Deep
Chapter One
… in the Moonflow
by RingPrincess
Deep in the Moonflow, the sharp rocks of the cliff dug into Rikku's chest as she pressed herself closer to the ground. The hard surface confined her heart to its proper place. She didn't quite believe what she was seeing and her heart wanted to jump out of her torso because of it. Gippal was bathing nude in the river below. She bit her lip, now was not the time to run across something like this. Rikku scooted slowly backwards and glanced over her shoulder. She had fifteen minutes head start on the very angry bandits following her and she didn't want to lose a moment of it. Rikku was sure that when she had scouted this route earlier that the way was clear of sexy male encumbrances.
Rikku flushed and reached up to finger the choker that was part of the cause of her predicament. She had to get across the Moonflow and to safety. She closed her eyes and considered her options, there weren't many and none of them were good. She couldn't go around, the cliff only got higher from here and the river less predictable. She couldn't turn back, that was tantamount to suicide. She was a good fighter but not that good to survive a gang up attack of twenty or so men.
Her eyes opened and she crawled forward again. There was nothing for it. She'd have to go straight with her original plan and hope that Gippal didn't see her, despite her very good view of him. She licked her lips. It was a slim hope at best.
Rikku peered over the cliff edge and tried to ignore the lithe muscled body unintentionally flaunting itself as it cut through the water. Gippal didn't know he was putting on a show and so he couldn't help what he was doing to her body. 'Damn it, and fighting makes me horny anyways.' She thought. Her fingers dug into the dirt and she controlled her breathing. Her brain sped up and she waited until Gippal dove to set her hastily thought plan into action.
Rikku used her hands to push to her feet and jumped off the cliff. For once, when she reached the bottom she pulled off a decent crouched landing. One hand between her knees to balance her and without looking in Gippal's direction she rolled behind the nearest rock outcropping and promptly sat legs splayed in front of her, breathing heavily. With a shaky hand she wiped her forehead and then clenched her hands to steady them and her pounding heart. She didn't think Gippal had seen her.
Gippal whirled in the water and frowned. There was an itch in between his shoulder blades and that generally meant he was being watched. Though this far out from the Shoopuf crossing he wasn't sure who it could be.
He trod water and watched the bank. Nothing moved, but he knew someone was there. Gippal didn't get many gut instincts, but when he did they were usually correct. He gave a slight kick and grabbed his gun from his hidden pile of clothes. He debated taking the time to actually dress, but shook his head and turned around and swam back to the shore.
He cocked the gun as he stood up and pointed it at the general area of the bank. "Come out, I know you're there."
Rikku closed her eyes and rested her head against the rock. 'Damn,' she thought, lips parted to make a quiet sigh. Her eyes opened and she was granted a good view of the cliff edge. The very same cliff edge she knew the bandits would come upon any minute. 'Damn,' she thought again. She hoisted herself up to her feet, swaying a bit as she stood back to Gippal and didn't look away from the cliff edge. It was a safer view than looking at him. 'Damn,' she thought for the last time.
Gippal's eye widened as Rikku stood up. He hadn't expected well, anyone, but for her to be peeking wasn't something he'd think she'd do. He put the gun down. "Well, well, well, if it isn't Cid's girl." He drawled.
She didn't look at him as she stepped to the side and back around the rock. Her gaze was still on the cliff edge. "Gippal, while this isn't what it looks like. I really don't have time to chitchat. Can you just, ummm, let me pass and we can forget this ever happened?"
"I don't think so," Gippal crossed his arms, gun dangling from one hand. He shivered as a stray breeze hit him. The entire situation was embarrassing and bordered on ridiculous and he wanted to have some fun tormenting her about it.
"I thought you might say that." Rikku said and her shoulders slumped.
Gippal raised an eyebrow. Rikku hadn't stopped moving backwards. She was about two feet away from him now. She'd been correcting her course through the sound of his voice or she was just moving backwards and getting lucky. He wasn't sure which.
Rikku's memory flashed back to two years before when she had confronted another blonde man, though the circumstances and the actions she was going to take were different than those back then. She hoped that he and his lover, Yuna were safely at the rendezvous point by now. Rikku reached into the pouch attached to her skirt and pulled out a garment grid card. She wrapped her fingers around it and narrowed her eyes. Rikku's shoulders stiffened and in a rash of rapidly thought out impulsiveness and possible consequences otherwise known as stupidity, she shut the garment grid and all her dress spheres off.
Rikku had never tried to explain to another person what it felt like to magically change clothes in the middle of battle, but it tingled, tickled and teased like a lover. Starting with the tips of her toes and traveling to the top of her head her skin felt as if someone dragged feathers or the very ends of their fingers over it. And that was switching dress spheres, turning the system off there was a gust of air that rushed to replace where her clothes had been, embracing her and increasing the pleasant sensations considerably. Near the end, her back and shoulders tickled as her ponytail fell out and her hair weighed heavily about her and snapped her head slightly back to support it. Rikku shook her head to push her hair back as the transformation ended. Her eyes opened and she whirled to face Gippal.
