(no subject)

[frozenlightning.livejournal.com]

Who: Zack, Lightning, Angeal and Lightning's family
What: Lightning is hit with the hard truth
Where: Cocoon and the Binah
When: Through a day
Rating: PG-13


Things were pretty slow today, and they had that hunt to do later, but it was an average hunt, which wouldn't take long so the plan was to visit her family, just to stop by and check in on them, then head off and do the hunt. It was true that she sometimes got homesick but Lightning wouldn't admit it. Wearing a white jacket which zipped up enough to cover her l'Cie marking and had a hood to hide her distinctive pink hair, the woman had on a pair of grey, faded jeans and a pair of hightops. If anything, she wouldn't have worn anything like this, as she was still quite snobby, but she needed to look inconspicuous. She was a terrorist after all.

Zack, on the other hand, had been tooling around in his SOLDIER uniform since before meeting Angeal, and seemed to have forgotten that he owned other clothes. That is.. usually. Today, he wore simple black jeans, his heavy combat boots and gloves, and a short sleeved, collarless, crisp white buttondown shirt that, admittedly, made him appear quite dashing. "Ready to go, Lightnin'?"

"Yeah..." She pulled on her blue gloves, with the golden fastening on the knuckles, and shoved her hands into the pockets of the jacket. She felt really badly dressed next to Zack but she was quite sure it didn't matter. Since she needed to blend in, not look like she wanted attention. She had to make sure she didn't draw any attention to herself that she didn't want. Still, she had a dagger in her pocket... just in case.

Zack had his brand new sword strapped to his back. Admittedly, the thing was a little ostentatious, with a translucent blue edge the same shade as his eyes, and solid construction of some kind of alloy that seemed -very- strong.. It even had Materia slots! Zack was well pleased with it, once he got used to the flashy thing. Well.. it was good for a pirate to be flashy, right? "Great!" he kissed her cheek with a grin, and nodded.

She smiled at him, chuckling lightly. "Are we taking the bug or attempting to land the Binah?" She expected the bug as it was safer and that would fade into the background of Cocoon better but the woman wouldn't have been surprised if they chose to land the Binah. They'd done far riskier things in their time together.

"We'll land the Binah this time.. we're not doing anything illegal, so we should be able to dock safely. Sure, we stick out a bit, but I doubt they'll attack us without provocation, y'know?" he reached for, and held, her hand. Zack leaned in, and kissed her ear sweetly, "I love ya Lightnin', let's have a good day hmm?"

Lightning nodded slightly, and actually felt the Binah being landed already. Xaon must've known what was going on already. "They can try. I'm not in the mood for a fight just yet, so they'll get the wrong end of my wrath if they start one." She smiled, squeezing his hand gently, laughing softly. "I love you, too." She squeezed his fingers again, before turning for the exit as the airship touched down.

Zack released her hand with a fond pat to her hip, before stepping down on the ramp as it went down. There were soldiers, but there always were.. no guns levelled at them, though. "Zack Fair, just stoppin' by to enjoy the city. A little R&R, ya dig?" the soldier he spoke to nodded, with a knowing smile, "Awright, c'mon darlin'." he held a hand out to Lightning, smiling at her.

She kept her head down and her hood up, her hand grasping his. She always felt like such a criminal here. Which, really, she was, but she didn't like it one bit. Squeezing his hand almost through discomfort, she wanted to exit the airship hangar as fast as they could, hoping they'd get to her parents' house soon. She wasn't used to being stuck undercover.

Zack helped her through the hangar and out onto the street. Soon, they were on the road to Lightning's parent's place, the black-haired man humming softly as he went. "Hmm.." he muttered, raising his brows, "Your folks don't own vehicals. C'mere." he yanked her into an alley, and looked around the corner at the weird carlike thing outside her place, "The hell's that about..?"

Lightning's eyes set on the sight and she frowned. "What's going on...?" She wanted to sneak in and check it out but there were soldiers heading into her parents' house. "What are they... ...?" She tensed, her hand squeezing his tightly, probably too tightly for a normal man, though Zack was far from normal. What was going on? Why did the Sanctum want her family??

"Shh!" he shushed her, glancing around the corner, ducking, and swinging out onto the street. Moving low to the ground, he slunk up to their window, and waited, listening. After a moment, he motioned Lightning out and down the side of the house.. It was astounding how silent he could be..

Silence wasn't her highest point but speed was and, so, darting so fast that everyone and everything slowed down, she seemed to appear instantly at Zack's side, crouched and frowning. "What's going on?" Her words were whispered and Lightning was quite certainly worried. This was her family, after all. She was scared for them. She'd already lost Serah.

