Chapter Seven: It's Worth It
Lightning sat in her office. She could hear Vanille as she entered the house. She took in a shaky breath and pulled a tissue from the box on the desk in front of her. She told herself she was being ridiculous. That Fang was completely capable of making her own decisions and if she chose Jihl then that was it. She told herself it shouldn't matter. She didn't care about Fang. Hell, she barely even liked the cocky brunette.
There was a knock on the door that drew her from her thoughts. She tried to compose herself but felt herself failing. She didn't say anything and eventually the knocking stopped. She heard Vanille attempt to turn the knob and with a defeated sigh the redhead gave up. Lightning heard footsteps leading away from the door and slowly dissipate.
Lightning hated herself for feeling this way. Since when did she care when someone ruined their lives. They were not her responsibility. She pulled open the top drawer to her desk and pulled out the small piece of paper she had found herself reading more and more. She considered her next option. She refused to sit around thinking about things that didn't concern her.
Lightning wiped away the wetness from her cheeks she tried to pretend wasn't there. She still had her pride and Vanille seeing her in this state definitely wasn't going to help.
The shower water in the guest bedroom started and Lightning stood up from her seat and proceeded toward the door. She shoved the letter in her pocket and put her hand on the door knob. She took one last deep breath and exited the room. The house was quiet aside from the noise in the bathroom. Sarah wouldn't be home until mid afternoon.
Lightning entered her room and looked around. Her mission pack lay freshly stocked near her bedroom window. She was always quick to restock it once she returned. She was never one to be caught off guard.
Lightning stripped out of her comfortable house clothes and put on her battle attire. She scanned the room for anything she might have forgotten. The sheath hanging behind her was empty. She'd left her gun blade on the living room couch.
The water had stopped in the bathroom. Lightning counted the minutes since she'd heard it running. Vanille took ten minutes to shower if she didn't completely wash her hair. Seven minutes drying off and put on clothes. She didn't have much time left.
The pink haired girl opened the door and peeked out. Vanille was nowhere to be seen. This in her opinion wasn't necessarily a good thing. She walked out of her room casually. Her steps were light. She didn't want to alert the other woman that she was out of her "sulking corner" as Serah so kindly called it.
"I'm getting good at this," Vanille said. "I was informed of your notorious counting skills."
Lightning took in a slow deep breath and exhaled. She turned to face the redhead. Her already peach skin a little pink from its most recent scrubbing.
"You're becoming bothersome," Lightning said, her voice having evened out.
"Oh you don't mean that," Vanille said. The redhead laughed when Lightning scoffed. "Any particular reason you're sneaking around your own house?"
"Avoiding you," Lightning said shortly. She turned from the older woman and kept walking into the living room. If she didn't answer Vanille's questions that other woman would never leave her alone. She figured she'd get straight to the point. "I know you didn't miss the large Pulsian on the front steps."
"Well no," Vanille said. "And from the looks of the both of you, you didn't miss each other either."
Lightning shrugged and grabbed her gun blade from the couch. She slid it into its sheath and scanned the living room.
"I'm coming," Vanille said. "If I let you go alone Serah will never forgive me."
"If you'd mind your own business you wouldn't know," Lightning said. "As far as you know I'm going to the grocery store."
"With a weapon?" Vanille asked incredulously. "Are you going to rob the place?"
Lightning's irritation level was rising again. She just wanted to grab her things and go, but Vanille had a point. Serah would be sick out of her mind with worry if she were to leave alone. Lightning waved Vanille off, giving the girl the signal that she could go and pack.
The redhead was gone and in less than five minutes had returned with all the gear she thought that she would need.
"Where are we going?" Vanille asked. She walked into the kitchen and found the note pad they used to write grocery lists on.
"Hanging Edge," Lightning said. She opened the refrigerator and looked for anything she might want to take with her. She didn't find anything so she rummaged through the cabinets. There were dried foodstuffs she always kept on hand. She took those and packed them away. "They want us to go and have a better look around."
