Here, while I’m still doing stressful life stuff have a one-shot from the FtWH AU. Takes place somewhere between Chapters 10 and 11:
The night was warm, and the spirits were high. The New Bodhum festival was in full swing, and everyone was on the deck at Lebreau's bar celebrating the night away. Fang surveyed the masses of people and stood very close to Lightning, still not entirely above board with being amongst so many people, yet wanting to make an effort nonetheless. The pinkette gave her an encouraging smile and took her hand, the most public affection she had given since they started seeing each other. It was the small victories, Fang noted with an affectionate gaze. She knew full well that Lightning was not one for showing her heart in public, so the action had all the more meaning behind it.
Fang gave a soft smile that was immediately returned, but she could tell by the look in the pinkette's eyes that she seemed about as uncomfortable here amongst the socialising as she was. She leant forward and turned her head to whisper in Lightning’s ear about the festivities. “So… You want to pinch some of Lebreau’s good stock and go enjoy the rest of the night from our roof, away from literally everyone?”
Lightning gave a quiet laugh and quickly scanned the crowd, choosing a brief moment to give the Pulsian a nuzzle. “Soon, Fang. Just hang around for a little bit longer and we’ll head off.” She assured her partner and gave her hand a light squeeze. Sazh and Dajh, Hope and Bartholomew, Serah and Snow, Vanille and the others were all hanging out on Lebreau’s VIP deck, as the workers set up the show out on the water. Serah gave a bounce of excitement, hopping from one foot to another. It had been some time since they had been able to see the festival, and she was beyond thrilled that the first time they were setting it up again was when their Pulsian friends got to witness it with them. It felt like they had all come full circle, once again on a village beach, just like that night so many years ago.
The first of the fireworks were let off and the sounds was far louder than Fang anticipated. She flinched at the noise and shut her eyes from the bright lights, while the crowd “ooh’d” and “ahh’d” around her. Lightning immediately felt the tension in the hand she held and cast a cautious glance at her partner. “Fang…” The pinkette warned.
Every explosive sound sent a concussive panic through Fang’s system, the boom of the fireworks too reminiscent, too close to the sound of gun fire. It reminded her of the anti-aircraft rifles on the buildings in Oerba. It triggered a wave of fear and she staggered back, feeling her consciousness slip. Lightning watched with rapidly growing concern as a flash of blue rippled along Fang’s skin and she reached out, only to be knocked back by a violent swing of limbs and a rage-filled roar.
The form of Ragnarok suddenly towered viciously over people on the deck, sending everyone screaming and running from the bar. Snow and Sazh immediately got into defensive positions as the local Guardian Corps rushed into the establishment with their weapons drawn. Vanille and Serah helped Lightning to her feet, trying to check her over for injuries. Lightning was far more concerned about the beast stalking the deck, being surrounded by armed guards. She fought the two women off her, trying to push her way through the guards.
“Claire, wait! You’re bleeding!” Serah called out, reaching for her sister. Lightning pulled her hand out of the younger pinkette’s grasp and pushed Snow out of the way.
“Woah hey, wait! Sis! What the hell, don’t go near that thing!” He exclaimed, now also trying to hold her back. Lightning whirled and snarled at him, her reaction so savage that he let go of her in surprise.
“Am I acting like this is the first time this has happened? I’m handling this. Back off.” She snapped, getting in front of the guards and eyeing off the monstrous form of her partner. Ragnarok was cornered, standing tall with her claws brandished. The low growl Lightning could hear was that of warning, and the way the beast was puffing her chest out reminded her of the gorgonopsids out on the plains. She’s trying to make herself appear as big as possible. She’s not dangerous, she’s scared. Lightning stepped forward slowly as Ragnarok snapped her teeth at a nearby guard. “Sweetheart? Fang?”
At the sound of a voice directed towards her, Ragnarok’s head whipped around with a brutal snarl, and everyone took a few paces backwards. Everyone except for Lightning. The beast saw her amongst the armed guards and immediately the growling ceased, the tail swishing excitedly. Lightning gave her an endearing smile and slowly held her hand out, inching closer.
Serah clutched at Snow and feared for her sister’s safety. “Claire, you need to get back, that thing is dangerous and-”
“Quiet,” Lightning bit back, before turning back to her partner and trying to reassure her as best she could. “It’s alright, sweetheart. Come here.”
Ragnarok whipped forward on her haunches so quickly she was at Lightning’s side before anyone could even blink, guns raised higher with a few cries of fear from the crowd. The beast growled at them again and her tail twitched dangerously. She flinched as she felt a hand on her head but Lightning’s soothing voice in her ear calmed her as the pinkette slowly ran her fingers through her mane.
“We’re ok, you’re ok. Don’t look at them, look at me.” The beautiful smile that was filled with care and concern filled Ragnarok’s vision and the beast pouted, giving a long whine. “That’s better… It’s alright my love. Just be calm. We’re safe.” Lightning continued, gently patting her arm. The crowd was stunned into silence, seeing this small pink-haired woman seemingly settling the dangerous beast when it looked ready to kill. Ragnarok’s tail swished around and she made a chuffing sound, a low repetitive noise that sounded like a guttural purr.
