A longer one for you guys this time. I am an industrious little bee today. insert obligatory comment about not owning any of the characters and yadda yadda
Chapter Six
Once again Lightning was quick to collect Fang's bags from the counter as they left the store, making the taller woman grin a little. She wasn't sure if this was just Lightning's way or if she was being particularly gentlemanly. Either way it was fun, Fang was usually the one to get a door or carry something for a girl, even Vanille at times. She winked at Lightning as she passed her, heading back into the mall.
"Well I think I have had enough of these crowds for today yeah?" She looked to the other women for confirmation.
"But I wanna-" Vanille started to protest when Fang gave her a look.
"You guys are welcome to stay," Fang said with a shrug. "I can walk home."
"Nonsense... They can stay and I can take you home," Lightning interjected quickly. She wasn't much for this shopping thing either and was ready to leave two stores earlier. Serah picked up easily on her sister's desire to be alone with Fang.
"You guys head out. Snow can come pick us up on his way home from work," Serah smiled and leaned to hug her sister, leaning in close to lower her voice. "Call me later to tell me how it went okay?" She grinned and hugged Lightning again.
"I'll talk to ya later Vanille," Fang smiled at her sister and while Lightning was distracted by Serah, she took the bags from one of Lightning's hands, freeing it so she could lace her own fingers in with Lightning's. "Come on Sunshine. Let's get out of here."
"Yeah... Great!" Lightning couldn't help but smile a little to herself as Fang tugged her away.
"Where do you suppose they are going?" Vanille asked as she watched them wander off. Serah blinked and turned to the younger woman.
"Think about it... I am sure you will figure it out Vanille."
The red head's eyes widened "Oh!"
Fang grinned as they started to walk. "You'd think being older than me would slow her down a little yeah?" Fang shook her head. "Kid still wears me out sometimes."
"She is sweet. I think she just missed you is all," Lightning gave Fang's hand a squeeze. "Probably as much as I did." Fang let her hand go to reach for the exit door to open it and let Lightning out. The shorter woman walked out ahead, digging in her pockets for her car keys. Retrieving them she put them into the hand carrying the bags and offered her now free hand to Fang.
"I guess," Fang said with a chuckle as she reached to take Lightning's hand, something about the other woman offering a hand rang familiar to Fang. She felt sort of light-headed, almost dizzy and slowed in her gait.
Lightning slowed as well, having felt the pull back on her hand. "Are you alright?" She inquired, watching the Oerban.
"I think so; I just got kinda foggy there for a minute. I'll be alright," Fang followed her to the car, putting her bags in before getting into the passenger's seat. She shook her head a little as if trying to clear it.
"Let me know if you want me to pull over," Lightning got in and shut the door.
Fang furrowed her brows and spoke suddenly as Lightning was buckling up. "I'm fighting this Focus to the end. We all are." The words came out slowly. "So please...Fight with us."
Lightning was stunned to say the least; the accuracy of the words she once said to the other woman was amazing. The seatbelt slipped from her hand and zipped back, smacking into the car window. "What?"
Fang rubbed her forehead and looked to Lightning. "You said that to me right? When you knew me before..." She watched Lightning like a hawk as the other woman gave a confirming nod.
"I cannot believe you just remembered that so suddenly." Lightning's face broke into a grin. "Nothing and then something I barely remembered myself."
"When you reached for my hand back there it hit me," Fang seemed almost astounded at herself. "Bahamut." she nodded slowly. "It was when he came for me," No questioning to her tone, she was sure of herself now.
Lightning reached over and took her hand. "It was. You were going to leave us so you could complete our focus" Lightning looked at their hands. "You didn't want to stand by while everyone became Cie'th."
"Losin' your soul like that," Fang's features hardened. "It ain't no way to live Sunshine. I had friends that I watched become Cie'th, the thought of it happenin' to you guys was too much," Fang pulled her hand back and looked out the window. "Their faces... You can see who they were before," she shut her eyes tight. "The thought of Vanille turnin' into that scared me so bad it made me sick." Fang shifted in her seat. "And you too." she gave a nod. "I remember lovin' the fierce look your eyes would get before a fight, or when you thought about what was happenin' to us and Serah and you would have lost that," she glanced at Lightning again. "I wasn't about to watch you turn Sunshine, I couldn't do it again."
"Do what again?" Lightning asked quietly.
"Watch someone I fell for slip away again," Fang looked down again. "I couldn't kill ya Claire... You or Vanille, but I wouldn't be able to let ya live like that either," Things were clearing up for the Pulsian woman, why she did what she did to save everyone and why she was so drawn to Lightning.
"You..." Lightning started, having to clear her throat and regain some control of the feelings that were choking her. "You had feelings for me before?"
