Hiya!
I came home from France last sunday, I eleven days there with my family, uncle with wife and daughter and my grandparents.
To make a long story short; It was awesome, beautiful country, warm weather (a bit too warm for me, but it was okay), good food and nice company.
When I came back, I told some of you that this would be done in a few days - a week ago, but I rewrote it more than I expected! Sorry!
I've kept you guys waiting after another one of my mean cliffhangers, haha. Ily though.
A shoutout and a thanks to my guest readers; EpicToast800, Goobah and Tachi for your reviews!
Disclaimer;
I don't own any of the characters mentioned in this fic, all character except Dr. Phoenix is property of Square Enix. Dr. Phoenix and all the other random things are purely fictional!
Thank you guys for following this fic so wholeheartedly, it warms my body and soul that you enjoy what I do 3
Please enjoy Chapter Twenty of Fatum Amor!
It took several seconds before Vanille realized that this was reality. That the girl she had started off admiring, was now standing there in public, holding her and softly kissing her lips.
It took a few more moments of realizing reality before Vanille found herself slowly responding to the Farron's kiss.
A brief moment of worry hit her then, as she realized that she had never shared anything more than a kindergarden-kiss with anyone before - you know the ones where you are too naïve to even understand the concept of kissing.
However, that moment of worry was gone as soon as Lightning responded to her lips synch. Putting her strong arm around her and pulling her in closer, she put the hand that had been holding her chin at the back of her head to add a bit of pressure into the kiss.
Vanille felt like she would faint, like her legs would be unable to hold her weight anymore. This was too good to be true, the girl she loved had told her she was not into dating. This had to be someone else who just happened to be nearby and was taking advantage of her weak state.
Slowly opening her eyes, her heart skipped several beats when she was met with Lightning's smooth cheek and closed eye, her beautiful lashes draped over her slightly pink cheek.
Tears once again welled up in her eyes, it was true, Lightning was right there, this was not some scumbag that was near enough to overhear everything - however illogical that scenario would have been - this was Light-... Claire Farron.
Letting the tears fall, she retracted her hands from around Lightning's waist and moved them up to cup the Farron's cheeks.
It felt like the moment lasted forever. But still, when Lightning pulled away, Vanille found herself wanting more. To her surprise, Lightning let go of her fully and took a step back.
Blinking surprisedly with her hands still in the air where Lightnings face used to be, she met the eyes of the girl who stole her very first kiss. Hands falling to her sides, she sent the older girl a quizzical look.
Lightning immediately looked down with shame plastered on her face. She glanced up again to meet eyes with Vanille. They stood there for a moment, not saying anything, not moving, barely breathing.
Lightning surprised Vanille yet again when she suddenly bowed low. Her spiky bangs hid her face from Vanille's view.
"I'm so sorry."
The redhead realized then that this did not mean that they would be together. But if not, what did all of this mean? Who would chase after someone several blocks and kiss this said person only to once again say that she's not interested?
Vanille bit back new tears and clenched her fists as she waited for Lightning to explain herself.
The pinkette stood up and took a step closer without looking at the redhead. Leaning in, she leaned her forehead gently against Vanille's. The smaller girl leaned back against her, but she was still upset and confused.
"I didn't mean what I said..." Lightning mumbled. Vanille tried to catch her eye, but the older girl kept her gaze on the ground. "I didn't know what to say, it just slipped out."
Lightning met her eyes then, Vanille saw that something within her eyes that had given her the confidence to come clean. "It's not that I don't feel for you." she whispered, a whisper that sent a pleasant warmth through the younger girls body as she understood the meaning of the words.
Vanille felt like she could drown in those azure blue orbs.
A careful smile slowly spread across the pinkette's face and Vanille found herself grinning back. This was almost better than her fantasies, minus the heart ache only moments before.
Cherishing the moment, Vanille closed her eyes and leaned more against the pinkette. She wanted to know what this meant, what they where now, but she was afraid to speak and ruin this perfect moment.
"If I'm sleeping, don't wake me up." she mumbled softly. Hearing Lightning chuckle made her heart flutter and brought a smile to her face. Without opening her eyes, she reached out and grabbed Lightning's shirt - just in case. She knew her dreams, Light would be ripped from her if she let go. But instead of waking up, she felt the Farron's stronger arms carefully wrap themselves around her shoulders. Cheek pressed against the older girl's collarbone, she dared opening her eyes.
And then it hit her.
"Light!" she gasped and held a surprised Lightning at arms length.
