Vanille's PoV:
Following our picnic in the Garden, Lightning and I trudged back to the Estate. Our silence was comfortable, though inside, my thoughts were whiplashing.
One moment, I saw Lightning as my guardian . . . and occasionally, my friend. The next, my pathetic grasp on our relationship was lost—vanished. Gone.
Lightning's PoV:
The Villa appeared from a short distance away. I loosely held the picnic basket as I steadied my strides with Vanille's.
Vanillle . . .
Back in the Garden, there was this moment when she said everything with her eyes.
She was probably just concerned . . . I did fall pretty hard.
Vanille's PoV:
She opened the door for me, allowing me to enter first. Gestures like that . . .
You're not making this easy for me.
"Thank you," I whispered.
Lightning shut the door behind us, as Yarika, the head maiden, came bustling into the foyer, "Milady, Milady! You have a visitor!" she exclaimed, bowing respectfully.
A visitor?
Face solidified, Lightning interjected, "Who?" She stepped in front of me, using her protective arm as a barrier.
"Forgive me, Captain. I didn't mean to alarm you. Senator Fang is here to see her fiancée," Yarika responded.
My hand flew to my chest. Lub dub, lub dub, lub dub. The heartbeat was escaping me.
No, no, no, no, no, no, no. Not here. Not now.
Fang resided in Academia, the capitol. I hadn't seen her in nearly 2 months—and for good reason.
"Milady," Lightning snapped me from my reverie. "We shouldn't keep her waiting."
I detected the subtlety of Lightning's hurt. To make matters worse, Fang appeared before us in the elegant room that I'd woken to when first arriving here.
I tried my best to stop my ragged breathing and sudden hot flashes. I didn't want my fear to seem so blatantly obvious, because Lightning would have came to my defense, and I refused to bring her into this situation.
What situation, you might ask?
"Vanille!" Fang exclaimed as she jogged to me. She wrapped her hands around my waist and lifted me from the floor.
Fang.
The material of her shirt was soft. Her apparel looked oddly similar to Lightning's, except Fang's garments were sinister and dark. With reluctance, I hugged her back, resting my hands on her shoulders.
How dare you touch me.
Lightning's PoV:
The most I could do was stand there and watch as Fang grabbed Vanille's jaw and pulled her into a kiss. I could've sworn I saw Vanille shudder. Adrenaline surged through me.
It's not like Vanille's mine. I have no reason to feel—
"—Lightning better be taking good care of ya', or I'll be sure to take good care o' her!" Fang said smugly.
I growled.
Oh really, Fang? Care to take this outside?
Was I missing something here? Vanille was trembling, or was it just my imagination? I felt hot. My instinct compelled me, urged me, to challenge Fang, but my rationality insisted that I was being foolish.
She's probably shaking because she's . . . happy to see her. Right?
"Lightning," Vanille beckoned softly.
She almost pushed herself out of Fang's arms to face me, "Could you give us a moment? Please, just a moment—"
Just as Vanille finished her sentence, Fang's hungry lips came crashing down hers. Vanille squeaked at the suddenness. I would've done something, but I needed Vanillle to say the words. I couldn't just attack a senator without just cause.
Good god, why is she so rough with her?
My blood was boiling, and my jaw was aching from how tightly it was clenched. I couldn't help but feel enraged at the thought of Fang doing this on purpose. Still tightly lip-locked with Vanille, Fang 'shooed' me away with the back of her hand. I smirked. I refused to let this idiot get to me, so I swallowed my pride and left.
Vanille's PoV:
I didn't move. I couldn't move.
Is she . . . using her powers again?
A rush of fear . . . anxiety . . . and feelings of discomfort I'd forgotten in our time apart came flooding in again.
"What's wrong?" she asked, pulling away with a confused face. I have trained myself to see the darkness in her fake concerns.
You know exactly what's wrong, but I'll play your game. Just . . . stay away from Lightning.
I chortled slightly before shaking my head and replying, "Nothing—it's nothing. I'm just tired."
Lie. It was such a lie.
"Well, cheer up. Once this mess is over, you and I will be married." Fang said with an imperious grin.
She turned and strode to the nearest window.
"How've ya' been? Lightning's been all right?" she asked firmly.
A few months ago, I would've said that I adored this part about Fang . . . I would've said how she was caring and protective. But I knew better now . . . I knew the difference between protective and possessive.
Lightning makes me feel protected. She's different . . . she's gentle . . . I miss that feeling.
"Lightning has been very polite," I quickly responded.
I gave a counterfeit smile as Fang faced me with her hands behind her back.
"I've been thinking that . . . perhaps I should take off work and protect you myself," Fang stated it as if it were a fact and not a possibility.
The anxiety returned. I couldn't be alone with Fang. No, I couldn't. No, no! Please no!
I panicked. "That won't be necessary," I blurted out much ruder than I intended.
