Chapter Twelve: The Unspoken Letter
Love the moment. Flowers grow out of dark moments. Therefore, each moment is vital. It affects the whole. Life is a succession of such moments and to live each, is to succeed.
-Corita Kent
Funny to think you can make love to someone and not even know who this someone was. Rikku felt she was blindfolded and forced to allow her lips to do the searching last night. Her emerald eyes held a glossy look as she stared at the wood ceiling, the sound of raindrops reached her ears as they struck it. Turning to her right, she saw that no one was there…all there was left was the imprint of a hand on the pillow. The Al Bhed placed her own hand in the imprint and observed how her own hand was slightly smaller. Allowing her index finger to trace the handprint, she released a content sigh. I have a hunch that it's him…but how do I prove it?
Gingerly getting out of bed, she stared through the window in silence. The clouds were a faded gray, the huts' bright colors were now dull but the beautiful raindrops didn't lose their beauty. Smiling softly at this she searched for her garment grid, she could take a shower later… Maybe in the rain. Her smile grew wider at the thought; it seemed like a crazy but inspiring thing to do at the time. Finally finding the device in a corner, she pressed it against her chest and searched for an appropriate dressphere. A warm light surrounded her as she felt the clothing mold into her body.
Opening her eyes, she stared at her favorite outfit out of all the dressphere. Cozy ankle boots, creamy ribbon sleeves, a sunny-yellow bikini top and short tanned skirt. Checking to see if she looked suitable, she gave a quick nod and was about skip downstairs when she noticed a silent letter on her nightstand. Edging to it, she saw her name scribbled out sloppily. Her stomach growled angrily at her, making her draw her hand back and skip down the stairs. I read it later… "I'm starving," she spoke out to know one in particular.
"Good, 'cause I'm making you breakfast," replied a strong voice as Rikku jumped off the stairs when there was only four steps left. Biting her lip she walked further into the living room to get a view of her speaker. There he was, dressed in his normal attire and not all looking as if he had sex last night. "I hope you like eggs," he added as he glanced at the stunned Rikku. "Umm…sorry to intrude and all, but the door was opened so I came in – " he mumbled as he saw her advance toward him.
She swiftly cut him off as she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed his smooth lips. He answered back with a passionate kiss that sent shivers down Rikku's spine. Drawing back a bit, Rikku gave the young man a warm smile, "Thanks for last night…I owe ya." He caught the playful glint in her eyes as he tried to come up with some sort of connection to last night and this morning.
Let's see…I talked to Rikku about all that 'help you out when you are troubled' crap. Then I went back to Djose...a lovely lady approached me and I 'interviewed' her. Yup, I showed her how a true Al Bhed can 'dig.' Damn straight… So I'm guessing my talk really got Rikku to realize that she is missing out without me. Man, am I a genius or what?
"No prob. So does eggs sound good to you?" he asked gently as he placed butterfly kisses across her collarbone. Rikku nodded and whined when he left her neck to go to the already cooking eggs. Gippal smirked as he turned his back on her; it was always funny to see the girl whine or get angry. Man, I am a genius…I knew she couldn't resist the Great Gippal.
He felt arms snake their way around his waist as Rikku's chin rested on his shoulder. "Heh, your growing taller ya squirt," he teased as he felt her eyes burn through his neck. "Ah, you always make me laugh," Gippal grinned as he turned his head to kiss her lightly on the nose. Rikku scowled and released her grip to smack him soundly on the head. Gippal placed a hand on his heart, "You wound me."
Rolling her eyes, she made her way to the couch silently. Something continued to nag at her like a fly, but she couldn't remember what this something was. Sighing softly she closed her eyes and saw a pair of chocolate eyes. Oh my god! Baralai! What am I going to do? Oh poopie…Rubbing her hands nervously, she looked at the clock to see that it was almost afternoon.
The smell of food drifted towards her, beckoning for her to sit at the table and eat instead of worrying. Giving up to the pleasant smells, she got up and plopped on a chair. A plate was set before her as Gippal took his seat across from her. "So Cid's girl…what ya think about the new machina we got a couple days ago?" he asked as he immediately began to wolf down his food.
