Fang: Wandering
Fang felt like time had a peculiar flow in Cocoon.
She was certainly busy enough. She may not go to class everyday, but still went on occasion. Fang was a member of the volleyball team, she was in the school's home economics club, and was going to participate in track once the volleyball season was over. Her schedule ended up almost entirely filled.
Somehow, she still felt like she didn't do enough. Now, there was never enough time in the day. For all the time she spent going to clubs, practicing for sports, and doing schoolwork, it felt like she never accomplished anything anymore. Maybe it was the lack of physical evidence; maybe it was the lack of real purpose.
In Gran Pulse, most of what she spent her time doing was related to survival. She went out and hunted food; she would sew so she could trade for things they needed. They had free-time, and learned to enjoy the world that was around them. But it just felt like everything she used to do had purpose, and now she was just coasting through life.
Though it bothered her, it didn't really manifest most of the time. But there were occasions she would have bouts of energy, sudden urges to be productive. Some weekends, Lightning would enter and their room would just be filled with clothes Fang had made or lots of little whittled figures and objects; a skill she had picked up to pass time on the hunt.
This time when the sudden urge hit her Fang wandered off of the campus alone. She strode quickly along the crowded streets of downtown Eden. She clumsily weaved through the dense stream of pedestrians; she still wasn't used to it.
During her walk, Fang saw more people than she ever had in her life. In Oerba, she at least knew all the clans that lived on her side of town. A citizen of Eden could scarcely hope to know the people who lived on the same floor in their apartment complex. People were closer together here, yet so far apart.
It was disheartening but also empowering for Fang. These were the people who called them primitive; who looked down on their way of life. People who lived almost entirely indoors on what was once a beautiful island, packed like sardine but completely alone. It all just made her happy to be from Gran Pulse.
Glancing up, Fang found that her feet had brought her to the tallest building in Eden, Orphan's Cradle. It was a massive skyscraper, covered from top to bottom in large, glossy windows, revealing the intricate framework that supported the building.
On the way into the city, Vanille had told her it was the headquarters of a big company in Cocoon. The owner's name was Thomas Orphan, and he was a recluse that lived at the very top of the building.
The underlying concepts behind a corporation went over her head, but from what she understood they essentially made and sold everything, and distributed the profits in some way. It was a far more complex system then the simple barter and trade between master craftsman, which was how Gran Pulse operated. Fang always disliked overly complicated things.
Fang walked into the building and paid a small fee to access the tourist floors of the building. She stepped into one of the glass elevators which ran along the side of the building. They were positioned so one could see out into the city as they rose up, or into the inner workings of the company that inhabited the building.
All the tourist facilities were on the higher floors, above the height of all the other buildings surrounding it. Fang stood quietly as the elevator rose. There was a map drawn with glowing integrated wires inside the glass surface. She carefully looked at it. There was a zoo in the space of four floors, a small theme park in the space of eight, a shopping center, a food court, and a viewing deck on the very top, just below the penthouse.
She stepped off on the viewing deck. There was no one else there; it was the middle of the day and it was really the least exciting tourist attraction. But to Fang, it was the most interesting; the one she wanted to see the most. She exited the elevator and walked calmly across the catwalks to the edge of the building. There were large open sections in the floor, allowing a line of sight into the noisy food court below. She quickly got up to the edge that faced the sea between Cocoon and Gran Pulse.
The catwalk didn't go right up to the glass, but stopped so there was railing and a few feet of distance. They wanted to keep people from reaching out and touching the glass, which was designed to be perfectly clear and resistant to dust and glare.
Fang leaned against the railing, crossing and resting her arms on it. From this high up, she could see all the way to the first mountain ranges of Gran Pulse; Oerba was just behind them. She could see some of the higher plateaus of the Archylte Steppe. Her home laid stretched before her but small on the horizon. She could just imagine herself hunting on the expansive plains; scaling the tall mountains; living her life once again.
