Components
Chapter 2: Black Belt - (Physical Resistance +10%)
It had taken only minutes for them to reach the boys back at their undesignated checkpoint; who were sitting comfortably near the C'ieth stone, lazily pointing at one of the many Gran Pulse wonders. Lightning inhaled sharply, sounding her annoyance at the three, who had dumped the majority of the group's inventory – as well as their jackets – in the middle of the circle, in favour of sunbathing. Sazh was first to spot the approaching trio and made an effort to rummage around the disregarded items in front of him, pulling out a flask of water, before throwing it to Vanille.
"There you go, little lady." He smiled. Vanille nodded her thanks and didn't hesitate to take the first mouthful.
"How come she gets to drink first, old man?" asked Fang as she approached, with no hints of seriousness in her voice.
"Because she never tried to abandon me after going psycho on a Purge train," Lightning scoffed at this, fishing out another water bottle from the disorganised pile and taking a seat beside Sazh. "And you haven't done anything to me yet, but I'm not convinced it'll stay like that."
Fang grinned. "Are you trying to say I'm a troublemaker, you old geezer?"
Sazh held his hands up defensively. "Nuh-uh. I'm not trying to say anything."
Fang sat down by Vanille, who handed her the water as she did so. Snow, who had been lying in the sun with his arms behind his head, sat up and began laughing to himself.
"Who you calling old, Fang? I'd say you were a lot older tha- ow! What was that for?" yelped Snow, rubbing his forehead. Fang had instantly thrown the flask in his face. The group collectively laughed, including Lightning, who enjoyed the fact that someone else seemed to take pleasure in hurting Snow.
"You don't ever comment on a woman's age." She smirked, glancing in Fang's direction in time to see a wink directed at her by the woman. Lightning quickly turned away, feeling suddenly awkward but regained her composure and stood up to address the group.
"As cosy as this is, we can't stay here forever, we must move on."
Hope wiped his brow with the cloth around his wrist. "Yeah… I can't stand this heat much longer."
"And there's also a pack of Gorgonopsid's eyeing us up for lunch." Joked Fang.
The troupe gathered their belongings and made their way west, from the suggestion of Vanille, who made no attempt to expand on why. She had grabbed Sazh's large hand with both of her dainty ones, and dragged him forward to the front.
Lightning didn't like being left in the dark and chose to fall in line with the huntress who had taken up the rear of the group for defensive purposes.
"I'd appreciate knowing where she's leading us."
Fang made a sideways glance towards her.
"Yeah well, I ain't telling ya."
Lightning gritted her teeth.
"Fang-"
"I ain't telling ya, because I don't know myself, alright?" Fang interrupted.
Lightning simply rolled her eyes and crossed her arms, huffing in the process.
The moment's silence was ruined by Fang, chuckling to herself . Although Lightning knew she should simply ignore the woman, curiosity simply got the better of her.
"What's so funny?" She enquired.
"You are." Came the simple answer.
"Me?"
"Yeah. You getting all frustrated and stuff, it's…" Fang paused to take a breath.
"Go on." She urged.
"…Cute."
Lightning's icy eyes shot to the Pulsian, turning her head in order to face Fang fully, who was staring back at her intently, as if to gauge her reaction.
Judging by the sudden heat rising on her cheeks – her reaction wasn't favourable. Refusing to show any further acknowledgement of the comment, she wordlessly chanced another glance to Fang, whose bright emerald eyes glinted in victory.
Ahead of them, Vanille had opted to turn left down valley similar to the one they had just left, followed by Sazh, Hope then Snow. The two commandos were yet to turn the corner, when the startled voice of Sazh reached Lightning's ears. Without hesitation, she drew her blade and bolted around the corner, leaving a very bemused huntress behind.
"Come to daddy!" Lightning heard him call, presuming it was a war cry. She rounded the corner, noting that the smell surrounding the area was atrocious, like some foul beast had died-
She skidded to a halt as Snow sidestepped easily into her path.
"Hey now! Don't want to frighten the birdies now do we?" He mocked.
She forced herself from his grasp and practically shoved him out the way, muttering: "Don't touch me."
There was nothing to be alarmed about, she noted, feeling relieved - just a chocobo enthusiast and a dwelling of the golden birds themselves. The place was muddy – a combination of crashing waterfalls and stomping chocobo feet making the area rather marshy. Lightning had no idea why the birds would choose to inhabit an area surrounded by puddles and vicious frogs. The chocobos themselves looked ferocious however, without a doubt larger and fiercer than the ones she had seen years back on a trip to Nautilus with Serah. Their feathers were a darker, richer shade of gold, although more ruffled as if they preened less.
