Chapter 9: Regrouping

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Lightning groaned as the pulsian sunlight gleamed through the blind strips from her curtain and directly over her bed. Out of instinct, the soldier flung the covers back over her head and moaned from the lingering pain of the morning's hangover. Drinking certainly was not the best solution to everything it seemed, even though it helped mend the pain, the enormous headache that resulted after made her question if it all was even worth it. Before Lightning could attempt to doze off back to sleep, repeated knocks at her bedroom door made her jump slightly before flinging the covers off from her face and shouted. "What is it!"

Lightning fully expected it to be Fang, waltzing into the room with dinner, breakfast, lunch or whatever time it was and hoped that maybe the pulsian would hop right in bed with her and snuggled off to sleep together but instead, Serah's voice squeaked from behind the door. "Hey sis! Are you awake? Fang let me in and she told me you was feeling a little sick. Want me to take a look at you?" Lightning huffed and let her head fall back onto the pillow. "Sure. It's open!" The door creaked open as Serah peeked her head inside, making a quick assessment of the condition of her sister before slowly entering the room. "Overdid it again sis?" Serah giggled. "This reminds me of back when we were kids, I always insisted on bandaging you up whenever you got hurt since you was so stubborn to ever see a doctor."

Lightning chuckled at the memories herself. Though the injuries themselves was never really severe - mostly a minor cut or two - the pinkette always brushed it off as no big deal. Whenever Serah started to grow into her teenage years, the younger sibling always forced Lightning to comply by insisting she take care of her wounds so they never got infected. Annoying as her younger sister's stubbornness was, it was always a feature she loved about Serah.

Lightning looked up to see the younger sibling hovering above her with a small wrinkled-up rag. Serah gave it a quick look before turning to look at Lightning. "I'm guessing this is Fang's work huh?" Serah giggled before turning around and headed inside the bathroom to wet the cloth down once more before returning back to her sister's side. "Eliza came over earlier and told me about what happened. She told me you was upset about something and never would talk to her about it. Did something happen between you and Fang?" Serah spoke as she folded the rag and softly pressed it across the soldier's forehead.

Lightning only sighed before letting out a slight groan, even with the cold rag, she felt like a boulder rolled over her head. "I'm not even sure I remember. She told me something about wanting me to be happy no matter who I was with if Fang never woke up. I just remember feeling so angry that I just had to get away from her. That led me to the bar and I guess you know the rest of the story." Serah only huffed and glared down at her older sibling. "So you didn't even bother to stick around and try to talk it out with her? Claire you know she loves you and probably you just took what she said the wrong way. So next time will you please just take a moment to think before you storm off like that?"

Lightning knew her sister was right and fighting with Serah was like talking to a mirror. Serah was just as stubborn as she was, if she insisted on storming off was the right call they would be going back and forth all morning. Lightning however didn't have the energy for that with the pounding headache she was receiving and gave a simple nod. "Alright alright. Just take a look at me before my head explodes." Serah's expression flipped to a victorious grin as she tugged the purse from her shoulders. "Happily."

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"You said what?!" Vanille yelled from across the couch. Fang and Vanille was in the living room resting on the couch while Serah went to tend to Lightning. Fang then decided to take this opportunity to explain what happened the night before and it was safe to say Vanille was not too happy about the whole situation. "Vanille I already told you it was a mistake. I didn't think about what I said until it was already out. How the hell would I have known how she was going to take it?"

Vanille attempted to give the most menacing glare she could muster before she continued. "How she was going to take it?! You basically told her she could just go off and get married to whoever she wanted to while you was gone. Did it ever occur to you that maybe she never wanted anybody else? Besides, even if she did find somebody and we eventually did wake up in their lifetime, what were you going to do about it then? Did you just expect to give up?"

Fang drew out a aggravated sigh. "No that's not what I meant. Ugh.." The huntress pinched the bridge of her nose as she looked down to her lap. "All I meant by it was that I didn't want to hold her back from a future that she could find true happiness. I didn't want Light to dwell on hope that someday I would ever wake up in this lifetime. It wouldn't have been fair." Vanille huffed. "Fang we did wake up in this lifetime! Lightning never gave up hope on us, on you!" Fang grimaced. Vanille noticed almost instantly and felt a sting of guilt in her head. The younger pulsian sighed and scooted closer to the tanned woman.

"Now do you see why she got so upset? Serah told me everything last night about it. Lightning used to visit us almost daily at the pillar and try to speak to us. Once a year the whole gang would gather up and talk about all the adventures we went on, how we all came to meet, and all the funny moments that we shared. Though Lightning always stayed even after everyone left, Serah told me she normally never returned until morning. Lightning kept this up for three years until we finally awoke. When you told her that it probably made her feel like all that hope and worry was all for nothing."

