Disclaimer: I do not own FF7 or FF13.

It was a nice thought; the thought that Cloud and herself were bound by the hip. They had been once, physically, sexually, but never emotionally. Strangely, it was only after their separation that they connected emotionally. Tifa wasn't embarrassed to admit that, and it wasn't a topic she would discuss freely, but what was between her and Cloud was something different. She was ashamed for other reasons – largely her betrayal of Lightning's trust and her failure to atone for her mistakes – but never would she be ashamed of being in a relationship with Cloud once in the past. That experience changed her, for better and worse; it helped her grow and mature. There had always been this rift of understanding between them for some reason. Tifa expected things from Cloud that he couldn't give, and Cloud probably wanted things from her that only Aerith could give. They both had their eyes on other people, and over-estimated their feelings for each other.

She and Cloud were bound by the hip. They were soulmates, but they weren't lovers. If he was the right hand, she'd be the left. If he was the right foot, she'd be the left. So if he ever took a step, she'd follow naturally so that they could walk together. That was why Tifa was at quite a loss when she found out that Cloud was going to Academia, and that Lightning was also being brought there. In hindsight, the fact that Raines wanted Lightning brought back to Academia was no surprise, but why did Cloud have to go too? As she sat there in the cell mulling over Lightning's words to her, Cloud and Barret were off making their own decisions and reaching agreements without her. Was it fun? Tifa thought bitterly. Was it really that fun to leave her out? She hated being left behind, but everyone seemed intent on doing that, claiming that it was in her best interest.

So that's why she finds herself standing beside Barret, watching as Lightning and the Turk are escorted onto the GC transport. Cloud has already boarded after giving her a quick FYI, which completely ruined the nice and supportive mood that was between them. Her fists clenched at her side, eyes never leaving Lightning's form as the pink-haired woman boarded without looking back at her. Not once. "You're not going?" Snapping out of her thoughts she looked at Barret, surprised at his question.

"What?"

"You can go." He huffed, "Not like I can say that you can or can't."

"But what about the kids?"

"Marlene and Denzel?" Barret laughed, "I'm sure I can handle two kids. I'm the man runnin' AVALANCHE!"

"Barret…"

"Well, I might've missed the boat when it came to you and Cloud and whatever's between you two now, but I'm not thick enough to miss what was between Lightning and you. You two were like... best friends."

For a moment, Tifa resisted the urge to smack her face with her hand. "Best friends?" Raising an eyebrow at his blank expression, Tifa sighed heavily. It was no surprise though, her relationship with Lightning was... shy. She knew in her heart that she adored Lightning like no one else, and just being close made her feel comfortable, safe, and warm even though the soldier seemed to encompass the exact opposite. Lightning was dangerous, she was apathetic towards most things, and cold towards everything else. She always felt so untouchable; a far off existence that she wanted to have but could never own. Her relationship with Lightning had never gone past the light touches, the supportive hugs, or shy kisses shared only in privacy. It was more supportive than romantic. Other than Cloud and Aerith, no one else clued in, especially not Barret who couldn't notice a big neon billboard until he walked right into it. "I wouldn't say she's my best friend."

"Then whatcha waitin' for?" Barret smacked her back, "You gotta go keep an eye on Cloud too. Who knows what kinda trouble he's going to get himself in. You don't pay attention for a moment and he goes blowing up my highways."

"Are you sure?" Tifa asked, although she was already itching to run towards the transport.

"Go. I've gotcha covered." Smiling thankfully, Tifa started running before Barret called out to her again, "Hey!" Twisting around, she saw him give her a thumbs up, "Go get her."

"Eh?"

Throwing his head up, he howled with laughter before stalking back towards the base. She stood there for a good minute in shock. Maybe… Barret knew more than he let on. "Thanks!" Tifa yelled after recovering, and rolled her eyes at his lazy wave. Jogging up to the transport, Tifa smiled warmly at the GC soldiers there as she boarded. It reminded her of the time she had first met Sazh and the transport he had picked them up in. She returned the small smirk Cloud gave her and quickly sought out Lightning.

Cloud was right. There was no point worrying about things that was out of her control. The pink haired woman was sitting by the windows with her elbow propped up on the cup holder to her right while her chin sat on her fist. For someone that's being accused of being a traitor, she looked bored. When Tifa approached, she didn't even flinch and acted as if the fighter wasn't even there. "You're looking relaxed." Tifa commented before slipping onto the vacant seat beside Lightning. She didn't react at all, didn't even spare her a look of acknowledgement. "It's childish of you to ignore me." Tifa continued, hoping to irk some sort of response.

"I'm not ignoring you." Lightning muttered, finally breaking her muted silence, "You made a statement. What's there for me to say afterwards? Besides, whatever I say now can be used against me later."

