(no subject)

[frozenlightning.livejournal.com]

Who: Zack, Lightning, pirate girl Rosslin
What: Defeating monsters, earning rewards, arguing, sexing
Where: Balfonheim, Cerobbi Steppe
When: After being dropped off
Rating: NC-17


As the Strahl flew away, Lightning gave a slight smile before turning to Zack. "Well. This is Balfonheim... How does it feel to have your sword back to its former glory?" Nono had done an incredible job. The weapon looked like it was brand new and even Lightning had shown how impressed she was by it. As the teen glanced around, her eyes were wide in wonder at the little seafront town. It was busy and exciting. Something she was enjoying. The whole place seemed as though it was buzzing and she couldn't help but want to explore it more. All manner of pirates swarmed the area, from Sky to Sea to Land. It was amazing!

Zack absently reached behind him and touched the shining blade of his sword, smiling despite himself, "Feels fantastic, Lightnin'. Weight's been lifted, even Angeal couldn't complain that it's been used so much. That Moogle outdid 'imself." he hadn't asked about any extra Mithril, figuring he owed Fran and Balthier something, and Mithril was always a rare metal, no matter where he'd been. The town was amazing, really, and he couldn't help but notice just how varied the people there were. "Awright, yup, this -is- Balfonheim. Where d'you wanna go first Lightnin'?"

"That's good. I'd hate to think of your friend assuming you'd overused it to the point of it being as it was." She chuckled a little, smiling up at Zack before casting her eyes on their surroundings once again. The place was exceedingly alive... As she looked around, the young girl spotted an inn named the Whitecap. Pointing to it, she smirked. "There. We can get a drink and ask about airships. No doubt someone in a pub at a pirate port will know a little something." Without another word, she began in that direction.

Zack fell into step beside her, grinning as he went, "The Whitecap eh? Sounds like a nice place." his keen aqua eyes glanced here and there as he went, noticing the seedier side of a pirate town that was under all the romanticised ideals about the pirate's life. A drunk in an alley, a purse cutter, several toughs with knives currently heading into a plain looking building that was likely some sort of 'social club'. Zack knew what to look for, it was the same anywhere really, but he wasn't about to let it catch him off guard.

As she entered the bar, Lightning ducked almost instantly as a bottle was tossed at the door. It smashed against the wall and she rolled her eyes. Were they always going to walk into Ivalice bars right when a bar fight was about to begin? Stopping herself from demanding to know who threw it, she moved past a few brawlers and headed for the bar. "Two ales." Lightning placed some gil down and the bar wench simply smiled... though it was rather a wicked smile she gave the teen. Another barmaid gave a more apologetic smile. "Sorry 'bout the boys, miss. Place 'as been 'ell since our leader went out and got 'imself killed."

Zack stepped over a pair of wrestling men, eyeing one who came at him with a tankard, his fingers shooting forward stiffly to catch him in the chest, where he dropped, gasping for breath. He wasn't about to play the same ignorant routine a second time in Ivalice. The man returned the wench's wicked smile with one of his own, that suggested things that might even make her blush, letting his eyes roam over her for a moment, before his expression turned flat, dismissing her. He hadn't been flirting, as much as claiming Lightning for his own, putting a hand on her hip while they waited. To the other barmaid, however, Zack gave a small smile, "No problem, I'm sure it helps add to the.. ambience."

"Sure does, lad." The girl winked and the drinks were soon turned over. Lightning took one glass and took rather a large gulp of it, able to handle her drink well. Of course she could, she'd spent more than enough evenings drinking with her soldier comrades. It didn't help, however, that not only did a few men eye her up, that first barmaid held rather an interested expression for the teen. Sure, she had a few odd interests herself but she was feeling a little uncomfortable.

Zack kept his hand on her hip, and took her to an empty table, taking a long pull from his mug. He met the eyes of half the men in the room who were looking the blonde over, his gaze promising terrible things for them. Some blanched and averted their gaze, others held it for a moment before looking down at their drinks. Zack was a hardened killer, in the sense that he'd lost count of enemies slain in battle, so his gaze reflected that sometimes. He set his drink down, and pulled Lightning's chair out, chuckling, "Don't worry, I'm here with ya." he was receiving a fair share of lingering glances himself, though he hadn't begun to notice.

The teen's own cold, spiteful glare was given out to almost everyone in the bar. Just a little warning that if anyone made an approach on Zack, she'd rip their arms off and beat them with them. "I never claimed to be worried. Just... uncomfortable." She was used to that feeling, though, and managed to surpress it as well as most of her other emotions. The young girl drank down some more of the alcohol before crossing her arms on the table. "Do you suppose we could get someone's attention long enough to ask about airships? They all seem preoccupied by fighting."

"Between us staring death at people interested in bedding us, and the fighting, I'm not sure if we'll find anyone just now." he sat down beside her, his sword hardly an imposition, as he was used to handling it by now. He pitched his voice to travel, though, "But you and I can talk about how we're looking to buy an airship, if you like." he was about as subtle as a train wreck, there, but with everyone distracted, Zack figured it would get their attention.

It certainly did. A young girl with a bandana holding her wavy brown hair back from her face found herself at their table. She wore a grey top that only just covered her large breasts, a pair of leather hotpants and boots with heels that were as impractical as a Viera's shoes. "Lookin' for an airship, y'say? Well, I might just be able to help ya there." She swung a chair around and straddled it, her arms crossing on the back of it as she winked at the blonde at the table.

Lightning raised an eyebrow at her scantily clad appearance but simply rested her chest on her arms. "You, hm? You've got access to airships and can get us one?" It was a long shot, especially with how this woman seemed highly unlikely to have any sort of control in this male dominated port, but she was willing to find out just exactly what this girl could do to help them.

