AN - Heyyy so just while I was grabbing some details on my A03 account I realised that it was a year to the day when I began to publish In Too Deep. So here's a long waited chapter to celebrate the birthday for this AU of sorts! Things are still pretty bullshit so updates will continue to be sporadic, but hey considering I've been writing every day since November 2016, I think I'm owed a break! Cheers for sticking with it all, and as always, hoorayimuseful on Tumblr for updates, renders and other flight/fangrai obsessiveness.
Serah stepped into the hotel restaurant the following morning to find Vanille sitting at a table, tapping away on her laptop. Her breakfast sat next to her, mostly untouched as she worked, though she was at least making an effort to drink the coffee that sat next to her.
A whistle caught Serah's attention as Fang waved her over by the breakfast counter. "Good morning, mini-lightning," the Pulsian greeted warmly, handing her an empty plate. "It's a help yourself affair around here, sweetheart. Go grab some breakfast from the trays and I'll come join you in a minute."
The young Farron was bustled along and her plate filled quickly. The restaurant was busier than she thought, with many people smiling and laughing. It reminded her of the early days in the Warrens, where the people had seen Fang and her ilk as their saviors and protectors. It was beginning to look like the same thing was occurring here.
She sat down across from Vanille and gave her a smile. The redhead barely looked up from her typing, pausing to sip at her coffee.
"I'm still mad at you."
"You came down to help your sister, Vanille. You can't expect me to sit back and not do the same. After the way we left things… I couldn't… How do you reconcile it? You are back with Psicom yet your sister is still in a notorious gang."
Vanille sighed and closed her laptop, pushing it away in place of her breakfast. "It's my fault they're in this mess in the first place. The only reason they're still active as a gang is because Rygdea and I have been using them to get around red tape when it comes to people like those in the Triads. They had otherwise been going through legitimate channels."
Serah poked at her own food with her fork. Legitimate channels. The very thing that they had argued about on the pier almost a year ago. The very argument that had them going their separate ways. She hadn't even had the chance to tell her sister about her engagement with Snow.
"You know what your problem is? You still view all of this the same way your sister did in the early stages. Always so bloody mindful of the damned line." Fang interjected, sliding into the seat beside her with a hug. "The line doesn't exist. We're just people looking after those who cant look after themselves. I mean look around you, Serah. These are people that have lived in a shipping crate and drank rust instead of coffee for years. Some decades. This city had failed them. Turned their backs on them. Abandoned them. And here they all are, after a good night sleep on a bed, they're getting fed and cleaned up, and they're not worrying about the line."
Fang reached across and grabbed Vanille by the hand, giving her a gentle squeeze. "If we both spent more time worrying about which side of the bullshit line we fell on, we wouldn't speak to each other. We're both just trying to make the world a better place."
"Though your methods are marginally more explosive than mine, Fang." Vanille drawled, point her fork at her sister. Fang laughed and drew back, relaxing in the chair.
"How is Claire anyway?" Serah asked, concerned after she had vanished last night and leaving her with Vanille to organize lodgings. Fang shrugged and took a sip of her coffee, trying not to burn her tongue.
"She'll be alright, bruised ribs and a few scrapes, strained her shoulder. Lightbulb just needs some rest and she'll be good to go."
The sound of a throat clearing caught Fang's attention, and she turned to find Vaan waiting patiently for her. He handed her an envelope with a grin and she rose her eyebrows at the very obvious foreign scrawl on the front that was addressed to her.
"Aye? What's this? Vaan, where'd you get this note?" Fang asked, tracing over the Pulsian script carefully with her fingertips. The boy shrugged and pointed behind him.
"I dunno, it was on the doorstep this morning when I came back from running errands for Balthier."
Fang hummed thoughtfully as she pried open the envelope and read through the note. Her eyebrows rose as she translated the old tongue, the curved script of the Pulsian writing scratchier than anything she'd see from others from the village. Perhaps a fake, or an imposter. How he managed to deliver the note to the door without getting shot to hell from the patrols... Fang surmised he must know the locals from the Strahl and posed no threat.
"What's it say?" Vanille asked, in between bites of food. Fang narrowed her eyes at the note and tapped her fingers against the table in frustration.
"Information regarding a few targets in the Triads, offered up as a gift. This mystery alleged Pulsian is beginning to get on my nerves."
