[Fang can't help flinching as the weight of her shame and regret are brought down on her head again, and she knows that flinch was a mistake. It gave Vanille more ground in this argument, let her know Fang knew she had a point. She bares her teeth in a defensive snarl before she could stop herself, too emotional to temper her reactions right now.]

[And then it sinks in.]

[What I want is for the both of us to stay alive, you idiot!]

[Her chest starts rising and falling quickly as her breathing becomes rapid, a new kind of anger bubbling up within her—something scared and frustrated and betrayed and desperate, and flames curl unintentionally on every breath.]

[Fang couldn't take it anymore. That wound is too raw.]

[She breaks.]

You have no RIGHT to say that! [The taller woman roughly shoves Vanille back as she screams those words. Her balance wavers and threatens to buckle, but Fang presses on and forward, that agonized desperation clear in her face.]

What happened to all those noble sacrifices YOU wanted to make, huh?! [A step forward, another shove.] What about turnin' Cie'th to protect poor Cocoon?! What about dying to atone for your sins?! What about doin' everything to you could to apologize to the dead—[It's here that Fang's voice breaks into something ugly and rough and tormented]—no matter how it left me behind?!

[She'd be on the verge of tears if her gargoyle body wouldn't immediately burn them away.]