Third chapter up and running. Thank you to all those who posted reviews, it was very helpful and I am always glad to have them.

i still dont own final fantasy xiii.

Chapter 3

Lightning sat on the one of the logs they were using as seats around their camp. She was quiet, calm, and as expressionless as ever. She watched as the others told stories around the fire, wondering when if anyone would break into a ghost story to complete the obvious cliché. Hope and Snow were both their usual selves, and Sazh actually seemed happier than usual. Vanille seemed a little less than her usual self, quieter and not quite as bubbly, but that was to be expected. Then there was Fang. Her grin present as she listened to Snow tell a story about N.O.R.A. She looked as good as ever. It had been a week since their adventure by the river, and, as per Lightning's request, Fang hadn't said a word about it to anyone in the group, even Vanille. They hadn't had a chance to be alone since then, and Lightning was starting to wonder if it would happen again, or if this had been a onetime thing.

All of a sudden Vanille stood up, breaking Lightning's chain of thought. "I'm going for a walk." She said out of nowhere.

"All right, but don't be gone too long now." Fang said

"I'll go with you." Lightning said as she stood up, "Might as well check the perimeter."

"Fine." Vanille said, a little curter than Lightning had expected. Then they set off away from the camp. After they got a short distance from the camp they turned and started to circle around it. Lightning could tell by now something was definitely wrong with Vanille. They had been walking for almost ten minutes and the girl hadn't said a word; that and the fact that she was walking somewhat behind Lightning, instead of skipping around ahead of as she usually did. Lightning seen a clearing up ahead and decided it would be a good place to stop for a moment.

It was a small clearing, about twelve feet across. When Lightning stopped Vanille automatically went and stood at a nearby tree, waiting for her to continue on. Lightning decided that whatever was bothering the girl needed to be solved before it got in the way, she had been this way for about a week now and it wasn't going away. She decided the direct approach would be best. "Vanille." She said.

"What." She returned simply, something else that Lightning noticed was out of character.

"What's wrong?" Lightning said, trying to figure out how to solve an emotional problem when she had so little experience with them.

"What do you mean." The redhead said, looking back at the soldier.

"Something is bothering you and you need to let it out. Now what is it?" Lightning said, cutting to the core of the problem.

"It's nothing." Vanille said, turning away again.

"It's not nothing, Vanille; now tell me what's wrong." Lightning commanded, asking hadn't worked so maybe this would. It did.

"How could you do it?" Vanille said, looking back at Lightning again, "What in hell made you think that was a good idea?"

"Do what?" Lightning asked, suddenly confused.

"Don't try to deny it, I already know." Vanille said; she was pissed now.

"Deny what?" Lightning asked, getting defensive.

"You fucked Fang!" Vanille said.

It was not an accusation; it was a statement of fact. One that left Lightning dumbfounded; more by the blatant honesty and solidity with which she said it than by what she actually said. She may not have shown it but she was surprised that the seemingly innocent girl would say such a thing. How does she know though? Fang must have told her. Damn pulsian can't keep a secret.

"What? Got nothing to say? Huh?" Vanille said, bringing Lightning back to the conversation. "Well? You gonna try and deny it or not?"

"How did you know? Did Fang tell you?" Lightning asked calmly. Vanille did not remain as such.

"Fuck no she didn't tell me! She tells me everything, but she didn't tell me this. That just makes it worse. Let me guess. You told her not to. If you didn't want people to know you shouldn't have done it in the first place! Did your keen soldier mind not think of that beforehand? Or is it just that you figured since you from Cocoon you could take whatever you want? She's just a pulse l'cie I can use her for whatever I want. If that's what you thought then I say fuck. You. Or were you going to try for that anyway, you fucking Cocoon whore. She's my friend and you used her and you think I'm just gonna let that slide?"

Lightning didn't know how to respond. Fang had been right; a pissed off Vanille was worse than herd of charging adamantoise. Titan would fall before her without her ever attacking. Lightning just wanted to curl up into a little ball and hide; but she stayed strong and showed no fear. She knew the truth, and Vanille needed to too.

"She came onto me." Lightning said. She would have said more, but she didn't have time.

