A/N: The not so short, short stories! Special note, if you haven't figured it out now when it comes to Fang or Vanille talking I try to phonetically spell how they sound in my head. So the misspellings at least in that area have a purpose. XD Please enjoy! R/R, Pick your favorite!

Addendum: I wasn't sure if I went over the M rating, I can rewrite if necessary.

11: Red

The midnight to three shift of patrol was a bit brutal, but a necessary evil that helped Lightning sleep better at night. That is when it wasn't her turn at that particular unfriendly shift. She sighed as she stepped under the awning of the little one roomed house she shared with her dark huntress wife and found a faint smile coming to her lips at the idea of getting to crawl into bed at last with said huntress. Sitting on the front retaining wall, Lightning worked at pulling all the bindings of her boots. Releasing latches and loosing buckles until she was finally able to kick out of them. Best boots ever but they were high maintenance in the lacing and unlacing department. Rising she worked at the belts across hips and the supply pouch at her thigh. Drawing Blazefire from around her body and systematically placing all straps in their rightful place.

With all the loud clunky parts of her gear removed and ready to be stored she picked up waiting boots and stepped into the house. Her boots were placed by the door on a mat woven out of palm fronds. More important gear would be placed in the room on her night stand. Something that she almost forgot to do when she found Fang curled up on the bed still in bra and black shorts clutching Lightnings red cloak.

The soldier stood in the door way with a brow raised, lips parted at the adorable picture. The dark huntress looked like a child who was clutching their favorite blanket in the entire world. Her long frame curled up on Lightnings side of the bed, dark waves foaming over the soldiers pillow. Even as Fang slept that sure saucy teasing smile tugged at full lips. The one that was equal parts tantalizing, and annoying depending on why it was Fang felt compelled to bring it out again.

It wasn't like her huntress to wear clothing to bed, she must have fallen asleep while simply curling up with the red fabric which in Lightning's opinion made the sight all the more adorable. She smiled something soft and gentle setting the compressed gunblade on the bed side table now nearest the door.

Removing her outer clothing Lightning settled onto Fangs side of the bed in her own dark shorts and matching black bra. Fang's smile grew and green eyes slowly opened. A voice husky with slumber murmured.
"Welcome home sunshine." Long limbs reached out for Lightning, and she smiled moving forward.
"You look good in red." She teased getting an amused grunt from the half awake huntress.

"I thought blue was your favorite color?" Lightning continued as they entwined legs and shifted shoulders to make room for arms curling around one another.
"Actually, pink is. Id say it's grown on me but It wouldn't be my favorite then. Looks mach betta on you." Lightning allowed herself to be tucked into Fangs arms smiling at her lovers observations about her pink hair. The sleepy Oerbian smiled a toothy grin.
"I especially like the little pink triangle." Realizing what Fang was saying her soldier tinted a dark shade of red and bowed her head as a little vein throbbed. Fang chuckled.
"Now I like red."

12: Ravenous

The trip through gated way stones was tiring. They spent the day trekking through jungle and marsh, combating every monster in their path, some of them simply to survive... some of them to carry on as food. Their end goal was meeting Cephus at the most recent way stone, found in the lands of the now fallen King of Dragons. A place where Lightning had almost lost Fang... to bodily damage, and the mind of the Destroyer that still haunted her.

She was quiet as they walked, conserving energy between battles, keeping senses alert for the next bout of fighting. Every now and again her wife would look across at her and flash a smile, something that Lightning found she was unable to resist even though Gadot and Snow were with them to make comments about their rather strong eye contact that occurred often. The look on the soldiers face turning to something that dared either to speak their thoughts, as if this were a democracy rather than an autocracy in her plan to open the next C'ieth way stone.

Snow either through age acquired wisdom or the powerful need to return to his wife; remained silent. It was Gadot who tested the waters with the soldier, only to find her attacks as his replies. It was only when she got a good right hook on him with the brass knuckles stitched into her gloves cutting the skin on his face and dropping him like a rock did he give it a rest. Finding the physical reminder of her ire enough... for now to just let it go.

