Sorry for a late update but I hope I'd get the redemption because of length of it. New semester have just started so the updates can be less frequent :/ But your patience will be rewarded :D Thanks for the reviews I appreciate them very much. Enjoy!


Lightning came into her room after driving Fang back and making sure she would be ok. She could stay a little longer but now she knew something was totally wrong with that case and she needed to do something.

All her assumptions from earlier that day - thrown into waste bin. These scratches on door… if they were Fang's… She didn't even want to think about it. They were old. It could be even years from when they appeared. That's impossible…

In that moment, after the scene which took place while ago, she was almost sure that Vanille exists. Or existed

Is that possible they were locked up in that place for who knows how long? But why? Interrogations? Why someone tried so hard to cover the tracks. What was this building used for? Why is the Intelligence Agency involved? What role does it play in all of that? Had Fang been a thread to Cocoon's safety before she lost her memory? If so they would have hunt her down already… they wouldn't only watch her.

She let out a frustrated growl. There was too many question and only some tiny bits of facts. She was tired with the events of that day and her imagination went definitely too far. The pieces weren't matching no matter how she looked at them and there was too little of them to see at least the outline of the main plot.

There was no other way… She sat in front of her computer and called Hope. After a few seconds his face appeared on the screen. He seemed to be waiting for her call.

"Hi, Light! Have you tried out your birthday gift?" She's forgotten about that and seeing his excitement gave her remorse.

"Hi. Yeah I used it…" Her cheeks felt hot on the memory of that certain dream.

"Aaand? Did you sleep well?" She didn't remember tossing and turning at all so she had to get asleep quickly.

"I think it worked quite well. I don't even remember waiting for sleep to come but… "She narrowed her eyes on the screen." Is it programmed to… control somebody's dreams?" Hope's brows furrowed. He was silent for some time.

"I haven't thought about it earlier… but I think it can in some way direct them to some more pleasant area… However there is no way it can have full control. It's more like… felling happy and at ease often make your dreams more enjoyable and so on… why asking? Was there something wrong with your dream? Any nightmare? Maybe I did something wrong… I can improve that if you tell me what was wrong."

What was wrong?! Everything was wrong in that twisted dream… Enjoyable?! Was that supposed to be enjoyable?! More like nightmare… I-I couldn't even move in that chair… It's characteristic for nightmares, isn't it? She tried to convince herself but the more she was thinking about it the more doubts were appearing in her mind. One thing was clear. There was no possibility of talking with him about her almost erotic dream. Hope's voice roused her from her thinking.

"Light? Are you alright? You look a bit like you have a fever and you're so… unfocused." Poor kid. He wouldn't recognize this kind of flush on any woman's face even if he was its reason.

"Y-yeah… Sorry it's nothing… and your device works well. To tell the truth I called you because I need your help."Her expression changed now to serious and decided.

"Okay. What is it?"

"Listen carefully. I do not want you to take any risk. If you can help me that's great but if something starts to go wrong withdraw immediately. You have to promise me you'll be as careful as never. Alright?"

"Light… what's going on?" He was a bit scared now.

"Did you understand what I said?"

"Yeah… I think so."

"I need full access to classified police data." Hope's expression was veery surprised. He didn't expect this kind of request from the pinkhead.

"H-how do you know I can do it?" Lightning arched her brow with a roll of her eyes.

"Hope please… I knew you wouldn't use it to harm anyone so I turned a blind eye on your hacking but it doesn't mean I didn't know."

"Riiight… It'll take time but it's not impossible." There was long moment of silence when Hope's question came. "Light? What's going on? It's… not like you to do something… illegal." She let out a long, tired sigh.

"If only I knew… Something is totally wrong but it doesn't make any sense… That's why I need your help… Hope, I was serious, be careful some intelligence agents can be involved."

"Intelligence? I thought…"

"No, they still function..."


Lightning looked at the screen of her phone. It was just before midnight. No calls from Fang. She dropped on her bed letting out a heavy breath. It was clear for her that getting asleep would be another hard battle for the end of this very intensive day.

She thought about Hope's device but quickly shook the idea out of her mind. She couldn't risk having more of these enjoyable dreams. She'd rather be awake all night.

