About a couple of chapters ago, Babo123 asked this question in the reviews, "...Who needs coffee?" Well, I'll tell you who: me. Without it, I wouldn't be able maintain my house, care for my two-year-old, and churn out these chapters. So, who wants to be my shirtless Hope impersonator? I kid, seriously. If I had one of those 'round, nothing would get done. It just wouldn't end well.
More Olivia Lufkin love! The title is derived from her song, Starless Night.
Sometimes We Fall Apart
The pair of Zirnitra that they had been attacking had been putting up quite the resistance. Major Beatrix Treno appraised her men, what was left of them, anyways. The seriously wounded had already been taken away, though the ones that remained weren't much better off. The only squad that appeared to be relatively fresh was the one led by Lieutenant Farron. The Major's lips curled in a grim smile; it was advantageous to have someone with prior experience with these beasts, she decided, as she leapt into the air and took a powerful swing at one of the winged creatures. The Zirnitra staggered and shook its mighty head, screaming into the sky. She looked over at how her second in command was fairing, and was pleased with what she saw. The pink haired Lieutenant lived up to her name, moving like the lightning she called herself after, preparing to land the killing blow. When it came, a cheer rose from the ranks, and encouraged, they doubled their efforts to take down the remaining Zirnitra. It had other ideas, however.
As the soldiers rushed forward, it flew up higher into the blue sky. Lightning, seeing what was about to happen, shouted frantically, "No, don't! Get back! Get back!" But it was too late.
The Zirnitra swooped low, delivering crushing blows to the hapless soldiers who got too close, razor-sharp teeth slashing into others. Lightning's heart pounded as fast as her legs as she ran toward the fray, and as fast as she was, she knew she wasn't going to be fast enough to stop what was unfolding before her eyes. The beast was flying straight for Major Treno, and although she stood ready for the attack, she wasn't prepared for the ferocity of the onslaught the Zirnitra delivered. It snaked its head viciously, avoiding the major's block and snapping its jaws in her face. Major Treno screamed in pain as its teeth raked her flesh. It would have likely bitten her head off had Lightning been any slower. With a growl that grew into a yell, the lieutenant swung her blade at the monster, slicing into its neck. It pulled back screeching, gore spilling from the wound, as it readied itself for another attack. Lightning placed herself between the Zirnitra and the major, ready to kill or be killed. It plunged downward again, gaping maw open and ready for the slaughter, when a flash of fire from Lightning's peripheral vision struck the monster broadside. It fell from the sky, tumbling over and over into the grass. Lightning monopolized the opportunity, and rushed towards the fallen beast, mercilessly severing its head from its body.
When she turned back to where the major lay, a stocky young man with red hair had already made it to her side. He had placed his smoking grenade launcher down and was removing a roll of gauze from his pack. As Lightning approached closer, she could see that the man was about her age. He finished wrapping the bandage over Major Treno's face before standing and saluting.
"Lieutenant Farron, ma'am," the red haired man said.
"Good shot," Lightning acknowledged his salute. "What's your name, corporal?"
"Corporal Niall Luzzu, ma'am. I'm one of Lieutenant Doram's men."
"Well corporal, after your actions today, I'm sure a promotion will be in order."
Corporal Luzzu bowed humbly, "Thank you, ma'am."
"Lieutenant Farron," Major Treno rasped, trying to sit up.
Lightning quickly knelt at her commanding officer's side. "Major, here, let me help you," she offered, reaching for the other woman's arm, and placing it over her shoulders, aided her in standing.
"We've Corporal Luzzu here to thank for his quick thinking and actions," Lightning told the major. Major Treno nodded vaguely in Luzzu's direction, being unable to see through her bandages.
"Corporal," she said, "I'll personally see to it that you get a commendation for this."
"Thank you, Major Treno," Luzzu bowed once more.
"Lieutenant Farron," the major addressed her second in command. "Gather the rest of the men and let's get back to base. We need to get our wounded attended to right away."
"Including yourself, ma'am," Lightning added.
Major Treno chuckled hoarsely, "Yes, including me."
~x*x~
Luzzu sat in the airship as it raced through the murky night to the site where Captain Farron and Sergeant Estheim lay buried beneath the ground. He thought back to when he had first met the captain and the colonel. At the time he had been nothing more than a nameless, faceless grunt. That day a lucky shot had changed his fate, and ever since, he'd been serving loyally under the command of Captain Farron. At the time he had even developed something of a crush on her, although he had just been married a month prior to meeting the woman. Although that had faded away with time, his respect for her had always remained. She was the best, and the toughest officer he had ever served under. The thought that this service would be over if she didn't make it out of that hole did not settle well with him. And then he thought about Sergeant Estheim.
