Universe: Final Fantasy XIII
Story Title: Cradle Robber
Chapter Rating: T for coarse language
Summary: Fangrai-forever prompt #12: "With a technical 500 year gap in their ages, Fang learns of the term 'cougar' and decides to live it up for a bit, much to Lightning's annoyance.
CP Bonus Snow or Lebreau are the ones to bring this word to her attention."
In other words, Fang lays it on pretty thick.
2. Moving On
The humidity had the people's crisply pressed collars to wilt by midday and men to come out to their porch to sit down and have a glass of lemonade. Despite this the smell of meat patties just marked the beginning of festivities at the barbeque hosted by the Villiers-Farrons in Bodhum. The attendants were buoyant in the sea of the summer heat. News of Serah and Snow expecting a child had slowly floated its way around their circle, and the L'cie had agreed to a baby shower.
The former L'cie also agreed that Lightning would be the last to find out. There was no telling what the Guardian Corp woman would do to Snow, otherwise. Yes, the little sister affirmed, it was best for Snow and his child's potential siblings.
"Hey, sunshine," Fang greeted. She looked around the backyard, finding the older of the two pink heads lounging with a glass of cream soda in her hand.
"Fang," Lightning acknowledged. "How are you doing?"
"Good," Fang said. "Very good. You'd be surprised how relevant to youngsters a five-hundred-year old can be." Her stories were always fascinating to her peers after all. It always made for a good story when she was out at the cafeteria near the Guardian Corps when Lightning wasn't around.
Lightning nodded, silent with the ice gently clinking as she swirled her drink with her straw.
Vanille emerged from the yard to join in the conversation. "Like clubbing. Fang loves a good night out," She said as she reached for another plate of ribs.
Fang gave Vanille a withering look. "That's private, Vanille," she said. Others came around to check up on the burgers. Lightning raised an eyebrow.
"Well," said Sazh, "you aren't the typical five hundred year old youngster. You've aged better than I did."
"You're not a typical forty year old either, old man!" Snow who was close behind slapped Sazh on the back with a hand towel.
"Who you callin' old man?" spoke Sazh without bite. He pointed a sharp barbeque skewer at his blonde companion.
"It's true,"
"What's your trick, Fang?" Sazh shook his head. "Was it the fair weather or the good eats?"
"Are we forgetting that Vanille is just as old as Fang is?" Serah said while pulling out more paper plates.
A shrill voice yelled from the direction of the grill. "What?"
"Yeah," agreed Snow. "Give Fang some slack."
"Vanille still has the mind of a fifteen year old," Fang shook her head. "She doesn't count."
"I say, that's offensive!"
"No one cares, Vanille," Fang yelled back, not even bothering to turn a head at her Oerba companion.
Vanille had moved to the swimming pool and was gingerly trying to maneuver her way onto an inflatable seat without disturbing the waters and getting herself wet. "I care. I don't want to be wrinkly," She said as she put on some star rimmed sunglasses.
"Wrinkles are the least of your concerns," Grumbled Sazh, "Don't leave me out just because I may not follow as quick, anymore."
"We'd never, Sazh," Lightning said. "We've all been through thick and thin together."
"Right," Fang agreed heartily. She thought to herself that she shouldn't have brought up her age at all.
Soon, the conversation started to break up into small pieces with the L'cie pairing off in various parts of the Bodhum home. Fang found herself working through the leftover food and compiling the dishes with Lightning.
Covert nods and glances from the others had agreed unanimously that Fang would do the dirty work of breaking the news.
Fang had to scoff, but chose to comply after a pleading gaze from Serah. Serah had known for some time that Fang had been the one who could gain Lightning's ire only to emerge unscathed. Fang still thought that Serah should have been the one to speak to Lightning.
Lightning broke through the noise. "How have you been?"
"Who, me?" Fang asked with a finger pointed at herself, her thoughts interrupted.
"How have you been doing, Fang?"
"Oh! I'm fine, I suppose. You already asked though."
Lightning nodded from across the picnic table. She was discarding old paper cups with forgotten beer. "There was a group chat interrupting me about age."
