Fang was never the first to arrive at Sazh's gym for her matches with Lightning. No matter how early she was- not that she tried very hard to be early- Lightning was always there, ready to greet her with a silent nod. So it was a surprise when, a few weeks after they started their arrangement, she didn't see the other woman outside the gym as she approached it. She waited for a few minutes by their usual mats, before asking Sazh if he had seen Lightning or heard from her. He hadn't, so she messaged the other woman and started warming up.

A few minutes into stretching, Lightning showed up. She crashed through the doors and stormed to their corner of the gym. Fang raised an eye as she watched the other woman throw her bag on the ground and jerkily shed layers until she was ready to stretch. She noticed that Lightning wasn't stretching quite as far as she normally could.

"Something wrong?" she asked.

"No," Lightning said shortly.

"You sure?"

"Yes." Fang waited a moment before speaking again.

"'Cause it seems like you're a little tense."

"It's none of your business," Lightning said. Fang raised an eyebrow at the tone she used.

"You say that, but I am going to be getting in the ring with you," she said. "I'd rather not put my scholarship on the line over something that isn't my business."

Lightning gave her a long look, then sighed. "My sister is dating an idiot. She had us both over for dinner last night," Lightning said. "I'm still aggravated."

"What's so bad about him?"

"Everything. He's a loud, optimistic, carefree imbecile. And he's not good enough for Serah."

"Isn't that up to her?"

"Apparently it shouldn't be. I don't know how he roped her into going out with him, but hopefully she'll come to her senses soon."

"Maybe one of the things she likes about him is how much he pisses you off," Fang said casually. Lightning gave her a sharp look.

"That's not funny."

"I wasn't joking." Lightning sighed again.

"That good enough?" Lightning asked. "You ready to spar? Or are you still worried?"

"Nah, I'm good to go. Just remember- I'm not the idiot dating your sister, alright?"

They started. Lightning was more aggressive than usual, and her technique was just a bit off. It wouldn't have mattered against most, but at the level Fang was used to performing at, small differences had major repercussions. After the third time she downed Lightning, she stepped back and grabbed her water.

She watched Lightning as she rested. The other woman was still hard to read, though Fang was getting a little better at it. The cues she was used to seeing were there, just much smaller, and more controlled than most. The forceful breathing, the too-tight grip on her water bottle, the agitated movements; Lightning was getting more and more frustrated at her own performance. Soon they'd hit a point of diminishing returns, and Lightning would be beating herself.

"Again," Lightning said.

They clashed again. Lightning started off strong, but even then she wasn't able to beat Fang. Fang resolved herself to continuing- she wanted to see how long it would take Lightning to recognize the futility of continuing that day. It took about half an hour for her to call it. Fang was a little surprised; she had thought the other woman's stubborn nature would keep them going for a while. But then, she was also a practical person.

They cleaned the area they had claimed as their own and started to leave. They were quiet, where normally they would take about techniques, things they were trying, disciplines they were interested in. It was all martial arts stuff, but to lose even that connection didn't sit right with Fang.

"You hungry?" she asked as they exited the gym.

"What?"

"I'm starving," Fang said. She tried her best to sound nonchalant. "There's a diner a couple blocks from here, I've been to a few times."

Lightning was hesitant. Fang tried to ease her mind.

"Not as a date. Just a couple of friends getting a bite to eat."

Lightning considered for a moment, so Fang figured she'd try once more.

"I really hate eating alone, so really, you'd be doing me a favor." Lightning snorted.

"I'm sure." She looked around, away from Fang for a few moments. She pressed her lips into a line.

"Alright. Lead the way."

Fang did, and in a few short, silent minutes the two were seated across from each other in a sticky booth. Fang laughed at the look on Lightning's face as she sat down.

"Hey, the worse the seats the better the food."

"That doesn't sound right," Lightning said.

"It's right when it comes to places like this- trust me."

