Notes: Hey all. Sorry for not updating in months, things have been hectic. I don't have any intention of abandoning this story. It's rapidly reaching its climax, so to those of you who have stuck around, I appreciate it. Enjoy.
Chapter Ten
Hope followed his supervisor to his office, his stomach steadily sinking. He had a feeling he knew what the conversation was going to be about, though he prayed it wouldn't be so.
The desk was clean, with files stacked neatly to one side - much unlike Hope's, whose own workspace was strewn with lose files. A sizable brass nameplate sat at the forefront of the blotter, reading BARTHOLOMEW SIMMS in large engraved letters.
Like Dad, Hope thought.
"Have a seat," Simms said, gesturing to one of the chairs in front of his desk. Hope complied, clasping his hands in his lap. Simms sat across from him and adjusted his glasses. In that moment, Hope was stuck by the physical similarities between his belated father and his supervisor. Strange how he'd never noticed before.
"Now, I didn't call you in here concerning your work performance," he began. "In fact, your work ethic is quite commendable. You always seem to be ahead of the curve."
"Thank you."
"But that isn't why we're meeting today either," Simms continued. "It has come to my attention that one of your wards is actually residing in your house. Lightning Farron."
Hope's mouth went dry. He wet his lips before replying, "Her case isn't under my designation anymore. Someone else is handling it now."
"Be that as it may, but she was your responsibility. And when she moved in with you, you were still her caseworker."
"With all due respect, sir, I'm not seeing the issue." Hope leaned forward. "Currently she's not receiving any benefits. Perhaps it wasn't really ethical to have her move in with me, but -"
"Ethics are the issue here, son," Simms interrupted, holding up a hand. "You are aware of the morality clause in your contract, correct? And that what you've done constitutes as a violation of it?"
Hope fell silent and cocked his jaw stubbornly.
Simms removed his glasses and pinched the bridge his nose with a thumb and forefinger. "I'm going to give you a choice here. Either she moves out, or I terminate your employment. It's your choice."
Hope glared at him from across the desk. "This is bull. How did you even find out, anyway?"
"It wasn't that difficult," Simms said. "I - "
"This is all bullshit," Hope snapped. "I was just helping her. Isn't this what this business is about? Helping people?"
"Estheim," Simms cautioned.
"She didn't even have a home! She has a DD for god's sake. What is she supposed to do?"
"There are plenty of homeless shelters in this city…"
"Are you kidding? Who the hell wants to live in a homeless shelter?"
"Enough!" Simms' hands slapped the desktop with a loud clap. "This is not up for discussion. Estheim, you have two weeks to get her out of your house or you're fired. End of story."
Hope looked away. "Fine." He stood up and shoved his hands in his trousers pockets. He turned to leave, then paused. "One more thing."
"What is it?" Simms gave him an exasperated look.
"Is it possible for us to send someone down to this applicant's house and pick up information we need? It's due today."
He looked startled. "No. She can mail it in, or fax it, or come to the office herself. "
"Forget it. I'll do it myself." Hope spun on his heel and stalked towards the door.
"Estheim," his supervisor called to him. "You can't help everyone. They have to learn to help themselves, too."
"Yeah? That so?" Hope turned his head and looked at Simms. "You know what? Not everyone has the capacity to help themselves. Sometimes people are crying for help and we're just overlooking it because we assume that they won't do it themselves. The world isn't that black and white. It isn't split between good people and bad people, the worthy and the worthless. Maybe you haven't noticed. And at the end of the day, everyone deserves a roof over their head and food on their table." With that, he stormed out of the office.
When Hope left later on that day, his mind was racing. His stomach knotted itself in anxiety as he ran down his list of options. It killed him that he would have to kick Lightning out of his house. Not just because he had feelings for her, but because she had made so much progress the past several weeks. She'd come out of her shell and tied up the loose ends of her old life, and was in the process of beginning a new one. After tonight, she would even have a job.
He was very afraid that she would go back to her old ways if she didn't have a home. He knew she would consider residing in a homeless shelter as demeaning. She was too proud. He feared that she would live on the streets until she got herself killed. Her only family was her brother-in-law that she disliked in the first place.
When he arrived home, Lightning was already laying out clothes on his bed for their dinner with Fang.
