Chapter 33 Camping Trip part 2
Lightning looked outside as the downpour wasn't ceasing. "Maybe your family guardian wanted you to learn a lesson."
"A lesson? Seriously Fang? Last I checked, I don't need to learn another lesson in survival. Plus, if this knight is a family guardian, then it should've known better than to cast me into a storm and only get us trapped in a cave. Your logic is ridiculous."
"Not ridiculous. The last time I summoned Bahamut, I learned a lesson of magic versus brute strength. If my superstitions about summons are wrong, then answer me this; How is history repeating itself for you?"
"Excuse me?"
"Yeah, I heard the story about you getting caught in the storm."
Lightning felt her anger boil slightly, "Whoever told you that story is lying! I totally survived."
Fang exhaled sharply, "Well, your sister said you nearly failed and had to nurse you back to health because you were sick."
"I'm going to give Serah a piece of my mind for telling you that. That story…"
"You're getting angry because you know it's true. You nearly failed, and you don't like it when you feel flawed. I know this. I learned this firsthand," Fang said, keeping calm.
Lightning glared at her, "You don't know anything!"
"I know that I love you. I know that I can at least admit I made mistakes in my life, and I can even tell you stories of near-death experiences and still be fine. Now you're actually panicking because we're stuck in the middle of a storm in a cave. You're actually scared because it happened in your past. I can see you shaking Light."
"I'm not shaking."
"Prove it."
Lightning looked at her and glared once again, still trembling, "Well maybe… I'm just cold," the soldier lied.
"I hate fighting with you, Sunshine, but fine, if your cold, why don't you come closer?"
"How about no?"
"Then freeze," Fang said dryly, "Honestly, you said it yourself you hate camping, no thanks Fang for actually trying to help me figure out this power, no thanks Fang for the nice cabin, so we don't have to stay in tents, no oh gee thank you, Fang, I love you. You know what, if you're that mad at me for something I didn't do, you need to re-evaluate soldier girl!"
Lightning furrowed her brow, "Shut the hell up!"
"You're getting angry all because I actually wanted to see the extent of your power. I was trying to do that to help you. Keep hiding it; you might accidentally do it at work someday. Then it won't be my fault if you can't control Odin."
"I can control Odin fine!"
"Not even the summon, can you even control your magic? What if someone scared you and you accidentally released a fireball at them or shocked them with a thunder spell? Then what? I'm just trying to help, so you don't panic if you accidentally do it. Your boss thinks so highly of you that he wouldn't fire you!"
"He's fired great people in the past all for magic. I've seen good men and women fired."
"Well, that's in the past. Start the movement now!"
A crack of thunder was heard overhead as the two screamed at each other.
As the rain continued to come down, and a gust of wind was heard outside, Fang stood up and walked out of the cave and screamed once more. This actually felt like their first real fight, though it wasn't.
The last time they fought was when Fang irritated Lightning after a long day of work; that the soldier just wanted to relax and Fang kept trying to get her to spar, which only ended in Fang getting screamed at all because Lightning had also been sore from a training exercise with Tidus that ended with her bruised and sore.
Lightning hated fighting with Fang; she hated coming off as a bitch and hurting her like this. To hear Fang scream in frustration only made her feel worse.
Fang came back and settled in one spot, not even looking at the soldier across from her.
Lightning sighed softly, unwavering blue eyes fixated on the Oerban.
Fang just wanted Lightning to have fun and actually learn a lesson. However, she basically pushed her away and yelled at her when she was supposed to be having fun and a good weekend.
Lightning didn't say a word as she pulled her knees closer to her chest, mumbling something.
Fang relaxed against the wall of the cave. Green eyes looked up from their spot slightly before closing.
Neither said a word as the awkward silence took the two.
Even if they weren't talking, Lightning eventually made her way over towards Fang. Finally settling beside her, the Oerban looked at her with sadness in her eyes.
"Look… I'm sorry, Fang. I said a few things I didn't mean. I have a problem with letting my pride get in how I forget that and hurt you. I hate fighting with you too…" she looked down, tears starting to form in her eyes as she wiped her eyes with a hand.
Fang noticed, "Don't cry, Sunshine. I also said a few things I shouldn't have. I'm sorry I got us into this, but I wanted to help you, so you don't cause many to panic at work or even have something bad happen to you. When Serah told me the story, I knew you were trying to hold yourself together. I sort of knew what this weekend was going to be like. Sorry…"
Lightning sniffled and buried her head against Fang's shoulder, as she snuggled closer into the warmth of the Oerban, "I forgive you."
