Farron-Yun Short Stories

by FarronYun

Set in an A/U: They began as enemies, became grudging tribe mates, and matured into lovers who pledged their all to one another... for Fang that sometimes includes the punches... Please R/R

8. Chapter 8: 36-40

A/N: HOMYGOSH! 39 is a beast! It took on a life of its own and I wanted to end it early several times, but i battled through it for you! Please enjoy the super long one, it is what took me so long to finish this chapter. Thanks for being patient.

SPECIAL NOTE: WOW! 3,000 hits! your guys rock! Yes, I know I need a beta... I have one but shes not able to help at the moment... so bear with us and i will reread them again and fix what i catch. Sorry for the rest.

36: Light

Both women were kneeling in the far north west corner of their yard, sharing a smile as hands dug deep, working to brush away the crystal sands and find the rich dark earth beneath. Green eyes rose as they scooped and pulled back. After several feet, Fang shifted back to pull their cultivated sapling from its bucket.
"Here, help me." Crawling forward on knees Lightning grasped the bucket and pulled. The tree had been breaking through it for some time now, so it was not easy to free the eagerly growing giant Jamba fruit tree from its too small home.

Lightning grunted, the two of them straining, suddenly it popped loose and they fell back in opposite directions. Fang holding the base as if a baby as Lightning tumbled back with a bucket with pebbles and dirt falling over her.

"Ah! Fang cried and then dumped the tree into the hole and crawled over to see if her wife was alright. Lightning held her face with one hand, worrying her huntress who bowed above her.
"Are you okay?"
There came a giggle it only grew as Lightning released the shattered bucket.
"Alright." Fang said her own grin growing.
"Let me see." Gently she pulled that hand back and used her own hands to wipe away the dirt in her wife's face. She was healing well from that terrible night, but her right eye was struggling with the damages. Anything, even a small speck of dirt could tip it in the wrong direction leaving Lightning blind in her dominant eye.
"You look like a Puddin." Fang said getting more giggles from her wife who waited patiently for her to wipe away the last remains of the dirt.

Fang slowly drew fingers across her lovers eyes, brushing away the sand shards, and dirt particles. Her hands gentle as she did this small but important deed. The joy she saw on Lightning's face despite her closed eyes warmed her heart. There was nothing she would not do, nothing she would not give if Lightning but asked her… but that was the thing wasn't it?
Lightning didn't ask. Her only unspoken wish to be loved by Fang… come hell or high water Fang aimed to deliver on this one request.

To keep this amazing and passionate soul as hers for as long as life allowed them. She ran fingers over dark lashes to be sure none had slipped past her careful scouring.

With Lightning waiting for a sign that Fang was done she remained docile, that enchanting smile curling fine lips. Fang gently took her wife in her hands and leaned down to capture her mouth. Slowly Fang leaned back and away from Lightning, drawing her forward by their mouths as she seemed unwilling to let the kiss break.

Small hands slid into her huntresses dark mane as they kissed, slowly, exploring the dark silken secrets of each other's mouth. There was no battle for dominance only a silent agreement to be gentle with one another. Lightning was sitting in Fangs lap when their kiss at last broke.

Fang looked down looking at Lightning's knees up by her hips, her soldier settled into her lap.
"Well, Hello, Sunshine." She said, a faint twist of lips.
"Shall we finish?"
"Goddess, yes." Fang said in a throaty voice, licking full lips.

Lightning laughed, it was something melodious, the sound of the still growing Lightning. The woman who had come from a world of rigid rules and loneliness. Fang watched her rise and step back giving a hand down to Fang.
"I meant the tree."

"Oh, that." Fang smiled knowing full well that had been what she meant. She reached up taking the offered help and was pulled to her feet. Together they moved back to the little sapling that was patiently waiting, albeit askew. Kneeling side by side they placed the little tree into the ground and covered it with the rich dirt,
"Cover the dirt, it will protect it from leeching all the nutrients by the sun. Fang rose up to get a bucket of water. Filling it at the outside spigot , her eyes turned towards her wife as she diligently covered every last spec of dark dirt with crystal sand.

She sat back on knees looking at the little tree then turned back to Fang who had surprised her with the tree in the first place. It didn't matter to her that it would not be completely mature in their life time, or that they might never get to eat fruit from it. Just the gesture of having grown the little tree from the fruit they had gathered from Bresha had meant the world to her.

For Fang it had been a no-brainer, Lightning liked the fruit so much she would do the oddest little games for an extra portion. Fighting Snow who was doing it for Serah. She smiled across at her beloved and felt that amazing powerful bond once more as she saw their love in blue eyes.

"I know." She murmured, flicking the spigot off and bringing the bucket forward. Lightning did not let up with those soulful eyes as she approached. Fang swallowed hard setting the bucket down and kneeling beside Lightning. Their hands brushed over the bucket handle, their eyes met and they mirrored each others smile. Fang tightened her grip on the bucket, and together they raised it to pour over their newly planted tree.

"Look." Lightning pointed, the little tree shivering in the gentle breeze was casting a shadow on the warm sands of Oerba. Lightning set the bucket aside and took Fangs hand; pulling her towards the other side where the shade resided. It wasn't much, but to Lightning it was everything.

Fang found herself pulled down into the little ellipse of shade, small hands guiding her down. Gently caressing, drawing her against Lightning's side. They lay curled in that bit of shade together, enjoying the fruits of their labor and the presence of a beloved one.

Fang marveled at the peace that they had found with one another. The gentleness that Lightning allowed with out hint of fear, or protest. Fang lay on her hip and propped her upper body up by the elbow so she might gaze down at her partner.

So far she had come, from that angry soldier on the steppe that fateful day. From a woman who didn't know how to enjoy the important things, to one who sought acceptance of and found joy in the little things. Blue eyes turned up to her, one clear as the blue sky, the other fighting a gentle cloud.
"I know." Lightning murmured when their eyes met. She gave a soft smile, and her hand came up to caress Fangs silken cheek.
"You don't have to say it." She said in that soft feminine voice just above a whisper. Her fingers came to Fangs lips, brushing over them. Her huntress grasped her hand and pulled her fingers down.
"I want to." she admitted. Fang waited for the caution, for the suspicion but none rose in either of her lovers blue eyes.
"Tell me." She murmured, inviting Fangs benedictions.

"I love ya Light." Fang felt elated with the smile that grew across fine lips, and was eager to lean down into her wife's arms as she was gathered and drawn forth for a gentle sensual kiss. The only kind of kiss that her Sunshine could give her…

37: Masquerade

The head huntress of Oerba stood with bright eyes flashing, that damned woman was going to be the end of her... she growled as Lightning once again had struck and run. Rubbing her jaw and shaking stars out of her head Fang picked herself up off of the floor going full tilt after the retreating pink haired soldier.

Serah looked at the remains of the bathroom door after Fang had charged through it like a mad behemoth. On the other side of the door Vanille peered in with a cheeky expression.
"Looks like trouble."

Serah rolled her eyes.
"With those two, when does it not?"

"Ya think todays the day?" Serah shrugged, Fang and Lightning had been spiraling around one another now for nearly four months, dancing in a cycle of confused hormones, hurtful words and physical pain. For Fang it was mostly pain and frustration, but she seemed quite determined to crack that rough edged mask that Lightning wore with dedication... Fang had taken pop's to the nose, gut shots, shoves out of the Soldiers way and punches that had her staggering behind the force with which they had been delivered, from her hot headed strike first ask questions later sister like a trooper. Lesser men had tried and been unable to weather the raging storm or at least face it with any kind of determination. Today seemed like they might actually get past all that... if Fang could manage to navigate the minefield of Lightnings cordoned heart.

"Come on!" Vanille said stepping down into the bathing area grabbing Serah by the arm, knocking the debris of the door from her hand and dragging her friend forward after the yelling huntress.
"Ya wanna see it don't ya?" Pink brows knit.
"They very well might do nothing." Serah protested.
"It's happening today, did you see Fang's face?"

The girls reached the front door as Fang caught up with the hot headed soldier of cocoon, she reached out grasping an arm and wisely jumped back as a right hook came swinging around.

"Your sister is fast..."

"Lucky yours is too."
Vanille grunted, a grin spreading across her lips.

"What's your damage! I'm try'n ta apoligize!"

"What kind of apology has you breaking through the bathroom door!"

"The kind that requires a bit of decency from the likes of you!"

"I don't need your apology, that would imply I care what you think!"

Serah flinched even as Fang did from those words, beneath her too Vanille did the same.

"For not saying a lot she makes what she has to say important..."