It was coming on late afternoon when they finally reached the camp near the C'ieth way stone where Cephus waited. He had done exactly as Lightning had left instructions to do. Her temper something of legend not only in the Guardians but also something growing on Pulse. A series of smoking pits had been built around their central camp, they now waited with fires burning down into glowing embers for the meat the traveling party had brought with them. The meat would be given to his people as a gift so the fair haired soldier said, while enough was given to the Way Stone party to help them on their way.

The late afternoon was spent with Gadot using his refined skinning skills to de-bone the meat and Snow to set up drying racks down into the pits. Which Cephus covered as per Lightnings instructions.

Fang however had other ideas about what to do with her time. Letting all know she would be back later the huntress left camp on her own. Her fair haired wife had a good idea where it was she was going, and while she didn't understand the need to revisit the battle ground where she was almost killed and taken over, she didn't stop her. Instead giving the her other half time to work through the feelings that were driving her.

The remainder of the Yun warriors stayed for a time at camp. Working to gather firewood, check the neatly dug pits, and clean a space on the ground large enough near the center fire pit to roll out their ground blanket. When she was done with these self imposed chores Lightning stood gazing off the direction her mate had disappeared to. Contemplating if enough time had elapsed for her to follow after Fang with out imposing upon this solitary need. A hand caressed the collapsed form of Blazefire, a palm rubbing over well oiled gears and carbon composites as she made her decision.
"I'm heading out for a bit." She told them getting three sets of eyes following her as she left camp in a mirror path that Fang had taken earlier. Her pace was leisurely feeling unhurried as that bond that was between them felt relaxed rather than strained, and the sounds of peaceful nature calmed the pink haired soldier.

Along the way Lightning wondered about what it was that had drawn her dark huntress back to this place, what was it she needed? Or sought? Surly it wasn't redemption for the killing blow to the King of Dragons, the time for vengeance was long past... and solace did not seem something an old battle ground could give even the weary soul. Lips pursed then tightened as she tried to understand what it was that had driven her beloved to revisit what was essentially the grave sight of the fallen King of Dragons.

Slowly the jungle gave way to craggy stone, walking became a bit more calculated as loose rocks threatened sure foot falls promising injured ankles if less than strict attention were given... still Lightning trekked on. At an upper landing on the mountain Lightning caught a glimpse of her wife sitting in quiet contemplation... or perhaps meditation. She stopped then still not sure if Fang found what she had been seeking. Quietly so as not to further disturb, Lightning took a seat on a rock to wait for Fang to come to her.

It didn't matter how long she had to wait, all that she needed was sitting up above her, and with out announcing herself, the soldier was sure her huntress knew she was there.
Unbeknownst to Lightning, Fang needed this, to revisit this battle ground to simply let it go... all of it. The past six months of healing and rehabilitation. The internal battles with her personal demons... the constant revisits of that dark slithering voice who promised that nothing was sacred... even a certain pink haired abomination... all met destruction in due time... When that was placed as if in a neat pile at the center of what had once been a ringed fire pit of death... Fang was able to find her feet... and she felt lighter.

The presence of her wife was something joyous, and she sauntered forward to the growing smile of her sometimes aloof soldier. It was a quiet delight to take that smaller pale hand in her own. The liberated huntress brought that pale hand to her lips placing a kiss against the back. In Lights presence she always felt better, but after leaving the last bit of emotional baggage from that tough battle behind she felt free, and was eager to steal deep kisses from her partner on their trek back down the mountain and through the darkening forest.

Fang ever the sensual creature loved to evoke surprised sounds from her pink haired companion, getting a gasp or groan when their tongues caressed, and she flicked suggestively into her lovers mouth. Drawing a physical response by pinning Lightning to a tree. The soldier grasping her sari tightly and their mouths bruising one another. Life was good...

She was grinning like a fiend when they stepped into the fires glow from the jungle. Both their cheeks flushed, Lights eyes glittered and she got smoldering glances as the boys talked about the Purge.
Never a favorite subject of the darker Yun warrior. She felt righteously indignant as she listened to them, and lost some of that fire she had been sharing with her wife.

