Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy XIII or any of its characters. That would be Square Enix.
A/N: I haven't written any fanfiction for four years. But after getting back into reading awesome stories here I was inspired to write my own. As such, reviews and comments are highly appreciated!
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Lightning's gaze wandered to her computer as a new email alert appeared. She was sitting in bed, winding down before bedtime. The days of battles with fal'Cie, Gods and other baddies were long gone, and the endless days of peace seemed to stretch on forever. Lightning sighed and hopped off the bed to check the email.
Bending over her computer, she scanned the subject line: You've received a new message! The words following the website name made her stomach drop. The ultimate site for dating and love! She opened the email. "New message from user xlxlxlhahaha: Hey babe! You're smoking hot!", "Ugh," she exhaled, disgusted. There was only one explanation for this. Lightning dialled a number on her phone.
"Hello?" the voice on the other end replied. "Serah, what did you do, you signed me up for online dating?" Serah paused for a moment. "Um, yes, Lightning. You see, it's a week before you turn twenty-four, and well, I'm just worried that you haven't found someone yet," Serah explained.
Lightning sighed. "Serah, you know how many times you've hinted at this subject, and really, enough is enough. I have no interest in dating and", "But," Serah interrupted, "Lightning, do you really want to die alone? Without someone to love you? And I don't mean me, but someone who can make you happy day after day for the rest of your life?" The woman on the other end was silent. "You do know that you're getting older, and, I just want you to have what I have. A happy life, with someone who will look after you, not that you need it."
The older sister responded, "Exactly, I don't need it. I don't need love." She was just about to hang up on Serah when the younger replied "Lightning wait, um," Serah deliberated on whether or not to ask something she'd been wondering for a long time. She decided to try it. "Lightning, if you don't need love, do you need, um, the other thing." When Lightning didn't respond, Serah continued, "I mean, the physical thing". Lightning hung up the phone. "What the-" Serah said to herself.
Lightning tossed the phone onto her bedside table. Sometimes her younger sister was so, persistent. Since she and Snow had moved in together leaving Lightning alone in the house her sister seemed to call up every few days and pester her about going out, meeting people and talking more to strangers. Lightning had always responded in silence, rolling her eyes in boredom for lack of bothering to put in the effort and think of a reply. The conversations she used to have with Serah about their daily activities now seemed to circle back to this irritating topic about herself and her non-existent love life.
The older Farron turned off her bedroom light and snuggled into her sheets. Why can't we just talk like we used to? Lightning thought, before drifting off to sleep.
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"Hey Fang, have you seen my pink suitcase?" Vanille stood on her tip-toes trying to look to the back of the top shelf in her wardrobe. "Nope," Fang replied from Vanille's desk. The brunette sat playing an RPG game on Vanille's computer. "Well then, can you at least come over here and see if you can see it? You're way taller than me. By the way, when are you going to start packing? We need to leave for New Bodhum the day after tomorrow. And we need to stop for camping supplies. You don't want Lightning to get pissed at us for being underprepared, on her birthday?" Vanille spun around. "FANG! Get your ass over here!"
Fang paused the game and walked over. "Jeez, Vanille, calm down. She peered over the shelf. "Nope, not here, go use my black suitcase." The pink haired girl groaned. "Oh and by the way," Fang said, "I've thought of the perfect present for Lightning".
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Hope trod up the front yard of Serah and Snow's house, hands in his pockets. He pressed the button beside the doorframe of the front door. Snow answered the doorbell. "Hey Hope! How ya been?" Hope smiled. "Pretty good, thanks Snow. Actually, I'm here to see Serah." Snow sauntered aside as his wife peeked around the door. "Oh hey Hope, come on in!" The pink haired girl chirped.
"So, have you set the reservations?" Serah asked Hope. They sat in the lounge, on cushy armchairs. "Yeah," Hope replied. "They were a bit hesitant on letting six people stay at the inn since its high season at the Wildlands, but I managed to persuade them that we would help with the sheep, since Lightning has experience with them".
The younger Farron perked up, interested. "What sheep? Where in the Wildlands are we going?" The silver haired teenager responded. "We'll be staying at Aryas Village for a few days, your sister had to help herd the sheep while she was there a while back."
Hope didn't know if Lightning wanted to spend her birthday herding sheep, but it was the best he could do to bring his friend with the possibility of reuniting with her white chocobo. That was his present for Lightning's birthday, and he just hoped that his idea of taking her to the Wildlands on a camping trip to search for the Angel of Valhalla would be enough of a present, even if they didn't manage to find him.
"And," Serah began, "My sister's white chocobo will be there?" She queried Hope. "Well, we don't actually know yet. It has been a number of years since she saw him last. We'll have to see when we get there." The pink haired woman continued, "Okay then, let's finish planning the rest of the trip".
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By afternoon Lightning headed back to her house. Keeping in shape was tough when there was no one to fight around New Bodhum, but she had managed to find and slay a meonekton today. One thing that continued to bother her was her Blazefire Saber's blade. It had lost its edge. Lightning noticed the pun and mentally corrected herself. Its actual blade edge was fine, sharp as ever, but it had lost its killing power. The integrity of the metals in the blade seemed to be weakening. But, replacing the blade was expensive.
The rose haired woman opened her computer and checked her bank account balance. The ever dwindling amount of gil seemed to glare at her. Since all her saviour duties ended, she had worked on and off but found nothing permanent that interested her. Thinking of her Blazefire Saber, she sat down and looked for jobs.
Several applications sent later she opened her email out of habit. Another message from another member from the dating website. She sighed deeply. She clicked the link to her dating account but didn't know the password.
