Title: Eros - Chapter 2
Pairing: Lanille (Lightning/Vanille)
Beta: Whurmy
Rating: M for smut and language
Words: 4,378
Song Inspiration: None
Summary: Two of the unspoken rules of relationships is to never have one with your best friend's sibling, or your sibling's best friend. Somehow, Lightning and Vanille have managed to break both of those rules.

Disclaimer: I don't own the characters in this fic.

A/N: Here's the second chapter. Hope you all like this one. Enjoy!

-Also guys, if you like the fic or have any constructive criticism, please leave a review. I'd highly appreciate it and it helps me grow as a writer. You guys want more fics from me don't you? :P

If there's one thing Fang hates more than anything, it's bad feelings, especially when those feelings involve her younger stepsister.

Granted, Vanille's an adult; she's more than capable of handling herself, but Fang just hasn't shaken that overprotective barrier with which she shields Vanille. The two have been together since they were toddlers, and Fang's protected her at every step.

The situation Monday night just rubs her the wrong way. For one, Vanille has dated before, though all brief encounters. This time seems different. She's sneaking around, and Vanille – loud, exuberant, bubbly Vanille – does not hide things. Not usually, anyway. God, the girl's so terrible at hiding, she makes Fang look like an ace detective. Fang's no potcat, but she's smarter than the average wild bear. This is a case that needs solving, and she's definitely going to use some help. Vanille won't confess outright.

What a fucking hassle.

Fang leans back in her home office chair, feet crossed over her desk. There's a TV show on in the distance, detailing some drama with people cheating with their significant other's best friends or family members. She scoffs at the ridiculous stories as she thumbs through her contact list. Maybe she's being a bit cuckoo right now, pulling out a full-blown criminal investigation into who the hell is screwing her sister. But it's Vanille, and she'll do anything to make sure she's safe.

Fang scrolls through the list about five times, keeping a mental note of potential names. Lightning is her first thought and immediately dismissed. She and Vanille never interact so there's no need to contact her. Hope moved back to his mother's house so that's a no-go. Serah, though… She's definitely an option. Serah and Vanille became best friends some time after she and Lightning did. The two did practically everything together. It's worth a shot in the dark, at least.

Fang presses the call button, glancing at the clock and cursing when she sees it's midday, in the middle of the week no less; the kid might be in class for all she knows. She's about to give up when there's a very confused "hello" on the other end.

"Uh, hey. Hey, Serah. Whatcha up to?"

"Nothing much. About to head to class soon. Uhm, why, what's up? Is everything okay?"

"No, yeah. I'm fine. Just- hey, listen. I, uh. I got a question, yeah?"

Serah pauses before answering. "Okay, go ahead?"

Goddess, if this isn't the most awkward phone conversation under sixty seconds.

"Serah. Have you been hangin' out with Van recently?"

"Umm… not really. We haven't gotten many opportunities to. Our schedules conflict too much. Why?"

Damn, that's a bummer.

"I'm just- I dunno, she's been acting a bit weird lately, ya know? I think she's-"

"Oh, Fang, hold on a second." Serah's voice moves further away from the phone. "Ugh, dammit, Light."

Fang perks up at the frustration. How weird. She feels like she's heard it before.

"Hey, Fang? Can you text me? I gotta go."

"Sure."

The call ends, and Fang spends the next ten minutes explaining the situation to Serah. When she finishes, she leans back in her chair again, picking up a pen and twirling it between her fingers. Somehow, she feels like it'll be a bit before she gets a response. If anyone could help her, though, it would be Serah, but just her luck that Lightning wanted-

Wait.

What the fuck?

Dammit, Light…

The words repeat in her head like a mantra. She flips them over, reverses them, studies them until she shakes her head to rid herself of them. And then it hits her.

"No. No fucking way."

It's four PM, and Lightning sighs as she sees her patrol relief march into view; she's officially off work. Luckily for her, it's a short walk back to the Guardian Corps. barracks through the crowding streets of Bodhum.

