"Thanks," Lightning took the plate from Fang and set it before her. Fang took his own serving and settled in next to his girlfriend, keeping sight of Lightning within his peripherals. Fang didn't have words he could say to measure up how much he loved and appreciated his girlfriend. Lightning was incredible. Every time he looked at her, he could barely believe that she was his and he, hers. He didn't think he'd ever quite be able to accept the hand the Maker had blessed him with when it came to Lightning. She's mine. Fang thought, both awed and liking how that sounded in his head. She chose me. Chose to fall for me.

Fang lifted a hand to brush back a lock of hair and tuck it behind her ear. Lightning's bright eyes darting over to him, lips quirking. "F- "

"Fang, Lightning."

Both teenagers turned at the deep, affirmative tone that ran over Lightning's. Lightning's eyes darkened. Fang's darted between them. "I want to- "

"No." Lightning felt Fang brush against her again as he turned back to his food, close to her. "There's nothing to say." Fang interrupted. "Leave us alone, Chief."

Asael crumbled so defeated, Lightning almost felt bad for him. He stayed half a moment, debating whether or not to stay and speak, then finally gathered himself back up and left without another word. Lightning scooted closer to Fang and wrapped an arm around his waist warmly. Fang only breathed when the door snapped shut behind Asael. "I'm sorry." Fang apologized.

"Don't be." Lightning rubbed his back. "It's not your fault, Fang."

"I don't like him addressing you." Fang admitted. "Talking to you, anything. I don't want him to say something that could... not to you."

Lightning squeezed his shoulder.

"Claire!" Serah shot out of the hallway. "There you are! I've been looking for you. We need to discuss the terms."

Lightning arched an eyebrow.

"Of my payment." Serah continued jubilantly. "You owe me for saving Fang's butt this morning, when Mom nearly caught him with your panties and I had to intervene. We'll say that's what you're paying me back for, alright? I trust that you're happy enough with me for that, so there's no reason to threaten about telling Mom and Dad about the hand job you gave Fang yesterday night after Dad's whole 'I trust you, Fang' fiasco."

Serah glanced over Lightning's head and waved to the petrified stiff. "Hi Fang!"

"You're blackmailing me." Lightning was practically in shock.

"Of course not!" Serah returned her attentions to her sister. "I'm merely asking you to return the favor I went through for Fang, with the side mention that if you aren't amendable to my terms, Dad's going to stroke, finding out how much of a guy Fang really is."

"Serah!" Fang choked.

"Don't worry, Fang." Serah waved off. "Claire has no balls to do anything else when you're being threatened. She loves you too much to let you be castrated by Dad. For such a lesbian, she's really attracted to your junk, so I wouldn't be too concerned."

Lightning gruffed. "What do you want?"

"See?" Serah glowed. "I knew she'd be happy and anxious to listen."

Lightning grunted. "Serah."

"Don't take that tone with me," Serah cautioned. ""I'm ready to wet my tongue at a moment's notice." In the grand entrance, Vanille halted. "You better watch out; I'm ready and willing to punish you for all of eternity with this." Vanille reached out for the door frame and bit her bottom lip. "You're my slave now and you know it!" Vanille closed her eyes, lightheaded. "You're going to do whatever I want, and I want a lot." Why do you do this to me, Serah? "Don't give me that look; you're a baaad girl. You deserve this."

Vanille inwardly groaned.

Lightning's eyes narrowed. "Serah."

"Are you talking back again?"

"What do you want?" Lightning muttered again, aggravated.

Serah seemed pleased. "Good girl." Vanille tensed. "I want you to lay off me and Snow when we're together; no more separating us when we get closer than you want us to. From here on out, you're to let me do with him as I please." Vanille sighed, slumping against the frame. "Even if he touches me or tries to kiss me. Nuh uhh uh!" Serah cut off before Lightning could protest, reminding her. "How do you think Mom'll feel about Fang when she knows where your dirty hand's been in his pants?"