The men around the fire looked up as she gave a disgruntled growl swiping up her canteen as she approached the fire, absolutely disgusted by talk of the purge. Rich and powerful men and creatures dictating to the lesser well trained public that the purge was something that had to be done.
"Pah!" She scoffed. Gadot looked up from his place where he was waiting for the stew that Cephus had been cooking to finish.
"Whats the matter Fang?"

She growled and snapped.
"You know damn well whats the matta!" The three men shared a look with Lightning at Fangs sudden outburst, as if she had somehow caused it... or provoked it. They tried to read her face to see if they had been fighting... what they found no answers in the mask that was their leaders face.

Honestly Lightning too felt a bit poleaxed at Fangs sudden shift in emotion and thinking, as once again the Purge made her positively hostile. Fang paced behind the three men fuming, wondering where it was best to start on what she thought of the Sanctum and their Fal'Cie, possibly creating another War of Transgression as they mucked about with peoples lives like Gods...

Lightning reached out to her pacing soldier drawing her still with arms as she made something perfectly clear.
"With out the Purge we would never have been..." She pulled some on Fangs strong arms, rocking her on sandaled feet.

Fang stilled further some of her fire leaving.
"I know that, love." Dark brows drew together then hardened.
"It's just thinking about them really pisses me off!" Small hands tightened on strong arms. She understood as well, and while they did create mistrust, divide the masses, and devalue human life... she still had Fang... and Gran Pulse... the first real home since her family had been destroyed.

"Well, now... on to better thought." Cephus said and picked up a ladle to begin dishing out bowls of stew.
"A hard days work, boys. Time to eat up." He said giving a hearty smile as he handed Snow the first bowl.
"Now this here is my mothers recipe of..."

While the men were distracted with the onset of dinner. Lightning took the opportunity and semi privacy to draw her lover in for a kiss. Something that was bordering the game they had begun in the jungle on the way home, and the deep love she felt for this passionate, honorable huntress who had won her heart. Small hands pulled Fang against her body, leaving no space for air as their fronts came full face.

It was not hard to find Fangs passion hostile or not... their tongues fought as heat rose between them. But the time was too short, their mouths tearing free as Gadot got his bowl of food.
"Here you are Fang." Cephus said holding the bowl up as the women once again were doing that hot long stare into one another eyes. He cleared his throat and tried to hide a smile as Fang stepped forward to take the bowl.

Lightning was left for a moment alone near snow, as Fang accepted her food with both hands, thanking Cephus as she stepped aside to allow Lightning the opportunity to grab her bowl.
"I saw that." Snow said in a whisper, flashing a grin. Blue eyes still burning flicked over to him and contemplated what dark things she might do to him if he so much as stepped over the line one more time. She hoped Serah could forgive her for bringing him back near death...
"It's best you forget it." She warned him some of that cold soldier returning.
"Here you are." Cephus said. Snow flashed a smile and held up both hands in surrender. He didn't want to fight, just play, and some day he hoped that Lightning would allow him to do that with out great bodily harm... but today did not seem to be that day.

"Thank you." Lightning said taking the bowl and moving to the space she had laid out their blanket on the far side of the fire back a little ways from the flames. Taking up a place on the shared bed roll near Fang.

"So what do you think you will find with this next Way Stone?" Cephus asked looking across the fire at Fang and Lightning. His answer came as a noncommittal shrug from the soldier.

Fang smirked at Lights silent answer, truth was they didn't know, two Way Stones had been opened, and two times they had not know what was going to happen until they touched it.
"That's not how it wehks."(works) Fang said setting her half eaten bowl of stew aside and resting back on her elbows, stretching long legs out before her.

This action drew blue eyes and her conversation with Cephus was lost on her affected lover. A hunger that had been stoked earlier that evening which had nothing to do with food; made its self known to the quiet soldier. Slowly from the sandals on Fangs feet, up shapely crossed calves, to the perfect shape of powerful thighs, Lightning drank her in. It wasn't a involuntary action any more than the beating of her heart. She swallowed licking dry lips as she progressed over fangs loins, taking note how a negligent blue sari was tucked neatly between strong thighs, a brief wrap around shapely hips, buckled by belt before more skin was offered up to hungry eyes.

