Chapter 3: LGFUAD

Fang clocked out and snatched the hour receipt from the printer, then took off her apron and threw it into her locker in the break room. She came back out to the bar and sought out her boss, a pretty brunette named Lebreau. Without speaking, she handed her the receipt. Lebreau took a clipboard from under the bar and jotted some numbers, then hit a button on the cash register and paid the bartender. Then she turned to make Fang her free drink for the shift, which was always a double-shot of bourbon and coke.

Fang nodded her thanks and swirled the drink with the stirring straw, then set it aside on one of the rubber mats where the empty glasses sat as they waited for a reload. She threw back the drink in three gulps and then put six gil on the bar. Lebreau returned and sighed, then handed Fang what was always her second drink: a shot of scotch, no chaser. Fang threw it back like it was nothing, then set three more gil on the bar. Lebreau already had her cheap light beer (can, never a bottle) waiting. Fang thanked her and began to look about the room.

Partly, Fang was checking her work, but mainly she was looking for someone who had eluded her for years. The pink-haired woman never seemed to show up. As far as Fang's work went, the empty tables were all spotless, and nowhere was there any rubbish. Fang turned back to the bar at the insistence of a tap on her shoulder.

"You shouldn't drink so hard, dear." Lebreau said. Fang groaned inwardly. This conversation was a sort of ritual for the two women.

"I've told you, Lebreau, I have things to forget. If I go to bed sober, the nightmares will make me crazy. Er. Crazier. I'll be ok, it's only a couple blocks to my apartment." Lebreau sighed.

"Yes, Fang… But half of the drinkers in here just left. I'm glad you bring back half your paycheck, but I can't have you harassing the bar patrons and starting fights. Don't make me call the police on you again, love." Fang flinched. Lebreau had never been this direct.

"I'll be good. Actually, how about you get me a bottle of Lady Bligh and I'll go drink at home?"

"No. I need you alive for your shift tomorrow." Lebreau said sternly. Fang flashed her boss and closest friend a smile and slammed her beer, then set the empty can on the rubber mat next to the drink glass and the shotglass and the stirring straw. Lebreau was already there with another beer and a shot of brown fluid. Fang looked at her questioningly and Lebreau nodded down the bar. Fang looked, and a man waved at her, smiling. Fang waved with a fake half-smile before turning back to Lebreau and rolling her eyes. She slammed the drink regardless, and fished out the gil for the beer. Hm… Rum. Then she took the beer in hand and walked down to make this man's acquaintance.

"Thanks for the drink, guy." Fang said, putting out her hand. "Name's Fang."

"Sazh. And you're welcome. Looked like you could use it." The dark skinned man said as he shook her outstretched hand. A little yellow bird popped out of his afro.

"How cute!" Fang yelled. "My roommate would love to make your chocobo's acquaintance." Sazh chuckled and said,

"Can't get rid of the little prick. He was a present from my son, just before…" Sazh's voice trailed off and his eyes suddenly took on a haunted look. "I-I've got to go. Hey Lebreau!" Lebreau moved down the bar and set her rag down.

"Whatcha need, sugah?" Lebreau asked, leaning on the bar flirtily.

"Get Fang here three more of those shots, I've got to head. I'll pay up my tab."

"Gotcha." Lebreau said, uncertainly, and then ran the man's debit card as she poured the shots. She returned with the card and two receipts and one of the shots. Fang slammed it and Sazh signed the business's copy, then pocketed the card and his own receipt and left, staggering slightly. Lebreau was back in a flash and pushed one of the shots across the bar. "I'm taking this one. You don't need it. You wanna fuck yourself up so bad, buy your own." Fang shrugged and they clinked their shotglasses. After throwing back the shot, Fang didn't feel like she needed anymore. But, she bought a half-pint of cheap rum and bid her boss goodnight. The rum was gone before she had walked a block. She dropped the bottle, and the little brown bag it had come in, in a dark alley and continued on.

She made it to her apartment and grabbed a beer from the fridge. Vanille, her roommate, was seated on the couch with her feet on the coffee table, a bottle of nail polish next to her as she coated her toenails. The redhead's brow was furrowed in concentration, her tongue poking out of her lips just slightly.

"Hey, Van. What's shakin'?" Vanille finished the toe she was on before looking up at her friend.

"Just getting ready for the weekend. How'd work go?"

"Eh, it was work. Hey, I've only got four more beers, can we go to the gas station?"

"What, you need me to buy?"

"Nope. Jus' drive, love."

"Do you really need any more? You're already slurring." Vanille commented as she bent to finish her toenails.

"Van…" Fang got down on her knees next to the coffee table. "You know I have nightmares, love. This is the easiest way to stop 'em."

Vanille's breath hitched. Of course she knew, she had met Fang at the orphanage. Fang had screamed through the night, every night. She had also been starved and had bruises and burns head to toe.

"Yeah, we can. Just let me finish up here. Can we do vodka? I'll throw in if I get some."

"Fine by me." Fang said, leaping up from the floor, then staggering back down to one knee. "Fuck. I started on bourbon scotch and beer, and then this motherfucker bought me some rum… Then I drank more rum. Tomorrow's gonna be great." Fang rolled her eyes as she took to her feet again. Vanille shook her head as she screwed the cap down on her nail polish.