A waitress came and took their orders. Fang ordered a burger with fried onions- heavy, greasy goodness. Lightning went a little healthier with grilled chicken and tomatoes on wheat. Fang insisted they split an order of fries, complaining that she couldn't be the only one eating unhealthy. Lightning rolled her eyes, but didn't complain. They sat in silence until their drinks came out.

"Thanks babe," Fang said to the waitress with a wink. Across from her Lightning raised an eyebrow.

"It never stops with you, does it?" she asked after the waitress left.

"'Course not. I'm a people person. Besides, she's cute, don't you think?

"No."

"No need to be like that, sunshine," Fang said. "Even you can admit when someone's good-looking, can't you?"

"I can. Blondes just don't do it for me." Fang was intrigued.

"Oh? So what is your type?"

"I'm sure you want to hear 'tall dark and handsome.'"

"Well, tall, dark, and stunning would work too. Or beautiful, ravishing, gorgeous, divi-"

"I get it," Lightning said flatly. "Sorry to disappoint- again- but romance isn't really my thing."

Fang considered for a few moments. She wasn't quite sure how Lightning would react to her sticking her nose in her business, but after their session that day, Fang wanted to help. Plus, it was a good chance to get to know the other woman a little better.

"So no carefree idiot in your future?" Immediately Lightning rolled her eyes.

"Don't get me started on him."

"I think it might help if I did. You might have noticed Lightning, that was... pretty shit, today. You were slow, you over committed, you telegraphed all your moves." Lightning's face was hard, her jaw clenched and her eyes narrow.

"I mean, not to get on your case too much, but you're usually so good I have to push myself to keep up. That's how I like it, and I'm pretty sure that's why you agreed to this too- because I push you too."

Their food came then. Lightning glared at her until the waitress hurried away, scared of the atmosphere between them. Fang waited, resigned to the lashing she was sure was coming. She was surprised instead when Lightning instead rubbed at her face with both hands and directed her glare at the table instead.

"I know it was bad. She just deserves better. That idiot doesn't have a job, and when he's done with school do you know what he wants to be? A hero. As if that's a real career," Lightning said scornfully. "I can just imagine their life together- her working, supporting them while he runs around with his idiot friends- he started a group called NORA- No Obligations, Rules, or Authority. I don't know what they do all day, but I know it's nothing productive.

"Serah's so- she's so caring, and open, she wouldn't consider telling him to stop. She'd carry the weight of their livelihood all by herself, forever. Until she broke down." Lightning took an aggressive bite out of her sandwich.

Fang was quiet for a moment. "What do your parents think?"

Another moment, and another hard, long look from Lightning.

"They're gone. It's been just the two of us for the past seven years."

"Sorry to hear that. Mind if I asked what happened?"

"That's when our mother died. Dad died back in the last conflict with Pulse."

"Gran Pulse," Fang said automatically. It was her home, and everyone in Cocoon seemed dead set on belittling it whenever they could. Usually she tried to get along with everyone, but when it came to her home- well, correcting them was a little way she allowed herself to feel the divide between their countries.

"What?"

"My home. It's called Gran Pulse, not just 'pulse,'" Fang said.

Lightning blinked. "I didn't know. Sorry." Fang waved her off.

"Don't be. I should be saying that to you, considering your parents."

"Don't be," Lightning said. "It's in the past. You had nothing to do with it."

"Still, I can feel sorry. Especially since I know what it's like- both my parents died back in the war too. Me and Vanille spent almost seventeen years at an orphanage."

"Oh." Lightning looked down at her plate. This wasn't quite where Fang had wanted their conversation to go, but then, it was still valuable insight into Lightning.

"What happened to your mother?" she asked.

"She was sick. She never said what it was." Lightning paused, and seemed to consider if she should say more. "I think raising two kids by herself for so long took a toll on her. She was always working, and when she wasn't she was making dinner, taking care of the house, listening to our problems. I got a job as soon as I could, but..." she shook her head. Fang decided to let that go.

"Then you had to look after Serah. I can see why you're so upset with her boyfriend then."

