Metal Gear Fang. XD
The doghouse.
Fang meandered the empty streets of Oerba under the night sky not having a place to stay. It wasn't a big deal to her, she knew eventually she could go easily find a comfortable place for rest just outside of town. It was something she was accustomed to, sleeping under the stars. She wanted to use tonight to assess the threat level that Lightning had been speaking about earlier in the day, but the town was calm. Peaceful. Quiet. It didn't add up.
As she rounded the corner onto the street Lightning's house was she paused, ducking behind a low wall. There were four men that she could see on the street. Soldiers. If this 'terrorist' threat was so big, why would the soldiers only be patrolling this street? Fang squinted in the in the black night. No, they were only patrolling the Farrons' house.
Lightning lied.
Using the shadows, Fang crept closer to the house in question. All of the lights were out at the house. Fang spied one more soldier on top of the roof. She was right next door to the house now. Gazing up the wall she could see all the lights were out, her eyes landed on the window on the second story. Her room.
Serah had chosen her, and she couldn't figure out why. She refused to believe that Serah's infatuation was the result of a rebound, she could see there was more in the way that Serah looked at her. They were so very different in so many ways, but it intrigued Fang like the obvious had smacked her across the face from thin air. She wasn't used to being caught off guard. She wished she had payed more attention to Serah in the past. There must have been signs, and now she spent most of her time scrutinizing even the smallest actions Serah made. It was like reading a good book, but it was the second in the series.
Fang's eyes landed on a long rain pipe that went up the length of the house. The corner of her mouth curled at the challenge laid out before her.
The sounds of boots on pavement thudded throughout the still night. The soldiers held their guns at the ready as they patrolled the Farron residence. To any normal person, this would be rather intimidating but as Fang sidled along the side of the two story building silently in the darkness she considered this to be child's play. A soldier is only as sharp as his passion for his current assignment. She waited for the one in particular guarding her corner to move on before she approached her destination. Coming in front of Serah's window, she tapped against the glass with her fingernails.
The figure in the bed stirred, sitting bolt upright. A few moments later Serah appeared at the window her mouth gaping open. They stared at each other through the window, Serah released a gust of breath as she smiled, it condensed against the cool glass before she wiped it away. Fang pointed towards the lock of the window, and put a finger to her lips. Serah nodded quickly following Fang's directions, opening the window quietly and backing up so Fang could step into her room.
"Hey." Fang grinned, her face was a mixture of exhilaration and accomplishment. She moved across Serah's room without a sound, taking a seat upon her bed. Serah followed her awe struck.
"How did you do that? The house is supposed to be surrounded." The girl breathed, sitting next to Fang.
"Had to come say goodnight." Fang smirked, "This is a little crazy don't you think? You're like a prisoner."
"No one's ever snuck into my bedroom before." Serah laughed under her breath, still slightly shocked.
"What a rebellious teenager you are." Fang snickered.
Serah playfully pushed on Fang's arm. "Did you come to break me out then?"
"Not this time, sweetheart. I'm working on it though." Fang had every intent on grilling the hell out of Lightning tomorrow to see what was really going on here.
Serah smiled and scooted closer to Fang who put an arm around her. "I missed you.. This is so unfair."
"It'll be alright, just do as she says. I'll take care of the rest." Fang muttered into Serah's neck. Serah's shoulders shuddered from the contact of Fang's breath. Their heads came to rest against one another. A hundred questions ran through Fang's head in their comfortable shared silence. Why me? What could I have possibly done to earn such a... such a sweetheart? Serah's arm wound its way around Fang's torso as she pulled the woman closer.
"I can't stay long, darling." Fang muttered as she pulled her arm back.
"I know.." Serah sighed.
"I'll come see you tomorrow." Fang grinned as she stood. "She can't keep me out of the house. I'd like to try and see her keep me away from Vanille."
Serah just smiled as she followed Fang to the open window, the smile didn't reach her eyes.
"Hey now, you'd better keep smiling, sweetheart. I'll be back first thing in the morning." Fang smiled softly as she brought a hand up to brush Serah's cheek. The girl's face warmed instantly and Fang turned to glance out the window, the coast wasn't quite clear yet.
"Fang.." Serah whispered.
As the tribal woman turned to look at Serah, she found that the girl had moved very close to her. Serah placed her hands on Fang's shoulders, gripping them gently as she pulled herself up to Fang's height. Her lips were a sweet, brief caress that Fang felt linger after they were gone. They shared a shy smile before Fang saw her path was free. Serah watched Fang jump, landing nimbly and with the slightest of sound before disappearing into the shadows.
Just as promised, Fang was on the Farrons' doorstep as soon as it was a decent hour. She took much amusement in the short guard that was stationed next to the front door. He didn't say a word to her but he sure did look intimidated. She folded her arms and smiled at the man, and it was obvious that he had to work hard to keep his eyes unfocused. After what seemed like an overly long time the door finally opened, revealing a very harassed looking Lightning who didn't appear to get enough sleep last night. She had dark circles under her eyes.
