Day 13
Since the initial delay of Fang's operation
Lightning found herself some time later, collapsed on top of Fang and still trembling in the wake of her pleasure. Words could not capture how incredible Lightning felt, so she just lay there, breathing in her high without processing.
Fang stroked a hand through Lightning's hair fondly, smiling down at her pleasure-dazed princess. Fang bent her head to kiss the top of Lightning's. "How are you?"
"Mmm," Lightning mumbled, eyes closed as she rested on Fang.
"Are you happy?"
"Mhmmm."
"How do your legs feel?"
"Mrrrgh."
Fang grinned. "Me too." Fang rubbed herself, as to not arouse, just to sooth. "God, I'm sore."
"But…comfortable…" Lightning murmured, already starting to drift off on Fang's chest again.
"I wish we had some crackers or steak," Fang rubbed her shoulder soothingly. "I'm starved." Lightning's breathing evened out, heart slowing, soon to be rhythmic and balanced. Fang smiled down at her sleeping angel.
"Fang- " the bedroom door bashed open. "You're dad wants me to- " Vanille cut off short, dropping her box of Ogalop Jacks on the spot, spreading bouncy little orange tidbits over the carpet as she stared.
"Vanille!" Fang stretched, trying not to disturb Lightning in her reach for the blanket discarded on the floor from last night. Vanille gaped, a silent, wide-eyed watcher as Fang tugged the blanket up over Lightning's back. Lightning stirred sleepily, but didn't wake.
"Vanille, did you find them- " Serah cut short too, eyes puffing in astonishment. "Claire?" Lightning barely stirred. Serah lifted her astonished eyes to Fang. "You… slept with her?"
"S-Serah," Fang stuttered, suddenly feeling the need to shelter Lightning. "L-Listen, I- "
"You…" Serah's eyes rolled up.
"Vanille!" Fang startled as she fell, but Vanille was a little too slow in her own staring to catch her. Lightning woke sleepily at Fang's jostling while Vanille stooped to right Serah on her back. "Is she…"
"She's fine," Vanille reported. "Just a little case of stunned abhorrence, I reckon." Vanille touched her forehead gently.
"Mmrrghh," Lightning grumbled, rousing. "Fang? What is it?" Lightning turned in her lap, following Fang's eyes to Vanille and Serah at the door. Lightning grunted, pulling up the blanket that'd fallen a little ways on her chest. She glanced back to make Fang was appropriately hidden with her body. "Knocking didn't go out of fashion when we joined the Flight century, you know."
Vanille started scooping up under Serah to pick her up. "Well, umm, you guys are still busy, clearly…" Vanille smiled discreetly. "…at two in the afternoon… so I'll just take Serah with me then."
Smmackk. "Oops," Vanille took a minute to maneuver Serah's head away from the doorframe. "Sorry Serah," Vanille glanced back at them and bit her lip to keep from grinning. "You guys… continue." Vanille started out, then paused. "Oh, and Asael said he wanted to see you, Fang. You know… when it's convenient."
Lightning sighed as Vanille walked out the door and kicked it closed behind her. Fang's arms circled her to wrap around her stomach. "Two pm, ya?" Fang held her.
Lightning rested her head back on Fang's shoulder. "We're fucked."
"Yeah…" Fang squeezed her around the middle. "So… wanna shower together?"
XXX
An hour and a half later, Lightning and Fang emerged from the shower freshened up and lathered. Lightning had particularly enjoyed smoothing body wash across Fang, who in turn, cleaned her back, wiping down every part of her.
Lightning emerged first and wrapped the towel around Fang before they started back off to the bedroom. "I'm gonna need some more clothes," Fang admitted. "Maybe take Vanille and Serah out to help with that if Dad doesn't crucify me first." Lightning glanced back at her. "Your dad," Fang specified, reassuring the worry she found there, then getting a little shy herself. "He told me I could call him Dad…"
Lightning stepped away from her dresser drawer she had claimed and walked up behind Fang. She hugged her from her spot. "Mom too?"
"Yeah," Fang rested her head back on Lightning. "Raina allowed it… said I was part of the family."
"You are," Lightning murmured. "It's a good thing, Fang- Dad won't castrate someone of the family."
Fang smiled meekly. "Do you think Cyrus will-"
"No." Lightning interjected. "You'll be fine, Fang." Lightning assured. "He's a father; it's just what he does." Lightning squeezed Fang. "Besides, Mom already thinks we've had sex before, and she understands."
"I just don't wanna break their trust." Fang admitted. "After how they helped me too… your parents are amazing, Claire."
"Eh… they have their moments." Lightning was suddenly reminded of the bedroom scene she'd visited and shuddered.
Fang tilted her head back to gaze up at her wrap on the shelf, then back to the t's in her closet. Her eyes roved back over to the wrap, what had been her safety net all this time. Lightning kissed her cheek and Fang rolled back her head on Lightning's shoulder. "Claire," Fang murmured, coy.