Zack eyed the girl for a moment, with passing interest, and chuckled. He took a slow drink from his mug, and set it down, "Well, we'd be willing t'do a few favours if it got us some wings." his tone was low enough that those not at the table wouldn't hear their conversation. By favours, he of course meant killing monsters or finding items, the sort of jobs anyone with his, or Lightning's, experience could handle. He had some gil, sure, but likely not near enough to afford a ship that wouldn't just explode.

The brunette chuckled and caught Zack's chin with her fingers. "I ain't lookin' for any favours you can give me, farmboy." It was suggestive but she just laughed and crossed her arms again. "The names Rosslin. I got an airship that needs a bit o'work but she's enough for two of ya." She leaned closer to the two. "There's jus' one thing I need ya'll to do for me."

She tensed as the woman touched Zack but was soon relaxing once she made things clear. "Well, this has to be something pretty big if you're going to pay us with an airship. We're not open to just about anything." She frowned slightly, watching Zack for a moment. She wasn't sure what this 'one thing' was but it probably wasn't going to be something easily done.

Zack smirked, "I wasn't offerin' more'n I could do with m'sword, but if y'just need the one thing done, I'm sure we can handle it." a fixer-upper huh..? Well, maybe he could find a mechanic, to add to their 'crew'.. "Though, it's gotta be able t'hold a coupla Chocobos." he wasn't going to take a ship that would mean they'd have to leave Nora and Big Guy behind..

"Sure it can." She gave a nod before reaching in her back pocket and pulling a piece of paper from it. Unfolding it, she slid it across the table to them. "This thing, 'ere. It's a big ol' nasty out on the Cerobbi Steppe, just up from 'ere. If you can kill this Wyrm, the ship's all yours. Gotta bring me proof, mind." On the paper, a large, four-legged beast was pictured. It had a ring around its neck that seemed to just float there and horns that looked hideously painful.

Lightning eyed the paper for a long moment. "Alright. We'll kill it and be back for the airship." She looked to Zack, just to confirm that they were going after the beast. Of course, if he had a problem with it, she'd back off and let him think things through but it seemed like a fair enough deal and the note did say that the fiend was terrorising travellers on the Steppe. If seemed pretty much like a no-brainer.

"Yeah, no worries. Looks almost like the Zolom, if ya give the big snake some legs. And y'say we can find this ring Wyrm thing out on the Cerobbi Steppe? No problemo then, s'not like we can miss somethin' that big." he grinned at Lightning, and took the paper, folding it and slipping it into the inside pocket of his jacket. "Name's Zack Fair, and t'prove we killed th'thing, we'll bring that ring 'round it's neck for ya." he knew it would be a hard fight, and one they might rightly not win, but he wanted that ship, mostly for Lightning. A man's place was makin' his girl's dreams come true, right?

Rosslin smirked. "You bring me that ring an' I'll be impressed." She held her hand out to Zack, her red fingernails long and in perfect condition, considering her occupation. "It's a deal?" With a smile she winked at Lightning, soon returning her gaze to the black haired man she had her hand out to. It seemed she would finally be able to travel the Steppe with her friends and not be worried about getting eaten. If they could kill it, of course.

Lightning settled back into her seat, drinking her beer. She didn't mind this woman all that much and she seemed to have only a mild interest in Zack. If anything, she noticed the slight amount more interest in her that she had. This didn't really bother the teen, though and she simply settled. If they could kill this Wyrm, it would mean they'd be able to have an airship and live how they wanted, rather than how their commanding officers told them to.

Zack took the woman's hand, and instead of kissing her knuckles, as he was wont to do with any woman's hand, he shook it softly. "Y'got yerself a deal then, Miss." and he let her hand go, then got back to drinking his drink. Absently, he nudged Lightning's leg with his own, raising a brow, and setting down his now-empty mug, "You wanna get goin' now, then? I mean, Nora'n Big Guy're stabled, so we can just go on up without worryin' about 'em gettin' hurt."

The teen nodded and stood, after downing her drink, brushing back strands of pinkish blonde hair. "We'll meet you here." She informed Rosslin before slipping out of the bar, whether Zack was following or not, just heading right in the direction that the odd signpost here or there told to. If they were to fight and bring down something as large as this, she wanted to get it done as soon as possible without having to put too much force into it. Lightning wasn't prone to working harder than she had to, she preferred to store up energy.

Zack stood, and mock-saluted, before heading off after Lightning, a chuckle leaving him. The girl certainly knew how to keep his attention, and he'd rather be following her than leaving her behind. Of course, following her, he got to see more of her behind, which wasn't a bad thing to see, at any point in time. He sidled up beside her at the signpost, and smiled slightly, "Y'got everythin' y'need? Potions and whatnot, just in case? It's a dragon, wyrm, drake, thing.. after all."

"Yeah, I've got everything. Are you prepared?" She tilted her head up to look at his face, having no idea about the thoughts he'd had concerning walking behind her. If she'd known, she would've probably reprimanded him or flirted somewhat. Lightning looked out to the way to the Steppe and frowned just slightly. "I'm certain we can manage this better than how we managed the Zolom..."

"Just one thing, just in case.." he seized her in his arms and turned her around, kissing her lips gently, before he kissed her, long and affectionately. Sure, it was the middle of the street, but he'd gone for a good while with men, and women, ogling his Lightning. That, and when he broke the kiss, he chuckled, "Now, in case anything goes wrong.. I don't have any regrets."

Lightning made a slight noise as she was dragged about but as soon as he kissed her, her eyes fell shut and her hands rested on his forearms. He certainly had his ways of charming her without any words but when he spoke, she laughed softly. "If one of us dies out there, the other one has to bring the body back, got it?" She was teasing, of course, but it was something she was sure should be commonplace. No man left behind. Dead or alive.

Zack grinned softly, "Of course. How else would I get a Phoenix Down onto you?" he let her go reluctantly, and cleared his throat, "Alright! Let's get moving then, shall we? Before it hears us coming and runs for it's life." Zack laughed a little, and started walking up the road, the way the sign said to go. He didn't know his way around here after all.

