I'll Be There For You – Chapter 11
Night On The Town
I looked at myself in the mirror for the umpteenth time.
Paine rolled her eyes, "Rikku, you look fine." I nodded nervously, still looking at my reflection. I wasn't so sure… Paine and Yunie looked amazing though. We were going to the new Al Bhed club that I told Gippal about when I first woke up. He told me to get Yuna and Paine in something that looks Al Bhed, or close to. He said he would work on the guys, and I nearly laughed at the image of Baralai wearing something other than his praetor robes.
Getting Yunie and Paine decked out wasn't that hard. Paine protested when she saw the shirt, but then I reminded that Baralai was her date. She glared at me and snatched the shirt from me. Oh yeah, Gippal was right. There is SO something going on there.
So, Paine was wearing very flattering black pants with black heels, and a deep crimson top. Of course, it was something that I would wear, which was the point. It was a halter-top, and entirely backless. A strap in the back tied together kept the shirt on, but her entire back was bare, and ready for Baralai to gawk at. I managed to coax her to let her hair fall down. I was shocked at how curly it was. So, I just let her hair do its natural thing, which was looking absolutely gorgeous.
Yunie was going to attract attention, and not just from Tidus. She wore a light blue halter mini dress with white heels. (Sorry, I have a thing for halters… don't shoot me! Thanks, Gippal might have to come after you.) The back of the dress plunged down, and three straps connected both sides of the dress together so it wouldn't flap all over the place. Her hair was straightened, and fell gracefully around her oval face.
Me… yeah, I couldn't even hold up a candle to them. I wore a black mini skirt with black heels that had silk ribbons to tie around my calves. On top, I had a gold-ish color tube top, with a gold necklace around my neck. I let my hair fall down all the way to the middle of my back, a few strands done up in braids. Yeah… I didn't even compare.
Yuna came into the room, her face bright. "They're here!" she cried, "And I may say they are very hot looking! Especially Tidus!" she dashed out of our hotel room.
I smiled at Paine. "Why am I not surprised?"
As Paine and I walked into the lobby, I saw Yuna standing next to Tidus, positively beaming. Yup, I don't think anything could ruin tonight for them. Then Paine stopped dead in her tracks, her mouth slightly open. I followed her gaze, and fought to stifle my giggles.
There was Baralai in something besides his praetor robes. He wore dark jeans with brown boots and a white shirt. All right, so imagine his praetor coat. Except, this coat is sleeveless, and there isn't a cord running through the collar. Not a single Yevon symbol could be found anywhere on the fabric. The thing that probably got Paine was the vivid Al Bhed green color that it was. It was like you took the color of our eyes, and put it on a coat. And since his coat was sleeveless, it displayed his nicely muscled arms, and a black armband graced his right bicep. His hair was down, and tied back in a ponytail at the base of his neck. I didn't know that his hair was long enough to do that…
"So, I take it that this is something that you're not used to?" he asked, smiling at Paine.
When she didn't respond, I did it for her. "Baralai, I have the pleasure of introducing you to Speechless Paine."
We all laughed, and she blushed. Baralai took a few steps forward and offered her his arm. "It's all right, I was in shock for a few minutes too." Paine nodded, and slipped her ungloved arm around his bare one.
"Yeah, he turned to me and asked me if I was kidding when I said that was what he was wearing. Then I reminded him that you would see him dressed like this. He didn't seem to mind after that." A voice in the shadows said to Paine, stepping forward.
I know my jaw hit the floor. But, trust me, if you saw this guy, you would have done the exact same thing. We're talking my exact match for colors. Black on the bottom, and a gold on the top. Except… he wore no shirt! Whoo whoo! Hottie alert! His coat was long sleeved, and a golden sun on a chain rested on his tan chest. Damn!
I was starring at the man that was Gippal for a few seconds, before he cleared this throat. "You know, your jaw is going to break if it goes down any farther."
I blushed, "Well excuse me if I'm taking it all in!"
He laughed, and scooped me up in a hug. "Ah, I can't blame you. I must say that you look rather dashing yourself."
When he set me back down, I glared up at him. "Who told you my colors? There is no way this happened by chance."
"Do you really want to know? I spied on you."
I punched his arm. "No you didn't! Tell me the truth!"
"All right… I confess. I called Yuna to see what colors you were wearing. Sue me for wanting to match."
I smiled up at him, "It's okay. Now, let's go!" I was honestly touched that he was focused on doing something as simple as matching so we would look like a couple… wait a minute! What is he playing at here? Oh geez Rikku, girl, you're over reacting. It doesn't mean anything… or does it? Forget about it, and worry about it later. Tonight is meant to be a night of FUN!