Raised voices, threats of violent action.. Zack abruptly covered her mouth, and yanked her to the side again, ducking behind her parents' garbage bins. Several soldiers exited the house to the sound of breaking crockery, and a sharp yelp from Chrysta. Lightning would feel Zack tense; he obviously wanted to protect them, too, but he knew a gunfight would only get people hurt. He whispered in her ear, "They're looking for you and Snow. If your folks don't turn ya in, they're gonna hurt yer brother, then yer Ma."

Lightning tensed up, jerking in his grasp. She needed to get inside!! She needed to check on her family. There wasn't anything she could do in Zack's grasp, however, and it angered her. The woman didn't deal well with sitting and waiting, even if it was the best move. She was too emotionally involved to get into this situation without letting herself go.

And so Zack didn't let her go, instead he hissed in her ear, "Hush! If they see us, now, they're just gonna open fire. We wanna make sure they're safe, just hold tight." soon enough, the people were gone, and Zack let out a low sigh of relief, releasing Lightning, "Alright, try now."

She glared at him the entire wait for the people to leave and once she was released she said nothing as she darted inside, running to the room she expected them to be in. If they were near a window, that'd be the living room. Skidding in, her eyes widened at the sight of her mother hugging her brother tightly to her. Chrysta's eyes were full of tears and a bruise was forming on her cheek, but she said nothing to Lightning, simply staring up at her helplessly.

Her father was nowhere to be seen just then, though he could be heard moving around the house locking doors. Gerald was always the prudent type. Zack knew Lightning would be pissed with him, but he entered the house anyway, closing the door and locking it behind him. He walked quickly to where he'd seen Lightning go, and looked around, his gaze hardening, "Chrysta." Zack knelt beside her, putting a gentle hand to her cheek, his magic, easily instinctive by now, flowing freely to cast Regen on her. "Are you all alright? We heard what they were threatening.."

"Take her and leave. Do not come back," Crysta's words hit Lightning hard and she slipped to her knees beside her mother. "You... you don't mean that. Mother, please..." She grasped the woman's hand, only to have it pulled away and the oldest woman hugged her son closer. "You aren't safe anymore, as long as you come to see us... now go." She tensed a little, looking away from them, holding her child tight against her, refusing to let anyone near him. Not Zack. Not Lightning. No one.

"Yer not safe here anyway, Chrysta.." he said it softly, shaking his head. Gerald entered the room, looking worse for wear. His glasses were broken, and only just barely on his purpling, slightly puffy face. He'd taken a beating, for sure. Zack stood, cracking his knuckles and sighing gently.. Going on a rampage wouldn't help things..

Gerald took in the scene, and heaved a little sigh at Zack's words, mentally replaying what had gone on. He knew his wife quailed at the idea of the outside world, but what choice did they have? "Chrysta." he said it in an authoritative voice, asserting himself as the man of the house, "Lightning is our daughter. She is always welcome here." there was no room for arguing, he wouldn't have it.

Lightning forced herself not to cry, her hands settling on her lap. Still, Crysta's words to follow forced those tears free. "She is not our daughter." It wasn't meant as harshly as it came. Still, it was harsh. "It is time we told her the truth, Gerald. She's an adult, not a child." Lightning gasped sharply, her eyes wide with tears, her face damp. "What do you mean I'm not your daughter?! Of course I am!!" She seemed angry, which she had a right to be, but she was mostly distraught.

Zack blinked, inferring the implication pretty easily, though Gerald shook his head. "It doesn't matter how she came to be ours, Chrysta, but she -is- our daughter. Just because you didn't bear her, does not make her any less our child, and you -know- that." he sounded very stern, enough that Zack wanted to sit down and shut up. Gerald's glare went to Lightning, and it softened, "Lighty.." an old nickname she likely hadn't heard in years, "Come here, help your old Dad to his chair, hm?" he did seem about to swoon, after all.

She staggered to her feet, grasping her father's hand and guiding him to his seat. "Please, explain what's going on..." She recalled taking the name 'Lightning' at fourteen, and it was difficult to even think of her real name, but that nickname felt natural. Still... she was suddenly realising why she called herself Lightning. "My... my parents are... dead." Her eyes widened at her realisation and she seemed very ill all of a sudden.

Chrysta gave a slight nod. "Your parents, your birth parents, die when you were fourteen. Seven years ago." The truth deserved to come out. Lightning needed to know she wasn't a little girl. She was an adult with adult responsibilities and a crystalised sister she needed to save. "Gerald... it's time. She has to know about what the Sanctum chose for her. For us..."

Zack listened as Gerald recounted how the Sanctum had placed Lightning, suffering severe mental shock at the time, with Chrysta and Gerald. They had wanted the couple to raise, and spy on, the girl, reporting her actions to them. At first it had been easy, but as she grew on the two loving parents, they began to feed Cocoon false information, until they tripped up recently, and were caught doing it... "And, well.. we might not be your real parents, but we're your parents, Lighty." Gerald concluded, hoping his daughter would understand. He loved her dearly, after all.