Lightning smiled lightly. She knew there was a certain point when the body wouldn't react to Phoenix Downs nor Raise spells, but she wouldn't point it out. Instead, she just followed along behind her black haired lover, silent as she walked, her green eyes scanning the Cerobbi Steppe. The grassy plains were dotted with ruins and the dirt road was damp with rainwater. Everything was eerily silent, however.

Zack knew it too, but he wasn't about to point it out. He noticed the silence, and slowly drew the Buster Sword off his back, carrying it low, in one hand, with a loose wrist. The man wasn't about to risk falling in a random fight with the wildlife, especially when he wasn't willing to die to that wyrm either. "Gimme a signal if ya see it first, hmm?" his voice was low, but with the silence, it would work fine to get the message to her.

The girl only nodded but she took a few more steps ahead, over a grassy hill before holding a hand back at Zack and pointing in the direction she'd been headed. Down at the other side of the hill, the wyrm was laid. Asleep. The teen pressed her pointing finger to her lips and used her free hand to beckon Zack closer. She wasn't about to shout to him and wake the wyrm. That would cost them a very good advantage that they could certainly use with a beast as large and as bloodthirsty as the one they were stalking.

Zack let out a low breath, dropping to a crouch that was very impressive, considering he still held his sword, and was creeping up a hill on the other side. He kept very quiet and still once he could see the Wyrm, not even letting out his customary low whistle at the sight of something shockingly large and awe inspiring. Waiting on Lightning to give the signal to move, he stayed right where he was.

Mouthing the word "now" to Zack, she drew her own weapon and began a run towards the Wyrm, her gravity shifting as she did, lifting her off the ground as she struck the first blow to the beast, against the back of its neck. From this point, she was certain it would wake up confused, in pain and angry as Hell but that was simply something they'd have to deal through. As her blade cut the back of the Wyrm, blood splattered back at the teen's face.

Zack grinned as it roared, waking up to the shock of it's life. He had been slower than Lightning due to her gravity, so when he leaped at it, it was right into the beast's huge, open mouth. Grunting as his heavy boots rested on teeth that could have easily torn him apart, Zack flipped his sword around, and drove it into the bottom of the Wyrm's mouth, hauling back on it as he jumped free, and opening a wide, splitting gash in it's lower jaw. "Whoo, betcha didn't like that, huh?" he rolled to one side as he landed, grinning.
"Zack, we're supposed to kill it, not antagonise it!" Lightning began to expand a bomb in her hand and threw it with as much force as she could muster, soon following it up with a succession of slightly smaller bombs. Each of them exploded against the Wyrm's skin, leaving opened wounds and flesh that looked as though it'd been burned into. Glaring in focus, she took control of her weapon, changing it to a gun and shooting at the beast's head.

Zack's technique seemed to have the desired effect, though. With a roar that could have split the earth beneath them, it lunged for the SOLDIER, who slammed the flat of the Buster Sword against the side of it's jaw at the last second. The bite instead got the bleeding monster a mouthful of dirt, Zack threw himself to one side, and rolled to his feet. "Someone's gotta give you the chance to kill it!" he grinned, loving a good fight, and aimed a slice at the monster's head, carving off a slab of flesh and scales.

Lightning laughed slightly, taking the chance to run up the Wyrm's back and force her hands into the gaping wound on its neck, casting an expert level lightning spell. The very act hurt her hands and the way she had shifted to straddle the Wyrm's shoulders meant her thighs were receiving some of the shock as well. Even if she was resiliant to this spell, she wasn't immune and it ached each place she made contact to the beast. However, the spell seemed to daze the Wyrm long enough for it to come crashing to the ground.

Zack shifted his grip, the Buster Sword flying behind his back, arms over his head as he leaped into the air. The Wyrm hit the ground, and he used all of his strength, shouting as he did so, to slam his oversized weapon into the monster's neck. It splintered scales like they were brittle, not the hardened armor of a dragon, cutting through it's flesh like butter, and finally lodging in it's spine. The wound was a mortal one, but Zack's sword was stuck for the moment. He kicked off, half-soaked in hot blood, hoping it would just die soon. While he got his bearings again, after that Braver, getting ready to let loose with a Break spell, or perhaps an Earth-based attack..

The beast, however, refused to move anymore, simply wheezing in pain beneath Lightning. The teen closed her eyes for a moment but managed to yank her hands from the wound. She pressed her right one to the Wyrm's head and let a gravity bomb finish it off. Slipping from the beast, she shook her head slightly as the ring crashed to the ground. "...Such a shame," she murmured, watching the dead beast give involuntary muscle spasms.

The ex-SOLDIER took hold of his sword, gritting his teeth with both feet on the dead monster. He hauled on it, jerking it a few times, before it came free, sending him sprawling on his back with a grunt. "Yeah.. well, it had t'be done. This way it won't be hurtin' anyone, and we got an airship outta th'deal." he stood, cleaning his sword off on the grass before putting it on his back, and turning to Lightning, "You alright?"

She gave a nod, ignoring the mage burn on her hands and the electrical burns on the insides of her thighs. "I'm fine. ... You're right. It wasn't a friendly creature. It's better we did this." She shook out her hands, flicking away some of the blood and casting Water on her own hands, washing them off. That, of course, caused more bruising to appear on her knuckles but her blue leather gloves hid most of them.

"Hey, careful with the spells, you can only cast so many." he looked concerned, and tilted his head, not wanting to annoy her by seeming like he didn't trust the blonde. Instead, he ignored the blood all over him, and, after wiping his hands on the grass, Zack inspected the ring. With a sigh, he readied his weapon again, "Might wanna stand back a bit, I'm gonna finish takin' off this head so we can get this ring off."

:Lightning nodded and stepped back, frowning. She was more than addept with magic and didn't need to be told when to stop. She'd suffered mage burn far worse than this before. She shifted a distance away and seated herself on the grass, wincing only slightly. She'd wait until they were in possession of that ring and then in possession of an airship before she dealt with the electrical burns sprawled across her thighs. They were certainly stinging and she could feel blood in places but she was willing to wait it out.

