The flight hadn't been as quick as Lightning had wanted it to be. A few hours worth of listening to crying children, their neglectful mothers who seemingly enjoyed the noise emanating from their child, passengers wondering if they were 'going to be bombed', some requesting to not be seated by anyone other than a Caucasian skin tone, and more nonsense about peanuts. If ever there was an appropriate time for irritated eye twitches, it was now. Her frustration also hadn't allowed Lightning any sleep on the flight, and her impatience to get off right when they landed was at its peak. And while she may not have had the aisle seat, she was the first to leave of her and the person sitting beside her.
Switching her phone off airplane mode, she practically shoved her way through the crowd of passengers exiting the plane. Some scoffed at her, saying that she was a 'rude woman', and Lightning sent one of the glares she had saved specifically for Snow back on Cocoon- they instantly shut up and averted eye contact. While time may have taught her patience airplanes, sadly, had not. If only she had brought a carry on as opposed to a bag- she could have been out that much sooner.
Hey, are you there, yet? 11:02 pm
Right on schedule, Hope had sent her a text. Sighing gratefully of relief, Lightning instantly began her response.
Just got in...how are things there?
Everytime she saw the '...' on his end start up, stop, and repeat the process, her gnawing impatience came back. Lightning almost wanted to type up an essay of the things that had annoyed on the flight, but Hope didn't need to hear her rants right now. Hopefully he'd call, that way she could really relay her irritation better. Somethings really just didn't translate well through text.
Pretty okay, I guess. I've gotta say- I never really knew how lonely this place could feel. Well, it never actually felt lonely, until I got used to you staying here. I'm uh...just saying that...I miss you.
Lightning smiled, she really needed to hear that right now. About to type her reply, she was interrupted by a call from Serah. Swiping the screen she gratefully answered the call, "Hello?"
"Glad I caught ya. So, where are you at, sis?" Snow asked, she could hear lots of background noise. It was clear he had been waiting at the airport, for how long, she didn't exactly know.
"At the baggage claim. Hoping that on top of it all, they didn't manage to lose my bag." Lightning watched it rotate, willing her bag to fall out and end up in front of her right then and there.
"Gotcha. I'm on my way." Snow hung the phone, and a few minutes later was right beside Lightning. "Hey, manage to find it yet?"
"No such luck." Lightning frowned.
"Hey, what's with such the long face? Don't tell me you're already bummed out to be seein' me?" Snow asked with a grin, "C'mon gimme a hug, y'know you wanna." he opened his arms wide.
"Is it mandatory?" Lightning asked, it wasn't fair of her to take out frustrations on Snow. But old habits evidently died hard.
"I could make you do it." Snow said teasingly.
"You wouldn't." Lightning dared him to do as he'd gently 'threatened'. It wasn't a threat per se, but she was just cranky so anything could have provoked her at this point.
"I think we both know I would." Snow wasn't deterred at all by her mood, Lightning was always usually like this. And while he was absolutely no substitute for Serah, he wanted to try and cheer her up.
Lightning didn't bother to argue, she didn't have the patience. Stepping forward, she hugged Snow. Some of her stress melted away, but she couldn't enjoy the gesture to its maximum potential. Being on the receiving end of these things, she was used to Hope doing it fairly often. He just...always had a way about them. Snow's scent was a disappointment to Lightning, she was used to smelling Hope's distinct smell of soap, deodorant and cologne. Shutting her eyes, she imagined it was Hope, which caused her to hug a little bit tighter than she should have.
"Didn't think you'd be that happy to see me." Snow chuckled, "Missed you too, sis."
"It's...been a long day." Lightning said, a tad bit embarrassed, she stepped out of the gesture. "But I am glad to see you. It's been a long time."
"While I can't say the same, mainly 'cause I haven't been stuck in all of this nonsense you've been dealing with for the past 5 hours...I gotta say, I'd be less than chipper too." he paused in between his response, "Yeah, it really has." Snow nodded in agreement, "Far too long. We really need to catch up."
"I'd love to, I really would...but I'd just like to go to bed." Lightning sighed, "Think Serah'll be disappointed?" she asked.
"Oh, definitely." Snow nodded, he didn't even have to think on that one. Lightning shot him a look, and he raised his hands in defeat. "I'm just saying that, well, you know...she really was looking forward to this..." he scratched the back of his head. "So was I, actually."
"Are you getting all sappy on me?" Lightning asked, finally seeing her bag.
"Not at all!" Snow laughed, "It's just...nice and all, seeing ya again."
