A/N: Wow, so I'm sorry that I haven't updated in several months. I have no excuse but I want all of you to know it hangs over my head that I haven't updated this story as much as I promised. I'm trying to work on it and get it done, I'm just lost for how to end it. Any suggestions or reviews would be helpful, and if you're still sticking around after all this I want you to know I appreciate you! Haha. This chapter was written relatively quickly so I apologize beforehand for any mistakes or misunderstandings. Anyways, I hope you all have a good day and enjoy this chapter. (p.s. don't hate me)
-Lebreau's Bar-
Vanille walked into Lebreau's bar to find Yuj already waiting for her at the empty pool tables. No one was with him.
"Hey babe.", he smiled at her sheepishly. His face was severely bruised. One of his black eyes was swollen shut and there was still dry blood under his nose. He looked horrible to say the least.
"Don't call me that." Vanille demanded crossing her arms.
They stared at each other for a few moments after her comment. Vanille decided it would be in her best interest to show up. She'd do anything she could to get Claire back, even if it meant coming back here to Yuj. "Where is everybody?" Vanille wondered aloud as she walked around the pool tables and examined the empty bar.
"They're out looking for Lightning." Yuj replied behind her remaining in his spot with a smile on his face.
Vanille ignored his comment and opened the door next to the lit up stage where they all slept, and found it entirely empty. Yuj remained standing behind her watching her inspect the bar. "It's just me and you Vanille, I told you everyone's gone.", Yuj told the young girl as she continued walking around.
After a quick inspection of the area behind the bar and Lebreau's room, Vanille turned to face Yuj and crossed her arms again.
"What? You think I'm hiding something?", Yuj asked with a smile on his face.
Vanille didn't say anything, but sat down on a bar stool and turned her body around. "Get me a drink Yuj." she demanded.
The boy with the blue hair obliged and quickly strode behind the bar. He began pouring a colorless liquid into a glass and handed it to Vanille.
"Are you giving me another chance?" He asked with hope in his voice.
"No. I came here because you told me I'd see Clare if I did." Vanille replied as she put the glass to her lips and took gulps of the liquor.
Yuj stood there for a little longer watching the girl before him take quiet small sips of her drink. He would smile on occasion, but every time she noticed he was met with a harsh glare.
"You should come back into the room. Who knows when they're gonna get back, and there's a TV back there. We could watch a movie or something." Yuj offered after a while.
Vanille glared at him again. "There's a TV in here too. I didn't come here to be with you Yuj." She added after the glare ended.
He grabbed a stool and swung it around to his end of the bar. He sat down entirely opposite her, pushing his face closer to hers. "Yeah, but you knew I was here Vanille." He whispered inching closer to her lips.
Vanille hated the hesitation she was feeling in the pit of her stomach. She turned her head towards his and felt warm breath tickle her lips. She was about to protest, but the sound of heavy boots against hard floors prevented any words from coming out of her mouth.
"Well, uhm. Sorry guys, didn't mean to uh… interrupt." Lebreau's quiet voice was heard at the entrance of the bar. Vanille quickly snatched her head back and glanced at her. She was glaring at the two of them, but Vanille noticed her arm was wrapped around Claire. She saw her wife was dripping wet. She was also visibly shivering regardless of the number of thick blankets her body was wrapped in. Vanille's heart was jumping in her chest. Claire's eyes were searing into hers from across the floor.
The soldier walked across the bar, closing the distance between her and Vanille. "Come on Lebreau, we should give these two some privacy, huh?" Claire bitterly whispered to Lebreau. Her eyes were glaring intensely at the two as she walked past Vanille and into Lebreau's room behind the bar.
Lebreau remained standing at the entrance with Claire's boots and her red umbrella still in her hand. She looked back and forth repeatedly between Yuj and Vanille. She shook her head and folded her umbrella up after shaking it out.
"Lock up the shop before you get too… wasted." Lebreau demanded after hanging her umbrella up and glaring at Vanille again as she followed Lightning and disappeared into her room.