"Enjoying the view?" a weak voice called out from behind her.
She turned and saw an old man who was standing behind her. He was short and feeble, leaning heavily on a small cane with a clear golden crystal on top, shaped like a flat sun with a sleeping face in the center. His hair was fully grayed and bald on the very top.
"Yes sir," Fang replied simply, returning to the view.
"Oh, you're a long way from home, aren't you?"
Her current street clothes hadn't betrayed her heritage, but her accent certainly did. Fang nodded. "I think this is probably the only place you can see it from."
The old man slowly moved forward, closer to the edge. "It is the only place in Cocoon you can see Gran Pulse unaided. I come down here sometimes and get nostalgic over old friends."
"I see. It's always hard to be apart from your friends."
"I'll see them soon enough, I think," the old man commented before releasing a weak laugh.
Letting out a slight chuckle, she looked over at the old man, who was smiling and looking out over the water.
"What do you think of Cocoon?"
"It's so different from my home. I think I could talk a long time about it; probably until you leave to meet your friends. But I can at least say I definitely plan on going back home."
The old man let out a heartier laugh. "Yes, Cocoon isn't for everyone. Neither is Gran Pulse. It's sad that it is so hard to go from one to the other; which you're suited for doesn't depend on where you were born."
"Wise words from a wise man."
"You say that like it's a compliment. When you've lived as long as I have, it's challenging not to be wise. You seem to have your head put together for someone as young as you are."
Fang chuckled again. "I don't think so."
"Hmm."
The two sat in silence. The old man slowly turned and started to walk away. "It was nice to meet you, young lady. It's been awhile since I've talked to a pulsian, you all always have such a different perspective."
"Yeah, nice to meet you too. Maybe I'll see you here again."
"Perhaps."
Fang sighed and continued to stare out at her homeland in silence. Being up here made it seem like time returned to its normal flow. The burst of energy had receded; Fang just felt like staring out and thinking of home. Things finally felt slow and relaxed again; and she could feel her weakened soul growing stronger again.
Vanille belonged here; Fang belonged in Gran Pulse. Soon, they would have to part for the first time in their lives. It was painful but Fang knew she had to move on, but didn't have any idea how. She had to hope it would just work itself out when they finally separated.
Their separation had already began too. Fang found herself spending less and less time with her childhood friend. The other girl was always busy making new friends and establishing a life in this place. When they were together, Vanille seemed troubled and preoccupied. Fang assumed her friend was realizing they would soon part. Their promise to stay together was finally cracking; it was going to break from both sides because there was no place where they would both belong.
Loud footsteps drew her out of her reverie. She raised an eyebrow, they sounded familiar but it couldn't be possible.
"Vanille is worried about you."
Fang wheeled her head around and watched as Lightning walked up and joined her by leaning against the railing. "How'd you find me?"
"I figured you were getting homesick. This is the only place you can see Gran Pulse. It made sense for you to come here."
"Wow, you know me so well," Fang responded with a smile.
"Right," Lightning retorted, rolling her eyes.
Both stayed silent. Lightning shifted her head, looking ahead and scanning the foreign country on the horizon.
"So, what do you think of my homeland?"
"Well, it looks nice."
Fang laughed. She occasionally still received the usual curt replies, but she felt like her roommate was finally more comfortable with her. Occasionally the girl would actually start conversations on her own, and she stopped getting one word responses. It felt like the first layer had finally been peeled off, and Fang was her friend; at least as much of a friend as a girl like Lightning could have.
"I really miss it. I try not to think about it, but it sucks here."
Lightning just continued to gaze out the window without responding. After a few moments, she turned and glanced down at the noisy teenagers in the food court below.
"I agree."
The pulsian just blinked a few times at the pink-haired girl. It was shocking to her; it had always seemed like Lightning was interested in Gran Pulse, but had heard nothing about this before.
"You don't like it here?"