"I think so. I remember worrying about you and Vanille specifically," Fang kept looking down, cracking her knuckles. "I remember when you helped me to my feet after Bahamut, when you asked me to help... That at that moment I would have done anything for you," Fang finally looked up at the other woman. "Last night I felt it again, when you were talkin' about what I did and what it meant to you. I felt like I would do it again in a heartbeat and I wasn't sure why, but now I know."
"I'm not sure why you did not tell me before," Lightning spoke softly.
"Knowin' me Sunshine, it wasn't anything you did. I wanted to keep ya safe. I think in my fool head I knew becomin' Ragnarok was right and figured that you would have stopped me." Fang chuckled huskily. "Right?"
Lightning gave a nod. "I probably would have." She shrugged. "After losing my sister I was not about to lose anyone else, especially people that I was intentionally trying to keep at arm's length. I kept my distance so I would not be hurt if something happened to one of you guys." Lightning made a face. "Well except Hope, but I was worried he would be hurt unless I was there."
"Understandable Sunshine, he was only a kid." Fang smiled reassuringly.
"When we were on Pulse everyone would take turns on guard duty. Well everyone but Hope. After a few nights you'd stay past your shift to sit with me and talk, not about anything deep, mostly about that day, some funny old story about Vanille or the creatures of Pulse," Lightning laughed a little. "You tried to ask about me but I was worried if I opened up to you that it would make me weak in the end."
"I was probably tryin' to get to know you so I knew what buttons to push," Fang grinned. "It's what I do when I am attracted to people yeah?"
"Probably. That might have gotten you killed by me acting in some form of self-preservation. You used to get my hackles up so easily." Lightning smiled a little. "It drove me nuts when you'd call me Sunshine or make some innuendo towards me. Thinking back I know I liked it, well when you directed it at me. I found it infuriating when you directed it at Snow or one of the others."
Fang laughed. "Oh hell Sunshine I do that to everyone, my staying up to talk with you should have been a sign," she shrugged. "Never been one for makin' small talk unless I just wanna be around someone."
"I know now that I did it because I wanted to be close to you. I felt like I needed to push you out as hard as I could… Which is silly of me, I nearly lost Serah by turning my back on her too," Lightning played with her keys. "I've been alone as long as I have because that's my first instinct. I was close to my parents and they died, I was close to Serah and she went into stasis. So the solution was not to get close. And the more I wanted to be close the harder I pushed."
"Well ya ain't pullin' that with me now Sunshine. I won't hear of it," Fang watched her. "It's about time you let someone in so ya ain't alone all the time yeah?" she reached to touch Lightning's cheek. "And I am a stubborn woman once I get an idea in my head. So, go ahead and push but I warn you, I will push back." Fang put her forehead to Lightning's.
"I don't want to push you out Fang, really I don't," Lightning smiled a little, "I had years to figure out what I wanted and it is you." Lightning kissed her softly and moved away to start the car.
"Good," Fang buckled up. "Because I've got my sights set on you now. "
"Yeah," Lightning grinned. "I picked up on that by the conversation you were having with Vanille in the change room," Lightning watched her out of the corner of her eye, grinning wider when she saw the other woman's brows rise. She started the car and pulled out of the lot.
"Oh Sunshine, I cannot even begin to explain to you the things you make me think," Fang smirked, if Lightning wanted to play this way she would too, Fang was a master at this sort of thing. "If I had it my way, there would have been no shoppin' today and you wouldn't be able to remember your name for a week."
Lightning laughed at that. "You sure have a lot of confidence for a five hundred and twenty-something year old.
"Yeah? Well this five hundred and twenty-six year old is physically younger than you are. Keep that in mind Sergeant Farron," Fang grinned at her.
"It is Lieutenant Farron, thank you very much," Lightning grinned back.
"Can I see yer badges? And yer underthings? I want to know if they are military issued and if they have yer name in them." Fang looked her over slowly. "Unless of course ya aren't wearing them, maybe I need to check that first."
"Keep talking like that civilian and you will never get to see my underthings," Lightning laughed as she changed lanes. "Does that sort of thing work on most girls? If so I am starting to question the moral fiber of you Oerbans."
Fang laughed at that. "I never put the moves on a soldier before, they always this stiff? Because if they are, I need to regroup and come up with a better tactic," Fang looked her up and down slowly. "If you want Lieutenant… I can show you the only thing I do better than hunting." She leaned in and lowered her voice. "I can give you a hint to what that is, but first I wanna see what you have on under those clothes."
"Fang! I am trying to drive! I will crash this car if you keep it up," blushing hard, Lightning stole a glance at her. Fang smirked even wider and looked out the window, knowing she won this round.
