A/N Super long chapter for your super long wait, I'm sorry if my writing changes a lot in this one. Some of it might seem rushed, and some might drag on a bit. I was going through writers block on and off when writing this. I suck at writing fight scenes. I'm good at picturing them though. If only I could copy-paste my brain. Also, for those of you still following, don't forget to check out the LJ link in my profile every now and then for updates on the story, just so you know if I'm still alive at least.
Fools Rush In
It did not take a rocket scientist to know that Fang had a fantastic hatred for Lightning, in fact, the feeling was mutual. They were both hotheaded, stubborn, competitive. Fang was protecting her territory, Lightning was an intruder in her eyes.
Fang bristled at every sarcastic comment, every off handed gesture, she'd fight back with biting comments of her own. Fang was ready for a fight, Lightning knew better than to give her that opportunity.
"You scared or somethin'?" Fang stood with a hand on her hip, head cocked slightly to the side and a mocking grin on her face.
"I have more sense than to have a physical fight in another person's home." The pinknettes arms were crossed over her chest, she stood straight with her head raised and chest out slightly, to show that despite this she was ready for anything Fang would throw at her. A kind of pride thing.
"Right, I think you're chicken." The wild-haired teen took a step forward, almost daring Lightning. Lightning, however, didn't flinch. Didn't move a single muscle.
"Do you really want to do this? When my sister is in the kitchen, and Vanille is in the room just upstairs?" Now it was Lightning's turn to step forward, and this time she jabbed her index finger against Fang's chest, "I don't know what you're up to, but knock it off."
"Ooh, givin' orders in my house now, are ya?" Fang slapped her hand away, smirk never leaving her face. "Better be careful, a mouth like that-"
"I don't have to take any of this, if this is the thanks I get..."
"I'm not keepin' ya, the door's right there. You could've gone at any point between last night an' now."
"..." Lightning's jaw set, as her piercing blue eyes narrowed, never leaving the mischievous green ones. Finally, she tensed slightly before turning away, still keeping her stiff posture, still ready for anything that could happen somewhere along her path to the door, "Serah, we're leaving!" She barked, her sister popped her head through the entryway of the small kitchen.
"We're going home already? But-"
"Now." Lightning didn't give her another second before storming out of the house. Serah spared an apologetic glance towards Fang, though she figured Fang had pushed some buttons as she tended to do.
X-x-x-
When Vanille awoke in the morning to the sound of a door being slammed she barely took notice, and was more overwhelmed with with the slight smell of a gentle, pleasant perfume that she could not recognize as her own. She became aware of the fact that was a lot warmer under her blankets than usual, and before she could tally it up as a result of her fever she remembered that she had fallen asleep wearing a certain girl's jacket...she slowly found herself dozing off again.
What seemed to be hours later, the girl awoke again to find the sun outside was much brighter than when she had first woken up.
"Hmm..." Vanille rubbed her eyes drowsily, "must be about noon..." she mumbled to herself, her ears adjusting to the happy chirps of birds just outside her window.
Fighting the sleep that still threatened to shut her eyes for another good hour, she pushed herself up into a seated position and squinted past the bright rays that shown through her open window, she dully noted that she had forgotten to shut the curtains before she dozed off.
She quickly pushed herself out of bed and slowly walked out of her room, she turned down the hall and and silently stepped out onto the first step of the staircase, expectant of a brooding Fang, but greeted with an empty room.
She wandered into the kitchen, and puzzled by the houses evident emptiness she made a detour for the living room and plopped herself on the hard couch to ponder where everyone could have gone.
X-x-x
Her head felt as though it were a bag of bricks, and when she opened her eyes it felt as though she were looking through a fogged window. Vanille had not known when she had fallen asleep, but it was dark now and as she moved to rub the sleep out of her eyes she found she couldn't..move.
No, she had not fallen asleep, somehow she had missed the presence of another person in the house with her, and they had smacked her across the head with something blunt that knocked her out almost immediately.
