Unlikely Partners

The Wanderer and the L'Cie

Chapter Summary: Amongst all the people they could pair the L'Cie up, it had to be the wanderer

Rating: K + for violence

There they were in the Rift. Somewhere on top of the castle, the warriors of Cosmos were making plans on where they should head next. Well, most of them anyways, two were sent down to guard the area.

Lightning was not pleased with this. She was a warrior for crying out loud! Not some stupid guard. She should be with the others, trying to make battle plans, but no. She had to watch out for those dumb manikins. Why not let Laguna do it? Or Zidane? The way he is with Tifa is just embarrassing to watch. And at least those two can stand him.

"So, Light?" Bartz asked. She groaned. That was the seventh time he called her and they've only be out for five minutes! "Just what Bartz."

The mime frowned "Hey, you don't have to say it like that." She just rolled her eyes. Bartz scratched his head, realizing the position he was in "I was just wondering…"

"You're always wondering." She said flatly.

"Anyways, I was wondering why your name's Lightning." He asked. Oh great. That question. Could she trust him? He doesn't seem worthy enough to know her name.

She brushed a hand through her pink hair and turned away "It's personal."

"As usual." He sighed. Bartz turned away and kicked the grass under his feet. All he just wanted to do was get closer to a comrade. Anything wrong with that?

Do you have any family?

It's personal.

Well, how about friends.

It's personal as well.

Do you like chocobos?

Now why would I answer that?

"Hey Light?" he said once again. He saw her clench her fists "What?"

He kept quiet for a moment. Suddenly, a manikin appeared out of nowhere. It looked just like Zidane. It jumped in the air and threw its knives to them. "Duck!" Bartz dodged to the left. Lightning did the same in the opposite direction.

She pulled out her gunblade. The Zidane copy looked at both of them. He flipped backwards. Lightning saw it as an opportunity. She charged towards the manikin but Bartz stepped in front of her.

"What are you-" before she could finish, the copy dash towards them. The mime blocked. He then smirked and pulled out Cecil's spear and forced it to the ground. Dark Flames rose and shot the manikin up the air.

"I'll handle it." Bartz said to her. His expression was serious. Lightning's eyes widened. She punched him right on the cheek.

He seemed to be confused by that "Hey, what was that for?"

"You idiot! Don't think you can do this by yourself!" a sudden memory flashed back into her eyes. Snow…

"I know how Zidane attacks. Him and me are always together. But the manikin is way stronger than Zidane." He tried to reason out.

Lightning sighed "I'll help you then. It's the only way we'll win it."

Bartz looked surprised but nodded, "You bring it up in the air" He ran on top to one of the pillars. The Zidane copy tried to strike again, but Lightning blocked it. She then jumped and summoned Waterga.

It dodged out of the way. Lightning then summoned Thundega that connected. She swung her blade and did Army of One on it. It flew up to the sky. Bartz then jumped in and used Laguna's canon.

The manikin shattered and then disappeared. Lightning went up to him. He seemed shaken "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, it's just, heights…" Bartz scratched the back of his head. Lightning smiled "Wait, Light, you're smiling?" he was astonished.

"It's just you remind me of an old friend, his name is Snow." She said. It was true. Him and Bartz seemed so much alike. Maybe she could get along with this guy.

"Whoa, what happen to 'It's personal'?" he said, he even copied the exact tone of her voice.

"You aren't too bad, Bartz." She complimented, he gave her a satisfied smile. She sat down with him and gave a breath "My name, you want to know why I'm Lightning? I have a sister named Serah. Our parents died when we were young. I had to be strong for her, and so I thought I needed to forget my past. And I became Lightning. I thought that if change my name, I could change who I was."

There was silence between them. Bartz gave a weak smile "My parents died too. My mom died when I was very young. I can't remember her face very well. But I remember the small music box she used to let me listen to before I went to sleep. Then one night, as the song was playing, she just passed away. My dad took me around the world after that. But he too died a few years back."

"I'm sorry." Lightning said. Bartz stood up and smiled "It's okay, better to have loved and lost rather than to have not loved at all, right? Let's go back, I think we're going to move soon."

She stood up as well and followed "Thank you, Bartz."

"Hmm, for what?"

"It's hard to say, but I guess for being you. You somewhat loosened me up"

Bartz flustered "Well, I guess it's nothing. Oh, and since you're loosened up, tell me, do you like chocobos?"

"Bartz" she sighed, but she wasn't annoyed with him. She was just glad she made a new friend.

What a cheesy ending! I'm sorry if Lightning is OOC, I haven't completely watched FFXIII, though I sure hope Bartz is in character...

Well, here we have it. Unlikely partners! Who knows, I might continue this with different characters.

I'm bad with fight scenes, so sorry...

Review?