Serah frowned but nodded.
"She always has..." Serah ached for her sister, there was something special waiting to be had between these two if only Claire could let it happen... but trust was not something she just did, it was earned one bleeding step at a time...

The look on Lightnings face was striking, her features twisted, nostrils flared, lips turned down, teeth bared. What ever look Fang wore was lost to them, but they could guess it was something equally frightening. Two dominant women at last coming to a head...

Lightning paused her face resuming that distant cold aloof mask. She stepped back putting space between them before turning to escape these emotional battles.

"Go after her!" Vanille whispered from her hiding spot at the door. Serah willed the huntress to follow as well. They would get no where if they kept this up, attack, defend, retreat...

Galvanized, Fang lunged forward. Lightning had been ready for a second grab, twisting out of the touch before Fang could reach her. They squared off again.

"I'm not through with you sunshine."

"I have nothing to do with you Oerba Yun Fang! Keep your hands off me!"

"Hoo!" Vanille chortled as Fang pressed the issue causing Lightning to keep stepping back. Hands moved in a series of blinding blocks and attacks. Fists, wrists, arms, it didn't matter Lightning knew how to use them all and launched into a very serious attack. Fang caught her arm, and then the other. Twisting Lightning threw her hip into the huntress lowering her center of gravity she flipped Fang over her body. The huntress kept her feet landing on the other side forced to release but not thrown off balance.

They circled again, eying one another.

"You fight me because you fear what I stand for! You say you don't care, but you do. Your eyes follow me when you think I don't see. I know interest when I see it." Fang growled and stamped her foot lunging in for a grapple. Lightning slipped, twisted down and under sliding between strong legs, rising bonelessly behind Fang. The huntress turned catching the kidney shot... a feral smile on her lips.

Seemed today they were playing for keeps.

"Sweet Etro... they might kill each other today." Vanille breathed as a second battle errupted between the women, advance, retreat, twist, slip, jab, dodge, feint, hands moved at blinding speed, their battle looking very much like a well practiced ballet...
"Be thankful they haven't pulled weapons yet..."

Vanille spared a look on Serah who was watching with the same morbid fascination.
"Are you trying to tempt fate?"
Serah who had been raised by her elder sister didn't believe in such things.
"If it happens, it happens Van... no fate, only what we make of life."

Vanille groused, muttering something in Pulsian.

"What was that?" Serah nudged her with a glare.
"Hush... watch... and pray you haven't condemned us to burying them today..."

"Let it out right now!" Fang challenged as they had gone again into that circular pacing, one looking for the weakness of the other.

"This was inevitable..."
Serah looked up to Snow who was squinting out at the women.
"There will be blood... Fang's..." Vanille paled and gave a dirty look to the tall contemplative man. He looked down to her with a shrug.
"She is still trying not to hurt Lightning, it doesn't look the same for Light."

"Etro..."

Snow smiled, and cuffed her on the back.

"Your sister is amazing, she beat the ever loving shi-"

"Snow..." His eyes shifted to Serah who had that strangely familiar dark look to blue eyes, reminiscent of her elder sister.

"...Chocobo poop outta me." He finished still meeting those sharp blue eyes. they softened and he felt himself sigh as he received a smile rather than her displeasure. Some times both Farron sisters could be a little scary... lucky he liked strong women.

"She tried to do so ta Lightnin when she landed... not her fault your not as skilled..." Vanille said giving a cheeky grin at Snow's expense.

"Quiet... i cant hear." Snow said and leaned further out the door. Something moved to the right of him drawing his eyes. Gadot and Lebreau were standing watching the battle. Gadot was obviously enjoying the show... Lebreau watched with intensity hanging on the fence about how she felt about the two women's strange relationship.

Beyond them the children watched in silent awe not understanding what was driving the fight, but understood enough to remain respectfully quiet as the two worked out their differences.

It seemed all of Oerba was interested in the outcome of this fight... and why not? Fang and Lightning were some how unofficial leaders of the people. A flamboyant cheeky sword and brooding shield. The heart and soul of Oerba even if neither wanted such a position.

"They had better resolve this today..." Snow said with a hint of wisdom.
"The village can't take much more. People are going to start taking sides..."

Blue eyes flashed angry at the challenge perturbed she couldn't just let it go. Couldn't leave her alone.

"COME ON! Ya think I'm lettin you walk away you're sorely mistaken. This ends today!"

"Then it ends..." Lightning said once again stepping back but she was pursued by an irate huntress.

"Ya gonna run? I'm fasta." She motioned for the exit.
"Run, go, I dare ya...do it! Do something!" Lightning struck whipping her body out shocking every one as she grappled Fang by the head, the huntress twisting under as Lightning twisted over, Their bodies coming at odds as Fang was dropped onto the ground. It was then that Lightning tried to make her escape, but an iron grip grasped her slender wrist, jerking her back into bands of steel as Fangs arms came about her pinning arms against her body. The two of them sitting in the yard near the western exit.

Lightning bucked and rocked trying to squirm her way loose, but Fang had her now and she wasn't likely letting go.

"I see more of you than you. That mask you hide behind, doesn't fool any one but you. You're at a party of one, a Masquerade and you play the fool! Serah knows it, I know it, hell Snow knows it... a terrifying veneer to hide the truth... You're afraid of me. Now you can fight me until were bloody and bruised, or ya can give me a chance. I won't hurt you like it is who ever gave you this great pain you carry. Who ever caused you to take up this mantle as Army of One. There is no such thing." Fang turned her head as a pink one came back trying to bash her in the nose instead clipping her on the jaw again. Stars blosomed behind tightly squeezed eyes.
"I'm going to hold on to ya, I'm going to do it because I want to, I want to love you. I want to touch your heart with more than pain... let me... Let me love ya."

No matter how it was Lightning struggled she could not break the grasp of the determined annoying wordy huntress that held her. She sat now quiet, panting, her face red from strain rather than sun exposure. Blue eyes angry, blazing, she was holding on to the fragile edges of her anger as they unraveled in her grasp.

"Let me go..." Her voice dark, deadly, injured beyond words, a heart hurt that it was impossible to believe anything that Fang said. It meant nothing to her, lies a man spoke to capture her for a short time, use her and throw her away again when she wasn't what they hoped for. The promise of a mother and father who said they loved her and yet never came home... words were less than shit... At least that could be gathered up and take up space if you were so inclined to fill anything up with shit...

Lightning trembled with this boiling pain wanting nothing more than to be free, to run to escape the worthless lies...

Serah stepped out of the door way onto the porch, hands reaching out to grab her. Snow was there only seconds ahead of Vanille. The two of them stopping the younger Farron in her tracks.
"They need this." Vanille said in a soft whisper.

"They will find their way." Snow said when pained blue eyes turned to him.

"I will not, I have let too much go already." Fang said determined to see it through. They went through another struggle, it was fierce, and drew pain from all that saw it as blood flowed from them both because of Lights desperation.

So brutal was the last attempt Fang was forced to roll Light to the ground, pinning her with her larger frame and holding her to the crystal sands.
"LET ME GO!" The roar of Lightning drew tears from her younger sister. Snow gathered her into his arms, lowering his body so he could give strength. Vanille too reached for a small hand and wrapped hers in Serahs. It was hard on the younger Farron who only wanted happiness for sister.

"Let it out! No more masks! No more hate! I am not your enemy!" There was passion behind Fang's words but not anger, only sheer determination.

Lightning railed against all the injustice heaped upon her person at Fang's expense and Fang held on until there was nothing left but the tears. Tears of pain and of anger, tears of utter destitution... it was probably the only time Lightning mourned all that she had lost from the day of her parents death. Her sobs tore and rendered every heart that stood as witness to the forced cleansing. They must have lay in the crystal sands one on top of the other for an hour as sounds like that of a wounded animal fought for space around the yard of the Main house. No one moved, none knew how as the strongest of them broke and a life time of injury fell as gangrenes ooze from her lips. Serah wept with her sister knowing her pain, but she was not the only one who mourned with the soldier.

The last hiccuping sob stuttered free, but Fang mourned for her. Her tears falling as hot testament that she was in this for the long haul... every action leading up to the purge of painful and hurtful emotion proved it. Lightning lay beneath her empty, a husk, a waif that would blow away with the wind if Fang rolled away. But she didn't, She was gathered like something precious and tender into bleeding arms. Held as something beloved and cherished, a vessel so fragile it required the caress of an attentive care taker.

Fang was that care taker... a keeper who wished to help mold those broken pieces of her soul back into a semblance of something whole...