If Zack had known, he'd have seen to her first, having expended no magic during the fight, as he often did. He liked to be prepared, but the man most often used his spells for utility purposes, such as lighting fires or charging batteries. He hacked and cleaved, eventually carving off the Ring Wyrm's head, and, after cleaning his sword again, grabbed hold of the massive thing, and began rolling it off to one side, so the ring they were after would be freed. "Phoo, think we make a great team, Lightnin'." he'd been thinking, though, that if they were any kind of air pirates, as she'd professed to wanting to try being, he'd need lighter, smaller weapons.. The Buster Sword would be too big for confined areas, despite his love for, and expertise with, the huge blade.

The teen smiled lightly and as soon as he had hold of the ring, she stood again, dusting off her clothes and wiping some blood from her face. "Mm. We do." She walked over to him, teeth gritting each time her thighs caught eachother. The friction made the wounds sting more. "Come on, let's head back. I have some things I need to take care of." Brushing back her hair, she crossed her arms, smiling at him.

Zack heaved the ring off the ground, carrying it over his head, as it was bloody huge, and heavy to boot. "Things, hmm? Should I ask, or is this something you're not going to tell me about?" he didn't jibe, or aim to insult or anger her, he was simply asking how it was. He knew there were lines that Lightning would rather he didn't cross, so the man didn't want to cross them. "Though if I can help, I'd like to." he was still flush with victory, and boldness came with that.

"I've just got to deal with some... girl things." She shrugged a little, eyeing his body as he carried that ring. Sure, she was the stoic one of the two but it didn't mean she wasn't a hormonal teenager. Lightning fliched slightly as her blood trickled from the burn down the inside of her knee and into her boot. Sighing slightly, she tugged her skirt down just a little more, glad that Zack was distracted with the exceedingly large and heavy Wyrm ring and wasn't trying to look at her thighs. She wasn't willing to admit her own magic had been too much for her.

The man knew well enough to leave that alone, "Well.. erm.. alright then." he shifted his weight, the muscles in his neck and chest tense from carrying the thing. Fully stretched out as he was, Zack's body was displayed to one of the better advantages it had. "As long as yer alright." he didn't dismiss anything, because even 'girl things' could be code for something he just wasn't aware of. Zack was good at reading people, especially women, but Lightning was something of an enigma at times.

"I'm fine." It came out rather cleanly and as they reached the entrance to Balfonheim, she nodded once to the little moogle Chocobo rancher, stroking a hand over Nora's beak as they passed. "We shan't be long, precious," she murmured, smiling at the bird before leading Zack back towards the Whitecap inn. She pushed the door open and gestured to Rosslin to come outside. It'd be easier that way.

The girl gave her female companion a wink before strolling out, eyes widening at the ring. "So. Ya'll did it. Gotta say, I'm impressed." She beckoned with her finger as she turned to head for the Aerodrome, where her airships were docked. The girl had two. One, she was giving them and a smaller one she was keeping for herself.

Zack shifted his weight again, not tired, though his shoulders felt rather tight and a little cramped, "Where d'you want this thing?" he asked it in a clipped tone, as he wasn't exactly carrying a bag of feathers. The man looked back and forth, towards the Aerodrome, and back to Lightning and then the brown-haired girl. People were looking, too.

"Oh. Just roll 'er inside. I'll have my boys watch it." She gestured to the pub before continuing to the Aerodrome, snatching Lightning's wrist to make her keep up alongside her. "Just so y'know, honey. You got yourself big burns spreadin' over yer arm." She murmured the words, pointing to the burned patches on Lightning's exposed arm.

Lightning brushed her fingers over it before wrapping her hand around the bulk of it to hide it. She knew the burns on her arms were extreme mage burn. Great, Zack was going to lecture her on overdoing it now. Sighing she nodded once to Rosslin. "Thanks." With a glance, she looked over her shoulder to Zack. He really did care, she knew that, but Lightning wasn't one for being told when she'd done too much.

He wouldn't have lectured her, not about overdoing it. He'd certainly have tended her wounds, and not said a word about it, since they'd gotten out without the beast even landing a good, solid hit. No, what he'd have words about was hiding things like that from him. He rolled the ring into the pub, "Catch!" he winked as it was caught by a pair of burly men, and Zack turned, coming back out and rolling his shoulders. She was still hiding her burns, so Zack couldn't know about 'em.

Rosslin led the pair inside the Aerodrome and towards a rather beautiful airship. It wasn't as large or as magestic as the Strahl but it was attractive in its own way. "Well, 'ere she is. You're free t'do what you want with 'er." Rosslin pulled a piece of paper from her pocket and stuffed it in Zack's hand. "The papers to say she's yours." She smiled before strolling right past him. "See ya 'round, I guess!"

Lightning watched Rosslin walk away and smiled before gazing at the airship. "...she's perfect." Without anymore words, she took a small jog closer and opened the hatch to get in, smiling widely as she examined the inside. It was dusty and things definitely needed fixing up but the craft was in amazing condition. Especially considering how long it'd been sat there; though Rosslin wasn't foolish enough to tell them that.

Zack smiled softly, pocketing the ownership papers and nodding to Rosslin as she took off. "Thanks a million." he turned to inspect their ship, when he saw Lightning's legs. Blinking, rather confusedly, he also noticed the burns on her arms, and frowned. His elation dampened slightly, he approached the blonde, "Hey, yer bleedin'n you've got plenty've burns." his tone was flat, and he levelled a rather stern look at her, though it did well to hide the hurt he felt, clutching in his chest. Did she care so much about being tough that she'd go on, wounded, without stopping to tend herself? If he'd been hurt, he'd have patched himself up before heading back.

