A/N Here's the next chapter. I did this overnight since I just had to finish it. I will be introducing a couple of new characters. One major role and two really really small ones. The major one is Alice, who is a classmate of Hope's and I gave her the personality similar to Lightning but what I think what Lightning would be like if she stayed as Claire. The very small role is Ducha a bully(Ducha means douche in Portuguese), and then the principal of Hope's school. Read more to find out

Disclaimer: Square Enix owns Final Fantasy XIII

Chapter 4: Fight!

It was Monday and Hope had school, the Academy, he had slept in and was now running late. The Academy was the most prestigious school on Pulse being that it was practically the only place for the best quality of higher education. The school main focus is sciences, which was Hope's forte, and it only let in the smartest and brightest in. Hope managed to get into because he was a genius. The education system had set up a test that placed everyone in their respective education levels. Th e reason why the government set this up was because they lost a lot of records in the fall of Cocoon. Anyways, Hope had taken the test and scored in the top 1% which meant that Hope was able to go straight into college. For the past two years Hope had attend college, of course people bullied him for being young but Hope fought back and always won. Thank you Light and Snow for your fighting lessons. After he beat up the first handful of harassers everyone left Hope alone, and he was able to focus on his studies. Because of his brains and strength Hope won most of the hearts of the girls that went to the Academy; he always gotten letters that said 'let's hang out' ' I want you' and 'I'll wait for you'. To them Hope was smart, rich, cute, and confident which made him the ideal boyfriend but Hope made sure to still clear of those girls. He had gone there for a purpose, to research the Space-time Continuum. Which lead to Hope's major being physics.

Hope was running late and he quickly threw on his uniform. A white collared shirt with yellow lines on the arms, a light blue necktie, grey pants, and black boots. Hope also, pulled back the hair on the back of his head into a small ponytail, this exposed the back of his neck . Though this lead to him sometimes getting sunburnt there, Hope thought he looked less cute with it like that. After he was dress, Hope looked at the time and saw that he was running late, so he slung his bag over his shoulder and ran for the front door. As he turned the corner he knocked into Lightning.

"Sorry Light, I'm kinda running late. Bye." Hope passed Lightning and went for the door.

"Hope I can give you a ride." Lightning caught his arm and made him face her.

"It's ok, I don't want to bother you, and if you drop me off you'll be late."

"It's fine."

"No it's not. You have to b-" Hope was interrupted by a car honking. Lightning raised an eyebrow.

"That must be Alice. I called her to come pick me up today." Hope looked at the clock in the corner and gave a panic looked.

"Oh sh- I got to Light." Hope turned and ran out of the house.

Alice? Lightning new the name, as the name of Hope's friend and classmate for the past two years. However Lightning never met her and Hope sometimes talked about all the stuff they did went to the window and saw a car drive away. As the car faded into the distance, Lightning gave off a pained expression. Hurt and jealously clear in her eyes.

The Front gate of the Academy

"C'mon Hope. Run or we'll be late to class."

"I'm going Alice." Said Hope running at full speed into the school and rushing into the elevator and hitting the 110th floor. Hope then, looked to his right and saw a panting Alice. He gave her a smile and she returned it.

Alice had brown hair, steel-blue eyes, and was an 18 year old beauty who was dressed in the female version of Hope's uniform. She was in the same major as Hope and had the same focus of the Space-time Continuum. Hope had met her during the exams and had their first classes together; over the past two years she had become her best friend. They always sat together in class, worked on homework assignments together , as well as, projects.

They reach the 110th floor. Hope and Alice looked at each other and let out a sigh. They booked it to class, which was on the other side of the hallway, rushed into the room and quickly sat down at the back of the class. The bell wet off as they hit their seats and then the professor walked through the door, and started giving out instructions. After the professor had given them their assignments Hope turned towards Alice.

"We made it."

"Yea barely. Why did you take so long?"

"Well…I had a long night. Emphasis on the long."

"Homework? No, we did that together. Project? No, it's at my house. Girlfriend? Maybe."

Hope let an aggravated sigh and shook his head.

"Alice why do you always bring up a girl whenever I do something I don't usually do?"

"I don't know…. What if I said that I did it so I could see you cute angry face."

