Chapter 23:
Resting her head on Lightning's shoulder Vanille just smiled as she hummed softly as she pulled up Lightning's hand to just gently look at the appendage. She knew that once they got out of the van in twenty minutes that she would only really get to see Lightning's hand for the longest time. At least that is what it would feel like to her. Even if it was only going to be about eighteen hours. It was still going to feel like a lifetime.
"How is your hand?" Lightning asked calmly but in a very soft tone. One that Vanille knew in advance was Lightning asking for how much damage she should do to herself for some reason they forgot to put her into the solitary cell that had almost become a second room.
"It is fine Light. My hand itches. And I can't get to it. But it is the good luck hand so I wouldn't itch it anyways. Got no wood to scratch it." Vanille said in a soft tone as she could see Lightning looking at her with a sense of confusion. "It's a superstition amongst my people. When your right hand itches you are going to come into money unexpectedly. And if you scratch it with anything but wood or silver you are going to remove that possibility. Pretty much anytime your right side itches it is a good thing and it means something. If your left side itches it is a bad thing... well not bad but unfortunate version of the right."
"So if your left hand itches it means you are going to lose money unexpectedly?" Lightning asked trying to figure out what Vanille had meant which just caused Lightning to smile as Vanille quickly nodded her head with a small smile on her face. "That seems like a weird and frankly if you ask me a stupid superstition... but I suppose all are when you look at them objectively."
"Nuh-uh it totally is true. I mean Fang's hand was itching to hell and back when she finally got enough money to buy the last chunk of land around our old village. And every set back she had her other hand was itching." Vanille countered as Lightning just shook her head. "Maybe it isn't a thing people as rich as the gods can understand. I mean I grew up where my entire savings was a singular shiny button I found walking on the beach... and an I.O.U from Bahamut. Which I'm still yet to cash."
"That is so unfair... my family is a lot richer than all the religions combined." Lightning countered as she just smiled faintly at Vanille and gestured towards her as if proving her point. "You know it is unfair to bring up that. Mostly because my personal entire wealth is more than the doctors... including Yuna and Rosa. And my family wealth is the backbone of the economy." Lightning said as Vanille just stuck her tongue out at Lightning.
"That is what you get for being richer than gods. I'm going to pull the super poor card an awful lot. Point is my hand itches which means I'm going to get some money soon I wasn't expecting." Vanille continued as she could see Lightning just doubting her. "Trust me. It always works. I know it sounds a little stupid but it is true. My people have always been right when it comes to these things. Always trust the itching."
"That still sounds weird..." Lightning said as she just enjoyed Vanille eyeing her hand up closer. "Now what are you doing?"
"Checking... because I know the way your sister punishes you for hurting yourself. Get her to go with either the really pretty pink one... or the beautiful green one. Or the blue. I really like the blue one. It looks a lot like your eyes. But tell her to go very sparingly on the face makeup. And I swear to Pulse if you let her mess with your hair before me I'll be mad." Vanille said as she just smiled as Lightning just sighed.
"I can't get Serah to do anything when it comes to these kinds of things Vanille." Lightning said knowing at least Vanille understood that it was going to be tough on her and she was just trying to help her the best she could. At least that was what she was hoping. She never could piece together what was going through Vanille's mind.
"Tell her I requested it... and that should stop her. She is on my side in this regard. And stress that I'd be mad if I don't get to mess with your hair first once the bandages are off." Vanille spoke quickly as she could see the gates to the institute coming up knowing that meant her time with Lightning for the day seeing her face would be short.
"I'll tell her... but I don't think that will work really well. Like you once an idea has worked its way into Serah's head nothing is dislodging it. I mean that is why I'm even in the institute."
"And because you tried to stab yourself with a big knife through your arm..." Vanille said as Lightning's head shot towards her. "We've talked once or twice... before your father died... and once or twice before she really got going doing all the fairly boring stuff... at least boring from my stance. She did say that once we're out we need to find a place to bury some bourbon... she told me that it is something sweet that you supposedly would understand... she also said something else..."
"To not tell me probably..."
"That was it. Why?" Vanille asked as Lightning just rolled her eyes and swung her head backwards.
"It is a tradition where my family's favourite house is that a couple do months before a wedding. The couple literally bury a bottle of alcohol on the spot they want to wed and then dig it up just after the ceremony to have a toast."