Across the fire Cephus noticed the long stare from the overly quiet soldier and caught a glimpse of carnal hunger, something he had never dreamed the private reserved woman would ever display in public. Blue eyes flicked up looking for a target coming to settle on the other two males at the fire side who were chatting and laughing. The thought not for the first time on how best to dispose of them crossed the hungry soldiers thoughts. Not permanently mind you... she could knock them out for the evening with out so much as a hint of remorse...but Cephus...

A prickle at the back of Snow Villiers neck alerted to him that danger was near, it never dawned on him it would come from his Sister-in-law... but he was convinced by the look in darkened blue eyes was contemplating his swift demise... He swallowed and looked across at Gadot, who seemed oblivious that his life as he knew it was about to end.

Light met Snow's eyes intensifying the sens of danger as she asses him... he swallowed hard worried that at any moment, the devious plan forming in that mind was going to be put into action

Fang looked to the suddenly amused Cephus who was now trying not to make eye contact. She followed his brief shifting look back to her wound up Soldier. The smoldering look in passion darkened blue eyes shot heat through the huntress, and while her Soldier had issues about public displays of affection, this was not so with the older of the two Yun Warriors. Quivering lips were covered with Fangs own, a hand at her wife's neck guided her down into the kiss, drawing her self conscious lover in against her body as an agile tongue delved into Lightnings eager mouth. Their kiss was hot, it drew forth those carnal hungers, their tongues danced as the world outside of them faded to the astonished onlooking of the three men.

Lightning knew what flame felt like, she had felt it during numerous battles from beasts both wild and genetically grown. At the moment her dark haired wife's tongue entered her mouth even that felt like a pale imitation the heat that their kiss drew between them. She moaned into Fangs demanding mouth forgetting the small but interested audience they had watching them with mouths hinged open.

Fang bit trembling lips and chuckled at how she could get her pink haired soldier so worked up.
"Shall I find us a private spot?" She murmured against Lightnings quivering lips. The down side of traveling in larger groups than two was that there was no privacy when one wanted it most, and she would have rather have it then and there, as her hotly blushing Soldier no doubt contemplated all of their demise.

This thought drew a larger smile onto Fangs lips, her hand coming to rub over Lightnings back as her wife gave took a moment longer to think about this offer. A soft whimper only for Fangs ears slipped out, then a brief but firm shake no.
"Ah." Fang said kissing her softly when her embarrassed soldier tried to hide a furiously blushing face.
"I'm sorry ta get you all worked up like that." She murmured privately and stole a look across at the three men at the fire side across from them. Cephuse having only respect for both women only smiled. His thoughts making him braver than the other two who wisely found something else to look at.

Fang spent the evening trying to sooth that burning in her wife, bestowing kisses to her cheek and forehead as they lay together, the conversation something distant... little did she know her Soldier was not planing their demise... but hers. Allowing the gentle touches to give the premise that she had been calmed, but underneath she still ached for something more physical...

It was hours before patient waiting could be rewarded. Light cat napped biding her time until the hours before the dawn, where sleep was deepest. Excitement fueled her actions, wary eyes gazing across the smoldering fire gazing at the men as she freed herself from Fangs arms to better hear the rhythmic breathing of Snow, the soft snores of Gadot, and the heavy wheeze of Cephus.

Sure the coast was as clear as it was going to get, Lightning set her plan in motion. A hand slowly drawing back Fangs Sari, from stomach and hip, better revealing the black under shorts... Her hand came to rest over her lovers abdomen, fingers turned downward as she chanced a glance to her slumbering huntress before sliding beneath the dark waste band with nefarious ideas mapped out on her agenda...

Fang awoke in great pleasure, something sticky and sweet to the senses, her breathing came quick as Lightning schooled her on the dangers of working up a stubborn soldier and leaving her needing...