When I stepped out of the hover, my eyes went wide. Oh yeah, this is what I'm talking about! Seeing as I've been stuck in the hospital for a month, the AIRSHIP would be a welcome sight, and that's saying something. I seriously think that I went mad in that hospital room… ugh. But, I have Gippal to thank for my sanity though.
We entered the club, and grabbed a table towards the back. The doctors told me nothing alcholic. I was like, "Dude… I'm 18?" But whatever. Gippal brought me lemonade, and sat down in the empty chair next to me that I saved for him.
"Don't worry, I watched the bartender get it. There's nothing wrong with it." He assured me as he sipped his root beer.
I shuddered. "I don't understand how you people can drink that stuff."
He laughed. "You'd be surprised."
"You've drunk before?" I gasped up at him.
He chuckled nervously, and Baralai interrupted. "You would be surprised what can happen when you have three bored men and a few bottles of beer when no one is watching."
"I swear I will never drink again… that was horrible…" Gippal whispered, then shuddered.
Paine smirked. "Talk about hysterical to watch."
Gippal chuckled. "Oh, did you not see Baralai?"
Baralai laughed, and sipped his glass of wine. "Yeah, that's something that I'm not going to do anytime soon, I can assure you. But Gippal, you don't know what you're missing."
"Oh shut up Baralai. Quit rubbing it in my face that you can legally drink now."
He just laughed and took another sip.
We talked for an hour or so, and then Gippal dragged me onto the dance floor.
"Really Gippal, I can't dance!" I protested.
Gippal looked back at me over his shoulder and grinned. "Oh that's okay, you're in good company."
"So, explain to me why we're going to dance when neither of us can?"
"Oh come on, Baralai's dancing!"
"That's because he's had wine."
"He stopped after his first glass, didn't you know? He doesn't like the hangover that follows."
I rolled my eyes. "Gippal, no one does."
"Get over it, you're dancing with me!"
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As the music started, I felt my face heat up. I had a rough idea of what dancing should look like, but doing it was an entirely different thing. ((A/N: First hand experience!))
"Rikku, muug yd sa." Gippal said quietly. "Zicd namyq yht mecdah du dra payd." ((Rikku, look at me. Just relax and listen to the beat.))
"Y meddma aycean cyet dryh tuha." ((A little easier said than done.)) I grumbled.
He shook his head, and led me back to our table. "Ymm nekrd, E's cunno vun biddehk oui ib du dryd. E's hud kuehk du syga oui tu cusadrehk dryd oui tuh'd fyhd du." ((All right, I'm sorry for putting you up to that. I'm not going to make you do something that you don't want to.)) He told me gently, and left to join Yuna, Tidus, and Baralai at the bar.
"Ed'c hud dryd E tuh'd du tyhla fedr oui, ed'c zicd dryd E's yvnyet..." ((It's not that I don't to dance with you, it's just that I'm afraid...)) I whispered to his back.
"Afraid of what? Him?" someone asked, coming up behind me.
I jumped, spinning around, only to relax. It was just Paine. "I'm not afraid of him… I'm just afraid that I'll make a fool of myself out there…"
She smiled. "If it'll help, I can give you the basic do's and don'ts. Will that help?"
I looked up at her. "Seriously?"
"Dead honest. Come on, if you want to dance with Gippal, we've gotta work fast."
I danced with Paine for a few songs, and I must admit that I was getting pretty good. I think I can safely say that I know what I'm doing. Baralai saw us, and set down his drink to come over.
"Well! I must say that you two managed to attract my attention. Why are you two dancing alone? I don't want to have to come save you from drunk men."
Paine smiled. "We can take care of ourselves."
He inclined his head, "I know, but still. So, do you think that both of you can pity me and dance?"
I smiled. "Yeah, why not?"
At first I was nervous about dancing with Baralai, but he soon put down my fears.
He shook his head. "Rikku, relax. I saw you dancing before I came out here, and you're good. Don't hide it!" When I didn't respond, he sighed, and placed his hands on my hips. "Please tell me that Paine told you to move your hips? If she didn't… move your hips!" He teased me, and I laughed. I relaxed, and moved to the beat, and he removed his hands. "See? Not so bad!"
Paine burst out laughing. "You've had more than one glass."
"Does it really matter? At least I'm not drop dead drunk."
"This would be progress." Paine snickered, and Baralai shot her a glare, causing the both of them to laugh. I joined in at the oddness of the conversation, not because of what was being said.
