The Other Battlefield

Chapter 14

Having slept most of the day, Fang was raring to celebrate the end to a year's worth of recruit training in Gran Pulse style. Vanille had apparently unearthed not only a selection of old instruments, but a cache of wine that was at least five centuries old; Fang was already licking her lips.

Sitting in the living space area in one of the untouched Oerban buildings, Fang regarded the folded items on the table in front of her, which lay untouched since Vanille had delivered them.

The black-feathered capelet for her shoulders caught her eye the most, as they were worn only on the greatest of occasions, and so it seemed that Vanille was going all-out for this celebration. The rest of her clothes were all leather-based, and dyed as black as a starless sky.

She better not be pranking me.

Fang wouldn't put it past Vanille to convince her into wearing such a costume, only to find she was the only one wearing anything of the sort.

"Hey Fang?"

Lightning poked her head around the corner from the stairs, concealing the rest of her body from view. Fang narrowed her eyes, leaning as far over in her seat as she could, but the wall that acted as a coat rack.

Judging by the rosy tinge to her cheeks, she was hiding something one way or another.

"What's up?" Fang finally asked, but then she saw just what the problem was, and it was also feathery. Skirting Lightning's ankles was a pristine, feathered waist cape in the purest of whites, contrasting against Fang's own adornment. "Ah. I see."

Upon seeing what Fang was wearing, Lightning stepped into full view. The black tank top she had one was cropped much like Fang's, and the huntress was drawn to the small, glittering navel piercing.

"There's a certain theme happening here," Lightning said whilst gesturing to their getups, finally drawing away the emerald stare.

"Well, you know us Oerbans by now. Tradition, tradition, tradition." Her words didn't look to be reassuring for Lightning, especially since they didn't act as a cloak to cover up what little amount she was wearing. "What else has she given you?"

Raising her hands, Lightning had several other things gently clutched in her fists, as to not damage the delicate pieces. She dangled one item on her finger, giving it a once over.

Quirking an eyebrow she said, "This is either for a headpiece or a garter."

She was completely clueless regarding Oerban clothes, but Fang found Lightning's inexperience rather endearing. Especially when she regarded Lightning as someone who knew at least something about everything.

Their newly qualified rangers would likely be just as hesitant about this celebratory uniform, but Fang gathered that everyone would be in the same feathery boat.

And as Fang shortly found out, they were.

Upon their initial arrival there'd been no decorations, but now there was bunting as far as the eye could see, in colours once seen in the flowers surrounding Oerba.

The workers that were milling around were all thankfully clothed in similar attire, mostly furs and silks and feathers. Few had braved a bare-chested look to the evening, and even fewer would've passed Yun expectancies with their lacklustre physiques.

The square courtyard had been covered entirely by pelts, surrounding a great fire pit, yet to be lit, in the centre.

Already Fang's heartbeat was speeding, and whatever doubts she had about the evening were steadily ebbing away with each heartbeat.

"Oh thank Etro," Lightning sighed beside her. "I wasn't sure if many would participate in dressing up."

It sounded like child's play, but in contrast to Cocoon militia's uniforms there was an air of fun to what they wore.

The first thing they did was settle down to eat, and judging by the longing stares and grumbling bellies, no one minded. Sitting cross-legged in a rough circle, Fang kept a space for Vanille who was understandably the chief of kitchen duties.

When the food did arrive Fang couldn't decide what to sample first between a rack of slow cooked ribs or marinated chicken on skewers. Throwing a small roast potato in her mouth seemed to help her decide, and Fang picked two skewers to take back to her spot.

The female side of the rangers unsubtly watched her eat like a ravenous animal, but Fang was glad to put her canines to a better use than smiling. Lightning was a lot more refined in her eating, even if she was eating a Behemoth steak with her fingers.

"You not gonna wait for the utensils?" Fang asked, chuckling at the sight. "You do realise we're back in civilisation now, yeah?"

Too preoccupied with chewing to give a verbal answer, Lightning promptly gave her the middle finger.

"You're one to talk boss." Adonis unknowingly sat in the space she'd initially saved for Vanille. Fang wasn't sure if he was joking because he had rib sauce all over his mouth. Adonis fidgeted in his seat from the tightness of the leather cuisse he was wearing, which he picked and pulled at, before changing the subject. "Can I just say how much I have loved this entire experience? Fang, Light, thank you. I mean, it's been an honour, and I've made friends for life."

"We've enjoyed having you," Lightning said the second she swallowed the last of her steak.