"What?" the pinkette mumbled, eyeing her curiously.
Vanille looked over Lightning's shoulder, causing Lightning to check what she was looking for. Vanille giggled and tugged at the older girls shirt calling her attention back to her.
"Light, did you run here?" she said with a big smile on her face.
Lightning stared at her for a moment, apparently not catching her drift. But then her face changed as she stared with wide eyes at Vanille. Throwing a glance over her shoulder again, she nodded. "I ran here..." she mumbled as another kind of happiness bloomed within her. "I ran here." she said again as she looked back at Vanille who was bouncing with excitement. Lightning's face broke into a big - for Lightning - smile. "And I'm okay, I don't feel anything." she said with a hint of excitement ringing in her voice.
"We got to tell Serah!" Vanille giggled as she bounced and tugged at Lightning clothes.
Lightning is okay, she's healthy!
Lightning chuckled as she was dragged by the arm towards their home.
...
xxXxx
...
As the door swooped open, Lightning could hear Serah mutter inside the apartment and Snow's desperate pleas for her to calm down. Hearing her angered steppes draw closer, she guessed that her sister had heard the door.
"Light, I swear on the vows of the Guardian Corps, if you lost her, I'll rip your-..."
Serah came to a stop when she saw both of her favourite girls in the hallway.
The apartment fell silent as the door closed behind Lightning and Vanille.
Serah had a hard time deciding on what had happened. They where both there so they should have talked, but they where not standing unusually close or holding hands. She honestly could not say how their talk had gone.
Vanille on the other hand, had other thought on her mind. Skipping up to Serah, she grabbed her hand as she started to bounce on the spot. "Serah! There's something you really want to know!" she squealed.
Serah smiled instantly. "Really? So it went well?" she asked, full of excitement.
"She ran all the way Serah!" Vanille said as she turned to Lightning, beaming. "She ran all the way from the apartment to the beach!"
Serah stopped in her tracks to process what had just been said. Vanille was still holding her hand and bouncing at her side, sending warm smiles towards a smirking Lightning.
"Wait, Vanille, I think we're talking about different things..." Serah said, but Vanille was by far to excited to listen to her confused friend.
But as she thought about Vanille's words, Serah forgot all about why she had been angry or why the girls had left in the first place.
Lightning had been running, and she was still standing right there in front of them.
Bliss filled her being as tears build up in her eyes. She was not going to loose her sister to the Doom's Disease. She lurched forward and slung her arms around her sisters waist. Catching her off-guard, Lightning almost fell into the door when Serah did so.
Deep sobs escaped the younger Farron as she held her sister in a death grip. Even though Lightning had visibly become healthier, it was still good to have some sort of sturdy proof of her recovery.
Lightning held her sister and patted her gently on the head.
Vanille stood a few feet away, not wanting to disrupt the Farron siblings moment together.
Noticing Lightning's eyes on her, she smiled at her, receiving a smirk in return.
...
xxXxx
...
"Really now?"
"Yes, Vanille and Light came back and told me as much. She says that she feels nothing more than a slight soreness in her muscles."
"That's great! She's done a speedy recovery then!" Dr. Phoenix sounded pleased.
Serah smiled and let out a hum in agreement. "Sorry that I'm disrupting your evening doctor, but I thought you wanted to know." she said apologetically.
"Nonsense Serah, I gave you all my number so that you could call me in times of need." she heard a hearty chuckle. "I should warn you though that she might still get muscle cramps if she over stimulates since she's been inactive for quite a while battling this major virus, so please tell her to be careful and take it easy in the beginning. And tell her I said hi, will you?"
"Will do, thank you doctor!"
They said their good byes and hung up.
"That's great news." Snow grinned at her from the couch. Smiling back, Serah turned to him before sitting down beside him.
"Yeah, I'm so happy she's getting better. I was so scared back when it all happened." she sighed and frowned at the memories and emotions that had yet to heal within her.
"Hey now.." Snow reached out and stroke her cheek. "Brighten up, she's gonna be okay, right? No need to quiver that cute lip of yours. It'll be fine." he smiled at her, making her smile back.
"So what do you want to do tonight?" Serah asked and leaned her back against his chest.
"I don't know, watch a movie?" he shrugged.
"What kind of movie?" she asked as she reached for the remote.
...
In her room, Lightning had been sitting on her bed for quite a while, feeling her legs.
I don't even feel sore... she pondered. Stretching her legs out, she reached for her toes. She managed to touch them and pull a little bit, but she was not what she used to be. Thinking about it, she had been sick for quite a few months now, so of course she was not what she used to be.