The girl frowned, looking away from him. "They're nothing. I've had worse." She shook her head slightly and moved to the small bathroom onboard. The girl seated herself on the edge of the tub and pulled off her boots, pulling a cloth from her pouch and soaking it with water before beginning to wipe away the blood. She wasn't the kind of person to tend injuries out in the open unless they were simple and in less embarrassing places. With the burns being on her thighs, she wasn't prepared to sprawl her legs back on the Cerobbi Steppe.

Zack followed her into the ship with a small frown, leaning against the doorframe and watching the wall to help preserve her modesty. "I know you've had worse, and it doesn't bug me that you have those.." there was the undercurrent of wounded trust, rather than wounded pride, in his tone, "Even if you didn't want to tend them there, why didn't you mention it to me? 'Girl stuff'? I hardly count mage burn, among other kinds of -burns- as 'girl stuff', Lightnin'." his eyes were dull, and he looked away, sighing softly, "I don't wantcha getting hurt one day, trying to shrug it off, and then bein' -really- hurt 'cause of you wantin' t'be some kinda tough girl." he was speaking his mind, now, because it was how he saw it. Was he wrong? Right? Who knew?

Gritting her teeth, Lightning shook her head a little, eyes on the marred flesh of her thigh. "I didn't tell you because I chose not to. If I was seriously wounded, I'd tell you. I'm not a child; don't talk to me like I am one." She pulled a potion from her pouch then moved to unbuckle the straps on that thing, peeling it from her skin with whispered expletives. She wasn't doing it to be 'some kinda tough girl', it was purely the fact that she'd learnt not to rely on anyone but herself. It was a hard thing to do but she wasn't able to break habits so quickly and it wasn't an intentional move to dent his trust but she just simply didn't want to rely on anyone. Even if Zack was different, she'd relied on people in the past and found herself worse off.

Zack nodded, and continued to watch the wall, "I'll keep that in mind, Lightnin'." he was obviously hurt by her words, and while his voice didn't do much to disguise it, he had a stoney look on his face. He couldn't look at her without losing his resolve, which is what happened when he did. The stoney look left his face, and Zack's shoulder flared with the internal light of a materia orb being accessed. He knew he wasn't the best with spells, and only had a limited repertoire of spells he could cast until he got burned for it. He let a Curaga spell, then another, wash over her, before he stopped. "I'm not so useless that I can't even handle your little hurts, Lightnin'. There's no need for you to walk around in pain." he spoke to her with a slightly harsh edge to his tone, treating her like she'd asked; like an adult who'd hurt his feelings, and raised his ire slightly.

Shuddering slightly, she exhaled after his spells were cast then continued with her potion, rubbing it into the burns on her thighs. By this point, she'd gone quiet. lightning had nothing to say that wouldn't come out the wrong way. She didn't want to make things worse than they already were and her eyes were stinging. Lightning knew that if she cried it would seem like a trap to get him to just apologise so she choked back the tears. Sure, her stomach was aching at the guilt she felt for talking to him this way but it was hard for her to rely on him. To rely on anyone, really. After a few brief moments, she finished and began to work an ether into her hands and arms, after removing gloves and guards. A second or so later, a rather choked sound came followed by, "I'm sorry..."

Zack's heart almost broke at the choked sound, and he realized then that he was most likely being some horrible jerk to her. He got down, sitting on his knees, and taking her hands in his after she'd finished with her ether, "Look.. I don't think I've been fair.." he gently kissed her hands, despite the medicine on them, "I.. it must be hard to have someone to lean on when you haven't had that.." he assumed that Lightning, like him, assumed that those people in her unit would be reassigned or killed sometime, "I.. I want you to rely on me to be there for you.. eventually. I mean, when you're ready.. I'm sorry if I've made you feel bad.. it just hurt.. and I think I had the wrong idea." he was babbling, nervous but sincere.

Looking away, she bit the inside of her cheek to keep from crying. "It's okay... I just... you're right. I'm not used to relying on people." It was for the exact reason he assumed. People were killed, reassigned... removed, they were never there long enough for her to put much trust in. It was always her choice to be a soldier and, even when she went AWOL in favour of joining Team Nora, it was still hard to place faith in them. They were a group of no more than twenty and, although they were a tight group, they weren't all as close as most would assume. Her eyes were stinging and she just couldn't look at him. she knew she'd cry.

Zack squeezed her hands gently, and kissed them a few more times, "You can -always- rely on me, Lightnin'." they'd just killed a dragon with no wounds caused by the monster, after all. He stayed where he was, absently using progressively weaker Cure-type spells until he felt his perception sway, a type of swoon he'd always associated with being out of potential magic. Maybe he was overdoing it, but he wanted to be sure everything was okay. "I already know what it's like t'die. It ain't pleasant, and I don't aim to do it again." Zack was possessed of a goodly amount of joie de vivre, a lust for life that was only amplified by his previous death. "I love you, and I'm not gonna leave ya.."

Lightning nodded a few times, her jaw clenched. It was so strange how much she wanted to just let out all the emotion built up in her chest but it was better that she didn't. However, she didn't even speak, knowing her voice would come out strangled and choked. Sure, Zack was being kind to her, now, but it still didn't help the fact that she'd burried all these emotions over the course of knowing him, heck, over the course of her life, and she was trying so hard to keep them down. Her breath came out shaky as she kept her head turned away and her voice inside, her shoulders even tensed and shook a little as she exhaled.

Zack wasn't about to let her bury them again, though, and he leaned forward, wrapping his arms around her and pulling the blonde against his chest. He didn't feel like he was going to cry, but he was giving her every opportunity to just let it out with him. "It'll always be alright, Lightnin'.." he muttered near her ear, kissing it gently. The man knew she didn't want to, but he figured that she'd be healthier for it in the end, "I won't tell anyone, either."

As she was pulled into him, Lightning gripped his back tightly, trembling at his words. As soon as he spoke the second time, a slight noise came out and she buried her face in his shirt as tears began to run down her face. "Nhh..." Almost angrily, she tugged at him, just needing to feel he was there as she finally just gave in and broke down. The tears she cried were a build up of everything. The battles she'd fought, the things she'd faced, the Crystals, Cocoon, Team Nora... Genesis, Zack... everything. It was painful at first, her eyes burning, but she soon just let soft sounds out as she breathed unsteadily.

