I own none of the following. It is just on loan from those who do.
Chapter Eight
Fang leaned forward on the bar and looked around. Tuesday seemed to be a fairly slow night, not that she or Vanille were complaining. Lebreau had been in but decided to knock of early, knowing that her place was in good hands. Lightning came through the door in her uniform, after just getting off work. Fang glanced up from where she was filling a pitcher of beer for one of the waitresses and she couldn't help but grin at the uniform. Lightning sat at the bar near her and smiled, waiting quietly for her to finish up.
"Sunshine, Ah jus' gotta say… That uniform makes me a little weak in the knees yeah?" She leaned across the counter to kiss the shorter woman lightly. Lightning grinned back and looked herself over.
"Well I am glad one of us likes it," she crossed her arms on the bar and chuckled, nodding to the door as Hope came in armed with roses.
"What is he up to?" Fang raised a brow. "Got a date or somethin'?" she watched him mill around, looking for someone.
"I imagine he is here to see your sister," Lightning watched him. "He came by my office today looking for advice."
"Oh did he?" Fang tossed a dish towel at him as he passed, a way to get his attention. When he looked back to her she nodded to the stool next to Lightning's.
"Uhhhh hey there Fang. Good to see you," Hope said as he sat down, smiling nervously.
"So kid, Lightning tells me that yer courtin' my sister. That true?" Fang narrowed her eyes at him and he paled slightly. Lightning rested her chin on her hand and tried to hide her smirk behind it.
Hope looked to Lightning as if she were some kind of traitor. She gave a look of mock innocence and shook her head.
"Don't ya go blamin' her there kiddo," Fang leaned on the bar. "Ya know that in order to court Vanille ya have to beat her father in a fight… She has no father so looks like I gotta fight ya," she pushed her sleeves up. "I'll take it easy on ya and come unarmed."
"I… But I never… Fang you can't…" Hope rambled and Lightning couldn't help but laugh.
"Hope she is picking on you, just relax. I will not let Fang hurt you. I promise."
"Ha! Ya think she could stop me? Easy work, could beat her blindfolded yeah?" Fang chuckled and leaned to tug on the baby's breath in the bouquet. "Take that out… She hates it."
Hope blinked and was quick to start taking it out. "Thanks Fang, I had no clue."
Fang picked up the baby's breath and tossed it into the trash. "Jus' keepin' an eye out on my sister," she chuckled. "So keep that in mind kid."
Hope nodded dumbly and looked around for Vanille. "Where is she?"
"In the back on break yeah? Go on back and see her," Fang gave a nod towards the back door. Hope took that as permission to flee.
"That was sort of cruel of you," Lightning said with a smirk. Fang smiled as she wiped the counter down.
"Ah know. Couldn't resist though. The kid is so easily flustered," she shrugged. "How long has this crush on Vanille been goin' on?"
"Probably since he was a kid. She was always great to him, supportive and caring. I think once he out grew his crush on me and Vanille woke up that it has become a lot more clear to him," Lightning sipped her drink and shrugged.
Fang raised her brows. "Oh? He likes the older ladies yeah? Well he better not be getting any ideas," she winked. "Might have to get territorial on him yeah?"
Lightning shook her head. "Like I haven't made it clear who I want over the last five years I spent pining for you," She watched Fang carefully. "Have you ever been in my place?" Lightning asked, testing the waters.
Fang was quick to shake her head. "Can't say that ah have Sunshine," she went back to wiping things down. Lightning frowned a little, knowing that she'd just been lied to. She wasn't about to call Fang on it though, not here anyways. Lightning looked at the time, letting the awkward silence stretch out. Fang glanced at her but didn't say a word, still trying to stay off the topic. Finally she had enough of the silence and tossed the rag into the sink.
"You tryin' to get at something here Sunshine?" she stood with a hand on her hip, watching Lightning. Lightning looked back to her, the stance, the tone, the dangerous look in Fang's eyes brought back memories of how standoffish the taller woman could be. Lightning was instantly putting her hands up as if to stop Fang in her place.
"Not a thing Fang! Just asking, that is all," Lightning shook her head, now worried Fang had clued in to her and Vanille's conversation a few nights earlier and both she and Vanille were now in trouble. "I am just trying to get to know you a little. Last time you could not remember a lot of what happened before your first time as l'cie. I thought maybe you remembered more this time around."
