by PrettyGothGirl
All Disclaimers Apply
Summary: All of this is starting to cause a rift in Rikku's friendships with Paine and Yuna.
Author's Note: Lots of Quality Time this week, trolling for information is so boring and doing "time passes" seems dull
so, ahem, INTERLUDES. shifty eyes And yes, Quite the Couple is hosting the Best of Rikku/Gippal 2007 awards, all are welcome
to nominate and vote even if you don't have an LJ account. Please participate! Link at my profile.
Paine leaned against the rail, her arms in her habitual cross. Some days Rikku wondered if it hurt Paine to hold them at her side like everybody else.
"So, you're going out again tonight?"
Rikku pulled her brush through her hair. "Yep." She paused and frowned. "Why?"
Paine shifted. "Cid asked us to do something for him and Yuna and I were looking forward to your help."
Rikku put her brush down and turned to face Paine. "I can't."
"You've been out every night for the past week. You can take a night-"
Rikku raised her hand. "I can't. Pops asked you and Yuna."
"He asked all three of us."
"I was in the room. He wasn't talking to me." Rikku picked her brush up.
"That's convenient."
Rikku held her brush next to her hair and debated her next words very carefully. She had an appointment with Gippal and criminal catching. Yuna and Paine had to have nothing to do with it. It was an Al Bhed affair. Sure, Cid asking them to do something for them was crossing the lines a little, but it was sphere hunting related and not criminal Al Bhed related. Plus, with Tidus about there were still the three of them. "You can handle it yourselves." She ran the brush through her hair and then tossed it on her bedside table.
"You-"
"Tidus is around. He's dying to help. Take him. I can't Paine and that's the end of it." Rikku met Paine's eyes and then walked past her down the stairs. Cid was sitting at the bar. Her eyes narrowed. She called that convenient. "Hey Pops."
"Don't stay out too late." He scowled at her.
"Back by second hour."
"That's late."
She rolled her eyes. "That's closing time." She and Gippal could hit five bars by that time. She leaned down and kissed his cheek. "I'm not going to be out all night."
"Cid." Paine interrupted.
"What?"
"We wanted to do that job tonight."
"Then do it." Cid nodded. "Good as night as any."
"Rikku's going out." Paine left off the 'to have fun' prepositional phrase, but it hung in the air like heavy dust.
Rikku rolled her eyes. As if, it was going to be work, remembering the lies from the truth and wearing a dress with heels. It wouldn't be so bad if they could get drunk. Then it'd be less work or even better, just go to a bar, shoot a game of pool, throw a game of darts, knock back a few drinks and not worry about the state of the Al Bhed.
Cid spun about. He looked at Rikku and then looked at Paine. "So? Rikku's got other things to do."
"You asked all-"
"I asked Yuna." Cid interrupted. "You said you'd help." He paused, scowled and glanced at Rikku. "Are you going on that date or are you going to make me wait years for grandchildren? You don't upset a respectable boy like him."
Rikku sighed. "I cannot believe you're using that word in the same sentence with him. I'm going. I'm going. Pushy, pushy." She threw up her hands and stalked out the door. Besides, she wanted out. She could see Paine girding herself for a polite snit fit and Pops would bellow and she wanted no part of it. Paine was going to have to learn that Pops gave orders and she followed for the most part and that was just the way things had to be.
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