She kept her head low, her breathing as steady as she could possibly manage, and she thought of how she could have ended up in this situation. Such a random situation, she hadn't angered anyone, and as far as she knew Fang hadn't gotten into any fights since the school year started. So then, why?
X-x-x
Three boys and a girl stood not too far from the groggy figure, they had not taken notice of the slowly waking girl and were caught up in a conversation of their own. One of them, a tall, lanky boy of 18 had long, midnight blue hair in a loose pony tail. He seemed nervous, and was constantly glancing around the warehouse they had stationed themselves in. Almost as though he was expecting someone to jump out and kill him right there.
"Hey...er...How do ya know she'll come?" He finally asked, nervously smacking the baton he was holding against his thigh. "I mean, there are a million in one chances right?"
"What are you talking about, you idiot?" The girl was wearing a uniform of one of their rival schools from the capital of Eden. It was disheveled, the tie loose and her shirt hung out of her skirt, half-tucked with rust colored stains, probably blood. She had just been in a fight, evidently. "She'll come, definitely. We've got her girl, after all." despite her voiced confidence, her foot tapped irritably, and she ran a nervous hand through her wavy, blonde hair. "And when she comes, we'll pit Kenji against her first."
"What!"
"Shut up, idiot..."
"Do you wanna say that to my face?"
"I just-"
"..." The other blue haired boy who had been silently leaning against the wall opposite the group finally moved, drawing everyone's surprised attention. His attire was about as dark as his apparent personality, he was wearing a full suit as though he were prepared for a formal occasion. "No matter what." The bickering boy and girl stood straight, faces slightly pale as though they had seen a ghost. "Stay here. She will come. Just. Don't. Touch. The girl." His face remained straight and placid, but his words dripped with deadly warning. He signaled towards the blonde, turned on his heel and left the warehouse. The blonde left as well, much to Kenji's annoyance.
He rounded on his friend, a spiky haired male of about the same age, "you leaving me too?"
When he didn't get a reply, he figured it as a no and slumped on the ground beside him, staring off at the tied up girl. "I hate these kind's of jobs.." he muttered, foot tapping nervously against the concrete ground, "so boss wants us to wait for some... "Lightning" chick, right? Supposedly she took on some of his boys and really messed 'em up. Kaaah...It's almost not worth it...!" He sighed hopelessly.
X-x-x
Vanille:
I raised my head slightly, listening to their conversation. The scary blue haired boy seemed to be the only one aware of my alert state, but he chose only to spare a glance and return his gaze to the bickering group.
Not that I was complaining, I shivered when I caught a good sight of his red eyes. Almost too red to be his natural color.
He had eventually left, taking the girl with him and leaving me in the hands of the nervous bluenette and the spikey haired guy. At least they looked like something Fang could take on if she ever came to my rescue. And I had my fingers crossed, I don't know, maybe Fang had some amazing tracking device that could locate some kind of chip she had implanted on me while I was sleeping one night!
Or...well...maybe I'm just doomed to die here. Despite the gloomy guy's warning, I had a feeling the bluenette wasn't one to follow orders.
He was talking to the other guy now, he seemed nervous. That was when I caught Lightning's name. Were these the people she was involved with? Would she come and save me?
Fat chance, she didn't even like me, if they wanted someone that could draw her out they should have kidnapped her sister.
X-x-x
Eventually Kenji stood and walked over to the girl, having noticed she had woken up. "Hey, how ya doin there?" he reached out and grabbed her chin to lift her head up slightly, "ya want something to eat?"
"Grandma always said not to take things from strangers.." Vanille muttered, jerking her chin away much to the boys amusement. "If you're waiting for Lightning, good luck. She's not going to come for me of all people."
" 'Course she will," He started tapping his baton on his shoulder, a cocky grin on his face, "you're her girl aren't you? That's her track jacket you're wearing...and you two seem to be buddy-buddy with each other."
Vanille sputtered, "her g-girl?" it took everything in her not to laugh out loud, "you're joking right? I hardly even know her!"