"My memory is serving me just fine thank ya," Fang said huffily as she made her way to help more customers. Lightning had a feeling like she had just thrown a rock at a hornet's nest. She furrowed her brows and pushed away from the bar to stand up. Fang looked up from where she was serving and gave Lightning a questioning look. When she came back over the pinkette leaned across the bar to kiss her lightly on the cheek.
"I am sorry if I implied something that made you mad. I will get out of here and come back to pick you up at the end of the night. If you will let me," Lightning bit her lip.
"I will ask Snow to drop me off when he comes for Vanille," Fang put a hand on the bar and leaned on it. "I will see you when I get home Claire."
The use of her real name combined with the clarity of Fang's voice made Lightning's stomach drop a little. That was enough to confirm that Fang was not overly happy. Lightning pulled her uniform jacket on and made her way out of the bar and to her car.
Fang was pretty grumbly for the rest of the night and as they were cleaning up Vanille had finally reached her limit of sister grumping.
"What happened to put you in such a bad mood? And why did Light leave?"
Fang paused as she was mopping and shot a look to her sister. "Don't wanna talk about it Vanille. Let's just say that ah am rememberin' some stuff."
"Stuff about Luna?" Vanille stacked some stools. "You can't keep holding onto that. It isn't fair to Light."
"For crying out loud Vanille! This ain't about Lightning and just mind yer own business will ya?" Fang started to mop with more force than needed. Vanille watched her a moment, there went her own good mood. She had been bubbling at an even higher volume after her visit from Hope earlier that night, Fang being in a bad mood was usually a good way to put Vanille in one too.
"Wow, I haven't seen a mood like this outta you in a long time Fang. You're like a king Behemoth with a sore paw and you know what? I don't need to put up with it and neither does Light," Vanille huffed a little as she continued to stack stools. Fang grumbled a little to herself as she finished up mopping and took the pail and mop to the back.
"You girls ready to get out of here?" Snow asked as he knocked on the door frame at the bar's entrance. Vanille gave a nod and made her way to the back.
"Try not to talk to Fang… She's being unfriendly," Vanille said as she pulled her coat on, shooting her sister a nasty look as she did so. The comment and the dirty look was enough to make Fang pause a moment. Maybe Vanille was right, maybe she was being unjustly foul tonight. Fang pulled her coat on and made her way past Vanille.
"Ah'm walkin' talk to ya tomorrow Vanille," Fang threw over her shoulder as she pushed past Snow. Vanille blinked and went after her.
"It's three in the morning Fang! It's dangerous out there!" she looked pleadingly at Snow before trying another tactic. "Oerba Yun Fang! You get your ass back here right now!" she waited and when Fang just waved to them and kept walking she let out a frustrated groan and dug her phone out to call Lightning.
"Why would you just let her walk off like that?" Lightning asked as she pulled her jeans on and struggled into a shirt while she had the phone to her ear. She tucked the tank top in and pulled socks on before heading down the stairs.
"You know that Fang is like when she gets an idea into her head. There is no reasoning with her," Vanille whined into the phone.
"Well I am dressed and I am going to make my way out to meet her. I will let you know when we get home." Lightning grabbed the first coat from the rack and pulled it on, patting the pockets to make sure she had her keys.
"Thanks Lightning. I know she doesn't want to be around me right now," Vanille said with a sigh before hanging up.
Lightning made her way down the front steps, fastening the belt on her uniform jacket. She put her phone in her pocket and opted to take the same route she took when she picked Fang up the night before. It was a nicer but albeit longer route and if she knew Fang, the warrior would be using that route to get home. All she could do is hope that she was right.
Fang was starting to improve mood-wise and now the guilt for taking her mood out on Lightning and Vanille was setting in. She sighed and pondered for a moment on if she should call her sister and make amends as she walked home, Vanille would understand and a phone call would clear it up. Lightning on the other hand would require an in person apology which would take place when she got home, part of her hoping she wouldn't have to wake the soldier up to do it.
"Whatsa gal like you doin' walkin' out late like this?"
Fang cringed and looked towards the slurry voice, two men, younger than her were staggering around the sidewalk ahead of her. She was hoping to just walk past them without issue, no doubt she could hold her own against the two of them but she was very much not in the mood to do it at the moment.
