Frozen

a Final Fantasy 10-2 fanfiction by Dark-SideOfThe-Coin


Paine swallowed hard and walked over to her. She leaned down so that her lips were but a 
hairbreadth from Yuna's ear and whispered, "Meet me in my room later." Yuna's initial 
response was shock, matched equally by confusion. The silver-haired girl then rose back to 
her full height and walked away, leaving a very confused brunette standing in the center of 
the large cabin.

*******

It had all started just a few weeks earlier.

Rikku and Yuna were bored to tears. Living with your cousin was fun, especially when Yuna 
and Rikku got along so well. But after a while, things just seemed to lose their appeal. 
Redundancy seemed to follow the two wherever they went.

Then, one week, out of the blue, they got a call from a friend of theirs, Paine. When Rikku 
read the caller ID she freaked. The scream was so loud it nearly made Yuna fall down the 
stairs. She walked to where her cousin was standing in the living room, jumping up and down 
while talking into the phone at speeds no human should be able to reach.

Yuna's hands fell from her ears and she grabbed the phone from her cousin's hand. Rikku 
stared numbly at her now empty hand before trying to tackle Yuna in a vain attempt at 
getting the device back.

Yuna dodged, Rikku kissed the floor.

Yuna lifted the phone to her ear and sighed, "I'm so sorry about that. Who is this?"

At first there was silence, and then, "By all that is holy how can that girl talk so fast?"

"Paine!" Yuna was genuinely surprised. "Hey, how are you?" she asked, at a slight loss for 
words.

"Going deaf, but otherwise fine." Paine replied. "So how are you two? I think Rikku might 
have tried to tell me, but..."

"Yeah. We're fine. Bored, but fine." Yuna said, looking over at her cousin who was now 
pouting while flipping through channels on their TV.

"Hmm. Well, I called because I'm kinda bored too, and things always were more interesting 
with you and Rikku around. Especially Rikku. Anyway, I felt like getting away from the city 
for a while and rented a cabin, and the brochure said it had more than three rooms. So I was 
kind of wondering if you two wanted to come."

Yuna muttered a silent prayer of thanks before saying, "Yes!" she realized she'd been a 
little too enthusiastic and let out a nervous laugh.

"That bored, huh?"

"You have no idea."

Paine chuckled, "Well, the reservation is for two weeks from now. I'll email you the 
directions. That is, if you haven't changed it."

"That was Rikku."

"Oh! Right. So yours is the same?" Yuna was silent. "Right. Well, I guess I'll see you in 
two weeks."

"Alright." Yuna said, the gravity of what was happening finally sinking in.

"See ya'." Paine said before hanging up. Yuna put the phone back in the receiver. She 
glanced over at her cousin. It was about to get really loud in there.

*******

The cabin was up in the mountains and, being the time of year that it was, it would be very 
cold. And snowing. The two girls made sure that they had jackets and gloves for the weather.

The drive up, for Yuna, was the most painful part. Yuna loved her cousin dearly, but 
sometimes that little blonde got really irritating. They packed everything they needed into 
their car and took off.

After an hour, Rikku had already gotten really bored. She was slumped in the passenger seat 
with both feet planted on the dashboard. Gusts of hot air were blowing from vents and 
picking up her hair. Her eyes were half open and she was staring numbly out the front 
window.

Yuna cast her cousin a worried glance, "Rikku? You alright?"

"Yeah, just fine, Yunie. Just fine." she murmured as if in a trance.

"You don't look fine."

"I'm bored. Other than that, I'm fine." Rikku grumbled.

Yuna sighed, "Well, turn some music on! Try to start a conversation! When was the last time 
you and I actually talked?"

Rikku looked up and bit her lower lip, "Two months. Maybe more?" she said slowly. In between 
Rikku's parties and Yuna actually trying to pass college, they had little time together.

Yuna nodded, "Sounds about right." she looked quickly at her cousin before asking, "How long 
has it been since we last saw Paine?"

Rikku shrugged, "Maybe a year. Why?"

Yuna shook her head, "I dunno, something just feels off. She doesn't contact us in any way 
for a year and then one day, out of the blue, she calls and asks if we want to go to a cabin 
in the mountains with her for a week."

Rikku's eyes widened and, with a groan, Yuna realized she'd just made a terrible mistake. 
"Y.. y.. d-do you t-think she's gonna t-try and.. k-kill us?" Rikku squeaked shakily, 
sinking lower into her seat.