The first peak tourism season hit only just weeks ago. Now, in the middle of April, tourists line the streets like ants. Lightning's grown up around this madness, so it doesn't faze her. What really pisses her off about it is the extra set of precautions GC has to take around those times – more patrols and ten hour workdays. Granted, the pay is nice with the extra days off, but the added stress of tourists who don't appreciate the added security, in turn, tests her patience. Not the most fun of shifts. Still, she gets to watch people marvel at Bodhum's crystal clear water and clean, sandy beaches, and even the various attractions scattered throughout the city. It fills her with a sense of pride to know that people appreciate her home.

Lightning makes it to Lieutenant Amodar's office in record time, giving him a sharp salute across her chest when he picks his head up from the pile of paperwork.

"Ah, Sergeant Farron. Done with your shift, eh?" He gives a hearty chuckle. "Ready for your weekend?"

"Absolutely, Lieu-"

Amodar puts his hand up. "No, no, none of that Farron. You're off the clock, you know this. Speaking of which-" He relaxes back in his chair, and it squeaks. "How are you handling your… situation?"

Lightning crosses her arms. "The same as I have been. Nothing's changed, so that's good."

"Hmm… I see. This… this girl you're seeing. She's okay with you two sneaking around?"

Sneaking? Lightning wouldn't exactly put it that way. More like "selectively withholding information from third parties." But sneaking? Absolutely not.

He narrows his eyes. "Seems like you don't see it that way. Lightning, listen to me. Off the record, what you do on your own time is your business. But you need to be mindful of what you're doing. 'What's done in the dark will always come to light,' as they say." He pauses for a few seconds before laughing to himself. "Ha, come to 'Light.' Good one."

Despite the Lieutenant's amiable and joking nature, Lightning respects him more than anyone she knows. He's been a mentor to her even before she joined Guardian Corps. five or so years ago. While he laughs himself off, she knows the warning is serious and in her best interest.

Nodding, she stares at him, wistful. "I'll… remember that. Thanks."

"No problem. Now, get out of here and go enjoy your weekend, kid," Amodar says, waving her off. "See you on Wednesday."

She nods and exits the office. She pulls her phone out to check the time. It's four-fifteen, and there's an unread text from Vanille. She checks that, too.

'class til 6. :( see u after?'

Lightning smiles. It's later than Vanille normally gets out on a Friday, but Lightning's taking what she can get. She responds with a quick "yes." And that alone leaves her with about two hours for a workout and shower.

She returns to her locker, fishing suitable clothing and changing into them. With earbuds now in her ears, she heads down to the gym for a light shadowboxing session, her favorite workout routine. The gym's nearly empty when she arrives.

Lightning sheds her shoes to get into position on the mat. She raises her hands to protect her face and eyes her imaginary opponent. She bobs, ducks, and weaves, moving forward, around, and away from her opponent. She gets lost in her fluid movements, flowing like water to dodge incoming strikes. This is just the warm-up. A good ten or so minutes in, as she's counted through songs, she begins striking. Quick jobs, solid knees. Circling her foe, protecting her face. Then, she mixes the two – fade-away hooks, rear slips and counter uppercuts. Every move translates into the next, natural and flowing.

She's lost herself in her exercises, and before long, her focus snaps when a familiar song starts on her music player. Background music. At least, that's what it was to her that first night she and Vanille fucked just over a year ago. Her focus returns as her thoughts drift to the redhead.

Vanille's a typical flirt. Small, cute, way too forward. Sure of herself and her ability to get anyone and anything she wanted. Ugh, the list goes on. The first time they met was a long time ago, back when they were kids and Lightning had just met Fang. She's older than Serah by several months, but acts younger than she is. Keyword: "acts."