Fang was helpless but to ride the power of her wife's actions, letting her take the lead as she seemed quite capable in doing even with the prospect of being found out. It was mind blowing that Lightning dared touch her in a public group setting regardless of their state of sleep. her breathing quickened, soft and panting as Lights fingers found all those right places bringing her to the next level, and with it... release. Reaching down Fang caught her soldier drawing her up into a hot kiss, begging for help in not blowing this moment for the both of them, she bit her wife, and clawed at perfect flesh, leaving nail marks up from the small of Lightnings back, and drawing blood with her mouth. It would have been painful if she had not already been filled with endorphins senses razed against the possible chances of having to stop mid thrust.

Fang lay in awe at this side of her lover, and mute pleasure of both her release and the blood mark on perfect lips. Despite all that her wife had surprised her with tonight she was not prepared for the next phase Lights nefarious plan, but was she ever eager to find out... and what a gift as a hot nude center came to her core.

"Goddess Etro..." Fang groaned when this revelation was given her. Her body bowing with Lightnings powerful advance. This new side of her usually reserved soldier was tantalizing and made every forbidden action that more meaningful as any moment any one of three others could have awoken and found them in the middle of lovemaking.

The riled pink haired woman used her wife, their eyes locked as she set a deep slow grind against a taut abdomen. Fang flexed drawing a wordless groan from an appreciative partner. But really at this point, Lightning carefully thought out plan was pleasure for the both of them.

There was no better seats for the show her wont only woman put on for her, bucking against her and arching with purpose until Lightning too felt some relief from the tight knot that demanded satisfaction. Fang felt her release and shared it with her, their soft shared cries testing how deeply the men were asleep.

Dark green eyes gazed up after her second orgasm, full lips parted chest heaving, dark hair tousled... she looked amazing. It took effort for the distracted soldier to slide off of her huntress. Leaving her with the gift of her own passion painting a well defined abdomen. Dark blue eyes ran over a still heaving chest. Finding the wet proof of her release and finding herself mesmerized by its presence, her body tightening of its own accord. If she had believed in Etro she would have begged for sanity but was denied as she was given over to that still lurking hunger. Drawn forward she slid fingers through that moisture before slipping again to claim her huntress. Leaning down to dip an eager tongue suggestively into a sweet filled navel as Fang fell willing victim to her new daring and insatiable appetite...

"Etro!" She rasped under the hands and mouth of her ravenous soldier.

"I have learned... and will remember, Fang had a moments clarity before her wife wiped that too away...

13: Feet
Morning, a quiet time, often filled with gentle kisses and soft touches seemed to be no different for the slowly waking Lightning. She stretched feeling a tug on her breast that filled her with warmth and drew eyes open, but the usual dark huntress was not the culprit for delight that quickly turned to mortification.
"AHG!" Lightning jerked away from the nestled little bundle that was suckling and kneading a breast. Not clearly thinking through her actions there was a loud crash as all grace was left with the suddenly frightened and crying baby boy. As he began to wail the mortified naked soldier peered up over the bed, watching tiny arms flail angrily as healthy screams filled her once peaceful home.

From the the other room foot steps were heard rushing in her direction, not knowing who to expect... perhaps the mother of the child... she pulled at some of the covers inadvertently drawing the screaming boy closer towards her. Fang held her bladed lance as she rounded into the bedroom looking for something to pulverize, fire in green eyes, luck lips pulled back in a snarl. She scanned the room looking to find a monster who had broken through the reinforced outer wall. Not a terrified naked wife who pushed the boy back towards the middle of the bed as she tried to gather the blankets.
"Light?" She asked lowering the lance head getting startled blue eyes.
"What are ya doin?" She asked as the wailing baby boy was scoot several times towards her frantic love before she gently pushed hi back towards the center of the bed and repeated this once or twice before she had gathered enough of the sheets to feel secure.

