Quality Time: Sweet Distracting Revenge
PrettyGothGirl
Summary: Gippal's plan for distraction doesn't work out as well as he hopes, as Rikku works in some just vengeance for his treatment of her.
Author's Note: Happy Birthday Pearlrose86! I'm trying to be more disciplined with my writing/hobbies. We'll see how long it lasts. LOL
Anonymous Review Warning: Lack of email in anonymous reviews causes PGG symptoms of irritation and annoyance resulting in apathy over stated opinion in said review. If your opinion is important enough for you to comment, then I want it to be important enough for me to reply to. Thank you.

Yoorvin bounded across the room to greet Gippal. "My friend," Yoorvin smiled. "I was so hoping you could make it to my little get together." It felt like a severe understatement in Gippal's estimation. Yoorvin had transformed one of his clubs into the height of Bevellian elegance for the night. Gippal grinned and held out his hand. Yoorvin grasped his forearm.

"I wouldn't miss it for the world." He said.

Yoorvin looked around him. "And where is your lovely lady?"

Gippal grimaced. "Her ship ran a bit late."

Yoorvin shook his head. "To live at the whim of the tides is not my way. I like to keep my feet on solid ground."

"As do I," Gippal paused. "And where is your lady?"

Yoorvin rolled his eyes. "She desires to make a 'fashionably late' entrance. Women." Gippal began to sweat. Maybe his distraction idea wasn't so great after all. Too many things could go wrong between Rikku's attitude and Yoorvin's woman having a similar idea. Perhaps it was too transparent of a ploy. Unaware of Gippal's inner musings, Yoorvin grinned. "But we're free to be ourselves until they arrive, eh?" He capped Gippal on the back. "Make yourself comfortable."

"A drink would go down well right now." Gippal grinned to cover his panic. He needed one, badly.

"Yoorvin slapped him again. "Have one on me." He turned and waved at the bartender, pointing at Gippal before he hurried to greet the next guest. Gippal half turned to see whom it was, Darling's ice pale eyes widened. She tightened her grip on her escort's arm, blood red nails bright against the black of his sleeve. Gippal nodded at her. He turned to the bar before Yoorvin noticed, insisted on introducing them and he didn't want to have to have his lips anywhere in the vicinity of Darling again. Even a polite kiss on the hand might be enough to get him killed if Rikku found out. He didn't particularly care about Darling's health. His own health was slightly more important, so the fact he'd save Darlings life was not essential to his calculations.

He leaned against the bar and ordered. His eyes wandered across the room gauging the competition.

Cid would be impressed. Cid better be impressed. A room full of the Al Bhed criminal elite from black market racketeering to base banditry, these were the minds that planned it all. Gippal let the conversations float past him in a jumble noise. He didn't listen for words, but for the tone and intonation. The group to his left was from the bar where Rikku and he had gotten it on in the closet by their voices. Then there was 'Darling', Yoorvin, of course as he was the host, and then there were three other groups he didn't know. Though one was wearing the insignia of the group who had kidnapped Rikku. There was one little detail he hadn't told Cid about. He had his own plans on how to make them suffer for the audacity of kidnapping the Elder's only and precious daughter.

The bartender pushed his drink next to his elbow and Gippal smiled down into it. Gippal picked it up and took a sip before nodding at the waiting man. The tender smiled and went back to his other duties.

The room quieted and Gippal turned until he could see the reason. Yoorvin's woman paused at the entrance, posing in a brilliant red gown. Yoorvin grinned, hurried over to her and brought her hands to his lips. "My love." He turned, tucking her arm into his. So he missed the small glare she gave him. "Ladies and gentlemen, if you would take your seats we can begin."

The groups separated, the players gathering around the table. The pecking order became clearer as seats were jockeyed for and taken. Gippal hadn't bothered to even try for what would be considered a good seat, a seat that was somewhat defensible. He sat with his back to one of the two entrances, all according to plan.

The dealer cleared his throat. "Ladies and gentlemen, the game had a five million gil buy in. Earlier you all deposited your buy in into the special accounts created by Yoorvin. A transfer of two and ha half million gil will regain you a seat the table. You each have one buy in option." He turned his hands over in the ritual of all card dealers. "Let's begin." He cut the deck and dealt.

The game was on.

Gippal stared at his cards and tried to make something of the crap that was his hand. Or, he'd have to decide whether or not bluffing was preferable over folding. He rearranged his cards. Nothin'. He looked up, staring at the door across from him and not really seeing it for a moment until yellow and movement attracted his eye. He shifted his focus and froze.

Rikku had decided to show up after all.

His mouth turned dry. Under the soft glow of the lights Rikku's tanned skin shimmered, her lips glistened and her green eyes practically glowed. The pale yellow of the dress didn't contrast with her skin. It enhanced it. The short hem brushing the tops of her thighs as she walked, making her legs seem longer than they should be. He didn't know what she'd done with her makeup but she looked exotic, wild and untamable. Her hips swayed as she walked around the table, her eyes locked on his. The dress moved as she did, the draped neckline exposing the sides of her breasts, then her cleavage as she turned.

The dress would look better in a puddle on the floor. The thought flashed through his mind right as she leaned over and kissed him. It was hard and hot. Her hand cupped his face. He leaned into it. It didn't matter how many people were watching. It didn't matter that she was angry with him. All that matter was she looked absolutely stunning, she smelled amazing, sweet, and spicy with an undertone of alcohol and she was kissing him. She sucked his bottom lip into her mouth, nipping at it slightly with her teeth. It didn't even hurt. She let it go and pulled away. "Good luck, honey."

He blinked, trying to think past the perfume and kiss haze. "You were supposed to come in from behind me." He reminded gently. That had been the plan.

Her eyelashes dropped and she ran her thumb over his bottom lip. "I'm so sorry." Her voice almost dripped with sweetness. He shivered. The dark sweep of her lashes couldn't hide how bright her eyes were with her temper. She straightened and with a last caress of his chin, spun on her heel and strutted away. He watched her back, with its bare tattooed painted skin, the lines and dips and swells of it.

The power she had over him seemed to fade away the further away she walked. His jaw gradually clenched. His fingers tightened on the cards.

They'd had a plan. He forgot or chose not to remember that it in truth he had had a plan. It had been, in his opinion, a decent plan. It wasn't a perfect plan, but decent. His eyes flicked back to his cards. Come in from behind, kiss him, distract the others and go. Instead, he had been the one distracted.

"Sir?"

Which was why he had had the plan. She distracted him far too easily and he couldn't, shouldn't have been distracted this night.

"Sir!"

He jerked and stared up at the dealer. The man looked back, eyebrows raised.

Gippal dropped his cards. "Fold."

Rikku was letting her personal feelings interfere with their work. She was better than that. He knew it. He pushed the cards away. So, why did he still want to kiss her senseless?

He never did notice that all the other men looked as stunned as he had or how every other woman's face had turned angry. Gippal was too busy contemplating his new hand of cards and deciding on how best to get back at Rikku for setting all his careful plans awry.

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