"Is this supposed to be a formal outing?" she asked, tugging absently at her bottom lip. "Or a jeans and blouse kind of deal?"
"Somewhere in between, I guess." Hope hung up his jacket and tugged his tie loose, unbuttoning the top of his shirt.
"Real helpful," she muttered.
"I dunno Light, just something presentable," Hope said with a sigh. "We aren't going to a five star restaurant or anything."
She looked at him, hands on her hips. When he ignored her pointed look, she shrugged and picked an outfit, going to the hall bathroom to change. Hope noticed that she'd put out some clothes for him as well. He donned the slacks and the light green button up shirt, rolling the sleeves up past his forearms, and threaded a belt through the loops.
He went into the bathroom and looked at his reflection, noting how the color of the shirt seemed to emphasize the sea-green of his eyes. He realized after a few moments that he didn't recall owning this color shirt in his less-than-extensive wardrobe.
He left his room, nearly colliding with Lightning in the hallway. She steadied herself with a hand on his chest. "Sorry," he murmured.
"Is there something wrong?" Lightning asked. Hope found himself appraising her appearance - she was looking particularly put together in black leggings, heels, and a white off the shoulder top.
She cleared her throat. "Sorry," he said again. "Long day at work and all."
"Fine."
"Hey, where did you find this shirt, anyway?" Hope fingered the collar of his button up. "I don't remember buying anything like this."
"You didn't," Lightning said. "I got it for you."
Hope eyed her. "You bought this? When?" He almost asked, "And with whose money?" but he bit his tongue on the question, not wanting to offend her.
"This morning at the swap shop," Lightning said. "At a store called Cheap Skate or something like that. You can trade your clothes. After I walked Snow to the bus station I saw the store so I went back there with some stuff."
"And you got me this?"
"Yeah. The color reminded me of, well, your eyes…so."
"Thanks, Lightning." Hope smiled at her. "Really. Thanks."
She crossed her arms and cut her gaze to the side, shrugging. "You've done a lot for me. This doesn't even make up for a fraction of it. It's really not that big of a deal."
It was to Hope. And the simple act of kindness made it even harder to tell her that she had to find another place to live.
She looked up at him, eyebrows furrowed. "What's up? You look like you have something on your mind. You sure nothing's wrong?"
"Nothing at all," Hope answered. Impulsively, he reached out and wrapped his arms around her shoulders. He almost expected her to stiffen in his embrace, but she allowed herself to be folded against him.
"Whatever you say," she said.
...
"Moscato is good stuff, isn't it?" Fang declared, draining her glass. "The one they serve here has a nice vanilla flavor."
Lightning sipped hers, savoring the aftertaste. "It does," she replied. "I like it."
Fang waved over a waiter, who refilled her wine glass. "Have as much as you like," she said. "Dinner's on me tonight. So, you were military?"
Lightning crossed her legs, fingering the stem of her glass. "I was."
"Stationed in Pulse, huh? Where at?" Fang asked, spearing her steak unceremoniously.
"Yaschas Massif."
"Ah." Fang leaned forward. "So, why aren't you in anymore?"
"I was discharged," Lightning answered.
"What for? Were you injured or something?"
Hope appeared uncomfortable. His face contorted in a slight grimace and Lightning noticed he was balling his hands into fists under the table. Further ignoring his reaction, she looked Fang in the eye and answered, "I killed someone in my unit."
Fang leveled her with a hard stare, eyebrows raised, but Lightning remained composed. It hadn't been necessary for her to explain to many people the details of her discharge - anyone who needed the knowledge had access to it. The accusatory looks failed to bother her anymore.
If only people knew the real reason behind the killing.
If only she was allowed to talk about it.
Fang smirked suddenly, sitting back in her chair. "You're tough. I like that. You won't get eaten alive, I don't think."
Lightning lifted her chin. "No."
Fang laughed under her breath and Hope relaxed visibly, giving Lightning a grin. She allowed an answering smile to ghost her face in return.
"Here's what we'll do," Fang declared. "We'll head to the lounge after dinner and I'll show you 'round, then I'll fit you for your uniform and we can figure out when you start…"
"Uniform?" Lightning inquired.
Fang gave her an especially devilish grin. "Absolutely," she said.