Lightning went to a bar on the night of their encounter, doing nothing but finding the next girl to take home. Vanille had been there, scoping her out, trying to force eye contact. Lightning ignored it at first, very much aware of whom it was she was glancing. So Vanille did what Vanille does and initiated contact. A playful wave here and a bat of her eyelashes there. Vanille hates being ignored.

The two talked for a spell about their sisters and eventually landed on a conversation about themselves and their respective trips to the bar. Vanille was out with her friends, which, thankfully hadn't included Serah that night. She was tipsy; Lightning was sober.

Vanille being Vanille kept making passes at her, touching her, and staying just out of reach. Tipsy or not, Vanille knew exactly what she was doing, and it seemed oh-so practiced and probably successful to others. Lightning despises being played.

As if the bar couldn't be raised any higher, Vanille made it perfectly clear through batting eyelashes and short giggles that Lightning would never get her. Lightning had never been a fan of people telling her she couldn't accomplish something, because it made her want to do it even more. She's grown up with this her entire life. And, quite frankly, that's what happened. After all their dancing around and making a game of the situation, the two ended up back at Lightning's condo for a long and drawn-out fuck with music playing in the background. So who was the real winner, then?

Lightning nears the end of her workout when her thoughts of Vanille escape her. It's been more than an hour since she's started. By now, she has time to go home and shower and wait for her weekend to start. Excited as she is, she can't help but let Amodar's advice swim around in the back of her mind.

Serah raps on the door to Fang's apartment, waiting for a response. She lifts her hand again before a voice calls out.

"It's open, come in!"

Serah steps through the door, savory aroma assaulting her senses. Closing the front door, she turns the corner to find Fang in the kitchen. Fang hovers over two dishes as if she's just finished preparing them.

"Smells good in here. What did you make?"

Fang looks down at her. Her hair's tied in a messy ponytail. She glances at her work, obviously proud of the result. "Hey, Serah. Eh, nothin' much. Just dinner since you'll be entertaining my frustrations for a bit. My treat."

Serah's intrigued. She's never spent much time around Fang, barely any to be honest. All she knows is that Lightning trusts her with her life, and by extension, so did Serah. Her impression of Fang was always rough-and-tumble with an arrogant attitude to match. Fang being delicate with a meal just shoots all her expectations into the damn stratosphere.

"What? Didn't think I could cook?" Fang stands there with her arms crossed and a smirk on her face. "You do know I'm a chef, right?"

Okay, well, so much for the arrogance.

"Oh. No, Light never mentioned that at all." Serah sets her bag down, eyeing the dish on the table. "What is it? Looks good."

"Figures she wouldn't," Fang replies, rolling her eyes. "This here's a pretty typical Oerban dish. Lots of lean meat, lots of veggies, and a bit of rice. You'll like it, trust me. Everyone likes it."

Serah narrows her eyes at Fang. She's ready to eat, but a dull buzzing interrupts her thoughts. Fang's phone vibrates on the counter.

Fang picks up the phone, and her face twists in annoyance. Oh, god, what's happening now?

Serah grips the edge of the counter as she watches Fang's eyes roam over the screen. She figures it's Vanille, but what the message could be, she isn't sure.

"Fucking typical," Fang growls.

"What's wrong?"

"She just- fuck it. Just read the messages."

Fang shoves the phone into Serah's hands. She huffs, pacing around the kitchen for a minute before retreating into the living room. Wow, maybe it really is that bad.

Serah leans over the table to thumb through the messages one by one. "Oh, dear god…"

"See?!"

Yeah, she totally sees, alright. Fang and Vanille had texted earlier about random things until Fang asked if she had her Friday biology lab. Vanille responded that she did and wouldn't be out until six. Okay, sure, that wasn't a lie. Serah has a vague idea of Vanille's class schedule, but Vanille complains about the lab the most. Nothing unusual there. But the next text, the one that just came in, makes her narrow her eyes. And just-

'hey Fang. staying over at Serah's tonight k? don't wait up for me~'

Serah reads it once. A second time. Was she seeing the correct text? Did Vanille actually just use her as an alibi to sneak off somewhere?'