"Ditto." Lightning agreed, grabbing her suitcase. "Now how about we get Serah in on the reunion?"
"You got it." Snow nodded, "C'mon." he motioned for her to follow him, the big guy easily getting crowds to separate for the two of them to make their way through. Lightning was grateful to have her brother-to-be leading the way. She honestly didn't have the energy reserves to deal with others right now, and Snow seemed on a mission to get her back to Serah. A few minutes of shuffling through the airport, they finally arrived outside and to the car.
"So, why couldn't this sister of mine tag along?" Lightning asked.
"There's a reason for that, just...trust me, alright?" Snow winked, opening the car door for Lightning to climb in. "Don't worry about the bag, I'll put it in the back."
"A reason." Lightning wondered just what that could be. "Thanks."
Snow nodded, shutting the door for her and placing her suitcase in the back of the car. Making his way to the drivers seat, he climbed in. "So, this guy in your life- what's he like?" he was genuinely curious on the matter. Lightning resisted the eye roll she felt coming on, Snow was grinning ear to ear, and she couldn't help a small smile.
"I'm going to say this only once-" Lightning paused, glancing over at Snow, "-since I can only assume that you're going to be relentless on this subject, and no matter how many times I say 'don't ask', you will, in fact, keep asking me about him. 20 questions, got it?" she asked, waiting for confirmation on Snow's part.
"Sure." Snow nodded, "Can't say Serah'll end up playing nice on the whole guy thing, though." he gave Lightning fair warning.
"I know that." Lightning would have many questions from Serah, and so few answers she'd actually be willing to share.
"What's his name?" Snow went right for the obvious question Lightning had been expecting.
"Cool it hotshot." Lightning frowned, "You know what's off the table."
"Fine. Can't blame a guy for trying, you know?" Snow pointed out, "Alright, let's see..." he was trying to think of the perfect question to ask Lightning. "Do you two live together?" that question had previously been 'off the table' when he'd asked, maybe now it wouldn't be such a hot subject.
"Yes." Lightning could practically hear Snow's breath hitch, and the car had veered off for a second.
"Whoa! Really?" Snow wasn't prepared for that answer.
"You now only have 18 questions left." Lightning
"Quit bein' so stingy." Snow was really starting to enjoy their banter, it felt just like old times. Lightning always had this way about her, that made you miss her company, no matter how she treated you. Truth be told, he never really felt that she was a 'cold' person- she just took a while to warm up to people, but once she did, you got to know the real her. And that made the whole experience worthwhile. "Older or younger?"
"Younger." Lightning could tell he was also surprised by that answer.
"Now, I wanna ask how big the age difference is- but I think that's a waste of a question." Snow thought aloud, "Let's see..." tapping his fingers on the steering wheel, he tried to think. "How'd you two get together?"
"The long or the short version?" Lightning asked.
"Whichever you prefer." Snow shrugged, she wasn't at liberty to tell him anything, and if she felt comfortable enough to do it in this form, then he wouldn't press her any further.
"I had just quit desk job at a large corporation, and I was having a pretty terrible day. This person in question had become sort of like my life line, to be honest...he'd call me during lunch hours, or I'd call him and though he wasn't supposed to he'd be on the phone during his job. I don't know why I find myself drawn to dead-end jobs I can't ever seeing myself going anywhere at, but I want to keep trying." Lightning found herself going off on a small tangent and caught herself. "That day I was called into my bosses office, I thought I was being fired- he surprised me by saying I had been up for a promotion. I ended up quitting, he seemed surprised by that fact. Wandering out of the building, I found myself walking to the train station." she paused for a moment, "Before I knew it- I bought a ticket to go and see him. And I may not have been able to admit it, or consciously think it back then, but it made me really happy to go and see him. The mere thought of seeing him offered me a great form of reprieve."
"Sounds like your not so typical run of the mill guy." Snow commented, "Sorry to interrupt."
"It doesn't matter." Lightning monopolized on the short opportunity to think more of that day. "When I made it to his apartment, he was ready for me to be there. It wasn't tidied up, or romanticized- he just...somehow knew I'd be by." she smiled a bit, "And while we didn't have any fancy dinner out in a restaurant, and neither of us are five star chefs in the kitchen- we had a decent meal." Lightning fibbed a bit on that part, she didn't like his convenience store meals, they just had such a strange taste to them.