Vanille opened up her laptop again to search the databases she now had access to courtesy of the field trip to the precinct, and still came up empty for this mystery man's identity. "He is the least of our concerns. We need to figure out how to keep this place safe from attack from the Triads. Lightning is right, this is a pretty big target and there's little stopping them from taking it back."
"Unless you don't make it a target..."
Fang and Vanille both turned their heads slowly, to stare at Serah who had kept her head bowed and her eyes focused on her breakfast. She vowed to never get involved with any of her sister's line of "work", and yet here she is in the thick of it all over again.
"What you getting at, mini-Farron?" Fang asked, curious as to whatever was running through the young girl's head. If she was anything like her sister, she was very likely a bit of a tactical marvel herself.
"Well, go legitimate. Open this place as a homeless support centre for Yusnaan."
Giving a restrained sigh, Fang gave her a pat on the shoulder. "It's not like the Warren's where the locals support us, even if they did that wouldn't be enough to stop the rocket launchers. I am worried that Light has a valid point."
"No, I mean. Let them take the credit for it. Make a huge scene. Grand opening, get the international press in. Look at how magnanimous the Triads heads are by gifting this old hotel to your shell corporation. If you make a public scene, it will put him in a position where he would be looked on... unfavourably if he then tries to tear it down. Vanille, can you change the deeds across and arrange a press conference? Tidy the place up and invite the cameras in. Just... Hide the weapons."
Vanille and fang stared at her wide-eyed, before Fang wrapped her arms around her. "You're a fucking genius, Farron. Gods, it isn't a guarantee but to potentially humiliate and trash Bhunivelze publically? That smug fucker would absolutely hate his reputation being tarnished and..." She paused, looking between Serah and her sister. "Did you finish your degree?"
Serah nodded, narrowing her eyes at this sudden question. "Mid way through last year, why?"
A knowing smile crossed Fang's face and she gave her sister a look. "You're here to help, right? Want to help Vanille do up profiles on these arseholes? That way, you're helping us put a stop to the Triads, give this city back to the people so we can go the fuck home, and you're not having to worry about that line you Farrons are always paranoid about."
Giving the Pulsian a sardonic glare, Serah sighed and bowed her head. "I will help where I can." She said, moving seats so she was next to Vanille. The two sat down to work while Fang stood with a pastry half stuck in her mouth. She left the sister-in-laws together, Going off in search of food to take to her wife.
Lightning winced and ran a hand along her protesting ribs, watching the madness unfolding in the streets. Markets, jumping castles, entertainers and journalists everywhere. She spied a few members of the Triads milling about the crowds, no doubt looking for an opportunity to strike. This time it was her with the rib injury, not Fang so she was standing on the sidelines keeping an eye on proceedings.
"Hard to believe this was all my sister's idea..." She muttered to herself, scanning the people and keeping her guard up. Lightning caught wind of a particular smoke, all dark rum, cloves and tobacco and groaned. "Of course you'd be here." She complained, turning to see the familiar Pulsian pest sidling up alongside her.
"And miss a celebration so brazenly displayed in front of the Triads? Why little lady, I wouldn't miss this for the world."
They stood in silence, Lightning trying to spot her wife amongst the sea of people. She could see Fang interacting with some locals and the media, putting on the charm. Naki watched the lazy smile on her face and shook his head.
"Young pups in love. Does the heart good you know. Girlfriends?"
"Wives." Lightning replied, getting irritated with the personal line of questioning. "We got married last year."
Naki's good eye widened before he turned away, remaining silent as he watched Fang mill about the crowds. "Huh. Well there you go. Guess I've been told. You even got the Pulsian ritual marking and everything. No fancy Cocoonian ring?" He asked, glancing at the scar across her finger. Lightning scowled and shoved her hand in her pocket, her posture getting increasingly defensive.
"In our line of work, rings are impractical."
"Well then, that's just amazing to hear. You know if Fang got my gift?"
Lightning rolled her eyes and shrugged, her patience wearing thin. "The Triads targets? One thing at time, Naki. We need to secure this place first, then we can see whether or not this offered information is a gift, or a trap."
Naki hummed, his scars on his right side wrinkling as he watched Fang finish up. "Well, hopefully it all works out. Don't need you girlies gunnin' for me as well."
