Hello, chapter three is now done, Woo!
As I was writing this i did want to try and capture a slightly softer side to the two characters and I'm sorry if instead the story seems a little slow, but I'm just feeling that this story needs slow right now. Also, as i wrote this chapter the song "Breathe Me" by Sia kept on coming playing and I think this may have influence something in me.
Anyway, I hope you enjoy this short chapter! =)
Thank you

Chapter 3

When Gippal stepped out onto the deck he noticed Paine lying at the far end of the ship. Her back was pressed against the metal so she faced the bright, blue, cloudless sky. If the ship wasn't going so fast it would have felt warm today; curse the breeze. Strolling closer to the ex-warrior he called out to her.

"If you've come for another peep show you'll be disappointed." She responded.

"What?! I was told this was where i could get one." He replied in jest before sitting next to where she was relaxing. She opened her eyes to squint at him. He looked like a model in the sunlight, she never thought it was fair – she always looked so pasty. Guess that was why she was now able to fit into Bevelle so easily. She let out a large sigh. "Now what was that for?" asked Gippal as he stared out towards the horizon, where the smallest fragments of vapours where developing in white fluffy form where the sky merged with the sea.

"Why do you always look so perfect?"

"I wasn't aware I did." Gippal looked down at her fascinated, surely she wasn't serious. But he couldn't see a jokey smirk on her face. What was she talking about?

"Of course you do. You're like some fairy tale prince. How big's your six-pack now?" Paine asked.

Gippal self consciously felt his stomach, she thought he was perfect? "You're delirious Paine. If anything I look like a scarecrow next to you."

The woman let out a mighty laugh. "You've got to be kidding me! Honestly Gippal, I don't know why you say such things."

"Because they're true." Gippal turned to lie on his side, now he was so close he was virtually touching her.

"It's not funny when you lie. Remember we agreed, never take jokes too far – it's cruel." Paine said as she stared into his green eye.

"Then why did you start it?" Gippal asked as he brushed a hair from Paine's forehead, he didn't want to cover the garnets on her face, but he hadn't meant to be so forward. He paused when he noticed she was holding her breath beneath his touch. What was that about? He moved to cup her cheek in his hand and watched as she bit her lower lip when his skin met hers, her breath escaped from her mouth slowly and he could see out of the corner of his eye her chest descend. It made him feel warm and tight all over, he couldn't help smiling down at her. "Bevelle's lucky to have you." Gippal had sounded happy for her and he was, but at the same time he was disappointed at the change – she'd be nowhere near him. Admittedly they hadn't seen each other in a while but still, the option wasn't even there now. He could feel himself missing her already.

Suddenly Paine's face dropped, her expression looked discomforted and he didn't like that it was his fault. He stroked her face gently; brushing her cheek with his thumb. "I should be happy shouldn't I?" Paine asked.

"You should be true to yourself. What do you really feel inside?" he enquired.

Gulping hard, Paine gave a moment to think about her response, "Scared, mostly. Worried because I know this is for the best and it's what I chose – but this week I haven't been able to feel anything but regret."

"Regret?" questioned Gippal, to which the warrior nodded. "Well you won't feel that way when we're there; when you're there and you remember why you chose it."

"Won't I?" her eyebrows rose in suspicion at his answer.

"No doubt about it." He tried to make himself smile; he wanted her to know it would be great because he knew it really would be - for her. She would forget all about this worry soon enough, having a great time in her new life. However, he wasn't sure how he'd get through it – he'd feel this for ages afterwards, no excitement to keep him busy but only a hollow remembrance of what he'd lost and then again what he never really even had! His smiling failed as he looked down at the girl, she could read it in his eyes, he was positive she could tell exactly how he felt.

"Help me." Paine sighed as she gripped Gippal in an embrace. Her arms locked tightly around his torso and neck. As they were lying down, he found it hard to keep his balance but he didn't want to lose her grasp – she was warm and the cold wind had picked up, biting at their skin as it flew past. Furthermore, it was extremely rare they ever touched each other this way; Paine didn't do close contact! The last time he could recollect was when they almost died in the Den of Woe. Had it really been that long?

"How?" he whispered in response to her request.

"I shouldn't feel like this. Help me feel how I'm supposed to."

"I...I..." he stuttered helplessly, he just wanted her to stay, he wanted her to be with him, he wanted to tell her not to go to her new life in Bevelle. But he couldn't, that would be wrong; it wouldn't be fair to her or to anyone else. He had to make it better for her because he was her friend and he should do as she asked of him. If she was feeling how he felt then it would mean she wanted to be with him too – but then again she was asking him to help her correct those feelings, because she knew it was as wrong as he did! She knew she shouldn't want to be with him, not when she was well aware of what lay ahead – her future was mapped out perfectly and he couldn't ruin that for her, not if he truly was her friend. He had to be an arsehole, he had to make her realise that she was better off without him. "I don't want you to keep relying on me like this Paine, it's weird." He hoped his lies weren't completely see through – he loved that she was relying on him again, just like when they were 16. But he couldn't let her see that he felt this way, he tried to make his voice sound deep and harsh, "You need to get a grip." At that Paine seemed to grip his shirt harder, like she was taking his meaning wrong. So he pushed her off him and he would never have done it forcefully had her hold not been so intense. She seemed to fall back against the deck with a force that pounded on his heart and he had to force all of himself not to reach out and hug her. This he found strange, she had never been fond of hugs and neither had he – they had always just had a strong emotional bond, the fact that their physical distance between each other was always so prominent was probably what kept these other feelings so harboured.

He couldn't bring himself to look at her for a long time; he just kept swallowing the lump that was trying to form in his throat. Why did he have to be so close to her now, when he had no choice but to let her go? Peeking at her from below his eyelids allowed him to see the small tear stains on her temples that had run from her eyes as she lay down. "Those better be tears of joy, you're on your way to a fantastic future. This ship is taking you there right now so you have no excuse for depression. Me stuck in a monotonous job, an old abandoned temple, now that's something to cry about!" exclaimed the Al Bhed sullenly.
With her lips tight Paine moved her head to look at him.

"I still don't think I've made the right decision." Gippals' feigned strength and decisiveness disappeared at her words. She really felt she'd chosen wrong, she didn't want to move her life – change her life - well at least not in the direction she was now headed. Why did she mention this so late? It was too late for her to change now and not even he could do anything about it. His face dropped at this thought; even if he shouted out to the world, even if he begged her to reconsider - the fact of the matter was that she already had and she'd already realised there was nothing she could do. And therefore, there was nothing he could do. Slowly he sidled closer to her and slipped his arms behind her neck and around her torso, gripping her into him to keep her warm. Her arms moved to hold his in place over her stomach and he kissed her forehead. He wanted to kiss her all over and at the realisation that he couldn't - it would hurt too much – a tear escaped his eye.

x Thank you for reading, if you feel you have anything to say or even just fancy giving someone a quick poke – review please! =)