"Too right." Fang almost clapped him on the shoulder, but her hands were as greasy as his face. "And I promise to keep my word on rearing a chocobo of your own."

There was a low rumble from behind one of the houses, causing Adonis to look over Fang's shoulder obviously enough that she forgot what she was meant to say next. It was the sloshing that followed it, along with devious ringing laughter that followed it that forced Fang to look.

"The wiiiiiiine!"

From where the old Cie'th stone used to lie, a cask barrelled from the darkness down the ramp and into some of the feasting soldiers. Only a few made it out of the way in time, diving, sidestepping, sprawling. The cask came to a standstill at the foot of Caius, who looked at the display of drama with a disdainful look.

Only Caius could remain pissed when the culprits stumbled down the ramp also, struggling with the weight of more barrels. Etro, Vanille had not only made a fool of herself, but taken the female side of her rangers and… and corrupted them.

Their calfskin skirts almost didn't preserve any of the girls' modesty as they bounded down the ramp, unable to stop the momentum. The urge to help them just wasn't there, and when everything and everyone came to a crashing halt, Fang erupted into laughter with the others.

Unable to see, Lightning stood. "Is the wine okay?" It was so deadpan, Fang wasn't sure it was a joke. Lightning seemed to notice, and bit back her tell tale smile. "Well, it'd go well with steak, right?"

"Of course we're bothered about the wine because it complements the food, not the fact we want to let loose and get a bit drunk."

When the wine was finally handed out, Fang knocked the first cup back like it was water, though her second was treat sparingly. She still, and always would, have a preference for a sweet cider where cocktails weren't available however.

And as it so happened, they had a plentiful stash of just that. It was like Vanille was trying to celebrate for the thousand birthdays they had collectively missed. It was just a shame the rest of their friends weren't here to celebrate what was essentially a homecoming.

It didn't matter too much to Fang, she had two of the most important people in her life with her right this very moment, and one of them happened to be skipping towards her, carrying an ornate wooden box.

"Still sober?"

The question was almost as interesting as the mystery box. Fang leaned back on her arms, waiting for Vanille's intentions to come to light. "Don't insult me, I've not drank enough. What you got there anyway?"

Also listening in, but wisely staying out of Vanille's initial line of vision was Lightning, and from the corner of Fang's eye she saw a fine eyebrow arch.

"I was just wondering…" Vanille opened the lid, revealing pots of finely ground charcoal initially used as war paint. "Would you like to start off the entertainment?"

Lightning leaned in, boldly swiping a finger through one the pots and rubbing the powder between her finger and thumb. "Are you about to start face painting?" There was a huff of amusement in her voice, and with the remainder of charcoal on her finger, she swiped it down the bridge of Fang's nose.

She seemed surprised when Fang quickly grabbed her wrist, stopping Lightning from doing any more. "Just to be clear, I don't want you drunkenly drawing cat whiskers on me. That would be insulting as the last—"

"Last Yun?" Light smirked. "And don't assume I'm drunk either, that's insulting."

Dropping to her knees, Vanille placed the box to her side and dipped her thumb into a pot, and proceeded to wipe it around Fang's eyes.

Screwing her eyes shut, Fang let Vanille get on with it rather than have her eye mistakenly poked out. "I haven't actually agreed to any of this yet, you know that right?"

"Well," Vanille sang, "I was thinking about that fire dance you used to do."

Well, it was just as well Vanille had asked while she was only a few drinks in, if she'd had anymore it would've sounded like a good idea. The fire dancing was something she'd practiced when she wasn't sparring, and something she kept at, as it was good practice for future impressive moves in battle. That was in the past however.

"Vanille I haven—"

"But you're so good at it."

"I haven't done it in centuries."

"Fire dance? Fire. Dance?"

With Vanille still painting around her eyes Fang was unable to see Light's expression, but she couldn't help but swallow. Yes, she was frightened at how impressed Lightning sounded - because if it had Lightning's interest then it wouldn't take much for Fang to give in and do it.

As if Fang could do any more to impress her, the words 'fire dance' had to crop up. Lightning drank in Fang; vaguely aware of how hungry she must look, as Vanille finished a mask pattern much akin to bat wings upon the huntress's face.

"You can do that?"

Lightning was unsure as to why she sounded sceptical; the woman had proved she could do a lot of things, which never ceased to amaze her.

"Yeah," Fang sighed. "It's just a lot of staff twirling, you've seen me do it countless times."

Vanille grabbed Lightning by the hand, managing to smudge the charcoal over both of their hands in the process. "Lightning, you've seen nothing like it," she gushed. "She can spin it so fast, and on the back of her neck, over her shoulders and… oh it looks so graceful."