Vanille cursed herself after the woman disappeared into her room. Then after hanging her head in her hands for a moment, she snapped her eyes up to look at Yuj.
"You knew she was coming." She stated with anger in her voice. Yuj didn't reply, he only sat there for a few more moments looking down at his hands, fiddling with his fingers. Vanille shook her head angrily after a quick scoff. "I can't believe this."
"This was the only way I could think of getting you to talk to me." Yuj admitted looking up at Vanille. Her eyes were away from his, staring at the plain door only feet away from her that lead to Lebreau's room. She desperately wanted to slap Yuj in the face and storm back there. I wonder what I'd find? Vanille somberly questioned herself.
-Lebreau's Bedroom-
"I'm sorry about that Claire. I didn't know they would be here." Lebreau apologized once she got in. She found Claire sitting on her bed still wrapped up in the fluffy blankets. "C'mon get up, I'll get you in the shower.", Lebreau offered walking behind a door in front of her bed leading to her own bathroom. She didn't bother waiting for Claire to follow her as she turned on the faucet in the shower. Cold water began spurting out loudly. Claire walked in behind Lebreau just as she closed the shower curtain.
Lebreau turned around once she heard the soft pat of the other woman's feet against the tile. "It might be a little cold. If you just wait a few more minutes I think it'll be warm enough.", The brunette smiled walking behind Lightning.
"T-t-thanks Lebreau.", Claire stuttered through chattering teeth. She felt the wet blankets sliding off her body slowly. Her heart started thumping when she noticed the way Lebreau was taking her time. Her hand lingered a little too long on Claire's shoulder while she was sliding off another blanket. She could feel the heat radiating off of the body behind her. The slightest hint of a warm breath breezed past her neck sending chills down her already cold body.
"I'm gonna go wash these, and get you a bed set up. Give me your clothes before you get in? Take your time.", Lebreau whispered somewhere close to Lightning's ear as the last blanket slipped from her skin. She continued standing there for a few moments. The sound of the door closing behind her brought her back to reality. She turned her body and leaned back against the counter in the bathroom. Her heart was still pounding in her chest.
The wet clothes clinging to her quickly came off when she realized how tired and cold she still was. She cracked the door to the bathroom open and stuck out her hand. Lebreau's fingers grazed down her arm and over her wrist slowly before taking them away. Claire shut the door quickly, and bit her lip as she walked across the floor to the shower.
Fuck, she's playing games with me. She thought to herself. The tormenting thoughts ended when she stepped into the hot water. Her tense muscles relaxed, and for just a moment her mind was put at ease. Then she remembered Vanille and Yuj in the other room. She came all the way here. She's with him again. Claire squeezed a small amount of shampoo into her hand, and began running her fingers through her hair as she continued angrily thinking about Vanille. Soap and water quietly fell down her body as she continued scrubbing her head.
She jumped when she heard a knock at the door.
"Sweetheart, I got some clothes for you to sleep in." Lebreau announced as she walked into the bathroom.
Claire's heart started pounding again. She let the running water wash out the rest of the soap in her hair as she stood listening to Lebreau's bare feet slide across the floor. Without another word she left, leaving the door slightly ajar behind her.
-Lebreau's Bar-
"Are you planning on staying here tonight?", Yuj asked, twirling a filled shot glass on the counter in front of him. Vanille had moved her spot to the other end of the long bar. She had taken the remaining beverage with her, and was refilling her empty glass the instant it was drained. Lebreau had just came out of her office with a glare plastered to her face holding the dripping wet clothes and blankets that had been on her wife's body only a few moments ago. The idea that Claire was naked in Lebreau's room was frustrating Vanille. She was on the verge of just giving up and leaving.
"Not for you; but yes I am.", She replied without a glance in the young boy's direction. The sound of a tumbling washing machine came to life in the back of the room and Lebreau took a seat down next to Yuj on the other side of the bar.
"Did you have to set this shit up tonight Yuj? C'mon now.", Lebreau complained pulling a mysterious full black bag out from under the counter. Yuj took a strange glance at her holding the bag, but remained silent.