Fang turned over and pulled Lightning closer, so the soldier straddled her lap as Lightning set her forehead against Fang's, her icy breath started to warm as Fang kept the heat from her fire magic traveling through her body to keep the other warm.
"You're soaked to the bone, though, and I hate we don't have anything warm other than body heat, but if we both get sick, you can blame me."
Lightning moved her head closer to Fang's, pressing her lips against Fang's, her arms stayed on the Oerban's shoulders as Fang kept her arms around the soldier's waist.
"We've got each other; I'm staying with you, Sunshine."
The two stayed close.
Fang realized she was getting tired.
"...Hey." Lightning mumbled, still half asleep.
"Hey," Fang said, heavy-lidded as exhaustion started to settle in.
"You look exhausted, Fang."
"I am. Using too much power to keep heated."
"Take a break then. Don't want you burning yourself out if it requires too much magic."
"I'll be fine, Sunshine. Just tired. Don't even know what time it is."
"I couldn't tell you that. Left my phone at the cabin."
"Try to conjure fire. Maybe you can."
Lightning took a deep breath as she looked at Fang. Noticing the other starting to exhaust, the soldier thought about Fang and everything she did for her, only causing Lightning to feel worse. Tears slowly began to form in the corners of her eyes.
'I love her too much. Now's my turn to keep her warm,' Lightning thinks.
Fang looked at Lightning as she felt a sudden surge of heat along her body, surprised there was a crystal of warmth as she knew she felt Odin's presence as did she think of her parents. It felt like two hands on her shoulders as if telling her it's okay.
'Mom? Dad? Are you guys helping me?' Lightning closed her blue eyes staying close to Fang as the two remained in each other's arms keeping each other warm.
When the storm broke, morning came. The sun started to peak as Lightning felt the first warm rays of sunlight.
Fang was still sleeping as Lightning carefully shifted and got off the Oerban, who gripped her by the wrist.
"Going without a kiss?" Fang asked, slightly exhausted.
Lightning knelt down beside the Oerban and kissed her a good morning.
"Serah and Vanille are going to kill us when we get back. Serah probably was dialing my phone, wondering why I didn't answer all night."
"Vanille too."
"About last night, all I gotta say is I'm sorry," Lightning admits. "I was kind of being stubborn and frantic, but yes Serah's story is true. I'm actually embarrassed my intensive camping exercise wasn't perfect, and I still hate that I cover those scars. The scar, though faded from my wrist, is a reminder I lived through it. I was a stupid rookie who tried to be perfect in everything, and I just sort of let my emotions get in the way."
"Sunshine, I don't care if you have flaws. You don't need to be perfect for me. It's one of the reasons I love you so much because you actually aren't perfect. I feel like that came out wrong, but it's true. You have flaws and have started coming around with your emotions, and I can appreciate you for being you. Perfect or not, you're my girlfriend. Not Serah's, not Snow's, you're mine, and I love you."
Lightning felt one of her eyes start to mist as she used the back of her hand to wipe her face. "I'm fine; love you too, Fang. Still hate doing that to you."
"Sunshine, we're done talking about it. Right now, I just want to get to the others and actually lay in bed. I'm a bit sore from sleeping on the floor of a cave."
"Let's get home. Serah and Vanille are probably worried sick. I do feel a lot better from last night, though."
"Me too. Hopefully, those two made breakfast. I'm starving."
Lightning looked down, embarrassed as her stomach growled.
"And I think you are too. Let's go," Fang offered, Lightning her hand.
The two walked for quite a bit of distance and found a stopping place. There was a cabin where a couple, a man and his wife, relaxing in it; they noticed the two, looking exhausted, "Howdy strangers. You two look like you need a break. Rough night?"
"Uh, we're fine. Just going back to our cabin. We got stuck in a rainstorm last night."
"Well, we have bottles of water if you need something to drink. You both look like you need a drink." The woman said as Lightning nodded, "That would be fine."
After some water, the two continued their trek until they reached the cabin. Both were still exhausted, but the smell of breakfast cooking only made the two hungrier.
At the cabin, Serah and Vanille were sitting at the picnic table in front and noticed the two walking towards the cabin as Lightning and Fang both sat at the picnic table.
When Serah and Vanille noticed their sisters, the two started to laugh. "You two look like you got soaked in the rain, also sis, your hair is a mess, Fang you always have messy hair, but oh my goodness!"
