Chapter 5
"I'm glad you came this time" Serah smiled as Lightning sat down to join them. Their weekly get together was in mid swing with the Pulsians, Snow, Lebreau and Hope chatting around the large table in their usual place.
"Then I tripped and accidentally fell on the guy!" Snow chuckled with the rest of them, finishing his story.
"My accidental hero" Serah smiled fondly at him.
"Typical" Hope rolled his eyes.
"Your up mini Lightning" Fang announced.
Serah thought for a few minutes,
"Okay I got one!" She announced excitedly. "So I'd not long met Snow an-"
"Anyone want drinks?" Lightning asked before her sister could make a proper start of her own embarrassing story. She wasn't too excited to hear the outcome, especially since it involved Snow, again. She headed to the bar and reeled off the orders she’d been given, turning to watch the group as she waited. Her gaze fell on the huntress and she found herself smiling as the woman laughed at the story. A few minutes passed by and Lightning noticed a few of her friends start to glance over to her with somewhat astonished expressions from time to time. Her stomach felt queasy with dread.
"There you go" the barman said as he placed the last of the drinks on the tray for her.
"Thanks." The tray felt impossibly heavy as she headed for the table, mild panic still making her stomach churn but she made her strides purposeful all the same.
"She wasn't very pleased" Serah smiled.
"So Sunshines always followed the law, huh?"
"Actually...she was always getting in trouble when we were younger. Captain Amodar brought her home on a few occasions"
Fang looked to Lightning at the bar, disbelieving. Their eyes met for a instant, before she turned back to the younger sibling.
"Are we talking about the same Lightning?"
"It wasn't like how you're thinking” Serah waved her off. “All the stuff she did was normally for good reason" Fang looked at her quizzically, waiting for her to continue. "Like...one time I was going out with this guy and turns out he was a total jerk,"
"She totally beat the crap out of him, didn't she?" Fang interrupted her excitedly.
"No, much better". Serah grinned. And everyone leaned in closer, eager to hear. "She texted him saying she liked him. They flirted all that weekend" Fang’s mouth hung open in surprise. Vanille and Hope glanced cynically at each other, then over to the soldier at the bar.
"No way" Hope chuckled.
"Yes way" Serah grinned sinfully. "Then after school one day she went to his house to do 'homework' while his parents were at work" she continued, air quoting the word.
"This is getting crazy" Vanille beamed.
"Tell me about it" Snow chuckled.
"Anyway by the end of it she had him tied up, full makeover, lipstick and-
"Serah!" Lightning roared slamming the drinks tray down with a thud.
"Light, its fine it’s a good story, calm down. So she took a picture for proof. Told him she'd share it with everyone if he ever did something like it again to anyone"
Everyone laughed heartily knowing full well Lightning would have followed through with the threat without a second thought.
"Oh it's not over yet guys” Serah smirked.
"Not one more word" Lightning glared daggers at her, voice low and threatening. "Or I swear to the Gods"
Serah ignored Lightnings threat and carried on regardless.
"So now his mother gets home" she started, standing up quickly as Lightning stepped forward. "He's gagged so can't sho-Lightning dont!" She squealed as her sister rounded the table.
Fang grabbed the pinkette quickly,
"Not so fast Sunshine. This is getting far to interesting." Lightning was bright red with embarrassment and anger but didn’t struggle. "Not much point stoppin her now" Fang said quietly, pulling the soldier onto her lap for good measure. Lightning huffed and continued to scowl at her sister who was still standing, just in case.
"So she bails out the window so she doesn't get caught. gets half way home and the Captain picks her up, having got the complaint already. He drops her off and tells mom and dad who don't know what to say. He pats her on the back and tells her good job but to be more discreet next time"
everyone on the table cracked up in hysterics.
"Wow that's amazing Light" Lebreau smiled once she settled down, trying to reassure her friend.
"See, it wasn't so bad!" Serah said, sitting down sheepishly.
"Safe to let you go now? Or do I need to keep you a little longer?" Fang whispered suggestively. The latter part barely above a whisper so only the soldier could hear.
Lightning cleared her throat nervously,"I'm fine" she said, but stayed seated for a few moments longer, even though Fang had already loosened her grip.
The group finished the rest of their embarrassing stories before mingling with the other members of NORA and splitting up to join in various activities. Lightning smiled as she watched Hope fist pump the air in victory after landing his ball in a cup. The kid looks right at home, she thought as Yuj, Maqui and Vanille all exchanged high fives. She turned her attention to Fang who was putting Gadot and Snow to shame at a game of darts. The Pulsian had started off rather sloppy, not used to the weight or feel but now each time she threw, the huntress flawlessly embedded a dart into the bullseye. Lightning smiled.
"Someone's happy now" Lebreau commented cheerfully, holding a pool cue out in front of her, "Wanna play?"
"Sure" Lightning took the cue and the two headed for the table. "Your up first, winner" the soldier smirked.