Lightning snorted.

"Upset is an understatement. I can't believe I let it get to me this much though."

"Proves your only human. You know what you were saying about Serah earlier? About carrying the weight of their livelihood?"

"Yes."

"You know where I'm going with this?"

"I can guess. But my situation is different. Serah's smart, and she works hard. She'll be fine once she's done with school. She's planning on becoming a teacher, and she's already been in a few classrooms student-teaching. Once she's on her feet, I won't have to worry about her. Unless she keeps seeing this idiot."

"Let's be honest, you'd worry just as much anyway." Fang picked up her burger. She hadn't wanted to start gorging herself while Lightning talked about her dead parents, but now it was fair game. Lightning picked at the fries for a minute.

"What about Vanille?" Lightning asked. Fang had to swallow a big bite before she could speak.

"She's got a good head on her shoulders. Besides, she's not seeing anybody right now, so there's nothing for me to worry about anyway."

"And if there was?"

It was asked casually, although Fang hoped that just maybe the stoic woman was looking for advice. Even if she wasn't, Fang was willing to give it.

"It's her business. I'll keep an eye out when she does find someone, but they'd have to be pretty bad for me to jump in."

Lightning shook her head. "Sometimes I wonder how you got so good at fighting when you're so laid back."

"I'm competitive when I need to be. Mostly in bed," Fang said.

Lightning snorted again, but remained silent otherwise.

"Besides, I trust her. If there's someone she really loved, who am I to say she can't?"

"Her sister," Lightning said flatly. Fang chuckled.

"True. But you can't help who you fall for, and you especially can't help who other people fall for. Even if you're their sister. All you can do is offer support."

"That's not good enough." Lightning said. "He's not good enough."

"Maybe. You don't know for sure, yet."

"You haven't met him."

"And you've only met him once," Fang said. Lightning shot her a sharp look. Fang offered a challenging one in return.

"Even if he is a deadbeat, Fang continued, "some lessons have to be experienced to be learned. You can't protect her from everything."

"I can try," Lightning said, resolute. Fang burst out laughing.

"Knowing you, I wouldn't be surprised if you could pull that off, sunshine. And I can respect that, one older sister to another. I know there's nothing I wouldn't do for Vanille.

"Still, there's something to be said for object lessons. And being able to say 'I told you so' is a right that we older sisters should exercise often."

Lightning didn't say anything, just frowned at her plate and continued to pick at her food. They finished their food in silence, and Lightning waved the waitress over. Fang tried to insist on paying, since she had dragged the other woman out, but Lightning just glared at her and left enough money on the table to cover her portion of the bill. The pair made their way outside. Lightning set off quickly, though their paths ran together for a few blocks. Fang frowned, concerned that maybe she had overstepped her boundaries.

"I appreciate what you were trying to do today," Lightning said before Fang could fully catch up. A rush of relief washed over her.

"Being nosy? Hey, I can do that any time."

"You do do that any time," Lightning said. Fang pulled even with her. "But I know you were trying to help."

"Well, I figured it's better to let some things out. If you couldn't do it when we were sparring, I figured talking it out might work. Guess I was right?"

"I'm not going to be that bad again."

"But did it help at all?" Fang asked. She was met with silence. "Well, hopefully you got something from it, even if it was just lunch. I know I did."

"I'm sure," Lightning said. They reached the point where their paths split.

"Well, I go left here," Fang said.

"Next week," Lightning said, "loser pays for lunch."

Fang raised her eyebrows at that. She was surprised, but glad that Lightning was willing to continue seeing her outside of the ring.

"Sounds like an easy meal to me," Fang said, confidently.

"Don't count on it," Lightning said. "I'll be back to form by then."

"Good. I look forward to it, Lightning."

"Same," Lightning said. She hesitated a moment, then resolve settled over her features. "And, call me Light."

Fang grinned widely. "Alright, Light. See you next week."

With a nod and a wave she was off. Fang headed home too, smiling and whistling the entire way.