Lightning just found her head lower as Serah pointed between her and Fang.
"We're mad at both of you though, why didn't you bring a phone?! No, hey, we're going out. What gives?!" Serah yelled.
"It's a long story. Blame me," Fang looked down.
Vanille sighed sharply. "You idiot! What were you thinking?! You and Lightning got lost? Fang, you are a mighty good tracker. I find that hard to believe," Vanille looked at Fang as she put her head in her hands, "Don't tell me you got lost."
"And you Claire, honestly? If you two just wanted to find a place to have alone time, you should've told me."
Fang shook her head, "Light wants to wait until marriage, and you think I had—are you serious, Mini Farron? Surely you should know this?"
As Serah and Vanille both continued their rant, Lightning and Fang tuned them out.
Serah served both a plate of food, though, after hearing both stomachs growl.
Lightning and Fang both dug into their food. Once Fang was done, she rested her head on her arms on the table.
"And you both are on kitchen duty for the rest of the weekend! Thanks a lot for scaring both of us by not returning last night."
Lightning and Fang both sighed, but they were glad they were back. Even if Serah and Vanille didn't believe them, Lightning was delighted that Serah and Vanille didn't hear about the fight between her and Fang.
The fight had only caused the two to open up a bit more, even though the fight also helped Lightning figure out her magic and one of her sources. Their relationship was more robust, and that was one thing that the two needed.
Lightning thought about a conversation she had with her mother when she was young.
'Why do you and dad stay together when you guys fight? I heard you two yelling at each other and had to keep Serah calm,'
'Claire, you're a smart girl, but married couples fight sometimes. It's a fact of life. Sometimes, we often think we are both right in a fight. Your father was mad about a silly thing, as was I. However, sweetie, if you ever find a person to be in a relationship with, when you're old enough, that you will sometimes have fights.'
'But don't you and dad love each other?'
'We love each other very much, my Claire bear. Cas taught me that even in our marriage, for the years we have been married, that you have to fight through the bad days to earn the best days of your life.'
'But it doesn't make any sense, you two fight and yet you still love each other,'
'Claire bear, when you're old enough, you'll understand. We all fight, sort of like when you and Serah fight over things. I understood what I would get into when I married your father. He may be a soldier first and foremost, but he's my husband, and he's your father, and together we are very blessed being yours and Serah's parents. We love both of you girls very much, and that's why when we fight, we prove we love each other more. When I look at your father, I realize that I assumed love wasn't a thing worth fighting for. However, I was ready for that war with your father, and I'm extremely thankful to be through it. I would do it all over and be extremely blessed because I love you, I love your father, and I love your sister. And to answer your question Claire Bear, yes, couples fight, but the strongest couples learn to put up with the bad moments because at the end of the storm comes a rainbow. You just gotta find it.'
Lightning furrowed her brow looking at Fang, who had fallen asleep at the table; she got up, went to Fang, and gently pulled her up, "Let's get you to bed, Fang."
"Okay, Sunshine."
Vanille and Serah watched as Lightning helped Fang to bed and waited for Lightning to return, only to find out both had fallen asleep.
Clearly, both were exhausted, and Serah actually started to believe what happened to the two.
"Claire isn't a liar for the most part. I think I actually believe them."
"Plus, those two were exhausted. Plus, not like they were going to go to another cabin or anything. They only have the key to this place."
After some sleep, Lightning and Fang were back to their usual selves, just like before the trip. Now, Lightning and Fang were just having a great time together, surprising both Vanille and Serah.
Enjoying some swimming and just enjoying her summer vacation, Lightning actually had a better time now she and Fang had that fight. It only strengthened their relationship a bit more, and it was thanks to some words that she remembered her mother said.
The two just enjoyed the rest of their little vacation, and when it was time to go home, Lightning felt a bit thankful that Fang and she had gotten stranded. With a nice campfire to end the last night in the wilderness, the group had smores as Lightning and Fang actually were cuddling close. The two didn't leave each other's sides much. Serah was even more surprised that her sister was having fun instead of moping around.
The rest of the trip was fun. Serah, Fang, Vanille, and even Lightning had the time of their lives and just enjoyed what time they had as a group. Though it was weird, Lightning was glad she had spent the weekend with the three. Going back home, they were ready for the week ahead, as Lightning noticed an email on her work computer.
The news that seemed extremely exciting; Cid Raines was returning home.
