Theme 11: Over Time

Pairing: Squall Leonhart/Lightning Farron

Lightning knew she wasn't Rinoa Heartilly.

Admittedly, she didn't know the young Sorceress on a personal level, having only caught glimpses of the raven-haired woman during her liaisons with Balamb Garden and Esthar. It was fortunate that the floating Garden had been commissioned to investigate Gran Pulse when Cocoon fell, as she was then reunited with the brunet Commander of SeeD. From there, the remaining leaders of the Guardian Corps and PSICOM created a joint military and political force, mostly due to their dwindled numbers, and contracted SeeD's help in creating a livable environment for their civilians.

Lightning and her group had then spent a short time under SeeD's protection until their story was brought out by the late Brigadier-General Raines' Cavalry, explaining Barthandelus' scheme and Orphan's conspiracy. She had then been acquainted with the rest of SeeD's elites and was surprised that Squall confided their exploits in World B with them. After a conversation with the technology-savvy Selphie Tilmitt, she promptly consulted Squall about requesting President Loire's assistance in helping them rebuild. Squall, knowing his presence was needed to quickly facilitate their audience with Laguna, reluctantly boarded the Ragnarok.

She first saw the young miss Heartilly, then, and was stunned at how the normally stoic Squall's countenance brightened with her entrance, even as both said their goodbyes. Squall's features schooled not long after they departed.

There was sadness in his eyes.

She had asked Squall why Rinoa couldn't come along, and with hardened eyes and her oath of secrecy, he explained her situation as a known Sorceress, and how Galbadia was looking for her for reasons unspecified, and how Esthar viewed Sorceresses with disdain.

Lightning said nothing further about the subject. Much like him, she chose to focus on the mission set, which thankfully didn't last long. With Laguna's permission, a party of Esthar's engineers joined them in the return trip to Pulse, with promises that he'd send a group of automatons to help the labor force within the week.

She watched mutely as Squall stood back after Laguna's solemn calling.

Rinoa was the first to greet them upon their arrival, and she lead Squall away with a smile on their lips while Lightning brought the engineers to Cocoon's leaders. As it turned out, the Cavalry had finished their job and the people accepted them back with open arms.

She hadn't seen Squall nor Rinoa for another month still, despite Garden docked nearby; SeeD and their cadets were busy creating a perimeter while the new army was helping with the construction. Lightning had been promoted to Lieutenant and, alongside Snow's NORA, focused on building New Bodhum.

During their absence, Lightning found herself pondering the woman known as Rinoa, and what she meant to Squall, and what that meant to her. In their time surviving in World B, she was the only one who fully understood Squall Leonhart; the only confidante he could trust completely. She wondered if he felt the same way, as the man had, more than once, eased her worries needlessly, for he was the one that understood her best, too.

And yet she couldn't make him smile with her mere presence.

His company had eased her nerves and calmed her down, and she could tell from the slight slacking of his shoulders whenever she approached that he, too, relaxed in her company. That hadn't changed when the war ended, as their journey towards Esthar was nothing if not serene.

Like an entire civilization wasn't depending on them.

When she saw Squall next, he was gazing despondently over the plains of the Archylte Steppe, leaning over the railings of the Quad as the midnight moon shone down. She approached him, folding her arms as she pressed her back against the metal bars, her shoulder lightly brushing against his. He briefly glanced at her before returning his gaze forward, neither saying anything for the entire night, and Lightning left at dawn.

His shoulders sagged, then, and Lightning smiled softly.

The next few days progressed as normal; SeeD were out hunting and training their next generation with the fauna of Pulse, while Cocoon's survivors continued to build their homes. She crossed paths with Rinoa, once, and the young Sorceress nodded at her with a half-pleading smile before continuing on her way.

Lightning hadn't seen Squall ever since that night, and at the end of the week, she saw the Ragnarok take off. She watched the red ship disappear over the horizon, heading westward towards what Lightning thought was Esthar.

When Lightning entered Squall's office for the weekly exchange, she immediately knew something was off. The air hovering around the Commander was thick and oppressive, the man in question scribbling away one page after another. She exhaled softly before striding forward, pulling a chair across the floor as she seated herself beside him.

Squall raised an annoyed brow at her, which she returned with a deadpan stare as she took the papers he had finished and piled them neatly, and he returned back to his work.

She never moved even when his shoulder tapped hers on occasion.

The Ragnarok returned, and she sat in Selphie's debriefing that, as per General Caraway's insistence and Rinoa's choice, she had safely returned to Galbadia, indefinitely, where she would alleviate the fears of the masses and lead her people. Her eyes blinked towards Squall's, and she realized that he had resigned himself to his fairytale's end.

Lightning knew she couldn't be Rinoa Heartilly.

Lightning's mere presence couldn't bring a smile to Squall's face. Lightning wasn't a Sorceress, didn't have a dog, and wasn't cheerful. She had pink hair, preferred fighting in the field, and constantly brushed shoulders against Squall's.

However…

Squall didn't want another Rinoa Heartilly, for they both chose their own paths with pride. No regrets.

And as Lightning watched the sleeping Commander beside her, his naked shoulder pressed against hers while his head leaned in her direction,

Lightning knew she would never be Rinoa Heartilly, for she would never let Squall go.

A/N: For ChocoT as she requested. Also, damn that 1000word limit! Thanks also to her for helping me bounce off ideas and speculations for Scenario 2 regarding how to deal with the Rinoa Situation. I'd just like to point out that this isn't how I plan to tackle Rinoa's Situation in LTRA. I'm going with Scenario 1 for that one.

ChocoT! Huwag mong sabihin kung ano yun!

Reviews always keep me interested in writing so thanks again for the reviews, everyone!