Cloud sighed, "Well this is fun."

Squall shook his head, "Somebody's gotta do it."

Noctis walked up, "Either of you two know a girl named Rinoa?"

"Rinoa?" Squall was alert instantly, "Did you see her?"

"Sort of," Noctis said, "She's down that way a bit."

Squall took off.

"Squall!" Cloud sighed.

"Lightning's coming to replace you anyway," Noctis turned and disappeared.

Cloud shook his head.

"Where's Squall?" Lightning asked.

"He went to find Rinoa," Cloud explained.

Lightning nodded, "Alright, not like I know who Rinoa is."

"Neither do I," Cloud shrugged, "See ya."

Squall returned, carrying an unconscious brunette.

"Is she alright?" Lightning jogged up to him.

He nodded, "She's beat up but she'll live."

Lightning noticed Noctis standing on the roof watching them.

Noctis nodded, "Good. He found her."

"Take her inside," Lightning said, "You weren't followed, right?"

"Not that I know of," Squall walked past her and into the building.

Lightning was more alert that night, "If he was followed then we need to be alert."

Ignis walked out at dawn.

"How's Rinoa?" Lightning asked, "That is her name right?"

Ignis nodded, "Squall's obsessive but she's alright. He wouldn't leave the room and he was awake all night."

"Is he asleep now?" Lightning asked.

Ignis shook his head, "Were they followed?"

"Not that I saw," Lightning shook her head.

Ignis nodded, "Tifa and Snow are coming out in a few moments, once Snow decides to pull his foot out of his mouth."

"What did he do this time?" Lightning asked.

"Unwanted commenting, as usual," Ignis chuckled, "Cloud's working that one out though."

"Nice," Lightning sighed.

Noctis sat on the roof all night, watching Lightning circle the building like a shark. She was ready for a fight, like a hunting cat stalking it's prey. What is with her? One minute she's like a caring older sister the next she's ready to rip someone apart. She's so closed about everything. Half the time I can't tell when she cares and when she's mocking me. Does she care? Does it really matter what happens to us as far as she's concerned? Well, Serah, Hope, Snow, well maybe not Snow, Fang and Vanille definitely matter to her. What about the rest of us? What about me? He shook his head, "Never mind. It doesn't matter. I guess as long as she's working with us then she cares enough to stand us."

Cloud walked outside, "Tifa's made breakfast."

"It's dawn," Noctis said. He watched Ignis approach Lightning.

"So, Tifa made it and wanted me to tell you to come down," Cloud shrugged.

"So you're here because Tifa asked you to?" Noctis smirked, "Thanks, that's good to know, pretty boy."

Cloud's eyes flashed, "What?"

Noctis stood up and turned to Cloud, "You aren't deaf are you?"

Cloud glared at him, "I'm not here because I like you, got it? I'm here because Tifa asked me to be."

"Oh, cute," Noctis smirked.

Cloud hissed, "Fine, you can keep rotting away in the hole you've created for yourself for all I care." He turned and stalked down the stairs.

Noctis shrugged, "Thanks, Cloud." A rueful smile crossed his face, "Have fun. I think I will stay in my hole." He turned back around and sat back down.

Cloud came back downstairs.

"What happened?" Vanille asked.

"Next time Tifa," Cloud growled, "You're gonna want to send someone else up there to get him to eat. I'm not going to do it."

"What did he do?"

"He's an ass," Cloud sighed.

"Apparently," Serah smiled, "It's alright, next time we'll send Light."

Cloud glanced at her, "Oh really?"

Serah nodded.

"Nice," Cloud shook his head, "I'm gonna check on Squall."

Squall was leaning against the doorjamb of the room they had given to Rinoa.

"Don't you think that's a little creepy?" Cloud asked.

"No," Squall shook his head.

"Really?" Cloud asked, "You should sleep."

"I'm not going anywhere until she wakes up," Squall said.

"You know Lightning's going to make you," Cloud said.

