Paine

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Paine is a playable character who first appears in Final Fantasy X-2. She is one of the three playable characters, and is the darkest of the girls. Her past is a mystery for most of the game, and it's up to the player to find out what happened to her two years ago.

Story
Nothing is really known about Paine's childhood. The first time we find out anything about her, is when we hear about her in the Crimson Squad. The Crimson Squad was an elite group of soldiers set up by Yevon. Paine worked in a group as a reporter for three men, named Nooj, Baralai and Gippal. However, when most of the other members of the Crimson Squad are killed in the Den of Woe, the group survives, but were put up for execution soon after, since no one was supposed to survive in the Den.

Running away, the four of them stayed together for a while, with Paine still recording. It was here that Paine learnt to speak fluent Al Bhed from Gippal. When they all decide to go their separate ways, Nooj betrays them, since he was possessed by Shuyin's hatred. It was the four of them that essentially caused the events of Final Fantasy X-2 to begin.

Paine joins the Gullwings two years later, before Yuna, hoping to uncover the truth of what happened that day at the Den of Woe. She jokingly remarks that she "always did want to fly on this thing anyway", referring to the Celsius.

During the events of the game, the party encounter all three members of Paine's old squad. While Gippal still recognises her, Nooj and Baralai pretend they don't know her. Paine, not wanting the other girls knowing about her past, pretends that she doesn't know them either.

However, as the girls collect all the Crimson Spheres, recorded by Paine herself, they slowly find out about all the events from two years ago. Nooj and Gippal also tell the girls about all the events. Paine eventually opens up, telling the girls all about how the four of them dreamed about having an airship, travelling all over Spira. It is because of this that she stays on to the end, to save Baralai from Shuyin's hatred.

Relationship With Nooj
Paine's relationship with Nooj becomes apparent during few scenes, especially before the battle with the final boss. This scene shows Nooj talking about killing or severely hurting himself and possibly Baralai to destroy Shuyin. Paine outbursts at him after Yuna does, about how he's their captain, showing that she doesn't want him to leave her.

Also the part at the Den Of Woe where he gives hints to the other girls of their history when he gives the sphere, not to the openhanded Rikku, but to Paine, when he remarks, "Perhaps it's fate." This gets the other two curious in their past relationship.

Another scene was when the girls overhear Baralai asking why Nooj shot them, when he reveals that he also shot Paine after Shuyin takes over and explains before taking over Baralai. She tells the girls that she sees that as "an accident."

People will argue if this is friendship or romantic relationship, but most fansites agree with the romantic side.

Afterwards
Three months after the events of Final Fantasy X-2, the Gullwings are called back together, to Yadonoki Tower. Here, they travel to the top of the tower, where they find a broken machina. Paine reveals she was the one who brought them back together, to show them that even though they are now apart, they shall always be together.

Dragon Quest & Final Fantasy in Itadaki Street Special
Paine is a playable character in this special edition of the Monopoly-like video game available only in Japan.

Kingdom Hearts II
Later the Gullwings discover the lie but feel sympathetic to Sora's cause. Instead of taking his items they give him the keyblade 'Gullwing'.
 * Paine appears in Kingdom Hearts II as a chibi fairy version of herself along side similar versions of Yuna and Rikku. Calling themselves 'treasure fanatics" the three Gullwings are mercenaries spying on Leon for Maleficent, though after some trickery from Donald involving promised treasure, they join with Leon and help defend Radiant Garden against the army of Heartless.