Random slice of life

Fang reached into the basket and grabbed another shirt. She took a hanger off the rack, put the shirt on the hanger, and hung it back up. It was boring. Mundane. It had been the same back in the orphanage with Vanille. She would rather be out hunting or fighting or playing.

So she learned to try to make house chores more interesting. She'd visualize fighting routines with her spear. She'd think about past hunting expeditions as well as future ones.

Or, like now, she'd sort through Lightning's laundry instead of her own. She would never admit how well she knew her lover's wardrobe. It might make her sound obsessed. But she enjoyed seeing certain articles of clothing, and the memories they brought. Like the dress shirt she'd worn on their first date, and the first pants she'd seen the soldier wear after their l'Cie mission was over.

And of course the undergarments took a bit more time to go through. They seemed to always bring up more memories and more pleasant feelings. And she liked to play a game of guessing which ones were missing and, therefore, what was Lightning wearing right now.

And then all of her casual clothes. Some of the more ridiculous ones were given as gifts, like the shirt with Gran Pulse sheep and the chocobo pajama pants. But Lightning wore them all the same because one was from Vanille and the other from Serah.

It was quite a sight to see the soldier in casual wear after having only known her to be in her Guardian Corp uniform. The baggy shirt and sweats. It was a side many didn't get to see, as a matter of fact. Most people who met her, most of her coworkers, only knew her as the cold, stoic soldier in uniform. How odd it was to see a side of her that showed she could relax and let loose a little. It was then that Fang had really begun to fall for her. How could she not, when she'd been able to see all of the things that made Lightning who she was?

Fang reached into the basket again for the hundredth time and her hand wrapped around a familiar piece of red cloth. With a little smile, she dragged the cape out of the basket. She rubbed her fingers over the material. Then she pressed it against her face and inhaled.

Of course it was easy to remember how she'd followed its constant fluttering all through their l'Cie days. For it to be mostly undamaged even now was still a mystery.

But she also remembered how it swept harshly in the wind as Lightning, battle-worn and weary, grime and sweat on her arms and face, confessed to her in the midst of battling several behemoths. Gods, the intensity of her eyes then, piercing blue against the grime and sweat covering her skin. It shook Fang so much she couldn't think of a response, nor was she ready to properly block the behemoth's strike at her.

She remembered the red cape being wrapped tightly around her bloodied arm while Lightning suddenly leaned in and gave her their first kiss. She remembered, days later, how it fell from her shoulder, pooling at their feet, when they couldn't take one more breath away from each other.

Fang took a breath now, chuckling lightly at herself. No wonder it took her so long to do the laundry. She stared at the cape for another moment before wrapping it around her neck like a scarf and continuing on with the rest of the clothing.

…

Lightning could feel herself going cross-eyed at all the paperwork she had to sort out. There were stacks of it in neat, orderly piles around her home office desk.

She was so focused on her work that she almost didn't notice the cup of coffee placed quietly next to her hand. The wonderful smell comforted her tired senses, and when the familiar set of fingers threaded into her hair the feeling was nearly blissful.

Her bangs were brushed aside and she closed her eyes as she sensed Fang lean closer. The kiss to her temple was soft and tender, and Fang seemed to savor it as much as she because she lingered.

"Thank you," Lightning hummed as Fang pulled away. The Pulsian nodded and hefted herself up onto the desk to sit.

Lightning looked at her and paused. "Is that my cape?"

The Pulsian was a bit startled, automatically reaching to her neck and placing her hand over the cloth. "Forgot I still had it on."

Lightning smiled, one of her less guarded smiles that she reserved for only a select few. It revealed clear happiness and amusement in her eyes. "Were you doing my laundry again?"

Fang cleared her throat, looking away in the hopes that her hair would hide her blush. "Just thought you could use the help. Since you've been so busy lately."

Lightning raised a brow. She propped an elbow on the arm of her chair and rested her head between thumb and index finger.

"I'm sure my bras and underwear appreciated your inspection."

"They weren't- I didn't-" Fang broke off her stammer with a quick laugh. She narrowed her eyes at Lightning in mock accusation while she unwound the 'scarf' from her neck. "I still couldn't figure out what underwear you had on." Fang grabbed the ends of the cape and looped it over the soldier's pink head. "You're wearing one of your black sports bras, though."

"I'm wearing the new boxers I got."

Fang shook her head with mild frustration. "Dammit, I forgot about those."

Lightning touched the cape, keeping her eyes on Fang. The red cloth still had the other woman's scent on it. She felt it tug at her neck, and she allowed herself to be pulled forward. Her chair rolled a bit as Fang leaned closer.

Lightning's knees bumped the desk and they couldn't reach the last few inches. They laughed at the small interruption. Lightning pushed her paperwork to the side so Fang could shift over to where Lightning's legs could slide under the desk. The Pulsian put her feet on the chair and pulled her forward.

Fang leaned down again, tugging on the cape. Lightning obligingly tilted her head and accepted Fang's kiss. It was tender, their lips gliding with gentle friction.

The huntress pulled back just slightly, eyes hovering over hers. "I love you. Have I told you today?"

Lightning smiled contentedly and touched their foreheads together. "Even if you hadn't, I always know."

Fang cupped the back of her neck. Then her lips sought the line of Lightning's jaw and the pulse at her throat.

"Need a break?"

Lightning rested her hands atop Fang's thighs and slid them up to her hips. "I suppose I could spare a few minutes."

"Good. Because there's some new boxers I need to memorize."