"I'm not going anywhere," Squall repeated, "Lightning can eat dirt."

Cloud chuckled, "I'm not going to tell her you said that."

Squall nodded, "Yeah, please don't."

"You need to sleep," Cloud said, "You wouldn't have said that if you were rested."

"I'm not going anywhere until she wakes up," Squall said.

"Then sleep in the chair," Cloud said.

Squall sighed, "Fine."

Cloud nodded, "See ya. I'll be in the tower."

Squall nodded. He turned to Cloud, "Out of curiosity, why?"

"Cool off my head," Cloud said.

"Why?" Squall asked.

"Pretty Boy on the roof decided to be an ass," Cloud said, "Said some things that really rubbed me the wrong way."

"If he keeps up with that, then he's gonna get into a fight."

"I know," Cloud disappeared.

Noctis stared at the mountains.

Ignis sat next to him, "Did you really try to piss off Cloud?"

"Who said I was trying to?" Noctis asked.

"Really? Do you really think I don't know you well enough to know that you were trying to?" Ignis asked.

"You're here to lecture me aren't you?" Noctis didn't move.

"No, actually," Ignis smirked, "You'd tune me out. Lightning wanted me to give you a reality check because you're being a jerk."

"Why would Lightning care?" Noctis asked.

"I don't know. Why would anybody care?" Ignis asked,

"I don't know," Noctis shrugged.

"Then it looks like you're in for a world of hurt," Ignis sighed and stood up, "Serah also wanted me to tell you that your share is in the fridge. You can probably expect Lightning unless you eat it before she gets back."

"Before she gets back?" Noctis turned to face him for the first time, "Where'd she go?"

"She went to help Tifa pick up a couple new people. Vaan and a blond girl," Ignis said, "I don't know if they're back yet."

Noctis turned back to the mountains, "Oh."

Thirty minutes later Lightning showed up.

"Lightning?" Noctis shook his head.

"I assume Ignis told you I would be coming," Lightning smirked, "I'm not surprised. You've got some good friends. They keep trying to keep you from getting in trouble."

"How am I in trouble?" Noctis asked.

"Well, according to Cloud, you're an ass," Lightning began, "You haven't eaten yet meaning that I have to take time out of my day to get you to eat and because you haven't gone on watch in three days."

"I was never told I had to," Noctis muttered. Am I really a chore to her? Is she just kidding around? I have no idea what's going on half the time.

"Oh, okay then," Lightning sat down next to him and handed him the plate, "What happened between you and Cloud?"

"What?" Noctis asked.

"You, Cloud, what the hell happened?" Lightning repeated, "He wasn't specific."

"He took a few things personally," Noctis shrugged, "How's Rinoa?"

"She's fine," Lightning said, "She woke up a little while ago. You didn't answer my question."

"Yes I did," Noctis said, "I said he took a few things personally."

"That doesn't answer my question," Lightning sighed.

"Yes it does."

"You're going to get punched," Lightning said.

"That sounds awesome," Noctis said sarcastically.

Lightning looked at him, "Really? I wouldn't know. I've never punched myself."

"I'm not surprised," Noctis shook his head.

"I guess you could ask Snow," Lightning shrugged, "I've punched him on more than one occasion."

"Why?" Noctis asked.

"He was being stupid," Lightning said, "Honestly I'm surprised I haven't punched you yet. Then again, maybe it's because you don't need any more problems, like me beating you up on a regular basis."

"Okay?" Noctis glanced at her.

"Hey, Light!"

"What do you want, Vaan?" Lightning sighed and stood up. She turned to the blond haired boy.

"Snow wanted to talk to you about something," Vaan smiled.

"Ugh, fine," Lightning rolled her eyes, "I'm coming."

Vaan nodded, "See ya!" he darted back down the stairs.

"Really?" Lightning asked, "For being like nineteen he acts like he's twelve. Or maybe it's just me being annoyed." She jogged down the steps.

Noctis watched her leave, "Okay then. Cloud can say what he likes. I don't care."