AN: Hey guys! Been a while since I've posted something right? Well here's another moment that I think should've happened in the game. In one of the cutscenes in the game (before they go back to Cocoon), the game seems to establish that there was some friendship that had developed between Lightning and Sazh over the course of their stay on Gran Pulse, so I decided that a moment was needed!
I can't say I'm too proud of this. This is another old one. I like Sazh, but I'm not too used to writing his character, so I hope I didn't make him seem so out-of-character. I hope you enjoy though!
II. A Father's Intuition
You could say that it was his fatherly intuition.
The reason he followed her off that train? He could see there was something more to the pink-haired woman, something which triggered his natural father instincts. And now he was not only a father to her, but to four other kids as well. Though the pain for his real son burned in the pit of his stomach, Sazh found it satisfying to have people distract him from that, whether it be Snow making remarks at the wrong time, or Vanille attempt to tame a wild Behemoth King. Life was never boring with them around.
Not only was there never a moment where someone didn't do something, but there was also never a moment where he didn't offer his companions fatherly advice. In return they playfully called him 'old man'.
Sazh was always willing to give them advice, even at times where they did not want to hear it. But even if they did not want it, he told them anyhow - they needed to become wise, and learn how to survive in life.
One night he took note of how well tensions were rising, particularly with Lightning. It did not surprise him that the ex-soldier was the center of all the irritation, but after they all reunited on the Ark, he thought he saw something different in her. She had a glint to her eyes, something she never had before. He thought she had changed, and when they arrived on Pulse she seemed to prove him right. However, things took a dramatic turn when the soldier seemed determine to run everyone dry. Her temper was putting everyone in a bad mood, including Sazh, but he preferred to keep himself at a distance.
But women like Lightning and Fang do not distance themselves from the others. They look at the source of the problem and fight it. In this case, they were fighting each other. The group found themselves moving away from them, especially when the fighting got physical.
They rested for the night while Lightning went off on her own. Despite his warnings, Fang went after her. Sazh knew another physical confrontation would ensue.
"I don't understand," said Hope absently. "They were so friendly with each other..."
Sazh patted his shoulder. "Hey now, they're still friends. They're just fighting a lot is all."
"Do you think Pulse has had an effect on Light? I mean she's changed since we got here." Sazh could not help, but admire how concerned Hope was for the older woman.
"I think... she's frustrated," Vanille said considerably as she cast more Fire.
"Frustrated?" asked Hope.
"Well that'll make sense," said Snow. "Sis always wants to do something, and we've kinda been coming up short."
"Yeah, but Fang..."
"They're like oil and water," said Sazh. "Can't mix well."
"Who can't mix well?" Fang sauntered over to them, her face fuming red. "I've just 'bout had it with Sunshine's attitude."
"What happened? You guys didn't beat each other again did you?" squeaked Vanille.
"I should've, but I didn't want to get my fists all bloody."
"Where is Light anyways?" inquired Snow.
Fang snorted. "She ain't comin' back tonight. Good riddance, her and her condescendin' attitude."
"Hey, don't be talking about Lightning like that!" scolded Hope. He rose to his feet and stared coldly at the older woman.
Sazh quickly interjected, knowing a fight would ensue easily. "Whoa, whoa, whoa, now hang on a moment. Let's not get hasty. Fang, ya know you don't mean that-"
"So now yer a mind reader old man? I don't need this right now. I'm goin' to bed."
"Oh but Fang-!" said Vanille, but the older woman retreated into their tent without another word.
Hope frowned. "She's wrong, Light's not like that..."
Sazh patted his shoulder and looked at Snow. "Make sure these two get to bed soon alright? I'll be back."
Snow cocked his head. "Where're you heading off to?"
"Don't worry 'bout me." Sazh nodded his head, and the little chocobo chick emerged from his afro, chirping and taking flight, landing on his open palms. "Watch this little guy for me. I won't be long."
"O...kay..?"
Sazh left without another word, pulling out his two pistols, and hoping to himself that the night wouldn't get any worse with some unexpected attack. He tracked down Lightning easily - the clashing of metal against wood was undeniable, and he soon found her hacking away at a small tree.
Lightning did not cease as he approached her. "What do you want?" she grunted, continuing to slash at the poor tree.
