~Fang's POV~

Once we're across the bridge, I let go of Vincent's arm and continue on ahead of Alec as if I never noticed his fear. Gotta admit, it was kinda cute. Why can't I just despise him already? We can see the back of Lokir's head and Sonyeh's long black hair a little ways off, but they will definitely get to the "wall" we can see from here first. It's merely a three foot fence made of brick. Are you kidding me? Scowling, I break into a run to catch up to my second in command.

"This is what we we've been paying for them to do?" Lokir mutters without even looking at me.

"I didn't know they'd be doing nothing," I grit. The workers, who are just lazing around in the sun, see us and get to their feet quickly, scattering to make it look like they were working. But we've already seen them, and the two people known for their tempers and strength are arriving rather quickly.

"Is this what we pay you for!?" Lokir thunders. I cross my arms tightly and glare at a skinny little man that cowers and keeps pretending to be busy. "To lay around all day when our whole village is in danger?! I should you all back to Snow and see what he has to say! You're just a bunch of children, all of you!"

"Are you done?" One man with a mustache grumbles. Lokir's eyes darken as he starts toward him. I roll my eyes and grab his arm, pulling him back. With one last frightening glare, he looks at me somewhat apologetically. I nod and then look at the lazy workers.

"This is done within the next week or you're working without pay."

"That ain't fair!"

"Do I seriously need to bring Lightning and Snow back out here?" I raise an eyebrow. "Get to work. Now."

"You don't do anything to help the village," a dirty looking woman pipes up. "Why should we listen to you?"

Lokir doesn't bother to stop me as I charge over to her, towering over her small form.

"I don't help? Excuse me, but today I vaguely remember fighting for hours to keep you worthless people alive so that you didn't become Cei'th food. People gave their lives for you and that means nothing? I pay for your homes and feed you. I built your town up again and gave you the work you asked for. If that's nothing to you, I'm afraid there's no reason to keep you here."

"Then I'll leave."

"Go then," I lift my chin. "Where will you stay? What about gil? Won't you need food? I'm the only one willing to pay you, Smith, and so I'd keep my mouth shut before there's nothing left for you."

The woman, known as Smith, turns and walks off, getting the point finally and going back to work. Lokir lays a hand on my shoulder and frowns at the workers.

"Let's get back, hm?"

"I feel bad for Alec," I sigh. "Please tell me there's a spare teleporter here."

"I'll get one," he pats my back gently and walks off. I can Vincent beside me and Sonyeh on my other.

"That was a waste of time," I grumble.

"Not if they decide to work," comes the deep voice I expected to answer.

"I doubt it."

"It was work a try."

"You say that like you don't believe it," I give him a skeptical look before looking at Sonyeh. "When we get back, see if Frill can't get us dinner. I'm starving." She nods once before pointing at Alec. The light haired man wobbles on his crutches over the rough terrain trying to catch his balance. I reach out an arm quickly to catch him.

"Sorry," he gives me a weak smile. "It's just hard to get around here."

"It's fine," I laugh, trying to help him up. Of course, I end up slipping on the dirt and we both end up laughing on our butts with a grumpy Vincent scowling at us.

"I got the teleporter," Lokir tosses the device my way and I catch it.

"Thanks buddy," I grin at him. "Ready to go Alec?"

"My butt hurts."

"Well I ain't gonna kiss it better. Let's go." I press the button in the teleporter, muttering our destination at it. With a flash we disappear and reappear in the apartment. Frill jumps and smacks my arm.

"Don't do that!"

"Sorry," I smirk at her. Then I toss the used device at Lokir. "I was gonna have Sonyeh ask, but could you get us some food? I'm starving."

"Sure thing, Dear," she nods, ushering everyone out. Lokir frowns at Vincent before encoding toward the door. Please don't hurt him, Lo.

"And, uh," I add under my breath. "Try to keep it light on Vincent's plate."

"Fang, dear, I know you don't like him, but.."

"It's not that. He just doesn't eat. You'll be lucky if he even nibbles on something."

"I'll take your word for it, but I'm refilling that part did it gets empty."

"Fine by me," I shrug, exiting to see Lokir, Vincent, and Alec out by the water. Lokir glares at Vampy while he shifts awkwardly, and Alec chatters away as always.

"So wait, if you're actually Vincent Valentine, that means you're the guy that Fang called a 'hot, stupid, jerk'," Alec muses out loud just as I approach. Freezing as Lokir's glares shifts to me, I try to hide my blush by ruffling Alec's hair and smirking.

"You're a horrible liar."

"But you...!"

"He's not lying, she said it!" Ayana pipes up. I roll my eyes and cross my arms.

"Ganging up on me, hmm? Lokir, you're on my side, right bud?"

"I don't even know what.."

"Just say yes!" I hiss. He sighs and nods.

"I guess you guys are liars then."

"Sonyeh, who do you believe?" Ayana looks at the mute girl, head tilted in an adorable way. Sonyeh taps her chin before nodding to herself and pointing at her ears and then me, nodding again, and standing beside Alec. Vincent ignores us and looks around him with reddened cheeks.

"You're all horrible."

"Well, if I'm honest, I did hear you say that," Lokir admits, lightening up a little with a smirk.

