A/N: I thought I'd release the chapter now as I have an exam next Monday which I haven't began revising for, therefore this chapter would have been delayed for a week unnecessarily. And I know it's horrible waiting ages for a new chapter to be released! I hope you're enjoying the story so far!
"Look sharp, Farron. You seem a bit sluggish today." The booming voice of Lieutenant Amodar shouted, who had approached from behind and clapped a firm hand upon her unsuspecting shoulder; she had been storing her belongings in her locker when he pounced.
"Sir." She nodded, giving him a salute. The large man nodded back in acknowledgement, scratching his chin as he studied her tired face. "Had a late night have we, Farron? Who's the lucky guy?" He chuckled warmly.
She dismissed the notion with a curt shake of her head. "There isn't one, sir. But I have an important issue to raise with you."
Amodar placed his heavy hands behind his back, signalling for Lightning to follow him down the hall. "As do I, which is why I am calling a briefing."
Lightning fell into step with the lieutenant, heading in the direction of his office, down one of the many maze-like white corridors.
"A notorious group known as Sanctum has been rumoured to have moved into the area. They originated from Palumpolum and now have their sights set on Bodhum – they do anything from drug dealing to murder."
Lightning inhaled sharply at the news, causing Amodar to glance at her from the side.
"Which links nicely to my issue." She said composedly. "I walked in on a man having his throat cut in a bar last night, which I haven't reported until now. I now believe in could be this 'Sanctum'."
They both stopped outside Amodar's office and Lightning waited patiently for the man to open the door before continuing. He flicked on the lights, revealing an organised space with an oak desk in the centre of the room; unlike the rest of the building his office had a warm colour scheme, favouring browns. Lightning closed the door behind her as Amodar sauntered over to his chair, clasping his hands together on the wood in front of him. He didn't speak and Lightning continued her recollection standing on the opposite side of the desk.
"There was a bar by the name of NORA with a suspicious, cloaked character lurking around guarding a door. I followed it to the back and saw the man die."
"You were off duty Sergeant, and without weapon. That was a foolish move." He reprimanded his desk more than Lightning herself, staring at the intricate grooves in the wood as he sat deep in thought. "But it may have just given us a lead. Well done."
Lightning's shoulders dropped a fraction in relief, but she did not stand completely at ease as Amodar shuffled together a few loose documents.
"All that's needed now is a plan of action, which I aim to discuss in our briefing. I have a few suitable candidates in mind." Amodar scraped his chair back, tucking reorganised reports under his arm.
"Sir if I may, I have a request."
"Yes?" The man turned expectantly, halfway out of his office.
A pause.
"I wish to go undercover on this case."
Amodar's stepped back, closing the door but allowing his hand to remain perched on the handle.
"Did I hear correctly?" Lightning nodded. "I was going to ask Lance Corporal Collins, she has past experiences in espionage and covert operations before she was transferred, whereas you are a vital part of our Security Regiment. Why?"
Lightning was prepared to fight her corner and although she could relay many reasons why she was a better candidate, a part of her could not think of why she wanted to take on such a responsibility.
"Jessie may have experience as an undercover agent, but it doesn't make up for her lack of skills in combat. If Sanctum caught her out, I don't believe she would be able to hold her own."
Her superior scratched at his stubble, a habit that gave away his thought process of weighing up his options.
"I'm intrigued, Farron. So just this once I'm giving you a week to come up with results. I'm not asking you to single-handedly bring down the group, but if you can find any leads then it is sure to help. Do whatever means necessary to stay alive, you hear me?"
Amodar strolled out the room, leaving Lightning in his office to reflect over her decision and mull over her course of action. She retraced her steps back to her locker, grabbing her belongs before quickly heading back to her apartment in Phoenix Heights to change out of her uniform.
The journey home was uneventful but it wasn't until she was ascending the stairs between floors two and three that Lightning felt her assignment had already begun. A series of footsteps echoed from the level below, causing Lightning to quicken her pace, feeling foolish at her sudden edginess.
She managed to locate her door key, which she kept in the red leather pouch on her leg and enter the apartment without any disturbances.
I've become so jumpy… the moment I stepped out of the Guardian Corps building I feel as if I'll be cut down on the spot.
After discarding her boots, she marched towards an ornate black side table for a pen and notepad, taking her time to write a note to Serah in her best calligraphy as she placed her intentions and whereabouts within the note.
She placed the note by the phone in easy sight, quickly heading towards her bedroom to find attire that would surely help her to blend in back at NORA. She had noticed from her short time in the bar that despite the dark, drab nature of the place, the bartenders dressed sharp. The buckles of her jacket unclasped with ease as she shrugged the item off her shoulders, followed by the unzipping and unlacing of her turtleneck and skirt.
