Two weeks passed. Lightning was still pushing Fang to let her back onto the field, but had yet to start working again. Noctis didn't mind. He liked coming back from the base to her. By now, Noctis and his companions were making friends with Lightning's. They all got along pretty well, some of their personalities were alike.
Noctis was in Fang's office with Ignis, Fang, Cent, and Snow. Fang said, "Why don't we get this started. What's our set of reports for today?"
Ignis said, "All the missions you've given us thus far have been completed."
Noctis nodded in agreement. Snow said, "The town's has had a lot rebuilt already. Many citizens volunteered to help out."
Fang said, "And Light?"
Noctis answered, "She's almost fully healed and has been wanting to come back for a while now."
Fang said, "Yeah, I knew that."
Cent jumped into the conversation. "I'm not exactly a member of the P.L.R. What am I here for?"
Fang explained, "You were the one who discovered that the portal did bridge our world to Pretty Boy's here." Noctis flinched at the nickname she gave him. "So since you came up with that, I wanted to know if you had any ideas as to how we can reopen the portal to get these guys home."
Cent scratched his head. "It's somewhat hard to say. I based my earlier theory off of the books I read on the legend. But that's the problem; everything I know is based on stories, so I haven't heard of any way to actually get to the portal. I'm pretty sure you haven't either."
Fang sighed. "You're right. I may have known about the legend for years, but they were just stories. There's no way to use the stories details to get the portal since there was no part of the myth that said there was a way to connect our worlds."
Ignis said, "True, but there must have been some cause to the portal's appearance. It couldn't have just popped out of nowhere. There had to have been some sort of power source."
Fang crossed her legs. "You're probably on to something there, but it's still unclear. Just what could have been powerful enough to create that portal?"
Noctis turned to Ignis. "Do you think it could have been the Crystal?"
Ignis pushed up his glasses. He was silent for a minute. "It is possible, but I'm not sure why it would open it and close it randomly. It's strange, really."
Cent said, "This isn't making much sense. We need to spend more time thinking about it."
Snow groaned, "Damn it! We've been working way too damn much!"
Fang said, "Welcome to life, Snow. Now that you're all grown up there's no more time for fun. I suggest you get used to it."
Snow said, "You know what, that's a load of bull crap!" He walked over to the window. He looked out to the sea. "We all need a break from all of the fighting and P.L.R business. We all need to..." Snow snapped his fingers. "Go to the beach! All of us!"
Ignis said, "You sure it's really a good time to just take a day off?"
Snow exclaimed, "Hell yeah! There's nothing going on and there's never a bad time to take a break. Let's do it!"
Fang countered, "Who exactly will be in charge of things while we're gone?"
Snow pushed, "Come on, Fang! You can leave the place to another officer or something! The world isn't going to, like, explode while you're out at the beach!"
Fang shook her head. "I don't know, Snow. You'll have to ask what everyone else thinks too."
Snow sighed. He turned to Noctis. "Come on, Noct. Don't you think it's a good idea?"
Noctis looked at Fang. She gave him a threatening look. It pretty much told him not to encourage Snow. But Snow was a good friend now. They were living together, so they got to see each other a lot and get to know each other. He contemplated to himself for a while. "You know what? I'm just going to stay out of this. I'm good with whatever you guys agree on." Ignis nodded as if he was saying he made a smart move to stay neutral.
Snow grunted once more. "Okay then, I'll make a compromise, Fang. If uh..." He had to think of everyone he had to ask. "If Sazh, Vanille, Hope, Serah, Ignis, Prompto, Gladiolus, Cent, Noctis, and Light are all okay with it, we can all go to the beach."
Fang chuckled. "I'll take that deal. But good luck convincing everyone."
Snow made a fist pump. "Oh, I definitely will! I'll ask them right now!" Snow ran out of the room. Fang sighed. "Even if they do agree, we can't go today."
Ignis said, "Just let him get his hopes up 'till then."
Fang laughed. As they left the base, Noctis asked, "Do you want to go to the beach, Ig?"
Ignis shrugged. "Maybe. Do you?"
