A/N: Greetings, everyone^^. When I listened to some music couple of nights ago, I stumpled on "Dark Night", the epic intro song from From Dusk Till Dawn. So I thought the plot or rather the opening from this movie would give some great opportunities to make an interesting Final Fantasy XIII story. For now it's just the beginning but let's see how things will develop. Of course I won't just copy&paste the entire movie. Maybe just a little bit of the background scenario and the locations. It's just an idea I had in the middle of the night and just started to write the first chapter. Again…let's see how everything develops and hopefully have some fun. :D

I chose Lightning and Sazh for the beginning because I really think that those two don't have that many stories where they actually interact together. And in my opinion they have a lot of potential and are just badass. Especially Sazh with his little friend up there.^^ Now the story takes place somewhere in the middle of the game though the course of history differs from the real one. But they are still in Cocoon. Although story and characters are slightly AU.^^

Please bear with my writing. This is my very first Fanfic and English is not my primary language. So I hope they aren't too many mistakes in there.^^

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

So here we go…ps: sentences in italics are always thoughts.

Chapter 1

Somewhere in the desert of Cocoon at a convenience store. 04:08 p.m.

The front door was kicked open. Lightning exited the store furiously. She stopped as the door slammed behind her. How in the world is it possible that we ALWAYS end up in some kind of trouble? Of all the places where we could have done it. No matter where and when…there is always some shit going down.

She sighed and blew some of her pink hair out of her face. As she continued to walk she tilted her head to the right and to the left side. It cracked. Ah yes, she shivered briefly, exactly what I needed after that kind of workout.

Meanwhile the door behind her was pushed open. "Yo Lightning...", Sazh had to cough. She paid no attention. She was more focused on putting her gunblade back into its holster. She did this with elegance and extreme accuracy while her weapon transformed. She smirked. After hundreds of battles along the way, she could do this with closed eyes. Just too good. As always.

"Yo Lightning, wait up, damnit!"

God, he seriously needs to shut up. She stopped.

"Ah finally, girl."

She looked over her shoulder. "What did you just call me?"

"What?" Sazh cleared his throat. "Whoa...I mean...shouldn't we talk about what just happened back there?"

She turned over. "Tz", she folded her arms over her chest. "What is there to talk about, huh?" She couldn't be more annoyed and maybe a little bit ashamed.

"Well...I mean...is it always like this when you…uhm…try to go shopping?"

Rage stormed through her body. "Try to go shopping? Is this supposed to be a freaking joke?" Her fist was already on it's way to his jaw when some of the stores windows burst. Black smoke rose into the air. Just great. Lightning turned around and started to walk. She couldn't care less.

"Yo, Lightning, wait up...maybe we should..." Suddenly, the smoke was replaced by actual fire and the whole place started slowly to disappear under a sea of flames. Oh shit. Sazh rubbed his neck. This is…just bad.

"Quiieek." The chocobo chick glanced at the flames and waved around with it's little wings but Sazh pushed it back into his hair. You better not see this, little friend. Lightning smirked in the background.

"You see, this is what you get when you pull a stunt like that!", she mentioned. "What was the plan again? Yeah…buy some supplies, no smalltalk, no itchy trigger finger and then leave."

"What?" He waved around with his hands. He still held his guns. "Well, I don't recall being the one to tear half of this place apart by summoning your oh-looks-so-good-and-is-so-awesome Odin." He didn't stop there. "You know, I have never really been impressed with it on our journey AT ALL! Seriously, a horse?"

Is this guy ever going to shut up? He is asking me indirectly for "help", right? She walked straight to him until she was just a couple of inches away from him. She looked deep into his eyes.

"You know Sazh, you're so walking on thin ice right know…" In her imagination, his body was already on the ground and she on top of him, giving him the "requestet treatment" in the form of multiple and heavy beatings. What a nice thought. She stopped her excursion into a world full of joy though. "…and my horse just saved your sorry ass!"

Sazh stared at the ground. "I…I know, Lightning, but…" Lightning pressed her finger against his chest. "…you know…it's bad enough that I always have to save the day but you…you…how could you…?" He blushed. "Ahm, well…"

"Tz…god, Sazh!". Can you actually believe this?

"Well do you know it's name?", Sazh asked. "That could have really helped, you know!"

"What kind of dumb question is this? Why the hell should I have to know it's name? Your pet, your job. And if I tried to call out it's name, it sure as hell wouldn't have shown up, because it just responds to YOU!" Sazh knew that she was right. He felt sorry instantly. "But I don't have time to deal with your toy anyway…and besides...ever considered wearing a cap?"

He glimpsed at her. "A cap?" Me and a cap? He smirked. "I can't do this to my hair…and besides…someone else wouldn't be so happy about that, right?" He pointed at his hair.

"Oh yeah, right. Your little friend. Don't want him to get all postal up there, eh!" She turned away. "Stupid little chocobo", she mumbled. But it's still soo cute. Ah damn.