Seeing the van coming to a stop Vanille just frowned internally knowing what this meant. "That sounds fun... but there would need to be a lot more than just one... Fang can drink. And some of the people from the orphanage I grew up in would need to be invited and they can all drink like good Pulseians."
Laughing softly as they could see Rosa climbing out from the front, Lightning just looked towards Vanille. "A toast is just a glass each." Lightning said as she gently pulled Vanille closer just to hug her one last time. "And you know that we are going to be parting for a while here... don't get into trouble and listen to your doctors."
"I promise you I won't get into trouble... at least not much. Probably going to either sit in the library or just sit in the greenhouse and stare at the sky. Looks like prime cloud watching weather. I just wish you could join me... but I agree with Rosa... you are too much of a risk to yourself if they left to just trusting you. And I'd rather talk to you through a door for a day or so instead of you being in the hospital for longer or worse..."
"I don't like being in the greenhouse anyways. Yuel keeps glaring at me... and then out of nowhere seems fine."
"Yuel is fine... when she is in the greenhouse largely... just she does have issues like everyone... just she has a lot more because she has multiple personalities... but just about all are fine." Vanille spoke as she felt a frown overtake her face as she could see the door opening behind Lightning with Rosa standing there. "And that means we need to stop the hug Light..." Vanille said reluctantly as Lightning just sighed softly.
"I know... stay safe for me Vanille. Please."
"I will. And just remember Light that I did this to myself."
"Okay."
"Vanille, can you wait a few minutes? Yuna is going to see Lightning down, but I do still need to talk to you." Rosa spoke as Lightning just started to slide out from the vehicle as she could see Yuna walking out of the building and bounding down the stairs.
Lightning could see a frown behind the smile she plastered on her face as she could see behind the makeup to see the circles under her eyes. It was a sight that Lightning hated to say that she was getting used to seeing. She had hoped that Yuna would have gotten some decent rest... but she also knew that Yuna also hadn't been able to get certain things out of her head. Namely what Lightning had gone through that was filmed.
"Light... I want you to know that we aren't putting you in the solitary room as a punishment. I need to stress that to you." Rosa said as she walked with Lightning up towards Yuna.
"I know. It is for my own safety while I try to figure this out... Vanille and I do know that... we just aren't happy that we'd only get to talk through the door." Lightning said as Rosa and Yuna both shared a look as they relaxed a little. "Just... I want you to remember that I am sorry you are having to stay this late."
"It's okay Light. I don't mind. It is something that comes with the job. I'm just glad that your mother was able to come and I am happy to see you willingly initiating hugs with people." Rosa said as Yuna looked at her shocked. "I'll explain later. Come on you both should get in and settle."
Gesturing behind her Yuna smiled as Lightning started to walk up the steps with Yuna just next to her. It was such a nice building that Lightning hated the fact that she was getting used to this view of it. Even though she knew that they didn't have the instruments to really check to see if Lightning hadn't damaged her head any and at least they knew for sure about Vanille's hand even though that did still leave an awful feeling in the pit of her stomach.
It was as if the bile still hadn't settled from the previous night, even though she knew that Vanille doesn't have it in her to lie about anything excluding lies of omissions. She knew that Vanille as well as many people are prone to those. Including Lightning's two doctors. But she knew that they often used them for the best... it is just she figured that if Vanille had hurt herself worse she would have rather if Vanille had been honest with her about it.
"I'm sensing you are thinking about something... want to talk about it?" Yuna asked as she finished signing the paperwork she had been working on for Lightning's return into the building.
"You didn't get much sleep and are trying to hide it... was it the video you've been watching with Rosa?" Lightning asked as Yuna just sighed, shaking her head.
"I'd be lying if I said that wasn't playing a part. Doesn't help that my husband has started to think this is some weird foreplay from me just sleeping in our spare bedroom with the door locked." Yuna said as she waved the orderly off as they started to walk towards the elevator.
"Why try to hide the lack of sleep?"
"Not all my patients are as observant as you Light." Yuna countered as she pressed the call button for the elevator.
"If it would help you are welcome to share a part of the video with your husband as long as the copy you let him watch is destroyed..." Lightning said with a small smile as she could see Yuna turning around.
"It is nice but I don't think that is wise. Tidus isn't exactly known for being quiet on the best of times and this is a large, large thing." Yuna said as she could see Lightning looking at her confused.
