route_1065 | stubborn vs stubborn

Entry tags:

stubborn vs stubborn

Who: Xion & Fang (Leon and Lightning can join, too!)
Where: Saffron City
When: December 23rd; several hours after this
Summary: It takes a lot of planning to keep a stubborn person down... or to just have another stubborn person step up to the plate. Fang seems to be that person.
Rating: PG? There might be some action, but nothing too bad.
Log:

Phew...

[ It's still mid-afternoon, and the sun's still sorta up. Good thing she woke up extra early today... or not. After that brief incident of blood and Riku's insistence (as well as others') for her to stay in bed a little longer, Xion did obey and has gotten a few more hours of rest.

A few.

Now Xion's slipped out of bed and moving around, gathering things and putting on clothes. Axel the Typhlosion and Bahamut the Gabite stand off to the side while Xion rummages amongst her things for her wooden Keyblade. Once she does, she turns to them, knowing the stern looks on their faces. ]

It's only a walk out, and others are coming... I should at least greet them and show them around, right?

[ Axel puffs out a cloud of smoke in his version of a sigh and Bahamut yelps but doesn't do anything further when Xion moves to walk out of the Center. They follow, trying to be quiet themselves since it seems the staff are busy to look out for her at the moment. Riku also seemed to be out doing his own thing once Xion began to rest. Xion's done this kind of sneaking thing before.

Hopefully it works! ]

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[ The look Xion gives them both... She's not scared. She's faced monsters before, risked her life countless times before. As long as she was just... better at this, better at protecting others, better so she could avoid confrontations like Vanitas from getting too ugly, maybe she'll be content. ]

Yes.

[ She remembers that Fang told her not everyone will like her just because she would do things for them... but that's okay, too. She wants to be of use, somehow, someway. ]

[ Fang knows that tone, and despite Xion's firm response she figures she could help send it back Lightning's way. She purposefully adopts a more carefree tone. ]

See? You can lay off her, Light. I told her how hard it'd be before and she didn't budge.

[ There, now Lightning can yell at her instead, and hopefully avoid triggering Xion's stubbornness. Good cop, bad cop. ...Good l'Cie, bad l'Cie?

Also damn it, Xion, don't misquote her! The point was that people like her even if she isn't helpful. ]

[Lightning knows the tone just as well as Fang does, but carefree does nothing to ease it. This is all the proof she needed to know that Xion isn't backing down, and she's not surprised.]

We'll see. People do change their minds.

[Said with a glance down at Xion before she looks back to the road. Yelling? Oh, that's not happening now. Fang might get stern looks later, for encouraging this, but Lightning's almost...relieved, kind of. At least with the two of them they can hopefully keep Xion out of trouble.]

You really don't think I can do it?

[ The tone is almost accusatory towards Lightning. Sure, the ex-soldier's been here longer, and thus knows Xion's tendencies a bit better... But still. Aside from a huge fight she, or even others, could remember, wouldn't Lightning have more faith in her?

Xion realizes how she must sound before she drops her gaze down the road again, briefly glancing at Fang before doing so. ]

[The accusing tone earns Xion a look from the corner of Lightning's eye, but the ex-soldier isn't angry. No, she can understand where Xion's coming from, but...]

It's not a question of can or can't. I'm just wondering if you'll be able to do without giving up halfway through when you realize it's harder than you first thought.

[Because, after all that's happened, she wants to give Xion a fighting chance if something happens again. And that means not going easy on her.]

There's no backin' down once you're in a fight. You gotta be tough enough to stick with it, else you're just puttin' everyone who's relying on you in danger. That means mentally as well as physically.

[ Not that Fang would know anything about that. /cough ]

[ Fan'gs last comment makes Xion frown a bit to herself. Mentally... isn't she always prepared? Granted, this all started out as a simple way of distracting Xion from the nightmares she occasionally has. Now it's... now it's all changed, and she gets the feeling Lightning (by extension, Leon) and Fang aren't telling her something...

... No, don't think like that. They're pretty upfront with all the things they've told her. And, well... she hasn't told either of them much about herself.

So what if it's harder than she thought? If she can get by it all, she'll be stronger. Xion will know this. ]

I can.