"What the hell do you mean she came onto you? Fang would never do something like that. Sure she's the big tough warrior in front of everyone else, but she still has feelings. She would be too scared that you would be straight and turn her down. She wouldn't risk losing someone as a friend just so she could fuck them. Something you don't seem to have in common with her. I saw the two of you layin' there by the river, just sleepin' away. I would have said something then but you were both bare ass naked! I'm guessin' screwing some random woman really wears you out, don't it? Don't answer that. I don't want to know, unlike you Cocoon sluts we pulse women care about the people we sleep with. Fang wouldn't just fuck someone, and I really don't like you insinuating that she would, it pisses me off, and you DON'T want to see me when I'm pissed off. What? You thought this was mad? This is nothing compared to what will happen if you hurt Fang! Do. You. Understand. Me?" Vanille emphasized each of those last four words by poking Lightning in the chest.

Lightning wanted to turn and run. Normally she would have broken the finger of whoever did that, but now she didn't know what to do. She decided to continue with the truth.

"She was my first." Lightning said, and waited for Vanille to respond.

"WHAT?!" She shouted, still pissed.

"Fang was my first." She said again, glad for a chance to defend herself. "She is the only one I've been with, ever." Vanille did not take that the way Lightning expected.

"What, so you got to Gran Pulse and decided you didn't want to die a virgin so you just fucked Fang? Used her to make sure you knew what it was like? Well wish granted. Now you can die happy knowing you fucked someone, no matter that she happened to be Oerba Yun Fang. One of the only two remaining people from the wonderful world of Gran Pulse. No matter that she's been out of touch with the world for FIVE HUNDRED YEARS! None of that matters because the great Lightning Farron didn't want to die a virgin! I hope it was worth it."

Lightning sighed. This was harder than she was expecting. Oh well, try again.

"Vanille, she fucked me. In fact she tied my hands up and held me down to do so." Lightning said before Vanille could start again.

SMACK! The sound resounded through the trees and Lightning found herself facing a new direction, the left side of her face burning. Lightning didn't retaliate. That would have only ended badly. As a soldier she was trained to know that you triumph by knowing when to fight, and when not to fight; and now was not the time to fight.

"Don't you dare say that! Fang is the best person I have ever known. Just because you don't want to feel guilty doesn't mean you can talk down about Fang." Vanille said, almost crying from anger at Lightning and fear that she may be telling the truth.

Lightning turned her head back to face Vanille, ignoring the burning in her cheek. She had to make her understand the truth. Lightning had enjoyed being with Fang, she wanted it to happen again, but if Vanille didn't approve, that would be impossible.

"I'm not talking down about Fang. She took what she wanted and what she wanted turned out to be me. It just happens that I enjoyed it. Yes I fought it at first, but I'm glad she did what she did. But I did not start this, she did. I didn't take advantage of her, she took me. I was wondering if Fang had used me, but if what you're saying is true, I don't have to worry about that, not that I was going to anyway." Lightning said, all while keeping eye contact. She didn't know if Vanille was going to slap her again, but she didn't care either. She had spoken the truth, what happened next would happen, and she would deal with it.

"So you're telling the truth?" Vanille said quietly, the anger gone from her voice; which made Lightning feel exponentially better. "It was really Fang who started this?" Vanille had never known Lightning to lie, she was an honest person. But it didn't sound like Fang to force herself on someone else. Vanille knew Fang had a crush on her at one time, but had never followed through in order to maintain their friendship, which Vanille was glad about. So why had she done this to Lightning, unless she felt differently about her. Maybe she should ask Fang about this; that would probably be the best.

"Vanille?" Lightning said, interrupting the thoughts of the woman in question. She returned her gaze to Lightning. "Vanille, can you do something for me?"

"What is it?" Vanille asked, suddenly curious. Why would Lightning ask her for something now?

"I want you to talk to Fang." The soldier said simply.

"Why?" Vanille asked. It wasn't like Lightning to get someone else to do something for her. Sometimes she didn't even ask for help when she needed it.

"She hasn't spoken to me since last week. I don't know what's happening with her, at least in when it comes to… Well, you know. And if you were to agree to, or I mean to approve of. Well she would probably; well she would be more likely to." Lightning said uncharacteristically, breaking eye contact and not finishing the sentence.

Vanille was surprised. Lightning was nervous, and little embarrassed. Why would she be, she was Lightning Farron, stone cold soldier. Then it hit her, Lightning actually had feelings for Fang. And the emotionless soldier didn't know how to deal with them, which actually didn't surprise her.

"Don't worry, I'll talk to her." Vanille said, her voice back to its normal bubbly self, "Now let's get back, don't want them to worry, now do we?" Then she skipped away, leading back to camp.