The teen shrank into her seat on the sofa, her knees hugged tightly to her chest. "Those... purging bastards. Using Serah's Focus against me..." She sighed heavily, tears staining her skin. Still, that meant that they'd never even met Serah and that she was the only person who seemed to know her face. Except Snow... She needed to talk to him. This was getting too much. Crysta offered a tad of information here or there then at Serah's name she frowned. "She was the first of the two of you to be a l'Cie. She completed her Focus before we even knew you. We were supposed to play the part of family until they were ready to kill you... but we couldn't do it."

Zack stood up, looking around and noting that it seemed oddly silent in the city. "Shit.. look, pack your things. Our airship's in the port, we're gettin' you three the hell off Cocoon." it wasn't a suggestion, no, there was a note of command in Zack's voice. "Lightning, you gotta pull it together for now, your folks aren't safe yet, not while we're here. Hell, they could be watchin' us right now, and we wouldn't even know it." he looked around, somewhat perturbed.

She brushed away her tears, pulling up her hood and standing. "Come on, kid. I'll help you pack." She grasped her adoptive brother's hand, leading him off to his bedroom, her jaw tense and her glare bitterly cold. Almost as if she was suddenly the cold, hard unfeeling soldier she used to be. Back when she worked in PSICOM. Crysta stood, trembling. "No, no! You cannot be serious. No way am I setting foot out of Cocoon. I don't need to be contaminated, thank you!!" She pouted firmly.

Zack sighed, rolling his eyes, in no real mood for hysterics, "Looks like someone needs a bit of reeducating." he leaned down, and hefted Chrysta over his shoulder, resting his hand on the small of her back, just over her butt. Then, he turned a little glare to Gerald, "Pack her stuff up, wouldja? Lightnin's got a lot goin' on, I guess, but she didn't shootcha. You know 'er well enough t'know she'll forgive ya when it ain't so hectic. Don't worry."

Crysta squealed as she was lumped over Zack's shoulder and she flailed like an angry cat. "Put me down!! I don't care if you're Lightning's boyfriend, you should not manhandle a middle-aged woman!!" She shrieked at him, her little form squirming. She barely even reached Lightning's shoulder in height so she was quite a small woman. Still, Lightning was tall at five foot ten.

"Settle down, Crysta, shrieking like a kid doesn't befit a lady, now does it?" he spoke sternly to her for once, not flirting, not making eyes, not even being charming. A SOLDIER spoke just then, and it wasn't exactly nice. Gerald had limped off to pack bags, and the kid was gone with Lightning, so he shifted her so he held her in his arms, "We're doing what's going to keep you safe and alive. You're Lightnin's parents, and it so happens that we like ya."

She huffed at him, crossing her arms and pouting. "You know, if you weren't nearly as charming as you usually are, I'd knock your block off." She seemed to be both quite serious and joking. She was an odd woman. "I refuse to set foot on ground outside of Cocoon. I don't want to be purged!" She huffed again, frowning at Zack.
Om
He brought her in close, almost intimately so, as when he spoke his lips nearly brushed hers. But it put his face right there in hers, so he could quietly say, "If you stay here, the soldiers will come back. They'll kill Gerald first, to break you. Then, when they're through hurting him, they'll start in on you, and trust me, when soldiers are unchecked, you'll wish you had it as easy as Gerald. Lastly, they'll break your boy, and make him into one of them." he held her gaze for a long time, feeling incredibly cruel for the honest truth, "You would rather stay here for such a horrible fate, than try living outside like we do?"

Crysta stared with wide eyes as he spoke then snuck a joke kiss against his lips, curling one arm around his neck and flinging the other out. "Then carry me off into the sunset!!" she glanced at the clock. It was morning. "Err... carry me off into the morning light!" She was trying to lighten the mood and push her fear away, but really, she was just covering it up with jokes to save herself from getting any more upset. She didn't plan to cry in front of anyone again.

Zack's eyes widened, and he jerked his head back, giving it a little shake. Okay, cute or not, her mother couldn't just go around kissing him.. But at least he'd gotten the point across. He set her down gently, and smiled reassuringly, patting her back, "Don't worry, Lightnin' and I won't let anything happen to you guys, okay? I promise."

She nodded, smiling lightly. "I'll go and help Gerald pack..." with that said, Crysta headed off out the room, along to her and Gerald's room. Meanwhile, Lightning was busy shoving clothes and toys into her brother's bags, a sigh escaping every few moments. Once she'd finished, she put his backpack on him and lumped dufflebags over her shoulders, her toned muscles tensing at the weight as they headed for the living room.

Zack looked at her with a soft smile when she came in, "Hey, it's all gonna be alright Lightnin'." he knew she would likely be snappish and mean, and was prepared for that.. She had every right to be upset, honestly, and he wouldn't begrudge her that. "Your brother got all his stuff?"