"No, Rikku. I really doubt this is going to turn into some shitty teenage slasher flick."

Rikku's shivering abated slightly, "R-really?"

Yuna rolled her eyes, "Yes."

The younger blonde's eyes lit up, "Good!" she frowned and pointed a finger at Yuna. "But if 
she even tries to.."

"She'd kill you."

Rikku gaped, but the closed her mouth. Her jaw was clenched and after a moment she loosened 
it just enough to force out, "Yeah." through gritted teeth. "And I wouldn't put it past her 
either." she said. Yuna had to agree.

Yuna let a soft smile grace her lips. In the near distance, large mountains jutted up out of 
the ground. Black and coated in white, the massive stone daggers formed the bulk of what 
they could see. Yuna prayed that Rikku wouldn't get bored enough to start with her 
suggestive conversation.

Fat fucking chance.

"Ya' know, there's something I always noticed about Paine that just seemed.. off." the 
mischievous younger girl said slowly.

"What?" Yuna asked, already coming up with twenty different things her cousin could say. The 
answer wasn't on her list.

"The way she looked at us. Well, you mostly. But I caught her givin' me a once-over every so 
often." Rikku said, a glint in her eye.

Yuna gripped the wheel tighter in shock, "Huh-wha.. ?"

Rikku nodded, a devious grin twisting her mouth, "Oh you know! I mean, maybe she was just 
curious," she looked down at herself, even though she was wearing a bright yellow turtleneck 
sweater, "who wouldn't be? But then again, she might just be into girls, Yunie. Maybe you 
specifically. Then again that would explain why she had no other friends..."

Yuna started to sputter, desperately trying to counter the blonde's accusation. She 
formulated a comeback in her mind, but when it reached her lips it came out, in all its 
intelligent glory, as, "Um.. I-uh.. huh?!"

Rikku smiled triumphantly, "Yeah," she said, voice low, "just by watching her eyes, I could 
tell that she was mentally un-.."

"Uh, Ri-I, uh, Rikku!" Yuna stopped her cousin. She swallowed hard and glanced nervously 
over at her cousin. "Enough. Please?" she allowed a hint of desperation to creep into her 
voice.

Rikku licked her lips slowly, eyes glowing, "Sure. Just thought I'd warn you." she sat back 
in her seat and closed her eyes. They snapped open a moment later and the gleam in them was 
something akin to pure evil, "Maybe that's why she wants us up at the cabin! She wants a 
three-way lesbian orgy!"

Yuna just about screamed. Her face was flushed a deep red and her eyes widened. Her knuckles 
were white on the steering wheel. "Um.. just, could you.. don't, um... shut up!" she 
stammered.

"Embarrassed?" Rikku asked, poking her cousin playfully in the shoulder. If Yuna's grip on 
the wheel wasn't so tight she would have slapped the girl's hand away.

"More like scared!" Yuna squeaked, irritated at how she sounded. "Dammit, Rikku! What's 
wrong with you?!"

The blonde shrugged. She started wrapping one of her braids around her finger, a habit she 
tended to do absentmindedly. "Nothing. Why would you ever think there was something wrong 
with me?"

Yuna looked over at her cousin for a split second, scowling, before looking back out at the 
road and saying, "You have a perverted mind."

Her point was proven when Rikku shrugged and said, "Nonetheless, Yunie, you two would make 
one hot couple."

They arrived at the cabin.. finally.

After hours of being alone with Rikku, they had talked more than they had in a long time. 
Also, Yuna learned that her cousin was much more devious than she thought. Not to mention 
somewhat twisted.

The cabin was big. Not too big, but large enough. It was nestled halfway into the forest. 
Snow covered evergreens and a cabin with a snow covered roof, smoke rising lazily from the 
chimney, it looked almost like a postcard.

They pulled up next to Paine's car. Yuna pulled her coat on before opening the car door. The 
icy wind bit her face and hands as she went to the trunk with Rikku to get her bags. She 
reached the trunk and realized her cousin wasn't there. Looking around, she saw the younger 
girl standing still, eyes wide and mouth open in a huge smile.

"Never seen anything like this before?" Yuna asked.

"Nuh-uh." Rikku said, still in awe.

"Hmm, well get over here and grab your stuff." Yuna said. Rikku frowned but trudged through 
the snow to the car. She paused when she was closer to Yuna and smiled wickedly. She drew 
her right leg back and then kicked the snow. White clumps of icy powder smacked Yuna, making 
her yelp.

