"Fang," Fang scrambled in his bed, releasing Lightning and pulling away. His heart pounded thrice its normal speed in fright. Lightning shifted from his movements. Fang wished he could tell her to stay still, but it was already far too late. His father had seen them sleeping, pressed together and resting. Fang was fully clothed, but he felt naked. He swallowed his spit in fear as Lightning blinked, sitting up herself, she gazed up at Asael beside Fang.
Asael's eyes flickered over Fang. His son was fully clothed, as always. They shifted to Lightning, momentarily scanning her too. She eyed him, watchful. Asael addressed his attention back to Fang. "I merely wanted to let you know we won't be practicing tomorrow morning." Asael informed evenly, showing remarkable levelness. "To save your strength for the tournament later tomorrow. I thought to catch you before you ran out to meet me there."
"O...Okay, Dad." Fang scarcely breathed, expecting the explosion at any moment. "Is... is that it?"
"Don't stutter, Fang." Asael reprimanded, but his tone was much lighter than when Lightning had first heard him give the order. "You are not weak, so don't act it." Fang waited for the severe reprimand. It didn't come. "Yes, that's it." Asael affirmed. "Go back to sleep, Fang. You've a long tournament ahead of you today." Asael tilted his head in her direction. "Lightning. Good night."
The door shut and Fang exhaled, long and held. "That was weird." Fang breathed. "I thought... I thought he'd have a more extreme reaction than that, at least. Dad freaks out when I get too close to anybody. I mean, I know he already knows you know of the operation and all, but that was still... so tame." Fang shook his head. "It wouldn't have surprised me if he ripped me out of the bed, finding us like this. But... nothing. You make anything of that, Claire?"
Lightning resisted the urge to talk, strong as it was in her. She was a little surprised by Asael's great restraint too, but she wasn't as without explanation as Fang was on the matter. Still. Lightning kept her mouth shut. What if I'm wrong? Asael's told me what he hates that I've done already, what if this is his best effort to make peace? What if I've been the one misunderstanding all along? I've been influencing Fang too... am I the manipulator? She shivered, not having thought of that before. Maybe Fang's at peace with himself only for me. He could still think he's deformed, just doesn't say it for my behalf. Lightning was unsettled.
"I don't know." Lightning answered half-truthfully, shifting on the bed. "Fang... just hold me. Please."
Fang obliged, melting back around her with his arms circling her stomach from behind. "Claire?" Fang asked, concern evident. "You okay?"
Controlling his every thought, trying to make Fang realize how wonderful he is because I find him that way. It doesn't matter that I wanted to help him, I've led his thought, wanting it to match mine to the point of manipulation.
Falling back against Fang, Lightning curled against Fang, arms folding over his that covered her beating heart.
I'm just like Asael.
XXX
"Halfway there," Fang tried to smile at her, but Lightning's mood stayed the same. Even when she smiled back at him, Fang could tell she wasn't all there. It wasn't Claire smiling at him. She was like a ghost.
Fang tried to reach out again, taking Lightning's hand. "Claire," Lightning looked at him and Fang waited. There was everything in those eyes, but it was hidden. Lightning never hid anything from him. "What's bothering you, Claire?" Fang asked earnestly, his heart breaking. Lightning bit her lip. Fang's voice wavered. "Why won't you talk to me about this?"
Lightning let out a shaky exhale, looking up at him again. "I'm sorry. I will talk about it with you, Fang." Lightning promised. "But I haven't figured it out myself yet. I'll talk to you when I do. I promise, Fang."
"What's 'it,' Claire?" Fang begged. "Please. You're scaring me."
"Don't be scared, Fang." Lightning pressed to him. "I'm still here." Fang had never felt farther from her.
XXX
"Oh wow," Fang shook his head. "I didn't even think of this. The possibility that- oh man. My girlfriend against my dad. I don't know why it didn't occur to me, I figured you'd make finals again and all. I just didn't think of this. Are you alright, Claire? Are you scared?"
"I'm not afraid." Lightning monotoned, watching the fighters part their ways on screen.