Crossing her arms, Lightning spun back around to look out over the waters. "Not at all."
"I know I don't usually pry but… why?"
Fang watched the pink eyebrows furl in contemplation. Her roommate was struggling over whether or not to speak more.
"It's hard to explain."
Fang blinked a few times and gazed at the horizon; the sun was beginning to set. From here, she could see them drop below the mountain ranges on the other side. Fang smiled as the sun dyed the tranquil sea orange.
"Sometimes it makes you feel better to put your problems into words."
Pale blue eyes looked at her cautiously from the corner of Lightning's eyes. "I don't belong here."
"How so?"
Lightning just tilted her head at her, glaring at the other girl. Fang could tell that her roommate thought the answer was obvious.
Fang let out a chuckle before elaborating. "Well, I don't know you that well," she explained, "your real personality, at least. I don't get to see it very often."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"It means I want to see it more," Fang responded with a smile.
Lightning remained stoic for a moment, before a sigh escaped. She turned and started to leave. "Let's get back, Vanille was looking for you," she finally said in a serious and cold tone.
Fang followed Lightning to the elevator. When she popped in, she quickly hit the button for the zoo. She received an intense glare from Lightning.
"We payed to come up here already, let's enjoy it."
Sagging her shoulders, Lightning sighed again. Fang just wanted to enjoy her weekend a little more, and was interested in seeing what kind of animals they had brought up here.
The pulsian ended up pleasantly surprised. There was a wide variety of monsters and animals in deep enclosures, secured by high powered energy nets. It was interesting to her; she had fought and killed so many of these creatures. It was her first chance at really seeing a live one, up close, and in a peaceful way.
The two quietly walked between enclosures, Fang smiling and closely examining the monsters. Fang found that something seemed wrong. She could tell they looked miserable; they weren't as lively and natural as they should be.
The caged animals seemed to only remind her of home.
They stopped at a group of smaller wolves. Having never seen them before, Fang checked the sign and saw that they were called Silver Lobos and that they were native to Cocoon's Gapra Whitewood reserve.
"Huh, there are nature reserves here?"
Lightning stared at her, then nodded. "There's only four places that aren't heavily populated in Cocoon. Lake Bresha, the Sunleth Waterscape, and Gapra Whitewood are all small natural preserves. The Vile peaks, the mountain range to the south of Eden, is used as a garbage dump."
"Huh, I never knew that," Fang responded quietly. She could count the natural landscapes in Cocoon on one hand; though still sad, it was more than she thought there was.
"When I was young, my dad took me camping in the Gapra Whitewood. It was so beautiful and amazing."
Fang's jaw hung open for a second before she closed it and smiled. Lightning had a gentle smile as she reminisced.
"Hiking through that forest is one of my happiest memories," she added, staring at the sleeping wolves.
"So, you like nature?"
"I do," she responded quickly, snapping her defenses back up.
"Me too. The earth beneath my feet, the sounds and smell of life. I hope they station you somewhere nice," Fang responded with a smile, presuming their walk.
"It'll be a base in a big city. That's where they all are."
"Oh," Fang responded disheartened.
"Unless we go to war with Gran Pulse again. Maybe then I'll get to go somewhere I want."
Fang laughed half-heartedly. "Don't joke about that."
Lightning's eyebrow raised. "Joke?" she asked with a smirk, walking away quickly. Fang ran up to her, but Lightning didn't respond to any of her prodding as they headed back for the elevator. Once again, before Lightning could, Fang swiftly hit the button; this time for the food court.
"Looking at all the animals made me hungry," Fang explained with a smirk.
She received a glare. "Well," she responded, "I used to eat them. Seeing them always whets my appetite."
The glare didn't go away. "Oh relax Light; it looks like everyone's cleared out of here anyway."
"Light?" the pink-haired girl said, relaxing.
"What? It's a nickname. Or would you prefer Claire?"