She turned slowly to look at Rikku, mismatched eyes burning with hellish fury. Rikku took a 
step back and murmured, "Hell hath no fury like a woman with snow in her hair?"

"You are so dead." Yuna hissed. Rikku squeaked and took off, Yuna was close at her heels. 
Rikku ran towards the trees, but Yuna, who was taller and more active than her cousin, 
quickly tackled her. Rikku squealed and they both landed face-first in the snow. Well not 
quite, as Yuna was on top of her cousin and holding her face in the snow.

"Wow. Some things never change." Yuna and Rikku heard a calm voice say. Yuna turned her 
head, never letting up on her cousin, and saw Paine standing on the front porch of the 
cabin. Her arms were folded over her chest and her left eyebrow arched.

"You're one to talk." Yuna said, grinning widely. "You've tackled her before."

"I've punched her before." Paine said, shaking her head, her gelled silver hair barely 
moving with the motion.

"Could you please let me up! I'm sorry!" Rikku whined.

Yuna sighed but stood up and brushed the snow from her legs, "Do it again, and I'll hurt you 
next time." she warned.

Rikku nodded and started rubbing her face, "It stings." she said simply. The two went to the 
car and grabbed their bags before heading into the cabin. The warm air inside was a heavenly 
sensation compared to the cold wind outside. There was a lit fireplace surrounded by a couch 
and three reclining chairs. A dining room was down a short hall from the living room. There 
was another fireplace in there and a round dinner table. Near the dining room was the 
kitchen. As soon as Yuna entered the cabin, she knew it was in use. She could smell the 
mixed aromas of cooking food.

Paine had always been a good cook. She discovered it in high school, unlike Yuna who had 
found her love for art when she was young. And Rikku had always loved photography. She had 
been with the school paper. That was how she and Paine met initially. And Yuna met Paine 
through Rikku. The three had been an unusual group, to say the least.

Paine was somewhat antisocial. She was quiet but had a bad temper when provoked. Yuna was 
quiet too. But she had been shy, not like Paine who just didn't like people. And Rikku.. she 
was very social, outspoken, hyper, and yet she didn't make friends easily. They were the 
only true friends any of them had in high school. Paine had had to go out of state for 
college, but Rikku and Yuna stayed together. They had grown up together and were 
inseparable.

Paine took them down a hall leading away from the kitchen and dining room towards a row of 
five rooms. The cabin hadn't looked too big on the outside, but on the inside it was 
actually quite roomy.

Paine stopped when they had reached the row of doors, "The one on the end is mine. You can 
pick from any of the other four." she said. "Dinner will be ready in about half an hour." 
she looked at each girl in turn before walking away. Once she was out of earshot Rikku moved 
closer to Yuna."

"That's it? After a whole year, that's it?" she whispered, to hide her voice from what she 
used to call Paine's "uber-tastic hearing".

Yuna looked down the hall towards the kitchen and said, "She's just feeling awkward, Rikku. 
She hasn't talked to us in over a year. She has a right to be."

Rikku grumbled something and headed for a room. Not surprisingly, it was the one farthest 
from Paine's. Yuna rolled her eyes and started down the hall. She chose the third room down, 
putting a room in between her and Rikku and her and Paine.

The room was small, but homy all the same. A single, king sized bed dominated the far right 
corner of the room. Random pictures were hung randomly on the walls. There was a door on the 
far left leading to a bathroom and there was a television on a stand in front of the bed. 
Checking the small dresser by the bed, which had a clock, phone, and lamp on it, she found 
the remote in the tiny drawer at the top.

Yuna threw the bag onto the bed and made use of the bathroom before leaving the room. She 
could hear Rikku when she passed the girl's room. She was singing, so she must have been 
listening to her iPod. Singing, while Yuna was good at it, was not her cousin's strong 
point.

She passed the living room and crossed the room diagonally to the hall on the, from where 
she stood, left of the front door. The smell of food grew as she passed the dining room. The 
kitchen was nestled on the far right of the house, while the rooms were on the far left.

It wasn't tiny, but it wasn't large either. There was a window on the wall in the back of 
the kitchen. Yuna could see that is was starting to snow. Paine was standing in front of the 
window, right hand gripping her left arm which hung at her side. The food was apparently 
almost finished as she was just letting it sit, or boil, or.. whatever. Like singing to 
Rikku, Yuna had no idea how to cook.

"Has it really been a year?" Paine asked, startling Yuna and breaking the silence.