"About the same way she'll feel when I tell her an old drunk pervert's been feeling you up!" Lightning snapped. "I'm not letting him grope you 'cuz you're taken with his scruff, Serah."

"You're so crude." Serah glared. "We're not going to grope. We're not all lusty, touchy animals like you and Fang!"

Fang paled.

"We haven't groped!"

"You want to!" Serah huffed. "Besides, fondling him between the legs is no different. It's just another form of groping."

Ding donnng.

"That's Snow!" Serah announced excitedly. "I'll get it!"

Vanille sighed as Serah rushed past. She turned back to the two at the table.

"-want to." Lightning put gently. "Or if you want to grab your jacket…" Lightning offered, hand on his shoulder. "It's okay. I can have Serah keep them away from the castle, too. They don't have to see if you don't want them to, Fang."

Fang hesitated. He looked between Vanille and Lightning, then down at the table, discreetly eying his own body. Should I…? Fang bit his lip. He was comfortable with Lightning seeing him as he was, and her family had been more than accepting of his unusual traits too, but Fang had never shown anyone else. Snow and Gadot were just recent friends. Lightning and her family accepted him because they knew Fang's character, they knew and liked him, so when he came out to them, they'd been kind. Even if they thought him weird, they hadn't shown it and assured him just the opposite— would someone else be so kind? Fang didn't want to lose the most recent friends he'd made. Besides Vanille, he didn't really have a whole lot of those…

On the other hand, Fang was trying to accept himself like the Farrons did. He was getting more comfortable with his body and just starting to lose consciousness of his every move without his jacket. Would this help that, or hamper it? Fang still felt like a man, but he'd be first to admit now that that wasn't all his doing. He wanted to try both halves, discover who he was for himself for a change, instead of being told. He needed to allow some equality of self to do that.

But… what if I want to change by the end of this, and still feel like a man, and I get the surgery? Then he'd have exposed himself for nothing, as well as risked his friendship. Even if Snow and Gadot didn't outright reject him, Fang knew all the signs of quiet awkward moments. He'd experienced them way too much with his dad not to know what a silent refusal sounded like, and Fang himself had taken eighteen years to finally adapt to his body. What if it proved too weird for them? Do I really want to risk my friendship with those guys for something I may not even keep?

Lightning's hand was warm on his shoulder, providing the unconditional comfort she always brought to him. Fang tried to read her eyes; those concerned, sky-brilliant blues that drew him like a moth to flame. Lightning's concern was genuine, Fang knew, but he wondered what she was thinking. If she was doubting him. Fang was scared, he'd freely admit, but Lightning… she has faith in me. Fang reminded himself. She wants me to have it too.

Fang looked down at himself again, the girlish features he'd always hid in shame. I'm not ashamed of myself. Fang held firmly. I used to be, but Claire's shown me. I can be shy, but I'm not ashamed… and I won't hide. "We should follow Serah," Fang announced. "Maker knows what she's doing with Snow alone…"

Lightning kissed his cheek. "I'll tell them." Fang felt the warm pressure on his shoulder as he stood with her. Vanille stared at the floor, trying to hide her smile.

"Thanks."

XXX

"It's something he was born with," Lightning explained, eying Fang nervously for his reaction. Fang shuffled shyly. "He's part girl in some aspects, male in others, and still getting comfortable with it."

"Huh," Snow glanced down at the girl clinging around his waist. He spun the ball in his hands. "That's cool."

Rygdea was sidelonging Fang's jeans. "He's still got it where it counts," he winked.

"Interesting," Cid speculated, eyes roving over Fang.

"Hey," Lightning moved closer to Fang's side. "We're still exclusive."

Rygdea shook his head. "Now that is the real shame."

"Can we play football now?" Gadot pressed. "I still wanna see how strong that arm is on the field. Boobs or not, dude, you are one strong brother; we'd let you play either way!" Gadot slapped him companionably on the back.

Lightning frowned. "You let me play."