This she had to see. "Fang?" Obviously knowing what she wanted, Fang refused to look at her. "Faaang."

"Don't you dare, Light."

Wisely, Vanille moved out of the way, giving Lightning more room to reach for Fang's chin. She wasn't used to pleading, but…"Please, for me?"

Fang licked her lips suddenly, her piercing green eyes finally opening as she eagerly awaited a bribe.

There were too many people around for Light's liking, but Vanille groaned from behind her. "Just appease the woman, Lightning."

A sneaky pair of hands pushed her forward, and Lightning was an inch away from head-butting Fang in the face. Luckily Fang had preempted Vanille's actions and stopped her just in time.

Heart and stomach aflutter, it was like she was about to experience her first kiss with Fang all over again. A teasing noise escaped from Vanille's throat, trying to urge them on, and Light felt her face grow hot with embarrassment.

The kiss lasted as quicker than a blink, but it was enough to make Fang jump to her feet. "You'll have to lead people to the sand if you want me to do this."

"Don't worry, I will. Your bō staff should be propped in the corner beside the seating area."

"Yeah, I think I remember seeing it now actually. Give me fifteen minutes or so to warm up."

With that Fang disappeared back into the same building as earlier, leaving Light with a beaming Vanille. Picking up a pot of charcoal, Vanille waved it around, looking ready to keep painting. "May I?"

It would surely pass the time. "Anywhere but my face."

So Vanille grabbed her left arm instead, replicating a pattern similar to the leather armbands on her arm at first, before adding an intricate straight-lined pattern that reminded her of the l'Cie brand. The Oerban took her time, taking great pride in her work, and it wasn't long before a crowd of people were watching Vanille at work as if she was some sort of tattoo artist.

Fang had been gone at least thirty-five minutes before she reappeared with staff in hand, dropping the feather capelet by Vanille. Not only had Vanille painted Lightning's arm in this time, but she'd started on some of the soldiers too, taking great joy in the ones who asked her to paint their chests and backs.

At least a dozen more people were decorating each other in their own tribal patterns, some still finishing off their artwork, when Vanille called for a silence.

Cupping her hands over her mouth she called out, "Anyone who wants to see the Oerba Yun Fang in action needs to join us at the shore."

Despite what she said, Vanille skipped off momentarily, returning with a small drum under her arm, as if she was really about to make a spectacle of it all.

"Is there any need, Van?"

Light could sense the discomfort ebbing from Fang, leaving her partly guilty for egging her on. Then again, this was Fang. If Fang didn't want to do something, she would say.

She wouldn't succumb to peer pressure.

Fang shook her head, wandering away from the great fire and towards the sea after lighting each end of the staff. A stream of people trickled away from the food and drink, intrigued by the promise of such an amazing spectacle.

There was enough moonlight for everyone to see, and the excitable, babbling crowd managed to form an orderly arc around the beach, with Fang out in front. Lightning took pride of place directly in line, vaguely able to hear Adonis exclaim his confusion at what was happening.

Holding the flaming staff in front of her, Fang twirled it slowly at first to the beat of Vanille's drum, almost like she was paddling in a kayak. Her skin was golden, shadows flickering against her face in a way that showed off the enviable angles of her face. She twirled the staff with deliberate ease around her neck, before being weaved around one arm, only to be caught by the opposite hand.

With each passing move, the speed gradually increased. Throwing the staff high in the air, the crowd became alive with applause and exclamations, and when Fang caught it, she kicked out, twisting her own body and mirroring the movements of the staff.

There was nothing but fiery circles burnt into Lightning's vision, that when Fang finished with one last high throw, her eyes still saw the trails of fire. The staff was caught with the same amount of ease, and Fang ducked into a bow, holding the lit staff behind her back.

The percussion ended the second a hand grasped the bō, giving Light suspicions that the two Oerbans had done this many times before.

And as a small fan base clustered around the huntress, exclaiming their admirations and desires to learn, an ugly pang of jealously welled up Lightning. Scrunching up her nose, she could only blame her overall tiredness from their long journey for not thinking clearly.

"Now that is quite the face." Looking left, it was Alyssa, giving her a look that spoke a thousand words. "You and her, hmm?" The bubbly, and still intoxicated girl was nodding to herself, staring at the same person Lightning was. "None of us really guessed it y'know."

"Oh?" Lightning's reply was clipped, but she was far from angry.

Alyssa carried on. "Like, Fang has this coquettish look and way about her, so in hindsight, although there were hints… we just never pegged you two."