"I didn't come here for him 'breau.", Vanille announced before Yuj had time to reply. She was finally sitting there face to face with the woman who was practically holding her wife hostage.
"Uh, look here girlie, doesn't matter what you came here for. She's not gonna talk to you. Plus it doesn't look so good to either of us finding you just sitting here with this ass.", Lebreau shrugged her shoulders as she explained.
Yuj hung his head again, focusing tremendously hard on the tiles of the floor under his feet. Vanille looking back and forth between him and Lebreau angrily as she heard the shower in Lebreau's room shut off.
"That's my cue.", Lebreau didn't bother saying anything else and disappeared back into her bedroom, locking the door behind her.
Vanille sat there for another moment, biting her lip and debating on bursting in through the door when Yuj finally glanced back up at her.
"Do you want me to go in there and talk to her..?", He questioned staring blankly at Vanille. Her head turned towards him and she finally took a good look at his face since Claire pummeled it in. He looked ghastly, broken, and downright sad. Vanille had her mouth open again preparing for an answer when Yuj's hand slid up to stop her. He gave a weak smile and glanced at the TV for a minute.
"I'll wait a few minutes, just to make sure she's dressed. Then, I'll go in and talk to her.", he promised without a falter in his expression.
Vanille sat there and stared at him in confusion. She couldn't believe that he would want to do something like this for her. She propped her head up on the counter top with her elbows and roughly rubbed her eyes in irritation.
Yuj stood up and gave a weak smile before turning on his heel and sliding his hand on the doorknob to Lebreau's room. Just as his fingertips touched the knob the door swung open revealing Claire. There was a glorious smile on her face, a joint between her plush lips, and electricity pulsing through her dazzling blue eyes. The smile on her face slowly disappeared when she realized Yuj was in front of her. The blunt in her mouth drooped down slightly as she frowned at him.
"Excuse me.", She said curtly as she slid herself past him. The familiar fragrance of Lebreau's body wash and shampoo engulfed his nostrils.
Vanille refused to redirect her attention as she too inhaled Claire's scent, instead grabbed her bottle of liquor and drank straight from it. Without another word Lebreau followed closely behind Claire as they exited the establishment and sat on the porch outside as the storm continued.
-Front Porch-
"Ready for your deployment tomorrow?", Lebreau asked snatching the blunt out of Claire's mouth and putting it in her own.
Claire took a glance behind her through the dark windows and saw her wife down another gulp. "I could use some time away from this place.", She admitted as Lebreau lit the blunt and inhaled ferociously.
"Mmmf. Then maybe this will do you some good soldier.", Lebreau winked as she exhaled the smoke and passed the substance over to Claire. She took it in her hands slowly, letting it continue to burn before taking in a long drag. The ember only inches from her face flared brightly as she inhaled, reflecting brilliantly in her dark eyes.
"Drugs don't solve everything 'Breau.", Claire exhaled. They were both sitting on the covered porch. Claire was the closest to the door, and the light inside reflected miraculously on her porcelain skin. Her pink hair tucked away behind her ear framing her strong jaw line. Lastly, her enchanting lips were parted slightly allowing the smoke to flow through them, forming white haze around her. She sighed wondrously as the rain continued crashing down, then laid down placing her hands behind her head and propping her legs up against the wooden fence that surrounded the entrance.
Lebreau smirked to herself as she placed the joint back in her mouth. She inhaled until her lungs were full then lazily leaned her body over Claire's. The soldier's eyes widened slightly as Lebreau's lips were inching closer and closer to her own. She involuntarily opened her mouth to prepare for a kiss, but instead smoke poured into her mouth through Lebreau's. For what felt like ages Lebreau hung over her mouth, but finally she sat back up and gently slid a finger down Claire's lips.
"There's nothing to solve soldier.", Lebreau teased.