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A few minutes later, the song ended. The three of us walked back to the bar, laughing, towhere Gippal was sitting.
"Man… I need some water." I gasped as I plopped down next to Gippal on a barstool.
"Have fun dancing?" he asked me coolly.
I eyed him warily. "Yeah… I know what I'm actually doing now, contrary to a few minutes ago."
"So those were lessons?" he asked, looking at Paine and Baralai.
Paine nodded, "Pretty much."
After a few minutes of silence, I spoke up. "E's cunno vun tedlrehk oui dra vencd desa oui fyhdat du tyhla Gippal. Tu oui... tu oui cdemm fyhd du tyhla fedr sa yhofyo?" ((I'm sorry for ditching you the first time you wanted to dance Gippal. Do you... do you still want to dance with me anyway?))
He looked up at me surprised. "Tuh'd funno ypuid ed." ((Don't worry about it.)) He assured me.
I blushed. "Tu oui cdemm fyhd du tyhla druikr? E ihtancdyht ev oui tuh'd fyhd du-" ((Do you still want to dance though? I understand if you don't want to-))
Gippal silenced me with one of his hands over mine. "Tu oui naymmo drehg dryd E lyh navica y tyhla uvvan vnus yh Al Bhed payido? Oui'ja kud cusadrehk amca lusehk." ((Do you really think that I can refuse a dance offer from an Al Bhed beauty? You've got something else coming.)) He told me softly, eyes dancing. Switching back to normal speech, he addressed Baralai and Paine. "We're off to go dancing. Yuna and Tidus went for a walk, so you guys join us if you want to."
And without waiting for their response, he led me to the dance floor.
We reached the edge of the dance floor just as my favorite song began to play. I smiled, and ran to go to the center of the floor, but Gippal got me before I even took two steps. His arm was wrapped firmly around my waist, and I leaned down.
"Yht frana tu oui drehg oui'na kuehk mujamo?" He whispered softly into my ear. "Oui'na tyhlehk fedr sa kenm." ((And where do you think you're going lovely? You're dancing with me girl.))
I turned around in his grasp, and put my right hand over his heart. "Ur oayr... dryd'c nekrd, E nasaspan huf." ((Oh yeah... that's right, I remember now.)) I said teasingly, drumming my fingers on his chest. He smiled, grasped both of my hands, and pulled me into the dancing crowd.
No, no, no, no, don't phunk with my heart
(Yeah)
No, no, no, no, don't phunk with my heart
As the chorus came thorough, I began to move to the beat, ignoring everyone and everything around me. All though it was getting hard, seeing as Gippal was about three feet in front of me. Why did he have to be so hot looking tonight, why? What did I do to deserve such hottness?
I wonder if I take you home
Would you still be in love, baby (in love, baby)
I wonder if I take you home
Would you still be in love, baby (in love, baby)
Girl, you know you got me, got me
With your pistol shot me, shot me
And I'm here helplessly
In love and nothing can stop me
You can't stop me cause once I start it
Can't return me cause once you bought it
I'm coming baby, don't got it (don't make me wait)
So let's be about it
I had begun to dance freely now, not caring about how bad I looked. All I cared about was that I wasn't doing anything to proactive, and I was having tons of fun.
"No, no, no, no, don't phunk with my heart" I sang with the recording, and Gippal danced closer.
"Baby, have some trustin', trustin'
When I come in lustin', lustin'
Cause I bring you that comfort
I ain't only here cause I want ya body
I want your mind too
Interestin's what I find you
And I'm interested in the long haul
Come on girl"
(Yee-haw)
He rapped softly, and I looked up into his eyes. Bad idea. I saw a lot of things in his one eye, things that I wasn't scared of, things that I secretly wanted to see. I danced a little closer to him.
(Come on)
I wonder if I take you home
Would you still be in love, baby (in love, baby)
I wonder if I take you home
Would you still be in love, baby (in love, baby)
No, no, no, no, don't phunk with my heart
Girl, you had me, once you kissed me
My love for you is not iffy
I always want you with me
I'll play Bobby and you'll play Whitney
If you smoke, I'll smoke too
That's how much I'm in love with you
Crazy is what crazy do
Crazy in love, I'm a crazy fool
Gippal smiled when he saw me move closer, and he placed his hands on my hips. This wasn't anything that I felt when Baralai put his hands there, getting my to move my hips. This… this could easily be described as fire running through my veins. He moved with me, and we were having a blast.