"I will show you how much I love you." Fang promised in that heavy silence. Tired blue eyes rolled up to her, fine lips curving down. Blue eyes rolled closed as silent tears welled up once more. Not for the pain or the agony, but the truth she saw in the promise of those beautiful green eyes. . .

38: Bow

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!"

Electricity ran through Fang, her face showing shock as all of her people jumped out in their small home. She actually jumped into Lightnings arms as their well wishes filled the space like a roar.

Lightning chuckled, pleased that they had managed to keep the surprise part of the party, a surprise...
"Goddess you are a rowdy bunch!" Fang said a smile on her features not at all smarting from the shock. Joy filled her as they had all come together.

A chocolate cake was brought in, with chocolate frosting, flan pipping gel scribbled across the sheet cake in blue was her name and a big 529.
"Who's idear was that!" She said laughing at the huge number. Not that it was untrue, but it was hardly necessary.
"Light!" The pink haired soldier gave a determined and serious thumbs up but smiled when Fang reached out pulling her in.
"Are ya tryin ta tell me some thing?"
'You get better with age." Lightning murmured to the amusement of their tribe. Fang flashed a cheeky smile.
"Betta believe it Sunshine." More laughter.

Fang dragged two fingers through a corner of the chocolate frosted cake and brought it to Lightnings lips. For a moment Lightning contemplated what it was her dark haired wife was asking, dual blue eyes locked gazes with Fang. Lightning took those offered fingers into her mouth laving her tongue over them as she consumed the chocolate. Desire rolled into green eyes, more than the usual as Lightning took the treat on offered digits.

"Nora... you shouldn't have." Fang whispered breathlessly as she pulled a willing Lightning against her, slowly giving her ample opportunity to stop this... but Light raised perfect lips up in offering. Their lips sealed for a thrusting hungry kiss that included chocolate for the both of them.

Nora laughed and clapped as Fang once again sampled the dark sweet confection through the mouth of her lover.

"Really, you shouldn't have." Vanille deadpanned to the chagrin of her elder sister, and the tinting of Light who actually didn't look in any way pissed about that sensual kiss before Goddess and every one... literally... every one.

They laughed again, Fang too laughed but shared a quiet adoring look with her wife as she had allowed Fang to claim lips before them all. It felt like a gift, and it had not been a cheap one by the level of heat rising off of Lightnings cheeks.

"Lets cut the cake before the frosting melts off!" Serah said as her sister shared that look with her dark adoring wife.
"Best present eva." Fang whispered and was graced with a blushing quiet smile that might as well have been the sun. Arms slid around a slender waist and their foreheads pressed together a world of their own as every one they knew vied for some cake, including guests from Bresha and Brasil.

A moment that felt like forever though only seconds passed between them before they were interrupted by a little voice.
"Aunny Up?" A dirtly little hand pulled on Fangs Sari smearing chocolate over the dangling fabric. Lightning laughed as little Claire covered in chocolate raised hands up.
"Where did you get all of this yum yums hmm?" Lightning asked as she scooped up the little girl.
"Hea lemmie help with that." Fang said leaning in to lick and nibble on her niece's chocolate hands
"Here, share some with Aunny Light." Fang held one dirty little hand to her wife with sparkling eyes. Light smiled and took the offered hand and together they nibbled Serah's daughters hands clean eliciting little giggles as they placed kisses to her cheeks, arms tummy and neck getting her squirming all over.

"ALRIGHT YOU TWO!" Snow barked. Two sets of eyes looked down the little girls prone body to an angry faced father. A pink brow raised in question while dark ones lowered a lobo's smile spreading across the other.
"No more nomming my little girl! Thats daddy's job!"

"DADDY!" He laughed at the perfect joyous cry and plucked his daughter from between the birthday girl and her wife.
"You got your Aunnies all sticky now." Snow said as he took his squealing little girl into the kitchen where he could get a wet cloth on the mess Fang and Light seemed to only have made worse.

Fang stared after father and daughter as their niece was whisked away that is until warmth spread through her by the constant blue eyes upon her. She dropped green to dual blue and reached a hand up to wipe at a smudge of chocolate on her wife's cheek.
"What?" Lightning smiled but didn't say.
"Okay!" Vanille was suddenly there and unlike others who usually left the couple to them selves she had no fear in physically separating them. Of course tonight there was good reason to.
"Break it up you two lovebirds, this is a birthday party not an anniversary. The room was filled with laughter as Vanille fearlessly wedged herself between her sister and sister-in-law.

No really... split them by sliding between them. Her lithe frame a perfect wedge and after so far, it was just too weird to hold on so they released one another as they were pushed apart by a hand on their head.
"Obnoxious much?" Fang said getting more laughter.
"Ya gotta grab the behemoth by the horns." Vanille said relentless. She blew kisses to the crowd who only cheered her on.
"It's time to open your presents, and ya can't do that if ya don't let go of your wife." Vanille pivoted suddenly almost making Fang fall over as small hands came to her lower back and shoved her off to Serah who was there to catch.

"Don't worry sis, I'll keep Light busy for ya."

"Busy?" Fang asked as her wife was pulled off in another direction.

Serah sat Fang down in a chair and placed a present in her lap. Fang looked at it then up to Serah with more than a little confusion. Wasn't the birthday girl at least allowed the joy of her wife's presence? Light was placed on the far side of the room… at least she could have eye contact… Fang gave a look to her sister-in-law but it wasn't exactly pleased.

"Come on Fang." Some one said but in this crowd she wasn't sure who.
"Yeah." From the kitchen Snow came back with little Claire, he set her on the ground and told her to go to Aunny Fang. The little three year old ran up to her dark haired aunt and gazed up with those beautiful blue eyes.

"I help?" She asked patting the present in Fangs lap.
"Of course honey." Fang cooed scooping the child up into her lap so they could open the present together.

Lightning was there watching, feeling a growing warmth as they worked through the presents; from a new shirt to a sharp curved skinning knife with bone handle. Some jewelry her wife would wear just because the young ones had made it for her. Some time after the gag gift, a skimpy silky dark blue shift that would hug Fang's body made from Noctilucale petals, Vanille and Lightning separated from the group.

"Are you sure about this?" Vanille asked as Lightning pulled the belt from her skirt.
"Am I ever?" She laughed.
"Goddess…" Vanille breathed as Lightnings idea took full shape in her mind.
"Ya don't mean…" again that nervous laugh.
"It wouldn't be the same."
"Got that right." Vanille blushed and dropped her eyes as she held the fabric up and draped it over a shoulder, Lightning pulled it down over her chest and slipped it behind as Vanille helped her wrap the sari with the right knot at her hips after double wrapping it.

"All these years and Fang hasn't taught you how to properly wrap a sari?" Lightnings blush grew hotter.
"Well…"
"Neva mind… I get it." Vanille grinned shaking her head. She would have to get after her sister about keeping Lightning dependent on the proper placement of the fabric so it would hold even in the most extreme cases.
"I cant do the last part myself any way." Vanille grinned and reached for the final piece of Lightnings present.

In the living room Fang noticed when her partner disappeared, and not just her, her red headed sister too. For a brief moment she wondered what those two were up to but a new present was put in her lap.

"This is from all of us Aunt Fang!" The twins said together as they their father and Cephus placed a good sized package in Fang's lap. It felt warm and shifted. Iradell laughed as her aunt gasped moving to catch the shifting weight.
"Lets see!" Claire said and together they worked the ribbon free a little creature was inside, shocked eyes raised from the carefully packaged box, fluffed with cloth to hold the sleeping creature safe and secure.

"How did you manage this?" Cautiously She reached a hand into the box and poked a leather snout. The baby king behemoth rolled onto its side and caught her hand in its paws chewing on her fingers with out causing harm.

Cephus smiled.
"We found a nest of them a few weeks back, after we took their parents we couldn't just leave them…"

"How many?"

"Two."
Awe still shone in green eyes as she pulled her hand back and caressed the warm smooth hide.
"You know how big they get!" She said.
Chepus nodded with a shrug.
"Light would neva…"

"Uh, actually, we asked first." Penna said from behind the men.

"She said yes?" Shock flushed the huntresses cheeks as Penna the mother of the twins nodded.
Again green eyes cast about the room but her wife was no where to be found.
"I will have to thank her too." Fang said as she reached out to Iradell and Yun. The young ones threw arms around Fang and like Claire shared space on the large wicker chair.
"Don't rile him up tonight." Penna said as her children reached into the box and began poking the little monster.