His grin faltered slightly, and before Vanille could know what was going on he backhanded her. Her cheek stung slightly, "she'll come." He said, stepping back slightly, "she'll come to claim her property."
X-x-x
Vanille:
So much for..."not touching the girl". My cheek stung horribly, he had been wearing a ring on the hand he smacked me with. I was certain a bruise would form in the shape of it. I just hoped it wasn't an ugly ring. You know, hopefully it was a butterfly. I'd always wanted a butterfly-shaped bruise, and it would be so cute if it was on my face.
….
Lightning better get here. Fast.
X-x-x
"Fang?"
"Where is she!"
"Wha-"
"Where's Vanille?"
"Hell if I would know, you're her lap dog, after all." Lightning's grip tightened on the door knob, "or did she let go of your leash while you two were out on a walk?"
"Cut the crap Farron." Fang's face had darkened, "if you don't know where she is, she could be in big trouble right now..."
".."
"I went out for a walk, an' when I came home the place was trashed." She reached out and gripped the strawberry-blonde by the collar of her shirt, "like a damn war zone. An' they left this calling card." She pulled a card out and flashed it in front of Lightning's face.
"The Organization..."
"The-who?"
"I know where she is. But I have to go alone."
"Fat chance, that's my-"
"If you want her to live, it has to be me, and only me Fang. Don't even think about following me."
"What does it matte-"
"Because it's my problem, not yours. I don't care if she's your family, it's my task. That card is for me. You'll only drag me down and get yourself into trouble with the wrong people." Lightning brushed past the tall teen, only to be stopped by a firm grip on her arm.
"No way in Hell am I letting you go alone."
Lightning sighed, she knew the girl would insist, she had just wished she hadn't had to resort to this. She swung her arm, knocking her hand just on the back of the woman's head. She stood for a second, a look of confusion lit her face before she fell forward into Lightning's arms.
"Light..?" Serah had appeared in the hall, a look of confusion on her face. Lightning's eyes locked onto her, hoping a silent message could be passed. Serah nodded slightly, approaching her to grab Fang from her arms.
The ex-athlete turned to leave, she stepped uncertainly aside before she turned back to her younger sister, "...call Snow. Make sure you stay with him.."
This comment caught her sister by surprise, "you actually...?" Before she could finish her question, Lightning was long gone.
X-x-x
Snow hung up his phone, pulled on his coat and stepped out of his home. Serah would have questions that would demand answers, he would have to chose between playing dumb and telling her flat out. It wasn't an easy task, lying to your girlfriend. He figured it was just as hard if she were to have been his sister. If he was in Lightning's situation.
When he arrived at the Farron's flat, she was in the state he had expected her to be in. Worried, troubled, almost exhausted. He was certainly glad he had decided to ditch school that day.
"I have Fang on the couch.."
"On the.." Snow peered into the family room from the entry hall, he saw the familiar form of the ex-athlete's rival. "I'm surprised."
"I don't know...I don't know why she was here, but I saw Cl- I saw Lightning hit her and...and..." She rubbed her temples, "please don't tell me it's...them again."
Snow moved to wrap his arms around her, he could only imagine the pain those people had put the family through. Even worse, when the only real family you have left is your older sibling. "Lightning will be fine, she's way too stubborn to give up easily."
"That's what I'm afraid of." Serah sighed, burying her face in his chest and inhaling the scent of his musky cologne that always gave her a pleasant headache. "She's so stubborn she might get herself killed..."
"..." Snow chuckled, and shook his head, "no Serah, because she's too stubborn to die."
X-x-x
As Lightning raced down the empty streets the only thing she truly was worried about was whether she was going to the right place. The last time they had called her out, she was directed to an abandoned warehouse not far off of the beach. This card did not have any directions, she was left to assume she was right. She just hoped Vanille was still alive when she got there.
The sky was painted hues of oranges and reds, it wouldn't be long until nightfall, Lightning did not have a lot of time.