"I was just lucky last time" the brunette winked and broke the balls. "Guess your red again, Light." Lightning nodded and took her shot. The two had become good friends since the fall, even despite their big misunderstanding that friendship hadn't suffered much.
"That story was pretty funny you know" Lebreau giggled at the memory, missing her ball by a fraction.
"It was not."
"Was too. Didn't think you had that kind of patients"
Lightning shrugged then took her turn.
"Just seemed like a good idea at the time"
The two played in companionable silence for a while as the game advanced in Lightnings favour.
"Celebratory Drinks?" Lebreau asked as Lightning made her last move and potted the black. The woman nodded and placed her cue down on the table while the brunette went to fetch the drinks.
"So how's things with Fang?" Lebreau asked on her return, handing Lightning a new drink. The woman stayed silent.
"Seems to me you really love her, don’t you?"
Lightning’s head snapped up in the woman's direction at the accusation.
"Oh, don't look so shocked. Your not as hard to read as you think" Lebreau chuckled.
Lightning smiled and nodded in concession, taking a long drink. "It's hard" she answered honestly.
"You make it much harder on yourself than it has to be"
Lightning looked at the glass in her hand. How could she deny it when it was true?
"Think about it,you talk to me, Hope, even Snow okay nowadays" Lebreau continued, she placed as hand on Lightning’s shoulder in support, not wanting the woman to feel criticized. "Don’t get me wrong. Your a quiet one and don't open up too much to anyone. But were all friends, it's a done deal. So it's easier for you. But Fang...you love her, that's different, its unknown, it's scary". Lightning nodded again, unable to speak. "So you put up your defences and push her away. But keeping her away doesn't make you happy, does it?"
The soldier turned away slightly to place her empty glass on the table as the words sunk in. It was strange to hear someone voice how she felt.
"But I...I can't stop it"
"Find a way. You have to let yourself be happy, Light. You deserve it. You both do".
Lightning smiled warmly at her friend for a moment, no wonder they call you the mother of NORA. "Thank you"
"Told you, I'm here for you" Lebreau grinned back at her.
Fang felt a small pang of jealousy as she looked across the room to where Lebreau and Lightning stood talking. She tried to shake it, after all there was not much to the story she’d been told. It was your name, Yun she told herself. But she couldn't stop herself from fixating on the soldiers lips and how she wanted to be the one to kiss them. And how Lebreau had beat her too it, even if it had been a big mess. So why haven't you? Her thoughts flashed back to that night where Lightning had sat broken above her, and the feel of her tears, warm as they had dropped down onto her own cheeks. Truthfully she was afraid, It was a shock to have seen the soldier like that, because of me, she thought. The sound of the womans laugh brought her back to the present and a new twinge of envy stirred in her.
Lightning could feel the multitude of side glances she was getting from the Pulsian and a quick look in her direction confirmed it. Lebreau followed Lightnings gaze and smiled knowingly, shoulder bumping the woman. When Lightning turned to face her, Lebreau gave her a wink,
"Go get her!" She grinned.
The pinkette blinked a few times in surprise and then took her leave to go get drinks from the bar. She made her way to where the huntress was seated and placed one of the drinks on the table in front of her.
"Here" she said, choosing to stand close by her.
"Thanks" Fang replied bluntly. A silence fell between them and Lightnings attention drifted to the idol chatter of their sisters not too far away as she tried to figure out what to say next.
"You didn't have to stop the conversation on my account" Fang saved her the trouble.
"I didn't. I just wanted to come see if you were okay?"
"Why wouldn't I be?" Fang challenged defensively.
The soldier looked around, embarrassed by the directness of the question.
"You know why" she said in a hushed tone. Not wanting to drag the details out.
"Well I'm good, sweetheart" Fang replied flatly.
"Fang" the pinkettes voice was gentle.
She's reaching out Fang thought, ashamed of her hostility towards the woman. "Light, don't worry about it" her voice was softer this time.
The guilt still churned in the soldier and she wanted to make things right. She doesn't deserve to feel like this because I was such an idiot. She placed a hand delicately on the huntresses shoulder.
"Talk to me"
And there it is, Fang thought, Asking me to do something you can't bring yourself to do. She shrugged the hand away in irritation, "don't be a hypocrite." Silence fell on them again.
Control your emotions, Lightning though as she concentrated on taking steady breaths. The rejection stung and she felt her own anger bubbling up inside. But she understood Fangs point. She's not wrong, Farron.
"Fang, were just friends. I'm sorr-"
"Yea, JUST friends" the huntress agreed, the bitterness in her voice obvious.
"And what's THAT supposed to mean?" The soldier snapped back, her temper rising.
"Dunno...you just seem to like it. You know, JUST being friends and all"
Lightning picked up her glass with such ferocity it made Fang flinch. In that moment she was certain it was going to either collide with her face or the wall, especially with the look of fury in the woman's eyes. But the soldier just turned and charged out the doors instead. The Pulsian stared after her, her head whirling.
