A/N: In the Paying it Forward Universe, Citra, Snow & Lasswell have a plan of sorts when they deal with homophobes in the presence of the Sebusai couple... and Caius comes to the rescue. Please note this is written in July but is focused on Pride Month. Focus pairings: Sebusai & Lasswell/Citra (both pairs: married)
Citra and Her Death Stare
"Again with these fucking doucebags...?!" Citra bitches to Caius for what seems to be the millionth time this week while enjoying a quiet lunch, when the duo - complete with Lasswell and one Snow Villiers - overhear the homophobia, some of which being directed at the Sebusai couple, who were at a nearby table with their family. Snow was trying to avoid a Farron level migraine, although it was too late for Lasswell and Caius both, the former needing to take some migraine specific medicine thanks to the younger Yun-Farron child inheriting the migraines Lightning is known to have. Fortunately for Caius, he had a brand of what Lasswell takes to treat said migraines, which Lasswell was grateful for, if anything in Snow's eyes. Speaking of the giant oaf, Snow, offered Citra a fist bump, knowing that is what Lightning and Fang would have said, with the latter resorting to violence and the former using far more colourful language as retaliation. Citra, being... well, Citra... she returned the fist bump, making both Lasswell and Caius proud. She may be one of the 'boys' in some aspects, she takes her sister relationship with Seven and Sice VERY seriously, and that matters to me the most... Lasswell happily mused to himself, which reminded him why he married her in the first place. Citra's younger sister Sakura would've done the same and then some if she was hanging out with the group.
The small group, complete with Caius' daughter Yeul, continue their lunch gathering - that Lightning had paid for in advance as a birthday present to Caius - with small talk and whatever have you, as they try their best to not get themselves involved with the mess that the Sebusai couple was actively trying to avoid. It was after the Sebusai couple, and their family, were done with their meal, that Citra had an idea brewing as to how to get even with the homophobic pricks that involved a technique that, oddly enough, one Claire 'Lightning' Yun-Farron taught which Lapis native perfect quicker than Lightning's namesake, the same technique that terrified everyone in the Yun-Farron household that wasn't the older Farron sister to no end. Even Snow and Serah were scared shitless of it. Granted, Caius and Yeul never saw the technique in question, but if anything can be said about Citra, it's that father and daughter knew to trust Citra's judgment. Seven calls you Lassbrat, Lasswell, and you picked one hell of a lass to marry when it comes to Citra... Lady Luck blessed you VERY well with her. Citra's loyalty to you and your family knows no bounds. Light is so proud of you... Caius thought to himself with nothing but gratitude. He knows Lightning well enough; Lightning and Fang didn't raise two dipshidiots (Sice's words here about Seven and Lasswell).
Moments later, the homophobes gave the Sebusai couple - and their young son - chase after Sice decked two of them to the floor, forcing the hands of Citra, Yeul, Caius, Lasswell & Snow. The small group knew trouble was brewing, and unless they thought fast, at least one of them between the Sebusai family would have gotten hurt. It was, of all people, Caius who came up with an idea, and the look he gave Citra was all it took to implement the technique others were scared shitless of. The major question was how Snow, Lasswell, Yeul & Caius do their part to help the Sebusai couple in this clusterfuck of a mess.
In Citra's eyes, you mess with the Sebusai couple, you mess with her, and that was final.
XXX
Seven was having some trouble getting Lasswell Jr. to his stroller when the homophobes charged at her and Sice post the latter decking two of them to the floor with a very solid punch (the white-haired lass was having a shitty day according to Seven). The pair didn't have enough time to react, but the blows they were to receive never game, something that Sice was the first one to take note of between her and Seven. What or who was in front of them - blocked from Seven's vision - that prevented them from getting hurt was a miracle that both Etro and Lady Luck wouldn't be fast enough to come up with on their own without human assistance. It was Sice who got a decent view of Citra's back... and it was the white-haired lass who was able to put two & two together on what her sister-in-law is up to...without lifting a single finger. As soon as Seven was able to make out what Sice was mouthing to her, it clicked. Citra and her death stare... to stop those homophobic pricks from hurting us... who would've guessed, the sister-in-law saving everyone's arses this time, not just mine and not just Sice's. Lassbrat, you picked a real gem for your wife... the silver-haired lass thought to herself in pure amusement, knowing it was the same exact death stare that scares everyone who sees it.
What made this instance far more amusing was that Citra wasn't the only one giving out the death stare... Caius, Lasswell, Snow AND Yeul were all giving the death stare to the homophobes. Strength in numbers is just as important as the impact of one lone action... Caius reminded Citra. With Caius recently coming out as demisexual, people who are part of the LGBT+ Community have a special place in his heart. People like the Yun-Farron family helped him open his heart all those years ago when they were living in Neo Oerba, when Seven and Lasswell were kids and Caius even rode on Seven's beloved horse Odin. For Caius, this was his way to let the Sebusai couple know he has their back. When Seven came out as a lesbian to her parents and Lasswell, it was the latter who blurted out two words: I knew, followed by that he is proud to be her little brother and was wanting her to get with Sice for some time before they became official. Before they met face to face, Seven claimed Citra as her sister-in-law. The Sebusai couple spoil Sakura with love and guidance. As for the oaf, Seven and Sice are his nieces and would have joined Sice in decking the homophobes in a nanosecond. He follows the Sebusai couple's example with Citra's younger sister Sakura. Yeul? She wouldn't stop sending Seven letters expressing gratitude for everything.
When the coast was clear, the only look that the Sebusai couple were given by Citra, Caius, Yeul, Lasswell & Snow expressed two words: You're welcome, followed by Snow's signature smirk. Seven, not to be outdone, handed Caius a small box as it was his birthday and the Sebusai couple wanted to give him the gift in person but nearly forgot about the day. Caius smiled with his eyes upon what was inside: it was a clay like imprint of one of Odin's hoofs, along with a horseshoe for good luck. "We wanted you to have this above all, Caius. Odin was happy to have met you and Yeul. Happy Birthday..." was all Seven could say before Yeul and Caius gave the Sebusai couple a hug. Odin was a celebrity of sorts for a horse. Caius treated him as if he was part of the family.
As for Citra? The house she and Lasswell live in is now completely theirs (they were making payments on it until now). Why, some of you are asking?
Seven and Sice finished their remaining payments for them to say thanks.
All thanks to Citra and her death stare.
FIN
A/N #2: Next story is still in the Paying it Forward universe, and this time around, it's the day Fang is told about becoming the new head of the clans of Oerba... with the least likely of people reacting to the news that's not Lightning.
