A/N: Hello everyone! This is my first Final Fantasy story. I just wanted to do a light, coming of age story that didn't involve any serious themes, gods, planet-saving etc. XD Not that anything's wrong with that, but I just thought having a cute, fluffy Lightning x Cloud fic would be…too cute! :D Anyway, please enjoy the story. Some characters may appear OOC, but I'll try to keep them as original as possible. Happy reading!

Summary: Alternate Universe. Cloud Strife never thought he would get over his first love, Aerith, or be understood by anyone other than his longtime girlfriend, Tifa. Claire just appeared a little like Lightning and blew him away. Cloud X Lightning.

Of Pink and Gold

I. The New Sisters

THIRD PERSON POV

"I hate... moving," said the younger Farron sister, clinging onto her elder sister's arm as she tilted her head with her usual cuteness, a pout on her face.

"Hn…" the elder one replied, nodding twice. "You get used to it," she added after a pause but this didn't seem to make her younger sister feel any better.

"But I don't want to get used to things! I want to have adventures. And like, a boyfriend-," before the younger girl could finish, a pair of stern aqua eyes greeted her. "Boyfriend? Absolutely not. You know what men are like," she said in a matter-of-fact tone.

"Are you dismissing my motion?! This is like, against sister laws!" Serah tried but to no avail. "First you have to bring a motion to the floor," Lightning mused, chuckling softly as she glanced sideways at her younger sibling. "Bring a guy to me who is truly worthy of you. Then I'll acknowledge him."

"You talk like someone from a Jane Austen novel hello it's the 21st century and chivalry is dead." Serah crossed her arms as she closed her eyes. "I'm done with this conversation."

"If you insist," Lightning coined, putting her wireless headphones back on as she stared out of the fast moving train. She had left her long-time home in Bodhum to a full scholarship at the best school in Midgar. She didn't regret it. It had been Serah's wish to study history at a good school. And after working countless hours and encouraging Serah to apply, Lightning had made it come true.

SERAH'S POV

We arrived in the dorms of the "elite" private institution and hell; it really was elite from head to toe! I tugged on Lightning's off shoulder loose sweater, "is this for real?"

"You did it," she showed me her trademark smirk, but in her eyes I found an acceptance of my dreams, even pride.

Since Lightning was a senior, I'd have to part with her at some point. I was scared and nervous, trying to cling to her. Oh well, guess I'd just have to get over my epic fear of… epic fail move and move. Ugh. Reset Serah, Reset! From Bodhum to Midgar. Now.

Lightning dropped me off to the freshman dorms, lifting my heavy luggage up even to my room. I whined, trying to help but she was unusually strong, not to mention stubborn beyond reason. Once she saw me settling in she took a deep breath, but her eyebrows scrunched in worry.

"Are you going to be okay?" She asked for the fiftieth time.

"No. I'm going to be abducted by aliens. Ugh! Yes Cl-Lightning, I'll be fine," I insisted. She nodded, lifting her bag pack off the floor. That thing looked huge, also heavy. You could use it as weights. Well, Lightning didn't need to because she was already muscular and all but maybe I could use biceps of my own.

My thoughts were interrupted by a flare of orange hair. "Woah!" I exclaimed as I was tackled into a hug. "Hi!" Greeted the enthusiastic girl who had glomped me. "Are you my new roommate? YAY!" She squealed and I smiled a bit, nervously scratching the back of my head.

"Nice to meet you… euh?"

"Vanille. That's my name. Don't forget it!" She poked for forehead before looking down the corridor. "Who was that person who came to drop you off? Looked like Cloud's alter ego…"

"Huh? Cloud?" I blinked twice. Was that a video game character or something? (A/N: I know. Couldn't resist XD)

"Oh nevermind. Hey, want some help unpacking?" She offered graciously and I accepted. It was going to be easy fitting into this school if I had a friend. I wasn't sure about my sister. She was a bit… how do I say this… a bit of a loner? Not that there's anything wrong with loners but I wished she'd get around more. Maybe smile once in a while.

I guess I'll just have to wait and see.

LIGHTNING'S POV

"Right…" I mumbled to myself as I recalled the image of the map I had memorized. I I moved over to the sophomore dorm and found my allocated room number.

I knocked before entering, only to find a black haired girl and some spiky blond making out in what I guessed was my bed? Oh fuck no.

"Get out blondie," I announced coldly as I put my bag down, crossing my arms and leaning against the wall.

CLOUD'S POV

Even though I had told her explicitly that I wasn't in the mood, I found her tongue in my mouth as she crawled into my lap. Great. I knew this would happen. My tongue responded as I closed my eyes, hoping that this wouldn't lead to anything else.

As I heard the door opening, my eyes opened to greet aqua orbs. No, before I even saw her I heard her. Her voice was sharp and cold.

Our lips parted and Tifa glared at her. "Hello, hasn't anyone taught you to knock?!"

"I did. You'd have heard me if you weren't so busy…" she paused, chuckling briefly, "getting busy. Now can you please empty my bed? I'll be back later, thanks."

She slid her hands into the pockets of her leather hands. She wasn't wrong. I wasn't supposed to be here. "Sorry," I nodded once at her before she left.

"Don't apologize to her! I'll show her—"

"Don't show her anything, please," I joked, sighing deeply. "I'm tired anyway," I quickly excused myself from the room, leaving a scorned Tifa behind.

Sometimes it was just too much pressure being a relationship. On my way out, I saw the aqua-eyed girl properly. She was tall, lean and built quite strong, though not unattractive at all. She was a different kind of attractive. She had mid-length rose colored hair that just curled naturally at the tips, carelessly draped over her left shoulder. Pretty pale complexion. And then I noticed how amazing the aqua color in her eyes was. Pale and bright.

I tried not to study her too much and just walked past her.

Damn it. I turned once more to look. She was definitely… something else.

HOPE'S POV

"New?"

I was leaning against the wall when I heard a husky voice. I turned my head to the side and was greeted by a pretty face.

I nodded. "You?"

"Mmhmm." She replied nonchalantly as she looked away. This girl didn't seem like she was much of a talker, like me.

"Freshman?" I asked hopefully. She was really good-looking. Not to mention her hawk-like, aqua eyes were like sapphires. You could just drown in those pools of –

"Sophomore." Oh damn it. I extended my hand to her, smiling a tad. "Hope Estheim."

"Lightning. Lightning Farron."

Lightning… what an odd name, I thought as I chucked to myself. Fierce. But she definitely looked the part.

Lightning and I spent the rest of the day discovering the campus together. We found out what the cafeteria menus are like, how long it takes for the laundry to dry and other tips for college survival 101 just by walking around and hearing juniors and seniors talk. It was fascinating.

Moreover, I was surprised to learn that Lightning had a younger sister. She was a history major in freshman year. They were from Bodhum and for some reason that place sounded familiar. Like I had been there before or something.

We were two people who didn't mind the silence together. It was rare.

I just hoped it would last.

A/N: Okay, that was tough XD Crossovers generally are, though. Thanks to anyone who read ^^ please leave a review~ your feedback is very valuable to me and highly appreciated too! *w*