Noctis said, "I'm still neutral. Why don't we help Snow out? You can ask Prompto and Glad, I'll ask Serah and Light. Snow can get the others."
Ignis nodded. "Why not?" Ignis went to find Gladiolus and Prompto while Noctis headed home.
Later...
Noctis entered the condo. He heard a news report playing on the T.V. Lightning was sitting on the couch, watching the report. She didn't notice him come in. The prince quietly crept up behind her. He leaned against the back of the couch with his arms around her shoulders. He lowered his head so he could kiss her cheek. She reached up and intertwined her fingers with his. "Welcome back."
Noctis applied loving pressure to her hand. "What are you doing?"
She grumbled, "Trying to entertain myself while Fang is keeping me from work."
Noctis rolled his eyes. "Why do you want to get back so bad?"
"It's better than being a housewife."
Noctis chuckled. He released her and jumped over the couch's back. He landed on the other side, sitting down next to her. Noctis put his arm around her and pulled her down so she rested her head on his shoulder. He placed his other hand around her waist. "If you're the housewife, then does that make me your working husband?"
Lightning blushed dramatically. It made sense since they were dating and all, but it was still pretty bold. Even so, she liked the idea. "Maybe." Lightning cuddled against Noctis' chest. She heard footsteps coming their way. "Aww, look at you guys!"
Noctis turned his head. Serah was coming down the stairs. "I didn't know you were home today, Serah."
"Obviously." She sat down on one of the armchairs. Lightning let go of Noctis and straightened. "Have you guys seen Snow?"
Noctis said, "He's around town. Actually, that reminds me. Snow's trying to convince Fang to let us all take a day off and go to the beach."
Serah beamed. "That sounds like a great idea! We should go!"
Lightning made an annoyed look. Serah saw her. "Come on, Sis. Our group hasn't done anything together as friends in forever. We could also get to know our new friends as well. It'll be fun!"
Lightning moaned, "More like a headache. The beach is always crowded and noisy."
Noctis had a trick up his sleeve. "But if you go, you could use the time to convince Fang you're ready to get back to work."
Lightning hesitated. She didn't like the idea of kissing up to Fang or anything of the sort. But the possibility of Fang being more lenient with her requests was likely. Fang was always kinder when she was in a good mood. Lightning sighed, "Fine."
Serah cheered, "Oh, this will be so awesome!"
Snow suddenly burst into the room. "Guys! I have to ask if—"
Serah cut him off. "We know. Noctis told us. And we want to go!"
Snow was baffled. "Really?" He looked to Lightning. "Even you, Light?"
Lightning warned, "Don't piss me off before we go. I can change my mind at any time."
Snow clapped his hands together. "Of course! Everyone else has agreed, so Fang HAS to let us go!"
Noctis said, "She told us it would probably be tomorrow."
Snow exclaimed, "Oh yeah! I have to go rub it in her face!" Snow left the room as quickly as he came. Serah stood up. "I better go with him in case Fang gets too angry at him." Serah followed him out.
Lightning took a deep breath. She knew this would be a big headache. She didn't want tomorrow to come fast. She gasped when his arms wrapped around her waist. Noctis pulled her close to his body. "Now, where were we?"
Lightning giggled nervously. "You're being bold today."
Noctis rubbed the tip of his nose with hers. "You don't mind, do you?" The last thing he wanted to do was make her uncomfortable.
Lightning smiled. She surprised herself by saying, "Not at all." She and Noctis had been growing closer every day. She was becoming more tolerant of his romantic moods. She even enjoyed the times he got all lovey-dovey. Normally Noctis would kiss Lightning, but this time she started the lip lock. She raised her head to meet his lips. She pulled away only a few seconds later. Apparently, that wasn't enough for him. Noctis leaned in for another kiss. This one was longer, more passionate. Noctis slid his hands up and down her back. Lightning ran her fingers through his hair. Once they were through, Noctis pressed his forehead to hers. He just stared at her for a while. Lightning finally asked, "Why are you staring?"
Noctis smirked. "I like your eyes."
Lightning blushed. "Yours aren't too bad either." That earned her another kiss. They went on like this until Snow and Serah got back about an hour later.
Later...
