I received a prompt some time ago: "How about some more shape shifting AU maybe Lightning was invited to a big Guardian Corps ceremony and wow what Lightning you have a "pet" panther? (guess who snuck in)"

"I'm not allowed to invite you. I'm sorry."

Fang gave a small pout. "You can't invite friends?"

"If we could, there wouldn't be enough room for everyone." Lightning looked away, avoiding Fang's eyes. "I'd like you to come along, but-"

"But they allow spouses or significant others." Fang cut in, shifting a little closer. "Maybe we could, you know, just say that you and I are together."

Lightning looked up in surprise.

"No."

"Farron."

Lightning's head snapped up. It was Amodar, sitting across the table.

"Something on your mind?" he asked, brows knit in genuine concern.

She straightened, unclenching the napkin held tight in her grasp beneath the table. "No, sir."

Amodar raised a disbelieving brow, but didn't push her on it.

Still, she heard the message. She needed to quit moping and engage with her fellow service men and women. Her botched argument with Fang would have to be addressed later.

But really, she hadn't meant 'no' as in 'I don't want to go together with you'.

She meant she didn't want to pretend.

But she'd never been good with words, and Fang more easily than not flustered her. She didn't know how to explain the complicated emotions in herself, and how it all felt too sudden, to soon, to make it real. But really it was fear she didn't want to face. So she'd made them drop the issue instead.

She hadn't missed the hurt in Fang's eyes.

As the evening went on, she was called to the front with three other service members. They were each awarded for exemplary performance.

Lightning stood at attention at the front of the room. After the appropriate words were spoken, Amodar finally came forward with what would be her new weapon.

A rare swell of pride filled her as the sheathed gunblade was placed into her hands. And the pride was mirrored in Amodar's voice as he congratulated her.

She wished Fang could see it.

She returned to her table, another meal course set out for her and the others, but she'd lost her appetite.

That's when she felt something bump her knee. She glanced to the people seated next to her, but they showed no sign of having touched her. Then the thing slid up her thigh and she reached down to tear off the fingers of whoever's hand had dared to-

But her hand touched a nose, and not a human one. She ran her fingers over velvety fur and a head shaped like a cat.

Lightning lifted the table cloth the barest of inches and green eyes blinked from between her legs.

How did she…? The tables were circular, how would anyone not-

"So. Sergeant Farron." Lightning nearly jumped, but years of military training helped keep her head cool and her eyes calm.

She looked over to the speaker, the husband of a servicewoman. It took her a moment to remember his name. Paul, maybe. Meanwhile Fang was rubbing her head against her knee, and she could feel the vibrations of a quiet purr.

"Congratulations on that gunblade. You ever used one before, or do you train with it later?"

"I've already gone through special training. It's necessary in order to qualify."

"Top in her class," Amodar interjected. He was so full of pride and Lightning wanted him to stop. He laughed heartily, knowing all to well the look she was giving him. "Haven't seen anyone as good as she is. No one even came close to her scores. Always been that way, eh, Sergeant Farron?"

Lightning did her best not to roll her eyes, no matter how true it was. She found herself scratching Fang behind her ears.

"That's impressive," the man she thought was Paul said. Smiling politely, he continued, "Uh, I don't mean to pry, but was your husband not able to make it?"

That earned him a sharp jab from his wife. "She's not married, John. I've told you this."

John – not Paul – looked shocked. "Oh, I'm very sorry. Er. I guess I just assumed, because, uh," He cleared his throat, red in the face. "So, uh, no… No one significant in your life?"

Lightning wasn't really listening, both her hands gently rubbing Fang's head now. But she paused at the question, and felt Fang's ears perk up.

Still, a military ball in front of her coworkers was hardly the place to pour out her feelings. Especially when the person they were meant for was hidden beneath the table, snuggled up between her legs, and not exactly human at the moment.

And really, the last thing she needed to do was give Amodar more ammunition for his amusement.

"Well, no." Lightning swallowed, trying to hold Fang's head so she wouldn't disappear. "Not at this time, anyway."

Fang pushed back into her hands, nuzzling closer. Albeit a bit too close, making Lightning squirm as her nose pressed further between her legs. She was purring heavily, and Lightning was beginning to worry someone would hear or see the way her cheeks were surely heating.

Luckily, the announcement was made that the dancing would begin, and everyone shuffled noisily to leave their tables. Lightning panicked as the tables were shoved aside, but to her surprise, Fang had seemingly vanished.

As the music started, Lightning stood solemnly to the side, her new gunblade latched onto her belt. They had a buffet of snacks present, which she spent most of her time at. The dance floor was open and quite full of occupants.