"Oh—it won't?" Fang replied, rather offended. Her eyes. Oh, no, not her eyes! Not the crimson!
"No, dear!" I winced. I had to be quick and apologetic. I had to make Fang believe that we were okay, even though we weren't. "I just meant that Lightning does her job well. Besides, they need you in Academia," I laughed nervously, hoping she would buy it.
There was a battle going on inside my head. It took everything in me not to scream for help. Of course, I knew I couldn't. I had to be brave. I wouldn't let Fang hurt anyone on my behalf.
I could've sworn I saw her smirk. She knew. She damn well knew that I was afraid of her. How could she laugh while I could only tremble? How could she be amused when I could only be frightened? She wasn't the Fang I knew and loved anymore. She was a monster.
"Fair enough," Fang said. Her red eyes returned to their normal obsidian color. "I was gonna' stay tonight, but since Lightning's doing her job so well, you don't need me, do ya'?" She taunted.
I could endure any of Fang's cruelty. Her words were empty to me anyway, but I would never stand to tolerate her mocking Lightning. At that moment, it finally occurred to me that Fang was half the person Lightning was. Instead of adding to my fear, I became angry.
"Leave her alone," I instructed coldly.
I couldn't remember the last time that I had stood up to Fang, and the same idea seemed to occur to her too, for she had this moment of temporary confusion. 'Did Vanille really just talk back to me?'
"I'll escort myself out. Be careful, dear," Fang cleared her throat, roughly kissed my hand, and gave me a final smug look as she stormed out of the elegant room, down the hallway, into the foyer, and out of the door.
I exhaled a stale volume of air. It felt like I hadn't breathed in several minutes, and then, a wave of emotion overthrew me. I touched my fingers to my cheeks. Wet. I wasn't sure why I cried, but I knew that every fallen tear were feelings for Fang I'd rid myself of.
I shielded my eyes with a shaky hand.
Where is she? I need her.
Lightning's PoV:
Yarika came bursting into my office in such an abrupt manner, I reached for my sword but immediately restrained having recognized her.
"Captain Farron, I think Vanille has been upset. Go to her! She's in the same room."
I was out before she finished her sentence. I dashed down the ornamented hallway—right back to Vanille.
"Milady, are you alright?" I inquired, hesitant to touch her, allowing distance between us.
Her beautiful face glistened with tears, and her hands clasped together at chin-height. She opened her glossy eyes to look at me.
"Lightning, I—I—"
"Shh. Vanille, relax. Where'd she go?" I finished coldly.
"She—she left. I really don't know why I'm crying," Vanille replied, weeping a little harder.
"What can I do?" I offered sincerely.
It's torture to see her like this.
Vanille shook her head. The flow of tears quickened. Her breathing went rugged. I felt torn and unsure of what to do, what to think, or even the right comfort I could provide for her.
I lowered my eyes. I couldn't face the grieving girl.
I can't do anything.
Without warning, Vanille was clutching to me. Her feet were between mine, allowing our bodies no space. Her small hands were on my chest, clinging to the loose fabric of my outfit. Her head was tucked perfectly under my chin.
Should I hold her? Is that even appropriate? Wait, I'm not debating this . . . If it's wrong, I don't give a damn.
I wrapped my arms around her fragile, lithe frame. My hands covered the small of her back, where I rubbed it soothingly. I continued letting her cry on me.
Vanille's PoV:
Up until this point, I never considered my crush on Lightning significant, but now . . .
I clutched onto her tunic even tighter, like I was terrified of letting go.
To allow myself these feelings would be putting her life in danger. I can't . . . but I need her.
Her arms felt so strong at a time when my legs felt so weak, my lungs felt weaker, and my heart felt the weakest.
Damn it all.
When Lightning held me closer, I melted. Her shirt was wrapped firmly between my fingers. Still teary-eyed, I removed my head from Lightning's shoulder. Biting my lip, I looked at her, and she looked at me.
We don't like to share. We are animals when we feel threatened about losing what is ours, and just like animals, we kill. Would it be selfish of me to say that I didn't want to be Fang's property anymore; I wanted to be Lightning's lover.
My biggest resentment was that I had to even ask such a question.
Lightning's PoV:
Does she want me to kiss her? I could've sworn she did.
But should I kiss her?
I can't. She's engaged, and she's vulnerable. I can't be taking advantage of her like that.
Her hands released their grip on my shirt. They now rested on my arms. She squeezed them gently, while maintaining contact eye contact with her shimmering, green orbs.
Funny—wehaven't even uttered a word to each other.
I wanted to tell her how I felt, but I couldn't push myself to do so. Instinct took over. My resolve was to plant a kiss on her forehead. My lips lingered before I slowly pulled away to see her reaction.
Unexpectedly, she pulled back—I let her go. Vanille wiped her eyes, cleared her nose, and left the room. I didn't even watch her leave. I sighed.
What the hell does she want from me?