Noctis sat on the pale white ground, watching Prompto and Gladiolus kick sand at each other. He was uncomfortable in his black swim trunks. He would prefer something that...suited his style. Snow, Sazh, and Hope were around, talking to each other and playing around in the sand or ocean. Cent ended up not going. He said he had to finally finish settling into his new home, since his was destroyed in the Cladis invasion. Noctis thought he just didn't want to be around a bunch of crazy youngsters. Fang, Lightning, Vanille, and Serah had yet to arrive. The prince sighed. He was a little nervous about seeing Lightning in swimwear. Although he didn't think she would even wear anything of the sort at all.
Ignis sat next to Noctis. "You bored too?"
Noctis nodded. Ignis smirked. "At least you'll be entertained when Lightning gets here."
Noctis glared at him. "Shut up, Ignis!" Ignis chuckled to himself. "Don't look, here they come."
Just as he said that, Vanille was in front of them, cheering, "Come on, lazy bums! You won't have fun by just sitting there!" She had on a lavender two-piece suit with ruffles at the hems. Serah came up behind her. She wore a strapless, pale pink, one piece swim suit that had cuts down the side, revealing parts of her waist. Noctis looked around. "Where's Fang and Light?"
Gladiolus and Prompto joined them. Prompto asked, "Didn't those two come with you?"
Vanille pouted, "Fang and Light don't want to come out. They're hiding over there." She pointed to a shack that sold t-shirts, knick-knacks, beach accessories, and maybe more. Serah explained, "They're too chicken to show off their outfits."
Prompto got an evil look. "Well, we'll just have to force them out! Come on!" Vanille, being all for his idea, followed Prompto to the shack. They were a lot alike. Noctis swore they were long lost siblings or something. After they went around the shack, you could hear Fang's curses at them. Once in a while, Noctis caught a glimpse of Fang as Vanille and Prompto attempted to push her onto the shore. Noctis heard Fang yell words he would rather not recall, scaring away a few of the shack's customers. Damn, she has a mouth!
After a few minutes of fighting, Prompto finally managed to push her out to the beach. She blushed as soon as she walked out. "Damn you all!" She wore a bikini that was blue, similar to the shade of her usual outfit, fitting her tribal theme. Vanille assured, "You look great, Fang! Don't be shy!"
Fang growled, "I hate this! I feel so wimpy and girly!"
Gladiolus said, "I think you look pretty good." A slight blush crossed his cheeks.
Fang angrily responded, "Shut the hell up!" Vanille started pestering her again. Prompto put his hand to his chin. "Gladiolus and Fang? It could work."
Gladiolus became redder. "What? I didn't mean anything when I said that!"
Noctis could get his revenge for all of his teasing. "Face it, you so like Fang."
Gladiolus denied, "I do not!"
Serah interrupted the conversations. "What about Light?"
Fang shouted, "Oh no, you're not hiding while I'm out here! Come on!"
Fang and Prompto went back to the shack to pull Lightning out. She, too, had the mouth of a sailor.
As soon as Fang pushed Lightning out, Noctis's jaw dropped to the floor. Lightning wore a pure black bikini. It's thin straps tied around her neck and back. The front showed off much of her cleavage. The white clothing complemented her pink hair that flowed down her shoulder. She stomped up to them, knowing she couldn't escape Fang when she was as angry as she was now.
Noctis stuttered, "Uh, y-you look—"
Lightning cut off, "Shut up. I hate this." Although, Lightning didn't mind seeing Noctis without his shirt. He wasn't a weakling, but not too built up like Snow and Gladiolus. He was...well, attractive. Noctis simply smiled at her. "Just because I'm not telling you what I think doesn't mean I don't like it." Lightning half glared and half blushed.
Snow came over to them. He teased, "You know, Noct, usually guys put sunscreen on their girlfriend's."
Noctis imagined the idea with him and Lightning. The sad part wasn't that he imagined it in the first place, but more of the fact that he wanted to ask Light if she needed him to. He liked the idea of touching her body...Noctis sometimes surprised himself with his dirty mind. Lightning brought him back to reality by punching his arm. She obviously irk what he was thinking about.