"Fang? Whats..." She stopped noticing the cradled bundle in Fangs arm, held protectively against her chest.
"Whats going on?" She asked looking from the quiet bundle to the still screaming one that had latched on to her moments ago for who knew how long.
"I could ask yuh the same thing." She said kneeling on the bed where she traded her bladed lance for the wailing baby.
"H-he was ... he... I mean..." Lightning tried unable to say what had happened between them, though by the blush Fang could gather an approximation. She chuckled as she bounced the little boy in her lap, still holding his sleeping sister.
"I'm so proud of you!" She said laughing again.
"Already ya have great taste in women!" Lightning groaned and disappeared on the other side of the bed.
"Well he does." She said leaning over to find Light's head partially covered framing that cute little vein on her forehead throbbing again. The one that usually said some one was in trouble.
"Here you hold his sistah I will find a bottle ta feed poor little Yun." Wide bright eyes looked up at her after Fang plunked the bundled little girl into Lights lap, leaving her wife to stew about what she had waken up to.

In the other room Fang went on about how proud she was but that he needed to behave himself so the sometimes easily riled and agitated soldier would like him more. He fussed some but settled under her gentle upbeat chatter.

The next time Fang saw her embarrassed wife again she was fully dressed and she got a punch in the arm for leaving a baby in bed unattended while Lightning slept, and another one in the same arm for the most uncomfortable experience with a baby to date.
Fang laughed in the privacy of their home and cried ouch when the second one hit.

"I couldn't help it! you curled right around em, and it was the cutest thing eva! It's not my fault you slept so long he got hungry." For that her wife socked her again, in the other arm.
"O-uch!" She said dancing away, drawing Yun closer as Lightning prowled after her.
"See Yun? This is what happens when girls like yah." She told the little boy who was happy to coo just because she was speaking in a happy tone to him.

The day was something amusing and endearing to any one old enough to appreciate the couples playfulness and the devotion they showed to the first Gran Pulse born children since before the War of Transgression.

The two babies, twins from a couple in Cephus village. So grateful were they when the twins were born they named them after the stabilizing forces in their lives. The little girl named after Cephus Iradel, and the boy named after the married couple who had braved a Way Stone to find them and bring order to chaos...

Since their birth they had been seeing more and more of the children as Fang convinced parents and wife that caring every now and then for the little ones would be good for every one.

"So Fang, Light, enjoying the pitter patter of little feet?" Vanille asked and laughed when they got chagrin from Fang as Lightning gave her a look that said she was dead if she so much as thought about what happened earlier that day.

"Eh-heh..." Fang laughed giving an innocent look back to her wife as she snuggled their name sake and picked up his hand waving it at her.

14: Pen

The hunting trip had been a total success both in gathered game, and in helping Lightning find some peace in their new relationship. Now however their return brought its own challenges. From the Archylete Steppe they had brought back a pair of Chocobo, a big ornery black who seemed to like no one but Fang, which was her right after holding on for a mile while being dragged behind him... and his mate, a smaller yellow hen who liked every one fine enough.

Fang was sitting in the shade on the back porch sipping cool water as she took a break from constructing the pen for the two adult birds, her soldier was still out in the sun, setting rough shaped tennon into carved mortise. A technique used by fence builders on Oerba centuries ago. Three squared holes was carved into the anchored posts while all connecting logs had been carved into a matching squared tongue which then slipped into place. No easy task as the boards were longer than the distance between posts by nearly a foot, giving a sturdy six inches to either side for the tennon.

Lightning was sliding the first end of the logs into the posts, setting them up so that when Fang returned they could wrestle the other half into place, one pulling, the other pushing on the inserting log. She had the privileged to watch strong muscles up and down Lightnings back and perfect ass in motion all under the guise of hydration.

