Chapter 3:

Jumping at the feeling of the hand on her back Yuna spun her head around and had to suppress the urge to vomit. "Kramer. Please... don't." Yuna said covering her mouth again as she took a deep breath to try and suppress her urge to vomit. "Seriously what was wrong with your brother?" Yuna said covering her eyes to just avoid looking at the man.

"Lots of things ended up being wrong with him. Like lots of things. Why? Find anything new out?" The man asked as he got comfortable as he rolled his eyes at the sight of Yuna holding up a folder to just prevent them from looking at each other. "And is this seriously necessary?"

"Kramer... I know you aren't your brother. But seriously... with the shit he put Lightning through... and the fact he recorded it. I mean until I saw him doing it, I didn't even know what greenbacking meant. And I mean that in both the sexual way and the act of taming a wild horse. And the fact he did them both to a little girl... repeatedly. And then electrocuting her... over and over again. Not to mention the drowning... And I'm not even near the end and dear god I'm shocked Lightning hasn't killed herself seeing you because you both look identical. And the terrifying thing is... Cid wasn't the worst." Yuna said as she just took a deep breath.

"Yeah... Cid was always bad. But how is that one girl holding up?"

"She is in solitary right now for her own safety because someone walked up to her and abruptly hugged her which lead to her defending herself. Which leads to her normally attacking herself. And in my opinion she had a very tame reaction. Because those videos are... dear god if I had to watch them without a break to collect my thoughts and vomit, I'd be in here as a patient. If not the south building. It is a miracle that Lightning is as sane as she is."

"How much of a miracle? I know at the end my brother was awful... but I don't like to imagine he was really that bad at the start of the Purge." Kramer asked as Yuna just took a deep breath and began to shiver.

"Kramer... trust me... him during the trial seems so much better. I literally can't even look at you right now. What was with his fascination of breaking ribs on Lightning to prevent her breathing properly? And I know I could lose my license just by talking to you about this... but come on." Yuna said as she just took a deep breath. "I mean yes I want to help Lightning. I really do. But... the more we watch of that tape. The more I can feel what hope I have that everyone deep down is good and is repulsed by evil acts fade away... but I swear that woman has more proof than anyone that people really aren't and you just want to hug her but you know you can't unless she wants it because otherwise you are going to trigger something bad and I can't stress this enough just watching the videos has been enough to make me and Rosa both vomit... but her Father kept them and watched them and she lived through it all. And more and dear gods if anyone had a valid reason for suicide. I mean people were being instructed on where to stab her as so they could rape new holes without killing her and she just laughed."

"It still can't be that bad. I mean you know me Yuna."

"Kramer... I've seen and heard legitimately awful things that don't hold a candle to that footage. I once saw a man stab himself in the chest to pull out his beating heart claiming it would grant him access to the kingdom of hearts... but dear gods is that tame. Seriously... If it wouldn't be asking too much of Lightning or risking my entire livelihood from countless lawsuits. I still wouldn't show you any because no one should be able to see it."

"Is it seriously that bad?"

Using her free hand to cover her mouth, Yuna started to take some deep breaths. "Kramer, seriously just seeing you makes me want to vomit. And I know you aren't your brother, and I know you are one of the nicest people. I've even met your wife and am the godmother of your daughter... but seriously... I just watched some of it and I legitimately can't even really talk to or see you right now." Yuna said softly as she just took a deep breath. "I'm sorry Kramer. Just... give me like a day. And I should be back to my old self. Or at least enough to where I can talk to you."

"Okay."

Cracking her arm gently, Lightning took a deep breath as she could see the door opening to reveal Yuna standing there with a clear urge to hug her. Something that made Lightning just shiver at the thought of. "You watched more didn't you?"

"Wasn't sleeping anyways... and Rosa and I both did. Just... can..."

"Yes you can hug me... just not a long one." Lightning said as Yuna walked into the room and just wrapped her arms around Lightning giving her as tight of a hug as she felt comfortable with given everything about Lightning. She was just happy that Lightning had returned the hug. "I wish you would stop needing these after you watched more."

"You were stabbed and electrocuted and had several false ribs broken so you couldn't breath right and you were just laughing. So they waterboarded you using your own blood." Yuna said softly as Lightning just started to laugh a little.

'I remember that. Gods was that fun... that was about when we started to get better acquainted.'