"Yeah, I guess." Yuna said, feeling like she had on her first day of high school all over 
again. She hadn't met Paine until the second week of school, while Rikku had met her on the 
first. "Hard to believe, though, huh?" she asked, chuckling nervously.

Paine sighed, her shoulders rose and fell with the sound, "Kind of." she turned halfway 
around and looked Yuna in the eyes, but the crimson spheres quickly fell to the floor. 
"Considering how close we used to be." she said. Yuna detected something in her voice. There 
was more to what she had said.

Yuna couldn't help but think back on what Rikku had said. She had thought she was only 
teasing. But the way Paine had spoken had made it seem like more than just poking fun.

"Things change." Yuna said, shrugging. "Some people don't talk to any of their high school 
friends once they graduate. I guess I'm lucky Rikku and I are still so close."

Paine closed her eyes and smiled, "You two always were best friends." she said. She opened 
her eyes and looked into Yuna's, "You two share a dorm?"

"Apartment." Yuna said. "Dorms are too small. Too many rules."

"Amen." Paine said. "But I don't have someone to help pay the rent."

Yuna nodded, "It helps that Rikku has a job with the local paper." Yuna said. "Doesn't pay 
much, but every little bit counts."

"I know what you mean." Paine said. "So how's your art going?" she asked.

Yuna smiled, "Great, I guess. I've entered some of my stuff into local events. I can scrape 
in a few bucks here and there."

Paine tilted her head, "Scrape?"

Yuna blushed, "Okay, so the least I make at one is a hundred dollars. But that goes 
quickly."

Paine nodded, "I'm surprised your stuff doesn't sell for more." she said. She walked over to 
a crock pot and opened it. "It should." she said lightly.

"Thanks. I guess." Yuna said.

Paine smiled, "I still have that picture you gave me in high school."

Yuna's eyes widened, "The one from freshman year?" she asked, genuinely surprised.

Paine put the lid back on the pot and adjusted the temperature. She nodded as she checked a 
pot of simmering gravy, "Yeah. It's hung on the wall in my dorm. Over my bed. First time my 
roommate saw it she stared at it for five minutes before I asked what the hell she was 
doing."

Yuna giggled, trying to imagine how Paine must have felt about having to share a dorm. "I 
didn't know you liked it that much."

This time Paine looked shocked, "Yuna.. I loved it. I still do! No one has ever given me 
something like that. I guess you could say it's my prized possession."

Yuna blushed again, "Wow..I-uh.. I'm glad it means that much." she said. She could still 
remember the drawing. Rikku had taken a picture of Paine for the school paper on the day 
they met. Yuna had sketched it and then added her own touches to it. She had made it to fit 
Paine's personality. Paine had looked different in the picture. Her hair had been down 
instead of gelled. She hadn't started putting gel in her hair until sophomore year.

Paine looked down at her feet. She didn't have any shoes on. She was walking around in just 
a black t-shirt, baggy black jeans, and black socks. Yuna remembered that she always used to 
do that when at either her house, Rikku's, or Yuna's. Yuna, driven by a sudden impulse, 
walked over to her friend and hugged her.

"It's so good to see you again." Yuna mumbled.

Paine's eyes were like dinner plates. She nervously wrapped a single arm around the smaller 
girl and said, "It's good to see you too, Yuna."

Yuna let go of Paine and took a step back, "Sorry." she said softly, remembering that Paine 
didn't always react well to close physical contact. She never had.

Quick, loud footsteps told them Rikku was walking towards the kitchen. She took a step 
inside and proclaimed, "Damn! That smells awesome!" she grinned. She looked at Yuna and 
Paine and that glint came back.

Apparently Paine had seen it before too because she promptly said, "Um, I think the food is 
ready." at which the glint in Rikku's eyes vanished. Yuna grabbed her and the two cousins 
set the table. After they were finished Yuna helped Paine with the food. There was sliced 
beef on a plate and assorted vegetables that had been cooked with the beef on another. The 
gravy was kept in the pot which was put on a potholder on the table. Paine also produced a 
pitcher of iced tea from the fridge

Yuna had first tried Paine's pot roast in her junior year. She was glad the girl hadn't 
changed her recipe. Apparently Rikku was too because the younger girl took one bite of the 
food and Yuna was suddenly surprised she didn't have to restrain her cousin. The girl ate 
more than either Yuna or Paine ever had, but she always burned it off by running or going to 
a gym.