Suddenly the beast tensed and straightened up again, looking around in a panic. The guards quickly raised their weapons again and she looked around, catching the sight of blood across Lightning’s forehead. Ragnarok glanced down nervously at her hands and flexed the claws, looking back up at her partner in fear. All at once, Fang slammed back into awareness and she began to hyperventilate, terrified that she had hurt Lightning, had hurt someone. The pinkette saw the immediate shift in demeanour and gently stroked the beast’s arm.
“It’s alright, Fang. Nobody’s hurt. We’re all ok. So are you.”
A soft whimper escaped Ragnarok’s throat and she gripped Lightning’s arm, giving her a tug towards the back steps. Giving her a nod and a kiss on the cheek, Lightning turned to the others and glared at the guards. “I’m going to take her somewhere to calm down. Lower your damned weapons, you’re not helping the situation. At all.”
The group erupted into protest, not feeling comfortable with the prospect of leaving Lightning alone with the “world-ender”. Sazh gave her an uneasy look and held out a hand to try to slow them up. “It’s not that I don’t appreciate your talents to handle any situation, soldier girl but… Are you sure that’s wise to go alone with the scary monster lady?”
Before Lightning could give a scathing retort, Snow joined in the discussion, adding his unwanted thoughts into the mix. “That’s not Fang right now, Light. It’s-”
“Don’t you dare finish that sentence. I know her better than you do and this isn’t the first time I’ve dealt with this. I won’t ask again. Leave. Us. Be.”
The beast could see how agitated the pinkette was becoming and began to pace behind her, making eye contact with Vanille. The redhead nodded slowly and pulled Sazh back away from them. “Light will be fine. So will my sister. Just leave them be, alright?”
Lightning gave her a small dip of her head as thanks, and glanced back when she heard another distressed whimper. Ragnarok stared at her and let out a quiet sound, her eyes darting around at the others in fear. “… Light…”
The pleading tone in her voice broke Lightning’s heart, and the others all looked on in horror. She reached out and stroked the blue skin on the beast’s face and gave her a soft kiss on the lips, a reassurance that they were going to be ok. “I hear you, Fang. Let’s go.”
Serah realised that Fang was aware and still very much present, and she had just heard them all reacting to her like she was a mindless beast. She watched her sister leave with the Pulsian, her heart going out to both of them as they quickly disappeared up the path to their home.
The two didn’t make it all the way before the beast began to falter in her movements. Lightning stopped as Ragnarok fell to her knees, letting out a cry of anguish. “No no no don’t be sad, it’s ok, sweetie. It’s ok. You’re alright, darling. It's going to be ok. Shhhh..” She said quietly as she just held her, making cooing sounds, reassurances and promises of safety. The monstrous hands began to shrink and the human form of Fang returned, but the sobbing didn’t let up. Lightning didn’t hesitate to take her burgandy jacket off and put it around Fang, grabbing a beach towel from her bag to wrap around the Pulsian's lower half. “You’re alright... You’re ok, darling...”
Fang leant back and wiped at her eyes with the heel of her palm. “How can I be alright, Lightning? They thought I was a monster. How can they look at me again? How can you keep looking at me? I can’t even maintain control because of some damn fireworks...” She paused and took a shuddering breath, allowing her partner to help her up. “I came back and was so scared, Light. I was so scared I had hurt someone. I-I saw the... Terror in their faces and I... I thought the worst.” Fang sniffed, wringing her hands together while her stomach was tied in knots from anxiety.
“But you didn’t hurt anyone, Fang.” Lightning replied quietly, ignoring the pointed look she received on the cut above her eyebrow. “Tch. Please. You’ve given me worse in a sparring session.” She took Fang by the hand and pulled her close, cupping her face and giving her a gentle kiss. The Pulsian broke away and turned her gaze to the town below them on the path to their home.
“I’m not safe to be around, Light. I can’t even trust myself not to-” she was cut off by another kiss, then another, then another. Each one serving as a salve on her wounded heart.
“Fang. Look at me, I trust you. I know you aren’t just some beast. Some monster. They’re wrong, because they don’t know you like I do.” Lightning gave her another tender kiss while running her thumbs along the Pulsian’s cheek. She felt her face flush as she was overcome with feeling for the woman before her and couldn’t help but give one more kiss like it would prove her point for her. “They don’t love you like I do.”
Fang’s eyes widened at the admission. It wasn’t the first time that Lightning had said she loved her, but it still didn’t make it any less amazing when she did hear it. Lady Luck must have finally thought she had done something right to bestow upon her the perfect gift that was Lightning Farron.
“You can trust yourself. You know why?”
Fang shook her head, Lightning needing to kiss the adorable pout from the Pulsian’s lips. To do whatever it took to chase her sorrow away.
“Because you didn’t hurt anyone. You were scared, but you didn’t even attack. You just tried to scare people off by looking scary. I can read you pretty well by now, Fang. You weren’t going to hurt anyone. I know you.”
“I...” Fang breathed, in total astonishment. She didn’t know what to say. Looking into Lightning’s eyes, she felt like she would believe anything the pinkette had to say.
“You have more influence, more control, of yourself than you think. I love you, Fang. And I believe in you. You’ll get though this. I know you will.” Lightning said firmly, putting every fibre of her being into every word, desperate for Fang to believe her. To believe in herself.
“Will... Will you stay with me?”
Lightning smiled and took Fang by the hand, kissing each individual knuckle before making her way to the Pulsian’s lips. “There's nowhere else I’d rather be.”
