Practice Makes Perfect
Chapter Two
By RingPrincess

A/N: So here's the second installment. I wanted to get this out earlier but my internet went on the fritz and I couldn't! Once again, if you love rikku/gippal I've created a LJ community for it, check it out at community(dot)livejournal(dot)com(slash)rippal(underscore)shippers(slash)

Gippal

"Gippal!"

I spun and scanned the courtyard. The voice wasn't familiar. An Al Bhed kid in tan and blue sprinted down the bridge, dodging potential employees with the reaction times I remember I used to have.

"Gippal!" He shouted again, skidding to a halt, fog from his respirator puffing as he gasped.

Who was he again? He was familiar enough, but not one of my employees. Oh right, Shinra, an engineer, inventor, genius, I'd give all my profits to pry away from Brother and the Gullwings. Like that'd ever happen.

He took a deep breath. "Rikku's gone berserk. She's attacking Paine, out of control."

I involuntarily looked beyond him where I could see the Celsius still parked. "Brother said to get you."

"I sent her fiend hunting," I muttered and took off at a sprint towards the open ramp, Shinra hard on my heels, brave kid.

"The bridge," he gasped as I took the stairs two at a time, hitting the lift at a run. The doors flew open ahead of me. It was chaos. Buddy lay on the floor clutching his stomach, but trying to regain his feet. Brother pleaded with Rikku to stop, holding an arm close to his body. Paine stepped in to do something and in a casual movement Rikku side stepped and flung her into the glowing sphere in the middle of the bridge. I winced as Paine's face hit the glass with a dull crack.

Tidus grabbed her in a hug, a maneuver often used in blitzball. She threw him over her and into Yuna. They tumbled onto the floor in a riot of limbs. It was all I had time to see, I grabbed and flipped over the rail. Paine recovered, spitting blood she swung wildly at Rikku. Rikku laughed and rocked Paine back with a three-punch combo. I shoved Paine towards Brother and swept Rikku's legs out from underneath her. She arched as she hit the floor, vaulting back to her feet. Fuck! She'd improved. She smirked, I knew she really wasn't seeing me but hey, I smirked back. Great, I'd improved too and it wasn't the benefit of Crimson Squad training.

Ignoring the others, they didn't matter as long as they stayed out of the way. Brother, in his cowardice, having the right idea. I attacked Rikku. Five blows in I realized I wouldn't be able to shock her out of it. Sometimes, if I could get past her guard and touch her she'd stop. Her guard was too good now. If I saw a chance I'd have to take it. I stepped back and flung the sweat out of my hair as we circled. She came at, blows I took on my arms and with the flat of my hand I flung her back into the wall. Handicapped by the fact that I didn't want to hurt her. The air seized in her lungs and she gasped. I moved in but she recovered, shaking her head. Two punches later, she spun to step on my instep. I grabbed her arms and laughed in her ear. She rammed her elbow back as I shoved her back into the wall, forcing her into a handy corner. She spun, eyes narrow and doubled her attacks. She got my gut and rushed past me, I tripped her and as she somersaulted to her feet to attack me again, I found the crook of her neck and shoulder and pinched.

Her mouth opened, eyes wide in recognition for a crucial second, lips moved soundlessly, then she was under. Her knees buckled and I scooped her up before she nose-dived into the floor. Then I looked about at the injuries. Okay, maybe I should have let her just drop. A bruising Brother held onto a bloody Paine, the skin around her eye already puffy. It was going to be a beaut of a shiner. Amazing she didn't have a broken nose. Yuna and Tidus were testing limbs, scratches or punctures in Yuna's arms, I couldn't tell. Buddy rubbed his arm and couldn't seem to stand up straight. I sighed and shifted my burden. The chaos and injuries told me volumes.

"Cabin", Shinra muttered by the door.

I nodded and cradled her against my chest. No longer a whirlwind of elbows, fists, nails and it seemed teeth. Her heart was slowing down, her body limp, head against my shoulder as I supported her knees and back. I headed towards the lift, carefully avoiding hitting walls and rails. The lift closed behind me and I stared down at her, a light fragile thing in my arms, quite the contrast to the ferocious fighter of not five minutes ago.