During dinner, the three simply talked about what they were all doing now. Paine was making 
money by working at a local restaurant. Rikku, besides the job with the paper, was with the 
track team at her college. Paine commented that she was surprised the "blonde" even made it 
into college. Rikku almost threw a potato wedge at her but decided it tasted too good to 
waste.

Either that or she didn't want to provoke Paine.

Both girls knew how angry she could get. She could normally keep it under control, but it 
was never hard for her to snap. During high school she had looked out for Yuna and Rikku. 
She had gotten into an especially bad fight in their freshman year.

After dinner Paine made all three of them some hot chocolate. Yuna had taken hers, as well 
as a pad and pencil she had brought, and gone out onto the porch. Even with her coat on, it 
was freezing outside. Especially since it was dark.

Soft light shone through the curtains of a nearby window. Yuna was sitting in a wooden 
chair, her hot chocolate on the wooden table beside her. The moon shone bright and full 
through a gap in the clouds. Soft flakes of snow drifted lazily down from the sky. The trees 
swayed ever so gently in the wind.

Yuna loved it.

She couldn't resist the urge to sketch it. She moved the pencil lightly for the snow, and 
harder for the trees, clouds, the spots on the moon, and the shadows that danced across the 
frozen sea of powder.

She finally put her pencil down on the table and sipped from the mug. She heard the door 
open and turned to see Paine coming outside. Unlike Yuna she had no jacket on. Just the 
t-shirt. Yuna realized she had done the same thing when she had come out the first time.

Her mug was gone and her hands were stuffed in her pockets. "Hey." she said. She moved 
silently to stand behind Yuna. She realized that Paine wasn't wearing any shoes either. Yuna 
emptied the mug and sat it down on the table.

Paine looked down at the pad in Yuna's lap, "Holy..." she breathed. She reached down and 
gently picked it up. "Yuna.. this is awesome." she ran her eyes over it. Carefully looking 
over every detail. She shook her head and handed it back. "That is amazing."

Yuna felt blood rush to her face, "Thanks." she said shyly. She closed the pad and set it on 
the table by the mug and pencil.

"I wish I could draw like that." Paine said, smiling lightly.

"Funny. I wish I could cook." Yuna said.

Paine shook her head, "And Rikku wishes she could sing."

Yuna laughed, "We all want what we can't have."

"Too true." Paine nodded, looking at the window behind her. Yuna frowned and stood.

"Aren't you cold?" she asked.

Paine turned to her friend, "No."

Yuna reached out and grabbed Paine's arm. Her skin was ice cold. "Not unless your Jack 
Frost." Yuna said. "You're freezing!"

Paine rolled her eyes, "Rikku used to say the same thing. I'm guessing it's your saying 
initially?"

Yuna nodded, but then shook her head, "Oh no! You're not gonna sidetrack me like that!" she 
said, giving Paine a look that made the silver-haired girl chuckle. "Either you're going 
inside," Yuna said, and hugged Paine tightly, surprising her, "or you'll have to deal with 
me!"

She expected Paine to immediately choose the latter, but it actually took a minute before 
the taller girl sighed and pulled away with a, "Yes, mother." before going inside. Yuna 
grabbed the pad, pencil, and mug and hurried after her.

Rikku was laying on the couch and grinned at Yuna. Yuna scowled, but her cousin just winked 
and looked back down at the book she was reading. Yuna put the pad and pencil on the dinner 
table and the mug in the kitchen sink.

She then went to her room and showered before changing into her pajamas, a long-sleeved 
button-up shirt and pants, and going back into the living room and kneeling in front of the 
fire.

"Still worshiping the god of fire?" Paine asked, coming into the living room from the 
kitchen. "I didn't peg you as one for the pagan practices, Yuna."

Yuna turned her head to look at Paine and grinned slyly, "There's a lot you don't know about 
me." she said.

Rikku choked back a laugh. Yuna's smile turned into a look of annoyance. She turned back to 
the fire as Rikku stood, stretched, and said, "Well, I'm going to bed. I'll you two 
tomorrow." she winked at Paine before she skipped out of the room. The taller girl rolled 
her eyes.

Paine walked over to the couch but didn't sit down. She just stared at the fire, every so 
often shifting her gaze to Yuna. Yuna stood up after another five minutes and turned around. 
Paine was staring intently at the fire, as if she were contemplating something.

Her eyes moved to Yuna and then traced up her body. Yuna suppressed a shiver. She started 
towards the hall to her room and was about to say she was going to bed too when Paine spoke 
up, "Yuna, I.. uh..."