"Awww, mom…"
Fang chuckled and released the box so that it could be gently set aside.
"We made him house too!" Yun said as he hopped off the chair and took one of Fang's warm hands.
"Come see!" The party shifted from the living room to outside, where she was shown the small house they had set up under the still growing jamba tree. It wouldn't last the monster long, but the idea was something sweet. There was a bowl in front of his home and a spike to tie him up at.

"He has already been trained to stay on the rope, but when he gets bigger." Cephus said letting the rest hang. Fang laughed.
"When he gets bigger, all the trouble will start."
"You can say that again." Cephus said.

The little sleeping monster was brought out of the house and placed in his very own, a rope being tied about the leather and metal bound collar at his meaty throat.
"What ya gonna name 'im?" Yun asked as he sat in the patchy grass under the jamba tree stroking the little creature's sensory fins.

Fang knelt beside him and caressed one of the fins herself. The free flowing silky gossamer bit of skin that grew in two strips from its back.

"What should we name him?" Fang asked. Dark brows knit.
"Lets name him B!"
The creature raised its head at the sudden out burst, realizing that he was the center of attention.
"That's not a name! That's a letter!" Iradell said unimpressed.
"Beee." Claire said as she fearlessly put her hand under the creatures chin and scratched. Big dark eyes rolled as a small but deep purring began.
"I guess that's settled." Fang laughed and tied the rope onto the crafted D link in the leather collar. That too would only work for a short time, but it seemed there were several links in the collar before he was totally through with it.

Sitting back on her heels Fang smiled down at the creature and wondered again about where her wife had disappeared to.
"Thank you every one, this has been the best party yet." Cephus clapped her on the back.
"Come on family, we need to get home before it gets too late. Cephus reached down and picked Iradell up hoisting her onto his shoulder.

"We'll be seeing you later Fang."

"Bye Aunt Fang!"

"Bye Aunty!" The kids called waving good bye as they walked to the way stone.

Fang hadn't noticed it but the village had slowly been dispersing. When she turned only a few people remained. Her impish sister, but Light was still missing. Green eyes narrowed as she eyed the two devious creatures. Snow raised his arms as he stepped up beside his wife reaching for little Claire, Fang kissed Claire and passed her to Snow.
"Good night sweet heart."

"G'ni Aunny." That left the two grinning young women.
"What have ya done with my wife.." She asked. Her only answer was to be handed the end of a silky red chord an half inch in width. Fang looked at it as she took it still frowning. Then Vanille and Serah stepped aside, the red ribbon melted into the now darkened house. Green eyes followed it past their sisters and into the house where she lost sight of it.

Vanille giggled at the look in Fang's eyes.
"Good night sister."

Fang stepped into their home the red ribbon in hand, the final glimpse was an eager huntress closing the door which had the girls laughing.
"Did you see her face!?" Vanille asked and Serah chuckled.

"Woo… come on." Vanille linked an arm in Serah's and they walked happily back towards the Main House.

In the Yun home, Fang pulled on the ribbon gathering all the excess slack until it pulled tight, the chord sung between her and what she hoped was her wife… by the looks of it from the bedroom.
"And I thought I had my present already." Fang purred winding the ribbon around her hand as she followed the still singing chord. How perfect that it was red.

It took all of her concentration to follow through on the slow progress of winding, but she worked her way down the hall and stopped at the closed door. The ribbon had been slipped under it and what ever it was tied to lay on the other side… waiting. Fang paused licking dry lips. She had no idea what was waiting for her on the other side, or rather in what state she would find her wife. Lightning had grown into her sexuality, bravely exploring new and exciting ways to please her huntress so only Etro knew what it was waiting for her. Swallowing hard Fang reached for the door letting the ribbon go slack so she could swing it wide revealing her wife kneeling on their bed.

The bed had been stripped of blankets, only pillows at the head and a white sheet covered the surface, in the center, a breathless solder sat on knees, rosy hair cast over pale eyes, a slender neck graced with her Megistotherian talon choker carved and designed by Fang's own hand. One shoulder was bare sloping down to the swell of one breast, though small barely contained by the red fabric with its white leaf and red embroidered designs that were similar to Fang's favorite blue Sari.

The fabric fell over the flat of her stomach gathering at slender hips where it was wrapped in what Fang could tell was the right configuration… that must have been why Vanille was needed… that and the ribbon. It started at a wrist, went across a nearly bare stomach, under her second wrist and back on the other side weaving between wrists and hips until Lightning was perfectly bound, sensually restrained.

Goose bumps rose on strong arms as she stepped into the room. Four steps to the end of the bed as she drank in the symmetry with which Vanille had tied a bow across Lightnings navel, the rest of the ribbon was held wrapped once around Lights dominant hand, so that when Fang pulled, it would not untie the perfect bow.
"What have I done to deserve this?" A tonge came to swipe dry lips.

"Is the sari my present or the wearer?" Fang asked with a growing grin.

"Yes." Lightning responded.

"Sweet Etro…" Fang whispered and mounted the bed on her knees, crawling across the surface to kneel before her bound soldier.
Hungry green eyes devoured the perfect balance of sensual bonds, cheerful bow and barely restrained flesh beneath it all.

Calloused hands raised but didn't know where to start. Fang chuckled and rolled her shoulders and neck.
"Whew… you neva disappoint."

Lightning smiled, she loved to surprise Fang, especially in the bedroom.

"So what if I like the packaging so much I don't want to unwrap my present?" Fang asked, letting green eyes drop to take in the crossing of red over pale flesh again. Her fingertips caressed some of the raised flesh sliding a finger under the bond to see how tight it really was.

"You can take your time." Lightning purred laying back onto the bed, the pillows laid out to cushion and caress her as she shifted off knees stretching out a long exposed leg, the other hidden by the sari. A bare foot rested on Fang's thigh drawing a gaze that had gone dark with desire.

Fang's eyes slowly swept up that muscled leg, over a slightly bent knee, up a hairless thigh to the bunching of the red and white sari. That desire curled tighter in her stomach as she wondered if Lightnings loins were as nude as her breasts. She aimed to see and leaned forward reaching for the hem of the fabric.

She was stopped short by a well placed foot to her shoulder, bending that exposed leg back and creating a pucker and rise of red fabric...
"Allow me…" Lightning whispered and heat poured through Fang's body, even bound Lightning commanded the scene through subtle and purposeful movements. A groan issued from Fang's parted lips as the answer to her question was revealed. Hungry for more Fang leaned into Lights foot forcing her leg back further. Release of a bated breath drew Fang's gaze, their eyes met and that growing feeling inside of her clenched, sending that bubbling pleasure shooting out to every limb. A sensual smile played on fine lips, the look of a woman who knew she was desirous. There was no one more beautiful, more sensual than this woman, and she chose to stand with Fang, year after year…

Eyes still drawn Fang dipped her head to breath deep of Lightnings excitement, drawing a soft noise of need from her smiling soldier.

"I want you that much too Sunshine." turning her head she pressed an open mouthed kiss against an inner thigh, sucking on taut flesh that jumped under the flick of her tongue and press of teeth.

"Fang…" Who knew such pleasure could be had with four little letters… said under the right circumstances it drew carnal responses from the dark haired huntress. Her body tightening with those same needs her wife expressed. She loved the way her name rolled out of dry parted lips, throaty and rasped with passion…

Slipping free of Lightnings foot, Fang leaned in releasing the wrapped ribbon around her own hand to untangle it from Lights and pull that perfect, patient bow releasing the binding that magically fell away with the opening of the masterful orchestrated knot. The ribbon hadn't been woven but gathered in a series of double backed loops that fell away as the center knot was finally pulled free… Fang watched breathless as her soldier was at last free of the binding. Chills ran through her body at such a carefully designed present. It had obviously taken quite a bit of practice on both her lovers behalf and Vanille who had tied the final knot. "I think that was a sin to pull…" Fang rasped through a chest that had gone tight.
"It can be recreated." Dark eyes raised from the remains of the crimson chord to amused dark blue eyes. In that moment Fang knew who ever had designed it she would beg them to teach her to recreate it…

Wrapping that bow again and again, tirelessly to watch it open the most precious present she had ever been given.

39: History

Cold..., bitter..., pain...
Lightning lay on her hard rack trembling. The day had been exhausting, they had her platoon doing up-downs endlessly in the pouring rain, because of a fight that had broke out between her and a slender brute of a man called Cadet Esta, Philea Esta... Honestly she considered it as much his fault as his parents... surly they must have guessed by naming him that he would have one of two choices in life. Be an effeminate gay man or a hard ass bully who showed the world what he thought each time he perceived a wrong on his person.