I wouldn't want to be in her shoes when she woke up. The others, I hoped the others would forgive her and not fear her. I hoped she could forgive herself. I knew how guilt felt. I hurried through the cabin and set her on the nearest bed at the top of the stairs. She wouldn't be out long. I arranged her limbs so she didn't look quite so uncomfortable, I twitched her braids into place and just looked at her for a few moments not entirely sure what I saw. I watched long enough that I heard Brother and Buddy come into the cabin below me.

Sighing, I went back downstairs. What a mess. Buddy and Brother sat at the bar, enduring a Hypello's fussing with bandages. They held beer mugs close, looking like war victims. I sat down next to Brother near the door. I could almost smell the fear radiating off him. Buddy's tense shoulders didn't help any either.

"How long?" I asked.

"Since her last rage," Buddy said, voice low, almost afraid to speak and wake her. He looked to Brother.

Brother ran a hand down his Mohawk. "I don't know," he said, looking over his shoulder. "Last one, we were still in Home. She was what, twelve, thirteen."

"So, five or six years," Buddy answered. As if I couldn't do the math myself, thank you. The Hypello put a drink in front of me even though I hadn't asked for one. Seems it was bad enough it was assumed I needed one.

"That long," I shook my head.

"Not long enough," Brother whispered and shook.

"I thought she was over them," Buddy shrugged, but his shoulders were still tight. "She seemed to have grown out of it, gotten things under control."

Any comment I would've made would've been sarcastic or at least cynical, but Tidus spared me the effort of finding a suitable and scathing enough retort.

"So, this isn't the first time?" He asked and claimed the stool next to me. I pushed my drink at him. He ignored it.

"Yuna, Paine?" I asked.

"I left them to recover. Didn't seem to need my help," his voice was quiet. "I think they're in shock."

Translation, Yuna and Paine had sent him on a fact-finding mission. I nodded, fair enough. Rikku's rage was shocking, even to those of us who'd grown up around it and knew what Rikku was capable of.

"Shinra's complaining of blood on the deck," Tidus smiled. We all smiled, plucky kid.

I looked at Brother who was staring into his mug. "What set her off?" I didn't add the 'this time.' I didn't need to, it hung loud but unspoken between us.

Brother shrugged.

So helpful, "She say anything?" I pressed. Give me something to work with here. I didn't understand why she'd suddenly be raged after five, six years of relative peace.

Buddy took a sip of his drink before responding. "Just because I love him, doesn't mean that he loves me."

I didn't get it. I'd lost something in the context, from not being around her enough. Tidus sighed and raked a hand through his hair. I looked at him.

"Rikku's been," he paused and looked at the bar, seeing beyond the bar almost. He looked at me. He understood and didn't want to say, I could see the reluctance in his eyes, his posture. He licked his lips. "Rikku's been, I could you could say jealous, lonely since I came back." The words tumbled out. "She tries not to show how much she envies Yuna and I. She tries to show us only her happiness that we're together and does her best to leave us alone even when she doesn't have to. Yuna and I appreciate it, but we can still see how much she hurts. She doesn't know how to hide her emotions very well." His eyes pleaded with me to understand.

I nodded. The last bit was an understatement and very true. It was part of Rikku's charm. She was always honest about her feelings. She couldn't help but be.

Tidus looked away, hand reaching up to fiddle with his necklace. "She loves to tease, especially her friends. She doesn't mean any harm. So we don't mind or at least I don't. Give as good as get, all in good fun. Sometimes though, she gets all serious, has a question. She always asks in private though and if it's something we can't or don't want to answer we tell her outright. She's pretty okay with it. Her questions can be confusing. You know how she is when forming a thought. Reflects how confused she is. Half the time she only wants an opinion." His shoulder's sagged. "She had a question today. She didn't ask it. Maybe if I pressed harder this wouldn't have happened. I know, I know, not my fault." He leaned his head back and sighed. "She's trying to figure things out and we aren't that far ahead of her."

"But," I said. In situations like these there was always a but. His head came forward and he nodded.

"Paine," he said. "Paine isn't the bad girl or villainess. She however has a different viewpoint than Rikku. Private personal relationships should remain private and personal. She doesn't think Rikku should be allowed to tease us or ask as many questions as she does. It's not Rikku's affair. I can respect Paine's opinion but it'll never happen. Yuna and I have dealt with the fact our relationship will never be private. Sure we don't grant all access interviews to Shelinda. But Yuna's the High Summoner and I'm a sports jock who loves celebrity. Can't help I like being a star. Rikku used to ask Paine's opinions too, stopped pretty quick once Paine made her viewpoint known. Trouble is, Rikku admits she's in love, but who with is a secret."