Lightning nestled their cheeks, loving the touch of Fang so close. A touch she'd have forever. "Hmm?"
"…teach me how to work a bra?"
XXX
Serah marched up to Fang's room and stormed the door, busted it in and made her presence known. "I can't believe you slept with him, Claire!"
Lightning rounded the bend from the bathroom, hands braced on the countertop. "Her," Lightning corrected, throwing Serah off guard for a second.
"Huh?"
"Fang, she wants to be a girl." Lightning explained. "My girl."
"Aww, that's so sweet." Serah cooed, then realized she was here for other reasons. "But not an excuse! Claire, you…you… how could you?"
"I'm going to marry her anyway, Serah. Settle down."
Serah gaped at her flippancy. "You used to be chaste, Claire! Now you're like… like a whore."
Lightning's eyebrows furrowed as she turned on her sister, who was fingering something on Fang's desk. Lightning crossed the room by the edge, using the couch and dressers to guide her. She took the object from Serah, putting it back down on the desk. "Serah, look at me." Serah stubbornly kept her chin down. Lightning lifted it with a finger to look at her, then slapped her.
"He-"
"That's for calling me a whore," Lightning was unamused. Serah opened her mouth, waited a moment, then shut it, looking back at the floor. "You wanna tell me what this is about?"
"No…" Serah peered up at her cautiously, seeing Lightning's look. Her lip trembled. "You couldn't wait… just a few months for the wedding?"
"It's Fang, Serah. It's not like I'm offering up to people on the street. We're in love."
"Yes, but people fall in and out of love every day and- "
"Serah," Lightning interjected.
Serah shuffled her feet, kicking at the floor. Lightning prodded her with another look. Serah swallowed. "You're just… you're moving so fast… " Serah bit her lip. "A little over a month ago, I used to make fun of you for just looking at other girls… now you've shared your body with one, and you love Fang so much. She means the world to you and you spend so much time with her. You're gonna be ruling a planet with her! And I'll be going back to Cocoon soon… without you… 'cuz you'll still be here, loving Fang… "
Realization dawned in Lightning's eyes. "I'm not just gonna forget you, Serah."
Serah sniffed, head turned away. "You're going through all these big changes, and you're old enough to manage all these things by yourself- and with Fang. Now you have her, and she's everything you want and love. It's not your fault, and I'm happy for you! I'm happy for everything you've got with Fang, but…"
"Serah," Lightning reached out and took her by the arms, steadying. "You're my little sister, my blood. You'll always be a part of my life. Even if we live in other worlds, I still love you. I always will." Lightning shook her head at the girl. "We don't live in the Stone Age, Serah. I'll be able to see you whenever you want."
Serah's eyes glistened. "I had a nightmare the other night, and it was storming when I woke up. I went to your room, but… you weren't there."
"You could have come to Fang's room."
Serah bit her bottom, trembling lip. "You two have been so intimate of late, I didn't want to… interrupt… anything… if you were…" Serah swallowed.
"Serah," Lightning intoned, lightly reprimanding while sympathetic at the same time. She reached her arms the rest the way around Serah and pulled her little sister into a hug. "You don't have to be shy to come if you're scared. That's why I'm here, you know. I'm your big sister, it's my duty to protect you." Lightning rubbed up Serah's back. "Your well-being will always come first before pleasure. I love Fang," Lightning squeezed her. "But you're my sister. You fit in too. Fang doesn't wanna come between us like that, you know? There's just some changes."
"Wouldn't you be mad? If I came and interrupted…"
"Well, as long as I'm not on top of her when you do…" Serah shied, but Lightning smiled kindly. "There is always a door that can be knocked to avoid that."
Serah hugged her back. "I'm still appalled at you for not waiting. How long have you two been… "
"It was our first time last night, Serah." Lightning corrected, guiding her sister over to the bed. She thought better of it last minute and took Serah over to Fang's couch instead. "We haven't been doing it like crazy." Not before last night, at least. Serah gave her a suspicious look. Lightning rolled her eyes. "She proposed to me yesterday afternoon."
Serah's eyes bulged. "She proposed? Fang proposed?"
"No. Lebreau did."
"OhmiGod Claire!" Serah squealed, taking her hand. "Let me see the ring!" Yanking Lightning's hand up towards her, Serah fingered the diamond, emerald studded bond. "It's so pretttty," Serah admired. "Kinda manly colored… blue and green, but!" Serah squeaked. "I approve." Dropping Lightning's hand, Serah reached around and squeezed her. "Congratulations, Claire! You're official!" Serah dropped her from the hug suddenly. "Why didn't you tell me? This is an immediate news thing! How could you wait?"
"Well… I think Fang and I both had the same mindset."
"Which was?"
Lightning quirked an eyebrow. "Sex."