Serah sighs, deep and heavy, as she massages the bridge of her nose and her temples. Her name has been dragged into the situation, and now she wants more than anything to get to the bottom of it.

"Fang. Who do you think even-"

"Lightning," Fang says, returning to the kitchen.

Serah slams the phone down on the table. She places her fists at her hips and stares at Fang. "Excuse me?" There is no way she's going to have anyone accuse Lightning of such a travesty, even Fang.

Fang throws her hands up in defense. "I can explain. Just- give me a few minutes, yeah?" She retreats back into the living room.

Serah tails her, no longer feeling like she has any sort of appetite. She plants herself into a seat and glares at Fang, expecting nothing less than a well-thought-out explanation from such a preposterous claim.

"You'd better explain this very well, Fang."

"Hey, I know how you feel. I'll try my best."

So Serah sits and listens.

Lightning's knees ache. She needs a break, but Vanille isn't finished yet. Dammit.

"S-stopping already?"

Don't you mock me. Lightning presses her face in harder, spreading Vanille's ass so she's granted better access. She gets a full taste of just how wet Vanille is and no amount of her mocking will deny this fact. She's at Lightning's mercy.

"Ooooh, guess not," Vanille teases, shuddering.

She does this all the time. Succumbing to the illusion of control. Who's the one bent over the kitchen counter right now, panties at her ankles? Certainly not Lightning.

Lightning drives her tongue deeper. Back out. Brushes Vanille's clit. Vanille's legs wobble.

Another break and Lightning throws her own taunt. "What? Can't stand up now? And here I thought you were supposed to be cooking dinner."

Some weird, frustrated groan escapes Vanille before she speaks again, labored. "Mmm… shut up. 'Fore I make you eat my arse too."

Vanille reaches back to palm Lightning's head. Lightning doesn't let the gentleness fool her; it's exuding confidence and maliciousness. Vanille's no stranger to acting like a condescending asshole when they fuck. Just the motions her fingers make in Lightning's scalp scream ulterior motives. However, she pulls Lightning's head back and away, still wobbling on shaky legs.

Lightning nips at Vanille's backside. She needs to relax and so does Vanille. Lightning sits back on her behind, blue eyes roaming up creamy legs. Vanille's panting echoes in the room. Before long, she gathers the strength to turn around, resting elbows on the counter. Lightning studies the hand that moves between reddened thighs to nestle itself in auburn curls, Vanille's feeble attempt to keep her mind focused on their prolonged session.

Lightning runs her tongue over her bottom lip as she stares at Vanille's hand. Vanille picks up on it and chuckles.

"What? You want this?"

Flirty, playful, and seductive, just like Vanille herself. Lightning smirks, looking Vanille up and down. "Yeah."

Emerald eyes lock with aquamarine; underwear slips up shaky legs. "Then help me cook, yeah?"

Serah massages her temples as she sits cross-legged on Fang's sofa. The entire story made no sense and every bit of sense at the same time. She doesn't really want to believe that this was the conclusion that Fang had come to but… it made some sense, at least. Still, she isn't too ecstatic about having her sister's name dragged through the mud as the accomplice to this crime. It just didn't fit Lightning's usual MO.

Fang sighs, rubbing her head, before making a final statement. "So. Does that seem likely? I know it's kinda a stretch, but throw me a bone here."

"Yeah, I don't know. I just…"

Fang says she heard Vanille using Lightning's name in the bathroom earlier that week, right after Vanille returned home late and Fang had just turned in for the night. That can very well be an easy misunderstanding; it's too far-fetched. Correlation never implies causation.

"Maybe, Fang. I haven't spoken to Vanille all too much the past few weeks. But I also haven't spoken to Lightning much either, especially since I moved in with Snow last semester."