Rikku grinned and began to eat her breakfast before replying, "She's a beauty…but can that thing even get up?" Gippal tapped his chin thoughtfully before releasing out a soft 'hmm.'
"Don't know…I guess we are too busy staring and observing it. However, she does have a strong circuit on her. I hope she can walk, talk and so forth…" he replied as he rubbed the back of his neck gently.
"Oh, like Picket?" Rikku snapped back teasingly as she caught the wide grin from Gippal. Laughing for a few moments, he wiped a tear away from his eye and leaned back in his chair.
"You met him? He has a mouth on him that sends girls welling with lust for his machina parts."
"Yeah…I met him. I should have known sooner that he was one of your clever inventions."
"Ah, your making me blush. You know…while I was snooping around for dishes, I spotted bottles of alcohol. Care to explain?
"Umm…you see, they are around for a rainy day."
"It's been raining on and off for the past couple of weeks."
"Umm…well…heh," Rikku answered nervously as she searched for mind for a logical answer. Gippal grabbed the empty plates and walked over to the sink with a smirk plastered on his face. "Wha-? Why are you giving me that look?" Rikku shot back, glad to be relieved with searching for an excuse. Gippal laughed softly and made his way to the couch as he scratched the back if his neck.
"Cid's girl drinking…I can see you having a few shots. But hiding all of those full bottles from me? Well that isn't nice," as he gave her a playful look as she sauntered her way toward him. He…loves me. He's always there, now and when I was child, for me. He even had…well…you know. Well he had it with me…me of all people. Knowing that Gippal can get any girl he wants, he picked me out of the crowd. He loves me…unlike a certain meanie in Bevelle.
"Hey, I can – " she started off but was cut off by a knock on the door. Frowning slightly, she observed from the kitchen window that it was still raining. Shrugging slightly she went to the door and opened it up to see a smiling face. "Hiya! Long times no see; I was just about to prove to Gippal that I can hold my liquor. Care to join?" she replied to the grinning face with an edge of fear in her voice. On no…Gippal! What if Baralai finds out I…well…slept with Gippal! He would be crushed…just play cool. Yeah, play cool.
"Long time no see?" he questioned as he raised a graceful eyebrow. "It's only been a couple of hours…" he continued as Rikku allowed him to enter. Rikku just smiled and kissed him lightly on the cheek. A couple of hours ago? Psh, whatever.
Baralai and Gippal were soon giving each other firm handshakes and hugs as they both sat on the couch. Gippal couldn't help but eye Baralai nervously; he was sitting by his best friend who wasn't aware with the fact that this morning Rikku was kissing his handsome face instead of Baralai's.
"So 'Lai, Rikku and I are having a drinking contest. Last one drinking wins…want to join?" Gippal asked as he nudged his friend with his elbow. Baralai laughed softly and watched Rikku sit in a chair across from them. Everyone seems so tense…I wonder why? Baralai grinned and nodded to the smiling Al Bhed beside him. "That's all settled, I'll get the glasses and the lovely Tempest in a Bottle," Gippal laughed as he got up to head to the kitchen.
There actually was a drink called 'Tempest in a Bottle' but you can only get it in Luca. It was a dangerous drink if you allowed its sweet but bitter taste to consume your mind. Soon you find your hands running down the stranger next to you without any thought in your mind on why you are doing that. Before you know it, you wake up in the arms of the stranger and wondering how you got undressed. In other words, it was a way to promote making love which somehow made the drink irresistible and expensive. So to see that Rikku had bottles of it in her house, which was already ready to consume, somehow surprised him. I expected Gippal to have something like that in his place…not her.
Placing the bottle under his arm, with three shot glasses in his hands, Gippal flashed them his usual charming smile. Placing them on the coffee table, he quietly poured the blue liquid in each glass. "Hey, Gippal…remember when we were in the Cactuar Nation, and we were almost near the last test?" Baralai asked as he watched the glasses gleam with swirling turquoise liquid. Gippal nodded silently as his lips formed a thin line.
Grinning, he gave a wink at Rikku before continuing, "I remember that the four of us were scanning the area. But all we say was just cactuses. Then all of a sudden the cactus next to you began to move and make weird noises."