He had not taken too kindly to her breaking his track course time and had told her to go home where little girls belong... Really? His name was Philea Esta... and he did not yet appreciate the stand one must take for them selves because of preconceived ideas? Lightning struck as her name sake fast with out mercy; the brute hit his knees before she even took a step back. Of course, being the bully he was... she paid for her insolence... but she was sure he would not underestimate her due to her size again.

She grimaced and rolled onto her side but really there was no comfortable way to lay; her face had suffered the worst damage from his beating, but it wasnt the part that hurt the most. After 8 hours and 200 up downs; her legs burned, arms ached, every muscle twitched and fluttered with its own agony... and when she closed her eyes she started doing them in her sleep. Her sigh was burdened as she tried to curl up in silent misery but even that small merciful gesture threatened to cause leg cramps. Sleep did not come easy, exhaustion finally stole over Cadet Farron but it was a peace short lived.

A bucket of water woke her with a jerk, her head raking against the top bunk sending her crashing back down to the hard planks beneath. It was instinctual to draw hands up over the wounds both new and old and spend a moment trying to see past the stars. Above her a second bucket splashed over their bunk and cadet Aagen fell out, rapidly descending the five feet to the ground with a cry. There were at least four more who leaped out of their bunk when the water hit them, they were rounded up with riot like noises and beasts that seemed to be coming from all sides. Lightning rolled out of her bunk squinting at the strobe lights trying to make sense of what was going on. Not sure what it was she grimaced when a Pantheron came creeping through the open door, its sleek form appearing as all muscle sans the skin. They were fast, not particularly hard hitters but their speed could make up for the push of each blow. Her skin crawled as fierce white eyes scanned the room. Cadet Aagen put an arm up on her bunk gritting his teeth as he tried to pull himself from the floor. Lightning watched in muted terror as one of the Pantheron stalked forward jaws chattering. Hearing the chattering Aagen picked himself up and limped for the rear exit.

It took a lot of trust in ones self to turn words into actions... to do rather than say... grit and determination beyond the norm... a burning drive to be more than all others just because you gave up on the lies and dedicated your self to the truth through action... what actions? The clearing... a mile to the east... a bell waited...

As a plan fell into place Lightning sprinted up, her vision was a bit skewed from blood, the head wound from the rude awaking had been falling down her brow into her face. A small hand raised to wipe angrily at it. She hit the door at a run, not the last but near too; out of the ransacked soaked bunk house. She tripped over Aagen landing in a heap of arms and legs.

"Ouch shit!" Cadet Aagen cussed, Lightning grunted and scampered off. Rolling away from him her mind on one thing. Reach the clearing, reach the bell...

The sound of the Pantheron drew her eyes as she gained her feet, don't run... they must give chase... they were bred to run a man aground. They would do this to their dying breath, snapping jaws and snicking claws they would bleed him slow and if the Pantheron handlers managed to get to you in time you might not die from the mauling.

The two beasts came out of the bunk house hissing, tails thrashing. Blue eyes looked around for a weapon... anything. Pouncing on a rock she held it in her hand as the two beasts began circling her and Cadet Aagen.

A mind lacking in proper sleep for the last week and a half a body bordering exhaustion... it was difficult to draw up specifics from her Monster 101 Class. What were there weaknesses? What could she use to escape? ...besides feeding them Aagen. She growled as one of the beasts leaped in knocking him down with his bad leg.

As they tightened their circle she drew closer to the young man who slept in the bunk above her.

They lunged and slashed at Aagen now that he was down he kept dragging his legs and butt back on the grass as they tried to maul him. Lightning stomped forward, remembering they don't like a challenge... she snarled as loud as she could raising herself erect while holding the rock mid section so her guts were at least a little protected.
They circled hissing lowering their bodies, turning their head as they pulled back.
"Get up!" She lunged like they did making like she would strike them... They retreated on one side and advanced on the other. Aagen cried out.
"GET UP!" She told him needing him as much as he needed her in that moment.

He gathered himself up and held his bigger frame up in a menacing manner. His form struck a far more imposing image than she, even with his injured ankle. He stood head and shoulders taller than her, his shoulders broad and strong... he was four years older than her and had already gone through his growth spurt. He had often commented about her little size but at the moment it didn't seem to be what was going through his mind.

"You have a plan for getting out of here?" He asked

"Don't die..." She groused unsure if the beasts would stop before they were mauled to death.

He laughed but it wasn't a happy sound... perfect... she wasn't feeling too jovial.

Blue eyes scanned the yard looking for anything they could use in their behalf, her mind searching for the answers as they stood back to back in the darkened yard postulating. It didn't seem to matter they were not yet ready for an attack, the Pantheron were convinced enough by the threat. This would do for the moment, but it didn't resolve the issue... what was it they feared?

...Fire

As this thought finally made it through her addled mind she saw their redemption across the quad, at the rear exit of the mess hall stool the Guardian Corp Pledge Stone, it was an oversize memorial, taller than even the tallest man. The Guardian Corps honor pledge was engraved upon it, it sat on a marbled base where a hidden recess led back to the mess hall main gas line, that kept a flame burning even through the torrential rains.

Now all they needed was something to burn, and they had a whole bunk house full of that... her smile turned sinister.
"We need to make it back to the bunk house."

"What? Thats insane... there's nothing there..."

"There is plenty there... Move Cadet!" She barked... and though it came out as a squeak it might as well have been a roar...

It was likely the silliest spectacle to observe from a distance; a pale giant limping at the command of a grim faced little girl, both throwing their arms and lunging at Pantheron. While the quad was empty of other human life, it was by no means with out its spectators...

Targus Aagen stood as a wall in the door, while Lightning rolled inside the bunkhouse, her eyes shifting to the chaos, waiting... watching. Only moments later she returned with broom and mop. Each were swaddled in clothes, things that had survived the water dousing; unscathed.

One she handed to the still postulating cadet.

Armed better, their crab walk across the quad didn't take too long; nor did lighting their make shift torches. Armed with fire they had a bit more room to move and progress was made towards the field where their bunk mates we likely waiting for them.

"Dead last... Cadets Aagen & Farron... pathetic..." The clearing with the bell was not the haven either of them had hoped for. But at least the Pantheron had at last been called off. Now they stood ram rod straight before their instructor who was pacing the line of them, well those who had survived the early morning raid; five had not made it to the clearing.

The hard nosed Sergent who had enjoyed tossing water onto the lot of them, sending them scampering about like crazed loons; paced the line of 15 cadets. He called their names out by twos, bunk mates and gave his brutal and direct assessment of their efforts. None of which was a good report, not even the best of them. His name was Sergent Spedna, also known as Sir and God...

"I'v never seen a more sorry bunch of sniveling, cowering, cadets in all my days. The lot of you worthless sacks of meat are wanting to become soldiers? Fodder... thats what you are... I've seen monster shit biggern you, stronger too..." He whiled his way back to the front of the line, where Lightning had the misfortune of being...
"CADET FARRON!"

"YES SIR!" She said back in a loud projected voice.

"Did I ask you for your lip Farron?"
"SIR NO SIR!"
"Damn straight, drop and give me twenty; now!" With out flinching Lightning dropped into pushups, her mind blazing, firing off quiet pathetic whimpers that never made it to her throat as she pushed again and again, her arms already sore, begged for mercy. Gritting her teeth she began to recite the words that defined her.
"Lightning doesn't feel, it don't hurt, it strikes, with out warning, with out care… Lightning doesn't feel, it don't hurt, it strikes, with out warning, with out care… "

"Ya know what surprises me outta this craptastic fubar drill?" He asked.
"SIR, NO SIR!" Lightning was still doing her twenty on the ground, arms screaming, body aching, the mantra running on loop in her head.
"Its that the scrawniest, piece of shit outta the lotta you was the only one to actually give aid to her brother in arms." He came to a stand at the center looking at the rattled cadets.

"It takes a gods damned little girl to show you all up." He gestured to Lightning who had finished her twenty and was jumping crisply back into line.
"Each one o' you abandoned your bunk mate and your platoon to their fate and ran like a sorry sack a trash to the field. Now in your head long flight to the field did it ever occur to you that there were others who might have needed your help?"

"Farron!"

"Yes Sir!"

"At ease Cadet, escort Cadet Aagen to the infirmary, then the two of you head back to your bunk..." He didn't look pleased when he said it but he added.
"Good job Cadet."

"Thank you sir!"

"Cadets Farron and Aagen... dismissed!"

"As for the rest of you..." Aagen stepped out of line but Lightning paused a bead of sweat appearing on her brow.