That particular grin that always got a reaction from her wife crossed full lips. She was busy thinking up an appropriate comment about the view in the pen when she noticed the big black began stalking forward, no doubt to rain hell upon an unsuspecting soldier. Despite his sneak attack Lightning was not fooled. A strong pivot and lashing with her booted foot that Black managed to duck at the very last moment let him know she had by no means let her guard down. He rose up on clawed feet extending dark wings full length as he stretched towards the sky giving a cry when his scare did not phase the solder he settled again ruffling feathers causing them to stand as a crown on his head. Her lack of fear towards him was somewhat of a continual frustration, he snorted shaking his head sending his beard flipping about.
"It takes more than that..." Light groused at the bird kicking some of the crystal sand his way." He made that disgusted snort like sound again and turned away stalking after his little gold female.
"Don't go bullying her because your poorly executed plan of attack." Light growled at him getting dark eyes to turn towards her and a head to cock to one side.
"Yeah, I'm talking to you." She said stepping away from the fence to watch Black show her up by gathering his little Gold in under his beak. Pulling her in under his neck and resting his head protectively over her. She crooned softly pleased for his gentle care.

It was Lightnings turn to snort.
"You have her fooled don't you." She said a little amused by his cheeky show.

Fang who had been watching the whole exchange chuckled.
"I'd say she was able to see past his faults and love 'em anyway." Fang said refilling the glass of water and bringing it to her soldier.

Blue eyes watched him as he began preening the more than happy Goldie.
"Love is blind." She told her huntress accepting the water and taking a hearty drink, leaving Fang to determine if Lightning saw that as something positive or negative.
"Love is forgiving, it covers ova the flaws." She countered drawing blue eyes up to her as she stepped closer.
"Hmm... blindly" Lightning said not giving an inch.
"By choice." Fang again countered turning Lightning back to the birds.
"She sees 'is faults and loves him any way."

Black was still preening his mate, though he began for other reasons he certainly put effort into it. Goldie was still trilling in pleasure, eyes half closed as he got all those hard to reach places.
Fang slipped an arm around her beloved who was still looking for fault in the blacks actions. Pulling her even as he did up under her chin where she pressed a kiss to sun warmed hair.
"Come on, a few moa sections and we're done."

15: Foreigner

"Vipehs!"
"Fang! W-wait!"

The two sole occupants of Oerba had been rudely awakened by the afterburners of a landing vessel from the Viper nest that hung above as a constant reminder they were never truly safe...
Fang snarled enraged that anything from that place violate their home ever again. A strong hand grasped bladed lance as she ran to meet the enemy. A powerful force that demanded to be reckoned with, she would slaughter them all!

What neither expected when they made it to the landing sight was the off loading of families onto the open space of the vast sprawling Archylte Steppe. Again Vanille tried to reason with Fang but when she was like this there was no way to reach her unless you happen to be really good with a weapon...

The blue clad huntress appeared before the frightened Purgee's not knowing they had just been banished from all that they ever knew to be safe and secure.

"Fang!" Vanille cried panting as she at last caught up.
"What ah' ya doing? They're children."
"They are small vipers now, but they grow into biggeh ones soon enough." Fang brought her lance to bear, the blades sliding into attack mode.

A white clad body presented its self from the group and the sound of a weapon being drawn drew all of their attention. A hood with blue insignia upon it was pushed back to reveal a pink head.
Angry blue eyes met fire green as they squared off. There were no words, no taunts from the pink haired woman who looked to be a solider by the attire revealed beneath the strange blue and white garment they all were wearing. Fang was sure of it when she slipped into an easy defensive posture, raising the long sword to the ready.

Fang growled, now convinced; all that she believe to be true by their presence was in fact so.
"I'll not let ya pollute Gran Pulse with your poison…" Still the woman did not say a word in return. That was okay with Fang, she attacked with a series of blows that would stagger a lesser opponent, but the pink haired soldier met each blow with her sword, not only parrying the attack but getting a few of her own in there that Fang had to actually defend. This surprised her, and drew a salacious smile across full lips.

The battle was fast paced, the clang of metal deafening, the feel of each blow sending shock waves back through both their arms. Minutes passed one waiting for the other to make a mistake as they battled, and still neither gave an opening.

Sure there were small victories, blood was drawn, but nothing truly damaging. Their weapons crossed, and Fang tried to use her larger frame as an advantage but her the smaller soldier dug in harder forcing Fang to fight on her level as she lowered knees drawing the huntress a bit forward but setting her off balance so that neither were able to over come the other. They agreed to part leaping back, both sweat covered, bloody and still fired up over the other.