Zack held her for the entire time, rubbing her back gently. He drew her from where she was sitting, holding the girl in his arms and rocking her gently, comfortingly. The black-haired man made soft little noises as she cried and clutched at him, whispering her name softly, and that it would all be okay. She'd be alright, he thought; letting one's emotions out instead of bottling them up made one feel better in the long run.

It seemed like hours to her when it was honestly only a matter of minutes but once she'd stopped, Lightning pulled back a little, rubbing her eyes with her aching hands. "...I soaked your shirt..." She laughed slightly, blinking up at his face with slightly reddened eyes. It wasn't hard to look at him, now that she'd finally just let it all out, well, most of it. She had a lot more emotions she'd have to get out in other ways but crying had helped ease her just a little.

"Hey, that's fine. Half of it's soaked in dragon blood anyway." he'd need to buy new clothes here anyway, the things he was wearing just weren't suitable for flying around in an airship. "Did you wanna spend the night here tonight, then we can do some shopping tomorrow, and see if we can find a mechanic for this thing.." he smiled at her, and kissed her lips softly, "I can get new clothes then. Maybe you should, too, to start a new life as a Sky Pirate." he winked playfully, and pinched her waist once.

Lightning blinked at her clothes, frowning slightly. She found them comfortable. "...You just want me wearing things like Rosslin and Fran." She smiled at him, having twitched at the pinch. "I'll get something but I can't walk in heels. I'm not exactly ladylike, in case you didn't realise." She rubbed at her eyes before sighing softly. She wasn't sure what she would wear but the idea of walking around with her abdomen exposed didn't appeal. "Mm... let's spend the night here."

"No, I don't mean something like that. I think what you're wearing now is plenty appealing, whether or not it's as skimpy as something Fran or Rosslin would wear. Sometimes less skin is better, y'know?" he laughed a little at her ladylike comment, "Heh, I prefer my soldier lady to a Lady." the inflection was different, "I don't have to worry if you break a nail, or need to powder your nose. Yer my kinda gal through and through."

"Good. I don't really plan on changing much more." Not that she'd had control over the changes that had happened recently. Zack had just waltzed into her life and started making her show emotions she never showed. "...My thighs are stinging like a bitch." Her tone just cemented her lack of femininity as she shifted to look at the partially healed wounds on her legs. The burns and bruises on her hands and arms weren't so bad but the electrical wounds stung her pride, too.

"Hmm.. let me take care've 'em.." he smiled, and kissed the girl sweetly, letting his fingers drift over her thighs, as if he meant more than just helping with the burns there. He knew he couldn't cast many more spells, but the potential renewed with time, so he could handle a quick Regen spell. It would take a little time, sure, but he could distract her a bit until it was all said and done.

Lightning gasped as he touched her thighs and pressed her hands to the floor. Oddly enough, sitting on the floor of an airship bathroom with a country boy feeling her up really wouldn't have appealed until recently. Now, however, she shuddered a little, frowning. "...This is not treating wounds, Fair..." Her voice was quiet but it held no warnings for him. In truth, she was perfectly fine with him touching her just about anywhere.

"Sure it is. Trust me." he kissed her again, more firmly, one arm wrapping around her while he continued to tease her with his fingers, letting them drift over the front of her panties, figuring that by her voice, she didn't mind as much as her words said she did. The man was an insatiable flirt, and while this was certainly more than flirting, he was insatiable when it came to his appetite for her, too. Maybe he was trying to distract her, maybe more, but whatever he was doing, that Regen spell was the proof between the truth and a lie about healing her wounds.

Lightning pressed back against the side of the tub as his fingers came a little higher than they really should've done. "You're such a... nnh..." She had no word, purely because she wasn't able to push him away and say no. Lightning rested a bruised hand on his arm, her eyes on that wandering hand as he touched her. She'd been more than willing to have her wounds treated now she'd cried to her contentment but he always seemed to make her want more of this kind of attention.

Zack smiled, glancing down at her thighs and noting that the burns had begun to heal, albeit more slowly than a Cure spell would have allowed. He continued to touch her, gliding his fingers along the lines presented by her underwear, and over her thighs, channeling a new Regen spell when he felt he could do so. "Such a what, dear?" he raised his brows at her, kissing her lips gently, again and again, though he wanted her to answer.

Her fingers squeezed his arm and her free hand pressed hard to the cold tiles of the floor. "A tease," she murmured against his lips through one of their many kisses. She nipped his lower lip, looking down to his hand again, blushing just a little. She could feel herself being cured slowly but it didn't help that each spell made her tingle just that little bit more and his hand was spitefully close to something she could thoroughly enjoy. Though, she wasn't sure that he intended upon that.

"Who says I'm teasing?" he smiled, and nudged his mouth up under her jaw, kissing the blonde's neck sweetly. He slipped his fingers down the front of her panties, letting them rest against the bare flesh beneath, his breath hot on her neck, the man's voice was wicked, "Do you think I'm teasing? That wouldn't be fair at all, for a girl that just killed a dragon and got us a ship." he bit softly, to punctuate the statement.

Lightning gasped slightly as his fingers slid inside her underwear, brushing against the small amount of blonde hair down there. "Nn... you killed it, really. I just put it out of i-it's misery." She was breathing shakily and while his hand was only resting there, she certainly felt like he was teasing. So much that she even wriggled slightly, fingers pressing on his arm. "You're still teasing, though." Her eyes fell shut as he attacked her neck with bites and kisses, her heart quickening.

Zack chuckled, and slid his fingers lower, rubbing them slowly against her clit, kissing her with a sudden, passionate assault. He was sure they would look rather odd to anyone else, but he could make it work just about anywhere, as long as Lightning was willing that is. He didn't reply to her statement about the dragon's demise, the hand on her back moving to her backside, pulling her firmly against his hand.