"No, no, no, no, don't phunk with my heart" I whispered, and Gippal heard me. He leaned over and kissed me on the cheek, not disrupting our dance. He removed his hands after a while, much to my disappointment. The fire seemed to leave when his hands did, making me feel somewhat weak. He moved away so he wasn't crowded me, which made me even more disappointed. Funny, he's kinda playing with it right now, and it's not a fun feeling. Can he just make up his mind if he wants to scoop me up and take me out of the club all ready? I'm getting tired of trying to guess what's going on in that brain of his!
Why are you so insecure
When you got passion and love her
You always claimin' I'm a cheater
Think I'd up and go leave ya
For another señorita
You forgot that I need ya
You must've caught amnesia
That's why you don't believe
(Uh, yeah, check it out)
Gippal danced closer than he did the first time, placing his hands on my hips again, pulling me close to him as well. He leaned down and whispered the next part of the song in my ear.
Don't you worry 'bout a thing, baby
Cause you know you got me by a string, baby
Don't you worry 'bout a thing, baby
Cause you know you got me by a string, baby
He moved away from me slightly, allowing me to look up into his face. He gave me a small smile, and his eye seemed to pour out those four lines. I smiled, and reached up to give him a kiss on the cheek.
Baby girl, you make me feel
You know you make me feel so real
I love you more than sex appeal
(Cause you're)
That-tha, that tha, that-tha, that girl
That-tha, that tha, that-tha, that girl
That-tha, that tha, that-tha, that girl
That-tha, that tha, that-tha, that girl
That-tha, that tha, that-tha, that girl
((Overlapping))
No, no, no, no, don't phunk with my heart ((2x))
That-tha, that tha, that-tha, that girl ((2x))
Wonder if I take you home,
Would you still be in love, baby (in love, baby)
Wonder if I take you home,
Would you still be in love, baby (in love, baby)
Wonder if I take you home,
Would you still be in love, baby (in love, baby)
Wonder if I take you home,
Would you still be in love, baby (in love, baby)
I danced close to him, and he leaned down so he could hear what I was saying. I whispered, "Wonder if I take you home, would you still be in love, baby" Gippal smiled at me, and wrapped his arms around me in a quick hug. He let go, and we continued dancing. I was beginning to feel light headed from the music, and having Gippal dance with me about a foot away was certainly not helping.
He leaned down to whisper his new favorite part of the song in my ear, moving closer, hands on my hips. I placed my hands on the bare part of his chest. His skin was warm, and it was sending tingles all down my spine.
Don't you worry 'bout a thing, baby
Cause you know you got me by a string, baby
Don't you worry 'bout a thing, baby
Cause you know you got me by a string, baby
As the last notes were played, he wrapped me in a tight hug.
"Whew… I'm tired." I said, giggling.
He chuckled, and I could hear it come from deep in his chest. "You dance… wonderfully. I'll have to tell Paine she's good at teaching."
I clutched at his coat, my head resting just above his metal sun. "She said it was all me, but I don't believe her."
"I can, and I do." He said firmly, and kissed the top of my head. "Let's go get some fresh air on the balcony, come on."
A/N: YES! I FINALLY have it up here, aren't you proud of me! Anyway, what do you guys think about the song, does it fit?
Don't Phunk With My Heart - Black Eyed Peas
marajade963 - Yup, I think that the next chapter might be the last one... which means I've got to start planning the sequel... ACK! I hate planning... my fics never turn out like I plan them too, but at least I'm getting something down! Glad you loved last chapter, so what about this one? I'm kinda halfway with the song... not really sure if it fits... but I liked the "Don't phunk with my heart" and "Don't you worry about a thing baby cause you know you've got me by a string baby". THAT seemed tofit to me at least... ((sigh)) Ah,I don't know anymore.
Vemmie-Daezure - It's okay! Both of them are okay! Expect something like that again in the sequel. After all, they do have to hunt down and take care of Azar... hehe! GIPPAL'S TWIN SISTER! That was actually spur of the moment... now I have to think ahead of why she changed... ((groans)) I hate thinking, grr. I'm glad that you liked the drama and action... that's good! Yay! By the way, thank you for all of my plushies! ((grins up at the shelf of numerous plushies))
Kitsu Kurasei - It's okay! You're back now and that you're up to date!
Janey3377 - Yes, Gippal has a twin sister ((evil laugh)) Well, here he does anyway. It's getting better... then it ends for the sequel. Ha! Well, here's your date, and IT'S NOT DONE! Mwahahahahaha!
for always x - THE FLUFF HAS ARRIVED! Yes! ((lmao))
Disclaimer: I own nothing, not even the song... Black Eyed Peas does.
Read and review! One more chapter, then sequel sometime in the near future hopefully!
-Vincent's Angel of Chaos-