"I've got a secret, nyah, nyah, nyah, nyah." I muttered under my breath. Things were coming together.

Tidus laughed. "Exactly. It's not really fair she's allowed to tease us, but we aren't allowed to tease her. I tried once, I started and then couldn't say anymore. The look on her face," he whispered. "I guessed then that the lucky guy didn't know."

The one who had Rikku's love, lucky? I frowned. She was perky, obnoxious, had a temper and was mildly crude. Maybe if the guy had an insatiable amount of energy to keep up with her. Tidus saw my look.

"He's lucky," he said. "Believe me, he's lucky. I don't mention her love slash crush unless she does. Unrequited love hurts." He sighed. "I think that if I hadn't met Yuna. I'd have given Rikku a whirl. It'd never have worked, but it would've been fun while it lasted. Rikku was the first person I met here, then she enslaved me." He sighed again, long and lusty, rolling his eyes to the ceiling.

Brother snickered. "You were convenient."

"Yeah, so you wouldn't have to do any work." Tidus retorted.

The banter had that feeling of a pair of guys who could've been enemies, except before it could go too far. They'd beat each other to a pulp, found common ground and after that they were fast friends. Made sense to me.

Brother grinned. "We fed you, if you didn't want to eat. You wouldn't have had to work."

"My argument still stands."

"I was the leader," Brother said, beginning to sound more like himself.

"Rikku was in charge and you know it." Tidus rolled his eyes.

"Appearances can be deceiving." Brother sniffed.

I rolled my eye. "Back to the topic, so Paine's been saying things and Rikku finally blew up."

"She was trying to encourage Rikku to make a move on her man."

It was nice how Tidus assumed the guy would be agreeable to being Rikku's man. But Paine, encouraging Rikku. "Uh-huh, hoo boy. I see what went wrong and why Paine was the target." I looked over my shoulder towards the balcony. One didn't encourage Rikku, even if she wanted to do something. Subtle hints and sweet words had the opposite effect than intended and Rikku was a bomb waiting to explode. Encouragement and praise came after she did whatever.

Brother grimaced. "I'm glad you know."

"I've tried to explain it to you Bro, but you don't get it." I reached for the mug. "She isn't that hard to manipulate.

"So you say," Buddy muttered.

"And I've been doing it for years." I looked at him.

Tidus smirked. "Could you teach me?"

I shook my head. "Got to learn the hard way or else it won't work."

Tidus sighed. "So what should I tell Yuna and Paine?"

"That when angry, truly angry, not fireworks angry Rikku's violent and she'll be fine after some rest."

"In other words, that this is perfectly normal and not to worry."

I paused, blinked once, "No," I said. "Rikku's anger isn't normal and worrying would be a good thing if worry makes you cautious."

"Oh, so what can we do?" He asked.

I stared at him, chagrinned and relieved at the same time. We'd never done anything before to help fix the problem. We'd just kept putting patches on and hoped this time it'd stay fixed. Tidus made it sound like he wanted to figure out a solution. He made it sound simple. Suddenly I warmed to him. He reminded way too much of Shuyin but he was my type of guy and Rikku couldn't have a better friend right now. But, part of the reason we'd never figured out what caused Rikku's problem was we weren't sure we could. So could we really do anything about this situation? Was Rikku in the wrong to attack Paine over what could be considered a trivial matter? It wasn't to Rikku. It was exceedingly personal and painful. Did it justify her actions? Not really. Should we punish her? I doubt we could do better than how she would punish herself and the fear I knew was to come at her very presence. Rikku didn't deserve to be feared. True, she'd been in the wrong before. When she was we did punish her. We tended to take her anger on a case by case basis. So what could we do? "Nothing," I sighed. "Unless you can get Paine to apologize convincingly."

"Unlikely," Tidus rubbed the back of his neck.

I nodded and inwardly agreed. The sands of Sanubia would be covered in snow before that happened. Paine would see nothing wrong with what she'd said and be angry with justification at Rikku for assaulting her, all because she went around things the wrong way. Paine hadn't done anything wrong. Her method was faulty. There was no way she'd apologize and as it is I don't know if Rikku would accept it. I tried to remember it could be worse. Rikku could've assaulted Yuna. Then we'd have an angry Summoner and equally pissed off boyfriend. Tidus left and the three of us sat in silence with our thoughts.