Releasing her feet, she sat up and swung her feet off the bed.
Before she got sick, she could easily do 100 pushups, 100 sit-ups and 100 squats with barely breaking sweat.
Getting to the floor, she bit down and heaved.
...
Closing the door to Serah's room, Vanille sighed happily. Taking a shower had been a refreshment she really needed.
Getting to her knees, she ruffled through the bag with clothing that belonged to her.
Thinking about it, she ha almost moved here by now. A few weeks back, she had packed her traveling bag with clothes she liked and went here. Since she could squeeze in on the Farron sisters laundry time, she had not visited her own room since then.
LeBreau had sent some texts asking when she got back in the beginning, but after a while she had just laughed at the situation and told Vanille to send her a text whenever she was coming home.
Finding her favourite underclothes, she stood back up.
She had never intended to move here, it just sort of happened.
Since Serah and Lightning did not mind, she had not thought about it further.
Getting back on her knees in her undergarment she once again searched her pack.
"Hi Vanille." Serah greeted as she entered.
"Hey, excuse my nakedness."
Serah chuckled as she walked through her room.
"Oh, what did the doctor say by the way?" Vanille asked as she tied her shorts.
Serah turned on her heel and started walking out of the room. "Right, I was going to tell Lightning hi and that she should take it easy!" she sighed and shook her head. "Snow started talking about movies and I forgot.." she shrugged.
Vanille joined her on her way out. "So what were you planning on watching?" she asked while ruffling her still damp locks.
"He wants to watch an action movie, but I don't know about that..." Serah shook her head. "I'm not too fond of movies that is all about the explosions and the muscular guy getting the girl."
Vanille giggled, Serah shot her a smile before turning the handle to Lightning's bedroom door and directing her attention inside.
"Light?!" she gasped and rushed inside. Vanille felt her heart clench and grow cold. What happened to Light?
"I just can't believe you!"
Okay, so she's alive. Vanille released a deep sigh that eased her heart.
Going through the door, she understood why Serah was so upset.
Lightning was lying on the floor, drenched in sweat and panting like a dog during summer - but smiling.
Putting her hands on her hips, she narrowed her brows. What was she thinking? Did she not know that she could have a relapse if she strained too hard?
Serah was still scolding Lightning, but it was obvious that the older sibling was not listening.
"Serah." Serah stalled as soon as Lightning interrupted. "Don't worry. It may look like I tore myself down, but I promise you I didn't," she sat up, now in eye level with her sister. "All I did was some pushups, crunches and squats. I didn't even go past fifty reps, promise."
Serah frowned, still with her hands on her hips. Sighing, she watched her sister get off the floor.
Meeting eyes with Vanille, Lightning smirked.
The redhead removed her hands from her hips and stepped aside so the older girl could walk past her. The pinkette looked her in the eye once more before making towards the bathroom.
"I guess there's no stopping her when she's got her mind set on something". Serah sighed and shook her head, watching her sister close the door to the bathroom.
Vanille chuckled. "You could say that again.."
"Oh well, hopefully she'll be fine..." Serah shrugged and left Lightning's room with Vanille in tow, heading towards the living room. "Back on previous topic, I know Lightning would enjoy a horror movie, Snow wouldn't mind that and I'm happy with whatever. So I guess it's up to you 'Nille." she said and looked over her shoulder at the redhead.
Vanille swallowed. She knew that Serah was aware of the fact that she hated horror movies. And from the first time she watched a horror movie in this household, she guessed that Lightning could figure as well.
But she did not want to seem like a wuss, and what would Light think of her if she was too afraid to watch a horror movie with her? If she could not bare the pinkette's favourite genre, they did not have much of a future...
Sighing, Vanille made up her mind.
"Is there a chance we could watch a funny movie after the horror movie?" she mumbled. Her reply drew a kind smile from Serah's lips.
"Of course we'll watch a comedy if it makes you feel better 'Nille. Don't worry about it." she said and gave the redhead a reassuring pat on the shoulder.
Vanille felt the tight feeling in her chest ease up, but she still was not looking forward to the coming evening.
...
xxXxx
...
Peanut rings and chips with dip stood on the table. The lighting was dimmed and it was twilight outside. In half an hour too an hour it would be pitch black darkness with nothing but the moon, stars and streetlights coming from outside the window.
Lightning placed a few cans of soda on the table next to the chips bowl, and behind her, Serah followed with a few more cans and a bag of hot chili nuts that she handed to an excited Snow.
