At The End
After fifty years - a remarkable lifespan for the people of Spira - Gippal was finally dying of the same ailment that struck many Al Bhed. They called it aqbucina, or “exposure”. There were a number of reasons that they used to explain the sickness - too much sun, too long in the desert in their childhood, toxins left over in the desert from ancient wars - but there was no known cure for the slow onset of blindness and the loss of mental capacity that led to a sad death.
Perhaps fortunately for Gippal, he had contracted an illness that would kill him before he lost his grip on reality. He had first complained of being tired, then he had gotten a fever, and now he was getting a rash on his skin typical of a common Spiran infection. Whereas a simple Esuna spell coupled with some rest would normally cure this simple infection, Gippal’s system was poisoned already by aqbucina and was rejecting magical healing. No salve could even touch the infection, and so it was slowly killing him.
Baralai spent much time with Gippal, keeping him comfortable and trying every healing technique he knew. He even came up with a few new ones, but nothing was working. Baralai was sure that these were Gippal’s last days - he had forced the litany of visitors to stay outside so only Gippal’s closest friends could be with him.
Yuna had sent a prayer to the Fayth for him (although without telling him, since undoubtedly Gippal would have been uncomfortable with that). Paine had embraced him for several long and silent minutes, and Rikku had come in and yelled at him for dying too early. Gippal had asked Rikku to look after the Machine faction, and she had agreed only if Paine could help her. Paine seemed happy for the project - she had been devastated after the loss of Nooj years prior, due to complications with his prosthetics.
Finally, Gippal was down to his last moments. Baralai could feel his hands shaking and hear his breathing grow labored from his position at the side of his bed. The small group stood around him, everyone touching him gently as if to ease him to the Farplane. The Al Bhed as a race normally didn’t like the Farplane, didn’t think they belonged there, but long ago Baralai and Gippal had harassed each other about what they’d do in their afterlife. Baralai had always thought the Farplane would be a peaceful place - even after his venture there with Shuyin thirty years ago - and Gippal had promised to follow him there, even in death, to make it anything but peaceful.
Sitting here watching his friend, Baralai hoped that Gippal meant it when he made that promise.
Gippal murmured something. “Baralai,” he said, his voice cracking. “All these years, all those times we fought even though we were supposed to be working together-“
“It has been a pleasure,” Baralai assured him, stroking his hand.
“-I loved you.”
Baralai paused. What did one say to a declaration like that from a dying man? “I love you too, Gippal-“
“No, I mean, I really loved you.” Gippal turned his head slightly, looking at Baralai with his tired, bloodshot eye. On the other side of Gippal, Rikku gasped and eyed Baralai warily, as if to say You’d better not mess this up. “I realized the other day that you’ve been here all along, taking care of me - I couldn’t die without telling you.”
“Gippal,” Baralai said, his voice lower than he had intended. He wanted to deny it, to tell Gippal to stop, but he couldn’t say those things to a dying man… and certainly Gippal wouldn’t tease him with his last breaths… or would he? Baralai chose to believe that he wouldn’t, although it would have been fitting. He simply said, “Thank you.”
Gippal grinned, a welcome expression on his tired features. “I wish I’d realized earlier.”
Baralai watched him smile, and his mind filled with possibilities of what might have been. Yes, Gippal was an almost constant thorn in his side over the years, but could it have been otherwise?
Could Baralai have learned to love him back?
Did he already love him back?
Baralai felt Gippal’s hand stiffen and his body go rigid. It was time.
Yuna gasped and Paine put her hand on Yuna’s shoulder. Rikku gripped Gippal’s other hand, and Baralai leaned over to look in his eye one last time.
What could have been? Baralai wondered. He didn’t know what could have been, but he knew what was right then. Gippal was dying, and Baralai had been trying all along to make him comfortable. It would be easy, now, to make him happy.
Baralai leaned in and kissed Gippal delicately. “Goodbye, my friend,” he whispered.
“See you on the Farplane,” were Gippal’s last words.
When his body stilled as his spirit left for eternity, Baralai pulled back and exhaled. “I’ll see you soon,” he said simply.