A New Home

Vanille hummed a merry tune as she strode up the walkway to Lightning Farron's home, holding a box of fresh donuts with both hands. My home, too, Vanille thought happily. It wasn't all that long ago Fang and her had still been trapped in crystal stasis.

Serah and Snow married soon after their return, as if they'd been waiting for the Pulsians to attend. Lightning had already begun building a new home for herself to move into and allow the newlyweds their own space. Somewhat surprisingly, Lightning offered for Fang and Vanille to live with her as well, and so the three of them proceeded to add the finishing touches.

Vanille smiled at the roses Fang and her had helped plant in the front lawn. She wished they could plant more of them as it was another gorgeous day outside, the morning sun rising in Gran Pulse's blue sky. Unfortunately, there was plenty of work to be done inside.

Fang and Lightning were probably still out on their jog. Those two were so competitive they usually ended up racing much further than what they'd planned initially. Vanille wasn't really interested in getting all sweaty so early in the morning and opted to get them all some breakfast instead.

Somewhere along the way to the front door, a glazed donut with sprinkles had escaped the box. It was now being held between Vanille's teeth as she balanced the box in one hand while reaching for the doorknob with the other. Once inside, she was about to kick the door shut when she heard a muffled thump come from upstairs.

Eyes warily directed upwards, Vanille took a bite from the donut and quietly closed the door with a push of her shoulder.

"Fang?" Vanille called with her mouth full. There was no response.

Vanille set the box down on the floor, their living room still bare of furniture. She cautiously went up the stairs with her half-eaten donut.

"Lightning?" There was music playing, coming from Fang's room.

Even if she hadn't shared some of Fang's dreams during crystal stasis, she knew her adoptive sister had strong feelings for Lightning. It was hard to tell if Lightning felt the same, if the friendship they shared meant anything more to her. Vanille spent many nights listening to Fang fuss about it, and the redhead feared that neither of them would ever take that extra step. She asked Fang during their conversation last night if Lightning was worth the risk and received no response.

Vanille approached Fang's bedroom and stood outside for a moment, turning an ear to the door. She slowly stopped chewing as she listened. 'No way' she mouthed to herself.

"You're doing it wrong." Lightning. She sounded a little annoyed, but that wasn't unusual for the soldier.

"This isn't my first time, Light." There was a smirk in Fang's voice, as always.

"Could've fooled me."

"You're so brilliant, why don't you quit staring and give it a try."

Creak creak creak. Vanille's brow wrinkled. Fang must have a terrible bed to make that much noise.

"Light, what are you-"

"Just hold still."

"This isn't gonna work, there's not enough room." Vanille frowned. Fang's bed wasn't that small.

"I said hold still."

Creak creak. There was a bit of shuffling before Lightning spoke again.

"You're letting it drip everywhere. You need to wipe off the excess."

Fang chuckled."That's what the paper is for."

Vanille was listening so intently, she'd begun to lean closer and closer to the door until she accidentally bumped it with her shoulder. She froze as the door slowly swung open. However, her wide eyes quickly narrowed as the room came into view. Straightening her stance, she propped a hand on her hip while taking another bite from the donut.

Fang and Lightning were halfway up a ladder, painting the upper part of the wall. Lightning was pressed up behind Fang, feet placed strategically on the rungs around the brunette. The soldier had a hand over Fang's holding the paint roller. Both of them dipping it in a tray balanced on the ladder before Lightning directed the roller back to the wall.

"Long strokes. Like this."

"Not bad. Still like my way better."

"It's messy."

Fang smiled. "I like messy."

Vanille strode over to the music player and switched it off.

Two pairs of eyes snapped up. "Vanille!" Fang and Lightning dropped the paint roller, which hit the edge of the tray and tipped it over. Thankfully there were large strips of paper laid out along the floor, catching most of the spill. Lightning jerked unsteadily away from Fang and off the ladder, landing clumsily on her feet.

"What are you doing?" Vanille asked as Fang joined Lightning on the floor, the rickety ladder creaking loudly from her downward steps.

"Just getting a head start on things." Fang explained hastily. "We only started a minute ago."

Lightning nodded, straightfaced. "Yeah."

Vanille watched them with quiet scrutiny, chewing slow and methodically on another chunk of donut. The older women began to shift uncomfortably. "How was the run?"

"Run? What run- umph-" Lightning elbowed Fang sharply in the ribs.

"The run was great," Lightning said evenly. "We showered afterwards and decided to do some work." Their hair was a little damp, as if to prove the point.

Vanille gestured to Lightning. "Is that a handprint on your shirt?"

"Uh," Lightning and Fang both looked at her white tank, a painted handprint clear as day over her right breast. Lightning cleared her throat, faltering."Yes. Yes, that is a handprint. Um..."

"There was a fly," Fang filled in quickly. "Got on Lightning's shirt." Lightning nodded again.

"Lightning doesn't have paint on her hands," Vanille pointed out. This was followed by quick looks at everyone's hands. Only Fang was guilty.

"Yes, well. Uh. You know how Gran Pulse flies are, Vanille. Nasty buggers, won't leave you alone. Lightning was just swatting at it like a crazy buffoon and it was getting angry. So I... I helped." Fang pointedly avoided Lightning's glare.

"Mhm." Vanille finished the last of her donut and consciously dusted her hands off. The pair were nearly sweating in front of her, and Vanille was loving every minute of it. She decided it was time to go in for the kill.

"Is that Lightning's bra on the ceiling fan?" Everyone looked up. Recognition touched Lightning's eyes. They all knew Fang didn't own a pink bra. Fang and Lightning looked at each other before looking back up.

"Uh, right. Now that," Fang started to say. But a smile was at last breaking across her lips, and she slowly slipped an arm over Lightning's shoulders. "That may have also been my fault." Lightning, who'd begun to lean into Fang, shook slightly until a snort escaped her and she giggled. Lightning giggled. "But there's a really good explanation for that, too." Fang's smile was huge as Lightning turned into her, wrapping her arms around the warrior's waist and laughing into her neck.

Fang embraced her tightly, neither caring for the paint on her hands. Nose pressed into pink hair, Vanille caught Fang's look over Lightning's head, happiness brimming in her eyes.

Later, Vanille smiled as they all made their way downstairs to dig into the donuts. There were no more battles for them to fight. No more monsters and lies to run away from. They had a home. And a family.

Everything was going to be okay.

Author's Note:

Prompt #52: Vanille catches Fang and Lightning in a compromising position, leading to very hurried explanations being given.

I am still working on The Princess and the Dragon. I promise.