"So have we decided what movie we're watching yet?" Lightning asked as she sat down in the sofa next to Snow.
"Light, what do you think you're doing?" Serah asked and put her hands on her hips.
"What? Sitting down?" Lightning asked slowly.
Serah sighed and pointed at Vanille on the other end of the couch. "There, sit. Snow's mine during horror movies."
With a low grumble, Lightning slid from her chosen spot to where Serah had placed her. Snow chuckled at first but then grunted when Lightning reached a foot out and playfully poked his ribs.
Swatting her sister with the remote, Serah ignored Lightning's yelp and half-hearted glare as she sat down with a sly smirk on her lips.
"I've heard about this one, want to see it?" she said and opened the review of the chosen movie.
Vanille gulped, she had not heard of it since she avoided horror movies.
"I've heard of it too." Lightning spoke up from beside her. "It's supposed to have scared five high school girls so bad, they ran screaming from the theaters." she smirked. "Has to be good stuff." she added, eyes gleaming maliciously.
"What's with that look in your eye." Serah chuckled. "I'm selecting this then since no one's opposing the suggestion." she said and pushed 'Rent'.
Vanille felt chills running up her spine already, nervousness settled in her stomach and her hands started fiddling.
...
Scrambling through the corridor, the girl looked behind herself. She was relieved to see that the monster that had chased her was gone, but fear kept her from stopping.
Slamming into something, she yelped in fear-
Vanille twitched and hugged her knees closer, she had only seen flashes of the movie since she mostly sat there with her eyes squeezed shut.
She glanced at the others sitting beside her.
Serah was leaning against Snow and hugging his arm. Vanille knew that Serah was easily spooked by these sort of movies too, but she had Snow.
Vanille frowned and wished that she had someone to comfort her.
"Jade, calm down! It's only me!" Tony reached out and helped the frantic girl calm down.
"Tony, the creature was chasing me! It was right behind me only moments before!" she cried and grabbed a hold of his hands.
They grew quiet and listened intently for any sounds that would suggest that the creature was still at Jade's heels.-
Out of the corner of her eye, Lightning could see Vanille shift uncomfortably, again. She had been shifting since the beginning of the movie.
Unlike last time the girl had stayed over and watched a horror movie with them, Lightning was not humored by the young girls fear.
Instead, she felt a tug in her chest and she felt slightly guilty for some reason. Like she was the reason behind the girl fear, or like she was supposed to do something. That she would be the reason behind Vanille's fear was completely illogical, she was not the one who chose which movie to watch.
But the other feeling, she felt like she needed or was supposed to do something, but she did not know what...
Jade and Tony searched the empty industrial warehouse corridor for a hiding spot.
"We should find somewhere to stay until help arrives, or until morning." Tony said. "Over there!"
They ran towards the door and opened it. Going inside and shutting the door, they soon noticed they had found the broom closet.
"You think we're safe here?" Jade asked as she clung to Tony's arm.
"I don't know, let's find something to barricade the door with, just in case..." he said as he started ruffling through the various items in there.
She wanted Lightning to hold her, just like Snow was holding his arm around Serah. Glancing at the older girl, she wished that they where official so that she could lean against her like it was normal.
Returning her gaze to the television screen, she sighed.
They could hear the creatures clawed feet against the floor right outside the broom closet door. It stalled for a moment, but then continued town the hallway.
Tony and Jade heaved a sigh of relief and looked at each other. Smiling, Tony slung his arm around Jade's shoulders.
"I guess we're safe then."
But just as the words left his lips, a loud crack echoed through the closet.
Vanille cursed inwardly at the Farron's surround system.
The creatures muscular arm was reaching through a big hole at the top of the door. It's huge claws leaving deep scars in the wood as it tore away to get in.
Jade screamed in horror as the beast destroyed most of the door and the door frame. The beast's hideous upper body and head tore through the opening, but the barricade hindered the creature from entering. With a roar that splattered blood-mixed saliva on their faces, the beast swung his claws towards them, striking Tony across the face and shattering his jaw.
Vanille yelped and hid her face behind her knees as Jade's blood-freezing cries could be heard from the speakers. A loud gunshot followed by another roar from the monster told Vanille that Jade had probably been saved by one of the other surviving friends that has ventured there with her and Tony.
She did not dare to look though as the monster kept growling and the man with the shotgun yelled for Jade to run.
Whimpering, Vanille shut her eyes as hard as she could.
...