The moan that came out was sudden and sharp, followed by a longer one into his mouth as she was pressed hard against that hand. It seemed he was more than ready to do this to her at any point and, right now, she was more than happy to be pleasured on the dusty floor of an airship bathroom. Her tongue slid over his and Lightning hooked an arm around his neck whilst her other one trailed down his chest slowly.

The ex-SOLDIER's fingers continued to work against her flesh, and he rocked his hips against hers, adding a different kind of friction and pressure to the rather erotic embrace. He'd said he was more than willing to distract her, and, from time to time he still managed to get a spell off towards Curing her. He took his time with those, though, so as not to burn himself in the process. While she kissed back, though, he made it into a sort of competition, stepping it up and wrestling her tongue with his.

In the small gap between the tub and the wall, she'd managed to press her feet against the wall; her tongue fought back, her heard pounding hard in her chest. "Ngg..." The way he was moving against her and touching her was so intense and good, she was moaning openly into his mouth, cheeks flushed and her arms curling around him entirely, one still around his neck while the other gripped at his back. This distraction, though she didn't know it was one, was more than welcomed.

He doubted she felt the sting in her thighs anymore, whether it was because his spells had finished the job, or she was enjoying herself, he didn't know. He couldn't see them, and was content to keep casting the spell as he could, until they took a break. Zack grinned against the kiss, gently nipping her bottom lip for a moment before kissing her again, his hips rocking smoothly while the hand on her butt kept pulling her into those grinding thrusts.

His name was moaned out into his mouth and Lightning groaned at the feeling of him rocking against her as well as that hand down her panties. "Mnph... how far's this going?" She managed her words out against his lips but they were breathless and moaned, her heart rate not helping to keep her calm as he teased and touched and moved and kissed... Her feet pressed harder and she raised her hips off the floor a little, rolling them to grind against his hand and his hips.

"Far as you want, Lightnin'.." he had his PHS with him, so he'd be able to ensure they were still 'safe' as it were. The man continued to rock and move against her, grunting when she pressed down on him, feeling rather confined in his pants at those moments, though he wasn't about to interrupt pleasuring the blonde just to make himself more comfortable. No, chances were she'd see to making him quite comfortable, if it went that far..

She unfastened her surcoat and slipped her arms free, tossing it over with her boots then unzipped her sweater and skirt, managing to remove them both without much struggling. "Mn..." The teen slipped a hand down between them and unfastened his belt, soon moving to undo his pants. "Getting the hint yet?" she purred, settling back to look at him. Her face still had Wyrm blood splattered across it and she had rather a wicked smirk on her lips.

Zack laughed a little, and made sure he got his PHS before she got his pants off, putting one of his last two condoms on the side of the tub before helping her disrobe him. He stood out against his shorts, covered as he was, and with a chuckle, he kissed her again, lifting his hips off the floor to let his pants slide off. Zack wasn't sure just what to do in that bathroom for position; their choices were somewhat limited. They could stay like that, or, he supposed, she could lean over the sink? He doubted she'd want to be on her back in the dust.

Lightning wriggled to sit up more, blushing as she did. The teen curled her arms around his neck, kissing him lightly. "How're we doing this? I don't feel like breaking my spine on these dusty tiles..." She laughed softly, nipping his ear now, just to be affectionate. Her hands lightly stroked down his back and she wriggled a little, panting softly. She was aroused, thanks to him, so she'd leave it to him to deal with that. Sure, when she was expecting to be screwed, she'd take some of the lead but this wasn't expected.

Zack didn't mind. Spontaneous lovemaking was just as good as planned, in his mind, sometimes better. He grinned, and kissed her lips sweetly, "Well, y'could be on top in this position're close to it, or, I think it'd work fine if you rested yer hands on th'sink and bent over a ways." he spoke pretty plainly sometimes, mostly when he was aroused.

With a laugh, Lightning got to her feet, slipping her underwear off and gripping the sink, bending over and looking back at him. "Well, what're you waiting for, country boy?" Her voice couldn't have held anymore lust and seduction than it did. Lightning ran a hand through her hair, panting softly. She was still sore on her thighs and arms but this was all far too good a distraction to care about that stuff.

As he rose, he snatched the condom off the side of the tub, stepped out of his pants, and slipped the protection over his erection. "I'm not waiting.." he mumbled, and pressed a hand to the small of her back, expending a little more magic to Cure her, a grin widening his lips as he continued to believe this was a 'distraction'. Maybe it was, but it was also a celebration of sorts; they had their own ship now! He stepped up behind her, smiling to the girl in the mirror over the sink, rubbing the tip of his member against her hot, damp sex. "Gotta be careful with that voice Lightnin'.. you'll make me all wild with it."

"Maybe that's what I'm trying to do." Her breath was ragged as she felt him against her body, the magic being cast only serving to heighten her arousal. With a slight moan, she pressed back against him a little, her eyes fixed on him in the mirror. It was unsettling to not be facing him during this level of intimacy, but with the mirror there to let her see exactly what he was doing, she was put at ease. Lightning wriggled her toes against the dirty tiles and her fingers grasped the sink tightly, but she made no movements other than rocking back to nudge his cock a little.

Zack leaned over her, and slowly rocked his hips, to push himself into her, one hand on her hip, the other rubbing up over her back. He preferred to be able to see his partner's face, really, so the mirror was a bit of a blessing. Eventually, his hips pressed right up against her backside, and his body trembled slightly. Maybe it was the use of his magic, or perhaps he simply enjoyed being with her that much. Maybe the fit was a little different from that angle. Maybe it was a combination of those things, but Zack gave a ragged little moan, eyes closing for a minute as he tried to compose himself just a bit more than he was.

She wasn't going to let him regain his composure. Lightning wanted him to be as big a mess as she was during these encounters. So, the teen began to roll her hips, using the sink to pull away and push back onto his dick. Her body was hot and the feeling of his hand along her back felt really good and she was truly enjoying the change in position. "Aah..." Moving more against him, she panted softly though small moans.