"As well? What are you..." Lightning turned to find Naki gone, vanished into the crowd. She growled at the masses of people and jumped as she felt hands slide around her. Hissing in pain from being startled, she turned to find Fang pulling her gently into waiting arms. With a sigh, she nestled into Fang's chest and let the brunette hold her up for a while.
"What's got you in a mood?" Fang asked, trailing her fingers through the pale hair. There was only a grumble in response and she kissed the top of Lightning's head. "You're cute when you're grumpy you know?"
"Shut up." Came the muffled reply from Fang's chest.
"I won't tell anyone how adorable you are. That's a secret only I get to enjoy."
"I'm going to stab you."
"I'm sure you will, darling." Fang cooed, happy to have her partner in her arms. It was good to see the revellers and entertainers, it reminded her of brighter times in the Warrens.
The journalists moved in a heap towards an approaching limousine and both women tensed as a tall, old man stepped from the vehicle. He carried a curved staff that he used as a walking stick, his narrow face looking up at the hotel building in displeasure. Fang stepped away from Lightning and took a breath, making sure her pistol was hidden beneath her jacket.
"Show time..." Fang muttered, giving Lightning a quick, chaste kiss on the lips. "Let's hope your sister was right about this, huh? Make sure everyone is in position in case this all goes to hell."
Jumping down from the platform, Fang weaved through the crowd and jumped up on the podium and tapped at the microphone. "Everyone give a round of applause for the man of the hour, the most generous humanitarian in Yusnaan!"
The old man looked startled by the eruption of cheers and applause around him, and he smiled and shook a few hands modestly. His eyes however were fixed on Fang the entire time and they held nothing but fury as he made his way up to the podium. He stood a head taller than Fang, and loomed over her as he approached. Holding his wiry hand over the microphone, he smiled cruelly, his teeth appearing sharpened.
"I will admit I am impressed by your... Resourcefulness, Yun Fang. Not only did you survive the plane ride, you somehow manage to rip my building out from under me, and stage this brazen circus in the hope that I won't raze it to the ground with the world watching."
Fang straightened her spine and held her hand out, keeping her face a mask. He took her hand for the photo opportunity and gripped it firmly, his manicured nails filled into points. Two of his long, bony fingers dug into her wrists, piercing the skin and making her bleed from her veins.
"Keep the building, Ragnarok. It changes nothing. It will not stop me from making you watch as I destroy everyone you love. I will rend your sister in two, slowly. Painfully. I will tear your wife apart in front of you. Once I have draped their entrails around you, only then will I end your miserable life. And I will do it by making you choke on your lover's heart."
Fang snarled at him, his threatening words fuelling her rage. She knew that she'd put herself in a position where he couldn't do anything while the cameras were trained on them, but then again neither could she. "Dysley underestimated us as well, Bhunivelze. Don't forget how he wound up."
He grinned cruelly and release her wrist, turning to address the media. "Yes yes, it's all true. This hotel hasn't been... performing to my expectations recently, but rather than tear it down or sell it, we thought it would be better re-purposed to this support centre for Yusnaan's homeless. I have every faith that the new owners will take every effort to provide for our citizens. Now I'm happy to answer any questions as need be..."
Fang stepped off the podium, clutching at her wrist to stem the bleeding. She was dragged into a nearby tent and met with her sister and Lightning immediately sitting her down. With a sheepish expression, she showed her wrist and Lightning cursed while Vanille immediately put a compression bandage over the wound.
"Bloke's got a strong grip." Fang joked weakly, Lightning watching her for any signs of distress. When Fang got quiet, it usually meant she was scared. She ran a hand through the Pulsian's wild hair and guided her gaze up by tilting her jaw.
"You alright?"
"We need to wrap this up. Make sure it's only our people heading back into the building. Then we need to get that gift from that Pulsian friend of yours and start moving on the Triads."
Lightning frowned and bent down so she could look at Fang's distant stare. "What did he say?"
Fang's eyes focused and her pupils shrunk as she grew angry all over again. "He threatened my family, Light. He threatened to torture you to death and make me watch. I'm going to choke the life from that fucker with my bare hands. He is not taking any of you from me. I won't let him."
"Let's make this count so that he never has the chance." Vanille replied, pulling back the tent at the back to allow them to exit back to the hotel.
Fang hung out the car window, approaching the downtown train station. She was giddy and restless, and poked her tongue out at her partner when Lightning reached over and pulled her back into the car.