There was a long sigh that interrupted their brief conversation, and Tifa felt the first simmer of impatience watching Rydgea take the seat directly across from her, "I don't think it matters what you say." The man remarked, "Too late for that now." Right when she finally got Lightning to talk to her, he had to go steal the spotlight for himself. Tifa resisted a loud groan upon seeing the pink-haired woman clamp up like a shell of reclusiveness. "What? No witty comeback?" The man challenged, "You'll be swimming with the big fish in Academia. Other than Raines, I'm sure the PSICOM would love to know why Jihl's favorite decided to go help SHINRA."

Tifa shifted in her seat, frowning as she watched Rydgea claim his own form of victory after Lightning continued to remain silent. Glancing at Cloud, he looked as if he was just as busy as Lightning was staring out the window and even the Turk decided to stay out in favor of whistling a small tune to himself. "Don't have a single worry in the world... It's unlike you-" Tifa said, deciding to start her conversation all over as she buckled herself in since the transport was beginning to lift off.

"Is that how I look to you?" Lightning responded, much to Tifa's surprise. Turning her eyes from her seatbelt, she was met with the solemn teal irises watching her steadily. She couldn't break eye contact for the life of her. Her heart began to pound faster, and her mouth dried. "What did you expect me to do? Get angry? Yell insults? Let him" Lightning nodded her chin towards Rydgea, "provoke me?"

"No, I-"

"You couldn't be any farther from the truth."

Tifa could feel her ears burn with indignation. All she was trying to do was to talk to Lightning, to take the first step in regaining what they had lost, but the soldier has been nothing but dismissing and hostile. Was she trying to tell her that what they shared in the past meant nothing? Tifa wasn't the only one that saw Lightning's coldness as what it was. "Hey," Rydgea snapped, "she's only trying to-"

"Enough." Cloud's voice spoke over all of them, firm and unrelenting. Tifa sat in slight awe wondering where he learned to speak like that. One word and it told the world of his silent authority. She met his eyes, solemn but unreadable, "If Lightning doesn't want to talk, then leave her alone."

Huffing her anger in her cheeks, Tifa turned her glare to the floor and listened to the Turk's irritating whistling. She couldn't understand what Lightning was thinking and it was driving her up the wall. Three years she had left, leaving Tifa to believe that she was dead. Burying the future she had imagined with the soldier was like taking a knife to her own wrist; spending every night lying in bed staring at the ceiling as sleep alluded in her fight against insomnia was a nightmare; mourning over the treasured necklace that had become too much of a painful burden for her to wear was like a dagger to the gut. Was it so childish of her to want Lightning to respond to her at the very least? Even Cloud felt as if he was turning on her after telling her that he understood. Maybe it was childish of her, but wasn't it deserved? In that moment, the petty part of her that felt jilted didn't want to sit by Lightning. She didn't want to sit by Cloud either, but moving to sit by Rydgea would give him the wrong message and she was above using someone else's affections for her to get Lightning to respond. "Tifa?" Rydgea called out to her as if he had read her thoughts, "Do you want to sit-"

"Shut. Up." For the first time, Lightning broke out of her position, resting both feet on the ground solidly and hands on her lap. She had growled those words as if Rydgea had actually successfully provoked her, and she looked ready to kill. The quiet outburst earned stares from everyone, the whistling stopped, and despite hating Lightning in this moment, Tifa felt flattered in a way that no amount of sweet-talking could do. Suddenly, sitting beside Lightning wasn't so bad. She preferred it.

Rydgea cleared his throat, but nonetheless remained silent. A dark tension loomed over them for the rest of the trip, and even the attempts at whistling from the Turk died after a few broken chirps. She didn't know the red-head, but she thought that maybe he was trying to lighten up the mood in his own way. In front of everyone else, Tifa was the calm and motherly figure that would insult no one and do her utmost to support the people around her. Fundamentally, she was that kind of person. In Lightning's presence though, it was like another personality would emerge. She didn't need to be the pillar of strength and support. In a way, she was Tifa's outlet for her childish side that no one ever sees entirely but catches glimpses of. There were expectations forced onto her, but with Lightning she could be free. Thinking back to the starry eyes Rydgea gave her, he probably has over-inflated preconceptions of her already. "I'm tired." Tifa whispered softly, only for Lightning to hear, "It's a statement so you don't have to say anything, and I'm not asking." Without hesitating, she slipped her arm into Lightning's and pulled the pink haired woman closer to her so she could rest her head against her shoulder. Closing her eyes, the fighter snuggled closer when there was no protest. Sleeping under such circumstances was next to impossible, but just a rest to ease frazzled nerves was simple enough to do.

Thanks for reading! It's a quiet now, but Lightning begins to stir things up next chapter!