Gippal's brain reeled and he bit back a curse as he was confronted with Rikku's change and blatant sexuality. His eye widened and he tried to control his own physical reaction as blood rushed to his loins. Rikku undressed could turn any man on and he wasn't immune. A long neck, pert breasts and a flat stomach all accentuated by smooth skin golden from both genetics and the sun. Strange details burned themselves into his brain, the mass of gorgeous golden hair, the glint of metal in her left nipple, a large ring around her big toe, the fact her fingernails and toenails were painted gold, the red choker about her neck and her hungry green eyes. He got trapped in those eyes, and wondered if this was what a chocobo felt like facing down a ravenous Eater.
Now Rikku was committed to this admittedly crazy act and drowning out all inward objections she closed the gap between them. She placed her hands on his arms and pushed them to his sides so she could move in closer. She ran her hands up to his shoulders, fingernails raking the muscles on his chest, skimming his nipples. Gippal narrowed his eye. Rikku cocked her head and tried to look apologetic. "Sorry," she murmured.
Gippal opened his mouth to ask, 'What for?' Her disappearing clothes trick had leveled the playing field nicely and actually put the odds in her favor, but the words never made it past thought.
Rikku went up on tiptoe leaning into him. Her hand hooked around his neck and she covered his mouth with hers. The beads of water warmed by his body and the vestiges of sweat from Rikku's run lubricated their skin. Gippal's mouth stayed open in shock as Rikku exerted pressure on his lips and she must have taken that for an invitation and her tongue slid between his lips and teeth and began to explore his mouth. It stroked the top of his mouth, glided along the tops of his teeth and skimmed his bottom lip on the way out. Gippal's eye closed and as her tongue flicked back out his followed and caught and fought it.
Rikku's toes curled into the dirt and the hair on her arms stood up on end. Her stomach twisted and tightened. She kneaded the back of his head with her fingers, curling his hair through their tips and dug her other fingers into his well-muscled shoulder. She wanted it to last forever, but time was short and they really needed to get into hiding. She drew away from the kiss.
Gippal blinked, his breath ragged and stared down at her. She smiled back up at him. "Catch me, if you can," she wrinkled her nose and winked. Then she let go of him, dodged past and dove into the Moonflow through the sun-warmed surface and into the colder undercurrent that cooled the raging fires in her body.
Rikku twisted to the left and broke surface behind the very rock she had marked from the top of the cliff. She saw Gippal's clothes on a ledge and grinned. 'So I wasn't the only one to notice this spot,' she thought as Gippal broke surface a few feet from her.
He tossed his gun over her head and onto his clothes and trapped her against the rock with his arms. His shock had given away to anger. "What in…" he began, his voice low and menacing.
Rikku reached out a hand cupped his cheek and pressed her thumb to his lips. "Shh," she whispered. She glanced up and over towards the cliff.
Gippal looked up as well but could only hear the sound of many gruff angry male voices. He glanced back down at Rikku, but she wasn't paying the least bit attention to him. She was still staring off and up. Her hair now soaked with water it streamed from her head and over her shoulders, where the ends floated gently in the water. Around her neck was a choker that was definitely of Al Bhed manufacture and Gippal was sure it wasn't hers.
It was made of silver and stiffened leather and clung tightly to her neck. There was an opening in the front and from the edges of the leather hung three chains to a side that attached to a metal ring which rested in the hollow of her throat. Rikku's hand reached up and touched it, running her fingers along the links of the chains. Her other hand remained splayed against his cheek, her thumb running across his lips lightly and almost absentmindedly. Gippal didn't think Rikku was quite aware of what she was doing, but that light touch was the most distracting and erotic thing he had ever felt. It made him want to twist his head and kiss her palm then see where things went from there. He restrained the urge and waited impatiently.
The voices got louder and angrier. Rikku grinned. They had lost her trail and now weren't sure what to do. It made her almost sad that she hadn't been able to leave any traps behind to do them damage. However, she'd used up all her grenades in the very pretty explosion that was their home base. She repressed a giggle as a few more angry words were exchanged until the men gave up and left.
Rikku looked back to Gippal and dropped her hand. She ducked under his arm and peered around the rock. The bandits were gone and now it was time for her to be going as well. She bit the inside of her lip and looked back at Gippal. "All clear," she said quietly. 'Except for you,' she tacked on mentally.
Gippal trapped her against the rock again and Rikku swallowed hard. Her eyes ran down his figure. Her mouth watered, firm muscles, soft skin, an intricate tattoo around his right bicep, fine long fingered hands and, her gaze moved back up, a face any girl would die for. The long nose, high cheekbones, almond shaped eyes, platinum blonde hair, and a slight widows peak, then the eye patch only added to Gippal's appeal and personality. 'Okay, evidently kissing Gippal is one thing, getting away with it is another.' She thought.
He put his face a few inches from hers. "What in the Farplane is this about?"
Rikku licked her lips and shrugged. "Playing bait. You weren't supposed to be here."
"I wasn't…" Gippal murmured and shook his head.
