I don't own FF 13 or the characters.

I'm planning on this being a multi-chapter fic, sorry if I don't update that quickly (only one more semester of college to go!). If, somehow, you've also read my Bleach multi-chapter, sorry for not having updated it for a year. I still think about it often, but don't really have much motivation... we'll see how that one goes.

I couldn't really think of a title...

Anyway, please R and R!

***Revised on January 12th, 2013. (Just the Fang & Vanille history.)


Practice Makes Perfect

Chapter 1

There she was again. She had only been coming here for about 6 months (rough calculation) and she already acted like she owned the place. Talking to people, being all smarmy and friendly with the other patrons at the gym.

Who does she think she is?

You're only jealous because she doesn't talk to you like that... or because you've been here twice as long and nobody talks to you like they do her.

Neither were true.

Both are true.

So, perhaps Lightning had come to the recent conclusion that there was a bit of truth to each statement. She would deny it, of course, if ever asked. But denial can only last so long.

Lightning swiveled her head slightly to watch the brunette continue on her path of likeability. The next person in line was a fellow brunette doing some squats with 20 or so pounds of weights in her hands – nothing Lightning couldn't easily do. The annoying one, who Lightning thought had introduced herself as "Fang" to many people, put a steadying hand on the other woman's back. It looked like Fang was critiquing her on her technique of the exercise.

Lightning noticed that she did this often. Not very many people minded the help, most welcomed it, and some even sought it out. It drove Lightning crazy. She didn't understand how anyone could have the audacity to just go up to a stranger and tell them they're doing it wrong and how to do it better. Thankfully, Fang had never felt the need to do this with Lightning.

Fang had removed her hand from the woman's back a while ago, but they still continued talking. It looked like a fun conversation with all the laughing that seemed to be going on. Lightning couldn't tell what was being said over the music being pumped into her ears by her iPod.

She preferred it this way; the music loudly in her ears as her legs pumped along to the beat, all while on the treadmill. The little earbud headphones also deterred people from talking to her, which was to her liking. Lightning was here to work out, not to talk to people, not to make friends. Strictly business, so to speak.

The conversation with the brunette had ended and now Fang was walking over to the women's locker rooms. Lightning's head wasn't the only one that turned during Fang's short walk across that side of the room. This wasn't surprising since Fang wore her usual black workout bra and some semi-loose fitting shorts, probably with some short spandex under them, Lightning thought. Fang would often work up a nice sweat that would make her light brown skin glisten nicely – accentuating her tone muscles all over her body. Fang finally entered the locker rooms. Everyone that had been previously following her with their eyes now needed to find something else to keep them occupied while working out.

There was only a mile left that Lightning needed to run before starting her cool down and stopping the machine. She took the headphones out of her ears, shifting her strawberry blonde hair slightly – though her hair was more on the pink side, if one wanted to be specific. Within those ten or so minutes she was certain that Fang had already left the building – the brunette was a pretty fast changer. Lightning liked this about Fang. It meant that she didn't have to delay leaving the building just to avoid her.

Lightning took a drink from her water bottle and stooped down to collect her bag at the side of the treadmill. She didn't trust leaving her bag in the locker room, she didn't want to pay for a locker, and she didn't see the point when she'd be home in a few minutes to shower and change anyway. She only used the lockers to change from her school cloths into her workout cloths – cloths that she also kept in her bag, which also doubled as her school backpack.

Having collected her things, the pink haired woman began to leave. Her heart rate was still raised slightly as she walked down the hall, a hall made by the men's and women's locker rooms being on either side of it, towards the entrance/exit of the building. Lightning saw the big blockhead working behind the desk of the gym. His name was Snow, a name that fit well with his lightly colored hair. She knew this because of the many times that he introduced himself to her, not once had she given her name back in return.

"Have a good night," Snow politely called from behind the desk.

Lightning gave a brief nod of acknowledgment before leaving the building through the glass doors.

It was only a ten minute walk to her apartment – the reason that she didn't cool down enough while at the gym. She considered the walk home as her second cool down from a long workout. It was also nice to still have a little warmth in her body to shield herself from the cold, dark nippy night.


"What's her name?"

"I don't know," responded Fang, a little bit frustrated. This wasn't the first time Vanille had asked this question and she doubted it would be the last.

It's been about five years since Vanille walked into Fang's life. It had been a rainy day and the younger had been crying while wandering the street by where Fang lived. She had an immediate connection with the girl, and they hadn't even met yet, but that's often how it goes when you see someone walking down your own previous path in life.

Fang took the barely-fourteen year old into her 'abode' and since that day has always been a willing shoulder for Vanille to cry on. A strong sisterly bond developed – one they both knew would never be broken. It was a small family, but one both were glad to have; Fang having lost her family years before and Vanille having been rejected by hers when Fang found her on the street.

To say that it had been hard and emotional for them for awhile would be an understatement. But they worked through most of it together; usually only being upset with each other when Vanille started dating people that Fang did not approve of.

But even though they had such a strong bond, it didn't stop Fang from being annoyed with Vanille when being questioned yet again. And the older woman knew what was coming next.

"What has it been..." Vanille paused, thinking, "six months since you started working out there and you still don't know her name?"

Fang glared at her. "No, it's only been five months and two weeks."

Vanille's green eyes rolled up towards the ceiling. "Whatever, same difference. You've managed to learn just about everyone else's name at the gym, except for the girl's that you like. How has this happened?" She was actually curious. The orange-haired girl had never seen Fang have problems talking with a girl before.

Fang started pacing back and forth in the living room. Not that there was much room for her to walk since their apartment was rather small. "She's just, ugh, hard to talk to... she doesn't waste any time before or after her workout, doesn't seem to use the locker rooms, she listens to music while working out, she doesn't seem to talk to anyone, and she has really good technique. But," Fang said with emphasis, "I know that her eyes follow me around the gym..."

"..whose wouldn't?"

"...I catch her in the mirrors sometimes staring at me – not even in her direct line of sight, she has to turn her body a little bit sometimes."

"Well, that's a good sign," Vanille encouraged, turning into her optimistic self once again.

Despite the encouragement, Fang sighed, "I don't even know if she's into women."

"Who isn't into women?"

Fang gave her roommate an incredulous stare. She hoped Vanille wouldn't find this out the hard way. Not everyone was as lucky as her when it came to having crushes.


AN (January 12, 2013):

Changes were made concerning Fang and Vanille's history.

...but actually uploaded on November 18, 2013 – sorry it took me so long.