Damn, she bounces back fast. Lightning followed the bubbly redhead on their way back to camp.

…

Lightning and Vanille walked back into the camp, well Lightning walked, Vanille skipped. Lightning looked around as they enter the camps clearing; Snow and Sazh were gone and Hope was asleep. Fang was sitting back on one of the logs gathered around the campfire.

"Hey there Vanille." Fang said as they entered, "Sunshine." Lightning nodded in response as Vanille skipped over to her friend, hips swinging. "Well you seem to have perked up." Fang added, looking at Vanille.

"Yep. Where are the others?" Vanille said, looking around for Snow and Sazh.

"They went to get more firewood. The kid decided to catch some extra zs." Fang said, pointing at Hope with her thumb.

Vanille looked as Lightning, who had sat down with her back facing them, and then back at Fang. Well, might as well do it now. "Fang, I want to talk about something." She said.

"What's on your mind?" the huntress asked. It was definitely not one of their usual chats.

"I want to talk about Lightning." Vanille said, causing the huntress to look at the soldier, who didn't seem to be able to hear them, before turning back to respond.

"What about Sunshine?" Fang said, wondering if this was going to have something to do with what her and Lightning had done a week before.

"I know you had sex with her." Vanille said plainly, then, on seeing the look on Fang's face, quickly added, "And it's okay, I'm not upset. At least not anymore."

"Hold up a sec." Fang said, "How do you know about that?"

"I seen you two laying there by the river." Vanille said, turning her head and blushing, "I didn't mean to, I just sort I stumbled onto it. But when I seen you were naked I left. Fast." She looked back at Fang when she finished. "At first I thought it was Lightning. I assumed you wouldn't make a move so soon, so I thought she had just used you for herself. That you only agreed because you thought she was hot."

"So you knew about me and Sunshine?" Fang asked

"Yep." Vanille said and nodded

"And you were mad at her because you thought she used me?" Fang asked, working things out in her head.

"Mmhm." Vanille said, nodding once more.

"And she's still alive?" Fang asked, breaking out into a grin.

"She explained to me that it wasn't her that started it." Vanille said.

"Oh, I see." Fang said, looking at the soldier.

"She also asked me to talk to you." Vanille said, drawing the woman's attention again, "I think she's worried since you haven't spoken to her since it happened. Not that she would ever admit to it."

"I figured she didn't want anything to happen anymore. Assumed that was why she asked me not tell anyone." Fang said

"I think she just wanted to keep it a secret. After all, she did ask me if I would 'approve', and that if I did you might be more likely to go back to her. I think she actually cares about you. Even though she probably wouldn't admit that either." Vanille said, looking to Lightning, then back at Fang, who was now staring at Lightning again. "Well, go talk to her, or do I have to do that for you too?"

Fang got up and walked over to Lightning, standing just behind her. "Hey there Sunshine, have a nice walk." She said. The soldier didn't even turn around to respond.

"Isn't that what you and Vanille were just talking about?" Lightning asked, even though she had heard the entire conversation.

"And a very interesting conversation it was. But it's not exactly like you to get other people to do the talking for you, now is it?" Fang said, "So I was just wondering; what's on your mind?"

"Fang?" Lightning said

"Yeah?" Fang said.

"Yes," Lightning said, "or no."

" 'Scuse me?" Fang asked, confused.

"Yes or no?" Lightning asked again, this time turning around to look Fang in the eye.

Fang grinned as realization dawned on her. Leave it to Sunshine to keep it simple. "Well, yes, of course. Isn't it obvious, Sunshine? I'm surprised you even have to ask." Lightning simply nodded and turned back around. Fang sat down next to her and wrapped an arm around the pinkette; who laid her head on the taller woman's shoulder. Vanille thought the sight adorable, but resisted the urge to go awwwwwww.

They stayed that way until they heard Snow and Sazh returning, at which point they moved to opposite ends of the camp. It wasn't long after their return that everyone, who was still awake, decided to go to sleep. Snow would take the first watch. Lightning slept better than normal that night, the question of her and Fang answered. Fang did the opposite, she instead spent the not pondering what path this new relationship with their defacto leader would take.

A/N: okay so i didn't add Vanille, this will stay a FLight. I know this is mostly dialogue, but I felt if its going to be a full story it needed more substance. dont worry though, ill add more heat later. don't know how long it will take, this chapter itself was, for some reason, hard to write, but ill try and get the next one going asap. as always i ask that you leave reviews.