X-x-x
Kenji tamped nervously, he was both aching for a good fight and 'scared shitless'- as he tended to mutter lowly to himself- he was slowly falling into irritation, "she should have been here hours ago..."
Vanille was feeling nervous as well, what would happen to her if neither Lightning nor Fang had arrived? Would they kill her? She knew for a fact they wouldn't simply drop her off at home and apologize for keeping her out past her bedtime.
She didn't like this, 'Kenji', guy either, who in his nervous attitude would snap at the girl at random moments. A few times his friend would quietly apologize, "he's not always like this." He had admitted with a half shrug, "this job changes people."
"ARGH!" Kenji had snapped again, he kicked over an old chair, Vanille was surprised it hadn't shattered simply by the fragile look it had. "Where the hell is she!" He glanced back at his friend, "Remus, how long have we been here?"
Remus raised five fingers silently, earning another grunt of anger from the scrawny boy.
"This is a joke right? A test? Maybe the boss man is trying to see how loyal we are just by how long we stick around with this..." He thrust an accusing finger in Vanille's direction, "this girl. He probably found her behind some damned ally and they came up with some damn agreement."
"I'll have you know, I'm not so happy that my house was broken into." Had she not been tied up she'd probably be beating him, "I told you she wouldn't come! We're not even friends!"
"Tch- shut up!" He moved to strike her.
"Touch her, and you lose your arm."
X-x-x
Lightning stood in the very doorway Vanille had remembered the dark suited guy exiting through. She was breathing heavily, her face was slightly blotched with red and beads of sweat. She could tell by the look on her face she was a little less than amused.
"If you have touched her, you'll have more to worry about than what I did to your bosses lackeys at school."
Kenji turned around, a cocky grin on his face, "about time! I was wondering when you were gonna come for your girlfriend."
Vanille blanched audibly. "W-w-w-w-what!"
"Tch," Lightning stepped forward, pushing up the sleeves on her jacket, "let's get this over with then."
X-x-x
"Gh..." Kenji stepped back, wiping blood off of the corner of his mouth, his frown was replaced with a bemused grin. "You're good."
Flexing her hands, knuckles slightly bruised, Lightning grunted her acknowledgment. Throughout the fight she had been shooting weary glances towards the redhead, to make sure she wasn't too hurt. She took this brief pause to steal another glance, it was evident Vanille had been struck once or twice. Something in her burned to make the lanky boy pay for even touching the girl.
"I see the Organization is hiring thugs now."
"You should join us, you could pay off your uncles debts that way." Kenji flexed his right hand slightly and twirled his baton in his left.
"I don't work with scum."
"Ah, right, you plan on being a protector of truth and justice. Good luck with that in this city, sugar." He smirked, "we'll just keep ripping your loved ones out of grip until you have nothing."
"I already have nothing." With lightning speed, she burst forward and brought her knee up to strike him in the stomach, he was quick however and cushioned the blow with his arms, he knocked her back with a hard headbutt that slightly blurred her vision for a second.
A second was all the boy needed, he struck her just about the ear with a round house kick, she stepped back, her balance wavering. She glanced at Vanille's worried face, she did not want to fail the girl, but the boy was indeed a formidable opponent.
X-x-x
Lightning was being treated as a punching bag, Vanille could tell that she was holding back. But why? Was she purposely giving him a handicap? Vanille had seen the ex-athlete drop even the best fighters with one blow, this guy was no better than them.
So why?
Vanille was trying to plead at her with her eyes, she knew the pinknette was stealing glances in her direction just to see if she was fine.
Why aren't you fighting at full potential?
Remus was standing beside her, he grunted an acknowledgment of this fact, "this fight is a bit one-sided. Is this really the demon of Bodhum High School?"
"What's...wrong...?"
"She seems to be holding back, for you."
"Huh?"
"She's a natural born fighter." The spikey haired boy moved his gaze towards the redhead, "perhaps she's scared you'll fear her."
She returned her gaze to the girl who was parrying a barrage of punches. "But...even so...we barely even know each other."