A soft tread on the stairs made us look around. Rikku came down, her shoulders hunched and her head hung low. Her hands didn't know whether to hold the rail, hug herself or wring together. She sat next to me taking Tidus' stool and hid her head in the circle of her arms.

"How bad?" She asked, voice muffled and miserable.

"A black eye, split lip, bruises, minor scratches, a bite or two. No broken bones, serious lacerations or deaths, so I'd say not too serious." I said lightly.

"Is she mad?" She turned her head to look at me. I could barely see her eye over her upper arm and through her bangs. "Wait, stupid question." She muttered and hid her face again. "I've been trying so hard." She whispered.

"I'd say five or six years is a decent accomplishment." I said, wondering why I was the one having to do this. Couldn't Brother and Buddy say something?

"I don't want five, six years leeway. I want it to stop for good." She sat up. "I could've killed you." Tears sprang to her eyes. "My anger isn't worth your lives." She looked away. "I hate it," she whispered. "I hate waking up and not knowing whether someone lived and died because of me."

"Rikku," I murmured.

"Don't trivialize it," she said, jerking her head back to look at me, braids flying. "You always do, even when you always end up in the middle." Her voice broke. "Part of the reason I've worked so hard is you aren't around to stop me. And I didn't know if anyone else could. You being around now isn't an excuse for me to fall back to old ways." She was almost crying. I hate it when she cries. It made me want to do something. Rikku shouldn't cry. "I can't live with this anger. You can't always be around to take care of me." Her face turned beet red and she dropped it into her hands. Tears leaked between her fingers. "Here I am trying to be all grown up and failing miserably." She whispered, then sobbed and laughed at the same time, her shoulders shaking. She always did a fine job of punishing herself. "E's cunno," She whispered over and over, rocking back and forth. I wasn't sure if she was apologizing to me, the absent Paine or for crying.

I looked over at Brother and Buddy, begging for some help. They refused to meet my gaze looking as uncomfortable as I felt. They gazed into their mugs, one fearful the other on alert and it appeared that once again the next move was up to me by virtue of not either fearing or distrusting her. Great. And for once, I didn't know what to do. It sounded terrible but in the old days there were a large group of us distract from her guilt and make her laugh, some new machina to disassemble and reassemble, reports of a particular fiend to check out or just goofing off. I knew what the old Rikku would've needed. Yet now, she was such a mix of old and new. Still enough of the same Rikku I could read her easily and exploit her shamelessly if I wanted with enough difference that I wasn't sure if she enjoyed the same past times or even the same food. You'd think it'd be easy. Rikku was Rikku. My stomach twisted as I realized I was at a loss for words, with Rikku. I scrambled to say something, anything. This couldn't be possible. I stared at the top of the bar and opened my moth a few times, nothing came out. I needed to do something but what?

"Are you hungry?" The words came out of nowhere. I had no idea what I was doing but it was something.

She stilled and pulled her head up looking at me, tears glistening on her cheeks. Amazingly her eyes and nose were clear. I'd forgotten she could cry with turning splotchy. "What?" She whispered, eyes wide.

"Are you hungry?" I repeated.

"I-I suppose," She stuttered and wiped her cheeks and eyes with the back of her finger.

That was close enough to a positive answer for me. "We could go to Luca, get something to eat. Your choice."

She stuttered again. "I-I guess."

"It might give Paine some time to cool off," I nodded. Even though her semi-positive answers meant I'd managed to do something right.

She licked her lips, "True."

I swiveled on the stool and stood up. "Come on," I said grabbing her hand, tugging her off her stool and out of the cabin. Suddenly I was starving and liking this idea better and better. Once I knew she was following me, I dropped her hand. I swore that I heard her whimper softly.

Brother sprinted past me. "Wait in the engine room. We'll drop you off." He said, anything to get Rikku off his ship and away for a bit. Buddy was on his heels and they made us wait until the lift returned.

I stepped in and was about to hit the button when I noticed Rikku wasn't there. She stood in the hall, twisting her hands. "Come on, it won't take that long."

"I prolly look a mess," she muttered and looked over my shoulder at the wall behind me.

I blinked and checked her out. Cream crop top sewn to an orange harness, separate cream sleeves buckled in two places at the top. A short dark brown mini skirt in which the last two inches were tiny pleats, more orange belts around her hips, one held a pouch at her side with a tie off around her thigh, cream and brown ankle boots. I didn't see a problem. "You look fine."