"I think- well, I know Vanille's bein' a little shit. But I think we need some proof on Lightning's part."

Serah glares at Fang, and Fang shrugs in return. Regardless of how she feels about the situation, she still loathes the fact that Lightning could be involved. But, getting some type of confirmation wouldn't be the worst thing in the world.

"I'll just ask her then."

"You- what?" Fang leans forward, eyes furrowed. "You're not gonna just… ask her outright, are you?"

Serah raises an eyebrow. "I might as well. Lightning doesn't lie to me."

"And what if she does?"

Serah slings a sharp glare in her direction. If Lightning lies, then she'll know something's wrong, very wrong. She fetches her phone from her pocket and sends her sister a quick, to-the-point message. Her fingers tap away at the screen. In seconds, she's done.

"There."

"So? What'd you say?"

Leaning back into the couch, Serah plays around with her fingers. "I asked her if she's seen Vanille anywhere."

Lightning appreciates direct messages. Worst case scenario, she says yes, but at least they'll have gotten their answer, whatever it is.

She keeps her eyes fixated on her hands, expressing her thoughts out loud. "You know. I'm a bit worried. Outside of the fact that my sister could be dating my best friend, I'm just… worried."

Serah looks up at Fang. Fang seems like she wants to comment on the statement but remains silent.

"Lightning. She… doesn't exactly have the best track record with girls, you know. I'm not sure what it is. She's dated a dozen. Most of them were really nice, some I actually liked. She'll date them for like two months and then nothing. She always says they aren't on the same page, but I think she's just too intimidating." Fang's brows crinkle in confusion, like she's never heard the information before. Serah narrows her eyes, continuing. "Does she not tell you this?"

Fang looks down, her leg bouncing impatiently. "No. Light's never told me anything about her dating life. Always kept it hush-hush. Never knew why. I just never pressed the issue."

Fang cups her head in one hand while the other balls into a fist. Serah immediately wants to retract her statements. Before she ponders on the thought more, her phone buzzes in her lap. Her heart jumps. This is it. Here's the reply.

She unlocks her phone to look at the message.

'Yes. Why?'

Shit.

"What? What did she say?"

Serah's eyes dart around the room. Fang already looks pissed as it is now, and she doesn't want to escalate the situation, but dammit if this isn't her problem too.

"She said yes."

Fang's eyes darken. She nods slowly. "Elaborate?" For one with a natural drawl to her voice, the enunciation on each syllable of the word shakes Serah to her core. She isn't afraid of Fang, no, but the gravity of the predicament makes her feel small, as if she's somehow caused the problem. The last thing she ever wants is to be the cause of someone else's pain.

"I'll ask." She does.

"what do you mean yes? where is she?"

Another waiting game, and Fang's demeanor looks ready to claw a hole through space and time. The wait proves short, and Serah's stomach twists in knots at the message that blinks across her screen.

'At my place.'

Serah shakes her head as Fang scrambles from her seat, asking for details. Serah just shows her the messages on the phone.

"No offense, Serah, but I cannot wait to punch her fucking face in."

Vanille's lips attach to Lightning's neck as Lightning throws her phone onto the love seat. Probably payback for the hickies she gave Vanille earlier that week. Whatever.

"What did you say?" Playful or demanding or maybe a mix of both; Lightning can't tell. But there's hot breath and tongue on her neck so does it really matter?

Lightning threads fingers through auburn hair, leaning her head back and closing her eyes. "Don't worry about it."

Vanille nips at the skin there, words melding into flesh. "Now how would this work if I'm supposed to be at Serah's right now?" A single finger rolls up and down Lightning's abdomen, settling just below her navel. "Tell me how."

Lightning melts at the voice in her ear. Vanille's fingers dance around her navel, half permission and half warning to answer the question. Lips leave her neck and her eyes fly open. Vanille's serious.

She cups Vanille's chin, locking eye contact as Vanille rocks impatiently atop her lap. Their foreheads meet, lips brush, noses press. "You know how this is gonna work?"