"Yeah." She said nothing about it being alright. She'd just realised so much that she'd forgotten. So much that was literally purged from her mind... "They'll be packed soon and we can find somewhere to drop them off. Somewhere near where you're from might be best. They aren't as primitive as Ivalice, they couldn't handle the lack of modern facilities..."

"Well, we'll introduce 'em to my folks in Gongaga. That ougghta set 'em up nice, and yer bro can learn a thing or two about Chocobos." he smiled reassuringly to her, and went to a window, peering out of it. Offhandedly, he remarked, "So, twenty-one years old, hmm?"

She nodded when he spoke about taking them to Gongaga. Cocoon and Sanctum wouldn't ever think about a place like that. At the remark about her age, she sighed slightly, frowning. "I still don't get that. I mean, I always thought Serah was only a bit younger than me... but she's three years younger. She's the age I thought I was..." She frowned more, crossing her arms tightly.

"Maybe that was to their benefit. If you thought you were younger, you'd act younger. You're supposed to destroy the world, right? Is there a time limit?" he frowned, and looked over to her, suddenly worried about her Focus.. she'd told him once about what would happen if she failed..

"I have to do it before the limit of my Focus is up. I... just can't remember how long that is." She sighed, fidgetting a little. "Me, Snow, Hope, Sazh... we became l'Cie at the same time... I wonder if any of them recall how long we have..." She frowned, looking at Zack. "Do you want to see a picture of Serah...?" It was one of two things she'd taken for herself. A framed picture of her and Serah, the other being a photo album from what was Serah's room. She knew this was their house... it just wasn't her birth family, aside from Serah.

"Your sister? Yeah, lemme see it.." he smiled at her, and nodded, "I mean, that way, when we kick Cocoon's ass and get 'er back, I'll know who I'm talkin' to." he tried not to show how worried he was about this whole Focus thing..

Lightning rummaged in a bag, withdrawing the framed photograph, holding it out to him. Serah looked like her, but she had a big grin while Lightning maintained a sour face in the picture. The older sister looked around the age she was now which meant it was taken just before Serah completed her Focus. "She... that was taken a little before she completed her Focus. She's... a crystal now. That's the fate of a l'Cie. Fail and become a... monster, succeed and become a crystal."

"Sounds kinda like it sucks to be an l'Cie.. no offence, Lightnin'.." he looked at her with longing, and desperation, "I.. what's gonna happen to you? Isn't there another option? Do your duty, but stay with Zack? I like that option."

Lightning frowned, shoving her hands in her pockets again. "Well, that's what we're hoping to figure out. I... haven't heard of a l'Cie doing anything like that. Some are given their Focus as a child and have their whole life to fulfil it. Others, like Serah, get a limited time." She sighed a little, her eyes on the floor.

Zack was silent for just a moment, before he shrugged and gave her a big ol' Zack smile, "Aw, well. Don't worry about it. You're gonna be my Lightnin' no matter what, even if I hafta kick some fal'Cie's sorry butt t'keep ya." he stepped close, taking the picture in hand and regarding it for a moment, before hugging her with one arm, "You were as cute a scowler back then as you are now.. gimme your sourest expression. C'mon."

She frowned, shaking her head. "The fal'Cie... they expect me to complete my Focus... and even if I do it unintentionally, like Serah, you have to help Snow, okay?" She glanced at her brother sat playing with an action figure. "Nh... Serah was always the cute one. When she got engaged to Snow, everyone expected it. He picked the social sister, after all..." she shrugged, scowling anyway, despite not wanting to give him that sour expression.

"What, did you want Mr. 33cm to pick you instead?" he smiled wryly, and looped his arm further around her, pulling her close and watching her kid brother. He didn't answer about helping Snow if she turned into a crystal or something, but he didn't deny her statement either.

"Guh, no. That good for nothing, unemployed, useless, overgrown... nhh... no. I wanted him to stay the Hell away from Serah." She pouted and crossed her arms over her chest. "She was just a kid. She was supposed to go to a really great university then she met him and came up with stupid notions about marriage."

Zack nodded softly, and gave her a curious look, "What was Serah's Focus? I mean.. is it really Snow's fault, what happened to her? As for her getting ideas about marriage.. well, she's her own woman, even a young woman. Like this blonde I know who tools around with a guy twice her age, flying airships, raiding supply lines, and acting piratey."

"I... can't remember. My head's a bit foggy..." She frowned, hugging herself. "I just know he didn't protect her like he promised." Lightning sighed, shaking her head. "I can't remember a few specifics but there are things I'm certain of." She stood quiet for a long moment before suddenly turning and hiding her face against Zack's chest.

"H-hey.. shhh.. it'll be okay. I'm here for ya, and no matter what, yer still my Lightnin', okay?" he slipped the picture onto a table, and hugged her close with both arms, cuddling the blonde close. "I believe ya, and I know yer sis needs help.. hell, she might as well be family. We'll find a way. C'mon, buck up."