"Men always say that. You didn't even look."

"You have to look at me to know if I'm looking at you, Rikku." I teased.

Her eyes dropped to my face and she flushed.

"You look great and no one but me is going to notice anyways even if you didn't."

"My hair," she said and shifted on her feet.

Why were women so obsessed with their appearance? "Lovely," I reached out, grabbed her wrist and dragged her inside. The lift was moving before she could protest. "Any ideas on where you want to eat."

She swallowed and looked at the floor. "Not really," she muttered.

The engines drowned out my snort of disbelief. Her head whipped upwards as she heard it anyways. She looked back at the floor and said a name so fast I didn't catch it or at least I didn't think I caught what I heard.

"What?"

"Ocean View," She repeated. Yep, that was it. Not that Ocean View Restaurant and Fine Dining wasn't a nice place, mid-priced, a large menu, no dress code, but it didn't seem to be the type of place Rikku would enjoy. She'd struck me as a real hole in the wall or diner eater. Someplace like Sabaku's near the docks. Not Ocean View, Ocean View was family dining with a touch of class, but if that's what she wanted.

"Sure," I said.

The belly of the ship opened as Brother let us off at the docks. "Mind your manners, Rikku." His voice came from nowhere and everywhere. Rikku and I jumped.

"Cred," I swore.

Rikku reached up and unclipped a tiny device from the belted chocker around her neck. "Forgot I had it," She said and shook her head. She did something along the side and was about to put it away when I snatched the interesting piece of machinery from her hands. She sighed.

"What is it?" I asked, turning it over to peer at it from different angles as we ambled away. The outside wasn't very interesting.

"A transmitter, Shinra's idea. It keeps us in touch with the ship and its computers during missions." She bit her lip. "Please, don't turn it back on."

I looked over at her brow raised. "Why not?"

She shuddered. "Brother and Shinra love to eavesdrop with that thing. Nothing is sacred."

I handed it back to her with a laugh. She checked it and put it away with a smile.

"Really," she rolled her eyes. "We've lost so many secrets to them that way and I don't know how many times Buddy has knocked Brother out so he wouldn't make a fool of himself coming after us."

"Since," I said between chuckles. "You do such dangerous and naughty things together. A boys greatest dream come true with three girls not two."

"He is sick," Rikku shuddered.

"Oh, just male."

"So, if he jumped off a bridge would you jump off a bridge too?" She asked. "Being male and all."

"Depends what's at the bottom," I replied. "Three lovely ladies is good justification."

She rolled her eyes again.

There wasn't a long wait at the restaurant. We opted for a table in the back room for the view, which the place was named for. A long bank of glass overlooked what appeared to be an endless vista of water. White tablecloths, navy napkins, candles, gleaming silverware set off with dark wood walls, large mirrors to reflect the ocean and hanging Besaid tapestries. Rikku's sigh was small but she relaxed in the surroundings. She'd graciously taken the seat so I wouldn't have to turn my head to enjoy the view. Her fingers knitted under her chin, the edge of her arms on the table she soaked up the view. I smothered a grin, not that it would have mattered if I had. She wasn't paying attention to me, which was a nice change from other girls.

When the waiter came for our drink order Rikku rattled off what she wanted without looking from the view, not even to glance at her menu. I ordered what she did and after he left I leaned over the table.

"Do you know exactly everything you want?" I asked. Mouth turned up.

It dragged her attention to me. Forced her eyes to meet mine. "Meh-maybe," she stuttered, poise shattered.

I leaned back and grinned. She flushed.

"There's an Al Bhed cook and I-I paid attention," she shifted in her seat, hands dropping to her lap. "To the menu posted outside." She ended in a whisper.

"Didn't ask for an explanation."

"You implied." She shot back.

The waiter returned with an entire bottle of wine and two goblets. He presented it to me for my approval and poured after I nodded. He looked between us, waiting for our order. Rikku went first, rattling it out in Al Bhed. The waiter blinked.

"Miss, your Al Bhed is flawless," he said, stuttering to a stop as Rikku's gaze upturned to his, eyes meeting, Al Bhed green swirls to human brown. "Which of course it is, Sir," he flushed but recovered and turned to me. I ordered in the same manner, holding his gaze with mine making sure there were no misunderstandings as I was also Al Bhed. He hurried away from the table, back of his neck flushed.