"Go back to being Mr. Stoic," I snap. He chuckles and shakes his head.

"Why? I thought you said you liked it better when I wasn't grumpy."

"That's when I was messing with you to get my spear back!"

"Flirting was more like it."

"I wasn't flirting with you," I scoff. His smirk broadens into a mischevious grin.

"Really? 'Hey handsome' doesn't sound like a normal greeting to me. Especially not for you."

"It's how I get free stuff," I defend, ignoring Vincent's hard stare. Must think I'm a player or something. Shame on him. "And who wouldn't want that?"

"So," Lokir gives Alec a sly smile and Sonyeh claps a hand over her mouth to her hide her smile. "If I want something for free, all I gotta do is.." He lays a hand on my waist and leans his face close to mine. "And then I'm in?"

"Go away," I fight a blush and push on his hairy face. He chuckles and shakes his head.

"What about free stuff?"

"I don't have anything for you," I roll my eyes.

"I'm sure you might," his eyes flicker down to my mouth before he looks back at my innocently. I scoff and shove him away. We all know he's joking, save for Vince who glares at a building in the opposite direction with his fists clenched and semi hidden behind his cloak.

"You're such a ladies man. Now quit trying to be flirtatious and put the teleporter away."

"Yes ma'am," he winks at me. I swat his arm irritably before turning around.

"I seriously hope Frill's almost done. I could collapse from hunger right now."

"Now who's dramatic?" Alec grins. "Hey Vince, you alright?" Vincent glares at him before turning with a whoosh of his cape and walking toward the house, his metal shoes clacking against the brick design of the Square. "I think he hates Lokir."

"Me too!" Ayana nods and Sonyeh tilts her head, watching him go. Then she makes the blessing sign of Oerba, a prayer to a god I both don't believe in or remember the name of. Vanille used to do that whenever she would find anything dead that had nothing to do with her.

"Why would you think that?" I frown at the life haired man. He shrugs.

"Can you not feel the jealousy everywhere when either is around you? Both of 'em like you, I'd bet my dinner on that."

"Yeah right," I scoff. "Lokir's just messing around and Vincent's too... Cold."

"That's what they all say," Alec winks before gathering his crutches up and starting toward the apartment. "Don't get me wrong, I'm famished, but you're still the drama queen."

"I own the throne!" I call back. He throws his head back and laughs that boyish laugh he's always had, the one that makes him sound fourteen instead of twenty. Like Hope's.

"Gramma better have dinna! My tummy growling!" Ayana pouts before dragging Sonyeh after her.

"I'm such a loner now," I murmur to myself, scanning the beautifully clear waters of the Oerba Ocean before following my friends. Who am I kidding? They're family.

~|~|~|~|~

"Man, you're not gonna eat that?" Alec raises his eyebrows at Vincent in surprise. Vincent shrugs and continues to silently push his food around on his plate. Frill sighs and shakes her head.

"Honey, at least eat your rice. Your all skin and bones, it's a wonder that you're even still alive."

"I'll eat it!" I raise my hand. Vince raises an eyebrow at me skeptically while Frill scowls.

"Fang, you've already had thirds. Let the lad eat."

"He's not gonna," I shrug. "Besides, I'm immortal. I have forever to work off the calories that I burn off from fighting everyday anyway."

"And I'm sure Vincent fights a lot too, so let him be."

"He just stays in one place and pulls a trigger while occasionally pulling some snazzy acrobatics. Effective but not energy burning," I shoot back. Vince rolls his eyes and pushes his plate in my direction. While I give a victorious look to the old woman in her chair. She frowns at Vincent before shaking her thoughts away and picking up her knitting needles.

"Thanks Vampy!" I say happily. He simply watches as I stuff my face as if I hadn't eaten three helpings before this. I'm starving!

"Now that you're gonna be a fat lump, can I be Commander?" Alec asks teasingly.

"No, and I still have to decide what to do with you," I glare at him. "You cost us four citizens and nearly Ayana too." He sighs and looks down, guilty.

"I know, I just don't know how to fix it all."

"You can't. But you can start by helping out the families of those whose members died helping with the mess you made." He nods and stands, hobbling over to the sink to put his plate in before wobbling to the bunks and sitting on his. He likes the bottom so that he doesn't have to wake up as fast in the morning whereas I believe there's nothing better than a good seven and a half foot jump to get you up and ready for the day.

"So Vamps," I prop my chin up on my hand. "You gonna stay at the inn?"

"Of course not!" Frill pipes up before he can reply. "We have an extra bed here!"

"That's alright," Vincent shakes his head. "I don't..."

"No, I insist. And you can't change a stubborn old lady's mind, so get up top and go to sleep."

"Frill, it's only seven. Plus we just ate."

"He didn't, and you've all had a long day. Just take it easy for once, Dear, and it'll be rewarding in the morning."

"But.."

"Nope. Up you go," she waves me off. With a groan, I climb up top of the left bunk and sit on my bed, pointing to the one across from mine.

"That's you, Vamp, unless you want Frill to throw you up there. Literally."

"Quite," Alex adds. Vincent nods to Frill as a thank you before pulling himself up. Sonyeh rolls in below him and Ayana under me. Then Frill gets back in her chair and continues knitting.

"All a bunch of children, everyone of you."