Oh this is quite fun :) Appreciate all feedback, please remember this is my first time, be gentle :) I will come back and revise this chapter more properly later on. I wanted to get it up before work. Enjoy
It was such a beautiful night.
The moon was bright in a cloudless night sky. The sounds from the camp grew dim and eventually disappeared. Vanille stepped slowly through the terrain, noticing that the further she had gotten away from camp the heavier her legs had become. She was not scared, no. Growing up on Gran Pulse had actually toughened Vanille up a lot, she knew everything she needed to know to survive and take down most beasts on her own, thanks to Fang. This was actually one of her favorite places to be after the sun went down. The smells and sounds of nature helped to calm her over exaggerated heart as she played through more scenarios in her head. She still didn't know what to say once she found her..
She listened to Fangs advice play back in her head as she trecked on. Wondering idly what on earth Lightning would do all night, she miscalculated a jump off of a ledge and ended up landing on her backside. Sitting there a moment, mildly thunderstruck, Vanille began giggling as she got to her feet picturing Lightning, the definition of grace, and herself, falling on her backside on a regular basis for no particular reason. Her mood began to pick up as she pressed on.
She knew she had heard something.
Lightning drew her gunblade from its holster, folding it effortlessly into her favorite gun and she began backtracking. She moved slowly through the trees making little to no noise whatsoever. This is what she lived for, the hunt. Gran pulse had actually turned out to be somewhere Lightning could see herself growing very fond of. The sweet manufactured safety of Cocoon seemed boring to her now in comparison. All this training she had received from the Guardian Corps, and she finally had somewhere to put it to good use. She sighed softly, If only... If only I were here on better circumstances.
Lightning did not allow herself to be distracted for long. She heard small, erratic footfalls coming closer to her. Closing her eyes she leaned against the nearest tree and let her senses take over. Raising her gun she waiting until the perfect moment, and like a flash of light darted out into the oncoming sound, pointing her gun directly between the two eyes of.. Vanille? Shock crossed her face, and a small gasp escaped from her slightly parted lips.
Vanille froze in place, her green eyes growing wide as they met the blue ones. Had Lightning pulled the trigger Vanille was positive she would have died a happy woman. She raised her hands into the air as if Lightning had just caught a bank robber, giggling nervously. Lightning sighed, pointing her gun at the sky and dropping her arm.
"What are you doing, Vanille?" she grumbled as she took a more relaxed stance. Vanille opened her mouth to respond but nothing came out so Lightning continued, "Alright, let's go. I'll take you back to camp."
Lightning had already started walking ahead when Vanille finally found her voice.
"N-No.. I came to keep you company." She all but squeaked. Her voice far more hoarse than she had expected it to be.
"I don't need company." Lightning blurted out far colder than she had intended, trying to make up for that she followed with, "Besides, it's kind of dangerous out here you know.."
Vanille giggled, taking a few more steps towards Lightning, "Dangerous? This is my home. And.. Everyone needs company sometimes.."
Lightning squinted at the girl, scrutinizing her features in search of ulterior motives. She found none. Sighing, she figured she would have an easier time just allowing the girl to come with her. Besides, she didn't feel like hurting any ones feelings tonight. She brought her free hand up to her forehead and move her bangs from her eyes, this was enough to make Vanille's heart stammer.
"Fine, just.. stay close.." she said before heading off in the direction she'd appeared from. Vanille was more than willing to oblige.
In general, the night was uneventful. A few skirmishes here and there with much weaker beasts, that Lightning made quick work of. Vanille tripping and falling, and at one point walking directly into Lightning because she didn't realize she had stopped. Vanille had to work hard not to laugh at herself. She knew she looked like a fool. She knew if Fang were watching her she'd probably be laughing hysterically. But she didn't care. She felt amazing trailing this beautiful woman all night. Just being near her felt like enough.. but she knew this wasn't her mission. Her mind raced, grasping at twigs, trying desperately to come up with something absolutely brilliant to say.
