As Baralai's golden brown eyes swept over the audience, he glanced up at the Celcius and felt as though he could fly up there and give Paine a huge hug. He smiled as the cheers of the crowd filled his ears. In his twenty years of life, he had never felt so light, so filled with the feeling that he could accomplish anything with anyone he wanted. So, when Gippal grabbed his hand, he looked at his best friend as his smile widened. He did not resist when the younger man dashed off the podium and even though he was behind Gippal, Baralai was able to keep up. The two of them weaved around the crowds easily and their quick pace did not relent even as they ran through the streets of Luca.
"Gippal, please, let's slow down," Baralai panted, tugging on the Al Bhed. His heart fluttered when he saw people looking at them. He suddenly felt the same queasiness he felt before he gave his part of the speech.
Gippal looked back and did as he was told, "You okay, Baralai?"
"Of course," Baralai answered, squeezing Gippal's hand. His dark eyes scanned an alley that was away from the large groups of people preparing for a city-wide party. "I would just like to go somewhere more private." He sighed in relief as Gippal spotted the same area.
"Let's go over there, then," Gippal led the way and once they arrived in the shadowed area, Baralai sat on a tall, thick barrel and wrapped his arms around Gippal's neck. He held him tightly, pressing his smooth cheek against Gippal's and felt his blood rush through his lean muscled body.
"I missed you," Baralai whispered in his friend's ear. "It's been far too long-"
"Shhh...I know," Gippal interrupted, running his hands down Baralai's back before returning the embrace. "I know."
"Did you miss me?" Baralai asked, looking past Gippal and up at the sky, where the Celcius was still flying over Luca.
The Al Bhed pressed his lips against Baralai's ear, "Of course I missed you."
When he felt Gippal's breath glide over his platinum hair, the young Praetor quivered against Gippal's body. He should have felt even more joy, but he didn't because the Celcius was fading away against the deep blue sky. When Baralai saw that, he pressed his lips tightly together as a tear fell down his eye and slid down both his and Gippal's cheek.
"Baralai, what's wrong?" Gippal held the older man at arm's length. "We're together again. Why are you sad, eh?" He gently wiped the tear away.
"I'm sorry, my Gippal," Baralai gently replied, shaking his head. "I'll miss her." He sighed, "I mean when we saw the girls before the speech, I was watching Paine and she was watching me. She had a smile on her face and even though I tried to smile back, I was still a little angry because I didn't want her to leave me, to leave us."
"Oh, Baralai..."
"I know..." Baralai sighed again, chewing on his full, pouty lips. "It's just that when I saw the ship leaving, that's when I knew that it was all for real." He squeezed his eyes shut and grabbed on to Gippal. Baralai willed his remaining tears away, but his voice cracked when he spoke again. "I just wanted her to be with us..." He fell silent as he felt Gippal's gloved hands running up and down his back.
"It's not like we'll never see her again," the blond said in an almost chiding tone. "Lighten up, Baralai. You still have me." He cupped Baralai's chin in his hand, rubbing his thumb on the contour of his cheek.
Grunting quietly, Baralai leaned into Gippal's touch, looking into his one bright blue eye, "I love you." When Gippal smiled in response, Baralai leaned back, took a long, deep breath and bared his throat.
"I love you too," Gippal whispered, his lips brushing past Baralai's collar.
Baralai tensed as he felt Gippal nibble on his neck and then twitched every time his best friend's lips moved. He grabbed the back of Gippal's purple shirt as the younger man pulled away, his face less than an inch away from Baralai's. Their breathing intertwined as they gazed into each other's eyes, their noses almost touching. Baralai pulled away slightly to put his fingers on Gippal's slightly chapped lips.
"I remember the last time we kissed," Baralai said, his voice lower than even a whisper, but the Al Bhed nodded. "It was at Mi'hen. We were together sitting in front of the sunset." He sighed. "I barely noticed it because you were right next to me. I wanted to kiss you, but my heart was beating hard, just like it is now. I was afraid then, but I asked to kiss you because you always kissed me first. For once, I wanted to take charge." He shook his head. "When you let me, I just froze."