"Hey Lightning, what's up?" Serah responded to her sister's phone call. "Serah," the older sister said sternly. "Delete that stupid account you made for me on the dating site." Lightning sounded pissed. "Hold on a sec Light, what happened?" Her sister sounded concerned. "Just take it off, it's spamming my email," Serah paused for a moment. "And if I don't?" The silence on the other end seemed to scream at Serah. "Lightning, wait, don't be mad. I have a reason for doing this, and it's because I love you and care about you. Okay, how about we make a deal?" The younger Farron paused to make sure her sister was listening. "Go on," Lightning said. "What about if you go on a date with someone, then, then I'll buy your new blade replacement for you? I know you're a bit short of cash right now, so..," She paused, waiting for her sister's reply.
Lightning cursed herself but it really was for her beloved…Blazefire. It was no question now when she thought about her gunblade. "Deal." She said. "Awesome!" Serah squealed. "Now don't back down Light, it's a deal!" "Tell yourself," Lightning reminded her. "This will be your first date, ever!" Serah tried to hide her excitement to try not to put her sister off. "Just tell me the password," the older woman said. "Yep," the younger replied.
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The older Farron sister read the new message. Username: lily789. It was from a… woman. Hey, I saw your profile and you sound interesting. Your personality seems attractive. And I also enjoy long romantic walks on the beach! Would love to get to know you better. Lily. Lightning narrowed her eyes, since when did Lightning like long romantic walks on the beach? Damn Serah, what the hell did she write in her profile?
Lightning opened the dating website, logged in and viewed her profile. I'm a warm-hearted individual with a personality like a boiled egg. Hard on the outside, soft on the inside. I enjoy long romantic walks on the beach even if I seem outwardly stoic. I may seem scary on the outside, but once you get to know me you'll find I'm sensitive and kind with a heart full of love.
The pink haired woman gaped at the screen. What the fuck?! I'M GOING TO KILL SERAH! She screamed in her head. That was the most Un-Lightning description of herself that she had ever seen. Her eyes flickered to the left column of her profile. Interested in: men, women, others.
Fuming, she dialled her sister again. "Yes Lightning?" the younger sister answered. "I saw my profile." The older stated. Serah said anxiously, "Oh, I hope you're okay that I ticked all the boxes for genders, men, women and others, because honestly, I don't want to limit your chances! I know how you're so picky-".
"And," Lightning interrupted, "Do you think that is the issue with what you wrote about me?!" The younger Farron flinched at her sister's tone. "Erm... What do you mean, Light?" Lightning sighed, exasperated. "Seriously, Serah, you wrote that I'm sensitive and kind on the inside". The younger quipped "But that is exactly you! You think you're all tough and indifferent but you have such a big heart… Lightning, if only you will let people see it".
The older Farron inwardly grimaced. Of course Serah knew sides of her that she had never shown anyone else, but declaring that in a public profile? That was so wrong. Another sentence struck her. "Then what about the part about me liking long walks on the beach?" She queried. "Oh you forgot the keyword, romantic," Serah reminded her. "C'mon Light I had to at least have a marketing strategy!" her younger sister chirped.
So it was part bullshit, Lightning thought to herself. Turning her mind to the task at hand and treating it as though it were a mission, Lightning mentally prepared to ask this Lily woman out on a date, a picture of her gunblade fixed in her mind the whole time.
Would you like to go for a coffee? She typed into the reply box.
xxXxx
The next morning Lightning checked her inbox. Sure thing! Lily had replied, followed by a time and place two weeks from today.
xxXxx
Serah bounced out the house to sit on the front porch. Vanille and Fang would be arriving at any minute. It was the day before Lightning's surprise birthday trip to the Wildlands and the two Pulsians would be joining them, along with Snow and Hope, for some fresh air and a good time with old friends to celebrate her turning twenty-four. Since they were setting off early the next morning, Vanille and Fang were staying at Serah's for the night.
A taxi pulled up and a tall woman with wild, dark hair and a shorter red haired girl jumped out with two suitcases. Serah galloped over and pulled them into a big hug.
"Vanille! Fang!" the Farron squealed. "It's so good to see you again Serah," Vanille warmly hugged her back. Fang untangled herself from the group hug. "I've been dying to see that new house of yours. Let us in for a cuppa would ya?" the brunette suggested.
They settled into the lounge and Serah brought her Pulsian friends a cup of coffee each. Just then, Serah's phone rang and she pulled it out of her pocket.
"Oh hey Lightning! Guess what, Vanille and Fang are here!" The older Farron seemed distracted and didn't seem to hear. "I did it. I got a date." Lightning's low voice replied. Serah couldn't contain herself. "Oh my god! Finally!" she exclaimed.
"What's up?" Vanille asked the pink haired girl. "Talk later Light," Serah spoke into her phone and hung up. "Guess what guys? Lightning has a date!" Vanille squealed in surprise. Fang raised her eyebrows. "I thought Lightning wasn't the dating type". Vanille cut through her, "Oh gosh, who is it?" she directed at the younger Farron.
"Lily, I think the name was," Serah replied. Fang's head snapped up. "You mean, she's going to date a woman?" The brunette questioned. Serah nodded. Fang placed her coffee down. "Well damn, if I knew she was going on dates, let alone with women," Fang mused. "Let's just say that over hundreds of years I've wasted all that quality time with your sister, and if I'd used those opportunities, imagine what we could have been by now…" Fang's thoughts drifted.
Vanille looked amused and Serah coughed. "Um," she said uncomfortably, trying to shake the mental image of Fang and her sister that the former had injected into her mind. "I don't know if she's explicitly into women," the pink haired began. The darker woman straightened up and directed at Serah, "I'm looking forward to being your new sister-in-law," she said, winking at the younger Farron.
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A/N: That's all for now! Please let me know if you liked it and if I should keep going. Thanks for reading!
