Don't Love Me That Way

"Come sit in the front with me, beautiful." The horny hover driver said. Rikku obliged, so Gippal was stuck alone in the back with his thoughts. He watched as Rikku giggled with the hover driver and hated the empty feeling he got in his stomach while watching them. That's just because you're hungry, the little voice in his head said. He just ate, the voice that loved to contradict said. Stupid voices. Gippal had admitted a lot to her today so why was she all over the hover driver. He practically pledged his love to her and here she is giggling with the driver. When they finally got to Djose temple, Rikku leaned over and pressed a kiss to the drivers cheek and Gippal felt like someone had punched him in his gut. He raised his own hopes for no reason. Rikku doesn't love him that way. She only loves him as a friend.

There you go again

Playing with my heart

Just when I've moved on

You're bringing me back to the start

Oh

"Are you going to pay me sometime soon? I have other customers you know." No, I didn't know. I'm actually shocked, considering how you were all over my girlfriend. But she wasn't his girlfriend. He had no claims at all over her and she can kiss and be kissed by anyone she wants, even if it hurt him.

Oh can't you see I'm breaking

I've been there for the taking

Now there's just one thing I'm asking of you

"Here." Gippal shoved the money roughly into the drivers hands. "Keep the change."

"Hey, what's your problem man? Did gorgeous over there give you the boot? Is that why I got the butterfly kiss?" The words were dripping with venom.

Baby, don't speak to me so softly

Ask me if I'm ok

Smile if you should pass my way

Gippal looked up at the temple that held his work room and his machina. Then he looked down at the girl who was skipping along to the cabin beside it. The temple didn't mean as much as it should to him. His house never meant that much to him either, until now. He loved the thought of walking up with his sunshine there beside him. But that will never happen. Once she has the money, she'll move out.

Try not to wear your hair so pretty

Be so bright and witty

Laugh at all the jokes I make

"I'm ready to work sir." Rikku saluted the man behind the desk, inside the cabin.

"Sorry doll. The weather lady says a sandstorm is about to hit Bikanel desert so no one is going out today."

"I'm willing to go out anyway." The man just shook his head at her. "You don't understand. I need to go out today. I need the money so I can get my own place so I'm not a burden anymore-"

"You and most of Spira sugar. No one else is going today and, I hate to break it to you, but you're not so special that you're going out today."

"Do you know who my father is?"

Cause I still think about you everyday

And it still hurts me when I hear you say

You don't love me that way

"Who is it princess? Yevon himself? An almighty sea creature that I have never heard of before?" He snickered. Gippal felt his gut clench as he watched the man bring Rikku down. He knew she shouldn't be going out today and he didn't want her to get hurt out there but he had to defend her.

It's so bittersweet

When I see you now

And every time we meet

You got me wondering how

"Actually, her father is Cid. You've heard of him right? He's only one of the leaders of the Al Bhed, along with Rin and myself. That makes her father a hell of a lot more important than you are doesn't it." The man didn't know what to say. He just stood there with his mouth slightly open.

How I'm suppose to smile and listen

Like some new love your kissing

When I feel so desperate for you today

Oh so

"If I were you, I would refrain from talking to my girl like that." Rikku stared at Gippal with large eyes. Does he mean that?

"She's…" The man gulped. "She's with you?" He was really nervous now, and Gippal almost laughed.

"That's right. If I hear you, or hear of you, speaking to her that way again, you can kiss your job good bye. Not only that, I'll make sure that you can never get a job within the machine faction ever again, understood?" The man just nodded, practically wetting himself as he did.

Baby don't speak to me so softly

Ask me if I'm ok

Smile if you should pass my way

Gippal took Rikku's hand and led her out of the cabin. Once he had her in the light of the sun, he gently touched her hair.

"You didn't have to do that for me Gippal. I'm a big girl and I can win my own battles. You won't be there for me forever." But he wanted to be.

"I know. It's just…I need to…I…" I need to protect you. I want to protect you from all the shit in Spira. I need to protect you.

"You need to what?"

"Never mind. I'll think of a job for you to do." Rikku nodded, wishing he would tell her what he was really thinking. "Oh, and Rikku! You should probably pretend that you're my girlfriend."

Try not to wear your hair so pretty

Be so bright and witty

Laugh at all the jokes I make

"Why should I do that?" Gippal got more confusing and complicated by the hour. Now he wants her to be his girlfriend.

"It will make your life easier, here at Djose temple. If anyone gives you trouble, just tell them that you're with me." Rikku furrowed her brow as she thought of the gossip other people would spread. "You'll do fine." Gippal mistook her face for nervousness.

"What's the job that you're going to give me for now?" Gippal scratched his chin as he thought of what she could do. So far, none of the things he thought of didn't involve her and him naked.

Cause I still think about you everyday

And it still hurts me when I hear you say

You don't love me that way

"You can clean my house. I'll pay for the ride back and give you double what you would have made out in the desert, considering the state my house is currently in." Rikku thought about and realized she could not afford to not take his offer.

"Fine." She agreed. Soon she would be able to move out and stop being such a burden on poor Gippal.

Oh can't you see I'm breaking

I've been there for the taking

Now there's just one thing I'm asking of you

"Here's your hover fare. I'll go hail down a hover for you. You wait here." Gippal went off, making sure he got her a woman driver. When he had finally found one, he called her over. "Your chariot my sunshine."

"Why thank you." She bowed lightly and he helped her up onto the seat.

Baby don't speak to me so softly

Ask me if I'm ok

Smile if you should pass my way

Gippal gave the driver a thumbs up sign and she drove away, taking his sunshine with her. Damn the sandstorm. He could have been outside with her all today, pretending that he needed to show her the loops, since it was her first day and all. He could of showed her how smart he was with the machina and impressed her.

Try not to wear your hair so pretty

Be so bright and witty

Laugh at all the jokes I make

Gippal walked into the temple and was immediately flocked with people telling him about the problems that the machine faction was experiencing. How everything was screwed because the workers couldn't go out for a whole day. He wanted to go back to his house with Rikku and make love to her, even if it meant having sex on a mound of clothing. Gippal sighed aloud. Why couldn't she see his feelings?

Cause I still think about you everyday

And I can't believe I let you get away

And it still hurts me when I hear you say

You don't love me that way