This hit Fang right at the center of the heart. She knew she messed up but now that she fully understood the severity of the situation, her heart plummeted. She felt so selfish and blind. This whole time she never truly understood how much pain Lightning endured. Every day Lightning hoped, prayed that Fang would someday return. Ever since waking up from stasis, Fang realizes how much of an ass she's been this entire time. Everything now starts to make sense. Fang couldn't hold back the stray tear that dripped its way down her cheek as she quickly stood up. "Thanks Vanille.." With that, Fang quickly ran outside of the living room and headed towards Lightning's room.

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Serah just finished up with the quick evaluation of Lightning's condition as the smaller pinkette tugged a notebook and pin from her purse. "Well everything seems to be checking out okay. The hangover should start to subside here in a few hours." Serah started to scribble down on the pad. "If the pain continues until tonight or in case something like this happens again - which it better not - I wrote down the medication you can pick up at the hospital where I work." Serah tore out the page and set it on the night stand by the bed. "Thanks." Was all Lightning could muster to speak. Serah smiled and started to store items back into her purse until the door swung open with Fang marching in.

Serah let out a startled squeak at the unexpected entry as Fang came into the room and approached the bed. Lightning looked up at Fang as the pulsian approached her quickly and before she could say anything, Fang dropped down on her knees beside the bed and wrapped her arms around the soldier's waist as she nestled her head under Lightning's chin. "Light I'm so sorry..I had no idea. I was being so selfish and blind, I had no idea what I actually said that upset you until it was too late. I feel like such a fool.."

Serah had to force herself to look away from the scene and quickly stuffed the notepad and pen back inside her purse as she slowly started to sneak out the door. "I'll uh..be downstairs if you need me." With that, Serah hurried out the door and quietly closed it behind her. Lightning hardly even noticed as she never pulled her attention away from Fang. Lightning could feel Fang tense up as she felt the woman's hold around her tighten a bit and instinctively brought a hand up to run it through the pulsian's brown locks. It was a technique she picked up on back on their l'cie journey that she used to ease Fang down whenever they talked about Ragnarok during their brief stay in Oerba. It worked like a charm when Fang's hold started to ease and cuddled further into Lightning. "Thank you Light..." "For what?" Lightning asked as she continued to massage the woman's scalp. "For waiting for me.."

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Vanille waited impatiently in the living room, tapping her foot in rapid succession as she anxiously awaited any kind of news. The red-head perked upward on her toes as footsteps was heard trotting down the stairs in a hurry, only to reveal the smaller pinkette with a scorching blush painted across the woman's cheeks. "Serah? Did you see Fang? How did it go?!" she asked in a hurry. Serah darted her gaze away from her friend and focused on the table located in the middle of the living room. "Y-Yeah. Fang just pushed right past me and started apologizing like crazy to sis. What exactly did you say to her that got her so worked up like that?" Vanille only smirked, placing those small hands on the pulsians curvaceous hips and struck a pose. "I've known Fang my whole life, we're best friends after all and of course I'd love to see her happy. She's not quiet the best at the whole romantic part of relationships but that's where I come in!"

Serah gave a chuckle at the strikingly cute display. "I suppose." The younger farron looked behind her to the stairs that led up to Lightning's room and back to Vanille. "They will probably be a while in there and maybe we should give them some time to work things out." Vanille eagerly nodded her head and extended a hand out to snatch Serah's wrist, dragging the pinkette outside the home almost instantly. "I know just the place we could go!"

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"I don't know what to do about her!" Eliza whined, plumping her face down on the bar table as Bartrand looked down at the women with a sympathetic gaze. "Liza not everything in life will come easy or smoothly as we expect it to. Hell it took me a year just to convince my wife to give me a chance and actually let me take her out on date. Patience and stubbornness pays off in the end..trust me." Eliza threw the middle aged man a scowl. "Damn it that's not what I'm talking about! It's this other women I think she's in love with. I ran into Serah and Vanille this morning and they mentioned more about this Fang women, more so then what Lightning actually told me. If it's true though, have I just been wasting my time all along? Have I just been a persistent pest?" Eliza sighed, dropping her elbows down on the table and reached for her bottled water, unscrewing the lid and taking a large swig down. Bartrand shook his head and laughed. "Hey now, I know you're not the type to give up so easily. Don't get too discouraged based on assumptions alone, you are a pretty amazing lass Liza. Keep at it and I'm sure you'll do fine."

Eliza smirked and chuckled at the man's sweet words. "If only you were a few decades younger and maybe had bigger breasts I'd have picked you up long ago." Bartrand let out a hearty laugh. "Women is the only thing on your mind anymore. Whatever happened to just stopping by every once in a while and giving me the honor of stomping you in a old fashion drinking game." Eliza scoffed. "Maybe because I don't drink. It's the only thing you can beat me at old man." She finished with a snicker. Bartrand was about to make a witty comment of his own until a pair of very oddly dressed men entered the bar. The bartender looked at the two men as they approached the bar, stopping at either side of Eliza. "Anything I can do for you gentlemen?" The cloaked soldier to the left of the women spoke up in a deep concealed voice. "We're here for the pick-up. You should have received the shipment this morning."

