was now in peak soggy condition and ready to eat. There is an art to eating soggy cookies that must be learned. The cookie must be soggy, but not too soggy. It will just break off in the coffee or milk. If it is taken out too soon, there will be a crunch between the soggy parts and that ruins the whole point of cookie dunking. Actually getting the entire cookie into ones mouth is another thing. If one takes it out too fast, it will break, and the angle to the mouth must be just right. Unless one likes soggy cookies in ones lap. Rikku was adept at soggy-cookie eating. The entire cookie made it into her mouth without even dripping coffee on the table or her lap.
"Don't fill up on cookies, dear. Pancakes are on their way to the table in a few minutes." Elizza said from the stove.
"Ooo, pancakes." Rikku looked at the cookies and sighed. Eating more cookies would not leave room for the pancakes. So she diverted her attention to Gippal. She remembered him talking earlier and smiled brilliantly at him. He smiled also and sipped his own coffee.
"I wonder who Pop had spying on me to know where I was last night." she said, breaking the contented quiet.
"Maybe nobody, girl. He was just getting off a boat at he docks when I saw him first. He was as happy as he ever is. I think someone said it in passing, or he over heard it." Rikku snorted at the 'overheard' part.
"How could he overhear about us? We haven't been together that long." she said, frowning again.
"I think you caused quite a stir, showing up in front of my workers in a dress. Maybe that gave birth to a rumor. Not that it was started to be malicious." Gippal took another sip of coffee.
"Boss-man's right. I think he just heard about it and went to find Gippal. He didn't expect to find his little girl there."
"I'm not a little girl, Raas." she said firmly.
"I know that, but Cid still sees you as seven years old. He doesn't want to lose you to another man. Can't blame him for that, but his behavior was awful. It's like you're all he has left of his wife too. You really look exactly like her. Just more troublesome."
Rikku smiled at being called troublesome. It was so true about her. She also smiled at being compared to her mother. She had been such a pretty woman, all well mannered and feminine. It was Rikku's secret aspirations to be like her mother. She knew it was not possible, her personality was too wild; but she could be like her for a short amount of time. Like at the restaurant, where manners were expected.
"I'm not that much like her." was all she said in response.
"You're more like her than you think, girl. You didn't see all the trouble she gave her parents when she was young. She tried to keep a drake as a pet once." Everyone laughed out loud, Rikku especially, since she had wanted to try that too but Brother had stopped her.
Elizza was moving to and fro between the stove and the table. She waved off Gippal's offer to help ferry the food. She stopped for a moment, and took Gippal's head in her hands and turned it so he was looking up at her.
"Whatever happened to your eye, dear?" Rikku and Gippal shared a look and grinned.
"An unfortunate accident with a machina." was all he said.
"Well, you have some incredible healers then. Usually such a wound would cause you to lose that eye." Elizza went back for the last plate of food.
The conversation stopped when breakfast was served. Pancakes were piled high on the plates next to the bacon, which was still sizzling a bit. Fried potatoes sat next to the bacon. A full container of syrup was placed on the table, along with butter. Rikku dismissed the butter and grabbed the syrup first thing. She watched it ooze over the pancakes and mingle with the bacon. When it threatened to touch the fried potatoes she stopped. Potatoes and syrup did not mix well in her opinion.
"Are you going to same us some syrup, Rikku?" Gippal asked pointedly. Rikku smiled sweetly at him.
"No, I wasn't. Why, did you want some?"
"That would be nice. Dry pancakes aren't my favorite thing in the world."
"That's because I'm your favorite thing in the world, isn't it?"
"You bet. Now hand over the syrup." Rikku gave the syrup to him despite the insincerity in his voice. It was not right to keep people from eating. She was about to dig in to her pancakes when she noticed how much syrup Gippal was putting on his stack of pancakes. She turned a flat stare at him, which he grinned at.
"You're using as much as I did. Why'd you complain about how much I was using?"
"Because it would annoy you."
Rikku scowled at him, earning a snicker from Raas. "You be careful, Gippal. I'm armed!" She held up her fork like a toddler would, making everyone laugh again.
"I think that weapon would be of more use getting those pancakes in your stomach than in me. I don't want you to get grumpy because you're hungry. Besides, I don't want any holes in my hide. It would ruin Raas' front door decoration if I mess things up with you." He meant it as a joke, but he also meant for her to know that he would let Raas hurt him if he hurt her. It made Rikku feel all bubbly inside. She leaned her head on his shoulder and fluttered her eyelashes at him.
"That is just soooo sweet to say! Say something else that's just as nice."
"Okay. Move your head before I drip syrup on your nose."
His fork was indeed perched above her head, with a drop of syrup ready to fall at any time. She quickly removed her head and began on her own breakfast. This is nice. Why can't my real family be like this? she thought. Rikku replayed her father's words in her head again, and decided that since Cid had all but disowned her, this would be her new family. If Brother could behave well enough, he could join too. She smiled at her now diminished stack of pancakes and started on the bacon.
Sooooooooo, you all thought Cid was the one to break the door, didn't you? Hehe. I was going to do that, but decided to make Plaazt do it instead. And wasn't Cid mean?! That was such a horrible thing to say to Rikku! And wasn't it nice of Gippal to defend her? I wish I had a guy to do that for me...oh well.
Now, this is important. I can't decide between two ways of continuing this story. The basic plot will be the same, but the villains will be different. So, if you review this, pick either 1 or 2. 1) Cid is down right evil 2) someone else is down right evil and blames Cid. I might do what you want, I might not. It depends on my mood, but the input will help me decide what to do. Besides, the evilness won't happen for a chapter or two. So please let me know.
Thanks to all you people in reviewer-land! Writing this has helped me deal with this flu thing I have. Stay tuned for the next chapter!
tagg