At first, he had felt a bit jealous upon learning the young man had known the captain since before the fall of Cocoon, but he was likeable enough, and he certainly knew his stuff. Luzzu couldn't fault him for that. Even his all too obvious infatuation for Captain Farron was amusing, especially when he would deny it, and in talking with the captain on the comm unit, he could tell she felt something for the young man as well. Sergeant Estheim wasn't a very good liar, Luzzu decided. However, he was a damn good soldier, and he complimented the captain personality-wise very well. Might as well have been made for each other, Luzzu thought with a slight grunt as he shifted in his seat.
"We're nearly there, Sergeant Luzzu," the voice of Colonel Beatrix Treno broke through his thoughts. Luzzu looked up sharply at her, blinking.
"Y-yes ma'am, and thank you… for allowing me to come with you," he stammered up at the tall woman.
The colonel laughed. "I am all too aware of your loyalty to Captain Farron, sergeant. After all, she is the one who got you where you are today."
Luzzu inclined his head in response, and the colonel strode off to oversee the coming deployment. Yes, he would turn Pulse inside out if that's what it took to get Captain Farron out of there alive, and he'd do it for Estheim too, if that's what would make the captain happy.
~x*x~
Lightning grunted in discomfort, her neck stiff from falling asleep in such an awkward position. She hadn't meant to drift off, but the fatigue had finally taken its toll on her body. Blinking and shaking her head, she tried to wake herself rapidly. Being this tired, something must've caused her to wake up and her senses strained to detect the cause. Her ears picked up a soft rumble, and instinctively, she leaned over Hope's head to shield him from the fine dirt and pebbles that showered down. She looked down at the young man with concern. He too had fallen asleep, and to quell her own fears, she checked his pulse once more. As relieved as she was by its reassuring beat, it was reined in when she noted his skin had grown unnaturally warm and clammy. Hang on Hope, she thought, it can't be much longer.
Lightning had lost all sense of time being trapped in the cave; she knew it had to be night, given they had arrived at the cave sometime in the late afternoon, but how much time had passed since the collapse and the subsequent departure of Luzzu and Rassler she had no idea. Another tremor swept the cavern, causing her to cover Hope once more. She smiled grimly to herself at her fate. Of all the life or death situations she'd been in, all the battles she had fought, to meet her end in such a fashion was a distasteful idea.
She glanced at Hope again, caressing his face. His words had stirred something deep within her, emotions she never realized she was capable of. Was this love, she wondered. She wanted to live for him, for them both to get out of there alive, for him to make good on his promise.
When we get out of here, and we get back to the Colony, I want to show you what it feels like… to be in love… I will wait…
"Hope," Lightning whispered into his hair. "I-I think I understand now, and I'm sorry… Sorry for putting you through so much pain. Let's get out of here alive… together… so we can begin again."
As if in response, Hope mumbled incoherently in his sleep, shifting himself so his face nestled fully into her body. The breath in Lightning's throat hitched a bit, but her countenance softened, her hand continuing its mindless stroking of his hair and cheek. She could see his right hand still had a firm grip on his knife, and it reminded her of Vivi holding her security blanket on the morning they had left the Colony to come here. Her mouth curled into a smirk at the thought. Of all the things to think about, she mused. Though Hope was hardly a child anymore – that much she had come to terms with – he still had a certain sense of wonder about him, and it was a trait she valued about him, having long since abandoning hers so that she might care for Serah and herself. Carefully, she prised the knife from his hand, and slipped it into the small pouch he had on his gunblade's scabbard. Hope's hand started to make grasping motions, looking for his treasured gift, and Lightning, seeing this, gave him her hand to hold. He sighed contentedly, and she allowed herself a small smile.
Time passed slowly. Lightning tilted her head back, resting it against the rock that supported her back, and closed her eyes once more. She stayed that way for what felt to her to be hours when she heard another rumble. She made to cover Hope again, but something about the tremor made her pause. Instead of coming from deep within the bowels of the earth, this one seemed to come from without. Her heart skipped and she barely dared to think that the sounds she was hearing were ones of their imminent rescue. She stilled herself, ears desperately trying to catch any sound that may indicate a human presence, of digging machines. It was agonizing, this waiting, listening. Another sprinkling of dirt came from the cavern's ceiling, making Lightning cough. And then it came; the unmistakable static sound of her communication unit trying to make a connection. Grasping awkwardly for the unit in the pocket of her coat, Lightning flicked her wrist to open it, just as she heard the unmistakeable sound of Colonel Treno's voice.
"Captain Farron, can you hear me?"
"Colonel Treno," Lightning was shocked at the hoarse sound of her own voice. "Yes I can hear you." With her free hand, she tried to shake Hope awake. He moaned and grimaced at her touch, his head tossing about in her lap. She touched his face and could feel his skin was burning, sweating. His body trembled.