Bartrand looked troubled but slowly nodded, looking at Eliza before walking around the bar to address the crowd. "My deepest apologies my fine customers but it seems we have to close early tonight. I'll make it up to you all tomorrow I can promise you that! Free drinks for everyone that shows up." The crowd grumbled but obeyed, dropping their mugs and glass beverages on the tables and bar counters before sitting up from their seats and started to exit the building. Everyone except Eliza of course who stood up, only to address Bartrand. "What the hell is going on?! Two shady guys that I've never even seen before just waltz in and now your closing up for the night? Mind filling me in?"

The two cloaked and masked soldiers looked to the disobedient women, turning to face Bartrand in aggravation. "This women going to be a issue? We'll have no problems removing her from the establishment ourselves." Bartrand grimaced and raised his hand in protest. "That won't be necessary." The old bartender looked to Eliza with sore eyes and sighed. "Liza please do as they say. There is really no sense is anyone getting hurt." "Getting hurt huh? It won't be me who gets their ass kicked out of this building. " With that, one of the soldiers went to withdraw his sword that was strapped to his belt but before the man could remove the blade from it's sheathe, Eliza grabbed his arm and used her free hand to jab at this throat, stunning him to quickly toss him over the counter top. The other soldier was quick to follow, drawing his blade and charged at the women, unfortunately for him, she was quick to anticipate the attack and dodged the slash at her head, ducking down and twisting on her heel to kick the man square in the chest which caused him to tumble backwards and had tripped over the wooden table behind him.

Before Eliza could continue, a loud whistle was heard and the door busted open with similar cloaked soldiers, surrounding the Guardian Corps soldier and outnumbering her ten to one. In shock, Eliza turned to look at Bartrand who withdrew the whistle from his lips and returned the device back to his pocket. "I'm sorry lass, you gave me no choice. I'll give you this warning one last time..leave so nobody else has to get hurt tonight. I really didn't want you to get involved in this." Eliza glared at the man she thought was her best friend, someone she could escape to and share all of her stress and problems with. Though the woman knew she was not in a good position and to not ruin this opportunity, her muscles relaxed and she slowly turned around, pushing past the guards that made no effort to stop her as she made her way outside the building.

When the enraged brunette escaped the building, she instantly wanted to go back in there and kick the hell out of that lying bastard. What the hell was he and those men up to? The first idea that popped in her mind was to report this to the Corps in the morning, surely Amodar would want to hear this. Eliza started to walk down the trail from the bar back towards her apartment. As the women walked, she replayed the scene in her head. They were there for a pick-up? A pick-up of what she wondered. Before the women could progress too far in her thoughts, Serah and Vanille started to come into view from the beach. They instantly spotted Eliza and made a sprint to catch up with her. Eliza could see two soldiers dressed as the ones she spotted earlier approach the two girls from behind.

Eliza attempted to flag them away by waving her hands but it was too late. The two men caught up to the girls too quickly and covered their mouths with rags, silencing them as they dragged the women into the nearby bushes and out of sight. Eliza cursed and was about to chase after the two men before she felt a metal object thwack itself across the back of her head. Before she could react, her vision started to blur and then was filled with darkness as she slumped to the ground unconscious.

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Lightning and Fang laid there in bed for what seemed like weeks. Judging from the empty sounds of the house, free of giggling and gossiping, it seemed the two mischievous women were out doing something of no good probably. The two older siblings didn't mind too much obviously as their limbs were firmly wrapped and linked together. Fangs head was snuggled deep inside the nook of Lightning's neck, humming with each cheek stroke across the pale creamy skin of Lightning's exposed neck. Lighting herself was purring from the affections her lover was giving.

Fang's hands rubbed past the soldiers hips and to her lower back, massaging up the women's spine and halting at her upper back at the tensed muscles as she began to softly caress Lighting's face with a trail of nimble kisses up to the pinkette's lips. Lightning looked up at Fang and smiled, returning the kisses lovingly as her own arms wrapped around the pulsian's waist, pulling the women's full weight down onto her. "It's nice to finally have some quiet in the house.." Lightning spoke in a very uncharacteristic sultry tone. Fang smirked and nodded in return. "It won't be quiet for long love.."

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Author's Notes: Wow I feel horrible. I haven't updated this in so long yet I promised I would have updated it every so often and for that I do deeply apologize. I recently got a new job and it has been the most time consuming five months I've ever had. Also my writing skills seemed to have rusted halfway through this chapter since my long break so it might not be the best and slightly out-of-flow from the rest of my work. However despite all of this I do hope some of you have not forgotten about this story and I do hope you all return to continue this story with me. I recently bought a laptop and now am able to write from work so I should be able to be dishing out chapters at a much much easier pace now. I do deeply apologize once again for the wait and do hope you all enjoyed this chapter. Please Review and leave whatever feedback you like, I love to hear from each and every one of you x3.