"Ey you take that back, you hear me!" Sazh pointed at her, STILL with the guns in his hands.

"Or what?" She glanced at him. "Are you just pointing one of your guns at me?"

Oh damn. Shit, how could I forget I'd still hold them. He put them away as fast as possible. Shit, shit. Pointing a gun at her, be it on purpose or not, is equal to instant death. Especially after this situation. Hope she didn't see this clearly.

"What?…Hell no…I wanted to say..."

"Yeah?" Bring it on, big guy. Just a little more.

Sazh could feel his throat drying-out. This isn't worth it. "Well...no...I just think this whole situation was completely unnecessary."

Lucky Bastard. She grinned. "Ah calm down yourself. When is it ever necessary?" They started to walk.

"No seriously, why is there always someone trying to shoot us?"

"When isn't someone trying to shoot us, trying to kidnap us or trying to beat us up? You have noticed by now that being a l'Cie isn't really half the battle, right?" What is it with all the dumb questions? "And if I hadn't done anything, we wouldn't be here right now."

"Whoa, slow down here. I had everything under control. You see, as you and that guy…"

Is he serious? "Yeah…sure as hell. If you hadn't...why are we wasting our time still talking about this? Let's get the hell out of here! We lost enough time already."

Sazh grinned. "It sure as hell was hot with you two though. For a moment I really…"

"Finish this sentence and die!" Please do.

"Whoa…didn't say a thing." Oh you nasty, little…

They crossed the highway. No soul to be seen far and wide. They arrived at their car. Something knocked against the trunk from the inside.

"Hey guys. Hey guys you there? I…I heard some noices…and screams…and gunshots. Everything all right? Can I come out now, please…Light?…Sazh?…Hello?" Lightning frowned. "Open the trunk, Sazh" - "Whatever you say, darling."

She turned to her right side and rested her left hand on her hip. "Tz" Does he even realize he is so close to being chopped to pieces? Sazh opened the trunk. Little Hope looked up at them. "Oh thank the heavens…finally."

He jumped out of the trunk and milled around to stretch his legs. "Ah, my legs." He touched his knees. They hurt real bad. He looked around. "Now you two took some time out there. What did you...?" His eyes caught the burning store and he fell silent. Holy…is this really happening right now? "Uh, guys...?" Hope made some steps towards the inferno to have a better view. "What the hell happenend?"

Sazh broke the silence. "Well, I guess you have to ask her."

Meanwhile Lightning leaned against the car and rested her head on it's roof. Her eyes were closed as she enjoyed the hot sunlight. I am soo not in the mood for this shit. I give them five more seconds.

Hope of course popped the big question. "So Light, you did this?" He smiled still observing the burning store. "Had to wait too long to get served, eh?" Always so impatient this girl.

That's it. Her eyes opened all of a sudden. She gave him a devastating look as she approached him. Hope had to look twice to see her coming up to him. He blenched. Oh holy fal'cie. What have I done? He knew this meant trouble. Oh oh, I know that look. She has to be pissed…but she still looks sooo gorgeous and adorable. There is definetely something about her when she is furious. Oh man, how can you even think about something like that in this situation?

He took a few steps back. "Now, please Light. I…I'm sorry but we really don't want to do anything we are going to regret later, yeah?." No success. Oh god, oh god. He already protected his face with his hands. "I'm sorry Light but please don't hit me. Please don't hit me. I'm so sorry…I didn't mean it." Then again, I think she could hit me. I mean...it's her. It's Light. She can do anything to me. God, what kind of freak am I? I'm about to get beaten up any second.

He waited for the impact. And waited. And waited. Nothing happened. He slowly spread his fingers and tried to take a glimpse. She just stood in front of him, her arms folded over her chest. She glanced over to Sazh. "I really don't have time for this nonsense.", she said.

She then lifted Hope up onto her shoulder and carried him to the car.

Damn, guess I dodged a bullet there. While he passed the time on her shoulder he admired Lightnings strength and sweet muscels again and again. Especially her arms. She really has some power in her arms. He couldn't stop himself as he fondled her right arm slowly. Ah, so soft. Can it get any better than this? "HOPE!!" He had to giggle. I bet she liked it. Seriously, what is wrong with me today?. Lightning sighed. "Is everyone here a mental case?" She glanzed over at Sazh.

"Sazh...the door!" Sazh followed the order. Lightning threw the little boy on the backseat. She leaned over to him and pointed her finger in his direction. "Now will you be a good boy, Hope?" Anything for you. "Yes, yes Light. I swear. I'll be good." She smiled. "Well I seriously hope so or it is the trunk again." He swallowed. No way in hell am I going back there.

Lightning sat herself on the co-driver's seat. Sazh was already in his position. He started the engine. He looked at Lightning. "What now? We still need supplies." She sighed. "Just drive already." As they drove off Hope watched as the rest of the store collapsed. He then leaned forward to the others. "Now seriously you two. Why is the store burning down when you just wanted to buy some potions?"