"Is there a problem Cadet?" The heartless man asked as she stood trembling in the line.
"Sir." Blue eyes looked down the line at the rest of their bunk mates as thin lips pressed together.
"Sir, request permission to stay."
This request seemed to interest her Drill Sargent, a brow raised as he paused to regard her.

Aagen stopped his turn and looked down at her his own brows knit.
"You would give up your chance for extra sleep and praise Cadet?" She fought the urge to squirm as he further scrutinized her.
"Respectfully Sir, I would prefer it." Aagen paled at her determination and stepped back into line. Perhaps she saw something he did not... and this thought above all drove him to return to the ranks of their platoon.

"Cadet Aagen?"

"Sir!"

"Explain your actions." He stiffened further though the pain in his ankle throbbed.
"Sir, we stand with our platoon."

Drill Instructor, Sergeant Spedna shifted, sizing up the two who refused a reward because it had not been granted to the entire group. One who had done it instinctively, the other deferring to said instincts of the other... though those instincts were those of a girl child on the cusp of womanhood... He grimaced.

"Very well." He grunted, there was a hint of hope for this bunch after all... His smirk was something fierce and it promised pain... and it delivered said pain.

At the end of the second grueling week, they were set to run a platoon obstacle course. There was going to be mud, and grime, hard labor, and some puzzles required to overcome before they could get to the end, and…
"And I don't want to see any of this rival shit I have seen popping up among yourselves…
ESTA, FARRON! Font and Center!" Lightning didn't question why she was being singled out with Esta… she knew very well because of his constant hazing, she had become some what of a target both for Esta's flunky brothers… and for Sergeant Spedna-God-Sir… She fell out of line and trotted up to the head where she resumed a stiff posture of attention; Esta too jogged forward.
"This is a team event, you will be graded on how well you can manage your team and how quickly you all get through the course together. If you two can't find a way to work together, then you will both be spending a while lot more time together…" His smile… the one you learn to dread… that was the one that came up on his constantly stiff features. If there was one thing you learned quickly, it was how best not to piss off your Drill Instructor…
"BACK IN LINE!"

When they resumed their positions at either end of the line, Sergeant Spedna went through the course and its obstacles, what he expected to see of them, and how best to perform as a cohesive unit.
"As you have noted there are some injured among you, war is hell and you will not find an ideal situation, make the best of it. Your Platoon's time will be listed on the board with all the others who are making their runs today, if you are dead last... there will be nothing but hell for you to pay... The top ranking team will get a day of rest and extra rations. I look forward to riding your asses all week... long..." He flashed a sinister smile, making it known he had no hopes that they, his squad would place first in this task... and he was right...

Week five: Here she was again, feeling as if the largest creature in both Pulse and Cocoon had stomped her into the ground... leaving only a puddle that once was Lightning. Arms, legs, body... even her spirit felt beat down by continual abuse from Sergeant Spedna... and constant loss in the weekly Team Games. She lay staring up at the sagging bunk where Cadet Targus Aagen lay; by the sounds he was making he was either awake and in pain or having a bad dream. Perhaps Sergent Spedna was yelling in his face again... she had those kinds of dreams.

"What's the biggest monster?" He asked as if reading her thoughts. A faint smirk came to her lips and she grunt.
"Probably one of the Gui family." Cadet Spacy two bunks away said in a tired voice. Frederick Spacy was a skinny bookish sort of a young man. Taller than Lightning, but not by much. He felt comfortable hanging out with the giant and his little side kick... he was one of the few who recognized that was better stated the other way around. The little girl and her giant.

"They are really tall right?" Aagen asked.

"Seriously tall." Spacy agreed. This seemed to get a snort of amusement from Aagen and he found the energy to roll over, peering down under at her.
"Now I know how Gui shit feels when it splatters on the ground." She shook her head with a noncommittal grunt rolling over trying to hide the smirk his words had summoned. But Aagen had seen it before she gave him the shoulder.

"I saw that Pinky." He teased with a grin in his voice. She grunt again.
"Shut up Aagen…" Esta growled from across the room.
"Tomorrow Sergent Spedna's going to put his shit kickers on just for you..." What ever amusement Lightning had found in her bunkmate's words, was lost with Philea Esta's interruption.

After weeks of personal torment from Sergeant Spedna everything from being physically cuffed to Esta during drills, to extra practice just for their personal team work… She was too exhausted to rise to his ire. After everything couldn't he just get along? It would make life so much easier on both of them. She sighed and couldn't help but wonder what new form of torture and torment Spedna would come up with for them next.

Just as she was about to drift off the door to their barracks creaked open. Never a good sign when your entire platoon was bunked down for the night. Not just her but Cadet Spacy too heard the door creak and sat bolt upright casting dark eyes around the room. She nodded to him and reached up to Aagen, he groused some but woke when he too heard the door moving. As quiet as he could he rolled down off his bunk moving forward to the next one to wake up as many of their mates as they could before all hell rained down on them.

Lightning, being smaller and easier to miss darted across the room from her own bunk and began waking bunk mates as she came across them. She didn't even pause when she came upon Esta. She nudged him as quietly as the others. When he opened his eyes he seemed at first surprised, then wary but she didn't give him time to stew on it. Instead she nodded towards the door, signaled trouble and then was gone.

He looked about the room as all their mates were being moving silently towards the rear exit of the bunk house. At the front the sounds of movement sped them along. When the water brigade rushed in and splashed everything, the Platoon of bunkhouse 9 was already slipping out the back door as the chaos started. At the bottom of the steps Esta was handing out sticks. Each stick had the rudimentary length of a sword, armed with these the group then began heading for the open field where the bell stood. Not one of them was left behind… not one forgotten or abandoned. They moved quickly and quietly through the chaos.

When they reached the designated place ever last one of them hit the bell and fell into line… they were not the very first persons to arrive, but they were the first platoon to stand as a cohesive unit.

Their drill instructor Sergeant Spedna strut out of the darkened tree line like a choco cock displaying beard and plumage for a hen he was wooing.
"Weeeeeell! What have we here?" He asked as he walked the line, each one of them standing rigidly at attention. Spedna put his whistle in his mouth and gave a sharp blow piercing the chaotic night.

The next week was a high for the cadets of bunkhouse 9, all their hard work, and all the extra training by Spedna seemed to have fallen into place, there was a few rough patches, but they powered through it.

On week seven, they won the team drill, not just week seven but week eight, and came in second week nine. Having tasted victory though they worked extra hard to attain it once more. Spedna watched as the two hardest fighters fell into place and the group become a fine oiled machine…
"About damn time…" The grin on his features was rough dark and proud.

Week 9
Lightning was checking straps and latches, buckles and clasps of body armor and gear of her platoon mates. Esta was giving them a pep talk as she and Aagen the Giant double checked all gear.
"We have been training hard for this, bled for this… remember your brothers and sister, keep your mind on the task, but don't forget your environment… Now Space Cadet is going to give you the run down on our monsters, commit it to memory…"

Cadet Frederick Spacy stepped forward after Aagen tapped his shoulder, he was good to go. Esta stepped into the small space they were given in the personnel carrier, Lightning stepped up to check his gear and tapped his shoulder then stepping in front of him, he did the same for her tapping hers as well.

When the personnel carrier stopped the gate fell down and the cadets of bunk house 9 moved out in solid formation… it was game time, only this one could get you killed.

A monster den had been spotted near Palumpolum, in the wilds that surrounded the city, they were to circle the nest from the far side so that none of the monsters could escape. Intel said they were dealing with a clutch of flan. Weapons were locked and loaded with explosive rounds so it was imperative that they all knew where one another was at all times. An incendiary round would not leave much for a potion to cure…

Since they were hunting Flan, there really was no need for silence, as they were deaf, but speed was of the utmost as to catch a flan off guard you had to approach quickly or their thermal vision would pick you out and that was the end of the surprise.

Esta split their group into two, with ten members a piece, after ten weeks he knew the strengths and weaknesses of each member, and he broke them up accordingly. Putting Lightning as leader of the Omega team. their plan was to create a pincer between themselves and the forward focus that were pushing. If the monsters did escape the initial attack they would close the net from the other side.

Omega moved forward with quick steps through the brush, pushing rather than chopping their way through; saving their energy for the battle.

Sweat trickled down her spine as knots twisted in her guts, the terrain made for a difficult line of sight, but each of them were wearing a bright phosphorous glowing strip that went across chest and back, strips down their sides. As it was phosphorous there was no heat signature so the flan could not sense it with their thermal vision.