Vanille sidled into her view, hands clasped behind her back and giggling.
"Didn't mean to frighten you, Lightning, but I know Sazh and his son loves these guys."
The group allowed Sazh a few precious moments alone with the birds, watching has he had a one-sided conversation with his baby chocobo.
"Must be awful, losing a son." Vanille whispered sorrowfully from beside the sergeant.
Then how about losing a sister. Lightning thought cynically.
"And to believe it was all our fault." Fang said darkly from behind her. The thick Pulsian accent sent shivers down Lightning's spine. She had always found her voice to be enthralling.
Fang brushed past her, making a beeline towards Sazh, and the pink haired woman couldn't help but watch her move; hands on swaying hips confidently.
"Um, Light?"
Hope appeared nervous, and Lightning prayed that he hadn't followed her line of vision.
"What is it Hope?" She asked distractedly, straining her ears to listen into Fang and Sazh's conversation.
"Do you reckon we could hitch a ride on these things?" The boy looked optimistically towards herself and Vanille, who gasped when an idea struck her.
" –what happened to Dajh wasn't you fault." Lightning heard Sazh say in the background.
"-of course, Hope! Give me a minute!" The redhead rushed off.
"-and you, you've got Vanille." Lightning frowned, what were they talking about? "You weren't alone. That kept you going, didn't it?"
Lightning heard no more and neither did she want to. What was that comment about Fang having Vanille? Did Sazh know something that she didn't? Anger bubbled up inside her, which she forced down. She unclenched her fists, unaware of ever clenching them and instead silently surveyed the area, pretending that it was what she had been doing the entire time as Fang passed her.
"And you thought we were getting attacked." Teased Fang seemingly oblivious to Lightning eavesdropping.
Vanille soon appeared from a large bush located near one of the waterfalls, holding piles of vegetation in her arms. "Here you go, guys! Chocobos just love gysahl greens!"
"I'm not sure this is a good idea." Lightning said simply.
Vanille had almost gotten the group trampled on earlier by scaring away all but three chocobos and the group looked on in a mixture of interest and horror as the redhead chased them.
"C'mon Light! It's safe." Fang called from atop one of the birds, sitting uncharacteristically ladylike by choosing to sit side-saddle. "And it beats walking!"
Lightning folded her arms, the corner of her mouth curling slightly. "Who said anything about the chocobos? I meant sharing a bird with you."
Fang's mouth opened but didn't speak, unable to comprehend the fact Lightning, of all people, had said something remotely funny.
"Well I'll be, the tight ass Cocoon viper has a sense of humour."
Ignoring the comment, she quickly observed that the rest of the group seemed ready to depart; Snow lead the first bird, with Hope sat behind him, instructing the brawler on how to steer carefully. Vanille had taken charge of the second, knowing all to well how clumsy Sazh was when it came to chocobos, leaving Fang and herself to agree on who would lead the last bird. Fang appeared slightly impatient, patting the available space beside her.
"Fine. But I'm taking the reins." Lightning hoisted herself with ease upon the bird, refusing Fang's offered hand outright. It certainly wasn't comfortable, as they didn't have the luxury of saddles like she had with Odin.
"Where the hell am I supposed to hold on?" enquired Lightning, after wasting a good few minutes trying to work it out for herself. She was reluctant to place her hands anywhere near the bird's neck, weary of the mighty strong beak it owned. She felt Fang lean slightly, testing her tolerance as she placed her chin upon her right shoulder to have a look.
"Right here." The amusement evident in her voice as she indicated to a mass of feathers at the base of the chocobo's neck, her hand 'innocently' brushing Lightning's thigh slightly as she pointed. The soldier shivered, becoming flooded with unease. She was positive Fang had noticed her discomfort, as she then snaked her arm around her waist, causing all muscles to tense.
With a persuasive yet gentle kick from Snow, the leading chocobo sped off, releasing a mighty 'wark!' as it did so. The two remaining groups followed suit, however it left Lightning wishing they had opted to walk instead; Fang's hold tightened, and as much as she didn't want to enjoy being in this one armed embrace, she couldn't help but feel at ease.
No, you're forgetting who you are. Lightning scolded herself. You are not the damsel whose heart melts from a single touch. You are emotionless Sergeant from the Guardian Corps.