All her head was filled with worries. Worries about Hope and the task he get, about worsening relation between her and Serah – this one was Snow's fault! - , about where is Vanille but most of all about Fang.

Brunette had calmed down and was driven home but the shrilling headache didn't want to let her go. Painkillers didn't have a chance to work because she vomited after taking them. Eventually she fell asleep and Lightning could come back to her house.

It was quite a lot of time ago and Fang didn't call. Maybe I shouldn't have left her alone… Is she still sleeping? Did she come to work tonight...? It would be better if she stayed home… but I don't know if she could afford a day off… Lightning saw Fang's rented flat… or maybe a room with a bathroom. Small, neglected hovel. It definitely wasn't impressive… but thinking that Oerban a few weeks ago woke up in an unknown place, with no memories, knowing no one, without money and now she had a work, roof over her head, junky motorcycle and she didn't stand out of the crowd… at least not in the bad way… that was quite impressive.

Lightning felt like shit when she thought about the mandates. If only she told me then…She thought but immediately it occurred to her that it wouldn't make a difference. I'd probably say that it wasn't my business… Argh! I can be such a pain in the ass sometimes! How is Serah able to withstand this? She turned angrily in her bed and heard quiet whining. Her eyes were used to the darkness of the room so it wasn't hard to notice the white fur ball lying next to her. Her eyes narrowed suspiciously.

"How did you get there?" She looked around the room. It wasn't as tidy as always. There were things lying everywhere including still packed gift from Sazh, which was laid next to the bed. Of course… that's the way you came…

"You're the adventurous one." Puppy whined again and with still closed eyes started hitting the air with its paws, fighting the imaginary enemy. Lightning started to pet it and its nightmare seemed to fade away but it didn't wake up.

"I was to drive you to the shelter days ago. What am I supposed to do with you now?" She let out a heavy breathe. The tiny dog was leaning into her touch, seeking more contact. "It would make Serah happy if you stayed, wouldn't it?" When she took her hand away its eyes slowly opened. "You will need a name, won't you?" It yawned and looked at Lightning again jostling her hand with its nose. The pinkhead smiled and complied to its request.

"What would you say for Odin?" She heard a contented grumble. "I see you like it." She didn't stop petting the animal but her voice got its serious tone. "But don't think living here will be sugar and rainbows. I will train you and when you get bigger, you will have to protect Serah…" Fleer appeared on her face. "And you will growl at Snow when I'm not home."


Serah woke up early this day but to her big surprise she heard noises coming from Lightning's room. She came closer to the door and heard her sister's voice.

"Odin! Hey! Stop it!". That's… impossible… Lightning… in her room… with someone else… in the morning… She couldn't stop her overflowing curiosity. She knocked the door.

"Come in." When Serah opened the door she saw her sister with a happy puppy in one hand and wiping her face on a short sleeve of her T-shirt. Serah didn't know if she felt disappointed or relieved or whatever by the fact it was only a dog in her sister's room but when she remembered her promise that she would take care of it, fear started to overpower any other feelings.

"Take him." Light stretched a hand towards Serah with angry and disgusted expression.

"I'm sorry… I didn't notice when he left my room… I'll watch him better next time… please don't be angry… All shelters are overcrowded. It'd…" She started to convince her sister taking back the happily barking fur ball.

Lightning felt a bit surprised and ashamed that her sister is so scared. They didn't spend a lot of time together lately and if they did it always ended up with a quarrel about Snow or with giving Serah a lecture. The situation with Fang and Vanille reminded her how important Serah is for her and how badly she wants her to be happy. In that moment Serah looked rather miserable than happy. Hugging the puppy a bit too tight, not wanting to let him go, mumbling chaotically some apologetic crap in extremely fast pace with her eyes locked on her sleepers.

"Serah." She said calmly and chucked her under the chin, forcing her to look up."He stays."

Younger pinkhead looked a bit suspiciously on older one's gentle smile, still not sure if she understood.

"What do you mean?"

Lightning rolled her eyes.

"I mean he stays. I gave him a name." Dog barked happily trying to release himself from tight embrace. "Odin seems to confirm my version."

Serah looked on the animal in her arms, "Odin, huh?" and back on her sister with teary eyes. "You're best sis ever!" She crushed into Lightning's arms.