"Hey... country boy... promise you'll break Snow's face if I screw up or complete my Focus and he doesn't save Serah. Promise?" She sighed softly, nuzzling his chest lightly. She was so set on saving Serah now. "I just know Jihl is behind this whole 'family of spies' thing. I know it... the bitch." She grumbled into his shirt.

"I'll get him for ya good. Ashe'll have to whip me twice as hard as last time. I promise." he had made several promises today.. important ones. He sighed, and hugged her tightly, "It'll all be okay. No-one here knows my folks, and you know they'll take care've yer family. Don't be too rough on Gerald and Crysta, okay? They're not the worst people you coulda been placed with.. they really love ya."

She mumbled a few more expletives, frowning for a long moment. Only when Crysta came into the room carrying her bags did she look up. "All set!" Crysta tried to keep smiling and picked up the photo of the sisters, smiling at it. "Don't forget this, Light." She smiled a little more carefully as the l'Cie took the picture. "Come on, we should head home." The Binah was her only home now.

Zack smiled to Lightning, then to Crysta, Gerald, and her little brother. "Alrighty, next stop, the Binah. Keep your heads down, and try not to look too conspicuous, hmm?" he winked to them, and nodded to Lightning, "You get 'em there safe, I'll take care of the distraction." he kissed Lightning gently, before pulling his sword free, lunging out the door, and slamming his shoulder into a man in uniform. "Whoop~ Well, catch me if ya can, Chumpy!" he turned, slapping another man on the hip with his sword, then tore off up the road, being chased with numerous shouts, and some gunshots.

As Zack took the initiative, she gathered things up with her family and headed out. Things seemed to be going pretty well, and they tried hard to look casual but as they made it into the hangar she set sights on that blonde woman made of pure evil. Jihl. "Shit! Everyone, on the airship now. I don't need complaints, just get your asses on it!!" She spoke in her sergeant voice and the pink haired family scrambled onto the Binah quickly. She was two steps away from being caught by the woman in charge of the man who'd been in charge of her. Bad day.

Zack suddenly landed on the hangar floor, still being chased by soldiers. He saw Lightning suddenly startled, and plowed headfirst into Jihl, winding up in a tangled mess on the floor with her. "Uhm.. whoops, sorry sweetheart." he patted her cheek, hopped up with a wink to Lightning, and dashed for the Binah. "Go go!"

Lightning gasped, looking entirely pleased seeing Jihl on her butt on the floor. As Zack darted on, she shouted for Xaon to start her up. Once he was onboard and they were taking off, Lightning closed the door and leaned against the wall. "Geez... I think seeing that shrill wench on her ass is the highlight of my day." She closed her eyes, exhaling.

Distracted by the noise, Angeal headed into the cargo bay, seeing all the pink-haired people. "...what's going on? I hear gunfire. Pup, y'okay?" He frowned, crossing his muscled arms. He was definitely concened and the looks on everyone's faces were worrying enough, even without the gunshots and shouting outside.

Zack sheathed his sword, because it was -that- kind of sword, then took stock. A little dishevelled, but he -had- had a faceful of shrill woman's chest.. always a bonus. "Well, I had to distract 'er, right Lightnin'?" he laughed softly, and nodded to Angeal, "Yeah, we're all fine.. turns out the army here was fixin' t'take out Lightnin's family, if they didn't betray 'er, so we're movin' 'em to Gongaga." he nodded to his mentor, "Sorry to leave ya outta the fun."

Lightning chuckled softly, shaking her head a little. Grabbing bags, she shoved them out the way then took her two things from one, heading for the bedroom. "We'll drop ya'll off at Gongaga then me'n Zack've got a hunt." She suddenly paused, noticing just how much like Zack she'd sounded. Laughing lightly to herself, she continued to her and Zack's room.

Angeal mussed Zack's spikey hair, laughing. "You always did have to be the Hero, huh?" He smiled at Zack then noticed Crysta staring at him and his pup with wide eyes. "Is something wrong, ma'am? Did genius-boy here do something stupid?" He hooked a friendly arm around Zack's neck. Really, it had to be obvious to Zack why Crysta was doe-eyed.

He smiled, laughing gently at Lightning's speech, before blinking at Crysta. Oh, jeez.. she got doe-eyed enough over -him-.. Angeal was pretty much a bigger, older, wiser Zack.. "Err.. Crysta! This is my mentor Angeal Hewley, ex-SOLDIER 1st Class!" another one for her brother to emulate, "We go way, way back. Heck, you could say that I'm th'man I am 'cause've him. Angeal, this's Crysta, Lightning's mom. And her husband Gerald, and their son Bobby." he nodded down to the smaller boy, wearing what almost looked like a handmade SOLDIER uniform. Sheesh.

