Disclaimer: Read the Prologue
Scene 1: Gran Pulse
Oerba Yun Fang opened her olive green eyes with a frown. No, she was feeling too restless to sleep now. The wild–haired brunette rose to her feet easily and brushed herself off with care.
"Serah…"
Fang turned her head and noticed Snow curled up in a fetal position on the bare ground. He clutched a large crystal tear in one gloved hand.
The poor man was dreaming of his fiancée again.
Her expression darkened, and she shook her head.
Vanilla…I will save you! She declared silently, if only to reassure herself.
Almost instinctively, she began scanning the campsite to seek out her fair friend.
Sazh was sprawled on a grassy patch, fast asleep. Lightning sat on a smooth rock, polishing her gun blade.
Her eyes lingered on the pink–haired girl for a moment. Light, the unspoken leader of their little band of L'cie outcasts, fascinated her. The Gran Pulsian admired great strength in warriors, and Light…really impressed her. Her dark, brooding demeanor intrigued Fang all the more.
And she's a looker too. She thought with an appreciative smile.
A girlish squeal snapped Fang out of her reverie. Her eyes darted to a far–off tree and caught sight of Vanilla. The auburn–haired girl was trying valiantly to catch Sazh's baby chocobo, which was wobbling precariously on a low hanging branch. Hope, the silver–haired boy, was attempting to help.
Fang admired Vanilla from where she stood, completely enraptured. She never could figure out what it was about Vanilla that filled her with such overwhelming love for the girl. There was just something about her wild gesticulations, her bouncy pony tails…her cheerful, innocent smile…
The brunette smiled almost shyly, and placed a hand on her hip. Memories of their time spent frolicking about in Oerba flashed invitingly in her mind.
Her face suddenly broke into a grin. It had just occurred to her that their first day back on Gran Pulse ought to be commemorated with a little indulgence of some sort.
And Fang already had something in mind.
With great seeming casualness, she sauntered over to the brooding Lightning.
"Yo, Light."
Lightning leveled her gaze at the approaching woman.
"Fang." She greeted in her usual dispassionate voice. "What is it?"
The tall, slender L'cie crossed her arms and wore an amused smile.
"Ah…and to think I was so sure that Gran Pulse would bring a smile to your face at last." She teased, tilting her head to one side.
Lightning's eyes widened slightly in surprise, taken aback by Fang's directness. Most people shied away from engaging in small talk with her.
She lowered her gaze.
"It's…not what I expected…Gran Pulse."
"Not the scary hell you imagined, eh?" Fang bantered playfully.
The pink–haired girl looked away, twisting her lips into a frown. She disliked the way Fang derived pleasure from poking fun at her people…particularly since she privately agreed with her on that score.
"You'll tell me if this place starts to frighten you, won't you?" Fang continued in a strangely seductive voice, leaning in towards her. "I'll let you hold my hand so you'll feel all safe and secure."
Lightning's face snapped back towards her, her blue eyes wide with shock. A soft blush was blossoming in her pale cheeks.
Fang chuckled lightly at the latter's reaction, and jumped back just in time to dodge Lightning's fist.
"Careful now!" Fang commented hastily, raising her hands in mock surrender.
Lightning glared at her comrade.
"You're in a good mood." She grumbled crossly, folding her arms.
Fang smiled serenely. "I'm back home, aren't I?"
Lightning looked at her thoughtfully for a moment before shifting her gaze to the huge silver sphere in the sky.
It seems so…weird to be standing and watching Cocoon from way down here. Yet, I can't say that I feel terribly homesick. There's such a peaceful quality to Pulse that I never imagined possible…
"En."
Fang sighed, and turned in Vanilla's direction.
"Well, I'm going for a walk to stretch my legs a bit." She declared, a little too loudly.
Vanilla paused in mid-stance and gave Fang a quizzical look from a distance. The latter returned her a wink.
Lightning hesitated. "Is it safe?"
The brunette looked pleasantly surprised.
"You're actually worried about me?" She smiled indulgently. "I used to live here remember?"
Lightning rolled her eyes.
"Don't stray too far." She muttered dryly.
"Got it."
T rating now, but things might get slightly pervy later. What can I say? This is Fang we're talking about lol...