"But, you did kiss me eventually," Gippal replied, pressing his lips against Baralai's.
"Yes, I did." The Praetor rested his forehead against Gippal's. "Just like you just did. Softly, gently, but unlike me, you didn't have any fear, and your hands didn't tremble, and I didn't feel your heart pounding. It just calmly beat as it's doing right now. When I finally had the courage to take control, you suddenly took it from my and I simply let go all too easily as I often did with you."
"Only when we were like this," Gippal corrected Baralai. He smirked as his fingers caressed the back of Baralai's neck.
Baralai helplessly trembled, "Yes, like this." His piercing golden brown eyes flickered up to Gippal's one blue eye. "But, not now. Now, when I kiss you, you follow me." He wrapped his arms around Gippal's neck. "Bear with me, please." He licked his pouting lips before gently pressing them against Gippal's. He started on the top, then on the bottom before finally penetrating
his best friend's mouth. When he felt Gippal trying to push, Baralai pulled away, his eyebrows raised. Gippal grinned and bowed his head.
"Sorry," He said.
"Don't be," Baralai replied before pushing forward, his tongue slowly moving along against Gippal's. His hands were just as slow as he put them on the younger man's shoulders, kneading them. In response, Gippal squeezed Baralai's hips, making him grunt. When they finally pulled away, Baralai looked into his friends eyes once more before beaming, feeling as though a great weight had been lifted off of his shoulders. Gippal kissed Baralai on the cheek before hugging him.
The young Praetor wished the entire world would just stand still right there and then, feeling nothing but Gippal's body against his. He wished it could have been like this for all of the two years, but was perfectly content to have it now as he knew that he would have no doubt have this for years to come. He breathed into Gippal's ear, squeezing his golden eyes shut, so his tears of joy wouldn't pour down his face. But, all that vanished when he heard laughing from a small crowed nearby. Baralai quickly pushed Gippal away.
"What's wrong?" Gippal asked, his one eye widened, his hands out to his sides.
"Look!" Baralai gasped, pointing at the crowd, but then he realized that the crowd wasn't even looking at them. His shoulders slumped. "I'm sorry...
Gippal chuckled, "No, don't be, Baralai." He cupped his hand on Baralai's chin. "Shall we continue."
Baralai narrowed his eyes and gently shoved Gippal away before jumping off the barrel, "No. I don't want to chance anyone watching us."
"You didn't complain before," Gippal grinned, wrapping his arms around Baralai's neck.
"I wasn't thinking before," Baralai replied, pulling away from Gippal and grabbing his hand. "Let's go, please."
The two young men walked the streets of Luca without any heed to the celebration around them. Baralai held Gippal's hand tightly and would be damned before he let him go. They smiled at each other, their interlocked hands swinging to the rhythm of their pace. If anyone noticed them, they simply smiled and commented 'great speech' or just ignored them to tend to getting plastered.
As they walked up the large stairs beyond the square, Baralai looked down and noticed Nooj being interviewed be Shelinda and he stopped. "Gippal..."
"What?" The blond Al Bhed looked back. "Oh, Nooj. He's just talking to her."
"About what, I wonder..." Baralai asked, his voice quivering with worry.
"Oh my god, Baralai, you can't be serious!" Gippal incredulously replied. Before Baralai could answer, Gippal pulled him up the second flight of stairs.
"I'm sorry, Gippal," Baralai managed to keep up with Gippal, but tugged on his hand. "Please slow down."
"Baralai, you heard him. He's not going to cause you trouble anymore." Gippal reprimanded, not slowing down.
"But...but..." Baralai gasped, tugging harder. Finally, they stopped before the third flight that led to the Mi'hen Highroad. "Please, Gippal...I know what we all said...I know...it's just that, I wonder what he could be saying."