"Yeah," Gadot admitted, reaching over to punch her shoulder. "But you're kinda manly already, Light. You guys are like our bros." Gadot nudged Fang, who'd glanced down at himself again. "Dude, really, your breasts are kinda hot."

"Wh-okaay," Lightning tugged Fang out from under Gadot's arm. "I'm on Fang's team."

"What about us?" Vanille piped from somewhere below.

"The half-pint shelas can cheer from the sidelines," Rygdea suggested. "Cheerleaders!"

Vanille made a face.

"I'm cheering for Snow's team!" Serah announced readily.

"What're teams?" Fang asked, shifting against Lightning.

"Me, Snow, and Cid," Gadot suggested.

"Splitting me up?" Rygdea pouted.

"Fang's on your team." Snow reminded, cheering the man right up again.

"Alright, let's go!"

XXX

"Lightning's fastest," Fang nodded. "She's our wide receiver."

"Ciddy's wicked fast," Rygdea contributed. "More than you'd guess. They're probably going to put him on Lightning."

"Okay, Rygdea, you're short receiver. I'll toss to whichever of you comes open first."

"Watch for the blitz." Rygdea warned. "Ciddy loves blitzing too, right when you least expect it." Lightning's brow creased. Fang missed it altogether. Rygdea shot her a cockeye grin. "You'd be surprised, Lightning. It's quite enjoyable. Better watch out on the field. I have a feeling Ciddy'll like blocking you."

"I'll get around him." Lightning shook her head. "We ready? Break!"

The teams took up positions facing each other on the field. Rygdea crouched above the football and glanced back over his shoulder. He winked at Fang. Fang shifted a little further back as Rygdea returned his attention to the game. "Raven 69, raven 69, set, hut hut, hike!" Pitching the ball back between his legs to Fang, Rygdea took off after Lightning, who was already halfway down the field with Cid tailing her. Snow blitzed and Fang backed up, releasing a throw to Lightning before the buff man tackled him around the waist.

"Alright Fang!" Vanille cheered suddenly, overcome with pride as the ball arched in the air. Snow and Fang both looked up after it as it perfectly spiraled down a little beyond Lightning. Lightning sped to place herself under it, reached out and- was blinding by a springing cape that fluttered before her. Cid intercepted her ball and landed. Lightning shot at him from behind and tackled the guy so hard, he lost his grip and fumbled. Rygdea swooped and scooped the ball from the ground, followed fast by Gadot, who jumped and collided into the back of Rygdea's legs. Both men tumbled with a crash, but Rygdea held tight to the ball without dropping. Lightning grinned.

True to Rygdea's prediction, Cid stuck to her like a needle throughout the game, but Lightning surpassed him progressively, her lighter body giving an edge in speed throughout. Snow and Gadot were huge and proved to be difficult defenders, almost impossible. Only Fang surpassed them in strength; Lightning's team was considerably smaller when compared to the three men, so they had that advantage over them. Fang caught a few lucky breaks through their defense, but offense was their strong spot. Gadot raved about Fang's arm and Lightning always had Rygdea caught in the corner of her eye, watchful over Fang, but Rygdea remained respectful. Flirtatious and too speculative himself, but not out of bounds.

Lightning was halfway tempted to chop Snow to the throat though, for how often Serah appeared on the field out of nowhere. The bigger man's resistances were wearing thin, and without Lightning reprimanding their every move, his carnal instincts were getting the best of him. Good guy or not, there was only so much swooning and Serah throwing herself at him that Snow would take before breaking. Lightning liked Fang to have some guy friends, and it was actually good for him to get at least some of that influence so he wouldn't be so shy, but she knew what kind of guy Snow was with girls, and that did not belong on or anywhere near her sister.

"We're still down six," Rygdea announced. "We've gotta come back with something tricky and unexpected. Fang should take a run for a change; they won't expect that."

Lightning glanced over at her boyfriend. "You wanna do that, Fang?"

"Alright, what's the play?"