Zack grunted softly, rubbing his hand up and down her back as he rocked his hips with hers, thrusting forward whenever she pushed back. His hand remained on her hip for the moment, fingertips pressing into her flesh as he held onto her, moaning softly as his gaze switched from the face he saw enjoying herself in the mirror, to watching her backside coming back to bump against his hips.

Lightning hung her head, not wanting to look at herself moaning and gasping, finding it embarrassing enough that the sounds were even coming out. "Nhh... don't hold back on me, Zack." It seemed that after a battle, Lightning was easily aroused and in need of a rather hard session with him. Even though it was only her third time, she was more than used to the feel of him inside that it never really hurt anymore, and his size was comfortable inside her body.

He leaned back a little, and gripped her hips in his hands, pushing forward as he pulled her back onto him, enough force used so that the sound of their flesh slapping together resounded through the washroom. The man paused for only a moment, before his pace picked up, and he remained that forceful, always one to give the blonde whatever she wanted, especially when it came to the bedroom. Or bathroom, as the case may be. "Nng.." he moaned openly, rather enjoying himself and the way he could make her respond to his body, and the way he treated her.

A succession of expletives came from her mouth for the second time that day but they were released in pleasure this time, her hands clinging to the sink. "Nghh..." He eyes closed tightly as she arched her back up just a little, the angle of his thrusts altering slightly, just enough that each time he pushed deep inside her, the tip of his length would brush against her sweet spot. Lightning bit into her lower lip, moans still coming up in groans and gasps. The sounds, scents and feeling of it all was getting her off quite quickly.

Which was good, because Zack doubted he could keep that up for as long as they'd gone the last time. He was enjoying himself, certainly, but more than that, listening to Lightning and watching her loving every bit of it was really getting his blood up. The man didn't slow down at all during their exchange, no, he only sped up and went a bit harder from time to time. "Aah~ L-Lightnin', y'feel like yer on fire.." he was referring both to her skin, and the heat of her inside, hands still clutching her hips. Zack was obviously loving every second.

If she'd been able to cast magic, she would've sent a tiny lightning spell his way, through her own body, just to make it that little bit warmer but she had to settle for just moving in rhythm with him, her hands gripping tightly to the sink. After what seemed like only a few more second, the young girl's moans began to increase and she panted harder, her eyes tightening, her body doing the same as she cried out his name at the peak of her orgasm, letting it shudder down her spine.

It was the way she squeezed that finally got him, her name on his lips as he came hard against her, hips grinding against her from behind as he did so, a long, low, satisfied moan leaving him once he was able to let his breath go. He panted, leaning over the girl's body, kissing at her back as he tried to catch his breath, and stop focusing on the feeling of his throbbing, twitching cock still lodged inside her. "Oh.." he managed, chuckling shakily.

As he came, she had moved her hips harder than before, helping him ride out his orgasm, shivering slightly at the very feel of him climaxing, even if it was into the condom that was a barrier between the two of them. Lightning reached back, brushing a hand over his hair. "Mn... I guess that's this room Christened." She chuckled just as shakily, unable to pull away from him in this position. The girl smiled lightly, looking in the mirror to be able to see his face. Even if his face was buried against her back, kissing.

Zack snickered a little, and moved his face up, flushed, to smile at her. After a moment longer, he moved, a bit unsteady on his feet, removing the condom and disposing of it into the toilet, figuring it would be fine to toss with the rest of that sort of waste. "Mmh.. how're you feeling -now-?" he slid a hand up her back once more, coming over to where he'd be beside the blonde.

Lightning stood straight as soon as she could, her arms reaching up as she made a soft contented sound. "I feel pretty damn exhausted." She laughed and flopped her arms down, over his shoulders. "My legs don't hurt because of the burns anymore. They ache from standing up, though." She chuckled and leaned in to kiss him, running her fingers down his hair, toying with the black locks playfully.

Zack laughed softly, and kissed her right back, nuzzling his face against her hair, inhaling her scent slowly, deeply, a comforting smell for him.. "Mmh, well, let's see if we can find the Captain's quarters, shall we? After a little nap, we can check some stores for some new clothes, for me at least. Leather jacket and dress clothes aren't exactly the best in piratewear, and I'd like something that's easier to move in.." he'd almost torn the inseam of his pants, fighting that wyrm. "Might run into a crafty Moogle or something, and we can get Nora and Big Guy aboard." Zack wondered what they'd call the ship, and shrugged, kissing the girl again.

Lightning gave a nod and reluctantly pulled away from him, scooping up her attire and heading through the door. Wandering along, she spotted a bedroom, smiling as she headed inside. "I think this is the place." The room was quite dark and the bed had no covers on it, just the bare mattress but she didn't mind at all. The young girl slipped her panties on before just tossing her things to the floor and climbing onto the mattress, sprawling out on it with a grin as she spread her limbs to take up the whole bed. She was, of course, teasing him. "Wonder where you're sleeping..."

"On top, I guess." he'd slipped back into his shorts, so he was in a shirt and shorts. Zack climbed onto the bed as well, then lied down atop her, grinning wickedly as he moved to tickle her a little. "You're pretty soft in some places, I can see using you as a kind of pillow." he chuckled, staying right where he was for the moment.

Lightning wriggled, laughing as he tickled her. After a moment or so, she let out a contented sigh and pulled him down to rest his head on her breasts. "Go right ahead, you'll keep me warm." Her eyes held a deep affection for him and she just smiled down at him, petting his hair and back lovingly and soothingly, enjoying the weight of him on top of her slightly achy body.

Zack blushed, and wrapped his arms around her, leaving his head where it was as he held her. His voice was low when he told her he loved her, and that it wouldn't be long until they were both free from the ground below them, just following the wind and their whims. The Buster Sword had been left in the bathroom as well, come to think of it, along with every other part of Zack's Midgar-Slums shop ensemble.