Author's Note: This was originally going to be a short one-shot fanfic, but I liked the story so much that I decided to turn it into a multi-chapter fic. The Mizumi Swimming Academy has two different teams the diving swim team and the competitive swimming team. This story just focuses on the competitive swim team.

Title: Serene Indigo

Rating: T for suggestive themes and language

Summary: A/U. Lightning Farron is the star swimmer of her high school swim team, and the girl that Hope Estheim has a major crush on. Will Hope's feelings be able to reach her?

Setting: This story disregards the canon plot/storylines of FFXIII and FFXIII-2. This story takes place at the seaside town of Bodhum at Mizumi Swimming Academy.

Mizumi Academy Swim Team:

Lightning Farron Age 18

Serah Farron Age 16

Snow Villiers Age 18

Hope Estheim Age 17

Noel Kreiss Age 17

Vanille Age 16

Fang Age 18

Cid Raines Age 18

Swim Coaches:

Sazh Katzroy Age 40

Rygdea Age 37

Important Note: Hope's inner thoughts will be written like so, "Mizumi Academy" in italics with quotations.

Chapter 1 Novice Beginnings

"This was it, this is the year that I'm going to confess my feelings to her", Hope said full of determination as he closed his changing room locker. Hope was wearing the official academy's swim team black swimming trunks that had the academy's logo, and a lone indigo stripe that ran down both the left and right side of the swimming trunks. He also had his swim cap and swimming goggles in hand. "It's now or never." Hope exited the males' locker room, and made his way to the academy's practice pool room.

On his way there Hope reminisced about the past and about how far that he has come. As a child, Hope had a great love for competitive swimming, but lacked the courage and confidence to actually pursue it officially because he figured that he wouldn't be any good at it. Those views of his soon changed when he was fifteen years old on that one miraculous day when he was watching the Bodhum 23rd annual junior swimming competition on TV.

That's where he first laid eyes on the cerulean pink-haired beauty known as Lightning Farron. At just sixteen years old, everything about her from her swim style and form was almost on par with that of an adult professional competitive swimmer. Her swimming speed was very fast, and she also had this elegant presence that surrounded her as she swam. The competition that year was tough, but even though she came in 4th place she had a smile on her face and enjoyed just being able to compete.

Hope was immediately captivated by her, and she inspired him to actively pursue his love of competitive swimming. Lightning made him realize that winning didn't matter, but it was important to have fun while competing no matter if you excelled, failed, or came up short of placing.

That following year, Hope applied for the Mizumi Swimming Academy the best swimming school in the city of Bodhum. The academy wasn't a huge school in terms of size, and only accepted a handful of new students each school year. After what felt like an eternity Hope got an admissions approval letter in the mail, and would be able to start attending school there that following fall.

Since coming to Mizumi Swimming Academy Hope's swimming and speed has improved, but of course there are some things that he still needs to learn and develop. Coming to this academy has also given Hope the chance to be close to his idol and crush Lightning Farron.

Just the thought of being able to be close to her made him smile, but whenever he tries to approach her or she is near him he becomes very nervous and shy. This has caused her to think that he's weird, and a majority of the time she doesn't seem to even notice that he exists. Whoever said confessing your feelings to your idol/crush would be easy?

Hope soon returned to reality as soon as he reached the doors of the practice pool area. Hope took a deep breath before he opened the door to the grandeur practice room. The practice room was absolutely breathtaking. On the left side of the room was the spacious competitive swimming pool that had a skylight ceiling above it that was just about as large as the competitive swimming pool. While on the right side of the room was the nicely-sized diving pool which served as the pool that Hope and the swim team members would warm up in.

Not too long after Hope entered the room his team members were alerted to his presence. Snow and Serah gave Hope a greeting wave while Lightning looked at Hope and greeted him with a soft, "Hey". Hope blushed slightly as he generously returned their greetings.

"Hey, come over here Hope", Noel said as he waved Hope over. Noel Kreiss was the first member of the swim team that Hope befriended not too long after coming to the academy. Hope walked to where Noel was which was by the diving pool.

"Hey Noel", greeted Hope.

Fang, Vanille, and Cid Raines were currently in the diving pool warming up. "Hi Hope", Vanille and Fang said with a smile. Hope politely returned their greeting. Cid Raines however remained silent and ignored Hope's arrival altogether.

"I get the feeling that he doesn't like me very much."

"Don't let it bother you too much, Hope. Everyone knows that Cid can sometimes be a major ass, but he does pull through for the team in the long run."

On the other side of the room Lightning, Serah, and Snow were standing by the competitive swimming pool talking.

Hope took a seat by Noel who was sitting on the edge of the black and white square designed linoleum flooring by an opening of the diving pool and had his feet in the water.

Out of the corner of Hope's eye he saw that Lightning had put on her swimming cap, goggles, and dived into the competitive pool for a practice swim run. Her swimming form was still as elegant as ever as she moved as one with the water, and made it back to the starting point in what seemed like no time.

As Lightning got out of the pool her indigo one-piece swimsuit hugged her curves and body very nicely. Hope almost lost it when Lightning removed her swim cap from her head, and her silky pink hair cascaded down her face in straight long wet tresses. The pool water just glistened off of her body in the sunlight that shone down on her. It was just like watching a scene from a movie. Hope was mesmerized by the scene that had just unfolded right in front of his eyes. He didn't even realize that he was staring.

Noel saw the direction where Hope was staring, and took the opportunity to tease him a little.

"So, which one of them are you looking at?" Noel asked playfully.

"H-Huh? What do you mean?" Hope said trying to hide his embarrassment.