Lightning emerged from her room feeling as if she could easily pass for a NORA barmaid easily, minus the provocative nature of which Lebreau had chosen to dress. She had opted to follow the black and white colour scheme wearing a plain white t-shirt, skinny black jeans and a small waistcoat that refused to fasten around her chest. The knife she received from Serah as a birthday gift would have its rightful place concealed down ankle length boots, lacing them up once she felt the position of the blade was comfortable enough.
Perhaps she was being too eager, noting with a small laugh that it was just past nine in the morning. Lightning was positive that the place would not even be open, or filled with the desired audience.
"And now I play the waiting game." The soldier sighed impatiently.
Six o'clock rolled around slowly for Lightning, who engaged herself with housework until noon. Cooking was strictly Serah's speciality, as Lightning found even the trivial task of boiling water in a pan difficult; once placing it on the highest temperature to speed up the process and forgetting about it. It was for the next six hours that she meticulously finished off a hefty pile of paperwork, pausing only for a drink and a stretch of her cramped muscles.
"I think now's a good time to leave." Lightning sighed to herself as she patted around in her pockets to check for keys, money, phone and knife.
She stood in the shade cast by that of NORA and the towering grey apartments above it, trying not to look misplaced and suspicious as she casually walked past already familiar faces. She strode passed the old men, who once again stared at her between puffing pipes and downing pints, all but muttering comments about her.
She cursed them in her mind as a burly, tanned man stepped in to tell them to quiet down. Her next task of befriending the employees was something she couldn't help but worry about, as being social and making friends never come easy for the soldier. As she steps through the doors, she realises thankfully that the floor of the bar is sparse, allowing her to make a straight line for the counter towards a recognizable mane of cyan hair who was pouring himself a drink.
The young male looked up, arching an eyebrow and grinning proudly as Lightning approached, combing a finger through his hair.
"Nice to see you again, little lady. Vodka and lemonade for you?"
Lightning nodded, surprised that the he had remembered the first drink she had ordered the previous night. She folded her arms across the counter, forgetting that it was sticky but ignored the feeling when the drink was placed in front of her.
"Thanks… it was Yuj, right?" She took a sip that was cold and welcoming.
If possible, the bartender's grin widened and he confirmed his name, and they continued to swap small talk as Lightning scanned the bar for faces she may recognise from the Guardian Corps. Wanted list, finding no one of particular interest.
"Where's Lebreau tonight?" She queried.
"She doesn't work Mondays. Tonight Snow is boss... I'll be right there in a sec, good man!" Yuj gestured to a customer far to her left.
"Who?"
Before she could get an answer, Yuj dashed off to the opposite end of the bar to serve an impatient man, whilst the next thing she became aware of was the feeling of being caged by two massive arms.
"What are you doing here?" The man said as he embraced her from behind and inhaled sharply with his face in her hair. "You miss me, eh?"
The man didn't get to say much else as Lightning forced her head back hard into the man's nose whilst elbowing him in the gut.
"Get off me you prick!" She hissed, leaping from the bar stool ready to instigate a fight.
The man landed unceremoniously on the floor, clutching his nose while his hand leaked red liquid through his fingers and onto a newly pressed shirt.
"S-serah? W-what-" He stammered, looking unsure of Lightning's actions. The rest of the bar had silenced to watch, and if anything, looked fuller than earlier.
If she had sleeves, she would have rolled them up, tempted to get into a bloody bar brawl with the man.
"Serah is my sister. And you're the son of a bitch who's taking advantage of her!" Lightning screamed, realising instantly that he was most definitely Serah's secret boyfriend, judging by the same smell of pungent cologne and his forwardness.
"S-sister? Y-ou're Lightning?" He backed away, crawling with one hand whilst the other stemmed the flow of blood from his noise. "I'm sorry I thought you were Serah!"
Lightning wanted to kick him in the groin and put him out of action, but a large hand grabbed her forcefully by the arm. Lightning looked up to see a behemoth of a man with arms comparable to tree trunks and spiked hair like the wings of a phoenix – mixed with reds, oranges and yellows.
"It's my fault Miss, I told him you were Serah, ya both look very alike. Sorry Snow."
"S'ok man, it's fine." Snow said between his hands. "Just get back to the entrance, Gadot. We're making a fuss."
"Sure thing, but not before I know this girl won't kill ya."
Snow's friend gestured to Lightning with a thick finger and she yanked her arm free from his grasp.