"Of course I am. You'd better not suffocate Odin now." Serah put him down to his satisfaction and watched him jumping down the stairs. He rolled down the last three steps but got up immediately and started to run around the room.

"We could take him for a walk later."

Serah turned with a wide grin to face the source of the words, not quite believing that is really her sister in front of her but, even if it wasn't, contented with the imitation.

"I'd love that."


Lightning Farron wasn't a big enthusiast of days off. Spending time with Serah worked out pretty well. They even talked about Snow a bit. Lightning still had her own opinion and expressed it but this time she let her sister have her own. That didn't mean she would get the permission to move out with him but they didn't quarrel at least and had quite a good time together.

She even took Odin to vet and cleaned her room. Still packed present from Sazh was placed in the bottom of her wardrobe – where were two other presents from him – also still wrapped. She made a good use of punching bag she got from Serah and Snow for her birthday. There was an inscription on it 'This is better material for punching than Snow!' but she still was doing better imagining his face on the bag.

In the internet she tried to find some information about who rented the damned warehouses but there wasn't any clues.

Now there was no more things to do for her and she was again thinking too much. She was sitting motionless on her bed and looking on the screen of her phone for at least 10 minutes. From time to time her thumb hovered over Fang's number but every time she forced it back.

There was still no word from Hope so she had no excuse to call her. She let out a nervous breath and made a bold decision. Her finger was millimeters from the screen when voice from behind startled her.

"What are you doing?" Serah was standing behind her with crossed arms and smirk on her face. Oh, she had to learn that one from her sister. Lightning jumped off her bed and sheepishly shoved her phone into the pocket.

"Nothing." She was standing with a crossed arms and looking out the window to hide the blush from being caught. Her sister giggled but didn't try to draw out anything more from the sergeant.

"Come. Dinner is ready."

And then it came. When sisters were eating the dinner Lightning's pocket started to buzz. She jumped in her chair and looked on the screen hastily. She tried to make unconcerned face and slowly walk out of the earshot.

Serah couldn't contain another giggle. Her sister was always so calm, emotionless and icy rational that seeing her like that was a marvelous spectacle.


After exchanging news about Vanille and the memories case, or rather lack of news, Fang decided she needed to close the chapter called 'yesterday'. It made her feel uneasy around Lightning and she didn't like the feeling.

"Sorry for yesterday… Ya shouldn't have witnessed any of this things… that's so embarrassin'…" Lightning wasn't surprised that the brunette was ashamed by being seen in her worst shape. She always seemed so carefree and easy-going but she was also surrounded by the aura of strength. Any sign of weakness didn't match her.

"Don't be stupid. Some things just happens. "

"Yeah… I suppose so... I know the place I live in is quite terrible but it's better than woods."

"Were you… sleeping in the forest?" She should expect this but it was still so no Cocoonian and so different from the live she knew that her imagination couldn't keep up sometimes.

"Yeah, first days after awakenin'… I had a choice: woods or streets… No one from Gran Pulse would choose streets. I thought night under the stars would feel like home… but there's no stars, isn't it? "

"Yeah. Never saw any. I always wondered how it'd be to see them all on the sky…"

"It's amazin' when there is no clouds. Much more impressin' than a view from this cliff… and you seemed quite impressed last time we were here. Lady Luck is on my side lately so maybe I'll be able to show ya them some day."

"Lady Luck? On your side? Don't be ridiculous."

"Hey! Don't be such a pessimist. If she wasn't on my side I'd be in deep shit right now…" She saw a doubting look on Lightning's face and laughed. "Well, deeper than I'm in now. Firstly, I didn't die in that fire and didn't sink in the lake. That's somethin'."

"I think It's more your survival instinct then luck."

"Maybe… but then Lady Luck must have bring me to that street. There was the man you beat the night we met. He was botherin' some lady and it ended up with me knocking him out." Lightning made a huff which was to be amused but a pinch of annoyance could be heard in it.

"That's so your style. Always ready to rescue a damsel in the distress. Let me guess. The story ends with 'and that's how I get a number of that babe'."

Fang looked, a bit surprised, at the woman who was trying hard to hid her irritation. A second latter her face was again emotionless.

"Not exactly number… that's how I got my job. She happened to be the owner of the club."