"What?" Lightning's voice was gruff.
Fang grinned, "You don't have to lose sleep over me darling, I made it through the night."
"I don't have time for this." Lightning spoke between her teeth.
"I'll make it quick then. Can I have a quick word with you?"
Lightning stepped onto the porch and closed the door behind her. "Give us five." She muttered to the guard.
Fang watched the man walk away.
"Well?" Lightning folded her arms glaring at Fang.
"You're full of shit, Lightning." Fang smirked.
"Excuse me?" Lightning's teeth came together.
"Terrorists? Widespread attack against the corps? Don't believe a word of it, Light. What's really going on?" Fang wasn't smiling anymore.
If looks could kill, Fang would be dead. Lightning didn't say a word, it confirmed everything for Fang.
"Look, if Vanille and Serah are in danger here because you've got a target on your head, I can't just sit around and do nothing."
Lightning broke eye contact now. "The target's not on my head."
"Vanille..?" Fang whispered.
"No. They want Serah. And you can't tell her that." Lightning warned. "We don't need her to be scared."
"Why do they want Serah? Who are th-?" Fang's eyes were wide.
"Fang. We're handling it." Lightning interrupted. "What exactly do you think you could do anyway?" Her voice was raising dangerously.
Fang looked away for a moment thinking. Lightning knew exactly what Fang was capable of as far as combat went. In most cases, Fang was stronger than Lightning. So Fang deduced that Lightning wasn't looking for an extra pair of boots on the battlefield. Fang's mind went to her other abilities.
"You know, Light, I'd probably take her out of Oerba." Fang began.
"To where, Fang? Nowhere else is developed yet." Lightning rolled her eyes.
"Yeah, maybe a camping trip." Fang grinned. "Just until you got things sorted out around here."
"With you, huh? I bet you'd just love that." Lightning hissed. "Not a chance in hell, Fang. No way."
"That's not even fair, Lightning,.." Fang's voice was raising. "..there isn't a single person alive today that knows Gran Pulse better than me. If we sneak her out they'd never know she left! I'd take excellent care of her.."
Fang was off on a tangent now, arms flailing in the air, her voice grew more impassioned as she went on. Lightning's attention, however, was on a distant air bike coming down the street. Two people were riding it. It was no one Lightning recognized, but as they came closer their vibrant features stood amongst the crowd. Lightning saw the man riding on the back of the bike go to pull something out of his side. Her eyes went wide.
She dove at Fang, trying to pull the woman to the ground but Fang took this as a challenge and shoved back at Lightning.
"Fang! Dammit, get down!" Lightning brought her leg behind Fang's tripping her backwards and landing on top of her before the shots began ringing out. Lightning recognized it as a civilian weapon. A handgun, not even an automatic. The shots were way off, but they were hitting her house. A pang of fear ran through her as she wondered where Vanille and Serah were.
Almost instantly the guards began returning fire. The sound of empty shells hitting the ground echoed long after the gunfire had stopped.
"Go! Follow them!" Lightning shouted at her guards while she scrambled to her feet. Lightning was already back inside her house shouting for Vanille and Serah before Fang was upright. The pulsian looked the house over, spotting many bullet holes before she passed through the door herself.
Fang breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Serah and Vanille sitting together looking terrified, but unharmed, at the foot of the stairs. Fang approached them, kneeling in front of the girls and taking Vanille's hand.
"It's okay." She spoke calmly to Serah, whose eyes looked like they were about to fall out. Lightning came thundering down the stairs fumbling to fit a com device into her ear as she growled commands into it. She was as white as a ghost.
The girls watched her pace around the living room with her gunblade drawn. If the situation weren't so serious, it might have been funny to watch. Fang stood up and folded her arms watching the soldier work. When Lightning was done giving orders she pulled the device from her ear and met Fang's gaze. It was meaningful. She didn't have a choice at this point.
"..You leave tonight." Lightning's voice was above a whisper. She wore a mask of shame. Serah or Vanille, or both could have been killed right under her nose. Fang nodded once glancing over her shoulder at Serah, who looked confused.
"And I want you to take Vanille." Lightning continued.
"Sure." Fang agreed.
"Take me?" Vanille yelped. "I'm not leaving you, Claire!"
Lightning's hand came to her forehead. "Please, just cooperate. It's not safe here anymore.."
Vanille jumped to her feet and began arguing with Lightning. Fang took this opportunity to sit next to Serah.
"Whats going on..?" The girl said lowly. Fang took her hand, she looked scared still.
"We're going on vacation." Fang grinned broadly.
In response to a few of my reviews, yes the hints I dropped were extremely subtle, so subtle even Fang missed them. Maybe a little too subtle but ah shit what am I gonna do? :P