The Al Bhed shrugged, "Probably just the usual stupid questions like, 'how do you feel'? Baralai, it's all recorded and shown live all over the world. Do you think Nooj would badmouth either of us on Sphere Comms?"
Baralai shook his head, "Of course not. I'm sorry. I shouldn't be doubting him." Tugging on Gippal's hand, they climbed up the third stairway and when they reached the top, Baralai looked out at the sea that was painted in waves of gold from the sun. "Oh, beautiful..." What was even more beautiful to the young Praetor was that there was no one in this area as everyone had gone to the center of the city to celebrate the Eternal Calm.
"Yea, pretty," Gippal echoed, before suddenly gasping and pointing ahead.
Alarmed, Baralai followed Gippal's gaze, "What is it?" When he saw what it was, he too gasped. They quickly walked over to the sleek, topless silver colored machina, simply known among the Al Bhed as a car, since it was on the ground rather than just above it, like the common hovers. Baralai put his hands over his mouth. "Oh, Gippal, this is Rin's car."
Gippal nodded, running his hand over the passenger side door, "I taught you how to drive in this car two years ago."
"I remember," Baralai demurely smiled in his collar, "I enjoyed it. Are there any more of these?"
"Some, but they're still very rare because of the way Spira is," Gippal replied before grinning. "I was in the middle of getting one built before you summoned me to Bevelle."
Baralai winced, "Uhm, let's not talk about that now."
"Yea, really. I'd really like to finish it," Gippal put his arm around Baralai's shoulders. "That way, we can just go out driving together. Would you like that, Baralai?"
"With you?" Baralai giggled. "Of course." He peered at the steering wheel and stiffened, putting his hands over his mouth. "Oh my goodness, Gippal!"
"What?" Now it was Gippal's turn to follow Baralai's gaze and he too stiffened, but he didn't put his hands over his mouth. "That's not like Rin."
Baralai looked around, relieved that no one was nearby, "I guess he assumed that no one would try to take it."
"Who can blame him?" Gippal shrugged. "Hardly anyone here would know how to operate one."
"We would..." Baralai's smile widened.
Gippal laughed, "Yea..."
Baralai walked around to the front of the car, "Do you remember two years ago on the Winno, when Paine had said that she wanted to take an airship and fly it?"
"Yes, of course," Gippal's one eye followed Baralai. "You said you would try your hand at navigation."
Nodding, Baralai continued, "I never told anyone, not even you, that I always wanted to take one of these", he ran a tanned hand over the driver's side door, "and drive one". Grinning, he opened the door. "Come on, Gippal."
"No way!" Gippal gasped, his jaw nearly falling out of his mouth. "Baralai, you can't be serious."
"Of course I'm serious," Baralai replied as he slowly lowered himself into the driver's seat, almost glowing when he felt the soft and cushiony the leather seat under him. He looked at Gippal, who balked. "Get in, please."
Gippal hemmed and hawed for a few moments, but he finally fumbled at the door and sat beside Baralai, "Unless I'm missing something, it's been two years since you've driven anything."
But Baralai barely heard what his best friend was saying because he was too busy trying not to salivate while running his dark hands over the smooth steering wheel, the gear shift and the handbrake. Despite having been outside for quite awhile, everything in the vehicle felt nice and cool to the young Praetor. He honestly couldn't keep his smile off his face as he remembered how he had this same feeling two years ago when he was first learning.
"Uh, Baralai. Hello?" Gippal waved his hand in front of Baralai's face. When Baralai snapped out of his trance, giving Gippal a playful glare, the younger man added, "What about Rin?"
"Don't worry," Baralai replied, smirking, "I'll write him a letter if apology."
"Do you even remember how to drive?"
Baralai shifted the car out of neutral and turned the key. When the car started, he smiled at Gippal, "Mmm...hmmm..." Then, releasing the handbrake, he gunned the engine.
"BARALAI!!!!!!"