"I think we should talk," he said, not intimidated by her state now. In the beginning when they had first met, the woman easily frightened him as he had never seen anyone who acted so cold as she. But as time went on, he found himself being a little less afraid of her.
"There's nothing to talk about."
"Lightning, what's up with you? Everything was peachy perfect on the Ark, but as soon as we get here, you go back to acting like Soldier girl again."
" .Nothing' ." Lightning emphasized her point by jabbing the tree with each word spoken. However, as soon as those words left her mouth, she froze, sighing heavily. "Nothing's wrong, okay?"
Sazh crossed his arms. "Well clearly I don't buy that. I ain't Fang, Lightning. I'm not looking for a fight."
"Fang..." Regaining her strength, Lightning took Blazefire, and stabbed it deep into the tree, so deep that at first she could not pull it back. "Damn it..."
"Is it Serah?" Sazh pressed on. "Is this why you're all upset and what not?"
At the mention of her sister's name, Lightning froze. Sazh inwardly smiled, knowing that the woman might now be receptive to him. He sat down on the cool grass, patting the spot next to him. Lightning gazed down at him, and Sazh could see the vulnerability in her eyes. He only caught sight of them once, before Serah transformed into crystal. The vulnerability had been immediately masked by anger.
The two engaged in a staring contest. All weakness escaped Light's eyes, and she replaced them with an electric glare. Sazh, however, remained cool, unwilling to succumb to her intimidating nature. Finally Lightning relented, indicating so by crossing her arms, and beginning to pace.
"The longer we relax and enjoy ourselves, the shorter time runs out," she said. "For us, for Serah... We can't afford to be doing sightseeing."
Sazh's heart fell with the memory of Dajh. "Lightning, you might think that we don't understand what's going on. Snow knows how you feel 'bout Serah, Fang and Vanille were crystallized for five hundred years and come back with another burden, and my son's up there on Cocoon, just as much of a statue as your sister..."
He took a deep breath. "We get it Lightning, we know time's running out the longer we stick around here. But we need to get to Oerba too. It's not 'bout us sittin' around here and not getting our butts in gear. You think it's over because we're not hurryin' to get back to Cocoon? Is that it?"
Lightning flinched a bit.
Sazh grunted, and he stood toe-to-toe with her. "We need to get to Oerba to figure out what our Focus is. When we do that, we'll go back to Cocoon. Serah and Dajh ain't goin' anywhere, and I'll be damned to make sure that it stays that way. Would Serah want ya to be pushing everyone past their limit? We're not soldiers, y'know. Or have you forgotten that?"
Fists clenched tightly together, Lightning forced herself to look away from him. "You remind me so much about him..." she whispered gruffly.
"Of who?" Now Sazh was intrigued.
"Of my dad, before he..."
"Oh." The air between them grew cold, and Sazh suddenly found himself missing the campfire. "Did you ever keep secrets from your father?"
She shook her head. "Why?"
Sazh tentively reached out, and placed his hand on her shoulder. "We're a family now. If you wouldn't keep secrets from your dad, then you shouldn't keep secrets from your new family either."
Lightning looked away.
Realizing that his work was now done, Sazh backed off. "Alright, don't stay out too late."
"My dad was a soldier..." she began slowly. "He died, and mom soon followed. I was fifteen, and I needed to take care of Serah. So I joined the Guardian Corps to protect her."
Sazh slowly turned around, heart going out to this young woman who only had to dependent on herself.
"If I don't reach Serah, and find a way to free her... then I failed her too."
"You didn't fail anyone yet Lightning. Ya still got time."
She gave him a cool look. "How much time?"
"I don't know... But we can't give up. And we can't keep on pushing people past their limits. Find that happy medium Light."
"I've never found a medium," she admitted.
He gave her a warm smile. "Then find one now."
Lightning gave him an expressionless stare, then turned her attention to Blazefire, still buried in the tree. She grabbed the sword by its hilt, and tugged hard, finally freeing it from its prison. She turned her head back to Sazh and offered him a rare smile.
"Oh and you better make it up to Fang tomorrow mornin'," he said, as he and the woman departed back for camp. "'Cause I don't want to have to play therapist to her problems now either."