Lightning folded her arms. She found that hard to believe, especially with a perceptive Caius in their group. "What? Any of you?"

"Oh! No. Just me and Adonis had this chat earlier after Vanille let slip. I think you were asleep at the time."

That's more like it, Lightning thought, inwardly smiling.

As soon as her name was mentioned, the redhead was quick to race to her own defence. "It was an accident!"

Lightning fought the urge to pat Vanille on the head like she would when she wanted to wind Serah up. Anyone learning of her involvement with Fang… well, they were welcome to the news.

"It's fine," she shrugged, though it was one thing to accept feelings and another to discuss them, Lightning felt unable to breathe as well as before. "It wasn't intentionally a secret - we had a job to do."

Vanille winked, giving Alyssa a short and sharp nudge with her elbow. "Always keeps to her Focus, this one. Like at the moment, her focus is on Fang."

The soldier couldn't help but scoff, but Alyssa "aww'd", giving Vanille the impression that her small joke was remotely humorous. It reminded Lightning that she wasn't where she wanted to be.

After all, Fang had only done this display for her.

"Forget it." She heard Fang say. "I'm not going to be teaching anyone soon, nor am I doing it again." It didn't help that everyone was fuelled up on alcohol, but Fang looked close to ramming the staff down some throats.

"This isn't school," Lightning chided the other men and women on approach, "give her some room."

Shoving the bō staff into the unexpected arms of one of the admirers, Fang broke through the crowd.

"Saviour," Fang smiled.

The paint around her eyes had smudged from heat and sweat. Rubbing her thumb across both of Fang's cheeks, Lightning corrected the makeup.

"That was really something," she said slipping her hand into the huntress's as they headed back to the fire. "Is there anything you can't do? Other than say no to me."

The hand Lightning was holding twitched. "Hey, you don't rule over me so easy."

If that was true, there was yet to be proof. The fire dancing was a pretty good case against her. "Are you sure? Do you remember what you just did? For me."

Fang bit her lip, trying not to give in to defeat. "Shut it, you."

With her free hand Lightning twiddled the braid in Fang's hair gently, before giving it a slight tug. "I liked it better when you were trying to impress me."

Without warning Fang tried to catch Lightning off guard and dip her into a kiss. But as Fang hooked her leg behind Light's knee, the sand gave way and they fell unceremoniously.

"Ah shit," Fang cursed when their foreheads collided, before chuckling sheepishly. "Not that drunk, I swear."

They were nothing but a mess of limbs in cold sand, but it was perfect.

"Are you going to kiss me or what?" Lightning asked, divulging in the moment of Fang on top of her. The green eyes staring into her were something else completely, and Lightning was close to melting like sea foam into the shore.

Fang dropped, putting most of her weight onto her forearms, moulding their bodies nicely together, ensuring her decent to Light's lips was slow and teasing.

And just when Lightning thought Fang had given in, she pulled her head back. "And let you win? Nah."

Grinning ear to ear, Lightning took a firm hold of Fang by the back of her neck and kissed her like it was the end of her days. Lightning won out all right.

The celebrations reached far into the night, with the majority of the soldiers and workers showing no sign of stopping, with the exception of a few men and women out cold from drinking. It was warm enough even at this time of night, so sleeping outside wouldn't be the death of them. However it was safe to say there was no work going to be done tomorrow, he amount of alcohol the village had put away.

Fang tried to blink away the exhaustion, having zoned out of a group conversation for at least five minutes, thanks the soothing sensation of Vanille braiding her hair. Any feathers that had fallen from her outfit had now been entwined in her hair from the looks of it. The gentle tugging always made her relax to the point of sleep and her state of intoxication didn't help in the slightest.

From the corner of her eye Fang spotted Adonis grafting away at a pretty member of the Guardian Corps, and from the way she was touching his forearm and leaning in to laugh at whatever he said, she guessed it was paying off. As long as he didn't get too attached, since they were due to leave by carrier tomorrow afternoon.

She prayed her hangover would last until the morning latest.

"It's like Oerba was never the sad, abandoned old place it was." Vanille patted Fang on the back, signalling that she was done. There was no way of telling what her hair looked like without having to get up, so she settled with the fact she trusted Vanille's artistic vision.

"I quite like it being like this," Fang admitted. "Just could do with fewer soldiers and more civilians, and it will be eventually, I guess…" Sensing a downward turnin their conversation, Fang instantly changed the topic. "Are you gonna be doing Yeul's hair next? She gestured to me before, I just forgot to tell you. The girls have really taken a shine to you this evening, huh?"