Angeal shook Gerald's hand and kissed the back of Crysta's then crouched to Bobby, ruffling his hair. "Hey, don't blame me for a screw-up brat like you," he joked with Zack, smiling up at him. "You got yourself a nice SOLDIER uniform there, little man. You'd make a great SOLDIER when you're bigger. A real Hero, huh?" He winked a blue eye at the boy, patting his head gently.

The boy seemed thrilled, and Gerald, still puffy and bruised, shrugged his shoulders softly, "We should probably try to get some rest, though.. Bobby, you behave yourself, don't give your sister or Zack trouble. Or Mister Hewley." he chuckled, and nodded to his wife, "Shall we, dear?" Zack watched Angeal match his gentlemanly nature, and smiled to himself.. his friend really wore his sword well..

Crysta nodded and led Gerald off, finding an unoccupied spare room to sweep him off into. She was very, very out of sorts. Angeal stood, stretching out. "Hey... your lady seemed a little... out of sorts. I don't mind spending some time with Bobby while you go and check on her." He gave Zack's shoulder a friendly squeeze, his expression nothing short of fatherly right then. He was more than fine keeping an eye on Bobby. The kid looked like he could be fun! Angeal was a kid at heart, sometimes...

"Thanks Angeal.. yeah. Turns out she's adopted, and her folks were supposed to spy on 'er until the government was ready to kill her." he sighed, and pinched the bridge of his nose, "I don't even know where to start comforting her.. Lightning might just need someone to vent on. We'll see. Have fun with Bobby, eh? He's a great lil kid." he nodded to Angeal, and headed off to check on his partner.

Angeal seemed entirely surprised by the story but simply took Bobby off to go train on the deck. Lightning was sat on the bed. Her legs were grossed and she still had her hood up. The picture of her and Serah was on the nightstand on her side of the bed and she had the photo album open on her lap. She always did wonder why her parents looked so different in the pictures. The same hair and generally similar faces but so different now she knew.

Zack closed the door with a gentle click, and hung his sword on it's peg, looking across the room at his lover. "Lightnin'.." he spoke her name softly, wanting to be there for her, the way she had been there for him.. "Can I help..?"

"Not really. There's no way to bring back my real parents or even Serah right now, so..." she shrugged, pulling her hands into the sleeves of her white jacket, turning pages in the album slowly. "Want to see some pictures from when I was a kid?" She smiled slightly at him, though it barely even showed on her face.

That was a little chilling. He pulled off his gloves and slipped his boots off, smiling and nodding, "Yeah, I'd like that." he sat beside the girl, putting an arm around her and trying his best to be supportive and kind for her.

She flicked a few pages, neither leaning into him or pulling away. Finding a good page, she showed it to him. It had a picture of her at about nine and Serah at six, dressed almost identically, but she still had a scowly face. "I guess I wasn't a happy kid either..." she ran her finger over a picture of Serah as a baby, and her, at most four, holding her.

Lightning was scowling in that picture, too, "Heh, I think you -were- happy. See, you're all scowly, but look at your eyes. Each of this shots has you lookin' at Serah, and the smile you show me most times shines through like that.. You really love 'er, huh Lightnin'?"

"She's my baby sister... I raised her from the age of fourteen. She was only eleven." She sighed and leaned into him now. "I guess my issues about her being with Snow... were selfish." She knew that she'd felt like Snow was taking Serah away from her. She was a jealous girl, especially in certain circumstances.

Zack nodded a little bit, and smiled to himself.. he knew Lightning could be jealous.. It was likely he might hear about having his face in Jihl's admittedly ample chest, brief as that had been. "Well.. I can understand being a little jealous.. prolly like ya were havin' her stolen out from under ya, hm?"

"Yeah... just like that. It'd been me and her for so long..." She frowned and closed the album, setting it on the bedside table beside the framed picture. "I guess that I'm getting angry about Snow marrying Ashe because... well, she looks like Serah would at my age. Blonder, but she looks so much like her."

"Ah.. well, now that you mention it, she does.." he rolled his shoulders and sighed gently, hugging her close with one arm, "Well, I also know yer happy that he's gettin' hitched. Otherwise ya wouldn't be so pissed." he smiled and kissed her cheek, "Yer mom's goin' gaga for Angeal now, too."

"I guess..." she grumbled, pouting and tugging her hood right over her eyes. "Gods... can't she leave any man alone?! I'm surprised she's been married this long, always looking at other men." She shook her head, frowning. Lightning hugged her knees, resting her chin down on them. "Is it right that I'm not as upset as I should be?"

"Heh, yer Dad doesn't seem to mind her lookin'. Heck, I wouldn't mind you lookin', if that's whatcha wanted t'do. Long as ya came home when ya got hungry, if ya catch my drift." and even that was debateable, considering their intimacy with Xaon and Kiri.. He hugged her when she mentioned her mood, "Look.. you don't have to be upset with them, Lightning. I know it hurts, knowin' yer folks aren't who ya thought. But look at it another way. They raised you, took care of you'n yer sis, and did their best by you. Instead of selling you to the government, they did their best to protect you. If that doesn't say parents, I don't know what does."

