Authors Note: Gahzomg so long since the last update. Forgive, forgive! Anyhow. I'm quite pleased with this chapter, although you won't be, because it's not smutty or particularly fluffy. Ah well. I like it and that's all that matters. Okay, that is so untrue. I would sob if you didn't like it. TT Saaaad. Anyway… Here's chapter… um, five, right? Right. Enjoy.

Disclaimer: The three characters mentioned in this chapter are not mine. The words used are. So there.

Collide
by xDante

Chapter Five: I'm Open, You're Closed (or the other way around?)

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Angry? Me? Never.

"No, really. I know you. I know you're angry. Or… or something," Rikku muttered. Stubborn little Rikku. I wasn't looking at her, but I knew exactly the expression on her face: wide eyes, slightly pouting lips, worried brow. I'd seen that look before. It was quite frustrating that she wouldn't let this go. What was I supposed to say? I closed my eyes briefly and regained my composure.

"No, Rikku… I'm not angry. Or… or anything," I replied, feeling much more confident as I turned back to face her. I felt my solidarity and smugness slip back into place. Surprises never rattled me, but this was different.

She blinked in a characteristic way, a little dumbfounded, although it wasn't clear to me why. What was going through that thick blonde head of hers?

What she said next stunned me more then any other event of the morning: "Oh. Um. Okay." This reply was thoroughly un-Rikku-esque and all together quite befuddling. I'm not sure, but I think my jaw may have dropped. Giving up? Rikku? How… bizarre.

"Right. Okay, then." Well then, my response was sooo much better. I turned to the counter. This was—there's no other word for it—awkward. I felt rather flustered, and Rikku sure as hell looked it. She sat down. The silence was disconcerting. It lasted near a minute before a loud groan came from the aerie. "Yuna."

There was a scraping of the stools as we rushed to stand and hustled into the elevator. The one thing that could make the moment more awkward was Yuna. Rikku tapped the "bridge" button several times, as if the door couldn't close soon enough. If that's what she thought, I was right there with her. Finally, with a swish, the doors slid together and the lift rose. We let out a sigh of relief in unison, and then, looking at one another, burst into spontaneous laughter. Rikku nearly burst into tears and I had to grab the railing to keep from falling over.

All too soon, the doors opened again, and Rikku, clutching her side and giggling, stumbled out into the room without glancing at me. I remained in the lift, still snickering with amusement. She turned, trying to stifle a grin by pursing her lips, and looked questioningly at me.

"Not getting off?" She asked, swallowing the last of her giggle fit, and smiling innocently.

"Deck," I said, simply, as I too choked down the rest of the laughs. "You know where to find me."

Her smirk faded a little and she glanced at the floor. "You're really… okay, right?" She blinked, and her gaze returned to me. "You'd tell me if you weren't?"

But the doors slid shut before I could answer. All for the best, I thought. Obviously, I wasn't okay, and I wouldn't tell her. But if I said that, I'd be pestered to death, and if I didn't, it would be… well… a lie.

I let my lips curl up slightly in a smile as I thought of the mutual jitters we had of being scrutinized by Yuna. The poor child. She hadn't a clue anything was going on. It made me pity her, and feel very, very guilty for excluding her. But not guilty enough to do anything about it. When the time came… if it ever did.

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Authors Note: There. I hope you like it. I can't promise to get the next chapter up sooner, but I can try. And I will. So yeah. Be patient. And I do appreciate your applause (if you want to give them), because if I don't get them, I may not continue. So please R&R if you get the chance, but I'm not begging.
Love,
the Daunts (a.k.a. Dante)