"Hope, wake up. Help is here. Hope…" He whimpered in reply, the muscles in his jaw tensing and his brow furrowing in agony.
"Captain, what's your status?" Colonel Treno's deep, calm voice soothed the anxiety that had started to creep into Lightning's soul over Hope's worsening condition.
"Well, aside from being stuck inside this hole," she began, allowing some of her trademark sarcasm to leak into her voice, "I'm fine, but Sergeant Estheim is pretty bad."
"How bad?"
"Broken leg, dislocated shoulder, concussion, I think he's going into shock…and that's just the obvious injuries," Lightning summarized.
"Understood," replied the colonel. "We have a medical crew on standby. As soon as we break through to you, we'll get you and the sergeant taken care of. Sit tight, we're almost there."
"Yes, ma'am," Lightning snapped the communicator shut and returned it to her coat pocket. Opening the pouch on her leg, she fished out another potion for Hope. She coaxed the sweating, shivering young man to drink, tipping the bottle so that its precious liquid would pour down his throat with ease. Hope coughed and sputtered, but most of the potion found its way down. Lightning clutched him bodily to her, causing a tortured moan to escape from his lips, and a soft sob to escape to escape hers.
"Hang on Hope," she said, tears once more slipping free. "We're almost out, so hang on, for me. Remember what you promised? You have to get through this so you can deliver on it. Please…" and then Lightning's voice gave out. She buried her face in Hope's trembling shoulder and cried silently against it.
The sounds of machines digging were growing closer now. Lightning lifted her head and rubbed her face free of tears, dirty gloved hand smearing the grime there. She grabbed her illumination device and raised it, looking at the seeming impenetrable wall of rock before her in an attempt to spot movement. Hope was still trembling, and she looked down at him. His skin seemed paler than normal, even in the orange glow of the light, and it gleamed with sweat. He whimpered as a particularly violent tremor swept through his body. Lightning kissed his brow and hugged him close. Mentally, was screaming at the rescue team, hurry up!
As if in response to her telepathic yelling, a rumble sounded close by, giving the pair another dirt shower. A few large rocks gave way and fell, eliciting a gasp from Lightning. She gripped Hope tighter, and then she heard a familiar voice.
"Captain?"
"Luzzu!" Lightning exclaimed with relief as she glimpsed his red hair from within the newly formed gap. Good old Luzzu, loyal to the end… "I need a stretcher in here, now!"
"You got it." The hair disappeared and she could hear a bit of shuffling. There was a pause, and then she could hear muffled shouts. Shortly after, the sound of metal sliding against rock could be heard. Gently extricating herself from Hope, Lightning struggled to her feet, reaching into the hole. She grasped the poles and pulled on the stretcher. Gradually, it came into the chamber, followed by Luzzu's stocky frame.
They placed the stretcher beside Hope. Luzzu looked down at the young man, he could barely contain the shock he felt at the sight of his shuddering, sweating form. He barely recognized his captain under the dirt and blood, her hair matted, her knees skinned. Lightning had knelt down next to Hope.
"Help me get him on the stretcher, but be careful," she ordered, "his leg's broken."
Luzzu nodded and did as he was instructed. Once they had Hope on the stretcher, they belted him firmly in place. On the count of three they hoisted the stretcher into the entrance of the tunnel, Luzzu guided it while Lightning pushed from the back. As Lightning's arms started to disappear into the hole, she felt the stretcher being pulled from the other end. She couldn't help but let a small noise of relief escape her. Then Luzzu spoke:
"You're next, captain."
Lacing his square fingers, he gave Lightning a leg up into the hole. Her hands scrambled at the rock, clawing their way to the surface. Daylight was just ahead of her and she could hear Luzzu hoist himself into the hole behind her. The brightness seemed foreign to her eyes, so she didn't see the hands that reached in to grab her arms, pulling her free from her earthen prison. Lighting's feet touched the ground and she blinked rapidly in the grey light of dawn. Colonel Treno's tall form gradually came into view before her.
"Captain Farron, it's good to see you topside at last," she said, warmly.
"Colonel Treno-" The last of Lightning's strength gave way, and her legs collapsed beneath her, causing the colonel to reach out and catch her. Soon Luzzu's sturdy form was there too, holding her arm across his shoulders in support. Lightning, her eyes half open, felt herself on the verge of passing out, but she willed herself to look for Hope. He was lying not too far away, medics already working on him. A corner of her mouth curled into a dopey smile, causing the colonel to chuckle softly.
"Let's get back to the outpost," she ordered. "We got wounded that need attention." Colonel Treno turned her eye to her former second-in-command. "Including you," she said knowingly.
"Huh," mumbled Lightning as she leaned between Luzzu and the colonel, getting the joke. "Including me."