Lightning would rather go back to spitting mud in basic training.

It was Amodar who came to pull her out of her corner. Unfortunate, really, since he was the only one capable of doing so.

"Gonna stand there all night, Farron?"

Lightning snapped a salute and bowed. "Sir."

Amodar waved the formality off. "You're suppose to set an example. You're not just a soldier and protector, you're a symbol. Not everyone gets to wear a weapon like that." While his voice was a bit stern, his eyes were filled with pride – and amusement. "I want to see you mingling, Farron."

Lightning's despair, however, must have been apparent, because Amodar laughed heartily. Lightning folded her arms and looked down as the senior officer took his leave. It irked her, but she knew his intentions were good.

With a distant sigh, she extracted herself from the wall to follow orders. She strolled through the people gathered there, many holding plates filled with various food from the buffet table. Her eyes were ever watchful, trying to spot any movement that could hint at Fang's presence. Maybe she'd already left?

She'd just been about to approach someone when there was a scream from the buffet. A bang and a crash and one of the buffet tables was overturned, spilling food and drink.

More screams and shouts. Soldiers both on and off duty rushed in. Lightning was the first to get there, knowing already what she'd find.

A large black panther… with a shrimp sticking out of its mouth.

The cat held perfectly still where the table had once been, eyes a bit wide as though it didn't know what had just happened or what to do next.

"Fang."

The eyes landed on her. The panther dropped the shrimp and immediately surged toward her. People backed away – Lightning was more than capable of handling such a creature on her own – but there was collective shock when the soldier knelt down and held out a hand.

The panther nuzzled into it.

"Farron, what's going on?" Amodar had stepped forward.

After giving Fang a hard look for being caught, Lightning stood and addressed her superior.

"Sir, I can explain. I'll have her sent out right-"

Amodar's laugh cut her off. "I didn't realize you had such a way with animals. Is it friendly?"

"Uh-"

Fang maneuvered around her and approached the older soldier. She sat in front of him, lightly flicking her tail from side to side. Amodar politely held out a hand, which she sniffed, and then he patted her on the head, a bit roughly but Fang took it in stride.

"She won't harm anyone, sir."

Amodar eyed her quizzically for a while before nodding to himself. "Very well. I'll have to have a talk with you later, but for now, if you can control her, she's your responsibility."

Fang trotted back to Lightning, looking triumphant.

The buffet table was righted and replaced with fresh food. Some of her fellow soldiers came up to see Fang. After proving she meant no harm, she became surrounded. Fang seemed to enjoy the attention, unbothered by all of the hands that reached for her.

Fang remained close to Lightning's side throughout the remainder of the evening. Lightning was able to chat with a number of people as Amodar had ordered, and it was made substantially easier with Fang as a conversation topic. Or distraction.

Paul – wait, it was John – approached her.

"Care to dance, Sergeant?"

"Don't you have a wife, sir?"

He glanced away and in the direction of the dance floor, where his wife was dancing with someone else. A glass of champagne sloshing in her hand.

Lightning swallowed. She was about to speak before a mouth closed over her hand. She felt the touch of fangs, but it was gentle. Merely meant to hold.

Lightning glanced down at Fang, who was staring back up at her. Looking downright possessive. "I'll have to decline. I need to keep watch on this one."

"Oh. Right." He appeared sad, but he smiled as he reached out to give Fang a friendly pat on the head before wandering away, shoulders slumped.

Lightning breathed a long sigh of relief.

Amodar eventually took mercy on her and dismissed her under orders to take care of her 'pet' until further notice.

Lightning left with Fang at her side, and they sauntered out to the parking lot to Lightning's car. It was dark enough to see stars, and the air felt cool on her face. The dress uniform could be downright stuffy at times.

Lightning glanced down. "I could have gotten into a lot of trouble, you know. Amodar let me off way too easily."

Fang looked up, and then turned to brush her nose against Lightning's gunblade. Lightning was quiet as the weapon was inspected.

"I'm glad you came," she admitted softly.

Fang purred. She walked in front of Lightning and then, like a bear, rose up onto her hind legs, forearms extend up, wavering as she tried to balance.

Lightning stepped closer and allowed Fang's large paws to drop onto her shoulders.

Lightning smiled softly. "I hope you're not trying to dance with me."

Making little cat grunts and noises, Fang shuffled her heavy arms more around her shoulders and rubbed her nose and head back and forth against her chin.

Lightning couldn't help but laugh, wrapping her arms around the panther.