When they reached the point they were to defend Lightning signaled they spread out in twos widening their net, from the other side Esta would do the same, and they would be able to hold off the escaping monsters as well as respond to each others call for aid with in a reasonable amount of time. At her side Aagen stood a vast unmovable object towering above her in his battle rabble. Though she would never admit it out loud, she was glad he was her second… his size making up for her lack there of. But it was not one sided, her instincts helped him where his lacked. They had been a good match from the very beginning.

Teams Alpha and Omega were in place, several other teams were spaced out along the same permitter line in a full circle waiting for signs of the enemy, each one wearing battle gear and prepped for the fight according to the intel. What they were not prepared for was the jelly like wall that moved forward like a single entity.
"Fire!" She shouted, and their blaze guns went off shooting into the wall of flan as they approached arms waving gaping maws yawning.

The sound was deafening, the blast of light with each round being sent out was blinding ruining her vision… the smell of primer filled the air as they lay waste to the bodies and still they kept coming.

"I'm out!" Went down the line.
"Jammed!" Spacy called from where he knelt.
"Switch." Lightning called sending the front line behind their reserves. This gave them opportunity to make repairs, reload munitions and take stock of supplies while the line of fire continued.

Hands dark with powder pulled gun releases champers were cleared, bullets reloaded and that was all in a matter of minutes.
"Pinky, they are still coming." Aagen stated with a grimace.

Lightning peered up to see what was bothering him and he was right there were too many of them for the supplies they had been given. It made her wonder if the group that was suppose to be actually hunting them was just driving them at the cadets.

"We can't hold this for long." Aagen again.

"Hold the line!." Lightning said. "Grenade!" Aagen dropped his weapon, it slung back on its strap as he pulled a grenade yanked the pin, pressed down on the head and gave a final twist before he lobbed it into the moving wall.
"Time?"

"DOWN!"

"Aagen had a moment to reach out and grab the little cadet who he thought of as his best friend when the percussive wave hit them. To his chagrin she was knocked off her feet, if it were not for his hand she might have been blown back as they all took cover.

"Gods!" Dhempsy their medic cried as he was splattered with goo.
"A little warning next time Aagen!" A punch came to his arm but he was still grinning ear to ear.

"Ouch! Shit!" Spacy was wiping at the goo that had rained down on them, the creatures digestive juices still active though their bodies were now bits here and there...

Aagen laughed a hearty sound and stood up dragging Pinky with him. He stood Lightning on her feet.
"That was rather messy Aagen..." Some one groused as Lightning tried to assess the danger that was still present and moving forward. But before they could continue she had to know what they had.

"Sound off!" Lightning groused as she poked a finger in her ear.
"One,"
"Two,"
"Three."
"Four."
"Five"
"Six."
"Seven."
"Eight."

Their ninth was looking dazed still holding both hands to their ears.

"Sachi! SOUND OFF!" Lightning hollered over the rat tat tat, and buzz of gun fire and the low WHUNK of grenades; no doubt from Esta's team.
"NINE! SIR!" Devon Sachi cried having faintly heard the cry of his commanding officer.
"Ten..." Lightning finished with a frown.

"That did work well..." Lightning mused barely audible above the roar of her teams gunfire.

"FAN OUT!" They spread further apart.
"GRENADES READY! TEN SECONDS!"
"GO GO GO!" A line of grenades flew into the line of moving jelly bodies, and the resulting percussive wave blasted a 20 meter radius in the line.

The blast was well met by the Omega team after they lobbed the grenades, each and every one of the took cover, hunkering down for the shock wave of so many percussion grenades going off at once.

Every last one of them stare into the resulting gloom looking for hints of success or failure. Their success was short lived as from the far right the sounds of screams drew their attention.
"Sir!" Spacy cried a pair of thermal specs to his eyes.

"Team Alpha is being overwhelmed!"

Lightning looked back at the splattered destruction of their battle and made a command decision.
"Lets move! Watch for team colors!" They reorganized into the phalanx and moved off towards their right back tracking over the rugged and wild land to give aid and support to team Alpha. What they saw was not something any of them would ever forget...

Alpha was in tatters, worse yet their bodies were now part of that wall of moving jelly.
"SHIT CAP!"
Lightning grimaced as several of the Alpha team had been absorbed into the bodies of the moving wall, limiting how their team could respond. THeir team captain, Esta was one of the floating bodies curled in fetal position with in the body of a flan.

"EXTRACTION!" Dhempsy called.
"NEGATIVE, NEGATIVE!" The line was moving fast and they couldn't do anything about their fallen brothers until they were in the proper position. "Aagen take command here, Dhempsy, Spacy, Rhods with me; the rest back up ALPHA!" Aagen reached out a fast hand catching his his Captain and friend by the arm.
"You cant!" Cold icey blue eyes raised up at him, fierce determination in her eyes.
"Can you or can't you take command!" He looked to the faltering team of Alpha and then back at her knowing she was going to try and mount a rescue mission; with out him though...
"CAN YOU OR CAN'T YOU AAGEN!" She needed to know, the longer the exposure to the flan's enzymes the greater their damage... and less chance of a successful retrieval.. which meant their comrades would still be breathing.

"SIR!" He snapped off realizing this was bigger than some game where he wanted to stand next to her for the win.
"TO THE LINE AAGEN!" She cried jerking her arm free as he seemed a bit slow on the up take.

"Were extracting Esta! Cover us! Watch friendlies!"
She gave short bursts of information she dropped her secondary gun and munitions for the two teams and strapped a cable tether to her extraction harness.
"ROGER!" Aagen turned towards those left under his command and directed them to take out the flan nearest the one holding Captain Esta and when they saw the movement of friendlies on the back side of the line they were to begin eking out Stratford and Harring.

Knowing everything was going to be taken care of on this side Lightning guided them back down the line where the break had been made by her team to begin extracting their brothers from the deadly line of goop.

Being the smallest she would have less of a mass for the Flan to hold onto, and less weight for their extraction team to haul back.
"Rhods anchor! Hands to the line!" She gave them the end of her tether and ran full tilt at the Flan that was carrying Esta, if she couldn't breech the Flan's cell wall she would be ineffective at reaching Esta, to help her with the breech Blaze fire in all its deadly glory was at last revealed.

As she ran Lightning puled a face mask on over mouth and nose. Flan ooze was known to make one euphoric and passive, you got to enjoy the last moments of your life as you were digested alive in their gelatinous forms. The weapon sliding into bladed form click locking into place moments before Cadet Captain Farron of the Omega Team launched everything she had at the Flandragora who had captured Esta. Blazefire split the way through the jelly mass, it parted like a wave as she came with in centimeters of Esta's downed form. She crashed into his body and almost expelled him with force on the front side of its body; the impact was harder than she expected and what precious seconds she had before the flan reformed were lost due to being dazed. The flan pulled its self back together, holding both cadets with in its noxious form.

Lightning wrapped arms around Esta, hands searching for his rig link where she could extend her harness to latch onto his own, movement was slow with in the creature, and time was running out. Having her lungs and eyes protected the euphoria that could render a man unwilling to fight did not kick in, instead she was left with the feeling of the creatures ooze hungrily scraping layers of skin from all parts of her exposed skin. It was distracting at best, but painful the longer she was with in its body. It made the counting of seconds all that much harder.

There was a tug on her tether... five seconds. They were ticked off with respective warning tugs, seconds before the heave that would free her. To make it easier for success she fed as much room between her harness and Esta's; finally the last pull.
Lightning was hauled backwards out of the gelatinous body of the Flandragora. Never had she felt more happy to be on her knees at the back end of a battle as she had in that moment.

A state that only lasted seconds as the extraction haul team pulled her onto her stomach and down the line as they hauled Philea Esta out behind her. There was a sucking sticky noise before he fell free to the ground. The haulers pulled them back several paces.

"FIRE IN THE HOLE!" A voice called from the front line, Lightning scrambled up on her hands and knees throwing her body over that of Esta, a rapid fire of incendiary took out the monster they had just been hauled from. It rained burning flan ooze.

Hands stinging from the goop unhooked him.

"PREP SET!" She called as Dhempsy came forward with a potion in his fist.

"SET!" Rhodes called.

Despite feeling like she had gone through a meat grinder Lightning stumbled to her feet to repete the same actions for Stratford and Harring.

"ANCHORED!" Rhodes called and Lightning was off again... this time she was better prepared for impact and her actions were faster. By the seventh tug she tugged back. They didn't wait the last few seconds. They hauled her and Eric Stratford out of the Flandragora duck and covering as the beast was blasted from the front line. A scary thought, best not to think about it as the BLOOP BLOOP BLOOP sounded seconds before the BAKAAAAM! That sent the beast raining as brimstone and fire.