"Oh…" Lightning felt very ashamed of her annoyance which came from… where? She wasn't able to find out that one.

"Yeah… but the most lucky thin' which happened to me… was that I met ya." She looked significantly on the pinkhead who answered with a snort but small blush appeared anyway.

"You know that was the most cheesy thing you said." Brunette laugh on that comment.

"But I'm serious. If it wasn't for ya I would still pussyfoot around. Ya gave me hope… and I liked ya." Lightning smiled but felt the irresistible urge to run away from the topic.

"I'm not sure if these mandates were another lucky thing…"

"Yeah, I think I could do without them."

"Fang… did you… " she hesitated for a moment but decided to continue "paid them?" That was quite an unexpected question for Fang and she wasn't sure if she liked the direction where that conversation was coming in. She started to watch Lightning suspiciously.

"The first one… and I wait for my wage to pay the second one." She saw that pinkhead's eyes dropped down for a moment and she seemed to regret. When their eyes locked Fang already knew what the other woman was thinking about.

"I could…" She wasn't given chance to end the sentence when Fang got up abruptly.

"No way. I won't take any money from ya."

"But…"

"No way, Sunshine!" She stood on the edge. "I'd rather jump down that cliff." Lightning looked down on the waves crushing mercilessly on the rocky wall.

"You wouldn't." It was very high and the sea wasn't welcoming. No one in his right mind would do it. However Fang could sense the challenge like a shark senses blood and the doubt in her companion's voice had to be proven wrong.

"Ya bet I would!"

"Fang… we don't even know how deep is the water."

"It's deep enough. When it's an ebb there is over three meters and now is a flow."

"And how would you know that?"

"I went fishing on the coast with a sharpened stick." Astonished expression on Lightning's face was priceless. "What? I had to eat somethin' after awakenin'."She made a smug smile and winked. "That's a Gran Pulse life style!" She made a few steps back to take a run-up. "I only have to make sure to not hook one of this protruding rocks."

"You're kidding, right?"

"Watch closely, Sunshine." She started to run but made only two steps when a tight grip on her wrist stopped her.

"Don't." Pinkhead's voice was angry and imperious but by a mere second in her eyes could be seen a whit of concern.

"Sunshine… ya're… worried about me?"

"In your dreams." She crossed her arms and looked away but Fang knew her too well to be deceived by coldness in her voice. "I have a better idea." She faced the brunette again with a gleam in her eye and a defiant smile on her lips. "We'll spar instead."

Fang's grin started to spread all over her face.

"Bare hands or.. " she bend down and rose a long stick "weapons?"

"Seems like you've already chosen."

"I'd rethin' that if I were ya. I'm really good with a long… ehh stick." She said challengingly with a confidence and growing excitement but Lightning wasn't intimidated. On the contrary, it made her want to teach Fang a lesson.

"That's great because I'm really good…" she broke similar stick on her knee looking into brunettes eyes incessantly "with two short ones." Sergeant warmed her wrists up without showing up too much.

"Loser will fulfill winner's wish."

Oerban decided to raise the stakes. She'd never lose the opportunity like this but pinkhead didn't seem to mind. Nodding with an overflowing confidence.

"Ready?"

"Come on, Sunshine." She made a taunting move with a hand but it didn't worked.

"I'm not the one to be provoked easily… but I thought that the Pulsian women are more fierce in fight. Wouldn't expect a defensive style."

Fang perfectly knew that this shorter woman used her own weapon against her but her pride couldn't let this remark go. She rushed forward and swung her weapon strongly but it met only an air. She could barely see the counterattack coming on her face and she blocked it without thinking and left all her lower body exposed. Lightning at sight exploited it with her second hand and poked the woman in the stomach. However hit wasn't strong enough to occupy brunette for long and she answered with the high swing just above ducking head of fair pink hair. Before she could prepare her next attack Lightning was standing a few steps behind her.

"Nice try but you're too slow." Making her opponent angry was very risky tactic but, according to the rule that an angry opponent is a reckless opponent, it was giving her opportunity to plant a lot of hits.

"And your hit was too weak." She tried to talk back but sergeant's self-control was unshakable.

"Didn't want to hurt you, sweetheart." All sentence was a pure sneer and it couldn't work better. Fang rushed again with an furry in her eyes.