"I sure hope so. My dad's tough, Claire. Your best advantage against him is probably going to be your speed." Fang desperately wanted his girlfriend back the way she was with him. Lightning had been unresponsive all day. But Fang believed her, and Lightning said she would talk to him when she got her head together. Until then, Fang could only behave as usual and hope it would spark Lightning out of it. "I don't think you'll be able to overpower him, he's too strong." Fang continued, "But I do think you'd be able to outmaneuver him if you cut across the right ways. Just keep him dancing around the field, okay? Maybe you'll beat him before I even get to." Fang glanced up at the television, where the stadium was clear. "You set, Claire?"
"I'm ready." Lightning confirmed.
"Alright, Claire." Fang hugged her, squeezing her tight. "Good luck."
Rubbing her shoulder, he walked her to the tunnel then saw her off, and smiled bravely as Lightning glanced back at him. When she's cleared the curve, Fang returned to the televisions set up to watch.
XXX
"Lightning's fighting Asael!" Vanille screamed, showing spirit again for the first time in two days since her runaway kiss. Eyes leaving the stands at the announcer's mention of the fighters for almost the first time all tournament, Vanille bounced in her seat and grabbed Serah's arm, yanking her from Snow forcibly. "Serah, look! Lightning's fighting Asael!"
Serah glowered at her for the interruption. Everyone always seemed to interrupt her and Snow. But when she turned to look where Vanille was frantically bounding and pointing, Serah tensed before her nerves frayed too. "Oh my God, Vanille!" Serah squeaked. "What if they kill each other! Claire hates him!"
Vanille tugged Serah close and chewed her bottom lip nervously. "Asael's really strong, Serah... he didn't get to where he is by faking." Vanille made a prayer triangle with her fingers. Serah grabbed her hand to keep hers from trembling as the girls huddled.
Snow reached out gently and dwarfed Serah's other hand in his. Serah yanked him over as well.
Vanille breathed. "Maker help us."
XXX
As polite tournament custom, Asael held out his hand to Lightning, who stared at the extended appendage like it was a beast before looking up to him, matching those steely, piercing eyes. "For Fang, Princess." Asael spoke low. "I recommend you take my hand."
Lightning growled lowly in the back of her throat. She wasn't going to make a public spectacle of denying Asael's hand, of course. The man was everywhere; unreadable to her. Lightning reached out and took his giant hand. "Why are you doing this?" Lightning blurted, wishing she knew exactly what 'this' was.
Asael pulled her a little closer, his grip firm, but not harmful. "Fang's mind is poisoned, Princess. You are responsible for that. I merely seek what's best for my son." Asael gave her one final shake. "Keep being cooperative, Princess, and let Fang be happy. No more mind games." Lightning was so confused and guilty. "For Fang... Lightning." Asael's eyes never wavered. "We'll find his true champion here today." With a curt nod, Asael turned to take ready at his starting post, leaving Lightning more confused and conflicted than ever before. Why can't I understand his motives? He's influenced Fang too... but Fang wants his influence. He agrees with it.
Lightning cringed, walking back to her starting place. Asael's right. You're not Fang's champion.
The battle bell tolled and Lightning panted, twisted inside. I just want what Fang wants.
The evil seed of guilt and doubt ate at her. You know what he wants. Let him have it.
Lightning advanced on Asael. I'm just as bad as he is. She felt terrible. Asael blocked her first swing easily, swatting Lightning's blade aside. Lightning was nearly skewed on the end of his greatsword by an easy, lazy strike from Asael.
Lightning swiped again, but it was sloppy, sluggish, and head on. Asael easily batted it away again.
XXX
"She's barely fighting at all!" Serah gawked. "What is she doing? I hate fighting, but this is terrible, especially from her. Van..."
Vanille squeezed her hand.
XXX
What're you doing, Claire? Fang was almost pained to watch her. It was like the girl he knew and loved was completely gone. She was fighting like a complete newb to the sport, utterly lifeless out there and not paying attention at all. She wasn't using her strengths, either, but was foolishly lunging sloppy attacks head on. Asael was being kind to even pretend there was an effort to block her. What's wrong with you?
Fang tried to think back. Lightning had first started acting detached when he'd brought up steroids yesterday and questioned his father of them. The Claire he knew would take that opportunity to compliment him the way he was. She was always complimenting him as she was. But starting yesterday evening on the chocobos, Lightning had been unusually silent. What would turn her silent so quickly, so intensely?