"They didn't raise Serah. The pictures stop at the week before she finished her Focus. They're like... strangers, but not. I love them but I know they're not the real Mr and Mrs Farron. Not my real parents." She sighed and flopped to bury her face in the pillows, grabbing another and holding it over her head. "Once we finish the hunt, I want to go and speak to Snow. I need to..." she mumbled.

Zack sighed, "They are Crysta and Gerald Farron. They didn't birth you, no.. but they're your parents all the same. It's hard to get, but your parents aren't the people who provided the juice, they're the people who shaped you." he poked her gently, leaning down and kissing her sweetly, "And when we finish the Hunt, we'll be in Rabanastre, so we'll see Snow."

Lightning grumbled at him, pouting like a little kid. "I know..." she grumbled again, quite like an unhappy feline, all sprawled out on the bed with her pale pink, partly spikey, partly wavy hair a mess from her hood slipping back. "I just miss Serah. I'd think about visiting her crystal... if I could remember where it is and was even slightly brave enough..."

He patted her hip and smiled, "If you can remember where to go, I'll take you. I'd like to meet your sister." Zack really was a good guy, when it came to relationships. "Now either you scowl at me, and kiss me, or you smile at me, and kiss me." he leaned in close, grinning boyishly.

"How about I just scowl at you?" Her tone was dry and she seemed serious but she leaned up, grasping his shirt and drawing him into a kiss anyway. She might have been hard and cold for the most part but she still loved Zack and doubted that much would ever affect their relationship. In her opinion, they were solid.

Zack was of that opinion, too.. doubly so when his head spinning from one of her kisses.. "Mh.. I'd take scowls from you any day Lightnin'.." he grinned, and snuggled up to her, "You sure yer gonna be alright..?"

"I have to be. What kind of big sister would I be if I gave up on Serah?" She snuggled into him more, nuzzling his cheek with the tip of her nose, a frown seemingly stuck on her brow. "I just... I figure I need to apologise to Snow. And Ashe. I'm a jerk, and I was extra jerky with a side of bitch to go last time..."

"Perhaps, but I like jerky, and you in bitch mode is kinda hot." he smirked, but it was an honest truth.. Zack smiled to Lightning, and kissed the tip of her nose, "When we finish up this Hunt and drop yer folks off and we're back in Rabanastre, we'll go see Snow, and you can apologize."

"Yeah..." She snuggled into him, lying silent for a long moment before giving him a hard jab in the arm. Not enough to hurt a man like Zack but it'd probably numb the arm of any normal person. "That's for smushing your face in the chest of the enemy." She pouted at him, her pink brows furrowed.

He snickered softly, and shrugged gently, "Honestly, that was an accident.. Don't get me wrong, it was a pleasant accident, but if I'd meant to get my face all in her boobs, Lightnin', I'd have at least torn her shirt open on the way down." he smiled sweetly, and raised his brows, "And, if it matters, yours are better."

The woman laughed lightly, smiling just that tiny smile from earlier that wouldn't grow anymore. "Of course mine are better. They're not filled with pure evil. Just some mean..." She hooked an arm under her head, looking up at him from where she lay. She really was glad she had him and wasn't facing this alone. "I hope we can find Sazh soon. Even if he's a total idiot, who can't keep control over his happy beams for two minutes, he's my oldest friend..."

Zack smirked gently, and used both hands to gently cup and push her breasts together, laying his head on them with an appreciative noise, "That's the difference, yes. Evil boobs certainly cannot compare." he chuckled, leaving his head there and smiling gently, "I hope we find him, too, if only to see you happy, Lightnin'."

She laughed almost incredulously at his actions, soon curling her arm around his neck, stroking his hair gently. "Happy? Sazh makes me so angry sometimes... but he's got a really good heart. He was in the army with me. That woman, Jihl... she took his son. He was crystalised, like Serah, and she said the sanctum would use him as a monument. I've never seen Sazh so upset..." She sighed softly. "Still, he's always smiling. Got a thing for chocobos, too."

"Sounds like a doofus SOLDIER I know." he smirked, speaking against her chest, rather pleased with his current positioning. Who wouldn't have been? This was pretty primo real estate. "Hmph.. sorry, but it seems like everyone on the up in Cocoon is a buncha jerks. A woman with evil boobs, that whole army of jerks, and fal'Cie things that turn you into stuff? Yeah.."

Lightning smiled a little. "Yeah, you guys would get on like a house on fire. Sazh is just... he's crazy." She chuckled as he listed the problems with Cocoon. "Yeah, well, me and Sazh were smart enough to get the heck out of thhat army. Our devision, PSICOM, was probably one of the most brutal..." She scrunched her nose a little.