"This still isn't the greatest of times to be chit chatting," Rikku leaned her head back to try to gain more space. It didn't work that well.
"I think it is a fine time."
"Bleh," she grimaced. "Of course it is a fine time, we aren't dressed-"
"Whose fault is that?" Gippal asked snidely.
"-we're in the middle of water where sound carries," Rikku continued. "And let me think, in the middle of nowhere. Yep, you're right. It is a fine time to talk."
"You have other places to be Cid's girl?"
"I have a name," Rikku gritted out. "And yes, I do."
"They can wait." Gippal smirked. "You have to deal with me right now."
"You really need to work on that e-" Rikku began, but Gippal interrupted her by kissing her. '-go.' She finished in her head and then lost the ability to think. His lips were firm and tasted bitter but with slightly sweet edge from the water.
Gippal languidly caressed her soft lips. He smirked slightly as Rikku moaned. 'Revenge is oh so sweet,' he thought. He pulled back slowly and Rikku's eyes fluttered open. Her lips still parted. He smirked. "I wish I had known you were such a tease earlier."
'A tease,' Rikku thought, her eyes widening. Now that the danger was past she was out of her element. She gripped the stone behind her, knuckles whitening.
Gippal moved his head to one side and licked the edge of Rikku's ear from bottom to top. "Since you're stuck between a rock and me." He murmured.
His voice was pitched at just the right tone that Rikku felt the base of her back tingle and then she involuntarily shuddered. "I didn't have much choice," she said faintly. "It was you or the bandits. I think I chose the lesser of two evils."
"Me evil, you came on to me, remember. I think you are the evil one." He purred and Rikku shuddered again.
"Explaining events quickly isn't my best ability." Rikku retorted and nibbled his earlobe in retaliation. She tried to think of this as a different type of battle but one just as important as any other that put her life in danger.
'She's good,' Gippal thought. "How hard is it to say that you're being followed and we need to hide?"
"With you, too long," Rikku used her smaller height to her advantage and nuzzled his neck. Gippal's head moved to the side to provide her better access. "Since," she continued, lips brushing his skin, "you like to know every detail before doing something."
"Good point," Gippal moaned.
Rikku sighed and tried to shove him back a bit. It didn't work. "Gippal," She murmured resting her forehead on his shoulder. "I really need to go before someone else comes looking for me."
Gippal straightened his arms and stared into her face. Rikku's lips were straight and eyes hard. She was serious. He didn't want her to go. It was funny how seeing someone nude could change your perception of them. Gippal leaned in and turned his head and kissed her fervently. Rikku's response was as passionate and she clung to him to keep afloat, carried along by the emotions and hormones running rampant in this encounter. Gippal pulled away. "I'll let you go for now," he murmured and kissed her gently but quickly again. "But later you owe me the long explanation." He shoved away from the rock.
Rikku's eyes widened and she shoved a hand through her wet hair. She swallowed again and nodded. She pulled the grid she'd been using to keep her thief sphere activated from the golden strands and flicked it back on, the transformation exquisite torture on her already overly sensitive skin.
Gippal shook his head quickly to try to get the after images of the sparkles from his eyes. It was interesting trick. He'd love to know how she did it.
Rikku dove past him and cut through the water towards the opposite bank. 'I think I'll skip this part in my explanation to the girls.' She thought and even in the cold water, blood rose to her cheeks and her back tingled. Rikku tried to block the memories of Gippal from her thoughts and concentrated on her destination. Despite the way it ended, it was still mission complete and Rikku grinned.
--
Three days later, Djose TempleRikku leaned against a wall and drummed her fingers against it. They were in Djose because Yuna wanted to check the list of parts that she had personally brought in since their successful attempt at removing a bandit base in the Moonflow. Paine had suggested it might be best to disappear for a few days until things settled down. So, Yuna had decided that the go on an excavating binge at Bikanel.
Rikku inwardly snorted. It wasn't as if the bandits actually knew who had blown their base to smithereens. She had made sure of that. And if the bandits had wanted to find them Bikanel would be the first place they would look considering how many Al Bhed were in the bandit's ranks, or so it appeared. Rikku grimaced. It did make sense if you thought about how long the Al Bhed had lived outside the bounds of the law. Evidently some of her people thought changing now would be redundant. In some ways she didn't blame them.
Rikku glanced over at Paine. Paine shrugged. Yuna was taking a while. Rikku rolled her eyes and stared at Yuna's back. Tidus hadn't bothered with staying still, the guy was pacing back and forth eager to be on the move.
"Staring at me like a hawk is not going to make me hurry." Yuna said sweetly.
Tidus grimaced. "Come on, Yuna. Hurry up."
Rikku rolled her eyes again and when they hit the ceiling she kept them there. She didn't get why it even mattered how much they had dug up in Bikanel. It wasn't as if they were using any of it. The Machine Faction was the one experimenting. Rikku glared at the rocks. 'This is so pointless.' She thought and looked back down.
Gippal stood over her, trapping her against the wall.
--
TBC…
I know evil way to end a chapter, but that's me… evil and vile. And as always, shout outs for those who review!