Yuna paused and turned to her friend, "Huh?"

Paine swallowed hard and walked over to her. She leaned down so that her lips were but a 
hairbreadth from Yuna's ear and whispered, "Meet me in my room later." Yuna's initial 
response was shock, matched equally by confusion. The silver-haired girl then rose back to 
her full height and walked away, leaving a very confused brunette standing in the center of 
the large cabin.

Yuna was jarred into motion by the sound of Paine's door closing. She blinked and moved 
numbly towards her room. She closed the door behind her and went to her bed. She had already 
moved her bag. She then laid down and tried to make sense of what happened.

Two hours later she decided that she had waited long enough. She got up and went to her 
door. When she grabbed the knob she paused. Taking a deep breath she turned it and went out 
into the hall. She closed the door softly behind her.

Nervously she moved down the hall. The short distance between her room and Paine's now 
seemed miles long. When she reached the end of the hall she rapped lightly on the wooden 
door. Pained opened it mere seconds later, dressed in long, black cotton pants and a 
sleeveless shirt. She had apparently showered, as her hair was down. The silver locks barely 
touched her shoulders.

Paine looked completely calm, something she always managed to do. She stepped aside and let 
Yuna in. Paine's room was very much like her own. The biggest differences were that the 
random pictures were all different, and there was a window.

After closing the door Paine walked slowly to her bed and sat down. Yuna glanced around 
shyly before sitting down beside Paine. Paine then laid down and folded her hands beneath 
her head. Yuna thought that, with her hair down, Paine looked a lot like she used to back in 
high school.

"So.. uh.. what did you want?" Yuna asked nervously. She cursed Rikku and her juvenile 
jokes.

Paine shrugged, "I guess I just wanted to talk." she said. "I mean, yeah we've chatted a 
little, but we haven't really talked."

"So why me and not Rikku?" Yuna asked.

Paine chuckled, "Save the worst for last."

Yuna smiled, nodding, "Yeah. You two never did seem to get along."

Paine winced, "Actually, that's part of what I wanted to talk about."

Yuna furrowed her brow and laid down by her friend, hands clasped over her stomach. "What do 
you mean?"

Paine sighed, "I was kind of hoping that it would just stay a secret, but apparently that's 
impossible. I just.. I need to get it off my chest."

Yuna was genuinely shocked. Paine rarely ever talked about something she considered private. 
In high school she'd rarely ever talked about herself. She hated sharing what she felt. 
"Okay." Yuna mumbled.

"Back in high school, freshman year.. it wasn't long after I met Rikku, and almost right 
after meeting you." she took a deep, shuddered breath. Yuna turned onto her side and gently 
laid a supporting hand on her friend's shoulder. Paine looked down at Yuna's hand and then 
up into her mismatched eyes. She blinked and then continued, "I've been wondering how to 
tell you for these past two weeks. Yuna.. Rikku and I used to.. well, date."

Yuna froze. Her eyes widened slowly, almost comically, before she bolted up into a sitting 
position, mouth opening and closing like a fish. Paine arched an eyebrow, "Well, at least 
you didn't try to strangle me. To tell you the truth, though, that wasn't the worst outcome 
I'd imagined. You could still kill me in my sleep."

Yuna looked down, dumbly, and finally managed, "Huh?"

Paine blinked, "Yep. Sounds about right." she sighed and sat up. She placed a hand on Yuna's 
shoulder, but the brunette pulled away. Paine nodded and she laid her hand in her lap.

"Paine.." Yuna said, shaking her head slowly.

"Look on the bright side, you're improving." Paine said, rolling her eyes.

"Paine, I.. I.. I.."

"Almost, you're up to two syllables."

Yuna blinked, "Paine, how could you and Rikku keep this from me?" Yuna asked, sounding 
hoarse. Paine took a bottle of water from the bedside dresser and handed it to Yuna who 
snapped the cap off and drained a quarter of the bottle.

Paine shrugged, "It was an.. agreement, we both came to. Rikku was afraid of what you'd 
think of her, and I.. I just didn't want anyone to know in general."

"How long were you.. ?"

"Until somewhere near the end of of junior year." Paine said. "It was pretty much the same, 
only we were both paranoid that someone would find out. So we.. stopped."

Yuna's eyes suddenly widened again, "Did you two ever have.. ever make.. ever.. ?"

"Fuck?"