"On one condition." Lightning said almost menacingly, still wanting nothing more than to behead the blonde idiot in front of her with the knife planted within her boots, however an idea had struck her as hard and as fast as she had just hit Snow.
"You're the boss here right?" Snow nodded, finally picked himself up from the floor.
"Yes I am. What's your condition?"
She wanted to say 'That you'll never date my sister again.' But this was an opportunity that was too good to miss.
"Hire me."
Snow had agreed without a second of hesitation and the pub returned to its normal chatty state with everyone minding each other's business. Lightning was lead to a backroom – passing the door she had tried to get through the previous night – and into a staff room. The room was decorated with calming blue walls and black leather armchairs circling a coffee table, overwhelmed with dazzling lights to compensate for the lack of natural light, as the room was void of windows.
In one of the chairs, with his legs bent over one of the arms was the boy Lightning recognised to be Maqui, snoring loudly. They walked passed the room and into what Lightning presumed to be the office, with a desk position awkwardly in the centre of a space no bigger than a closet in Lightning's apartment.
She remained at the door whilst Snow opened a locker located at the back of the room, and flicked through a series of white shirts before finding one his size.
"If you hate me so much, why do you want a job?" Snow asked.
He unbuttoned his bloody shirt in front of Lightning, revealing a hardened, muscular body. Lightning wasn't impressed in the slightest, especially as the tough looking man had easily fallen flat with just a few hits.
"You could say it'll help me keep an eye on you. I told Serah I didn't want you visiting and I swear if I even catch a hint of that disgusting aftershave in my apartment, I'll fucking rip you to shreds." Lightning's voice dripped with malice, yet her tone remained level.
"You remembered the smell of my cologne?" Snow seemed surprised and not even the slightest bit worried that he was hiring his potential murderer. "Is that how you knew I was the one dating your sister?"
Lightning leaned upon the doorframe. "That and the fact you even dared to touch me. It's not hard to put two and two together when there's not many people who share our hair colour."
Snow laughed, buttoning his shirt up, tucking it in neatly before adorning a tie. His hair still appeared ruffled and his face was still bloody.
"Fair enough. So you're still serious about working here?"
"Yes."
"Welcome aboard, I guess."
Lightning was given a 'grand tour' of the rest of the bar, although to her annoyance the room she so desired to look into was skipped as Snow passed off the reason that it was being redecorated.
"And why spoil the grand opening later this month by peeking now?" He joked.
Lightning was introduced properly to the crew present, and felt happy in the fact she could probably get along easily enough with them - as long as they didn't piss her off or date Serah, of course. Snow, she guessed, she would learn to tolerate as time went on.
Yuj was appointed her trainer, teaching her how to work the cash register as well as pull pints quickly and effectively. Ever the quick learner, Lightning picked up the tasks rather easily, apart from when it came to changing a barrel. She had been in the middle of pouring a cider when the tap shuddered and gushed out nothing but froth, she leapt back in an instant, wiping foam from her cheek.
"Fuck." She hissed, blinking away the stinging of cider in her eyes.
"Don't worry about it, happens to the best of us." Yuj had said simply between laughter.
Hours later, during a break away from being trained, Lightning checked her phone to see she had a text from her sister querying her whereabouts. The bright screen read 23:53pm, meaning she had been at NORA for a good few hours. The thought of not having to rise early for work tomorrow brought a smile to Lightning's lips, as she leaned behind the bar with her back to the patrons, writing out a reply that would raise more questions than it would provide answers.
Been hired by your dick of a boyfriend. He bleeds easily.
"Hey babe, can't a guy get a drink round 'ere?" A wheezy old man slurred from behind.
She pocketed her phone, simultaneously pulling a glass from under the counter.
"Yes?" She said reluctantly, knowing instinctively that he was one of the older men who enjoyed eyeing her up.
"I'll 'ave two jugs…" He stared obviously at her breasts. "Er… pints of beer there darlin'." He corrected as he quickly moved his eyes up.
"Coming right up." She said through gritted teeth, releasing her left palm from the fist it had made as her nails had dug in hard. "That'll be six gil." She said placing the drinks down hard in front of the bearded man.
He took out ten gil, staring at his palm as he strained to count how much he had, but gave up by slamming the money on the counter.
"I think that's six." He managed to say, grabbing both glasses and disappearing into the crowd.
Lightning picked up the coins placing the correct amount of money into the till.
"My first tip." She mused with a slight smile. Her thoughts ended when another figure slid into view, occupying the stool in front of her with a confident attitude, she did not regard the person at first.
"Now you sure move quick. From patron to pint puller within the space of two days, pretty impressive."
Lightning instantly looked up upon hearing the strongly accented voice, which spoke as if they had been watching her intently since she had been here.