"Flawless Al Bhed, it should be." Rikku muttered a tad indignant.

"He was trying to compliment you," I said. She picked up her wine glass, eyes still on the retreating waiter. "Ah, ah, ah," I stopped her from taking a sip with a finger on the rim of her glass. "Toast first."

"A toast?" Her eyes returned to me and her eyebrows rose.

I picked up my glass and held it out. "Five, six years."

She hesitated. "Of what?"

"Rage free."

"Gippal, you're trivializing. That's not something we should toast to."

I leaned forward. "I think it is. It's a great accomplishment and you deserve something. Toast with me."

She licked her lips, eyes locked with mine. She tapped my glass with hers. "Five, six years." The words seemed dragged out of her.

I grinned as I leaned back and took a sip. Her gaze drifted back to the ocean, wine glass out of the way, fingers under her chin again.

"You deserve more than a toast," I said softly.

"A medal perhaps?" She smiled. It was a wry, humorless smile, but still a smile. "I think I've been too busy for rages. Now with less to do, there's more time for quarrels."

I nodded. "Nothing to hold us together."

"Like New Yevon and the Youth League," She said. "More fights than before."

"I wouldn't say more." I shrugged and also looked out the window. The view was spectacular. "Vegnagun wasn't a crisis to the common soldier. Sure they were those fiend attacks but most people don't even know the danger they were in. We do and we see it as something that pulled us together. To them, their leaders went missing and that was bad enough."

"Funny, being the ones who know the whole story," she said.

"New Yevon and the Youth League put great value on their leaders."

"So does the Machine Faction," she looked at me. I started and felt heat rush to my face. "Your people love you. They say you make them strong. When you were gone they worked on and thought for themselves because not only is it our way, but they didn't want to disappoint you." Her face was serious, intrigued yet sad all at once. Approval shone from her eyes, even pride.

I shifted in my seat. Heat in my face intensifying, but warmth in my gut. I looked away. My people loved me, thought I was a good leader. If anyone but Rikku told me, I wouldn't believe it. But she didn't know how to lie, not and look so sincere. It was embarrassing and it felt good all at the same time. I cleared my throat, time to shift the topic. "Nooj and Baralai may have apologized but I'm not guaranteeing anything. Power corrupts."

"Does that go for you too?" She asked, looking at me through long lashes.

"Nah, I was already corrupted."

She giggled.

It was the first honest laugh I'd heard from her lately. It was only a giggle but it was music to my ears. I'd wondered if she'd forgotten how or if I'd forgotten how to make her laugh. "Always shirking my duties, off saving damsels in distress, on epic quests that span the globe." I added.

Giggles turned to laughter head tilting to the side, hair spilling over her shoulder. "Are you sure it's to save the damsels, not capture them?"

"They come willingly enough." I said and glanced up as our food came.

"You're no knight, Gippal." She said. "You're a pirate, a scoundrel even."

The waiter started at my name.

"And you're no damsel in distress, Rikku." I retorted. "But a mercenary and bounty hunter."

He did a double take at Rikku, she didn't notice.

"Thank you," she told him. He got the hint and left. Most likely to tell his coworkers who was sitting at this table, the Machine Faction's leader and Cid's daughter who also happened to be related, Guardian and coworker to the High Summoner. That's assuming if he knew Rikku was Elder Cid's daughter but by his startled look. I bet he knew.

"There's no harm in being either," she said. "Someone needs to keep the parties in line."

"That's my job," I waved a fork at her.

"Oh, I forgot. You're an arms dealer as well." She began to work on her food.

"If it insures a peaceful balance of power."

"And if it doesn't?"

I sniffed. "There's the half dozen super weapons I have stored away."

She almost choked, hastily swallowing the food in her mouth. She burst out laughing.

"But we shouldn't have any problems as long as Yuna is around because," I grinned. "We both know she really runs the show."

She nodded, a tear leaking from her eye not making any sounds. Since she was laughing so hard she was out of breath.

I frowned. "The only people who won't follow her en masse are us, the Al Bhed."

Rikku took a deep breath and got her laughter under control. "They listen to you."

"Not me!" I protested, eye wide. "Cid!"

She shook her head, suddenly sober. "Not anymore."

I froze. Shortly after the Leblanc Syndicate had disbanded we'd gotten a stream of volunteers. I hadn't put it together then. I did now. "Leblanc?" I asked.