"Every time I swear."
Grinning at her wife, Fang grabbed her by the hand and kissed the knuckles. "Every time."
Lightning rolled her eyes and snatched her hand back, pulling up outside the station. She pulled out the notes she'd taken on the location. "I hope this Pulsian's intel is worth the trouble. This place is absolutely crawling with Triads."
Nodding with a hum, Fang slid from the car. "Well, if we expect a trap we can be prepared when it eventually blows up in our faces." She drawled, adjusting her belts underneath the jacket. Eyeing Lightning step out of the car and the glint of metal from a knife, she felt a rush of adrenaline. On one hand, Fang didn't want to be in this position, fighting for her life yet again. But on the other, there was nobody she would rather be in the thick of it with.
The building was enshrouded in darkness, the night sky illuminated by the glow from the city. The two sat on the bonnet of the car, passing a flask between them. The coffee Lightning had filled it with earlier was still warm, and both were thankful for the comfort it brought before their work that was to be done.
The familiar sleek, black sedan pulled up beside them and the driver's side window rolled down. Lightning gave a lazy salute and offered the flask. "Evening, Aranea."
The silver-haired woman scrunched up her nose at the flask and glared. "After that shit coffee you fed me at the camp do you honestly think I'm going to trust anything you offer in a metal tin?"
Her passengers jumped out of the car, Rikku running over to snatch the flask and take a swig. "Yikes that's strong! No wonder you ladies are often up all ni-"
Paine's hand slid over the blonde's mouth, silencing her before her words got her in any further trouble. Her red-hued eyes were cast over the building and she gave Fang a small smile. "It's like the shipping yards all over again, huh?"
"Only this time I'm going to try a little harder to not get shot."
They all moved together, scaling a nearby fence into the train yards. Creeping through the shadows and between the stationary train cars, Lightning paused and held up her hand to bring the others to a halt. Fang knew the drill, after too many times with her partner to question her. There were voices on the other side of the carriage, and she nodded towards the left side.
Paine gave a thumbs up to Fang and the two split up, rounding either side of the cart. They snuck up to the two armed guards and jumped them at the same time, grabbing them by their heads and slamming them into the side of the carriage. They dropped like a pair of stones and Paine wore a huge grin.
"I gotta tell you boss, it's real good to be working with you again. The real work."
Fang clapped her friend on the back and leant in close with a conspiratorial glance around her. "Don't let Lightning hear you say that or she'll kill us both."
They both dragged the two unconscious men into the carriage and closed the door. "No casualties, Paine. Not unless we have to." Lightning whispered from the dark. The silver-haired woman rolled her eyes and nudged Fang with her elbow.
"When have we ever not wound up in situations where it hasn't been a necessity..."
Fang shushed her and they moved back into position, pressing further into the yard. She glanced over at her partner and ran her fingers along her arm to get her attention. "So this mob. Who are they?"
"The Turks. They're mostly the muscle in the town from what Cloud and Noctis have been filling Vanille in on. But from what Naki's information suggests, they're hauling a large amount of weapons through the city, possibly preparing for an all out war."
The Pulsian's eyes lit up and she pulled out her phone to bring up a map. She zoomed out of their location to bring up the main thoroughfares that ran adjacent to the train line. "I wonder if Barrett and Tifa will let us store a few presents in their cellar? The bar is pretty close by a rail bridge, if we nab a train..."
"Fang, no. We're not stealing a train." Lightning replied, beyond exasperated at the pout that formed from her veto.
"But Liiiiiiight... It'll be just like the movies! I've always wanted to be in an old western!"
There was a yell from across the train yard that brought their bantering to a halt. Spot lights began to switch on, lighting up the tracks one by one.
"Shit! Split up!" Fang hissed, grabbing Lightning and darting off between the carriages. Aranea wound up with Rikku and Paine followed Fang. They outran the lights until there was nowhere left to go.
Lightning pulled herself up into a cargo train and helped Fang and Paine into it as well. They crammed themselves in the back and waited, weapons drawn and holding their breath. The sound of rushed footsteps got closer, and before they could react the door to the cargo carriage slammed shut and locked. They lurched forward as the train began to move, pulling out of the station.
"Fang? How's that whole low expectations of the plans going to hell going?" Lightning asked, casting a nervous glance at her partner.
"I'd say right on fucking schedule."