"My angry face is not cute." He looked away then quickly turned to Alice, causing his bangs to fall into his face, and gave her his angry face. She laughed and spoke.

"Oh yes it is. Your brow furrows and you give off such a cute pout. Like right now." Alice laughed and pointed at him.

Hope blew his bangs out of his face and let out an annoyed "Whatever." He then started to work on his assignment but was interrupted.

"Oh look at that guys the couple is having an argument." Said a scratchy high pitched voice on the other side of the room.

Hope turned and saw the face of Ducha, a pimply scrawny guy that got into the school through money. He was the new kid in school, and since he was new he picked on Hope so that he could fit in. He did in fact fit in, he fitted in with all the other losers that Hope had beat up. Idiots never learn, do they? Ducha then walked over to Hope and Alice. He leaned next to Alice, who in turn, got up and walked to sit on Hope's desk.

"Hey babe why don't you hang out with us instead of this pipsqueak?"

Hope was about to get up and punch the guy in the face, which would make him out of character. I am tired of them annoying me. However Alice interjected and spoke first.

"Don't call me babe and I like to hang out with people who have an IQ above their foot size." Alice and the bullies looked at their shoes. "By the looks of it you guys seem to have the IQ of 5."

The group of guys went red with embarrassment and contemplated if that was a size insult and or an intelligence level insult. Hope let out a laugh at the expression of confusion on their faces. Alice just smirked and leaned back on Hope's desk.

But that just made the group madder and they charged at Hope and Alice. Hope managed to dodged it but Alice got knocked over. The guys laughed, but not for long. Hope was fuming and he let out his anger on the three in front of him.

Hope heard someone shout "Fight!" but ignored it.

He punched the guy, who looked like a flan, squarely in the face. He was K.O'd instantly. Ducha and the other , a guy with a Behemoth size head, turned towards Hope and both let out a punch. Hope spun and avoided Ducha's, who tripped into a desk. He counter attacked the other's with a short kick to the gut and a knee to the face; knocking out a few teeth in the process. Then Hope turned to Ducha, who was up and aimed a kick at Hope's gut. He caught it, twisted, and Ducha's face met Hope's heel. He then let go, Ducha stumbled, blood dripping from his nose and fell to the floor.

He then gave out a sigh and straightened himself; then he went to help Alice up.

"You ok?"

"Yeah Hope. I'm fine just a little scrape." Hope then looked at her elbow and saw that it was bleeding.

"You hurt and bleeding. Let's go to the infirmary to get a band aid."

"Hope… I think you got out things to worry about." She pointed to the professor who was now giving Hope a look that said 'Principal's office. Now.' Hope let out a sigh and rubbed his forehead. He looked down at the three on the floor. I'm in trouble. He then looked at Alice

"I'll be fine Hope. I'll go by the office and explain everything. After I get bandaged up."

"Ok, Alice." Hope leaned back and looked dejected. "Well, see you then."

Hope then headed to the principal's office. I hope the principal won't call dad. Or worse Light. Hope shivered and the thought of running popped into his mind. He shook his head. That would put the blame on me. Well, if he does I'll just …use my sad face. Hope then trudged into the elevator and proceeded to the top floor.

Lightning was ushering drills to her troops when someone told her that she had a call from the Academy, Hope's school. She told her platoon to keep at it or else and walked into HQ and then her office. Hope better be okay. Lightning then picked up the phone.

"Hello."

"Hello Miss Farron. I have Hope here with me."

Thank god he's okay, Lightning thought. Letting out her worries and taking up relief.

"Okay, and why? If I may add."

"Well Hope got into a little fight in the-"

"Is he okay?" blurted out Lightning, interrupting the man's sentence. Her worries then returned but left when she heard the rest.

"Yes he is without a scratch, but he did a number on the three boys who, according to Hope, had attacked him first."

"Mhmm." Was all he got from Lightning. Who, at the moment. felt happy that Hope beat up three grown mean effortlessly, yet angry that he did not avoid it.

"I would like you to come in and we could discuss Hope's punishment." He said in a matter of fact tone.

"I am at work right now." Slight annoyance in her tone at hearing him saying ' Hope's punishment'.

"Yes. Unless you want him to be expelled."

Lightning imagined Hope rolling his eyes as the principal said this. Hope did. He won't expel Hope. He is the smartest and youngest kid there.

