Disclaimer: Square Enix owns these characters
Chapter 3: Plain Dishonest
"WHAT? Are you serious?!"
Lightning snatched the receiver away from her throbbing ear, her face impassive.
"Go to bed? That's all you said to someone who broke down in front of you about their failed relationship of thirteen years?!"
"I'm very disappointed in you, Claire."
Lightning rolled her eyes.
"You have to do something. She's your roommate and she confided in you!"
Yeah and maybe I should also mention how she's been making my life a living hell these past two weeks!
"This is your chance to make a friend!"
'the hell?
"Claire?"
"I need to go now, Serah."
"What? No, wait-"
Lightning hung up, ignoring her sister's muffled cries.
She sighed, gently massaging the bridge of her nose.
Calling Serah for advice had been a mistake. She hung out with a completely different type of crowd. The giddy, bubble-headed kind. The sort who huddled together like rabbits and drowned themselves in laughter, tears and ice cream for any excuse, it seemed. Watching a movie, falling in love, going through heart break, falling in love again, and even, when they finally got around to it, homework. Lightning had tried it once privately and didn't see what all the fuss was about. A shot of bourbon, now that was different. They were just kids after all.
"Hey, Lightning, you get one call, and that's it. Move along, we've got a whole line back here!" The private behind her exclaimed rudely.
"Keep your pants on, Naabat." Lightning muttered with a scowl.
She turned away and headed for the dormitories.
No, Serah would never understand the subtle dynamics between them soldiers. It was the perfect balance of camaraderie and learning to keep your mouth shut and your damn problems to yourself.
Fang had violated that rule, but only because drink had loosened her tongue last night. And now it was left to Lightning to pick up the pieces - as usual.
She turned at the corner, deep in thought.
Ruined. It was all ruined. Nothing would ever be the same again.
One late night drunken confession. That was all it took.
Get a grip on yourself.
It's not like she told you she liked you or anything.
Lightning froze. Where the hell did that come from?
Unbidden flashes of shy smiles, secret glances and careful tiptoeing from earlier that day flooded her mind.
All from their expedition, all non-combat related...and really all just Lightning.
Fuck.
It was horrifying.
"This is your chance to make a friend!", Serah's words echoed hollowly in her mind.
Yeah and I know exactly how it's supposed to go. Your relationship ends and you turn to a 'girlfriend' for support. We curse and swear at him behind his back, and reduce him to the underbelly of an earthworm.
Then you make up with the guy and pretend like nothing ever happened.
And I'll be left there alone like a fool.
Forget it.
Her call to Serah had really been to ask about how she could expedite through this awkward period, so Fang and she could return to just being feuding roommates.
I can't do this.
Not again.
"So tell me what I'm supposed to do then..."
She tried to picture the beautiful brunette and herself laughing over strawberry ice cream in their pajamas. Her stomach lurched.
"Well, how about you come to bed? It's late." A sultry voice whispered gently in her ear.
Lightning started. "Fuck!"
Stop doing that!
Fang laughed lightly. "You okay?"
"Of course I'm okay, why shouldn't I be?" Lightning snapped back breathlessly, working off her sudden spike in adrenaline through brisk strides. "It's the whole world that's the problem."
The brunette picked up the pace and leveled with her easily.
"Do you want to talk about it?"
Lightning flushed, her cheeks matching the shade of her hair. "No, I don't want to talk about it! We don't have to share everything, you know."
"What do you mean?"
"You know what I mean! I was perfectly happy hating you - till you went all pathetic on me last night!"
Fang stopped in her tracks.
"Ow."
The pink haired soldier halted in mid-step. She slowly turned to see her roommate with a hand placed over her chest.
Huh?
"That hurt." She said softly.
Lightning swallowed, her face deepening in colour as it dawned on her that she might have gone too far.
"Look, I'm sorry. But I'm no good at this, alright?"
She took a step forward to Fang, and slashed her arm against the air angrily.
"I hate being around people."
I care too much.
"And I don't want to be saddled with everyone's problems."
That it hurts.
"Particularly yours..."
You're lying.
She turned her back to Fang.
"So leave me out of it!"
Tell her!
Fang stared thoughtfully at the tortured soldier for a minute, before shaking her head with a sigh. "Oh, the things I do for you..."
Huh?
Lightning turned around just in time to see Fang's fist closing in on her face like a speeding train.
Her back slammed heavily into the wall behind her.
"What the-"
She forced her eyelids open, despite the pain. Tears clouded her vision, as her assailant swam into view.
The jerk was smiling pleasantly!
"That was right in the nose!"
"Okay, now you hit me back."
"'the fuck's wrong with you?!"
Fang pressed Lightning against the wall, and drew in close. The taller woman leaned her forearm against the wall and lowered her face so it hovered just inches away from Lightning's.
"I'm more of a physical person myself. Not much good with words." She whispered huskily, forcing her firm body tightly against Lightning's with an insolent smile. "But I know when someone's being plain dishonest."
Azure eyes widened, staring deeply into the gleaming pools of jade green, hypnotised by their depths.
Tell her.
Tell her what's really bothering you.
She could feel Fang's hot breath caress her parted lips invitingly.
"I-"
"Hm?"
She swallowed. "What was his name...y-your boyfriend?"
Fang stared unblinkingly at her for what seemed like an eternity, before breaking into a wolfish grin.
"You're so adorable, pretending you don't already know."
The pink haired woman lowered her eyelids.
"Pretending to not know what?" She breathed.
"This." The brunette replied simply, and leaned in to kiss her tenderly on the lips.
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