Serah bristled. "Oh, you're such dogs. All of you. Fang's supposed to be this really nice, pure-minded little angel 'till you come in and totally perv her out." Serah shook her head. "Vanille seems like she'd go for sex before marriage too; all of you just can't keep it in your pants for the life of you." Lightning smiled faintly. Serah stiffened suddenly. "Wait- you didn't…" she glanced down. "Not on the couch… right?"
Lightning resisted another eyeroll. Relatively reassured by her expression, Serah settled back into it. "So… how was it? Did it hurt? It wasn't awkward, was it?"
"Fang's a nymph." Lightning grinned. "That's all you're getting."
"A nymph?" Serah gawked. "Like a nympho? You've addicted her to sex! OhmiGod," Serah cringed. "How many times did you guys do it?" Lightning's mouth quirked. "Two? Three?" An eyebrow lifted to join her smirk. "Four?" Serah gaped, then choked when Lightning still didn't confirm. "Five?" Serah gawked. "More than five? Claire!"
Lightning grinned, leaned forward on the couch and kissed her head. "You'll understand when you're older. Or when a certain redhead gets into your pants."
Serah blushed furiously, still gawking. "But… five plus? You guys are like animals!" Serah suddenly inched back on the couch. "You've bathed since, right?"
"Fang was good there, too."
"Ugrh!" Serah cowered. "Claire! Stop with the visuals! My ears are burning."
"You're the one that asked." Lightning chuckled.
"Yeah, 'cuz I thought Fang especially would be really sweet about it. Not 'cuz I wanna hear of your multiple sex-ploits." Serah shuddered. "You brought a condom into the shower with you to- " Serah read the expression on Lightning's face. "You… didn't?" Serah went into a whole new fit. "You didn't use a condom, Claire? For any of it? !" Lightning opened her mouth to respond, but Serah ran over her. "You had unprotected sex with Fang over five times, and it never crossed your mind? I know Fang wants to be a girl now, Claire, but that doesn't change that her penis could get you very pregnant!"
"I'm on birth control." Lightning countered.
"Since when?"
XXX
Fang tramped downstairs in high spirits. Though throbbing like a bitch down below- and not in the good way- she couldn't have been happier to greet this afternoon. With an extra spring in her step and smile on her face, Fang wandered down to the dining hall, discreetly rubbing herself a few times to settle the deep ache of her lower parts.
Asael swallowed as Fang came in, happier than ever he'd seen before. "Hey Dad," Fang greeted, crossing to the table to grab up some fruit. "Vanille said you wanted to talk to me?"
"Yes," Asael felt haunted, guiding his boy into manipulation like this. "Sit down, please, Fang."
Fang obeyed. "What's up, Dad?" Asael sat back in his chair as Fang reached for the pitcher of orange juice on the table, just like Asael knew she would. He closed his eyes. Elbows on the table, Asael ran a hand over his face.
"Fang… How've things been with Claire?"
Fang took the glass, setting down the pitcher. "They're good, Dad. They're really good. I proposed to her yesterday, and she said yes. Serah and Vanille are helping to plan the wedding."
Asael tried to smile, but it was difficult, knowing what he had to do when Fang was so happy. "I'm glad," Asael managed, wincing just a little. "Fang…"
When Asael trailed off, Fang took a long swig of the orange juice and picked up for him. "Dad, I know it's hard for you… hard to look at me because of my resemblance, hard to listen 'cuz I sound like her… I know you did the best you knew how to when raising me, and I don't blame you for any of it. I was freaked out too when I started developing, and shamed that it made me less of a man. But…" Fang stood and steadied herself with the table, a little woozy. She crossed around the edge to Asael, shaking the fatigue off. "This is who I feel like, Dad. Claire makes me feel good as I am. She's made me see that I can be comfortable with it… and she likes me this way. I like being this way with her too. We're both… happy, fully situated for each other."
Fang tried to blink away some black spots that were starting to cloud her vision, then shook her head when they stayed in place. "I want to make this easy for you, Dad. I wish I could make you both happy, and be the man you always wanted me to be… but I don't want that anymore. I just want to be family again, for you and Claire to get along… she'll be hard to win over in trust, but she's willing to try too, if you are…"
"Fang…" Fang was surprised when Asael looked up at her with tears in his eyes. Maybe it was just the black spots and darkness creeping over her vision. "I'm sorry." Asael apologized. "I'm sorry I wasn't a better father to you."
"Dad," Fang stumbled back a step, legs feeling weak like jelly. "I feel…" Fang stumbled back again, starting to fall.
Asael caught her before she could hit the ground. Fang blinked, trying to keep her eyes open. "Da…hh." Fang's tongue was thick in her mouth, stealing even that ability of speech as the world rapidly faded around her.
Asael's voice was heavy and slow, no louder than a whisper as he cradled Fang to his body. "Forgive me."
Fang closed her eyes and saw no more.