She nodded. "Leblanc had Al Bhed working for her. Al Bhed who couldn't follow Pops after we destroyed Home." I winced. Home was a sore spot among us. Some were happy that it was gone and others extremely bitter. Some blamed the Guado. Others blamed Cid. She looked out the window at the setting sun over the curling water. It stained her golden hair red. Her shoulders drooped. "Pops isn't effective as an Elder these days." I wanted to tell her not to say such things. I couldn't. It was true. She continued. "We're no longer united as a people. There's no clear leadership, no goal. Pops even disappeared for a time."

"I know," I said.

She looked at me. "That is, except for you."

"You-you think that I'll be the next Elder." I stuttered and accused at the same time.

She pushed the food around on her plate. "You think Brother can? He can't even command the Gullwings. Yuna's truly in charge making all the decisions. Rin," She paused. "Rin makes me uneasy. I don't like his ethics, too much of a merchant. And Nhadala, she works for you."

"There's you!"

She shook her head. "I'm considered too much of Yuna's shadow. And I don't want it. Seems too much like work. I can't imagine being a leader of an entire people."

"I don't want it either."

"If you're lucky you'll get a choice in the matter. Remember how Pops was chosen?"

I grimaced. Cid had been doing his thing, trying to unite the Al Bhed when the previous Elder came and 'volunteered' him for the job. Cid didn't get a say in the matter. "Thanks, one more worry I didn't need."

"I'm sure it will keep you up nights." She mocked and returned to her food.

"It will," I said.

"Since you're such a responsible person and all."

"I am." I straightened and glared at her.

"Respectable too."

"Exactly."

"And humble."

I paused, "Ah-"

She grinned, eyes merry.

She'd gotten me, well and truly gotten me. "I'll settle on honest."

"Right," she said, biting the tines of her fork to keep from laughing.

"You want dessert. I want dessert." I said. "I insist on dessert." I couldn't meet her eyes.

"Exactly," she said and burst out giggling.

As if summoned the waiter appeared to ask if things were all right. We order dessert, which arrived promptly.

Rikku dig into her strawberry sherbet with her spoon and we ate in silence for a bit, until she frowned.

"Gippal," she said, voice soft.

"Hmm," I'd chosen a fruit pie and was in the process of making more bite sized pieces.

"You've never been afraid of me." Her gaze was on her already melting pink sherbet.

I didn't have to think about it. "Nope." I 'd been scared for her and people around her, but never of her.

"Why?"

I jerked my head up to look at her. She met my eye for a brief second and scooped up some of her dessert, eating to hide her nervousness. I set my fork down and this time I had to think for a few moments. "Well, the idea just never occurred to me." Her eyes widened. Obviously it wasn't the answer she'd been expecting. I wondered what she'd thought. "It isn't like you weren't a threat to my health, but the first time I saw you mad was when you were four years old. I thought it was cute."

"Cute," she choked, flushing.

I grinned. "After we got older it was more like a challenge. Can I keep up with Rikku today?"

The pink faded from her cheeks and she stole little glances at me from the tops of her eyes. "Thanks." I didn't know what she was thanking me for and didn't want to sound stupid and ask. I'd figure it out later. She took a deep breath. "Thanks for not fearing me." She looked at me and then back down. "It helps."

"No problem," I said and picked my fork up. "Of course, you've never been mad at me either."

She scooped up a bite of sherbet and stared at it. "Huh, wonder why that is."

"Dunno, do I get a reward for it?" I applied myself back to my pie.

"Only if it doesn't make a difference."

I frowned. "Difference to what?"

"You not fearing me."

"Hmm, I think you being mad at me might actually be fun, hard to fear someone if you're enjoying yourself. What's the reward?"

She opened her mouth and nothing came out for a few long crucial seconds. I could see the gears turning in her head as she recomposed her thoughts. She snapped it closed and looked away. "I'll think about it."

She'd had an idea but I had a better one. "Or do I get to choose?" I lifted a corner of my mouth up.

"That sounds risky," she said.

"Hey, life without risks is boring."

Her brow furrowed and she sighed. "Fine, your choice."

"Why do I feel that you're grudgingly admitting I'm right?"

She glared at me and finished the last of her sherbet.

"Of course I'm right," I said. "Since, I'm saying it to the two time savior of the world. That's risky business."

"Gippal," She rolled her eyes.

I grinned at her over my last bit of pie. "I mean, how many times in your life will chances like that come up. Work could be slim."