Lightning parked the car in her space and shut the engine off. Fang had behaved for the most part on the rest of the drive, other than the occasional steamy look she tossed Lightning's way. The soldier was still blushing when she got out of the car and she knew it. She took the bags from the back seat in one hand and made her way up the walk, keys in her free hand. She put the bags down at her feet to fumble with her keys so she could find the right one. Before she could find the key she felt Fang's body pressed against her back and the taller woman's lips on her bare neck and shoulders.
"We should get inside before your neighbours start to stare Sunshine." Fang said in a low voice that gave the other woman shivers as she fumbled even more with the keys. "What's the matter Lightning? Can't remember how keys work?"
"Will you stop for like ten seconds?" Lighting groaned a little. "You are making this way harder than it SHOULD BE!" Lightning's voice rose a little when she felt Fang's hand slip up the front of her shirt. She pushed the hand out. "The hose is five feet away, I am warning you Fang."
"I can't help myself Sunshine. I love it when ya get all flushed." Fang continued the assault on Lightning's neck. The pinkette groaned again and after struggling for a moment managed to get the door open, and practically fell into the condo. Fang scooped the bags up and followed her, dropping the bags and shutting the door before pulling Lightning towards her to kiss her hard on the mouth.
"Damn you…" Lightning grumbled between kisses, backing up towards the couch and pulling Fang with her. She fell back on the couch and pulled the stronger woman down on top of her. Fang let out a pleased chuckle before kissing Lightning again, deepening it immediately. Lightning found herself willing, almost begging the other woman to take control, her slim body arching up into Fang's more muscular one. She moaned into the kiss, feeling Fang's tongue move into her mouth.
Fang pulled away long enough to rise up and pull her own shirt off, tossing it over the back of the couch. "Much better yeah?" She moved back down to kiss the stunned other woman. Lightning was almost terrified by this, topless Fang pinning her to the couch and she had no clue what she was doing. She moved her hands to lightly and cautiously touch Fang's sides. Fang chuckled into their kiss and moved her hands to take Lightning's and slide them up her chest to touch her breasts. Lightning touched them carefully and Fang picked up on her cautiousness.
"You aren't going to break me Sunshine." She smiled down at the other woman and leaned to kiss her softly. "If ya want me then I am yours."
"I do... I just am nervous. That's all," Lightning put her steely eyes on Fang's, the emerald colour of the taller woman's eyes almost taking on a glow in the sun drenched living room.
"Light, ya have nothing to be nervous about. I am not going to turn back into a crystal here, or run out on you." She kissed Lightning's neck.
"Yeah… I know but it's just…" Lightning closed her eyes, not wanting to admit that this was as far as she had been with a woman. "It's you and that makes me nervous."
Fang pulled back and let out a laugh. "Yeah, it's me Fang. I am the same person I have always been and it ain't gonna change Light." She leaned back down to kiss Lightning's jaw. "And I'll be the same person afterwards too. You and I will just be closer, that's all."
"I just…" Lightning had a hard time putting together a sentence when Fang's lips were on her. "You've probably done this with plenty of girls."
"Ughhhhh," Fang buried her face in Lightning's neck, and the kissing stopped. "Please tell me ya haven't been talkin' to Vanille. I'll use her as Behemoth bait." The Oerban was ready to burst and if her sister just inadvertently clam jammed her there would be trouble.
"No I have not. Should I be?" All of a sudden Lightning was worried, what did Vanille know that made Fang say that? She stared up at the huntress. "Is there something I need to know?"
"No…" Fang sat up a little, her hips still pressed to Lightning's and groaned, rubbing her face hard with the hand she wasn't holding her weight up with. "Vanille seems to think I have more prowess than I do."
"Why would she assume that?" Lightning's brow went up.
"Because I was popular and she likes to meddle," Fang was clearly frustrated and started to move off of Lightning. The shorter woman quickly grabbed onto her hips and kept her close.
"Popular how?" Lightning tightened her grip a little when Fang tried to free herself.
"Popular with men and women," Fang sighed. "I won't lie to ya Sunshine, I ain't some sort of blushing school girl, and haven't been one for a long time."
"I figured as much Fang. I mean look at you, there is no way a woman with your looks and…" Lightning blushed, trying to find a way to say it. "Disposition would be."
Fang actually laughed a little at that. "By disposition I assume you mean my rampant smooth talkin' and overabundance of charm," She grinned at Lightning.
"Or something like that," Lightning rolled her eyes. "Anyways, I assumed you had been down this road before. It does not bother me Fang, just intimidates me." She moved over and let Fang stretch out next to her, once the Pulsian settled with her she leaned in to kiss her neck lightly.