Lightning rolled off of Stratford feeling as if her body was filled with lead weights.
"Prep Set!" She called. Behind her Rhodes grimaced but did his duty and called back.

"ANCHORED!" Her third extraction was not so fast, her actions slowed, her body battered on a level even she found difficult to push past. She couldn't get the anchor into place and had nothing but seconds to slide wrist and arm into his harness hooking at her elbow and vice gripping her own wrist when they hauled. The first pull did not get her or Harring out of the flan, nor did the second but little by little they were dragged from the beast until both crashed at its slug like base. The strain on her arm was tremendous as her body broke free, it pulled at shoulder and wrist and she almost lost blazefire in the beast. If she had to describe the sensation it would have been akin to being torn in two. The cry that tore from her lips rose above the battle fire but was lost to the grenades that found the remaining flan.

She tore the mask from her face drawing great draughts of air into her lungs she hadn't the coordination necessary to free her caught arm, or the ability to force it back into place.
"Cap?" Dhempsy called drawing her back to reality giving an anchor against the pain.
"We got them! All men accounted for. They are breathing."

The grimace on her features was painful, the raze red of her skin hard to look at, but the light in blue eyes was something all of them could relate to. A triump despite the odds, they had banded together and pulled through.

"Pinky?" Aagen knelt beside her, his face black from blow back.
"Shit, your all twisted, let me."
"Stand fast!" Light cried suddenly shocking them all. It was weeks of traning that got Aagen snapping to attention at the tone in her voice and the command of her words. She couldn't... she couldn't take his kindness, it had to be hard. She needed that stability, that assurance that all would be fine if she just suck it up. Something Aagen never seemed to understand.

"Aagen." It was Esta, he was up though not so steady. He understood this part of Lightning, the part that needed the razor edge to hold it together, to hold back the overwhelming tide that would consume you... he knew because it was a tactic he used himself.
"I got this Aagen." He said getting a long look from the big man.

Esta didn't show any feeling in his dark eyes as he gazed down at Lighting.
"Don't you look shit faced." He growled and reached down for her drawing her up by the straps of her battle armor. He was not gentle, and it drew a note of alarm from those who did not understand that it was a necessary hardness.

A pained gasp escaped Lightning but he did it fast. Dhempsy steadied her frame as Esta grabbed her arm and twisted it back into place with a loud popping sound. The cry of agony had every last one of them cringing.
"Potion." Esta held his hand out while Lightning was still in the throes of pain. It wouldnt help either way to wait, the potion process was painful, there was no nice way to help with this.
"Wait!" Aagen called.
"STAND DOWN CADET!" Esta growled as he reached out and poured the potion down Lightnings throat.

It blazed like fire and ice and caused her to buck and thrash.
"GODS DAMMIT ESTA!"

"There are no gods on the battle field Aagen..." Esta growled. Lightning went limp her body sliding into blackness. It would have been bliss, but Esta had other plans for her.
"On your feet soldier!" He hauled her up onto unstable feet pushing back the darkness. Arms flailed as all direction and control were temporarily lost.
"You dragged me back from Valhalla, Farron, so dance with me in this hell." He shook her with the last of his strength until blue eyes showed light in them again.

Honestly he could have beaten her until she was black and blue... and she would have thanked him in that moment. It pushed back tears and the fine line of madness from exposure to the Flandragora.

"Good," He let her down again to the ground where she might catch her breath and bearings. tiredly he slumped down with her.
"if any one's interested... i may never eat flan candy again." There was a laugh that went through the exhausted crowd.

"Come on, we have to get back to our carrier."
"Aagen, help Stratford. Dhempsy, Spacy, help Harring."
"W-what about P-"

"Pinky can take care of herself." Aagen saw her blazefire laying all gooed on the ground nearest him. He reached out with a tired hand and put the blade into her hand.
"Am I right Captain Farron?" Blue eyes met black and he got a nod.
"I thought so." A hint of a smile curled his lips.
"Lets get going."

The 978th class of Cadets graduated Basic with half the number they had begun with. Not because they had been lost in war, or due to battle, but because that percent did not stand the test. Bunkhouse 9's entire platoon stood in the ceremonial yard on the day of graduation. Each member stiffly at attention standing side by side as brothers and sister in arms awaiting the final word from their commander before the real work began.

40: Fantasy

"I'm home."
Sounds coming from the kitchen had Fang creeping forward long before Lightning called out to her. The sounds of soft music played as dishes were rattled about. The scent coming from the kitchen was something divine.

Shoes off at the door, bladed lance on a wall hook, bag slipping to the ground, Fang slunk forward to see what was going on in the kitchen. What she saw had her mouth slowly sliding towards the floor.

Lightning was dressed in an apron, the one they received from the shower from their sisters.
"Mama's been cookin'". With a hand painted image of a bun in the oven.; flour smeared across the swell of her belly, she glowed with radiance beyond the norm, and the view from the back side of that apron was amazing.

Lightning turned instinctively, blue eyes meeting darkening green. She flashed a smile a brilliant look of joy in those usually reserved eyes.
"You're home early."

"Mnh," Green eyes dropped to the perfectly exposed derriere of her wife, neatly framed by apron drawstrings.
"If this is what I'm missing, I need to come home early more often…"

Stepping forward she slid in behind her mostly nude wife, wrapping arms around her body to place splayed palms over the swell of her stomach.
"Mnh. I thought of doing this all day long." She brushed lips against the back of Lightnings neck.

"How are things in Brasil?"

"Mnh. the factory they have unearthed is immense. The monsters that come up with it are little and though fierce looking they are not much trouble...
I missed ya." Lightning bowed her head as soft lips pressed again to that sensitive spot at the nape of her neck.

"Let me see you, let me see you both." Another kiss to her ear, and one to her jaw, slowly she turned in Fang's arms, her wife's lips paying homage to her flesh as she turned, until their lips met.

The bow tying the apron about lightnings growing belly was released, Fang pulled the strings forward raising the apron between them, her hands sliding down over the swell of their child as their kiss became something more.

Lightning found herself pressed against the counter, held reverently between Fangs strong hands, and the press of her body. She moaned into the dark secret of her huntress's mouth.
"I missed you." She murmured when at last their lips parted.

The call for fighters had brought them from all the settlements to Brasil, if she had not been carrying their unborn child she too would have heeded the call. Drawn forward to fight by Fang's side to assure their success… it might have been a haughty thought, but it made her feel better when she could fight with her wife…

"I missed you both." Fang murmured pressing a kiss to Lightnings forehead. Green eyes met dual blue and they shared a soft smile.
"Now, let me see." Fang giggled as she stepped back, what ever had possessed Lightning to cook nearly in the nude, she counted her lucky stars. Generally she would only get to raise her wife's shirt.

Lightning did not protest when the apron was gently lifted from her shoulders and sat on the sink, exposing her form to Fang's eager eyes.

"Goddess, you are beautiful." Her dark haired huntress descended on to her knees, hands sliding down Lightnings body, cupping them over the swell of her belly. She pressed a plethora of kisses to the taut round surface and drew a skittish reaction from Lightning as she dipped her tongue into a tight belly button.

"N-o! Fang!" Lightning tried to turn but Fang held her. She pressed a kiss to the almost outtie belly button that was usually graced with a belly button ring. Something that Lightning had to give up due to the pull.

"I love it." Fang murmured knowing it was both hyper sensitive and a point of insecurity for her wife.
"I love you, I love that you did this for us; that soon we will have this baby. There is nothing about you that could ever be anything but perfection; I am so in love with you…" Strong hands slid up and down, drawing them over narrow hips and back down over their baby where she placed another kiss.

Fang lowered her mouth down the line of Lightnings bulging tummy and kissed again. She held eye contact with her wife as she lowered once again. Lightning didn't stop her even though their eye contact broke as Fang settled down under the baby still kissing her way down.

Hands in dark hair, Lightning trembled and leaned back harder against the counter.

...

"Oerba to Fang… come in Fang…" Lightning waved a hand in front of her wife's glassy eyes. She had been staring with a play of emotion that had Lightning riding the gambit until she could watch no longer. Especially since that lecherous grin didn't seem to be fading any time soon.

Fang gave a long blink as her eyes refocused on her wife… on her Lightning. Green eyes swept over that slender form fixing on the silver glimpse of a belly button ring glinting from between the leaves of her long vest.

"What were you day dreaming about?" Lightning asked a wrinkle in her brow. Green eyes ran up to inquisitive blue eyes with a cheeky expression.

"What do I always day dream about?"

"Hmm."

"Let me show ya." Heat flooded Lightning as Fang went into huntress mode… and she became the prey.