Fang felt a tinge of confusion when she saw Lightning shiver a little. "Call me Lightning," the other girl responded, her glare returning.
They both stepped off the elevator, and Fang was relieved to see that it had for the most part cleared out. The rowdy teens had left, leaving only a few adult couples scattered around. There were lots of small fast food places open along the side, but she grabbed Lightning's arm and pulled her into a casual sit-down restaurant.
They sat across from each other, next to one of the big windows overlooking the ocean. The two ate in silence, as Fang expected. The waitress took their plates and left but the two remained seated, gazing over the darkened sea in the distance, the lights of the city below them.
"So, why are you willing to join the army if it means you won't be happy?" Fang asked, absentmindedly stirring her glass of water with a straw.
Lightning glared at her. "Why were you willing to come to Cocoon even though you wouldn't be happy?"
Fang shook her head. "Fair enough. I can't lecture you, can I?"
"No," Lightning responded quickly.
"Then I guess I won't." Fang looked back out the window. "I knew Vanille would love it out here. She grew up pulsian, but I don't think she belonged there. I just wanted to make sure my… sister… gets whatever she wants."
Lightning glared at her.
"It'd be a shame if she never even wanted to come, wouldn't it?"
Fang glanced out of the corner of her eyes. Lightning was staring down at the table. "I guess."
"So I made sure I knew."
Lightning remained frozen in contemplation. "But if Vanille had known how you felt, would she have let you go?"
"I–,"
Pale blue eyes met fierce green ones, both remaining serious. "Serah wants to go to college, and she wants to have a good life. But she's going to fight against me joining the army for my sake. But what happens to me isn't as important."
The pink-haired girl quickly stood up. Fang tossed a tip down on the table and followed her.
"Lightning, you can't think that way. You're very important to Serah. She just wants you to be happy. So do I."
Her roommate didn't respond; the girl just made a beeline for the elevator at a quick pace. When Fang entered, she went for the panel– Lightning slapped her hand out of the way and hit the button to go the ground floor.
"Sorry. I guess it's about time to get back," Fang responded, disheartened.
Lightning and Fang both kept quiet as they left. Lightning swiftly marched out of the building and back onto the street with Fang lagging behind. Even though she was surrounded by people, the city made Fang feel lonely. Especially since Lightning lost her in the crowd. Lightning may not like living in Cocoon, but it was where she was born. Fang couldn't keep up, unused to weaving through the crowded streets.
Fang had hoped that the crowd would have thinned, but it seemed that the endless stream of citizens never slowed. She missed the peaceful streets of Oerba. When she walked the streets, people would ask her where she were going. Sometimes they would come help with her with something, sometimes Fang would go help them. She missed the simple interaction and the feeling of a true community.
It was late when she finally made it back to the campus alone. Her first stop was Vanille's room to check in and make sure that Vanille knew she was fine. The young redhead just pouted at her, mad that she had went sightseeing on her own.
Fang was actually tired and exhausted for the first time since she had arrived in Cocoon. She quietly opened her door; the room was dark. Lightning was already asleep in her bed, breathing slowly when she entered.
Fang's bed was closer to the door, so it was easy for her to quietly slip in and snuggle into her familiar pile of furs and begin to drift off.
"Are you really asleep Light?"
After a long silence, her roommate responded. "No."
Fang nodded, starting to get groggy. "Sorry if I made you mad."
"It's fine." Lightning responded curtly, turning to look at her roommate.
Staring over, Fang smiled at Lightning. "Hey, I wanted to say thanks for coming to find me today. I was feeling depressed and homesick. Spending the day with you made me feel better. Spending time with you just reminded me there are some things here that I like."
Lightning didn't respond. Eventually she heard Fang's light snoring. She relaxed knowing her roommate was asleep. Suddenly, Fang murmured in her sleep.
"It was a nice date."
Lightning didn't talk to Fang for five days.