"Intimidate ya? I can't see anything intimidatin' ya Light." Fang smiled a little and let her eyes close. "You've got looks too, I am sure this ain't all that new to you either."
Lightning shook her head, still kissing. "To be honest Fang, it is." Fang opened her eyes quickly and tried to move and look at Lightning's face to no avail, the pinkette was avoiding eye contact by keeping herself busy in Fang's neck.
Fang moaned a little, feeling her resolve crumbling. "I call bullshit. There is no way you've never..." she swatted at Lightning to stop the kissing. "Are you bloody serious?"
Lightning sighed and moved away, looking at Fang sheepishly. "I am serious Fang." She furrowed her brows. "And if you are going to make fun of me then we can stop right now," Lightning moved to sit up, only to be pinned back on the couch, Fang moving over her.
"What the hell kinda person would do that?" Fang shook her head. "If you weren't ready, you weren't ready Light." She watched her eyes. "I had no clue, I figured ya were just tryin' to sort us out. I wouldn't have come on so strong if I knew."
"Fang," Lightning put a hand to her mouth. "I do not mind the way you flirt, it just flusters me sometimes." She smiled a little. "This here," she motioned to them on the couch. "Isn't something I have done since high school and never with… Well a woman."
"And never the whole thing with anyone?" Fang asked cautiously. Lightning shook her head. "By Etro woman… You never stop amazin' me." Fang chuckled and kissed the tip of the blushing woman's nose. "Nothin' past high school, I promise." She winked. "I am a gentleman and I am not about to rush this on a couch like some teen boy."
"I appreciate it Fang." Lightning pulled her down for a kiss.
"I get it Sunshine. Just relax, you don't need to do anything at all unless you want to." Fang leaned in to kiss Lightning's neck. If the other woman was nervous then that was fine, Fang could put aside the heat and ache she had built up. She kept kissing, relieved to feel the woman under her starting to relax again. She moved her kisses up Lightning's neck and to her mouth, her hand starting to make its way under Lightning's shirt carefully, pushing up under her bra. Lightning moaned into her mouth, giving Fang a little more confidence that she should keep it up. She shifted her weight a little, her thigh moving to slide between Lightning's.
"Dammit!" Lightning broke the kiss when she felt the press to her hot center. She opened her eyes to meet Fang's as she raised her hips slightly, the rub causing a small shudder in her body. She put a hand to the back of Fang's neck, fingers lacing into red tinted hair. Fang grinned a little and watched Lightning's face as she moved her long, strong leg slightly against her. Lightning's grip on Fang's hair tightened and her eyes fluttered shut as she let her head fall back onto the arm of the couch.
"That's a good Sunshine, just lay back and enjoy." Fang whispered huskily, she adjusted slightly so she could push up Lightning's shirt and bra. She moved down Lightning's body to latch onto a pink nipple with her mouth, causing an even louder moan to escape the other woman. Lightning whimpered a little when Fang's new position caused her thigh to move away. Hearing the whimper made Fang smile a little and she slid her now free hand down to press against Lightning instead.
"SHIT!" gasped the pinkette, marking the first time Fang had heard her curse other than her surprisingly frequent use of the word damn when she was hot and bothered. Fang moved her attention to the other nipple and started in on a steady, firm motion with her hand. She kept her eyes open and focused on the other woman's face as she continued to play. Lightning's eyes were shut tight and she was gripping the arm of the couch above her head, the flush spreading over her entire body. The shorter woman was starting to whimper and mewl now and Fang pulled away from her chest.
"Ya can let go if ya want to Claire, I want ya to." Fang moved up to kiss her body to kiss her mouth. It was almost like Lightning was waiting for permission because as soon as Fang said that she was gone, crying out a little as she came under the Oerban, shuddering all over and clenching her thighs around Fang's hand. Fang lowered to kiss her again softly.
"I guess ya have a pretty good idea what I do better than huntin' now yeah?"
Author's notes:
Thanks again for all the feedback you guys! I love that people are sticking with me even though this was a formatting nightmare at first.
Also... I am so so so sorry for the clam jamming comment. I was trying to set up a sense of frustration in Fang and put that in there as a place holder until I could find a more *ahem* flowery way of saying it and I forgot it was in here. When my wife read it she laughed hard and demanded I keep it in here so I promised I would. On a lighter note, it is WAY less vulgar than what I had up there at first o.O.
Anyways, thanks much for the love and I'm in the midst of a writing frenzy so between that and the 3 hour car ride I have on Saturday for an away game (being the amazing Derby wife I am) I should have another chapter up this weekend.
Until then, take it easy!
Meggs