"I remember it too..." Lightning whispered as she began to worm herself out from Yuna's grasp. "And in my defence it was really funny to me because by that point I already figured how much I meant to my father and they still didn't get it."

"That doesn't make it any better. If anything it makes it worse." Yuna said as she just took a deep breath. "Remember you are with me at nine, and then a double block with Rosa before lunch. If there are any problems you will need to go to Rosa after lunch. Because I will have been on for twelve hours and I need a really hot shower and like the type of steel wool used to clean car engines of rust and a cheese grater."

"Why do you always do this? That wasn't that bad. I mean... if my memory serves me they gave me a good two hours of sleep. I mean some of that they didn't even give me that. Once it was after two weeks without eating and I had to eat a rat that I had as a... I guess you'd call it a pet." Lightning said as she started to walk out of the room as she could see Yuna almost wanting to lunge in for another hug. Something that Lightning just had to put a stop to. "No more hugs right now. I... I just can't. I don't like the touchy feely stuff. You know that."

"If I ever meet the gods that decided to do that to you... I swear I'm going to kill them. I mean I literally had to tell Kramer to buzz off because I was going to vomit just looking at him and I get why you break down the way you do around him." Yuna said as she followed Lightning out. "And I maintain if I ever have a daughter who is even a fraction as strong as you are... I'll be one happy mother. You know if I can ever look at my husband naked again without just feeling the urge to run and hide in the shower as I cry." Yuna said as she just shivered before she shook her head and started to walk towards the elevator.

"Why does everyone keep saying that? I couldn't afford to break down. A Farron must never seem weak. We are the backbone of the world and must appear to be strong. Plus I still get really freaking giddy just thinking that my Father is dead." Lightning said as she started to laugh before she covered her mouth and took a deep breath to just calm herself down. "Okay. I'm good. I'm good. I know you don't like it when I laugh about his death."

"After what I got done watching last night... laugh away for a bit." Yuna said as she took a deep breath and just smiled at the sight of Lightning quickly running into the corner of the elevator. "Seriously... what was his issue?"

"When you are from a family that can and in his case probably has killed people with no consequences you tend to think nothing is off limits when it comes to decency... or even basic human emotions. I mean my Mom said she is glad me and Serah don't take after him in that regard... although I'd still would have loved to have gone to his funeral just to laugh and laugh. But Mom was right... I would not be able to make that many train trips in such a short time... plus probably would be banned from that church. Kind of like how I got banned from the hanging grounds of Dysley after they caught me laughing too hard and they were sure I broke something."

"I didn't even know you could be banned from execution grounds. But given who it was about... I'll allow that as well. And seeing as how skinny you were in the footage I've seen... and you said there is about a year after the last one was filmed... I could only imagine that you could have seriously hurt yourself from laughing." Yuna said as the doors closed.

"It was more so a polite asking if I could leave and get checked by the paramedics on sight. Mostly because I was still really really skinny because from the time I was awoken to then it wasn't very long to get weight back on... also pretty sure I was still on a super restricted diet just to get my weight back up to healthy. And some IV stuff... because if I remember right I was like the weight of a slightly underweight three year old and just above death from starvation."

"According to your medical records that point was long since past." Yuna spoke seeing Lightning just look at her with a sense of confusion. "According to the records we got which were just after you were rescued, you had a body mass index of someone that has either extreme anorexia and is on the verge of death, or are in fact dead. Because at no point should a young woman's be as low as yours was." Yuna said as Lightning shrugged her shoulders. "Seriously... one of these days you are going to run out of ways to surprise me Lightning... just please let the rest be good surprises. Like if you had a child and you didn't want your sister to be the godparent and would rather me... or I don't know... you have a drug addiction and need a material witness during the court case and for whatever reason it is a court in a jurisdiction that the Farrons don't own..."

"Pretty sure there aren't many of those left. Especially because Serah has messed up a bit and managed the impossible and got more wealth for our family."

"Yeah, a happy surprise like that. Didn't even know that was possible. Especially because you guys are what... seventy percent of the economy?"

"Eighty under my father, eighty three under Serah and growing. And if I ever get control, chances are it will start to plummet as I return a lot of control to people... but seeing as how ingrained we are... that might also just raise the economy."