The thought brought her to her sister, who was more likely to react in such a girly manner just from being held than she ever was. A split-second image flashed across her mind of Serah and Snow in a similar hold, making the woman feel slightly sick at the thought.
They burst through the shaded valley, re-entering the warmth that enveloped the Archylte Steppe, already placing Lightning in a better mood than she had been in seconds before. The wind whistled past her ears, the stamina and speed of the chocobos was surely incredible as they made short work of the land.
"So how old are you?" Fang asked, her voice barely audible from the wind, even from behind her.
"I turned twenty-one almost two weeks ago. No doubt, it was the best birthday ever." She joked.
Sensing the sarcasm, Fang pushed on. "And why is that, missy?"
"It was that day I found out Serah was a l'Cie, and that the big, idiotic oaf had proposed to her because of it… I couldn't help but be angry at how stupid she had been to say yes… and how it would be my job to hunt her down."
Her head dipped slightly and she frowned, annoyed with herself for all that had happened. It didn't go unnoticed by Fang.
"And what of Snow, he can't be any older than your little sister, right?"
Lightning laughed bitterly to herself at the sound of his name. "Wrong, he's my age, though he doesn't act it… what about you?"
"Me? I'm twenty-one also, not counting the five hundred years of missed birthdays, that is."
Fang sounded slightly proud, and the thought of Fang being five hundred years old amused the soldier greatly.
"I'd say the years are catching up on you, Fang." She said playfully, forgetting the painful events.
"Really now? I'd like you to say that again but this time to my – perfect - face. 'Coz you know I'm absolutely stunning."
Lightning scoffed, but tightened her hold on the chocobo's tuft of feathers before glancing over her shoulder at the sentinel's request. She was thankful to have kept her grip on the chocobo as what she saw was a gorgeous sight to behold - the sun highlighted her tanned skin perfectly, her raven hair blowing wildly about her face, but it was her captivating green gaze, bordered by the blackest of lashes that was the most alluring.
Fang tilted her head in order to observe the woman better.
"I knew you- oh shit Light, watch out!"
Lightning's eyes widened in horror, she whipped her head round in time to collide with the hardened hide of a behemoth. Both women lurched forward, Fang making contact with the back of Lightning's head as they smashed together, leaving a dull ache. The chocobo screeched in dismay and reared back, causing the two l'Cie to fall off.
The commotion alerted the two groups in front.
Lightning and Fang both recovered instantaneously, picking themselves up and arming themselves without delay. The behemoth roared in pain, its left foreleg had ripped open from the previous collision. Lightning charged a Ruin spell and threw it into the beast's face; it exploded - blinding it temporarily, as Fang stalked up to it from behind, leaping high into the air. She slammed her spear between it's shoulder blades causing the behemoth to rear up slightly, however Fang was adamant to stay perched on the behemoth's back, digging the spear head in further, causing a bloodcurdling cry. From the distance, Sazh placed well-aimed shots at the fiend's exposed chest, whilst still sitting upon his chocobo. Hope and Snow aided the women by casting a flurry of spells, whilst Vanille – who had leapt from the chocobo – cast her rod round the behemoth's thick neck. Fang leapt from the beast as the rod's wires firmly attached, racing to Vanille in order to help pull the monster onto it's back. The tug of war didn't last long, the beast toppled over without much effort, causing Vanille and Fang to fall back as the tension broke. This opening was all Lightning needed to boldly run up it's broad chest and end it's life with a solid stab through the heart.
"Pulse ain't got anything on us, yeah!" Snow cheered.
Vanille quickly turned towards the blonde sentinel, pretending to be angry. "Gran Pulse, actually."
As the rest of the group inspected their joint kill, Lightning wandered towards an open expanse of Pulse, lost in thought.
What was I doing staring at Fang like that? Wasn't I telling myself moments earlier, not to act weak, giving into emotion? We could have been killed and now she's going to think I'm interested.
"Hey soldier girl, don't go wanderin' off now ya hear?" Sazh called from the distance.
"Yeah it could be dangerous." Said Hope to the remaining gang. "She's left her gunblade in the behemoth."
AN: Well that's chapter 2 done. I've literally came straight home and worked on it until the moment it was finished. If you're thinking 'Well there's not much there for half a night's work - that's because I'm writing snippets of upcoming chapters as I go. I hope you enjoy the chapter, and things will hopefully get more interesting the further they travel into Pulse. Like always, I'll appreciate any ideas and suggestions. But until then, enjoy!