"'Lai! Stop it! Don't tell her!"
"Gippal all of a sudden screamed and began to go on how his nightmare finally came to life."
"'Lai!"
"He went: Oh fucking Yevon, what the heck is going on! I don't want to die yet! I've been good…I just touched her waist that's all. I'm too young to die, I'm still a virgin!" Baralai imitated Gippal's voice as he watched the Al Bhed turn his head in the opposite direction of the praetor. "Oh Gippal…so young…such a virgin," he laughed as he patted the fuming Al Bhed on the back.
Taking a hold of his glass, Gippal stared at its contents before looking at Baralai. "Alright then…if I win you have to prove to me that your not a virgin," the praetor laughed jokingly as he grabbed his own glass. Rikku followed suit, too memorized with the fact that she was sitting across from the two men she loved. "I'll keep count and pour the drinks…but I'll still drink a couple of shots," Rikku finally spoke out softly as the two men nodded in agreement.
Gippal nodded and narrowed his eye slightly at Baralai, "You're on, pretty boy." Baralai laughed softly and looked at Rikku who was ready to start. "Ready? On three then…three…two…one!" Gippal growled as he lifted the glass to his lips and allowed the bittersweet liquid to run down his throat.
They continued to drink glass after glass as minuets soon turned into a full-fledged hour. "Guys…stop already. I'm going to bed…so after you're done, clean the place up," Rikku whined as she suffered through a splitting headache. They didn't pay any attention as they eyed the four bottles on the coffee table. Two were empty while the other were full. Rikku left with a frown as she went up to her bed as the two young men grabbed a full bottle and proceeded to chug it down.
A sickening feeling grasped his gut as he placed the half-filled bottle back on the coffee table. Groaning softly he looked at Baralai to see a grinning and glowing face. "Howsh cansh you frink sof luch 'Lai?" (How can you drink so much 'Lai?)," Gippal asked in a slurred voice as he rested his forehead on his friend's shoulder. Baralai mumbled something back, but nothing caught his throbbing ears. "Shick (Sick)," Gippal moaned as he felt his insides burn and simmer inside of him.
"You have a bet to pay off," Baralai whispered as his voice wavered and staggered due to the hiccups that emitted out of his stained-blue lips from the alcohol. Gippal raised his head and cupped Baralai's face with his hands. "Gippal?" Baralai murmured in slight confusion as he felt warm lips massage his own. Gippal's hands left his face but his lips never left the Yevonite. Cool hands began to search for a way to undo the formal dress robes. To Baralai's mild surprise, he was helping the Al Bhed strip of his clothing.
What am I doing? For Yevon's sake I'm a man! Hmm…but…sex is good. Baralai felt his thoughts slowly become muddled by the alcohol as its effect began to kick in. All that mattered was that the person before him was clothed and that was suddenly a felony in his book. Watching as the Al Bhed began to take off his own complex clothes, Baralai felt his breath hitched as he felt lips travel down his neck. The Al Bhed's muscles were already relaxed as he ran a hand across Gippal's upper back.
There lips devoured each other's flesh as their hands roamed across their body with yearning. Finally getting fed up with waiting, they fought like mad wolves that were fighting over one single matter: who got to be on top. Their teeth would occasionally nip at each other's necks and collarbones as the day quickly turned into night.
It was the only way to worm himself into Yevon's good graces and in return achieve the knowledge of Yevon's foulest and darkest secrets. It was a perfect plan, go to Seymour and beg him for forgiveness and help. Simple, play the part and you get the reward. Nodding as he thought this over, Baralai followed a Guado who was escorting him to Maester Seymour. The doors opened slowly and chocolate eyes gazed at the back of a blue cloaked figure.
"The Crimson Squad is no more. Maester Kinoc betrayed us. And my friends... they turned on me as well. I have no place else to go," Baralai broke the silence as he made his way a couple of feet away from the maester.
"Then, why do you come to me? I, too, am a maester of Yevon," Seymour asked in his drawing voice as he stared quietly at the wall before him. Baralai took a step forward and rubbed his hands together nervously, this was harder than it seemed.
