Hey, Wait a Sec...[Closed]

[tiny_tinker_toy]

Characters: Rikku and Gippal
Content: Rikku's wandering the fairgrounds, and a certain one-eyed someone decides to tackle her.
Setting: The Badlands, race course
Time: Before the races.
Warnings: Cute, fail flirting, and general Rikku--Gippal-y goodness?

Comments

[shiptoride]

Three years. Hard to believe it'd been that long. At the same time, it felt like decades had past. And she sure wasn't the gangly, big-eyed kid he remembered. She'd filled out and gotten... nice on the eyes. And apparently grown up too. Not that he was going to sink to telling Rikku any of that. "'Bout time you grew up and filled-out. You were such a scrawny little thing I was worried you were gonna snap. Looks like the ship's life is doin' you good." And that, was as close to a compliment as he was going to dish out. "Too bad I missed it. I bet it was quite the show."

[shiptoride]

He just shook his head. "Like who? You're no more likely to go lookin' for serious than I'm likely to find it." He gave her a playful nudge. "We're better at goofing off and machines than relationships. Don't sweat it."

[tiny_tinker_toy]

Rikku huffed. "See, that's the problem with you and Pops," she retorted, taking Gippal's hand. "You two don't seem to think I can want a real, solid relationship with someone, and mean it! I want kids, remember? I want a lot of them, and I'm not the type to sleep around like that!"

[shiptoride]

Comparing him to Cid was not the way to go about endearing herself to Gippal. However, he realized she must have been pretty earnest if she was bringing up kids. Why she was thinking about kids though was beyond him; especially since he couldn't think past his next mechanical project long enough to contemplate something serious like starting a family.

"Geez, stick a knife in my ribs next time, why don't ya?" He sighed and just started walking off, still holding onto Rikku's hand, in the general direction of the ice cream vendor he'd seen earlier. Without looking at her, he added something just quietly enough it could be taken as serious, or missed entirely. "Someday you'll get them."

[tiny_tinker_toy]

Yeah, so Gippal was really completely not like Cid. But it worked. And she'd thought about having a ton of kids for years now, ever since she realized that she would never get a little sister and how lonely it was with just Aniki for company.

"Sorry, Gippal," Rikku murmured, moving closer. "I just...no one takes me seriously, y'know?"

[shiptoride]

"Now how's that an apology?" he grumped at her, coming to a stop long enough to look down at her. He started walking again before he kept going. "I've always taken you seriously."

Sometimes women completely perplexed him. "Right, so what kind of ice cream do you want?" It was a change of subject, and just in the nick of time. The booth was right ahead and he sure didn't plan on having this conversation out in public.

[tiny_tinker_toy]

"Sherbet, as always," Rikku replied with a smile, though she was really honestly complexed. Since when had Gippal taken her seriously?

[shiptoride]

"You got it." He stepped up and ordered two of them, then turned around to watch Rikku while he waited. She's changed, but in a good way. Once the treats were in hand, he offered one to her. "Now, don't say I never did anything for you."

[tiny_tinker_toy]

"Oh, I dunno," Rikku replied, smiling as she took her ice cream. "You were my first kiss, remember~?"

[shiptoride]

Oh, he remembered. It was his first too, but he wasn't about to admit to it. In retrospect, he realized it was lousy to boot. "How'd we get rooked into that again?" But for all his playing it cool, he actually started to color just a shade or two.

[tiny_tinker_toy]

See, Rikku totally didn't mind this. It was Gippal and for weeks she'd been the envy of all the girls.

"Truth or dare, Gippal," she replied, taking a lick of her ice cream and getting some on her nose. "You didn't want to tell everyone that you were wearing pink bunny and kitty underwear since I'd stolen all your other pairs that morning. So you kissed me."

[shiptoride]

Gippal reached over and wiped the confection off Rikku's nose with his thumb. "You rigged that," he remarked. He'd forgotten about his predicament that morning and having it brought back up made him turn even redder. But revenge was awfully sweet.

"I have a secret for you." He leaned in ridiculously close just to watch her squirm. "I'm better at it now."

[tiny_tinker_toy]

Rikku blushed when he brushed her nose, and reddened even more when he leaned in. "Really?" she asked shyly. "I am too."

[shiptoride]

"Oh really?" And for a fleeting moment, he pretended he was going to act on that news... only to pull back and lace his hands behind his head. "Guess I'll have to take your word for it, huh?"

[tiny_tinker_toy]

"Gippal!" Rikku stomped her foot, annoyed. Stupid jerk...well, two could play at that game.

"Why won't you kiss me, huh? Too afraid of your technique?" she teased. "That's not like you, Gips."