She had had enough. Sighing, Lightning reached out her arm and gently pulled the younger girl towards her body. The redhead tensed up at her touch out of fright, but soon seemed to realize that it was not the creature from the movie.
The girl looked up from behind her knees and met her eyes. Lightning could see that she had been at the brink of tears lately.
Ushering the girl to move closer, it took s few seconds before Vanille caught her drift. Moving in closer, she slowly leaned against Lightning's side. An action that made them both blush and inwardly thank the darkness around them.
Feeling the younger teen slowly relax against her made a warm fluttery feeling appear in her chest.
Vanille did not whimper for the remainder or the movie. Lightning was not even sure the girl was looking since her breathing was suspiciously calm. Not to mention that she leaned on her quite a bit.
When the titles came, Lightning leaned forward and glanced at the redhead. Just as she did so, Vanille's eyes fluttered open and she stared at the older teen.
Sitting up straight, she brushed the bangs from her face and smiled apologetically. "Sorry, I seem to have dozed off..." she mumbled.
Lightning blinked at her, flabbergasted. The girl hated horror movies, and still she managed to doze off?
She smirked and sat back. "Glad you where able to relax."
A pink tint spread across the redhead's cheeks. "Yes, thank you." she mumbled and turned her attention to the television.
Serah had grabbed the remote and was now flipping through menus.
"I promised Vanille that we would watch a comedy before going back to bed," she said and selected a movie. "I've heard some good stuff about this one." she smiled and sat back. Reaching her hand into the bowl in Snow's lap, she was surprised when she was met with just a few chips.
"Snow, seriously! Have you eaten all of them?" she scolded and tilted the bowl.
"I'm sorry! I didn't think about what I was doing!" he held his hands up in the air as Serah took both the bowl with the remnants of the chips and the dip from him. "Geez Snow..." she muttered with a chuckle and put them back on the table. "Don't hog them all, just let the bowls stay on the table, okay?" she murmured lovingly at him in the dark.
Snow nodded. "Good." Serah said, and a quiet smack followed after that.
Lightning was unsure of what to feel about the obvious kiss her sister just shared with the doofus. Usually she was not around when they displayed affection, since she usually did not hang out with her sister and Snow.
Sighing, she crossed her arms and focused on the movie her sister had started up for them.
If it was bad she could always go back to her room and sleep or something.
...
xxXxx
...
The movie was a sucky one, not a comedy. At least to Lightning it was a sucky movie.
It was about a pair that lived the happily-ever-after, until a guy shows up and starts sucking up on the wife. She gets divorced to the main guy since his supposed-to-be quirky antic's are an unwelcome trait since she met the new guy. He lives alone and hangs out with his friends but he's all depressed and has a dark sense of humor. All the while he gets in all of the wrong situations while he constantly complains about his ex-wife leaving him.
Making this a suckish movie.
Apparently, she was the only one in the room who was not enjoying herself, since the others laughed every now and then at the things he said and got involved in.
...
Lightning had been sighing since the beginning of the movie. Vanille was enjoying herself, so she did not pay much attention to the older teen, but she still noticed that the pinkette had not laughed once.
No, she did chuckle once - when the new guy kicked out the old guy, but that was a rather sad part of the movie and - oh Ethro did he just get thrown off a shoopuff?
Sighing after the laughter fit that the three of four teens shared, Vanille turned to look at the pinkette next to her.
A slight scowl and a tiny pout rested on Ligtning's face. It was as if she had a hard time understanding what was going on. But instead of concentration, her eyes was dull and bored.
Vanille sighed and frowned. She liked these kind of movies, but Lightning did not. How would their movie nights look in the future if they could not stand each others tastes?
When she was staring at the pinkette as the television illuminated her soft features, sharp eyes, rounded lips and spiky bangs - the movie caught her attention.
"I don't ever want to be apart from you, this was never my choice, you chose this for me. All I ever wanted to do was love you, live with you and live only to make you happy-.."
He continued speaking, but just as the sequence faded from her conscience, Lightning slowly turned to look at her.
The light from the television screen reflected from her eyes and made that aquatic blue shine like she had never seen. As if the light from her eyes had ignited fireworks within her, Vanille's insides started tingling instantly.
Her breath was catching in her throat, and she had only one thing on her mind.
Without a second thought, she lurched forward and caught the older girls lips with her own before her mind caught up with her.
Her heart fluttered as Lightning's response was instant.
All I want to do is to love you, to make you happy.
Feeling Lightning smile into the kiss only reassured her that she was fulfilling both of her internal vows.
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