The voice belonged to an enigmatic looking woman with wild raven hair and the piercing viridian eyes of a hunter; of someone who observed closely. The black vest top she wore bared her toned arms and revealed a long tribal tattoo down her left arm, and despite the dim lighting of the room she could see that she was nicely tanned, a contrast to her pale self.
"Already my first impression of you is that you're a stalker." Lightning muttered to herself, unsure of what the woman was up to.
"Likewise." The darker woman replied. Lightning was thrown by the comment by the fact she had heard her.
"Are you here for a drink or are you just going to waste my time?" Lightning snapped, feeling as though the woman was going to mess around.
"Red wine will do." The woman leaned back in her chair with her arms crossed, making a point to study Lightning intently as she worked. Lightning struggled at first to find the correct glass, looking everywhere under the counter with no luck. She cursed out loud.
The mysterious woman chuckled, realising what was wrong.
"Above you, darlin'." She pointed to the upturned glasses above their head.
"Right…" Lightning made no effort to thank her, but grabbed a clean looking glass nearest to her. She turned to face the back of the bar, looking bewildered as she eyed the assortment of drinks available, yet she couldn't locate any wine.
Yuj passed her, taking one quick look at Lightning and the customer she was serving. He stopped what he was doing, reaching over her shoulder to pick out a tall, ruby coloured glass bottle. "That's the one you want." He said and left as if it was nothing.
Lightning noticed that Yuj was good at remembering faces and the corresponding drinks to each person.
Well-defined eyebrows raised in amusement at watching the newly hired barmaid squirm in trying to complete her order.
There was something about the tanned woman that put Lightning on edge. Was it because of the mysterious manner about her or was it her previous statement?
"There. Four gil please." Lightning said finally, hoping the woman would leave as quickly as she had appeared.
The woman gave her the correct amount of money and picked up the glass delicately with her right hand.
"So does the newcomer have a name?"
"Does the prowler?" Lightning retorted.
"The name's Fang. And already my first impression of you is that you're the type to play hard to get." She smirked, mimicking Lightning from earlier.
Lightning shuffled on the spot uncomfortably. Was it wise to give her name to someone who seemed keen to study her? Being open had worked out well so far.
"Lightning. And I'm pretty sure you're hitting on me." She said although still unsure of the woman.
Fang smirked over her glass and took a slow sip.
"Not as hard as you hit that poor Snow fella." Fang winked. "Nice to meet you, Lightning."
Lightning nodded back in acknowledgment and took a moment to grab herself a glass to try the wine that Fang was drinking.
"You, er… come here often?" She murmured as she poured the wine from the bottle, careful to watch Fang, the drink she was pouring and any potential customers as she did so.
"Now who's hitting on who?" Fang chuckled as Lightning swallowed nervously, realising the implications of what she said.
"I didn't mean-"
"Don't worry, just messin'. Seriously though, you could say I'm a regular, yeah. Haven't been around these parts long but I visit this place often. How about you?"
Lightning tasted the wine slowly, allowing the pause in conversation to build up her story.
"I er, worked nearer the city centre of Bodhum, nothing special really it was just a normal, boring, day job… just fancied something different."
"No kidding…" The woman muttered to herself with a sly grin, clearly Lightning wasn't meant to have heard. "I do a few jobs here and there myself, and my current line of work just happened to find me over in Bodhum."
Lightning noticed how well each of them managed to hold a conversation without actually giving away valuable information. It was an art she could have to build on if she was to get any further in the Sanctum case without anyone questioning her.
In front of her, Fang knocked back her glass and made little work of the remaining liquid, licking her lips as she placed the empty glass down.
"Well I've enjoyed talkin' to ya, Lightning. But I've just about overstayed my welcome. Catch ya later!"
She bent down, swiping up a black backpack and bid farewell. Lightning watched out of interest, her steps were confident as she passed the crowd, ignoring everyone as if she was in a hurry.
'What a character.'
The figure of Fang was replaced by the bulky shape of Gadot who was dressed in a regulatory uniform of a white shirt and black trousers. Lightning guessed that the man was more of a door guard…
Door guard.
Was he the cloaked figure from yesterday? She wracked her brains, trying to picture the body shape of the hooded guard. Gadot definitely had the height, but he was too chunky, although they did say black was slimming. Lightning subconsciously placed her hand on her neck, where the guard had almost tried to strangle her.
Gadot waved at her as he squeezed passed to get to the staff room. Showing off a hand easily the size of her head.
Gadot was definitely not the cloaked figure, she deduced, as the hands around her neck had been a lot more delicate.