Lightning was a little less machine and a little more humanistic in this one, not sure how I liked it, but oh well! Characters are at Enix, the plot is my own. I figured cooking would be motivation enough to rise to the challenge of an Eidolon race! Enjoy and reviews are always appreciated!
Lightning woke to a pounding at her door.
"Helloooo Light! Wake uuup~!" Well, she really hadn't missed that aspect of her pulsian friends. While Fang was grouchy as all hell in the morning - alert, but grouchy, Vanille was as opposite as you can get. In fact Lightning was fairly sure she had never met anyone as chipper in the morning as the little woman in her entire life. And an early riser to top it all off.
Peering through sleepy eyes, Lightning had just read the clock beside her bed when the door was flung open and that same cheery voice floated in. "Mooorning!" 5:31. Why in Etro was Vanille barging in her room that early? "Vanille, why ar-umph." Her questioning was cut off when the short woman flopped on her and jumped a little bit. "I said wake uuup! Hope wants us there 'bright and early', remember?" "I'm pretty sure he meant somewhere along the lines of seven, not five thirty. And get off, how are you so heavy and look so tiny?" "It's the clothes!" "Mmm." Thankfully the weight did leave her, but the covers were pulled back and Lightning felt herself being dragged out of bed. "Alright, I'm coming. Stop pulling me."
Seated on the side of her bed, Lightning rubbed her eyes and let out a yawn. "Did you get any sleep last night?" "Probably as much as Fang got.", she muttered. "Was Fang up with you?" Lightning shot her a look to see if she was just trying to be cute, but she was perched on the seat in front of the mirror and looked as innocent as you could get. "...No, she wasn't. I'm sure she was getting plenty of rest though." Lightning was sure of no such thing, in fact, she would bet Fang and a certain 'Cowboy' were both going to be tired today. After her conversation with Cid, Lightning had gone off to help Hope get preparations ready for the trek they were about to go on. It wasn't her job, but she hadn't been able to sleep anyway. Work was a nice diversion for her mind.
"So do you need a shower?" "I took one last night." "That explains why your hair looks like a chocobo chick has been nesting in it." Lightning just grunted in response. Beckoned by Vanille, Lightning let herself be pulled over to the mirror and sat down. She'd had her hair brushed for her more in the past two days then most of her life. "You should be a hairdresser.", Lightning mentioned. "I used to brush all the younger kids hair for them when Fang and I lived in the orphanage in Oerba. It helped sooth them after they'd lost their families." Unsure of what to say, she chose to say nothing. The war of transgression had been a nasty time in history, with too many lives lost. Too many children without parents coming home.
"All done~" It took her only a minute to get dressed and gather up the clothing she had packed for the journey. "Do you need to grab anything of yours?" "I already took it down to the trucks!" Etro...when had Vanille woken up to get all that done? "Let's go get Fang!" With a giggle, Vanille jogged out the door. Oh boy... Fang was going to owe her one. Catching up her gunblade and bags, Lightning chased after her. "Vanille, wait." "Hmmm?" "Let's uh...just go get some breakfast and message her, alright?" "But..." "You know how Fang is.", she covered smoothly. Fang really owed her one. "Oh alright! Come on, I know the perfect place for breakfast!"
"Get your butt out of bed and get ready for the day."
Sent - AF 4, 5:59 A.M.
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An hour later they had eaten breakfast and were making their way back to the Academy to touch base before leaving on their journey. "...-o you think the truck is going to be like? Oh...are we going to have to hunt on our trip or are we leaving with supplies? Hmm, I would almost like to hunt! I haven't hunted in a long time. You know, actually hunted. I mean, I've snagged Hope in my binding rod since we were uncrystallized. But that isn't hunting, he just so happened to step into it as I was casting. But you know, maybe we won't have time to hunt, this is a really important mission."
At this point in the day, Lightning was wondering how she was going to get through the rest of it. With semi glazed eyes, she simply grunted every once in a while to let Vanille know she was still listening. A quick glance at her phone caused her to cringe. No one...and she meant no one, should be talking this much at six thirty in the morning. Lightning had been an early riser, trained to be so after many years in the army. It had always been her time to relax and enjoy silence while she reflected on what the day would bring, enjoy a nice cup of coffee and meditate. What she was going through was pure torture.
"Tell the kid he can wait to brief us for a few hours."
Recieved from Oerba Yun Fang - AF4, 6:23 A.M.
--
"I'll send Vanille up."
Sent - AF4, 6:33 A.M.
--
"Damn you."
Recieved from Oerba Yun Fang - AF4, 6:37 A.M.
-
Pocketing her phone, Lightning couldn't help the smirk that found it's way onto her lips. Getting one up on Fang was a feat, and she had definitely won this round. And now Fang owed her one too. "I bet Fang will find some time to hunt!"
...Make that two or three favors Fang owed her. Minimum.
"You look pretty damn proud a' yourself."
Fang didn't look at all pleased on her approach. Actually, she looked less than displeased. From the slightly murderous expression on her face, Lightning wondered if they were going to get into a brawl right here in the Academy. "That's because I am." "Let's make this little rule, Farron. You don't wake me up before six in the morning." "I got woken up at five thirty, it could be worse." "Missy learned a long time ago not ta' wake me up tha' early." "Yeah, but she was going to send me to wake the beast." The snort of humor that came from her friend was as unladly like as it was amusing. "I always knew you were smart Farron." Lightning extended her arm. "I got you coffee." "Mmmm, just the way I like it?" "Just the way you like it, two sugars and a half second pour of cream." "Maybe this day won' be as bad as I thought she was gonna' be."