Rygdea launched into football talk that Lightning and Fang had him simplify once more before they snapped out of the huddle. Fang halted as Lightning crouched, bending over the football in front of him, her shorts so clingy, he could see her every curve of a tight, fit ass. He remembered her hand in his pants and suddenly wanted to be in hers. He couldn't imagine why he'd never noticed or been this pulled to Lightning's butt before, it was so shapely. And all that smooth leg leading up to it, flawless and pale, spread for him… Fang started to tingle.

"-Hike!" A football passed between those legs and shot into his half-limp grip. Fang fumbled with it, snapping back to himself, then finally steadied enough to catch it, in time to see Gadot only a good four feet away. Fang sprinted off, cursing.

Ducking under Gadot's arm, Fang evaded and took off down the field, straying left to avoid Snow's charge as he chased him down the field. Fang glanced up and halted abruptly as Cid cut a clear chop across, barely missing swooping Fang with him by only a breath. Fang spun around him as Cid fell to the ground. He turned again and started running.

Fang checked his right side and found Lightning running along Snow, trying to block the bigger man off to give Fang room to escape. Something twinkled. Fang's eyes riveted down, where a thin stretch of stomach showed between the top of Lightning's shorts and where her shirt had hiked up. His eagle eyes fixated on the sparkle, perfectly capable of distinguishing the shiny silver stud against the backdrop of smooth, toned stomach that peeked out. Fang's mouth went dry.

"Fang," Vanille took a step back. "Fang! Fang, stop- aiieek!" Vanille squeaked as Fang bowled over her and rolled, somersaulting with him. Vanille groaned, limp as she came to a halt on top of Fang, aching all over. Fang shook his head to clear it, realizing there was still weight pressing on him.

"Vanille? Are you alright?"

Vanille moaned.

Wrapping his arms around her, Fang sat up and pulled them both to their feet. "Vanille," Fang supported her against him. "Vanille, you okay? Did I hit you?" Fang touched her head softly, scanning for bumps.

"Mmrrghh," Vanille leaned against him and Fang felt her arms wrap around his middle.

"I'm sorry," Fang apologized. "I was distracted. I wasn't looking. Vanille- "

"'m okay." Vanille mumbled, eyes closed as she pressed against Fang snugly. "'m jus'…owww."

Fang rubbed her back, worry softening in his voice. "I'm sorry."

"Fang…" Vanille shifted her head on his shoulder. "You're… hugging me…" Fang's hugging me.

"Is she okay?" Lightning skidded to a halt.

Fang glanced up. "She'll be al…" Lightning's shirt was still hiked. "…right." Fang's eyes glazed. He squeezed Vanille a little tighter.

Vanille stiffened. "Fang," she wriggled in his grasp, "That better not be from me."

Fang took a moment, then glanced down between them. "Oh." He winced, pulling back from Vanille. "Vanille- "

"I think that poke's for you, Claire." Vanille stepped back too. Lightning took her shoulders to steady her, then checked Fang below the belt.

"Fang…"

"Hey, it's okay man." Gadot slung an arm around Fang's shoulders companionably. Fang stiffened. "Anyone can get sidetracked by a hot chick, dude, it's cool. We understand." Gadot lifted his chin to Snow, currently sidled by Serah.

"Whoa, check out the big man!" Rygdea gushed, eyes trained on Fang's crotch. "Someone's having a party down there! That's pretty damn impressive, mate!"

"Okay, thaaat's enough of that." Lightning moved in front of Fang in Vanille's place and hugged him to help him hide.

Fang stiffened and whispered. "That doesn't actually help, Claire."

"Hey, man," Rygdea protested. "We're just talkin' Light. Seems like Fang could use it! A little one-on-one man-to-man. Or four-on-one."

"Come on, Light, let the boys chat."

"Ciddy-cakes?" Rygdea called.

Lightning balked as she was lifted up and away, then doubly so when she saw it was Cid. "Guy-talk," Cid spoke before she could. "No hands."

"Nn," Lightning looked to Fang, then settled. Good for him… sort of. She looked to Snow, who was having Serah similarly detangled from him by Gadot. She sighed. "Just talk."