"Sometimes, that's enough." She felt the tight ropes around her loosen, her torso was free, and soon even her hands. She turned to boy, "why?"
"Kenji want's a fight, not a handicap." He smiled slightly, "I like it when Kenji's having fun, he rarely smiles like that. That's why I prefer to watch."
Vanille nodded in slight understanding, she glanced back at the two fighters who were both resting, Kenji stood far from Lightning, a look of confusion and anger on his face. It was evident he was wondering why girl was holding back her punches. Standing from the chair, a new found confidence built in the pit of Vanille's being as she turned an angry glare towards Lightning, though her cheek still stung and she was near to tears of frustration she hollered angrily at the girl, "Lightning, just what are you doing! Get serious! FIGHT!"
X-x-x
The outburst caught both fighters by surprise, Lightning however was the first to recover, and with a new found strength burst forward and landed an uppercut, striking the boy hard under the chin and sending him reeling backwards, she didn't allow him another second before striking him in the stomach and again hard across the face.
He blocked a fourth strike, pushing her back and swinging his baton around to knock her across the head, she brought an arm up and easily blocked the strike, catching the baton mid-flight and reaching around to elbow him in the chest, knocking his air out.
She tackled him to the ground, pinning his body under hers and started a barrage of punches of her own. She landed one final, exhausted punch before dragging herself up from the ground. The boy lay, panting slightly.
Her cold gaze locked onto his gray eyes, he mumbled slightly before shutting his eyes and grunting, a wide grin spreading across his face. "Fun..."
Remus stepped forward to collect his friend from the ground, he gave her a submissive glance to ease her, "I wasn't called here to fight you."
"Your boss will surely have you both killed." She was referring to Vanille's bruised state.
Remus nodded slightly, "Seeing as Kenji betrayed his word of honor, I'm sure there will be some repercussions. But I think you should worry more about your friend."
Lightning sneered, "I wasn't at all worried about the two of you..."
"It's evident. You're no better at pretending than Kenji is." With that, he adjusted his grip on his friend and dragged him out of the warehouse.
Lightning turned to glance at Vanille, who had collapsed back into her chair. "I.."
"You." Vanille glared at her, face red with anger and stained with tears of relief all the same.
"..?" The pinknette was caught by surprise as the girl stood up, marched towards her, and punched her hard on the chest. The blow wasn't much to Lightning, but it still stung slightly.
"Idiot.."
"I'm sorry?"
"Nothing." Vanille shook her head, "you have a lot of explaining to do, and don't give me that 'it's none of your business' crap, because I was just kidnapped from my own home! I'm pretty sure it's my business now, especially if I'm being targeted because of something that you or anyone in your family has done."
"..." Lightning stared at her, long and hard, until it was evident the girl was not going to give in, "okay. We should go back to my place, though. Fang might want to know as well."
X-x-x
"Lightning Farron has defeated Kenji." A tall man stood before the blue haired boy, his dark hair slicked back, he pushed his glasses up slightly. His sharp, hawk-like eyes studied his bosses reaction.
"As expected." He finally muttered, leaning forward in his desk and clasping his hands together, "it's only a matter of time before she comes up here."
"What do you suggest, m'lord?"
"Xenris."
"Yes?" He raised a dark eyebrow. It had been a long time since his boss had called him by his name.
"We're going to call out Steel." He looked up at the man slightly, "that means I need you to get someone to break him out."
Xenris frowned, Steel was a last resort. Surely there was a long line of able warriors before they came to that conclusion. Steel was a tall man, much of a maniac, no one knew his real name, or his place of origin. They just knew he wore steel claws that were often covered in blood. "But surely.."
"Yes, I do have plans before we resort to him. However, I don't expect you to be able to break him out in one day." He stood from his desk and stepped towards the large, ceiling to floor window that gazed out at the dark city, "either way, we need him."
Well that's this chapter, what will Lightning confess to the group? Who is this mysterious young man calling the shots? I think I need to be more creative as far as names go.