"Don't I need a coffin prepared?" Fang started, gestured towards the gang. "By their standards, anyway."
"I don't see you needing one any time soon," Lightning said. "Crystallized time aside, you're still only a few years older."
"You're lovely," Fang brightened. "I'm glad someone sees my way,"
Lightning softened her gaze before she grumbled after she caught sight of someone embracing her sister by the window. "Snow, on the other hand. . .,"
Fang tilted her head towards Lightning. "He's gotten senile already, I agree."
"Ugh,"
"I know. Who hasn't he annoyed? He has gotten a mouth lately," Fang commented. "I don't know how he hasn't been killed by you yet. He called me a cradle robber the other day!"
Lightning looked at Fang. "Why?"
"Apparently I'd be what you folks today call a cougar. An older woman aiming for young lovers," Fang said thoughtfully. "That would be true."
The soldier jerked her head around. "What?"
"The only one my age I could date would be Vanille, but there's not much chance for that." Fang received a curious gaze.
"That's right, isn't it?" Lightning blinked. "You've been family,"
"Yes indeed," Fang spoke with confidence and nudged her companion with an elbow. "I'm open to others, though," she said with an emphasis on others.
The said companion wasn't paying too much attention though. She shook her head. "I've been lenient with Snow. I should stop that,"
Fang sighed. "Well, he is your brother-in-law,"
"All the more reason to toughen him up, if he's wants to continue being with Serah," Lightning smiled.
"You've softened up," Fang observed. If it was the old Lightning, it would have taken forever for the soldier to even see a corner of her lips curl up.
"I need a reputation to keep, keep that to yourself," Lightning said matter of fact, taking a pile of dishes to move to the kitchen sink. Fang followed her in with a similar pile.
"Heh, that famous Farron spine."
"I'm keeping the man in line, like I told Serah,"
"How did that talk go with Serah?" The two had deposited the dishes to the sink and they began dividing the task of sponging and rinsing between the two of them. "Must have been interesting."
Lightning scoffed as she held a plate in her hands. "Nothing much. She agreed with me, for once."
"We do need someone to flip our burger patties," Fang thought out loud while she sponged a bowl that once held some salsa. "Just school him into the perfect husband, sunshine,"
"I'd rather have his tubes tied," Lightning placed utensils on the rack. "Easier,"
"Yikes,"
"I know Serah wouldn't want that though." Lightning placed her hands on the sink's marbled edge. "She's always wanted children."
Fang decided this was now or never. "About that, Lightning," the Yun turned off the water.
"I know," Lightning said.
"You know?" Surprise was written all over Fang's face.
"Fang," Lightning shook her head. "You're a good friend to have volunteered yourself to break the news."
"You knew?" Fang repeated.
"I'm not blind," Lightning said. "The war's over."
"What are we talking about?"
Lightning continued, "We're rebuilding our town. They're married and in love. What do you want me to say? That they're going to have an immaculate conception?"
"I was kind of expecting that, or adoption," Fang said with raised eyebrows and bit her lip, impressed.
"I let myself accept the inevitable, Fang. Life moves on." Lightning glanced at Fang's face curiously. Pushing aside a lock of hair from her face, the woman moved past Fang to return to the backyard outside and bring more dishes in. "I'm pleased it was you who had the courage to talk to me, though."
Fang felt warmth unravel from her chest and spread to her belly while she continued her work at the sink. "You don't know half of it," she said to herself.
The sun was setting and the skies lit up within the golden hour. As Lightning came back to stand at the doorway, Fang found her eyes observing the light peek behind Lightning. Her outline glowed with the warmth of the sun's last light for the day. "Did you expect something else?"
"No," Fang smiled. "I knew I'd be getting you."
1st Draft Started 1/6/2016
Originally posted: 1/21/2019
Author's Notes: There are smatters of different scenes on one big file in my computer and I figured it was a good time to release some of these dust catching files to the wild. Quickly edited to somewhat sound like they're coherent. I know they're not. Enjoy pointless conversationssss.