"I don't suppose Maester Kinoc and a certain other maester might by vying for power behind the scenes?" Baralai spoke out boldly as he remembered the fat bastard that nearly killed everyone by going into the den. "Moron…that fat, fucking moron screwed everything up," Baralai thought sourly as he subconsciously glared at Seymour's back.
"So an enemy of an enemy is a friend." Seymour stated quietly at Baralai's comment. Baralai wondered if this was truly a statement or some question. Wincing inwardly he rubbed his hands again in a nervous gesture as a pained expression crossed his face. "This is it…" Baralai thought softly to himself as he licked his parched lips.
"I will not fail you." Baralai spoke out softly but it seemed too loud to his ears. He watched as Seymour's posture slightly sagged and lose its formal and strong composer. A small smile crossed on Baralai's lips as he waited eagerly for Seymour to say those heavenly words.
"Very well. I will take you under my wing. Consider any record of your association with the Crimson Squad erased," Seymour finally answered as he regained his posture once more. A sly grin crossed his pale face as he closed his eyes and could already imagine the unexpected boy to be his new scapegoat or play toy. Seymour resisted the urge to chuckle at the thought as he opened his eyes to stare at the wall once more.
"You have my thanks. I will go into hiding until the time is right." Baralai stated as he turned and left the room. As the future-praetor walked out, he was immediately ushered to a hidden door. It revealed another warmly lit hallway, "How many secrets lie in this house?"
The Guado that was escorting him laughed softly, "More than the stars in the sky." With that said he motioned for Baralai to go through, "The first door to your right, we will send you your dinner when ready." The olive-skinned teenager nodded and headed down the hallway. Giving out a soft sigh in content, he smiled at the warm walls as his feet made soft pattering noises on the ground.
"I can't believe it! That little bitch!" Seymour ranted on as he stepped into his house with a crazed look in his eye. "Disgraced the wedding…and all I stand for," he muttered bitterly as he trotted through random hallways and rooms in hope of stopping the fire that burned in his soul. Pausing at a closed door to his right, he blinked in remembrance as he recalled a previous event. Tilting his head slightly to his left, he noticed that the room was dark and that no lights shinned underneath the door. A small smile crossed his lips as he reached out for the knob and turned it softly. "It has been a week or more since I saw him…"
He quietly closed the door and turned to gaze at the room to see a figure sitting up on the bed. Chocolate eyes stared nervously at Seymour's crazed and yearning expression. Already, Baralai could feel Seymour's eyes scan his nearly bare body and halted when he noticed Baralai's navy blue boxers. A soft sigh escaped his lips as he moved forward to the already frightened teen. Before Baralai could protest, Seymour sauntered over and pinned him firmly on the bed.
Holding the squirming teen with one hand, he quickly undid his own clothes. "Funny…I first saw you as a play toy, but I never used you. Now I finally am…funny, isn't it?" Seymour whispered as he placed all of his weight on the cursing teen. "Stop moving." Seymour hissed as he ran his finger down Baralai's smooth chest.
Baralai growled angrily, "Get off of me…I am not your 'play toy.'" Seymour laughed softly as he made his way toward Baralai's boxers. No matter how much he tried to get out of the maester's grip, he couldn't manage to squirm away. "Bastard." Baralai hissed as Seymour successfully tore away the remaining clothing on the teen.
Already twenty minuets passed and he found himself in a complex position as he counted each hideous thrust. Blood filled his mouth from biting his tongue in hate and his body already ached with inhuman pain. Still this cruel torture continued as Seymour continued silently but finally it stopped. He realized his body was now numb with shock and pain as he lay down on his back. "I…hate…you." Baralai whispered quietly.
Seymour laughed in Baralai's ear as he collapsed on top of the future-praetor. "Good, because if you loved me…then there would be problems," he murmured as his hot breath seared Baralai's ear. "Well…I can now say that you are back in Yevon's good graces," he continued as he felt Baralai's chest drop a bit from a sigh in relief. Running a hand through the teen's hair he murmured softly one dark secret, that Baralai has been itching for, that laid hidden in Bevelle and this one secret was called: Vegnagun.
