Chocolate and Vanilla

Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy XIII. Prompts are from 64damn_prompts on LiveJournal Community.

A/N: So mood-wise, this one's completely different from the last one! Enjoy? Yes? No?

Prompt 02. Metaphor

Summary: Sazh thought there was nothing to it. After all, it was just another saying. He didn't think they would actually take offense.

…

"They're two peas in a pod."

Sazh had been watching the two Pulsian women play with the chocobos and sheep during their much needed break. They were just so close and happy and touchy.

His head rolled around his shoulders ever since, his neck cracking to relieve the stiffness in them, as he pondered what exactly they were. He figured, in the end, they were the old adage that everyone knew.

Maybe it was due to his old age and the wisdom that came with it that made him want to label the two as such. Or maybe he was just an old man trying to poke some fun at his companions. Either way, anyone that knew them couldn't deny what he saw in them.

Hope, sitting beside him, agreed. "Yeah." He nodded. "They're so similar and they both would do anything for each other."

He got that right, Sazh thought. Just look at them, shame meant nothing to them and their proximity at the moment. Their legs were tangled together as they both sat beside each other, their arms around their waists and sheep on their laps. Vanille laughed at something Fang said to her. Sazh couldn't help but think that their sisterly love was nice.

They almost looked borderline couple.

"Now see here, Hope. That's why I'm thinking they have got to be like sisters. Twins, even!" Sazh exclaimed. "Well, at least in the head."

The resemblance they had with personalities were too uncanny. Both so strong and mature, but still knew when to kick back and have some fun. He had never seen such serious women with their kind of spunk and cheeriness before. Especially Vanille. She oozed with happy from the get go.

The sheep skittered toward Hope and Sazh, a breeze billowing through the valley. The ones on Fang and Vanille's laps had travelled over to them, perhaps wanting different company after a while. Sazh paused and let one rest on his lap, absently petting the top of its head.

With the wind and the flat terrain, his voice could probably carry over to them if they listened closely, Sazh assumed. He looked over to see the two immersed in a conversation. Their eyes looked to have held some mischief behind it when they looked at one another. Sazh waved away his suspicion about them eavesdropping. Just an old man being paranoid.

Even if they could hear, they probably weren't listening.

"Well they are both from—"

Sazh's eyes widened and his mouth hung slightly loose.

"—Gran Pulse so they wou—"

Hope never got to finish his sentence, as Sazh had quickly grabbed the sheep on his lap and pressed its woolen body to his face. He let out a sudden scream and fell over, but Sazh ignored him. Sheep wool was light and soft, it wouldn't suffocate him. The sheep, out of fear, used its feet to cling onto Hope's face. Sazh relinquished his grip and let the sheep continue his job while he stared absurdly at Fang and Vanille.

He didn't need to see that. He didn't need to see those two girls—who he once thought were innocent—like sisters—kissing. He didn't need to see them enjoying it either. He didn't need to see them wrapping their arms around each other and leaning so close to the other's body and—

The chocobo chick flitted from its nest to chirp and peck at Sazh's face, blocking his view. He jolted and vigorously shook his head and the image ingrained into his mind, stuttering incomprehensible and meaningless phrases. Sazh waved a hand at the chick, indicating for it to stop its pestering. He was just an old man, and definitely not a pervert.

Hope had finally managed to remove the sheep from his head and let out a loud breath of relief. He looked at Sazh with irritation after placing the sheep back on the ground. "What was that for?"

Sazh gulped and yanked on his collar, his way of showing nervousness. He dared one more look at Fang and Vanille, and luckily, they weren't resuming the activity he witnessed. Thank goodness Hope was spared of the sight.

"Nothing!" He exclaimed, his arms waving around frantically. "Uh, you didn't see it right, Hope?" Sazh asked, uncertain on if he wanted to hear an answer or not.

The boy looked at the pilot strangely. "See what? Because of you, all I saw was a sheep's belly." Hope said vehemently. Now that Sazh thought about it, no one in their right mind would appreciate having an animal shoved in their face.

Getting up from the ground, he pulled Hope up as well and started marching him back to the direction they were heading, signifying break time was over. Snow and Lightning should be done talking by now, anyways. Hope, confused, repeatedly turned around to ask Sazh what he was doing, but Sazh was persistent and pushed him onwards.

He was going to pretend it never happened. He didn't think it'd be possible, but he could still try. With a sigh, he clapped his hands over Hope's ears to keep him from looking back. And to avoid having him hear Fang and Vanille from the distance.

"Hope you enjoyed the show, Sazh!" He could hear Fang say.

"We aren't sisters!" Vanille yelled after.

So they had heard the two of them talk. They even went out of their way to set him up to specifically see that.

Sazh was just too old of a man for those kinds of antics.

"Ain't no peas in no pod anymore." He mumbled. "They have got to be those vicious flan. Quick to strike the enemy and then joining together as one to be stronger."

…

A/N: So this one wasn't technically revolving around Fang and Vanille, but centered on another's perspective of them haha. The idea sounded better in my head, but I hope it came out well enough! Drop a review and let me know what you think!