Takes place in a modern AU, but still keeping certain elements. Cocoon and Pulse are two adjacent countries.

**Trigger Warning: Self harm, sexual assault


"How was it today?" Fang asked, drumming her fingers on the steering wheel. Soft music coursed through the old speakers, serenading Lightning as she stepped into the car and out of the summer air.

Lightning said nothing, relaxing into the seat instead. Pulling the door shut, she simply sighed.

Fang pressed her foot on the gas pedal, the jalopy slowly picking up speed. She cast a glance at the office where Lightning got her therapy and at the woman herself, dressed far more warmly than needed in a jacket and pants.

"It was hard," Lightning finally said.

The car rolled out of the parking lot as Fang nodded. "I'm sure. Do you wanna talk about it at all?"

"Not now," her pink haired companion said. "I think I just need distraction."

It wasn't Fang's first time picking up Lightning from an appointment, with Serah being as busy as she was with her teaching. The fact that Lightning even admitted it was hard felt like progress to Fang. Months ago when she started, Lightning refused to say anything about it.

"Lebreau had me collect this shipment today of Behemoth Rum," Fang began. "You ever had it?"

"No."

"So back in Pulse there are these huge monsters that we'd hunt. Big as a semi, teeth as big as this car, just outright monsters. So this rum is apparently made from parts of the Behemoth. I've got no fucking clue how, but it's super expensive to make as a result."

"Does it taste good?" Lightning was looking out the window as they drove past suburbia on their way to Bodhum.

"Kinda? It's like an acquired taste. But damn does it get you drunk fast." Fang laughed. "I had two shots of it and was gone, one time.

"But anyway, so this stuff is super expensive. Lebreau just wasn't shutting up about being careful with it, making sure I didn't break any of the bottles. And you know me, I'm like, ''Breau, fuck off,' though I didn't say that exactly, I just kinda ran out the door in fear."

Lightning chuckled. It was short and faint, but Fang's smile grew when she caught it.

She continued with enthusiasm. "So I got to the vendor and they begin loading this crate of rum bottles into my car. Only one of the fuckers tripped as he was carrying it."

"Did he drop it?" Lightning asked.

"You bet your cute ass he did, all eighteen bottles went tumbling down and smashed into the pavement. It was the most expensive puddle of water I had ever seen." Fang chuckled. "The boss man starts yelling at this guy for dropping it. I felt a little bad, especially since it was about to get worse."

"Worse?"

"I called 'Breau. I tell her what happened and she just says, 'I'll be there in five minutes.'"

"How long of a drive is it?"

"Fifteen minutes."

"Wow. She was angry?"

Fang laughed as she pulled the car onto the highway, the vehicle sputtering as it accelerated to a higher speed. "Sunshine, I have never seen Lebreau so angry in my life. She'd apparently gotten all the rum because there was a big fancy party that's gonna happen at the bar. The drink was specifically requested and whoever the client is wanted to pay a lot for it.

"Lebreau gets down there, five minutes, true to her word. And she just starts screaming at these guys. Remind me never to actually piss her off, by the way. But she got them to promise they'd have another batch for her tomorrow at no additional cost."

"Eventful day," Lightning remarked.

"That's one way to put it," Fang said. "So I have that to look forward to tomorrow…"

Fang continued on, filling the silence while Lightning interjected with questions or reactions periodically. She gradually grew more relaxed listening to Fang's voice.

Fang's voice trailed off as she made a turn onto the road to Bodhum. Lightning spoke up in the silence. "I had a really bad flashback last night."

"I thought those had stopped?"

Lightning nodded. "They had."

Silence reigned for a few moments. Then Fang said, "What changed?"

"She tried to call me. I didn't answer." Lightning's hand clenched on her lap. Fang only saw it because she was looking for it.

"Jihl?" Fang asked, keeping seething hatred out of her voice.

Lightning said nothing, only nodded. Bile crept into Fang's throat as she thought about Jihl Nabaat, the woman who had at one point made Lightning smile and laugh.

Now, Lightning's unclenched hand scratched at her arm. Fang wasn't an idiot, she knew why Lightning was wearing long sleeves in the summer. She'd seen the freshly healed scars on days Lightning felt good enough to show them. Bandages peeked out from under the sleeves, showing themselves as Lightning scratched.

Fang's teeth were clenched as she thought of Jihl Nabaat, the bitch who had done this to her friend, to the woman she was in love with. Serah had told her, months ago, about Lightning's suicide attempt that prompted the therapy in the first place.

Fang wanted to find Jihl and beat the shit out of her.

But she voiced none of these thoughts. "Did your therapist have anything to say about it?" Fang finally said.

"Rygdea was proud of me that I didn't answer her," Lightning said. Her voice was quiet, verging on uncertain. "He wasn't proud that I had hurt myself again, especially since I had been doing so well since..." Her clenched fist began to tremble.

The car rolled into the Farron sisters' driveway. Serah was still at work, as was her husband, Snow. Fang killed the engine and looked over at her best friend. "Light…"

"Can we change the subject?" Lightning asked, her voice shuddering and her eyes looking everywhere away from Fang.

Fang bit her lip. She didn't want to leave her alone. "Have you got anywhere else to be today?"

"No."

"Lebreau wants me to come back and do some maintenance before the night crowd comes into the bar. Wanna keep me company?" Fang asked. She didn't want to leave Lightning alone.

Her reply came after some moments of thought. "Sure."

"Do me a favor, text your sister so she knows that I'm not a negligent friend and that I did actually pick you up." Fang chuckled a bit, and her expression curved back into a smile once she saw a hint of a grin on Lightning's face.

She turned the key and the car sputtered to life.


Author Note: This is kind of a teaser just to gauge interest. I want to turn this into a longer story if people are interested in it.