After dinner the three walked to the lounge, which was only a couple blocks from the restaurant. Lightning was expecting a gaudy, run down facility, complete with a buzzing, flickering neon sign advertising its fare of women. Instead she was surprised by the large building with an intricate front. The front was quite modular-looking with its mirrored glass, and the sign read "Ice Lounge" in elegant letters with a blue backlight. There was even a line outside of the door, complete with velvet ropes organizing the throng.
Fang lead the pair to a side door. Hope hung back. "I think this is where we part ways," he said.
Fang placed her hands on her hips. "Really? What, afraid your eye will stray?" She glanced over at Lightning, who furrowed her brows at Hope.
"Strip clubs aren't really my scene," he said, looking sheepish.
The older woman shook her head and laughed. "Fine. I'll make sure miss thing here makes it back to your abode safe and sound, then. I won't keep her long." Taking Lightning's arm, she started to tug her through the door. Lightning hesitated, casting something of a desperate glance at Hope.
You'll be fine, he mouthed at her before the door closed behind them.
The inside of the club was well-appointed, with soft blue and white lightning. The music was loud, the pulsating bass vibrating within Lightning's chest. Numerous stages were spread throughout, each occupied with a dancing woman. Each one of them was beautiful and fit, wearing various outfits - jeweled bikinis, lingerie adorned with exotic-looking feathers, or nothing at all. There was a long bar against one wall, and tables and chairs surrounding each stage. Another wall had several doors labeled "VIP".
Before they reached the office, they were accosted by a woman in a sparkling bikini decorated with peacock feathers. Her rich red locks were caught in pigtails, and her bright green eyes were lined with shimmery blue makeup.
"Boss!" she chirped. "Was wondering if you were gonna show your face tonight." Her accent was similar to Fang's and familiar to Lightning - it was a Pulse accent.
"I keep my word, don't I?" Fang wrapped an arm around her. "Lightning, this is Vanille. My top girl." She winked at the younger woman, who giggled and pulled away.
"Are you going to dance?" Vanille asked her, tilting her head to the side. Lightning shook her head.
"Nah, this one's gonna be a server. Hey, grab me an outfit, will you? I'm thinking…" Fang stood back and measured Lightning with her gaze. "Small everything - except for the bust…probably a medium."
"Got it. I'll be back in a sec," Vanille said, spinning around.
Lightning pressed her fingers to her temples. Fang laughed and turned around, unlocking the office door. "Not thinking of backing out on my generous offer, are you, love?"
Lightning dropped her arms and squared her shoulders. "Absolutely not."
...
Hope sat in bed his laptop in his lap, scrolling through numerous apartment listings. He couldn't find a single reasonably priced one. Even a studio apartment in Bodhum had an outrageous monthly rent. He gnawed on his knuckle in frustration.
So focused was he on his housing search for Lightning that he didn't even hear the front door open and shut. It wasn't until she tapped on his bedroom door that he glanced up, startled out of his hunt. Lightning poked her head in.
"Hey," she said. "I didn't know if you were asleep or not."
"No," he said. "How was it?"
She sighed and opened the door all the way, stepping inside. Hope raised his eyebrows as his gaze lit on her outfit - tight black spandex shorts, a black bra, and a baby blue vest.
"Uh, wow," he said, clearing his throat.
She rolled her eyes. "Wow, indeed. This is my work attire."
"Well, consider your place of employ. Fang made you walk home in that?"
"Yeah. Well, she drove me home, actually. It doesn't matter either way, though. I would've been fine." Lightning came around the bed towards him, glancing at the computer screen. She started to turn her head towards him, but something on the screen caught her eye and she looked again. "What-"
Hope reached up and grabbed Lightning, pulling her down on the bed. He pressed his lips to hers. When she didn't pull away, he threaded his fingers through her hair with one hand, his other one shutting the laptop and shoving it aside, then wrapped his arm around her waist.
After a few moments, Lightning broke the kiss and backed off the bed. "I guess you like this outfit," she said breathlessly, running a hand through her hair where Hope had mussed it.
"I am male," Hope said, relieved that she seemed to have forgotten about the computer. "Mostly I like you, though."
"I'm going to change," Lightning said. "I'll be right back."
As she turned and left the room, Hope opened his computer back up and cleared the history, then shut it off.