"Y'know it's not always about that kinda thing. If it's the right person, then it doesn't matter where the setting is, or...the food and small details like that- it's the company you keep." Snow heard how well she talked of this guy, and Lightning seemed totally into him. "If he's the one you go runnin' to when you need comfort, then that's all that matters, right?"
"Maybe." Lightning agreed, "Do you want to know the rest of that night?" she asked.
"There's more?" Snow raised a brow, glancing over at her quickly while they were stopped.
"Always." Lightning teased, "It'll cost you another question."
"No argument here." Snow shrugged, "This is...getting interesting."
"I'm not sure what it all was exactly, but I came on to him." Lightning admitted, "I won't say that it was because we'd been drinking, but I just...felt like it was the right thing to do."
"And what'd he do?" Snow asked, keeping his tone completely serious. He didn't want to screw up the moment, Lightning was opening up pretty big with him and he wanted to make sure she knew he was a guy to be counted on in these kinds of situations.
"He was surprised at my behavior- and so was I. But that wasn't the end of our night, I took him back to his room, and, you can probably guess the rest." Lightning looked out the car window, just in case Snow shot her some short of childish grin or decided to make fun of her.
"Sounds like something mighta been building up for a while then, you know?" Snow asked, "I mean, these things don't typically just 'happen' like that. You said you didn't consciously think about those kinds of things, so maybe, deep down, you knew there was 'something' there- and maybe he did too."
"We talked it over, the next morning, sorting things out. He made some very valid points, and I tried to let him know that our friendship wouldn't be on the line just because of what happened." Lightning sighed, "I probably could have used you there to mediate between us. We clearly had no idea what we were getting ourselves into."
"Gonna tell me who them mystery man is?" Snow asked, trying to lighten up the mood.
"Now's not the time." Lightning shook her head, "I'm not sure when the right time would actually come up."
"So long as I know there is a 'time' when you wanna fill me in, then I don't mind waiting."
"I'd like to tell you, I really would, but I'd need his permission. And what with the wedding and all, I don't think it's the right time. It's yours and Serah's time, I have no business taking away from that."
"You wouldn't be taking away from anything, you deserve to be happy, you do know that, right?"
"I know. But my little sister comes first." that was one thing she'd be stubborn over for the rest of her life. Serah would come first- and there was no debating that.
"Sometimes Lightning can come first too." Snow chided her, "We're here." he announced, parking the car.
"That didn't take too long." maybe it was because of their long talk, because it seemed to have taken no time at all.
"I can't end up monopolizing all of your time." Snow joked, making his way to Lightning's door to let her out.
"It was a nice chat." Lightning grabbed her bag, and followed Snow inside. At first glance, it was a very large house for just the two of them, but it was really spectacular. Stepping through the front doors, Lightning saw decorations reminiscent of Pulse/Cocoon and a bit of inspiration from Valhalla. A statue of Mog lingered in the doorway, it looked really uncanny to the moogle. Looking at it, she had to wonder if in death they'd be able to meet again in the unseen realm. Odin would be glad to see her again, Mog probably would as well. Though it may be a selfish thought, she'd try to stay in the unseen realm for as long as possible, to 'visit' her friends- the Eidolons. When your soul was to be reborn, your memories were wiped clean and you were able to start completely anew.
But Lightning didn't want to forget her past.
"You comin'?" Snow asked, he couldn't help but to notice the fact that Lightning was totally zoned out in front of the moogle statue. Maybe it sparked some sort of old memories. Lightning didn't even respond, so he decided to go and grab Serah. It'd be nice to have Serah surprise Lightning for a change of pace. Making his way upstairs, he wasted no time in getting Serah.
"Where's Lightning?" Serah expectantly looked behind Snow to see if her sister was hidden behind the large man, to her immediate disappointment her sister wasn't in sight.
"Downstairs." Snow explained, "Waitin' just for you."
"Okay." Serah moved past Snow, running down the stairs to find her sister, still staring at the statue. "Lightning!"
Lightning turned her head to see Serah, "It's been a long time." she smiled at her sister.
Serah ran over to Lightning and hugged her sister tightly. "Yeah, it really has."
"Don't start crying on me now." Lightning laughed a bit, hugging Serah back. She could see Snow smiling at the pair, and motioned for him to come over too. Snow accepted her offer and hugged both women, it was sweet just to see the sisters reunited again, let alone him joining in the festivities.
"I'm not crying!" Serah insisted, "And if I am- it's only because I'm just so...so happy."
"I'm happy too." Lightning admitted, "Now how about we all let go and I can go get some rest?" she asked.