Baralai smiled weakly as he heard this and the location of a library of spheres that held Yevon's past and so on. But still that hideous and torturous feeling stayed with him as he watched the maester get up and leave. That was the last time he saw Seymour as Baralai thanked Yevon for the secrets he would obtain, thanks to Seymour's sudden urge and anger. However, he was marked for life…a slave to Seymour's will but not his mind.
Baralai woke up to the horrible flashback as his eyes stared at the ceiling. Something shifted on his chest as Baralai looked down to see a mass of blonde hair. Frowning, a wave of pain buffeted and racked his brain, as he felt the horrible after-effect of alcohol kick in: a hangover. Moaning in pain he watched Gippal slowly get up, his emerald eye unfocused on the praetor's face. "Heh, you look like shit," the Al Bhed laughed weakly.
The praetor narrowed his eyes and replied groggily, "Shut up…at least I don't look like shit all the time, like yourself." Gippal whined painfully at this comment as he struggled to get up. "Fuck." Baralai cursed as he grasped his robe's jacket that lay on the floor next to him.
Gippal's eye widened in shock, "'Lai…you just said…wow." Baralai quickly rested the jacket on his waist as he pointed at Gippal's waist. The Al Bhed raised an eyebrow in question as he looked down. "You got to be kidding me?" Gippal exclaimed as a sharp sensation pierced his brain, hangover…damn. "'Lai…you mean we had…s-sex?" Gippal whispered fearfully as he dashed around for his clothes.
Baralai suddenly laughed out loud as he was already half dressed, "Hey, at least your not a virgin any more." Gippal froze as he turned around to glare fiercely at his friend. "Didn't you lose? So you had to prove to me that you weren't a virgin, right? I'm just shocked you came on to me…I guess you can't handle your liquor, pretty boy." Baralai continued.
Gippal growled, "It was a mistake to drink that kind of alcohol with you. 'Lai…you always make me want to seduce you." They both looked at each other and laughed as a certain blonde girl woke up from her sleep.
Rikku stumbled her way around her room as she noticed the letter on her table once more. Picking it up she opened it and read the sloppy writing with ease, due to her own father's horrid handwriting. As she read the letter she couldn't help but smile, "Baralai…you clever man." Placing the letter back on the table, she skipped downstairs to see two half-naked men laughing at each other.
"What happened last night?" she asked as she placed her hands on her hips. A small voice reminded her of her false assumption of Gippal…and how it was too late to take back that kiss, but she ignored it for now. Gippal walked over and placed an arm around a grinning praetor's shoulders. They both looked at each other and snickered softly before Gippal cleared his throat.
"Well…I seduced 'Lai with my charming looks and we had hot and wonderful sex," Gippal laughed as a tear ran across his cheek. Baralai laughed along as they staggered backward and fell on the ground. Rikku was already on the ground, passed out from the shock and the horror.
"Way to go, Gippal She fainted out of the knowledge that you are, surprisingly, no longer a virgin," Baralai laughed as he watched Gippal pout. Placing an arm around Gippal and pulling him close, he whispered softly, "Aww is Gippal angry that he's being called a virgin?"
Gippal growled and shoved the praetor off, who clearly had too much to drink last night, "Shut up, I can't believe you made me do this. Damnit 'Lai, why do you always make me do this!" Baralai just laughed and looked away from the Al Bhed; the raw memory of Seymour still bombarded him with horrid and disgusting images. All he could do was just laugh and smile along, and hope his secret wouldn't spill out like Yevon's.
A/N: Yup that's it. For the flashback, that was from Baralai's sphere except for when Seymour comes along does his stuff. I've been re-reading my previous chapters and I finally decided that it is almost time for the ending. I can see this story ending at chapter eighteen or even more. But I don't want to make it to long or even I will get tired of the story. Anyway, I have fantastic news...the hits are now at 1423! Wow! So keep it up and review if you have any comments or questions. So have a great holiday and weekend! Whoops! Almost forgot, don't think this story will suddenly become a Baralai x Gippal fic. Nope, it's still the same pairing as before...but this chapter just shows how close Gippal and Baralai are really good friends. Which will play a big part in the final chapter (yes...I have the final chapter all planned out). So toodles!