"Ya'll pay for this." She made a swing after swing, all heavy and strong, but her rival was dodging them all. There was no time for Lighting to fight back. The strikes were coming in fast furious pace and she knew that if one of them landed on her properly it'd knock her down. She would have to wait for brunette to get tired and hope that it would be sooner than later, because constant dodging could also be very fatiguing.

Fang started to pant slightly and slowed down a bit.

"Already tired?" Even before she finished the long stick shot towards her head and she could hardly avoid it. She even felt the blow of the wind near her ear. "That was close."

Fang stopped for a while to think. She needed to change her tactic if she wanted to win that precious reward. She started again hitting the air where the woman was standing moments ago with a steady rhythm but then she surprised her with weaker, fast low strike on her left knee.

It landed and forced the pinkhead to kneel. That was perfect opportunity to finish the fight and Fang had to seize it. She tried to but Lightning reflex was beyond her imagination and when she realized that the woman had rolled from under her blow she felt sharp pain in her calf and turned swinging her 'lance'. However her opponent was nowhere near.

She was standing in the distance of a few meters. Their breaths were quickened now. Fang was angry that she didn't finish this while ago but all her earlier anger was suddenly replaced with the excitement that she finally found the worthy opponent. It was known that the grumpy one was a challenge but she wouldn't suspect there would be such a problem with beating her in fight.

"Sunshine, what would ya say if we ended with that warm up already?" Feral grin appeared on her face and get the response in the form of smirk on the pale face.

"I thought you would never ask." They started to circle each other for a while steadying their breaths. This time it was Lightning to close the distance showing a display of her precise and careful strikes.

This was hard to block or dodge both of that damn agile arms especially when Lightning was in one place and second later on the opposite side. She got a few sharp hits which would leave bruises but nothing too painful. It was her pride screaming for revenge.

There was a moment of pinkhead's hesitation and that was all time Fang needed to make a swift blow. It was blocked but gave Fang the opportunity to take back the initiative. This time Farron was prepared for both strong, slow and a bit weaker, fast hits. She wasn't stupid enough to try blocking the heavy ones but that was the only option with these quick ones.

She was trying to counter attack and was successful from time to time but blocking Fang's blows with one hand made her wrists burn. How can she possibly be so strong?! She wouldn't stand long like this and had to avoid more and more strikes. Her breathing was coming in heavy pants but Oerban's was no better than hers.

She was forced to move back and saw the glimpse of triumph in her rival's eyes when her back hit the cold stone. There was nowhere to dive and both of them knew this. Fang was already making one of her hardest blows and the only thing she could do was to try blocking it with her both sticks. There was a loud creak and all three pieces of wood broke. Shards scratched her face slightly but the remaining part of brunette's weapon hit her painfully on the shoulder.

She grimaced but the other woman was decided to claim her victory and she put the ending of her stick just under pinkhead's jaw. Fang was tired as hell, panting heavily, with her red from effort face but she could never be happier.

"Who is… the smartass… now, Sunshine?" She told between the breaths felling the need of vengeance for all the earlier sneers.

"Tch..." Sergeant narrowed her eyes angrily. She wasn't going sell her skin cheap. She dropped useless wooden pieces to the ground and then pushed and grabbed Fang's stick, pulling her in only to place one leg behind her and push her back.

They both hit the ground with a loud thump. Fang's surprise was priceless when she found herself lying on the grass her hands pinned above her head with Light sitting astride on her.

"Don't… count your chickens… before they hatch." Wide smug smile appeared on Lightning's face but it started to vanish slowly when she realized how close their faces were.

She saw some unidentified gleam in Fangs eyes. Light had a lot of luck that her face was already red. For a tiny moment her eyes dropped to brunettes lips and then it was too late. Fang took the gesture as a permission and closed the distance between their lips.

The kiss was soft and hesitant but definitely pleasurable. Oerban's lips were as warm and welcoming as in her dream. They were giving her the same maddening sensation and she even seemed to kiss back but when their lips separated her eyes widened in shock.

She wasn't the one to lose control so easily and what happened a moment ago confused her badly. Without a word she got up and left Fang lying on the grass in her disorientation. She went home as fast as she could.