"Why have ya come!" Fang demanded as they took a breather, again circling to size one another up.

"It's not like we wanted to be dropped into the hell below." The woman at last spoke! Her words less than complimentary. Fang growled.
"Then leave here!" The dark huntress threw and arm as if they could simply disappear. Getting a snort from her pink haired nemesis. Because they all had watched the personnel craft leave the plains.

"I don't care how ya do it." Fang snarled back feeling sweat trickle down her temples and neck.

From the crowd of frightened on lookers another pink haired woman spoke up, this one younger, but familiar…
"We can't go home, they banished us, we are tainted in their eyes and no better than the trash they throw away." She said drawing an angry look from the dark haired woman who seemed able and ready to kill them all, had it not been for Lightning acting as a shield for life they most certainly would have already been slain.

"You mean…" The smaller companion of the huntress began, a hand near her mouth.
"You're own people abandoned ya?"

"Worse." The pink haired woman growled, her features a cold mask.

"How?" Vanille asked, her eyes shifting between the two bravest of the bunch.

"They threw us away as if we had a disease… hoping we will die here on Pulse."

The hostility that Lightning felt was just as easily placed on these two, but it seemed shared by the haughty dark haired woman who scoffed at them.
"Gran Pulse." She raised that blood colored double sided lance just before she went into attack again. Guess time for talking was done…

The clash continued on until once again they were too tried to safely continue, both weakened by the small wounds and prolonged battle.

"Why tha hell are ya so damn hard ta kill!" This brought a wisp of a smile to thin lips but she got no answer.
"Fang…" Vanille said hoping to get a moment to bend her sisters ear.
"Ya can't kill 'em…"

She scoffed again.
"Sure I can. This one's just a little harder than expected…"
"No… Fang you can't." Dark brows seemed perplexed by this statement backing further from the well trained woman she asked.
"Why not?"
Vanille motioned to the frightened children some of which had been crying off and on through the whole clash.
"Do ya really wanna be the one to kill them?" Vanille was a healer, her goal in life was to protect it… not just of herself but others as well, Fang on the other hand was a warrior first, any threat to her home and family or friends was to be swiftly dealt with.

"Thea vipers…" She growled though her conviction was waning.
"No Fang, Thea orphans." The dark huntress lowered her red lance at these words gazing at what was a group of unwanted people, both here and on Cocoon. She gave an angry glance at the pink haired woman who was probably doing as she was… regrouping, conserving energy… and wearing that damn unreadable mask again.

"Ya can't beat her." She heard Vanille say as she studied the woman who gave nothing away.
"She can'na beat you." Fang grunted.
"She can't be trusted." Fang growled still on the alert.
"She's not the one who started the fight." Vanille pointed out. Tight shoulders suddenly released and Fang sighed in defeat.
"What is on ya mind Van?" She asked though never once did she let the pink haired soldier out of her sight.

"They need a home, and our home needs people… maybe." She stopped because the feeling of hope was so overwhelming.
"Maybe Oerba can be like it was again." Fang's composure darkened further and with another backwards step she gave all that anger to her sister.
"It' can'na eva be what it was. Not eva! It was destroyed by a nest of vipers, that rained down hell upon uhs…" She shook her dark head still wearing that ferocious anger. Vanille felt her sisters pain, the War of Transgression had taken everything, their home, their people, loved ones, and their lives… Gran Pulse was a desolate wasteland bereft of human life. She swallowed.
"Maybe they feel the same way." She whispered tightening hands on her rod.

Some of the anger in Fangs face slipped away at this and she gave the clustered sheep like people another look. Most of them still wore those strange matching hoods, but some of them had uncovered their faces. What she saw in those few was the same feelings she had, but deeper… despair.

The muscles in Fangs jaws tightened as she ground her teeth.

This was how Oerba came to be the home of the foreigners from Cocoon… and all it took was a gentle constant voice, and one very determined pink haired woman.