Vanille shuddered. She had no intentions of ever returning to the place where she had almost been "purged".
"That's all?" Vanille asked. "How much are they paying us for this? Life threatening missions cost extra you know."
"It's worth it," Was all Lightning said in reply. That was enough for Vanille. The young woman finished scribbling off her note and they were set.
Obera Yun Fang stared of into the distance while her companion spoke of the current on goings at her job. She had attempted to be a great dinner partner and at least listen to what Jihl had to say but she couldn't and eventually she gave up trying all together.
They were sitting in an upscale restaurant that Fang knew Jihl frequented. The waiters were kind and provided them with excellent service. Her eyes traveled around the room looking at the people who dined there. They were nothing like she was. She was a ground pounder; manual labor suited her unlike the white collar brats around her. They sipped their wine and were not interested in the lives of those around them.
She felt slightly out of place. She was nothing like these people.
"Are you feeling alright?" Jihl asked finally. She had noticed Fang's distant demeanor. It was unlike the other woman not to be attentive.
"I think so," Fang answered. She did have a small headache coming on but nothing else. "I took painkillers before I got to your house."
"Then you undoubtedly must be tired," She answered. "Perhaps we can cut our night out short and return to my place for a movie?"
Fang smiled and Jihl returned it with a genuine one of her own.
"I would enjoy that very much actually," Fang said.
Jihl nodded. They finished their meals and their host presented them with the check a while later. Jihl paid it without even checking the tab. She just handed the host her bank card and turned her attention back to Fang.
Jihl's hands roamed over Fang's shoulders massaging them lightly. When the host returned her card she slipped into her purse and grabbed Fang's hand drawing her from the restaurant. They walked quietly through the small bustling city they lived in.
Fang looked around. This place was nothing like her home. The sound, the smells, the general atmosphere around her was completely different. Homesickness welled within her. She wondered if Vanille ever felt this way when she looked around.
She sighed. Thinking about Vanille depressed her. She turned her attention to Jihl, who was pretending to be interested in something off in the distance. Jihl gave Fang her space. She didn't demand to know every detail about every thought that passed through her head. Jihl didn't give her cold glares or sharp tones.
"Jihl?" Fang called, her voice low so not to startle the other woman.
"Yes Yun," She answered, turning to look at the other woman.
"I need some ice cream,"
Jihl nodded in understanding and they stopped on the way to the younger woman's house.
Jihl lived in a quiet neighborhood on the outskirts of town. Few lights were on in the homes around them. Jihl's neighbors were the type to retire early. Jihl lead her up the steps and pulled her keys from her pocket. She unlocked the door and opened it.
Fang actually liked Jihl's living room. The soft suede of the black couch was welcoming to her. Jihl had a soft spot for wooden made furniture. Her coffee table was probably more expensive than anything Fang owned. Jihl released her hand and went deeper into the house. Fang removed her shoes and opted to greet the couch with her presence.
"One day that couch is going to swallow you," Jihl said reappearing. She had changed into something much more relaxing than the cocktail dress she had been sporting. The younger woman climbed over into the small niche of space that was left between Fang and the back of the couch. The older woman laughed and made more room.
Jihl smiled. Her glasses were crooked and Fang reached forward and removed them. Jihl was nearly blind without them and teasing her brought Fang endless amounts of entertainment.
"Yun," Jihl pretended to be stern. "You give those back this instant young lady."
"Or what," Fang said. "Are you going to spank me? Teach me some lesson I'll never forget."
"I might just have to do that," Jihl said. "To bad without my glasses you're just as attractive as my coat rack."
"You know all the right things to say to get into a girls pants don't you,"
Jihl grinned and nodded vigorously.
Fang didn't return the glasses. Instead she tossed them onto the coffee table and pulled Jihl in close to her. Their movie would have to wait. She needed a nap.