For fuck sake Yun, she groaned inwardly. "Ah. I fucked up again" she held her head with a hand in anguish. Serah and Vanille scooted closer to the older woman.
"Fang, it's none’s fault" Vanille threw an arm round her.
"Yea. Lightnings...complicated, and you've been great. But i don't think you need to worry about ‘Breau" Serah smiled, covering Fang’s hand with her own in reassurance.
"I don't, Serah. I know their only friends. I just...it bugged me tonight and I was stupid"
"You weren't" Serah squeezed her hand. "Light would have acted much worse if it were the other way around" the two younger girls giggled a little at the mental image and Fang’s lips lifted into a smile.
"Yea, I think anger is the only feeling she has zero problem showing" Vanille grinned.
Fang contemplated for a moment and shrugged, "She said sorry and I just-"
"So?" Serah interrupted. "You go say sorry then" she smiled.
"Then you'll be even" Vanille winked.
They’re not tears she told herself. It's just the air change making them water. That's all. She blinked a few times in an attempt to rid the excess liquid from her eyes and took a large mouthful of her drink to distract herself. It burned as it travelled down her throat, and that was good. She didn't bother to look up when someone approached silently, she knew it was Fang. She took another drink, keeping her mouth busy and finished what was left in the glass. She could see the taller woman casually leaning backwards on the railing from her peripheral vision, a familiar gesture that the soldier was fond of, but she couldn't tell if Fang was looking at her or not. She stared out into the darkness dotted with distant lights as if it were the most fascinating thing in the world as Fang took the empty glass from her, replacing it for a fresh one with a hand that lingered too long.
"So I was pretty harsh in there, huh? I'm sorry, Light"
Lightning gripped her glass tightly as she felt her hands shaking. It's just the cold, that's all.
"I deserved it" she chanced a brief look in Fangs direction.
Fang spun the shorter woman by the shoulders, gripping firmly,
"no you don't Light. I told you'd I'd make things up to you then here I am taking things out on you"
"But it's my fault"
Fang leaned in closer and was met with the stunning blue eyes she had fallen for.
"Light, I-”
"Fang!" Dajh exclaimed excitedly, running up to the pair who promptly broke their proximity, "Light!"
"Hey squirt" Fang patted his bouncy hair.
"Sorry about that, didn't mean to disturb you" Sazh chucked apologetically. Dajh shuffled excitedly from one foot to the other, grinning at the couple who smiled down at him. "He was just so excited to come see everyone, he wouldn't listen when I said you were busy".
The two women threw each other a quick glance. "Ah. Its okay old man" Fang grinned and gave Dajh a quick spin around.
"Watch it now" Sazh chuckled.
"Come on, let's go see everyone!" Dajh said pulling on his father's arm and Fangs excitedly. As the group made their way to the doors Fang cast a glance back at Lightning who had fallen in step behind but still avoided her gaze, much to Fangs dismay. However, when the soldiers hand slipped into hers and squeezed tightly for a few moments she forgot to breath.
"Look!" Vanille whispered, elbowing Serah’s arm. The duo looked behind them to Serah’s living area to see their sisters sitting chatting together. They had set up their sleeping areas side by side, and they were both smiling. "It's good that they've made up" Vanille whispered.
"It's nice to see them happy" Serah smiled.
Vanille yawned and nodded in agreement, “I think its bed time for me”.
“Goodnight Vanille”
“Sleep tight Serah”
Fang smiled as her sister snorted in her sleep beside her.
"Musta been tired for her to fall asleep so quick" she pulled the blanket higher to cover her siblings arms.
"Looks like they all had a good time" Lightning said from Fangs other side.
The Pulsian turned over to face the soldier, "how about you?"
"Yea. I...liked that you were there"
Fang beamed at her answer,"because I'm the best" she grinned. Making the soldier laugh quietly.
"We should get some sleep" Lightning smiled softly at her. She didn't want to, but it had been a long day and tomorrow brought it's own responsibilities. She turned away and lay down but made sure to shuffle back enough so that she was touching the huntress. The warmth from Fang’s body making her feel content.
Fang smiled to herself at the gesture. "You got work tomorrow?" She asked quietly.
"Yea"
"Oh..." The Pulsian sounded disappointed.
"...Not until late morning" Lightning replied. "It's only to sort some paper work out too, so shouldn't take too long" she offered, hoping that Fang would catch the hint.
"That's good then. It's nice to see you’re not over working yourself these days"
Lightning ignored the comment, taking the initiative herself. "Fang...you want to come over when I'm done?"
"Course I would, I'd love to" she replied. She felt the soldier flinch for a second as she wrapped her arm around her. But then the pinkette relaxed into the contact and place her own hand on top of Fangs.
"Goodnight, Fang"
"G'night"
Lightning found herself floating in a familiar blackness as if she were adrift in small invisible currents. I'm here again, she thought.
“Light” a voice called out, echoing. An unusual voice but she had heard it so many times before it no longer unnerved her. …this dream again.