I'll Be There For You – Chapter 3

Boom!

I was eating breakfast really late this morning, which wasn't a big shocker. But what was the cause of my co-worker's worry was my mood. I always had a carefree, laid back, and cocky nature, and I wasn't being like that at all. I was quiet, cold, and snappy at the moment. I could tell that everyone wanted to ask me what was wrong, but they were afraid to because they didn't want to discover if they would be missing a body part when they were finished. Bad thing was, I couldn't do anything to change my mood when I'm not the reason why I'm like this. Amy is, that… "woman"…

She accused me of cheating on her. The actual comment didn't bother me. She said that it was a one-night fling, which still didn't bother me. But… whom she said it was with… did. Amy accused me of sleeping with Rikku.

I boiled over; how dare she accuse me of something like that, something so low? I may be a player, but I don't do one-night stands. I understand that woman aren't toys that can be used once then thrown out the window. I despise men that do that, and I always will.

And she said that it was Rikku. Come on, what kind of guy does she think I am? Like I would do something like that with Cid's daughter, and my past girlfriend! Rikku's… to good for that. She needs to find a man that knows better than one-night stands. Sadly, there isn't a lot of them now a days. Besides, I couldn't even fathom doing something like that to Rikku.

Apparently, I didn't have my emotions in check this afternoon. My anger at Amy's statement influenced my actions and judgment. I ended up hurting someone close to me…

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Rikku walked into my office with a cheery hello.

"What do you want?" I asked sharply, still pissed from Amy's comments.

Rikku frowned, "We're getting ready to work on that experiment, and you said to come get you because you wanted to work on it. I just came to tell you that I've got it, seeing as you're drowning in paperwork."

"I'm still coming." I told her firmly, not looking at her, "Just gimme a few minutes."

"I've got it, really. I can take care of myself you know."

"That still doesn't change the fact that I'm coming!"

"I know, but I don't want you to get behind-"

I slammed my hand against the desk. "Damn it Rikku! Why can't you accept a simple answer?"

Rikku looked a little scared at my mood swing. I was too, but I couldn't stop the anger that was bubbling inside of me. "Gippal, whoa, chill out-" she began, but I cut her off.

"Look! I'm tired of people telling me to sit here and do my paperwork like a good little leader when I need to move around! I hate it even more when you people accuse me of doing things that I didn't do!"

Rikku glared at me, getting slightly annoyed now. "I didn't accuse you-"

I wasn't listening at this point. All of my anger broke the self-control meter in my brain. I glared up at her, and then started chewing her out in Al Bhed for no reason.

…I don't remember what I said. But the look on her face when I yelled at her… it was like she was afraid of me, like I was cutting her to the core. When my anger evaporated, she still had that look on her face. Realization dawned on me, and my face fell. I'm… I'm not so sure… that I want to know what I said.

"Well," Rikku said softly, a few tears escaping from her eyes. She brushed them away. "I see that to you I'm still Cid's Little Girl… that's okay, I wasn't expecting any changes in opinion from you. Just… didn't think that you would tell me like that. I hoped that your opinion would have changed, but I guess some things can withstand the changes that time brings." She silently left my office, shutting the door gently behind her.

I slammed my fist against the desk again out of disgust. Disgust… at myself. How could I do something like that? Why did I do that? How could I do something so… heartless? It's not like I've never yelled at anyone, heck, I've yelled at Baralai! But I never felt like this… like the world just ended. Like I ruined someone's life, like they hate me now. Rikku probably does… oh I couldn't stand that…

I was true to my word, and I went to the Chamber of the Fayth to work on the experiment with Rikku and her crew.

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I walked into the room. Rikku was there, talking and laughing; making the atmosphere warm and friendly. But as soon as she saw me, that atmosphere turned for the worst. It became cold and unwelcoming. I wanted to explain my actions to her so badly… but I couldn't bring myself to do it in front of everyone.

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We were almost done upgrading it; I only had to tweak a few things. Rikku made sure that her crew cleaned up and left for lunch. I was beginning to wonder why she always seemed to hang back… then I realized that she was coming over to help me.

"You go eat, Cid's Girl, I've got it." I told her gently. She looked at me blankly.

"I don't mind helping."

I nodded, "Thank you… Rikku." After an uncomfortable silence of putting together machina, I had to say something. Rikku was being so silent and upset… it killed me. "Rikku, can I talk to you for a second? I promise it'll be civilized." A small smile tugged at her lips, then she nodded. I led her away from, the machina and forced her to look up into my face.

"I'm sorry for blowing up in my office. It was completely uncalled for, and you weren't even the reason I was so ticked. I had to right to take it out on you, and I'm sorry. Nothing really ever gets me that pissed, but Amy really got under my skin. She accused me of cheating on her."

"Is that it?"

I ran my hand through my hair, looking at the ground and flushing slightly. "Yeah, I know, really stupid reason. But… she said that it was a one-night fling with one of my co-workers… a co-worker that I hold in high esteem and would never dream of doing something like that with."

Rikku raised an eyebrow, "Things like this don't matter to you. Why did it this time?"

"It was who she accused me of it being."

"Is she disgusting?"

My head shot up. "No! I… I just would never dream of doing something like that to her. She's to good for that."

Rikku looked at the floor, "Oh. I see." She said softly. "I suppose you're not going to tell me who she is?"

I sighed, and walked back over to the machina, and began to place the last parts into their respected places. "You."

"What? You mean… you got so pissed that she said it was with me, that you end up yelling at people?"

"I got so upset that she would think that I would have a one-night fling with you. I know you better, and you would never do something like that. Besides, I can't even think of hurting you like that and-" my explanation was cut off when I heard a hissing noise. "Do you hear that?" I asked, turning back to look at her.

"Hear what?"

"That… hissing noise." I told her, and then looked around the room. Rikku's eyes widened.

"Gippal! Move out of the way!" she screamed. She ran forward and grabbed my arm, the both of us beginning to sprint towards the doors exiting the chamber. I realized what was going on. Something happened to the experiment, and it was about to blow. Then I realized that we weren't going to make it out in time. Sure enough, I felt the energy of the explosion lift us off of the floor. I knew that we had to land, and I couldn't see Rikku get hurt.

I pulled Rikku into my arms, making sure that her head was protected against my chest, my arms covering her small frame. Then I angled my body, allowing the floor to impact with my back.

I marveled how well Rikku seemed to fit into my arms. I wanted to do this again sometime, but I didn't know when-

A/N: Yay! An update! I'm suffering from writer's block on Together At Last, so just hang in there for me!

I would like to thank Kitsu Kurasei for reviewing… seeing as she was the only one… that makes me sad…

Read and Review!

-Vincent's Angel of Chaos-