Yuna flinched, "Not the word I was looking for." she squeaked, hiding her face in her hands.

"Oh it's the perfect word, Yuna." Paine shook her head. "After the first two or so times 
there was nothing innocent about it."

"I'll take that as a yes which is, by the way, all I needed!" Yuna moaned.

Paine bit her lower lip, "Oops."

Yuna dropped her hands to her lap and nodded, she took a deep breath, "It's okay, just very 
unexpected. Now I know where the jokes came from."

"Jokes?" Paine asked.

Yuna nodded, she was obviously still trying to grasp what had been said, "Yeah. On the way 
over here she.. uh.. said that you were always.. looking at me." Yuna giggled nervously.

Paine tilted her head, "Me with.. you. Damn interesting though, I'll admit."

"It's fucking crazy." Yuna said, almost sounding hysterical.

"Yeah. Right." Paine said, watching as her friend was about to hyperventilate. She shrugged, 
"Eh, what the fuck." she placed a hand on the back of Yuna's head and pulled her in. Yuna's 
eyes widened even more when they kissed, impossible though it may seem. But at least it 
stopped her from going into cardiac arrest. Or, then again, it may have induced it.

Paine broke away a few seconds later, her left hand still in Yuna's hair. Yuna just stared 
numbly forward, "Ya know," Paine said, tilting her head to get a better look at Yuna, "you 
look kinda like a junkie."

Yuna's eyes flickered upwards and caught Paine's eyes. Yuna slowly moved forward. She ended 
up supporting herself on her hands and knees as she pressed her lips to Paine's, parting 
them a little and just barely letting the tip of her tongue touch Paine's lips.

Their eyes stayed open, Paine wary, making sure Yuna wanted this. Yuna confused, wanting to 
see some sign of support. Paine started to twist her fingers, wrapping Yuna's short hair 
around them. Yuna placed a hand on Paine thigh and slowly moved forward, deepening the kiss.

Until Paine almost fell off the edge of the bed.

She caught herself at the last second and Yuna helped her regain her balance. Paine edged 
closer to Yuna. "Lets definitely avoid doing that again." Paine said, pecking Yuna gently on 
the lips.

Yuna swallowed, smiling nervously, "Yeah, at least you didn't resort to pulling my hair for 
support."

Paine chuckled as she nuzzled the smaller girl, "Hmm, well I'll, uh, keep that in mind."

"Bitch." Yuna whispered, giggling. She let her tongue run along Paine's lips. Paine opened 
her mouth slightly as they kissed lightly, tongues barely touching

"What tipped you off?" she asked, feeling breathless as her heart began to pound. She could 
feel the blood rushing to her head.

Yuna felt the same, and she began to grow more eager as adrenaline coursed through her, "You 
fucking my cousin."

"Naughty." Paine said with a quick, breathless laugh. Her hand snaked up Yuna's thigh and 
then up her back. She slid it back down the material of Yuna's shirt before slipping her 
hand under it. Icy skin made Yuna suck in air. Her fingernails traced down Yuna's bare 
flesh, making her arch her back.

"You started it." Yuna gasped.

Paine moved forward, forcing Yuna back. Soon she was over the smaller girl, propped on her 
left elbow, her right hand trailing down Yuna's neck, passing over the material covering her 
breasts and stopped at the bottom button of her shirt. She had felt through the cloth, 
Yuna's nipples were hard.

"I'll bet you never even considered this before." Paine said as she undid the first button 
and moved up to the next.

Yuna wriggled beneath Paine and smiled, "Still not sure why I'm doing it now. All I know is 
that I'm damn glad I am."

"Ditto." Paine said, moving to the third button. She brushed her lips to Yuna's jaw, and 
then her neck before kissing her collarbone. The shirt was holding her back from doing any 
more. She felt a fiery hunger rise in her, but she quickly doused that flame. She had let it 
get out of control once with Rikku.

The result had not been pretty.

She had most of the buttons undone now, and was on the last three. She had the first two 
gone in seconds, but slowly undid the final button. She kissed Yuna once on the lips before 
looking down. Using just a single finger she brushed away the two loose sides of the shirt. 
She smiled and her eyes moved to meet Yuna's.

"Always knew you had a body under those loose shirts you wore." she said, eyes glowing 
wickedly in the low light. Yuna's chest rose and fell with excited breaths. Her nipples were 
erect, and her creamy flesh covered in a thin layer of sweat despite the cold.