"Heeeey ladies!", came a booming voice to their right, causing Fang to openly flinch.
"Aaand then again..."
Lightning smiled in acknowledgement and took a sip of her own coffee as Snow walked in close. Obviously going for a hug, Lightning took a step back and shook her head slightly. Easily - and quite smoothly, Lightning noticed - Snow redirected his step and engulfed Fang in a bear hug. "Heya Beast." Fang returned the greeting in the form of cursing and kicking his shin. Lightning watched in interest as Snow stumbled back, hopping on one leg and gripping the other as Fang righted her coffee. "Ya' big overgrown oaf, watch it!" "What were you trying to do, kick my leg off?" "Nah, I was just going for a more slightly mangled and never to be walked on again route." His laugh was just as loud as his greetings. When he slapped Fang on the back and limped away, Lightning fought the urge to laugh. At least now that murderous expression was being sent in another direction.
"Good morning everyone!"
Finally, the person they were actually here to listen to. "Thanks for coming so early.", Hope said with a grin. Lightning felt something lightly brush her elbow and turned her head to see the looming figure of Cid Raines beside her. When she glanced at him, he smiled in greeting and dipped his head slightly. "Good morning Claire." "Morning Cid." And that was that. Lightning never actually thought she would have felt...well, awkward around a man. In fact, if in her life anyone had ever told her that, she would have actually had a pretty decent laugh over it. After all, the thought was ludicrous. Lightning Farron, feeling uncomfortable just because a man was there? Ridiculous. And yet here she was, feeling like a blushing 16 year old. Fang wasn't helping either. When Lightning took a sip of her coffee, there was the Pulsian, grinning like she'd just got a glimpse of the funniest thing imaginable. Oh great...this was going to be one of those trips.
Forcing her gaze ahead, Lightning scowled as she listened to Hope continue talking. "Those of us on the Cocoon team, head on down to the hanger. Sazh will be piloting a small aircraft to get us there. Supplies are already on board, just bring your personal items. This might turn into a lengthy trip after all. And for the ground team, I have a truck waiting at the front gates of the city. It should be fully loaded with any supplies that you might need along with information on the device you'll be looking for and the ruins you'll find it in. Regardless if we've found anything or not, we'll return here in one weeks time to regroup. If you find what you're looking for early, you get a few days vacation to spend as you see fit." That got Fang's attention alright. "If you have any questions, just ask myself or my father."
"Alroight new plan Farron. We do this as fast as we can. I'm gonna' be loungin' around in the bikini Vanille bought for me while they're still hangin' out in Cocoon.", Fang said as they moved toward the exit in a group. Lightning felt eyes watching her and glanced to her right to see Serah intently watching her, a sad expression on her face. Snow was walking beside her, his arm wrapped protectively around her shoulders. Guilt ate at her for a few moments before she forced her gaze away.
Once they were at the Academy main steps, Lightning paused and glanced again over toward her sister. For a moment she wavered with indecision, before she glanced back at her the two women and two men she would be heading out with. "Give me a minute guys." They all nodded knowingly while Lightning made her way up to her sister. "Serah!" When Lightning saw the hopeful expression on her sisters face, she felt even more guilty for her behavior the night before. When she reached the married couples side, Lightning glanced at Snow. In a moment that impressed her, he held up his hands and retreated. "I'll give you ladies some time to talk!"
Now when the moment had come, Lightning didn't quite know what to say until they both started at once. "Light-..." "Serah-..." When they both stopped short, Lightning let out an amused breath and Serah giggled. "You first!" Pausing just another second, she nodded. "I'm sorry, about last night. You're right, you want to help, it's always been who you are as a person. From when you'd drag home every stray animal that gave you a pair of sad eyes, and that's good. I know you're an adult and you can look out for yourself," "I have been taking all those archery lessons!", Serah interjected with a grin. "Yeah...the archery lessons. But I'm your older sister and I worry about you. I think I'm supposed to.", she mentioned with a shrug. "We lost mom and dad, and I don't think I could lose you too. It nearly drove me over the edge last time. So just promise me you'll stay safe, alright? Don't let Snow talk you into anything stupid." Lightning stumbled back a step when Serah flung herself into her arms. "Can do sis! Thank you for believing in me!" "Always." "I love you." The words were hard for her to say. "I love you too."
"I would never talk her into doing anything stupid!", signaled Snow's arrival. "And between us three, you pretty much went over the edge." Lightning rolled her eyes and crossed her arms while she watched her sister giggle to cover an emotional intake of breath. She also saw her secretively wipe her eyes. "She's going to punch you honey." "A true hero can take a little abuse!" Oh great...again with the hero stuff. "Haha...Light, you'd better get going!" "Snow's jaw can thank me later.", she quipped while she walked away.
"Everything cheery in sister land?" Lightning just nodded. "Good, 'cause now we're gonna race to the front entrance. Ready?!" As she said it, Fang threw her crystal in the air and split it open with her lance. Moments later Bahamut filled the sky and Fang had swung on. "Loser cooks!"
Oh hell, she hadn't.
"Lightning, you're not actually going to-" But Lightning already had her gunblade out and hurled her crystal in the air. "I'd take that as a yes Rygdea." "Ciao!", Vanille called out in glee. With a well aimed shot, Odin materialized and Lightning swung on as well as he took off in his horse form.
She was not cooking for a week.