"Yes well you and Light aren't exactly typical girls - they've taken a shine to me because I'm refreshing. With me it's not all about who's the biggest, strongest male in the group, or battle talk from you two."

"Hey! You're wrong. Noel doesn't try and play alpha, it's mostly Caius. And Adonis tries to join in. And we do have intelligent conversations, I'll have you know."

"In privacy I bet."

Fang clicked her tongue. "We never slinked off from the group, or had any sort of privacy, thank you very much."

That seemed to surprise Vanille. "Didn't you?"

"We were happy just to have each other's company. I have missed holding her at night though."

"Aww!" Vanille looked at Fang like she was a cute puppy. Fang hated being looked at like she was cute. She was to be feared and respected, a one-hundred percent bada—

"Fang?"

Whipping her head round a little too fast, Fang tried to focus on where she'd heard Lightning's voice, but a sudden wave of nausea overcome her. She placed a hand over her mouth, hoping to hide the fact she was a bit drunker than she thought. Lightning came into view from her right, crouching at her side.

"Are you still planning on staying up?"

She looked just as ready for sleep as Fang did; her movements rocky as she waited for an answer. This warm, hand on shoulder approach from Lightning was a massive difference to over a year and a half ago, and Fang was proud of herself for being the person responsible.

Fang answered with a yawn. "Definitely not, let's go."

Behind them, Vanille made a noise from the back of throat, disappointed at how easily they were ready to surrender for the night. The sun would be up before long, it wasn't like they were retreating for an early night.

Standing and walking was going to be an impossible task, even with each other's help and despite the small distance they'd have to traverse. Fang instantly through her arm over Lightning's shoulders for support, as she was definitely having the harder time.

Bed... So close, but yet so far.

Laughing to herself, Lightning guided Fang around the remaining people, keeping her arms wrapped around Fang with an impossibly solid grip.

"Did you stop drinkin' or something?" Fang refused to think that Lightning was better at holding alcohol than her.

"Mm…"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

They reached the metal staircase eventually. Fang went first and missed the step completely; she grazed her elbow as her arm slid through the gap in the stairs. There was a sudden impact as Lightning fell onto her, laughing uncontrollably.

No one else better had seen that…

Fighting for breath, Lightning finally answered, "Well, I may have been sick."

"So that's where you vanished to. Guess I win."

"You don't win anything." Lightning slapped her backside. "Up you get, Yun."

"Yes ma'am." Keeping her hands on the stairs, Fang decided that tripping was her body's way of telling her that the easiest way was to crawl on all fours. She wasn't allowed to stop at all, with Lightning giving her the push she didn't exactly need, but got anyway.

The feathers that adorned her neck and shoulders were screaming to be removed, but in the back of her mind Fang pictured Vanille also screaming at her to take care of the Oerban heritages that stood the test of time.

At the very least she didn't rip it off, but she let it lie on the table, vowing to sort it out in the morning. Lightning should've been used to belts and buckles, but the series of grunts and groans told Fang that maybe Lightning had forgotten how she'd even put it on in the first place.

"Need a hand?" Fang offered.

With a long sigh, Lightning stopped shaking the buckles and ties that held her feathery getup in place. "Please."

Stripped to underclothes, Fang ducked into the rightmost bunk – since her body was about to collapse that way anyway. She moaned at the softness, sprawling out as much as the wall to her left would let her. Lightning crawled into the space she left, letting Fang close her arms around her at long last.

"G'night Light." No response. Already the soldier's breathing had levelled. Fang kissed the back of her head, peeved at how easily Lightning had drifted off. Yes, Fang was tired, but her mind was still fighting like a child to stay awake.

The only thing that would appease her was in her arms. Gently she kissed the nape of Lightning neck. "Love you." Not even one hint of movement. "Gonna marry the hell outta you one day," she continued to murmur, the corners of her mouth lifting in amusement. Now she was sleepy. "Yun Lightning… Lightning Yun. We'll figure it out."

With the exception of the chattering outside, a silence finally settled in the room. Fang was on the very cusp...

"More like Fang Farron."

Fang's eyes shot open, she felt immediately sober. "Oh. You were awake, huh?"

"Oh." Lightning stressed, mocking Fang entirely. "Yes I was. Love you too Fang."

Eventually they settled on Yun-Farron.

A/N: Man it seems surreal actually finishing this! I never expected the chapter, or the story to go as far as it did. I want to thank each and every one of you for even taking the time to read The Other Battlefield, and I hope you enjoyed reading as much as I enjoyed writing.

Genril x