"And I thought I was well off with minor stocks that have been doing well... meanwhile I have a patient who is worth more than I could ever dream of seeing the number let alone actually have." Yuna said with a smile as she began to shake her head as the doors started to open. "This is where you are getting off. Enjoy your oatmeal. I'll see you in a few hours."

"Thanks Yuna."

Walking quickly into the room, Lightning just smiled at the lack of the people as she walked up towards the counter where she could see the head chef already grabbing a bowl to fill with what Lightning felt like she needed.

"How was solitary? Heard you broke a guy's skull with another one." Kain said with a smile as Lightning accepted the bowl.

"I didn't break anyone's skull. Just some guy came up and hugged me. Some prince or something and his bodyguard placed his hands on me and before I knew it I had slammed one into the other." Lightning said as she could see the man just shaking his head.

"If you weren't a Farron you could have started a war by doing that."

"If I wasn't a Farron I'd be dead a long time ago probably from starvation... certainly wouldn't have survived the Purge. Also wouldn't need to be hugged so much by Yuna and Rosa. Just from seeing some tape."

"Is that what has been tearing them up inside? I know it is going to seem like I don't know women too well... but I just thought they saw some puppy drowning that they couldn't save. Or something else that women normally are emotional about. Didn't think it was some tape." Kain laughed out as he sighed gently. "So do you know what is on it?"

"Me being tortured and raped from about ages six to ten. In some very violent manners... it was meant to be material to convince my Father to pay the stipend to get me back... but little do they know that no one in my family makes any decision based on emotions."

"Dear gods why are they watching something like that?" Kain asked in a slightly hushed tone. "Why would you even answer th... Okay, you know what that one is on me. I should have known better. Everyone has a reason to be here. Or in your case a lot of reasons. Namely being perfectly fine with something that sends most adult women into a place like this when it happens to them."

"You get used to things like that. But I should get eating the first bowl. You know how they get if I'm late and if they find out it was mostly from us talking."

"You're right. I'll see you in like ten minutes for another serving."

Smiling at the man's comment, Lightning walked towards the table she could see Vanille sitting at with a smile on her face as she started to bounce softly at the sight of her. Something that just caused her to laugh softly at. "Light, you're out. Nice. Let me see your hands." Vanille said as Lightning placed the bowl down as she just stared at the woman. "Seriously Light. Every other time you've tried to break your hands... or just bleed. Like a lot."

"Van. Think about it. If I did either I wouldn't be here and instead in the medical wing. Although... it is kind of hard or did you forget they did change several of the doors down there to have no hard surfaces someone could damage a part of themselves on."

"Yeah after you bashed your head into a window and gave me all kinds of awful nightmares while you were in the hospital. Seriously, I've been here a long time and have talked to many people with suicide attempts under their belt... but no one has ever thought about doing that."

"That is because it isn't a very easy way to go. Let alone not a very clean and painless way. However if you want to cause yourself pain, and be hurt... there isn't a better way in those rooms."

"It is honestly a little scary you know that." Vanille said softly as she just took a deep breath and pierced the pseudo meat that Lightning still wondered how she had been able to eat it. "What has you so shaken up then? If you didn't hurt yourself it couldn't have been from what happened yesterday."

"Yuna watched more of that tape and hugged me... which means that Rosa is going to want it too... and I don't think I can stomach more hugs from them. Why is that everyone's first response to comfort?" Lightning complained as Vanille started to laugh gently as she dropped her fork to just try and take some deep breaths.

"I love that is what bothers you the most. Not even the fact from what you told me, the videos explain where most of the scars come from... but it was meant to break a man who couldn't be broken by anyone but you years later." Vanille said as Lightning just shivered lightly. "Seriously... it is just a hug Light. You don't mind it when I hug you... or when Serah does... or even your mother. And I'm sure if he could physically do it, Vivi would have hugged you when he was here."

"I do mind it. I mind all those. Just because my first response isn't to flip you over my shoulder or break some bones doesn't mean I don't mind it. I just tolerate it from Serah and occasionally my Mother. You... I've got no idea. It took Serah months to be able to surprise hug me for a few minutes." Lightning said as she scooped up some of her oatmeal as Vanille just smiled at her.

"It is because you love me..." Vanille said as she over emphasised love as Lightning blushed gently as she looked into her bowl. "And that is cute."

'She means gay'

"Shut up."

Author's Note:

And done.