Claire let out a soft groan from the floor as she ran a hand through her still damp hair. Lebreau smirked back as she puffed more smoke through her mouth. Claire remained still as she watched the smoke filter through the air and quickly disappear with the wind. She kept her hand tucked under her head with her fingers still entangled in her hair. Her fiery blue eyes had glossed over as more smoke was exchanged between the two women. Then it hit her. The whole world drifted away from her touch. As her eyes pierced the surrounding area, everything became very surreal. Every nerve she had was buzzing and she could feel the blood pumping throughout her body. Her eyes wandered over to Lebreau, who was still slouching against the door frame to the bar, her legs crossed.
The soldier's blue eyes were practically searing into the other woman's skin. Lebreau gently shifted her head to meet Claire's eyes, and a smirk slowly spread across her face.
"What are you staring at?", Lebreau asked inhaling the last of the weed and flicking the bud into the soaked street.
The instant the remains hit the cement Claire found herself straddled on Lebreau's lap. Her arms were locked around the brunette's neck, and she was tightly biting her lip.
"You.", Claire answered huskily glancing back and forth between Lebreau's eyes and her lips.
Lebreau noticed this immediately and slowly slid her hands up Claire's thighs before resting them on her hips. A smirk crawled up to her face when she saw the soldier's face ease into an almost inaudible moan. Moments later Lebreau found herself entangled in a fierce kiss. Claire's hands had crept up the back of her neck and slid gingerly through her hair before tightly gripping on the soft strands.
Their battle continued for several minutes before Claire began gently grinding her hips into Lebreau's body. Lebreau broke the kiss as she rolled her head back and moaned. Claire took the opportunity to begin sucking on the other girl's neck, leaving dark bruises on either side.
Just then the lights on the inside of the bar flicked off. The brunette had kept her hands resting on Claire's hips up until this point, where she gently pushed her off to glance inside the establishment. Lebreau motioned for Claire to get off and the two stood on the porch staring into the bar. Vanille was no where to be seen but Yuj was still sitting at the counter cleaning up.
"Are you sure you wanna do this?", Lebreau asked turning back to Claire.
The soldier stood there for a moment staring behind Lebreau into the bar. She waited until Yuj disappeared into the back room before she pushed Lebreau up against the door and picked her up. The brunette's legs wrapped tightly around Claire's waist as she pushed the door open. They fumbled quietly through the bar with their lips and tongues battling for dominance, then disappeared for the night into Lebreau's room.
-The Next Morning-
Claire awoke the following day at around 6 to the blaring of Lebreau's alarm. She shot up from the bed and quickly shut the device off with a groan. She had luckily remembered to set an alarm for work before completely passing out last night. A quick glance to her right and she noticed Lebreau's naked body barely wrapped up in her messy sheets. The bartender was facing away from Claire, and the sheets were wrapped around her in such a manner that they perfectly framed her back and exposed nearly every inch of her thighs. A quick glance at the woman revealed bloody scratches going down her back and small bruises here and there. Claire smiled to herself as she recalled the memories of the night before.
She stood up swiftly and glanced at her still naked body in the mirror. There were some hickies covering her collarbone and hips but other than that the solider was unscathed. Without bothering to wake Lebreau the woman speedily dressed herself and disappeared leaving for work.
Upon her arrival she was quickly rushed into the preparation of her mission. The young soldier had already been involved in multiple rescue missions, and fell into the monotony of the arrangement. Her lieutenant glanced her over just before their airship was preparing to depart.
"Are you prepared Sergeant?", He asked sternly, looking back and forth between her and the other soldiers putting the final touches on everything before their departure.
"Yes sir.", Claire replied sternly.
"Now, I'm sure you've already been briefed multiple times but I would like to reiterate that you and your squad are to stay until you've found the young group of men who's signal we picked up.", Amodar reminded the young girl.
"I'm fairly certain we won't be there long sir.", Claire assured the man. With nothing more to discuss she excused herself back to the airship. They were set to departure within the next 5 minutes, and as she sat down on the ship with her fellow soldiers she put herself in the correct mindset for this mission. There are to be no distractions. Focus on your mission. She repeated the phrase over and over again in her head until she heard the loud whir of the engines and found herself up in the air.