"Why would you marry someone like that? That just sounds draining... doesn't help that he seems like a clod. That is also pretty dumb from the few interactions I've had with him."
"The heart wants what the heart wants Light. I always thought he was a lot more like a puppy. He always means well when he does something, it is just he is very ham fisted when he does it... it is still done with the purest of intentions. And is always sweet about it. So I tend to overlook a lot of his clodlike attitudes." Yuna said as the doors opened and they walked into the elevator. "I mean I'm sure Vanille does a lot of things you dislike."
"Only the surprise hugs... and how she'll willingly injure herself when I'm doing something fairly normal."
"I support that sentiment with the addendum that breaking the skin from bashing the back of your head against a wall isn't something fairly normal. A light tap repeatedly yeah. Dangerous but normal." Yuna spoke as she could see Lightning about to say something as Yuna just raised her hand to cut her off. "I'm not saying what Vanille did is normal but she saw red and probably just thought quickly."
"Still sucks... especially because she is going to be on about this for months now. The only upside is the fact that she might now finally get off the whole me not wanting to join her with her crusade of getting a joint room." Lightning said softly as she started to walk out of the metal box she was just happy that the room she normally got was still empty with the door wide open.
Walking into the room, Lightning took a seat on the bed as she looked towards Yuna who walked into the room. "Regardless, I'll be down here in a few hours for us to talk. Would you like me to bring something?"
"Books... and news of Vanille." Lightning said as Yuna just smiled at the comment knowing which one really was the important thing to Lightning. It was a little funny that she was trying to bury the lead like she was. "And... that is going to be all..."
"Are you sure?" Yuna asked as Lightning just frowned as she shook her head at what Yuna knew wasn't something directed at her. "Okay. Just if you think of something let the orderly outside know and tell him to pass the message to me."
"Okay."
Smiling faintly as she sat in the chair. Vanille just started to swing her legs back and forth as she knew that this part was tedious but it was an important thing even if she didn't really understand it. She was just happy she could see Yuna walking back into the waiting area. Just the sight of her was enough for Vanille to smile. Because it meant she could get something about her girlfriend's condition even though she knew that Lightning was going to be safe. Just the fact the place wasn't put on lockdown was proof enough of that. It was just going to be good to hear.
Ignoring what she had promised Rosa, Vanille quickly got out of her seat and ran towards Yuna as she quickly hugged her before she pulled back and winced with tears in her eyes as she tried to ignore the pain but failed.
"She is fine Vanille." Yuna said as she gently raised the teen's head as she just smiled at her faintly. Just hoping that the woman was going to be fine but seeing the tears was enough to make her question that. "How bad is your hand?" Yuna asked knowing that if she really wanted to know if Vanille didn't want to tell her she could just ask Rosa.
"Broke my hand and wrist." Vanille said as she started to cradle the damaged arm as she could see Yuna just sighing gently. "Lightning doesn't know... please don't tell her." Vanille said as she looked towards Rosa who had nodded her head in what Yuna just knew that it was something that she should keep that way for as long as possible. "And it is really really sore and I think I just hurt it more..."
"It is going to be sore. But depending how bad of a break it is, it should stop being in as much pain in a few days." Yuna said as she gestured towards the chairs. "You should take another seat. I need to just have a few words with Rosa in private. Okay?" Yuna asked as Vanille nodded her head and started to walk back towards her seat.
Seeing her taking the seat, Yuna just smiled as she walked over towards the head doctor. "How is she doing?" Rosa asked as she tapped the pen against the counter just looking for something that was a distraction so she and Yuna could talk about Lightning.
"She is fine. She made the normal requests... and offered to let me show Tidus some of the video making me promise it was destroyed afterwards." Yuna said, causing Rosa to look at her. "I'm not looking for a copy. Tidus won't be able to handle it right now. He isn't like Cecil. And I don't think he'd be able to handle seeing someone in that kind of condition. No matter how long ago it was."
"That is good... but I'll still make one just in case. Use it at your own discretion. Just keep the promise of it being destroyed..."
"I'd rather not have it Rosa... but if you think it is wise, sure. And I'd take a sick sense of happiness at destroying it. But how is Vanille?"
"Minor break. She'll be in the cast for a week and a half. But don't let Lightning know it is a break. She just thinks it is a sprain."
"Okay."
Author's Note:
And there is yet another chapter down. And unfortunately I need to take yet another break from posting. Life sucks with getting in the way when I just want to write.