It was then that Lightning approached a break in the trees. There was a steep hill leading to the edge of a cliff overhanging a large body of water. Turning around, Vanille saw that you could almost see every inch of the Archylte Steppe from this vantage point. The moon hung directly in the middle of the sky and it casted long shadows from the trees against the already dark landscape around her. Lightning jumped onto one of the boulders resting at the top of the cliff before sitting on it. Her body was glowing softly in the moonlight. Vanille hesitated before sitting on a rock next to her.
"We're.. resting?" Vanille stammered. The first words she'd spoken to the woman all night since they joined forces.
Lightning smirked looking down at the water. "You don't think I stay on my feet all night, do you?"
Vanille brought her knees up to her chest, wrapping her arms around her legs and resting her head on her knee, staring at the woman. After a few beats she crooned, "It's beautiful.."
Lightning only nodded, looking solemn. The wind whisking at the fringe of her hair.
"So.. do you sleep?" Vanille asked, starting to feel more comfortable.
A half smile, "Not tonight, but you should. You're going to be tired tomorrow."
"I'm.. not tired." No, she wasn't tired. She was actually absolutely exhausted. But she decided she wouldn't waste a single moment with this woman, even if it meant sacrificing sleep.
"Lightning?", the woman moved her head to lock eyes with Vanille who continued, "What are you always thinking about?"
It had come out all wrong, Vanille didn't want to appear nosy.
The soldier paused, taking a deep breath before speaking. "Everything that's brought me to this point. Serah.." She cut off narrowing her eyes appearing lost in thought, she couldn't figure out why she'd confided to the girl.
Vanille hadn't expected to even get a response. "You know, I bet Serah doesn't blame you."
Lightning sighed, "No, she had better not. This is all Snow's fault." A dark laugh escaped her lips. "And even if she had never been made into a L'Cie, he'd still be taking her from me."
Vanille was stunned. Lightning was opening up to her. Lightning.. didn't want to be alone? They sat in silence for a long moment, listening to the water crash against the cliff below.
"What about you?" Vanille asked timidly "Won't you be getting married..?"
Lightning opened her mouth to answer this, and closed it again. She diverted her eyes to think. She had never actually given this thought. Come to think of it, she'd never found herself attracted to any men. She had certainly dated before, in her early teens but there was nothing serious to be had there. A long period of time had passed as she thought on this. Glancing back over to Vanille she saw that her eyes had shut and her breathing grew steady. Lightning smiled to herself. What an awkward way to fall asleep.
Watching the still figure of Vanille, Lightning realized it wasn't so bad having company, someone to talk to. She actually felt a little better just having the interaction. A cold breeze blew and a shiver ran through Vanille's body. Lightning frowned at this and stood, removing the red cape she had always worn. An honor to wear in the Guardian Corps, she had gotten it when she was promoted to Sergeant. She draped the cloak softly around Vanille's shoulders. Unable to stop herself, she brushed a few stray hairs out of Vanille's face. "What a beautiful girl" she thought to herself, feeling stupid she'd never taken the proper time to look at Vanille before. The night sky was growing lighter. "Maybe she'd like to keep me company again sometime.." she thought to herself, making a note to invite her to do so sometime during the day. Silently she wondered where all these.. human feelings were sprouting up from.
Vanille awoke, shocked she'd fallen asleep in the first place. She opened her eyes and gasped. She was laying at the camp, on her fur. The others were silently sleeping. Horrified, she looked around for any sign of Lightning, "Was it a dream?!" she thought when her eyes finally landed on Fang, who was wearing a satisfied grin.
"How did I get here?!" Vanille whispered loudly.
Placing an hand on Vanilles arm to calm her down, and trying to contain her laughter so she did not wake anyone, she replied coolly, "I don't know how you did it in one night Love."
"Did what?!" Vanille bit her tongue to keep from yelling.
"About an hour ago your soldier carried you in here bridal style." The chuckle finally escaping from Fang's throat.
Vanille sat up and her jaw dropped open. She, carried me?
Around her neck a long thick piece of red cloth slid down around her a few inches. Vanille clutched at it. Her heart threatening to burst out of her chest. She saw the implications that Fang was picking up on and she turned bright red.
This can't be real..