"Heh, well, I like ya just fine. Love ya too, heh." he smiled, cuddling against her, moving his hands from her chest, to wrap his arms around the girl, though he kept his head where it was. "PSICOM huh..? Well.. it's good thatcha got out.. SOLDIER wasn't the nicest group either, especially in Wutai."

"Being in the army -sucks-." She huffed and buried her face in his hair, curling her arms around him in return. "I was a sergeant... but I can't say I ever enjoyed the work. It was just for a living, y'know? Serah needed school fees and we needed to eat... the best pay in Cocoon is working for the Sanctum. Mindless drones is all they wanted."

"Heh, see.. I loved bein' part of SOLDIER. Helpin' the people, and bein' looked up to? Yeah.. it really appealed. Wutai was the worst part, honestly.. we were told they were responsible for terrorist attacks, and sometimes that was true, but ShinRa was really pushing in to crush the local government, and build a mako reactor over an especially large font of mako." he sighed, sounding ashamed, "That sucked." and still haunted his dreams.. thankfully he didn't have the night terrors he'd used to, where Angeal had had to come and shake him awake, and calm him down.

She nodded slightly, kissing his head. She knew he had the occasional nightmare. Not terrors, no, but he sometimes looked like a frightened little kid in his sleep. She kept odd hours, waking every few and sleeping later than him, but the times she awoke she'd see his frown in his sleep. "Yeah... but I guess we can only try to put the bad stuff behind us. It'd be dreadful to keep hold of it forever..."

"Like we said before.. if we held onto every death we caused.. we'd go crazy. War makes monsters out of all of us. There're no winners, not really." he sighed gently, and kissed the top of the curve of her breasts, in a more affectionate than lusty manner. "I wish I was more helpful, s'all.." Really? Hm.

"You're plenty of help, Zack. I mean that." She tilted her head to look at his face as best she could. "You're my Hero, remember, country boy. Need me to start calling you Wonder Boy to prove it?" she smiled softly at her lover, brushing her thumb over his cheek. "Hey... kiss me, Zack..." Lightning suddenly looked as if she really did need to be comforted.

It was just that sometimes, that tough girl facade he so loved made him feel as if he wasn't the Hero he tried to be.. He hugged her close, leaning up and pressing a gentle, loving kiss to her lips. Not breaking it there, one hand found the back of her head, cradling it while his tongue slipped past her lips, deepening the kiss somewhat passionately. The kind of kiss that'd curl toes.

Her toes really did curl, insider her socks, and Lightning kissed back as her hands seemed unmovable from his shirt. A slight sound of pleasure she arched into him a little. "Nh..." it almost came as a whimper but Lightning was definitely enjoying the passion. It was true that, sometimes, she tried to act like she didn't need a Hero, but she did. She needed Zack to be her Hero. He was her Hero, even if she acted like a Heroine herself, sometimes.

The country boy held the kiss for a good, long time.. squeezing her in his arms and cuddling up tight to her. When he eventually broke it, he rested his lips and forehead against hers, "I love you Lightnin'.. I do my best for ya.. just.. sometimes it seems like I'm not really helpin'." he lifted up and smiled softly, "But that's just me bein' a bit down, too. Just those little smiles say I'm helpin'."

She smiled softly, brushing back his spikes, curling her fingers in his hair. "I love you Zack. You do your best which is all I need. Even if it seems like you're not helping, you are. You'd know if you weren't. I'd lash out at you for it," she spoke against his lips and then when he lifted up, she followed, kissing him again. "I'll try to smile a little more, but only for you. No one else." She didn't like smiling for anyone but Zack. Not properly smiling, where she let herself feel it.

Zack grinned at Lightning, and nuzzled her hair sweetly, "Okay.. You're just a tough cookie sometimes, it's hard to know that what I'm doing isn't just annoying." he pinched her waist playfully, and smiled, "You feelin' any better..?"

"Hey, I never said you weren't annoying," she teased, kissing his cheek. "I feel a bit better. I guess it's a process." She smiled at him, running her thumb over his scarred cheek. "Thanks for everything, Zack," Lightning whispered, her face as sincere as she could possibly manage, a slight smile in place.

The man smiled back at her, eyes glowing as he watched her, "Lightnin', you're welcome. You're welcome t'anythin' I can give ya, and anythin' I can do for ya. I'm here for ya." he sounded just as sincere, and it was true, he'd give anything of himself just to see her happy.

She smiled and leaned in to his him softly, her arms curling around his neck. She was happy. Even with everything; her parents, her sister, Snow getting married, her Focus and the war on the Sanctum... she was happy with Zack. She knew that she would always find safety and comfort in his arms.

Zack held her close for quite some time, gently stroking her hair and her back, murmuring sweet nothings into her ear. He didn't really care whether she was an orphan raised by spies, or a person hell bent on destroying a world because something told her she had to. She was Lightning, -his- Lightning, and that was all he counted on.