LIGHTNING
"Have you decided what you're going to do?" Sazh said, passing Lightning a mug of tea and sitting down opposite at the kitchen table. He had just finished putting Dajh to bed and the house was noticeably quieter. Distracted, Lightning looked up from the laptop and reached out for the mug.
"Thanks," she said. She took a sip and set it back down on the table and leaned back in her chair.
"I've read everything I can find. None of them really go into much detail but they mention MIA: presumed dead."
"Good news." Sazh replied. He scratched at the skin just accessible below his neck brace. He was in hospital for a week before release and had to wear it for two months. Not even halfway through and he was thoroughly sick of it, itches, he would always say.
It had been a month since she woke up in the park, and in the time she had been there she had fallen into a domestic routine of looking after Dajh and helping Sazh around the house. She was restless; sitting around all day wasn't her style, so she tidied, cleaned and (tried to) cooked. On the second day Dajh had introduced her to his chickens.
"They look like small fat chocobos," she said and Dajh gave her a weird look. "What are their names?" she asked.
He pointed at the large black one, "Soot, she's an Australorp," he said and then pointed at the white one, "Marshmallow, a Leghorn", then he pointed at a reddish-brown one, "and this one is Chocolina, because she's brown like chocolate and lays easter eggs. She's an Araucana and her eggs are always blue or green. She's my favourite." The last name made Lightning smile, thinking back to the small yellow chocobo chick that was either nestled in his or Sazh's hair. Some things haven't changed, she thought.
Since Sazh was discharged they had discussed what she was going to do and it boiled down to two options: a new identity, or come back from the dead. Lightning had the opportunity for a fresh start if she assumed a new identity but ultimately it would complicate things with Serah. She would have to abandon her, and after everything she had gone through as l'Cie and again as the Saviour would be for nothing. She wasn't willing to let go of a relationship with her sister, not now that the fighting was finally done. She was therefore resolved to be reintroduced into the false life forged for her in this new world.
"What do you remember about it? You were there." Lightning asked Sazh.
"Yes and no. I was the pilot, I wasn't on the ground. I only know what I was told when I picked up the rest of your squad. You ordered them to retreat while you took the heat. One says he saw you get hit and fall. But seeing as they weren't able to recover a body, who's to say, eh? I reckon you're in the clear."
Lightning hummed to herself as she considered this. "So what do I tell everyone? Surprise! I didn't die but I don't remember anything?"
"Why not? You can use your hospital admission as evidence." Sazh said.
"How do I explain not remembering getting back from overseas and why it's been a year? It's the first thing everyone will ask."
"Don't worry about it. Beauty is, you're here, flesh n' blood. So long as people recognise you, your cover story just needs to be plausible. They'll fill in all the specifics themselves." Sazh grinned.
Lightning thought about it and had to admit he was probably right. She could make some story up about being taken captive and only just escaping and feign amnesia for everything that happened before. If people who supposedly knew her were happy enough to see her they probably wouldn't ask too many questions. The only niggling thought that worried her was that Serah wouldn't remember her; the real her. Would she be trapped in a lie to her sister for the rest of her life? It wasn't ideal, but if the alternative was no relationship with her sister, she would gladly lie. After all, she reasoned, eventually she would ease into her life here and it wouldn't be a lie anymore.
"I've got other good news for you, sunshine." Sazh waved a scrap of paper on front of her face and grinned. She glowered at the tease and snatched it from him.
"Current address and phone number. Time to plan your reunion."
Lightning smoothed the piece of paper out on the table in front of her. Sazh had spent the last few weeks trying to get this information.
"Who'd you manage to finally sweet talk to get these details?" She asked.
"A gentleman never reveals his secrets," he tsked, and Lightning scoffed. She wove her fingers around her hot mug, brought it to her lips and inhaled the steam before taking a sip. She sat rugged up in a heavy knit against the winter night's chill. Sazh reassured her that it never snowed in this city and wouldn't get much colder, for which she was thankful.
"Beautiful home, great architecture, great location," Sazh had said, "but awful insulation." Once he was back from the hospital he nervously led her to the walk-in-wardrobe in his bedroom and motioned to the side.
"I never got rid of them," he said, looking at Lightning before he explained, "my wife's old clothes. They should fit you, although I can't guarantee any are in fashion." His fingers had lingered on a jacket sleeve before he left the room.
"How about this weekend? Just rip the band-aid off! And I'll come as moral support." Sazh said from the opposite side of the table.
"I don't need a babysitter to meet with my own sister," Lightning said, taking another sip of tea.
"Like I said, moral support. You don't have the benefit of false memories to help you out if things don't go as planned. Don't worry, if everything is going swimmingly, I'll skedaddle."
Lightning acquiesced and they spent the rest of the evening going over Lightning's backstory.
On Saturday morning, Lightning passed a bag full of basic toiletries and clothes, mostly hand-me-downs from Sazh's late wife, onto the floor of the front passenger seat before getting in. She acted as navigator for Sazh, directing him from a smartphone as they they wove through the suburbs.
"It should be the next one on the left," Lightning motioned to Sazh. He nodded and pulled over to park on the side of the street.
He turned off the engine and undid his seat belt. "Ready?" He asked, one hand on the door.