Fang didn't know, but Lightning had been with him and Asael all day yesterday. Did Dad say something to her? Fang couldn't imagine what. The two weren't the friendliest out there to each other, but Asael held enough respect for Fang to respect Lightning and Lightning was a little more civil around him. They'd gone the whole day yesterday without fighting or anything. Not that I saw, at least. Still, it made no sense. Something would have had to affect Lightning so bad like this.
She was withdrawn after Dad came in on his surprise visit too. What is going on here?
On screen, Asael swatted the blade easily out of her flimsy grasp and held her from behind against him, greatsword held to her throat, ending the battle with his victory. Time to ask Dad, Fang thought resolutely. Something was wrong with Claire, and Fang'd be damned to keep it that way.
XXX
'I expected more.' She'd lost. In a fight for Fang, Lightning had lost. She'd lost terribly, in fact, and she still felt numb. I should have fought. I didn't even fight for him.
Lightning sheathed her gunblade, returning to her end of the tunnels. Before she'd even walked the full way around the bend, Fang was there. He grabbed her and he kissed her. Lightning felt a twinge at his touch, a breeze of warmth hitting her. He hugged her tightly after, squeezing Lightning to his body.
"I love you, Claire." Lightning's body filled with warmth. She looked back up at him, eyes watering with emotion he was relieved to see in her. "We're going to talk when I get back, okay?" Fang squeezed.
Lightning opened her mouth to respond, but Fang shushed her. "When I get back, Claire. Just be here for me, okay?"
"Okay." Lightning buried her face in his shoulder and hugged Fang too. "Kick his ass, Fang."
Fang smiled softly. There's my girl.
XXX
Meeting Asael in the middle of the ring, Fang took in his dad studiously. "Fang." Asael greeted, bowing his head down.
"Dad," Fang followed suit, but when he lifted his head again, Asael still hadn't. "Did you say something to Claire yesterday?"
"Say something?"
"Yeah, she's been pretty down."
"Likely she is merely going through a menstrual cycle, Fang. I wouldn't worry about it." Fang hiked an eyebrow that Asael missed, still not looking at him. "Shall we proceed, Fang?"
"Alright..." Fang agreed uneasily, feeling another twinge in his stomach. That was a quick dismissal. Dad wouldn't really say something detrimental to her, though... even if they still don't much like each other, he wouldn't ever say anything cruel to her.
"Good luck, Fang." Asael bade.
"Don't hold back, Dad."
Asael inclined his head slightly further. "Show them the man you are today, Fang."
The man I am. Fang thought. Not leader, man. The two men turned to retreat to their quarters. Fang stood ready and turned.
Asael drew his blades and advanced with surprising agility for his age and lost youth. Fang blocked the side-sweeping blow and the force vibrated through him. Ripping the underside of his spear up from the block, Asael hopped back and deflected, swatting the spear aside while lunging with the other greatsword. Fang ducked to avoid having his shoulder cut and swiped at Asael's legs.
Asael jumped over it, bringing both blades down over his head. Fang held up his spear and narrowly missed getting his fingers eviscerated as Asael's twin greatswords cut into the pleated leather braided around the tool. Fang grunted, sporting up the weapon against Asael's downward strength.
Asael withdrew his blades and scissor-cut. Fang blocked the left and swiveled, feeling Asael's greatsword graze the skin of his stomach enough to be a hard, crippling cut otherwise if it weren't for Rkrose. Fang spun away, hand going to his stomach to wipe away the sliver of blood there under his clothes.
Fang lunged in again after his father.
XXX
"Serah, I can't watch." Vanille hid her eyes as the expert fighters' weapons clashed again. "Narrate for me."
"What?"
A crash echoed through the stadium.
"Serah!"
"Okay! Their weapons just clashed, calm down Vanille!" Vanille squeezed her hand tightly. "Fang's on the offense, he's swinging- block- swing- block- dodge- oww." Serah winced.
"What just happened?"
Serah scowled, looking over at Vanille incredulously. "If you'd just open your eyes..." Vanille's grip became painful again. "Okay, okay- Fang just kicked Asael in the chest using his lance. It was really cool, how he braced it and swung around, but Asael's a brick, it barely fazed him. Now they're fighting again, swing, swing, dodge, cut- oww. Fang was nicked on the shoulder, block, block, dodge, block- "
"Narrate like a normal person!" Vanille squeaked. "I can't tell what's going on when you say 'block, block, dodge.'"