Paine lowered her head and ran her tongue over the soft flesh. Gently tracing it. Her other 
hand moved jerkily to Yuna's left breast. She brushed her thumb over the nipple and gently 
began to knead, drawing soft sighs from Yuna.

She lowered her head even more and took the bud into her mouth, grazing it lightly with her 
teeth before sucking it and massaging it with her tongue.

Yuna tangled her hand in Paine's loose silver hair, sighing softly, trying not to moan for 
fear of waking her cousin, even though the blonde probably had her ears plugged up with her 
ear-buds. Her other hand pulled weakly at one of the straps on Paine's shirt.

Paine grinned and stopped what she was doing. She moved off of Yuna and pulled her own shirt 
off. Yuna blushed when she saw her friend's exposed chest. Her breathing picked up again. 
Paine tossed her shirt to the floor and laid down. Yuna rolled onto her stomach and crawled 
halfway on top of Paine before repeating what her friend had done to her, only softer.

Paine arched her back and moaned. Yuna's light, tentative touches excited her more than 
Rikku had. Where Rikku had been a wildcat, Yuna was more tame. Gentler.

Paine placed both hands onto Yuna's back. Yuna shivered under the icy touch. Slowly, Yuna's 
left hand moved away from Paine's breast. It began to make its way down her chest and over 
Paine's smooth, toned stomach.

Her hand stopped at just above the waistline of Paine's pants. Yuna began to nervously trace 
circles around Paine's bellybutton while debating what to do. She finally decided at a more 
cautious approach.

Her hand moved lower, but stayed above cloth. She found that Paine was already wet, as the 
cloth above her groin was moist. Yuna slowly started to rub her fingers over the area.

Paine moaned loudly, whispering Yuna's name. Yuna was starting to shake. More out of 
excitement this time than nervousness. She drew her hand back up and then slid it under the 
girl's pants. She swallowed hard as her fingers brushed Paine's clit, making the 
silver-haired girl buck slightly.

Paine sucked in a shuddered breath and Yuna brushed her thumb over Paine's clit again, 
registering a similar response. Yuna looked back up at Paine and moved a little higher to 
kiss her again. They were quick, light kisses like before. Lips touching for mere seconds, 
tongues barely making contact.

Yuna began to work at her friend. Her thumb remained where it was, and she slid two finger 
slowly into Paine. She pushed them in, curled, uncurled and pulled out before repeating. At 
the same time she teased Paine's clit.

For Paine, it was like all coherent thought had been swallowed by a vast, burning, white 
nothingness. A yawning void had swallowed her. Rikku had never managed this. Yuna's touches 
were so light, so delicate, so teasing. It was almost unbearable.

She started to whimper Yuna's name as she neared an orgasm. She began to twitch and shiver, 
buck and moan. When the moment finally came, when she felt as if she'd exploded, her vision 
went white for a second. She stiffened and then went limp on the bed.

Yuna looked down at her friend as she gasped for breath. She pulled her hand from Paine's 
core and looked down at her slick fingers. She furrowed her brow and tentatively licked one 
of her fingers. She was surprised at the taste.

"You.. look like Rikku.. the first time.. she.." Paine rolled her eyes. "Fuck it." she 
sighed. Yuna cleaned off the rest of her hand and threw her shirt onto the floor. She 
guessed it landed somewhere near Paine's.

She laid down next to the girl and, as she ran her eyes up and down Paine's shivering form, 
she realized the enormity of the situation. She'd just had sex with her friend! With Paine! 
With another girl!

Paine laughed, "Just like her."

Yuna scowled at Paine, "It's not funny."

Paine nodded, "Yes it is. Only there's one outstanding difference."

"And what's that?" Yuna asked.

"You're better." Paine said, surprising Yuna at how serious she sounded. "Yuna, you're never 
gonna believe this, but.. I'm fucking freezing!" Paine said through a shiver.

Yuna bit her lip but it didn't help. She burst out laughing and only prayed that Rikku had 
her ears stuffed. She reached over and turned off the lamp. She then pulled the covers back, 
Paine moved to make it easier, and then pulled them back over the two of them.

Yuna snuggled up to Paine and hissed, "Dammit, you're freezing!"

Paine rolled her eyes, "Yes. We all know that." she said. Yuna smiled and kissed Paine one 
last time before closing her eyes. Before she fell asleep she made a decision: When this was 
all over, she would give Paine the drawing from earlier. But she also had another in mind. 
One that she just thought of and figured would mean a whole lot more.



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