"You're going to bed?" Serah asked, disappointed at Lightning's statement, "But you just got here!"
"I know that- but I was also stranded for several hours on a plane with obnoxious people. It's like...how we used to think of Pulse as hell when we lived on Cocoon." Lightning saw Serah pout at her, and knew that she'd have to cave.
Snow would have chimed in, but it seemed just like a 'Farron' thing they'd need to work out. Plus, it was funny to watch Serah get Lightning to do as she wanted. He'd never seen Serah do it before, and this was getting to be precious.
"Are you really that tired?" Serah asked.
Lightning sighed softly, "Got any coffee?" she asked Snow.
"Oddly enough, yes." Snow nodded.
"Good. Looks like it'll be a long night." Lightning felt her phone buzz, and decided to check it. That is, before Serah decided to snoop over her shoulder. "Can I help you?"
"Come on Lightning! Who is it? Is it your boyfriend?" Serah asked, still trying to see who texted Lightning.
"And what if it was?" Lightning asked, sliding her phone back into her pocket. She'd just have to find a good spot to sit so she could reply to Hope and let him know that she'd gotten in safely and answer the billion other questions he had waiting for her.
"You can't just put it out there like that, then not give me anything to go by." Serah really wanted to know who Lightning was dating. But Lightning was being so evasive in answering any of her questions. Was he really someone that she didn't want Serah to meet, let alone know about? Was Lightning ashamed to be with him?
"I just played the Q&A with Snow." Lightning hoped that would get Serah a little more on his case than hers. "Come on, let's go upstairs." she looked at her suitcase, but decided against bringing the heavy bag up with her right now. Serah followed Lightning up and sat on the couch, Lightning decided on the arm chair directly opposite the couch. There was no mirrored surfaces near it, so she could text Hope in peace without Serah getting a look at what she was saying. After all, how could she just come out and say she was dating Hope?
"Here ya go." Snow placed a cup in front of Lightning, "I didn't wanna guess what you take in it, so here's a bit of everything." he put creamer, milk and sugar in front of her. Snow sat beside Serah, wondering what bits of the conversation he'd missed out on.
"Thanks." Lightning didn't prefer to use milk or creamer, she found it didn't really have any purpose outside of diluting the caffeine. And right now, all she needed was caffeine. Adding in a teaspoon of sugar, it was just the right amount of sweetness for her. Waiting for Serah to start questioning her, she checked the last text between her and Hope, it had been a while since she replied to him.
Just got in to Serah's place. Shouldn't you be asleep?
"So, what's he like?" Serah asked.
Seeing that Hope was busy replying to her, she decided to use the situation to her advantage; answer her sister's questions and not dwell on the fact that Hope may be missing work due to her again. Or at the very least interrupting his life schedule for her. "Dependable." seeing that wasn't the answer Serah wanted, she decided to follow up. "He's...everything I didn't know I wanted in a person. Someone that I found I could rely on time and again, that was willing to help me out, regardless of how I treated him. Little by little, he wore me down, and...I wouldn't have it any other way. I found myself changing, and not just because of him or for him- but he made me a better person, just by being by my side. Maybe I was just dense about what was happening, there had to be some sort of key element that led to us being together."
"He sounds like...someone really special." Serah smiled, seeing Lightning speak so fondly of this person. He seemed to really make Lightning happy, and what more could Serah hope for? The idea of her having found someone just like the way she saw Snow was too perfect. Leaning her head on his shoulder, she wondered what else to ask. Was there anything else?
Lightning's phone vibrated and she checked it again.
Classes were cancelled for tomorrow, so I actually end up with a free day. Ironic, huh? Would have been nice to find out about that earlier.
Holding her head in her hands, Lightning couldn't help but to smile a bit. She knew that Hope was probably mentally kicking himself over the fact that he 'could have come', but that still wouldn't have been the case. Coming just for two days, then leaving? Snow and Serah finding out, then she being left to deal with them hassling her over it?
What are you going to do on your rare day off? Clean up what mess I assume you've made in my less than a days absence?
"So it is him texting you!" Serah couldn't fend off her excitement over the matter.
"Let Light have at least some privacy, Serah. Plus, you gotta remember that she'll be bringin' along her guy to the wedding, anyway. So it's not as if we'll never see or meet him." Snow chided her.
"You're right..." Serah sighed a bit, "I'm just...so excited for Lightning!" she smiled apologetically to her sister, "I'm so sorry if I'm being nosy or unreasonable."