"They're moving fast, Vanille! I'm doing the best- ooh! Fang just cut him across the hand and Asael dropped one of his swords! Vanille! Look!"
XXX
Come on, Fang. Lightning silently rooted, watching Asael's right blade skid away. Asael gripped his remaining blade with both hands and swung mightily. This is your fight. Fang started spinning his spear. Lightning grinned. Get him, Fang.
XXX
Fang pressed the release bolt on his spear, extending it into three chain-connected pieces that spun wildly with the rapid rotations of his spear. Driving forward, Fang cast out his newly-crafted nun-chucks and the chain wrapped around Asael's blade. Asael was still wide-eyed in surprise. Fang chuckled. "Upgrades, Dad."
Fang yanked back, slipping the sword free from his father's fingers. The chain unwound mid-air as Fang withdrew the chucks and returned his weapon to spear mode.
Holding out his spear to the side of him, Fang dropped the weapon. "We'll fight this fair."
Fang charged. Anxiety grew in Asael's eyes.
Haunching down, Asael caught Fang's by the legs in his approach and flipped him over his back. Fang grunted hitting dirt, but whirled while his father scooped to pick up something and kicked across the back of his knees.
Asael's knees gave way under his strength and Fang jumped at his back, bringing him down fully before he slid over his front to pin him. Legs flexing powerfully over Asael's bulky forearms to keep him pinned, Fang's arm laced over his dad's throat, eyes lifting to his face to find-
Utter, pure, horrified disgust. All the transgressions of the father shone through to the son in a gaze of sheer, absolute terror. Body to body, even through his layers, Fang could feel Asael quake in his pinned position below him. Fang stopped breathing, mind freeze-flashing him back into an old, old memory.
"Whoa!" Asael released him in surprise, falling back on his ass as his knee quaked. Fang dropped on him in an instant. But, listening to his words, it wasn't his body he dropped on top of to pin. Asael was stronger than him after all and would be able to break out of that. So Fang scrambled to his feet instead and put one foot over Asael's knee, carefully applying pressure.
Asael howled.
"Fang! My boy!" Reaching up through the pain, Asael snagged Fang's wrist, but instead of yanking him to the floor harshly as Fang expected, Asael pulled him down, tight against his chest, and warmly wrapped his arms around his precious, talented son. "Fang," Asael hugged him. "Dad's proud of you, son."
Back in the day when his father had been proud to call him his son.
"...Dad?"
Asael turned away, jaw shifting as he fought to adjust his face.
He can't even look at me. Fang realized, heart sinking.
Asael had invited him to fight with him in the tournament to battle with his son, and had been excited about giving Fang the chance to beat him. Tournament rules stated one was allowed to forfeit once their weapon had been dropped, but then Fang had dropped his too and continued fighting.
Asael hadn't anticipated hand to hand combat, and when Fang actually had to touch him...
He was repulsed.
Fang rolled off his father, exhaling heavily. Claire was right.
Beside him, Asael had neutralized his expression, now that Fang was off him. He reached for Fang's arm. "Fang."
Fang looked at him and felt sick. He jerked away. "Don't touch me." Not when he knew how it made his father feel.
Above, the tournament announcer was calling out his victory to the excitable horde. Fang couldn't bear to stay there. Pushing himself up to his feet, Fang acknowledged the victory for Asael's sake, to keep the truth from the cheering spectators, then took off towards his exit. Asael didn't follow. Fang didn't know whether it was from physical inability to do so or if he'd been directed the other way, but he was grateful either way. He needed time and space.
"Fang- "
Fang gripped Lightning's shoulders as she approached. Her face told him enough that close ups had been broadcasted and she'd seen. "Claire, don't follow me." Lightning's eyes searched him with a hint of panic. "I'll come back." Fang promised. "But I need to be alone. I need to think."
The fear dissolved back in Lightning's eyes. She swallowed and bit her lip, but stepped back. "Okay, Fang."
"Don't worry about me." Fang pulled her back towards him and kissed her forehead before releasing Lightning's shoulders. "I'll come back, Claire."
Lightning's heart pumped as Fang turned and left. Leaning back against the wall in the tunnel, Lightning closed her eyes and breathed.