Lightning nodded and got out of the car, pulling her bag with her. Sazh followed suit and met her on the footpath. They walked in silence up to the front door. Serah lived in a two-storey townhouse crammed together with another three on a block in the street. A few older detached homes still existed nearby but the high density housing was starting to take over. Each townhouse shared a common driveway at the front, with a small single car garage, and a small courtyard sized backyard on the opposite side. Serah lived in the second unit and was further set-back from the busy street.
Lightning took a deep breath and pressed the doorbell. She had run a number of meeting scenarios through her mind, but none had prepared her for Serah's reaction when she answered the door. When the door swung open Serah's face went from friendly smile to blank horror in an instant. Then the scream as she slammed the door in Lightning's face. It happened so quickly Lightning didn't have the chance to react and was left nonplussed for the few moments before the door whipped back open.
"Lightning?" Serah choked through tears and tentatively reached a hand out to touch Lightning's arm.
"Hey Serah," Lightning replied.
At the utterance of Lightning's words and the feel of flesh at her fingertips, Serah launched forward into Lightning; arms wrapped tightly around her as she wept into her shoulder.
"What the hell is all the commotion about?" Lightning immediately recognised Snow's voice and soon his figure came into view in the doorway.
"No way," he said, looking her in the eye.
Serah released Lightning from the embrace and wiped her face as she turned to Snow with a huge smile.
Snow's expression softened into a warm smile, "Let's get everyone inside," he said and motioned inside.
Serah directed them into a small dining area adjacent to the open kitchen. She busied herself filling an electric kettle and putting it on to boil before retrieving a large teapot and some mugs from the cupboards.
"Does everyone want tea?" She asked cheerfully, and everyone responded in the affirmative.
"So where have you been?" Snow asked, straight to the point. His eager curiosity was clear on his face as he leant forward towards Lightning on propped elbows.
"I was taken hostage," Lightning replied, too late noticing how nervous she sounded saying it.
Sazh cut in before Snow could ask a follow up question, "I found her not more than a few weeks ago all muddled. Turns out she has amnesia - likely from some serious head wound from when she was taken."
In response to Snow's questioning glance he added, "I'm Sazh, by the way. I was at the funeral, though you might not remember. I was pilot in the mission." Snow nodded, but showed no sign of recognition. He quickly turned his focus back to Lightning and his gaze made her uneasy. Did he know she was lying? The kettle began to rumble in the background.
"A few weeks? You've been back that long?" Serah said to Lightning. She looked at her sister in the kitchen and saw the hurt in her eyes. Her mouth narrowed, but she said nothing. What could she say? In the same situation, with the information she had she'd feel the same.
"You remember me though, yeah?" Snow joked, jutting his thumb to his chest with a grin.
Lightning whipped her head back to face Snow, "Unfortunately," she replied with a smile. She noticed his gaze was still sharp, despite the jest. She had to remind herself how much Snow had changed when she came back as the Saviour. Those years had hardened him and it showed in him now, even without his memories.
"Aw, now come on, sis, don't be like that," Snow laughed, but Lightning noticed again that Serah was more pensive.
"Why so long?" Serah asked.
"I didn't know where you were," Lightning replied plainly, "Sazh had to get your details out of my records on base, which took a while."
"A lot of convincing and buttering up!" Sazh chimed in.
"Why not just go yourself?" Snow asked.
"Lightning hasn't been back to base yet." Sazh explained hurriedly, "We've been keeping this on the down-low trying to work out how to handle everything, what with her memory gone. I thought it best, and advised she not step back on base until she was ready."
Lightning nodded at Sazh's explanation. He was right to come along; she wasn't sure she would be able to deflect the questions so well herself.
"I guess that makes sense." Snow resigned. "Do you remember what happened?"
"Snow!" Serah interjected, "Lightning, you don't have to say anything unless you're ready."
"My memory is… jumbled. I need time to process it all myself. Imagine waking to a world you don't remember, with a history you don't remember. Sazh has been helping me fill some gaps, but that's all he's been able to do. I just don't remember." Lightning added, happy to close the discussion with something that wasn't a lie.
Serah began placing hot cups of tea in front of everyone at the table, "I think we should change the subject. You'll be happy to know you haven't missed the wedding!"
The next half hour was spent discussing the wedding. Lightning noticed Serah become more relaxed and open up, when she had seemed guarded earlier. Hurt, betrayed, Lightning corrected. When he found an opening Sazh motioned to Lightning, asking silently whether she was comfortable for him to leave and she nodded. Lightning was certain Serah would be her advocate and shield against Snow's questions.
Sazh stood from the table and carried his tea cup into the kitchen.
"Thanks for the brew. I'm glad to see you all reunited, but I need to get back. It was good seeing you both again." Sazh said and shook Snow's hand and gave Serah a light hug. He made his way to the door and Lightning followed and looked back to make sure Serah and Snow hadn't followed.
"Thanks Sazh, if you hadn't found me I don't know what I would have done."
"Don't sweat it. I've given you the base details, but if you need help you let me know. If you need to talk, about this world, the past, about anything, you hit me up; don't be a stranger."
Lightning nodded and after a brief parting hug he was out the door.