"Uh uh. Tell me?" Vanille whispers, breath hitching.

Lightning marks a feather-light trail down Vanille's bare back, massaging every ridge of her spine. She chuckles at the rise of gooseflesh as her words paint Vanille's eager lips.

"You…" she starts, exploring more than just an arching back. "…are gonna let me fuck you again. Until you forget about it. And stay here. Just like we planned."

Vanille's lips curl into a smile against Lightning's mouth. "Yeah? Just like we planned, huh?" She's obviously joking; Vanille just likes to hear herself speak.

"Yeah." Lightning reaches below with her other hand, brushing Vanille against her panties. Vanille jerks back, surprised, then bucks her hips closer. She wants another tease, most likely more. "Because remember," Lightning says, peppering kisses down Vanille's chin, into her neck, and back up to her lips. "Fang and Serah don't talk, right?"

"Mmm…" Vanille's mewl retreats back into her throat, reemerging as a small rumble in the pit of her chest. "Yeaaah. Just like… we don't talk. Right?" A small laugh erupts from her as well, masking her frustration at Lightning's teasing.

Vanille's at that point, Lightning notices, where her voice gets shaky, accent thickens, and words nearly blend back into Oerban. It seems natural to her, like she's safe in her comfort zone without a care in the world. In her own way, Lightning feels the same.

It takes no time before she pulls Vanille's panties down to shove two fingers inside. Vanille's reaction is textbook for her, shaking and shivering and stifling a sharp moan that's swallowed up and silenced by a hungry kiss. Vanille squeezes her thighs, constricting Lightning's waist, as she rests her arms on Lightning's shoulders.

Lightning's starting to really sense it. Vanille does everything to close the distance, but it's barely possible. They can't get any closer, yet Lightning yearns for more. Vanille's body feels so fucking good against hers, meshing well at all the right angles like two puzzle pieces. Their body heat mingles and Lightning finds herself growing dizzy from the touch in the best way possible. This. This is her comfort zone. Her zen.

Vanille breaks the kiss, hissing a sharp "fuck me" on Lightning's lips. A string of mumbled Oerban words follows as she begins a slow grind in Lightning's lap.

There was something different about Vanille the first night that they fucked. Lightning felt it then and she feels it now. After all the other girls she's been with, Vanille has been the only one to keep up with her in mind, body, and spirit. The way they communicate in unspoken words and body language is like nothing Lightning's ever experienced before. Vanille's appetite for sex rivals her own, and it's quite possibly the best revelation Lightning's ever had. It's a match made in Valhalla.

Lightning curls her fingers inside Vanille, and the mewl returns full force with grinding hips and more Oerban words mumbled into her mouth. She's close enough. Lightning thumbs her clit with the same hand. Vanille's cunt constricts her fingers in waves, dripping wet with cum. Lightning stifles the oncoming scream with another ravenous kiss, tongue and all.

Vanille looks about ready to pass out, emerald eyes lidded and hazy. Despite that, there's a certain lingering hunger to her gaze. She smells amazing, and her heady scent permeates the living room, marking it as her territory. She collapses into Lightning's bosom, chest heaving and breaths coming out in huffs. "Goddess, Lightning…" she growls.

Lightning smirks to herself, feeling a small surge of pride. She retracts her soaked fingers, aiming to bring them to her mouth before Vanille snatches her hand. A tongue rolls over her digits and Lightning shifts uncomfortably, studying the exhausted girl cleaning her soaked fingers. What a sight…

Lying on Lightning's shoulder, Vanille stares at her, a small, mischievous twinkle in her eye. "Light?"

She scrunches her brows. "What?"

"Fuck me again, yeah?"

This is what she wanted initially. This is how she connects. Lightning delivers one last feral kiss, and lifts them both off the sofa chair, moving all the way back into the cool confines of her bedroom.