More than a Myth

Redemption

"I'm going to be gone late today. I have to teach my students then go help out Fang." Serah informed.
"Okay, that's cool. I'll watch the house." Snow responded.
Serah looked skeptical. "You sure you'll be okay here by yourself?"
Snow put on an arrogant look. "I'm a big boy. I'll be fine."

Snow was really bored. It was getting late and Serah still hadn't come back. Lightning's condo felt empty without its owner in it. Light took care of the cooking, cleaning, and paying the bills, but now Serah did most of that stuff. Snow was now left alone to do some of those things. He was feeling hungry.
Snow went to the kitchen and looked around the pantry and fridge. He didn't really know how to cook. How would he do it now? He found some pasta. Better than nothing, he thought. Now, where to start? Where do we keep the pots?
Snow rummaged through some cabinets until he found one that was big enough to hold the pasta. Okay, now what? Do you put it in the pot?
He opened the box of uncooked noodles and poured them into the metal pot. Do I cook it now? Or does something go with it? Snow placed the pot of raw noodles on the stove. He wasn't sure how to work this either. After pushing a few buttons, he heard a beep. He assumed that meant the burner was on.
So I just wait? Snow sat on the counter and looked around the kitchen. He saw a few dishes in the sink. That reminds me, I still have to replace those dishes I broke...
After fifteen minutes of listening to his wandering thoughts, Snow smelled something burning. He leaped off the counter, rushed to the oven, then peered down at the pot to see blackening pasta. He quickly pulled the pot off the stove, the silver handle burning his gloved hand. He dropped the pot with a yelp. The flaming hot metal landed on his foot, sending dark pasta everywhere. Snow held his foot, screaming, "Ouch! Dammit!"
Snow sighed and looked at his mess. He removed his glove to examine his hand. It was red, beginning to form a blister. That wouldn't be fun to deal with when he fought.
Geez, he made a huge mess. How could he have been stupid enough to just cook the damn things!
Snow never felt so stupid. Not for the dirty kitchen, but for taking Lightning for granted. She did so much for him and Serah. She gave them a place to stay while they had nowhere else to else to go, even for free. She cleaned up any of their messes, no matter who made it. She cooked every meal they ate. She did all of this out of the selflessness in her heart. Light had always helped them. Snow never realized how much she did for him until now; when she wasn't here anymore. She may not even return at all.
One of the phones rang. Snow picked it up with his unharmed hand. "Hello?"
"Hi, Snowy!" Serah cooed. "Everything alright at home?"
Snow looked at the now unclean kitchen, thanks to his foolishness. "Uhh... Sort of. Hey, Serah?"
"Yeah?"
"Cooking is really hard."
"Did you make a mess?"
"Yeah, but don't worry, I'll – wait, is the stove still on?"

"Okay, you guys take Taejin's Tower. You all get the Sulyya Springs." Fang issued commands to her men often, but these weren't normal orders. They had to search for Lightning, or as Fang's operatives knew her, Captain Farron.
"Hey, Fang!" Sazh called. "Serah said she's done teaching her classes. She'll be here soon."
Fang still didn't get why Serah was a teacher. Sure, she loved kids and it was nice to have the younger generation receive a good education. But juggling that with the P.L.R. business must not have been easy. What a career combination, too: Teacher and combat specialist. Well, Serah wasn't really a specialist quite yet. She was good with a bow and arrow, but other than that, her combat skills had room for improvement. "Right."
Sazh watched the soldiers as they prepared to move out. He knew Fang would give them an earful if they didn't find any clues as to Lightning's whereabouts again. "Say, Fang," Sazh asked, "Do you think Light's okay?"

What kind of a question was that? Of course she was okay! She was Lightning Farron: The only one among their whole group that was a trained professional in combat. She was rational enough to survive on her own. She could take care of herself. She traveled swiftly and carefully, easily beating any enemy that came her way. Lightning would be fine! Hell, she may be on her way home right now!
Or, at least, that's what Fang wanted to say.
There was no way to tell if Lightning was near home or not. They weren't even sure whether she was alive at all. She was M.I.A., possibly lost without food or shelter, and maybe even dying at the moment. She had been gone for weeks! All because Fang couldn't go check out the strange portal herself.
"She better be." Was all Fang could say back.
"You're really worried, aren't you?"
"You shut your trap!" Fang snapped.
Sazh put up his hands in defense. "I didn't mean that in a bad way. We know how you're feeling. But thinking like that won't bring her back. The best we can do for Light is finding out where she is and bring her home."
"Yeah, you're right. But I can't shake the feeling that she may be in a place of danger. You know, like she could get hurt really soon."
"Just relax. You'll lose less sanity that way."
Fang chuckled, "Please! Too late for that! I've lived without my sanity for years now!"
The two laughed. Fang turned serious. "Do you really think she's safe?"
"Of course! You know what? I bet you two hundred gil she is in a nice, safe, comfortable place right now, where no enemy could get to her."
{Big Mistake Sazh..}