"Ask all the questions you want to ask." Lightning didn't hesitate, "That goes for you too." she told Snow.
Not much of a mess- I promise! I'm just a bit tired from the day, so I'll have it all done by tomorrow.
Lightning scoffed at his text, Well if you're so 'tired' then how about going to bed?
"I don't know what's more interesting- us all talking about you and your guy or seeing you talk to your guy." Snow laughed, seeing her facial expressions while texting him were very comical.
Serah laughed with him, "Maybe he's...funny?" she suggested.
"I just let him know that I expect the apartment not to be rundown by the time I get back." Lightning said, she didn't mind giving them bits and pieces of the conversation.
"Ah, so he's a bit of a slob? Bet he's no match for the older Farron sister." Snow winked.
"Well, if I get back to a dirty apartment, he can expect some divine wrath." Lightning joked. She honestly wouldn't be angry if Hope let the apartment get a bit dirty. It was understandable, he had such a fast-paced life and was barely home to begin with, so he didn't always have time to clean up after himself.
I don't want to. I'd rather be talking to you.
That one had Lightning averting her eyes for a moment, sometimes Hope said really romantic things, even if he didn't mean to. Truth be told, she'd rather be talking to him right now, too. It wasn't that Serah and Snow weren't great company, it was just that they were both playing 'catch up' to her relationship with Hope. Although it was a pain to keep it a secret, it'd be easier in the long run.
I'm so tired I feel like I'm going to fall over. Caffeine isn't even helping the situation.
"He can't be that bad, can he?" Serah asked, she didn't think Lightning would be with a slob.
"No. It's nothing really major, he just sometimes forgets to throw some things away, and it's no big deal. He has a job that keeps him really busy, and when he's home which is sometimes pretty rare- he just doesn't have the time." Hope would sometimes be back, with barely any energy at all. Sometimes, he'd fall asleep right then and there. It made her worry, seeing him just keel over and not move for a few hours. At the very least he wouldn't have moved, had she not put him in his room.
I know exactly how you feel. That's like me, right now. I can barely keep my eyes open, but I don't want to miss a response from you. Sorry if I don't respond, that just means I lost the battle.
"What kinda stuff does he do?" Snow asked curiously.
"He's a teacher." Lightning didn't know how to rephrase that any better.
"And it keeps him that busy?" Serah asked, "What kind of teaching does he do?" she was a teacher as well, but it didn't keep her that busy.
"He works at a University, so it's not the same kind of work that you do, Serah. He takes on graduate students, TA's, makes his own tests, sometimes, he'll talk a mile a minute and I can barely keep up with what he has to say. Although he will assure me that it's not because I'm not as smart as he is, just that it's because he's had more practice and what he's been doing." Hope was always so enthusiastic about his work, and she loved to hear him speak about it. But talking about atoms, cultures and such, she didn't know what he meant. One of these days, she'd need to go into his lab and see what he meant. At least that way he'd know she tried to meet him halfway.
Looks like this is a fight we'll both be losing.
"Seems like the guy really likes his work." Snow could see how that was completely different from Serah's work. Serah taught elementary school children, and if this guy was dealing with adults all day long, then he must have been doing some complex things.
"I've never heard someone be so enthusiastic about one thing before. Well, except for you, I guess." Lightning yawned, she was getting too tired to banter.
"Sounds like a good man." Snow laughed, "Serah, I think we gotta let the woman sleep."
"I think so too." Serah agreed, "Lightning, your room is just down the hall, if you wanna go."
"Thanks." Lightning stood up, "How about we pick things up tomorrow?" she suggested, hearing 'yes' from both as she went into the bedroom, gratefully falling onto the bed. Rather than reading Hopes text to her, she decided to shortly call him.
"Light?" Hope wasted no time in picking up the phone, his sleeping voice ringing through.
"You sound tired." Lightning yawned, trying to make it as soundless as possible.
"So do you." Hope laughed a bit. "How'd it go with Serah and Snow?"
"Pretty well, actually." Lightning shut her eyes, just listening to his voice. "I may fall asleep."
"Me too." Hope agreed, "How was your flight?"
"Long." Lightning knew that it wouldn't be long before she fell asleep. Her senses were starting to dull, and fighting sleep was no longer a viable option. She heard Hope's voice vaguely in the background, but all she could offer in response was a small grunt.
Hope couldn't resist a small smile, he hit the "End" button on his phone, and texted Lightning quickly. Laying on her side of the bed, he remembered her saying something about 'his scent', but he found hers to be much more pleasant.