"Fang."
"Hm?"
"About last night..."
"Don't worry about it. You were all over me but nothing I couldn't hold off."
"Oh shut up." Lightning said, irritably. Fang couldn't help herself; Lightning set herself up for these far too often for her own good.
A pause. Lightning and Fang were always the first to wake, and without a word had both slunk off to the entrance of Vallis Media for a private conversation. They both knew what they wanted to talk about. The almost psychic connection that worked to such great effect in battle had strayed into their personal interactions as well at this point.
"I just wanted to say..." The soldier paused again. This was really taking her some effort, wasn't it? "...I appreciate what you did. Not just saving me, but also not telling the others the full story. You really spared me there."
"Aye."
"'Aye'? That it?"
"..."
"No sarcastic remark or flirty quip? Well that was... easy."
"Yeah, it was. Was that your way of thanking me? Rather short, if you ask me."
"I... what?"
"Hey, I know you make quite a show of being reserved and all, but I'd at least expect you to mean it after all I did for you last night. Can't I expect a little something extra?" Fang tried to keep a straight face, but seeing the soldier's alarm and horror was too much. She allowed herself a wide grin.
"Oh Light, I'm just teasin'! You're just so easy to wind up!" She struggled to get the last sentence out as she broke out into laughter.
No response, but in her chuckles Fang noted that Lightning inhaled and exhaled deeply, wearily. Was it too soon to place a comforting hand on the shoulder and tell her to relax? Fang pondered.
"What's on the other side of this place?" Too slow. The moment had gone.
"...Yaschas Massif." Fang recovered. "Nice enough area, if you can handle the beasties. Don't know what we'd find there though."
Lightning sighed again.
"Fine. We'll wake the others and check it out. It shouldn't be too far and the monsters might have something we can use."
Fang personally doubted it, but she felt unable to contradict Lightning. Her own affection for her and the soldier's natural leadership skills forestalled her.
"Yeah. Sure. We won't use Chocobos this time though."
"Fang..."
As she advanced through the scenic passages of Vallis Media, Fang realised she really quite admired Lightning. She had lied to the rest that she would stay at the back and keep an eye out for a particularly feisty Gorgotherian that was known to inhabit the valley. In fact, no such monster existed. Now, strolling leisurely behind the group, she could take in the view, armed with a new understanding of the soldier from last night. Fang hadn't told her, but Vallis Media was a fairly benign area. Even Hope could have taken the lead. But Lightning did anyway. It was natural for her to do so; there existed an unwritten rule that Lightning was a leader. Even on a planet completely unfamiliar to her, where, Fang privately thought, she would be more suited to taking point, Lightning was the natural leader. Fang had to admit that her initial instincts about the soldier had been wrong. What Fang had mistook for impulsivity and a headstrong nature was just a determined stoicness, a natural response to press on despite the hardships they faced.
Fang realised she really admired Lightning. No... she was falling in love with her. Fang's heart skipped a beat at this sudden acknowledgment. Boy, it had been a long time since she'd had that feeling. For the first time since her realisation, and with a cursory check to make sure no one was looking back, Fang considered the soldier's form. She frowned. There was always a heaviness about the girl's lithe frame that she now felt compelled to ease and protect. She thought about asking Snow of how to get Lightning to relax. Actually, that was probably a bad idea. Fang decided she'd play it by ear. In fact, Fang always rather fancied herself as a people person. Then she clattered into something short and soft, knocking it over. It was that buffoon Hope.
"Ugh! Watch it! Useless brat!" Almost as the words left her mouth Fang knew she had been far too harsh. Hope looked up at her with a face awash with sorrow, tinged somewhat with anger and frustration. It wasn't 'brat', or Fang's anger that would hurt him, it was 'useless'. It was an unspoken agreement amongst the group to not mention his battle prowess, which was slightly - no, far - behind that of the others. He was improving, of course, and he was the youngest member of the six, admittedly, but no matter how many reassurances and 'good jobs' he received, Fang knew that Hope was still deeply insecure about his place in the group. Guiltily, Fang couldn't help but steal a glance at Lightning. Her fears were confirmed; the soldier had whirled around and was glaring at Fang as if the words had been directed at her. Time to make a quick apology.
"...uh... I didn't mean that, Hope. Sorry. A lot on my mind." At least the latter part was true. Fang's eyes were locked to the ground sheepishly; she sensed that Sazh and Snow were still staring in abject horror and disgust. No, of course that short apology wouldn't be enough. In fact, was there any point in saying it anyway? Privately, Fang believed that Hope had never taken a liking to her. They'd never had a meaningful conversation and he clearly resented the Pulsian's attempts to engage with Lightning. He clearly wanted her all to himself. Fang also only knocked him further down the combat pecking order, she thought, finally bringing herself to look at him for a response... oh dear. Yes, the boy was about to break into tears. She was gonna get hell from Lightning later. Seeking some support, Fang looked apologetically at Vanille and- yes, she too, was looking at Fang with disappointment. Her countenance was milder at least. In fact, a sheepish grin broke out on one corner of her mouth as a loud sob struck the silence. Fang returned the expression conspiratorially. Vanille covered her growing smile and winked knowingly as she leapt over to Hope to console him. Vanille couldn't-? No. Fang dismissed the thought.
The Pulsian sighed and stared, bored, at the valley's leafy cliff faces. It seemed that the harder Hope tried to stop crying, the louder and more awkward it got. She could tell he was now deeply ashamed of this show of weakness in front of Lightning. Despite their predicament, despite this pointless interruption, and despite the fact that Lightning's attention was now completely on Hope, Fang couldn't help but register this as a personal victory.
She allowed herself another glance at the soldier. A pang of jealousy immediately struck Fang's chest. Everyone was gathered round Hope, but Lightning was closest, comforting him, kneeling down in front of him, ruffling his hair. Fang thought back to the first time she had seen Lightning openly smile, during another one of Hope's little tragedies. She couldn't quite savour then how pretty it was because of who it was directed at. No doubt she was blessing him with another one now. Fang turned away. Now she wondered if insulting Hope had been really been worth it.
Her chest ached, frustratedly, her heart pulling this way and that as if trying to undo a troublesome knot but only making it tighter the harder it pulled. It had been a while since she'd felt this way. And she'd sure picked the right girl to fall in love with! Amidst her trepidation, Fang allowed herself an ironic smile as she pondered the absurdity of the situation; stoic, reserved soldier from another world, who quite possibly hates her right now, is secretly in love too. What a love story that would make. Fang sighed heavily at the hopelessness of it all. This really wasn't the time. Another glance at the soldier, still tirelessly restoring Hope's fragile confidence.
No, Fang thought. Since when had she ever been so defeatist, so conflicted? Had she forgotten how hopeless her other predicament was as well? Namely, a Focus on which she had no idea of how to fulfil? Indeed, Fang recalled Lightning's determined nature that she was admiring only a few moments ago. If she ever had doubts, she kept them hidden well inside. Fang decided she'd at least test the waters; heck, the challenge of getting Lightning to open up might even be an enjoyable one. At worst it would be awkward between them for a time before they turned into Cie'th. Renewed, Fang breathed easier and turned around, prepared to offer a sincere, fuller apology to Hope. She stopped before even taking a step. Lightning was advancing on her with a purpose that suggested Fang was a particularly offensive monster. For the first time since they'd met, Fang regarded the soldier with fear.