"Crid ib."

I took the bite and shook my head while chewing and swallowing. She sighed and gestured for the check. I stole it before she could see it and she bit the inside of her lip, looking like she wanted to protest. I gave her a pointed look. "My treat," I said.

She nodded and leaned back in her seat. I counted out enough gil for the check and a hefty tip. We left.

Night had fallen while we were eating and the stars were out. We ambled back to the docks side by side not saying anything. The night was warm with just enough breeze coming off the harbor. She turned down one of the docks and it took me a second to realize it wasn't the one the Celsius had left us at. It was covered in boxes and Rikku leaned her back against one, looking up at the stars, winding down. I think.

I stood next to her for a bit, gazing up and when that got uncomfortable I leaned a shoulder against the same box Rikku was using crossing my arms and ankles. Silence, comfortable silence lengthened between us and the stars shifted across the sky. I wasn't surprised when Rikku began to speak. She'd never been able to bear silence for long. I was surprised more at what she said. She told me stories, stories about the stars, pointing at shapes never looking at me to make sure I was paying attention, just assuming it. She told me who they were or sometimes what and how they got to be there in the skies. I loved the stars. I knew how to guide myself across trackless wastes by them, but I'd never heard the stories she told me that night; stories about Summoners, Ronso, great fiends, epic quests, machina, animals, heroes and even places.

I looked down from time to time to watch her face. It held the same rapt relaxed attention she had looking over the ocean. Her lips moving as word after word spilled out. The stars glittered in her eyes. Their color lost in the dark while the night paled her skin from bronze to cream. Half the time I wasn't really hearing what she was saying. I watched her lips, soft and shining. I wondered if they were as sweet as they looked. How had I never seen the smoothness of her skin and when had her hair gotten so long and did it feel as silky as it appeared. My heart pounded as I listened and watched. Her chest rose up and down as she talked, long, long legs stretching to the deck. She was beautiful, a better view than the stars above. I stood and cupped her cheek in my hand, ran my thumb across those lips, finer than velvet to the touch of my rough skin. She stopped speaking and treated me to her gaze, rapt attentive, completely in this moment memorizing what I looked like. As if I was the most important and only person in the world to her. Her breath caught someplace between mouth and chest, lips parted.

I leaned down and just before our lips touched I realized that I was about to do something supremely stupid. It was too late to stop and once our lips met. I no longer cared. They were soft and warm. I tilted my head to one side, lingering over their sweetness, brushing them gently with my own feeling their warmth travel from my lips to my gut. I pulled away slowly and watched her face. Her closed eyes fluttered open and she inhaled, sweet lips curving into a smile, dimples appearing. I smiled back and she pressed her cheek into my hand, rubbing against it. I caressed her skin, smooth and satiny.

We stared at each other unsure what to do, unsure what to say. Above us, engines roared as the Celsius flew overhead shattering the crystal silence. With a last caress I dropped my hand. It was time for us to part and we both knew it.

"Good night, Rikku." I murmured. What else could I say?

She smiled. "Thanks, for everything." She stepped around me and paused, looking up. "Sleep sweet, Gippal."

My lips twitched upwards. "Sleep sweet." She walked away and I couldn't help but turn and watch her hips swaying with her walk in that oh so tiny skirt, the broad expanse of her bare back broken only by the harness belts. She vanished into the dark and a few minutes later the Celsius took off again.

I looked up at the stars and then the enormity of what I'd done hit me. I'd kissed her, a girl, not just any girl, Rikku. The very girl twelve or more hours ago I told myself I'd never date. What had come over me? How had things changed so quickly? The memory of her lips burned. Her kiss had felt so amazing it made me feel alive. Just being in her presence did that.

Yet, I was the one date king. And did tonight even qualify as a date? Examine the evidence, I asked, she accepted, I paid and - I kissed her. I groaned. It qualified. The kiss sealed it. By my own rules I was obligated to take her out again. My heart pounded worse than just before I kissed her. In fear or excitement I wasn't sure. What was I going to do?

--

Well, shout outs!

Lucinda: In response to your comment, please see my LJ
cupcakegirl: hugs thanks for the very in depth review over at rippalshippers! hope you like this next chapter.
LadyD: Well, I think the most angst is in the first chapter. I'll try to keep the angst to a minimum.
Gippals0laydee: There is nothing more exciting than trouble. I hope you enjoyed this chapter as well.