She gave out an annoyed 'hmph'. "I'll be there in 10."

"Thank you."

10 minutes later at the Academy.

"Mr. Steiner. Miss Farron is here to see you." Said a secretary over an intercom.

"Good. Let her in."

Lightning walked into the Principal's office to see Hope in a chair in front of an aging old man. Hope looked at Lightning from the corner of his eye and their eyes met for a second. In that time, Lightning gave Hope a stern look which led to him looking down and gripping his knees. Though she wanted to tell him good job in defending himself; there was a more pressing matter, which was Hope's punishment. Lightning walked up and took a seat next to Hope. Both then looked towards the principal waiting to see what would be next.

"Hello Mi-"

"It's Lieutenant Farron." Lightning interrupted, making sure that everything onward would go by her pace. The principal was taken back by the correction, but continue.

"Yes, Lieutenant. As I said over the phone Hope had gotten himself into a fight. In that fight he managed to break one student's nose, another's rib, and gave all of them swollen eyes." Hope lit up with pride but Lightning shot him a glare, and he quickly became dejected.

"The three are now in the infirmary so I will not be able to hear the whole story, but as of now Hope faces expulsion. The Academy does not tolerate violence."

Lightning was about to interject but was interrupted by the door swinging open and a brown hair woman marching into the room.

"Alice!" Hope exclaimed, his face lighting up at the sight of her.

"Hey Hope. Did I make in time to save your butt?"

"I could've handled it, but I could use your help."

Lightning was speechless. This is…Alice. She's better looking than I expected, and it seems Hope completely trust her…Lightning felt a whole bunch of emotions: fear that Hope would leave her, anger at the closeness between the two, and jealously wishing that she could be like that with Hope. Alice looked at Lightning and greeted her but then turned to the principal.

"It's not Hope's fault." Alice told the principal everything, and showed him her bandaged elbow as evidence. The principal the turned and apologize for his harshness, Hope just nodded.

"Well, now that everything is cleared up. We should head back to class." Alice said this and grabbed Hope's hand, pulling him to the door. Lightning's eye twitched at the sight; jealousy swelling up. The principal spoke, which snapped her out of her thoughts.

"Hold on. Miss Summers." They all turned towards the principal waiting for an explanation on why they should wait.

"Though Hope defended you and himself. Fighting is still not tolerated. I will have to suspend Hope."

Lightning glared at the principal, who flinched, and was about to speak but was interrupted by the other half the old man had to say.

The principal looked away from Lighting and focused on the two students. "…The suspension will be off recorded and you will be able to do all your missed assignments, Miss Summers I leave that to you. I'm doing this because I need to show other students that going against the rules is not fine. Which also leads me to expelling the three others…They were bringing down our test scores anyways." The two laughed, and gave a small bow of the head to the principal.

"Thank you." Said Hope and Alice in unison, appreciation written on their faces. Lightning huffed then spoke.

"Alright, Hope. Since you're suspended, get your stuff and follow me. Or else I'll leave without you." Lightning strode out of the room passing the two students, making sure not to look at them because they were still holding hands.

"O-okay Light." Hope released his hand from Alice's grasp, grabbed his bag off the chair in the waiting room and stumbled towards Lightning, trying to catch up to her.

"I'll see you later Hope." Shouted Alice after Hope. He then turned around and waved towards her. However he tripped over himself but Lightning caught him, and he could hear Alice laugh. Hope went red.

"T-T-Thanks Light, for that and coming to get me." Hope smiled at her with his still blushing face, and she could not fight back the smile. Hope's face lightened up, but then Lightning turned her head making sure Hope could not see her blush and walked faster.

"Just stay out of trouble."

"Will do!." Hope said and chased after Lightning.

A/N Hope was quite a bit of OC in here, none the less he seemed quite badass. I guess Lightning's personality of punching people when angry rubbed off on Hope. (well that's how I would see it). Anyways how did you like my created characters? Ducha is gone, I won't bring him in. The principal might show up again. Alice will definitely be in for the rest of the story as Lightning's love rival. I see Alice's personality similar to Lightning but as Claire. So Alice is pretty much what I see as Claire if she did not become Lightning. Did I explain it enough? Anyways, comment, review, rant. Thanks for reading! I'll have more HopexLight next chapter.