[Of course she says that. Lightning expected nothing less, but...]

Like I said, we'll see.

[Xion may end up stronger physically, but Lightning can drag her feet through this until they can work out the mental issues. She won't be training a deathseeker.]

For now, just concentrate on getting better. That means no more sneaking out of bed for air, all right?

She's got a point, Sunshine - no gettin' away from it. Can't do anything until you're better.

[ It's subtle, but the signal's there: Fang's letting Lightning call the shots. Which is not to say that Fang won't still do her own thing at times or argue if she feels it's necessary. But often it's better to have one clear message, and Lightning's known Xion longer. ]

... I guess I wouldn't be able to, with you two around.

[ She doesn't sound sullen about this; it's good to be around friends. Axel walks up behind Xion and taps her ribs, and she flinches, sending a small glare over her shoulder. He's making a point, though. ]

Ow...!

[Lightning doesn't see or hear Axel's approach until Xion has already made that sound, but it's enough that her eyes narrow again. Someone's going to be stealing your medical file tonight, Xion.]

Or if you're flinching at just a touch. You can't honestly expect to take hits and roll with them when you're like this, can you?

[ Fang shakes her head with a small smile. ] Looks like it's only approved sneaking for a while, 'specially if they agree with us.

[ Oh, dear, the medical file. A rather... extensive list. Bahamut G sort of elbows Axel for that, but all the Typhlosion does is snort; point made. ]

Okay, okay. I'll stop sneaking out...

[ She still sounds reluctant, though. Ugh, she's starting to get a small dislike for beds. Supposed to be comforting, but... now they're confining. ]

[An extensive list that Lightning will be looking at as a training manual, when all is said and done. Have to cover weakness, after all.

But now she just sighs slightly, eyes on the road ahead.]

I'm not saying you can't come outside at all. I'm just saying that you need to give yourself a little time to heal before you start running around again. There's nothing any of us can do if you keep doubling over when someone touches you.

It's why ya need me around. I won't let ya get bored.

[ Actually, she did have an idea earlier, and at this rate Xion's going to need some entertainment. Fang snaps her fingers as she halts. ]

And I know just the thing. I'll catch up with ya in a bit. Bahamut, we're goin'.

[ So unless you stop her, Fang's not waiting before heading off. She will be back. ]

Ah...! [ And off Fang goes. Bahamut waves as Fang and Bahmut B head off for a bit. Well, she doesn't stop her, but...

... She glances at Lightning. Why does the atmosphere feel a bit more... oppresive without Fang around now? ]

...

[Lightning just watches Fang go, eyes still narrowed. Why does the atmosphere feel more oppressive? Probably because it is and Lightning is still frustrated with Xion. But best to just walk it off.]

You get used to her. Come on.

... Okay.

[ She'll just quietly walk beside her as they head back to the Center. Then again, she wonders why she feels a bit guilty. It's not like she even remembers how she got this way. ]

[For most of the walk back, Lightning keeps her silence. There's a lot of things she could say, but she doesn't know how to word them to avoid triggering Xion's stubborn streak. A task for another time, then.]

The nurses know you left the Center alone. I hope you've got a cover story for them to buy.

I was out meeting someone, knowing they were going to take care of me in their place?

[ It's sorta true, after all. If they knew she was out alone, what else could she tell them? ]

And if that someone doesn't walk in with you? They already know it's not me. I went in looking for you and that's when they noticed you were gone.

[Fang would have made a wonderful cover, but she's not here anymore. How does Xion intend to get out of this one?]

[ She stops, realizing that, too. ]

Then we'll wait for Fang?

[Lightning nods, the tiniest hint of pride in her eyes. Smart girl, when she puts her mind to it.]

Bench over here. You're better off if you're off your feet.

I am? [ Regardless, she goes to sit, Axel and Bahamut joining on one side of her. She doesn't think she strains herself when she's just... you know, standing there. ]

[She might not be straining herself, but it can't hurt to sit. Even if Lightning remains standing beside the bench, just waiting for Fang to return.]

Less chance of falling over if your body decides it's had enough for one day.

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why can't I have a hands on hips icon...

because no one's been awesome and done fanart of her like that?

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