"Walkin' home from work… Move," she said as she tried to push through them. One of the men, a tall slim blond caught her around the waist.
"Not so fast sweetheart, ' sdark and scary. Hows about we accompany youse…" he burped a little and laughed, making Fang cringe at the smell of his breath.
"Just fine walkin' on my own lovey… Thanks though," she took his arm from around her hips and kept walking, pausing when he latched onto her wrist. She stopped in her tracks and turned to him, green eyes flashing in the light cast by the street lights. She yanked her arm back. "I said I am fine!"
"No 'lovey'," the other man, a larger bald one sneered. "We insist."
Fang was about to make her on insistence when another, more familiar voice spoke.
"Good evening gentlemen, how about you two move on. I can see to it that the lady makes it home alright. I think a police escort is as safe as it gets." Lightning spoke with a calm assured voice, hoping the men were too drunk to notice that her uniform consisted only of the well decorated jacket. She was not armed and the rest of her uniform was hung over a chair at home.
Fang had never been so happy to see Lightning in her entire life, well as far as she could remember. She gave the shorter woman a thankful look, she was far too distracted by her thoughts for a fight. The man to her left, the bald one was the first to step away.
"Yeah, the officer is right… Come on Tony, let's go." He tugged the other man along as he left, not willing to take on a soldier, especially one in a ranking uniform, he didn't know what the stripes and colours meant but he knew this wasn't your run of the mill soldier.
Lightning watched them go before looking to Fang. "What the hell are you thinking walking home at this hour? Snow or I would have come to get you."
"Ah ain't a kid Claire. Ah can take care of myself." Fang grumbled as she started to walk.
"Well for someone who claims she is not a child, you sure are acting like one." Lightning shot a hand out to grab the sleeve of Fang's jacket. "Also, don't call me Claire. I hate when people do that out of anger." She spun Fang back to face her. "And finally, don't you dare walk away from me without an explanation. You did that to me five years ago and you will not be doing it again." She tried to be as firm sounding as she could, mostly just wanting to pull the other woman down to kiss her, relieved that she got there when she did.
Fang pulled her arm away gently and looked at Lightning a moment before the situation settled in. Vanille must have called Lightning to let her know that Fang had taken off and despite Fang being a cantankerous shit earlier that night, here Lightning was at three in the morning on a work night, out looking for her. Not to mention having arrived in time to save Fang from Etro knew what might have happened with those two guys, and now she was standing there in her uniform like some knight in shining battledress demanding an explanation.
"Light… Ah don't know what to say. First of all, ah'm sorry for taking this out on you. Ah just got caught up in a memory and-" the words fell short when Lightning pulled the taller woman down and into a fierce kiss.
"Do not shut me out alright? I will do plenty of things that make you mad, stupid things, but do not just get mad and walk off because I will not do it to you." Lightning kept her close by a handful of her jacket.
Fang gave a meek nod. "Back in Oerba, before you, there was someone." Fang started and Lightning shook her head.
"You don't need to tell me Fang. Vanille already has." The pinkette furrowed her brows. "I am not going to go off and do something stupid to impress you. I am not Luna. This is me and this is how I am," Lightning let Fang go. "Either you want me or you do not. We are not going to play games here. I do not do that sort of thing."
"Got ya," Fang nodded, not sure if she should be upset that Vanille spilled the beans or relieved that she didn't have to do it herself. "Ah won't make the comparison."
Lightning gave a nod and took her hand. "Come on," She started to walk. "We should get home."
AN: Wow... It's been awhile since I put anything up and I apologize, on top of a lack of inspiration I have been swamped with work and just overcame some sort of horrible death flu. I am feeling much better and have some of my inspiration back at last.
Anyways... Thanks again for all the reviews, it is nice to get the e-mails randomly and it reminds me to get my ass back in gear and start writing. It also gets me reading other fics and back into the swing of things.
I am out of here to do some more writing and to maybe play some Final Fantasy since I am all about it right now, might even take the dust off my FFXI character. (OH! BTW13 days until I am getting incredibly nerdy half sleeve tattoos with Final Fantasy themes :D They will fit right in with my G.I. Joe and X-Man tattoos and I will be sure to put up some pics once they look less like a horror show)
Take it easy and thanks for reading!
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