"C'mon, Hope you can't fool me. I saw the direction that you were staring in. It's become quite apparent to me that you're infatuated with one of the Farron sisters. Now, the only question that remains is which one? There's the younger sister Serah Farron who is considered to be the cute-type among males, but unfortunately she's already taken by Snow Villiers. Then there's the older sister Lightning Farron who is still very single, and is considered to be the sexy-type among males. Either sister is a great catch."

Noel quickly glanced over to where Cid Raines was to make sure that he was out of earshot before he continued. "Cid has been lusting after Lightning for quite some time now. In the past, he would even make subtle romantic advances towards her, but she just casually brushed them off."

Hope became solemn at the news of Cid Raines romantic advances towards Lightning. "This was going to be even tougher than I ever imagined. How could my feelings possibly reach her when she seems so distant and faraway?"

Noel immediately saw how Hope was down and decided to drop the subject altogether. "I'm sorry Hope I was just teasing you. I didn't mean for it to get out of hand."

"No, it's alright", Hope said with a small smile forming at his lips. While in truth everything was not alright. "Okay, let's start warming up", Noel remarked. Hope nodded in agreement. Both Noel and Hope slid into the diving pool and started their warming up exercises.

A few minutes later, the two swimming coaches walked in Coach Katzroy and Coach Rygdea. They were dressed in their usual white coach sport jumpsuits with their clipboard and stopwatch in hand.

"Alright team; it's time for official swimming practice. We're sorry that we're late we got held up in a meeting", Rygdea said curtly.

All of the swim team members stopped what they were doing, and took their positions in front of their assigned lane number in front of the competitive swimming pool. Cid was assigned lane one, Snow lane two, Lightning lane three, Noel lane four, Serah lane five, Fang lane six, Vanille lane seven, and last but not least Hope lane eight.

One lane at a time Coach Katzroy timed swim lanes 1-4. While Coach Rygdea timed swim lanes 5-8 for their swim speed on the 100 meter breaststroke, backstroke, butterfly, and freestyle.

Everyone for the most part had decent swim times, but of course Hope's swim times were slower than everyone else's because he was still learning the ropes and getting into the swing of things.

"Estheim, these swim times are not going to cut it. I know that you have it in you, and that you can do better than this. Your current swimming technique and form is what's bringing you down. So, I suggest you effectively get a lot more practice in as the junior swimming competition is coming up soon, and I'm sure that you don't want to bring the team down", Rygdea remarked.

Hope nodded and climbed out of the pool. Hope knew that Coach Rygdea was giving him helpful advice, but Coach Rygdea was also known to show favoritism especially towards Cid Raines. He was also the more competitive one between the two team's coaches.

"Alright team everyone front and center", Coach Katzroy called out.

Once everyone was there the coaches gave an overall report to the team about our respective swim times, and what we needed to individually improve and work on.

Soon it was Coach Rygdea's turn. "As all of you just heard Estheim here needs extra practice and I want one of you to help him out after class practice is over. Now, Estheim which one of your team members do you want to help you?" Everyone of his team members were looking at him awaiting his decision.

Hope's face turned slightly red from embarrassment. Hope's gaze went immediately to where lightning was standing. As soon as her gaze met his he got nervous and looked down at his feet. "C'mon just say it already! Say you want Lightning to help you."

Hope looked back up towards Lightning and was about to give his answer, but Snow cut in, "I'll help him." He said with a grin. Coach Rygdea gave a satisfied nod. "Thanks for volunteering your time Villiers. Alright it's settled."

Snow walked over to Hope and slung his left arm over Hope's shoulder. "Don't worry I'll get you up to speed in no time." He assured.

After practice Fang, Vanille, Noel, and Serah wished Snow and Hope good luck before heading to the locker room. They were soon followed by Lightning, Cid, and the swim coaches.

Now it was just Snow and Hope left. During their practice Snow gave Hope some helpful pointers and tips, but it was kind of hard to concentrate because of Snow's obnoxious jokes and banter. "Just what the hell did Serah Farron exactly see in this guy?" Hope just wanted this extra practice session with Snow to be over already.

After an hour passed Snow deemed that they had done enough practicing for the day. Hope decided that he wasn't quite done practicing yet. "I'm going to stay after for a while longer and continuing practicing."

"Really, are you sure?" Snow asked as he climbed out of the pool.

"Yes, I'm sure." Hope replied.

"Okay, but don't overwork yourself."

Once Snow left Hope completely immersed himself into his practice mode and time just ticked away.

Lightning came back to the school because Serah had left her homework folder in her locker, and Lightning being the good sister that she was decided to walk back to the school and get it for her. Since it was now late evening and it would be getting dark soon.

After Lightning retrieved the folder she headed for the back entrance of the school so that she could get back home faster. As Lightning passed the entrance doors to the swimming pool area she heard splashing and stopped walking. She turned her head in the direction of the pool practice room. "Someone's still here this late?" Lightning quickly glanced at her watch, and saw that the pool was going to be closing in thirty minutes. She slowly walked over to the door, cracked the door opened slightly, and peered inside.

"Well, what do you know." It wasn't stated as a question. Sure enough Hope was still here practicing; it would also seem that Snow had left quite a while ago. Lightning couldn't help but be slightly amazed at Hope's determination and effort. It reminded her of when she first started out, and the long hours after class practice that she put in to improve her swimming and speed.

Initially, Lightning viewed Hope as weird and the weak link of the team, but after seeing how he was tirelessly practicing to improve his swimming technique made Lightning view him in a more positive light.

"Hmm, so there's more to this kid than I originally thought." Lightning said with a slight smirk.

Author's Note: Thanks for reading! Reviews are greatly appreciated.