Disclaimer: I do not own FF7 or FF13.


Epilogue

Thirteen Months Later


May 2, 2010 by Gaia standards. She stared at the boxed number of the calendar opened on her computer screen and found it hard to focus on anything else other than the small asterisk marking the box one to the right from today.

Perhaps she was getting old, after all, she has technically been alive for more than a thousand five hundred years, so her lack of attention could be written off as a symptom of old age. However, could she really be having 'old age' problems when that wasn't exactly a problem she's susceptible to? Then perhaps, she could attribute this lack of attention to boredom, or even annoyance. Peeling her eyes to the neatly typed document sitting in front of her, Lightning sighed quietly before glancing around at the people seated at the table with her looking just as miserable. "Meeting adjourned." Raines finally said the two magical words and in an instant the meeting room sprung with life again. The edges of paper tapped neatly against the glass table, numerous side conversations eventually filled silence, and chairs scratched against the marble floors.

"Hey Lightning!" Barret's voice boomed over the incessant chatter. He made his way towards her, bumping through the crowd like a large bulldozer due to his large physique, "Have you all packed?"

She swiveled on her seat, propping her head up with her elbow rested on the arm rest, "I don't have much. When are we leaving?"

"Soon, I just need to wrap somethings up with Raines." The large man grinned, throwing his thumb back to point at the door, "How's everything on your end?"

"Done. I've signed all the papers already. The apartment's ready to move in, I've shipped all of my clothes there already. Aerith's helping me organize my stuff over in Edge. As for the transfer, I officially start on May 13th."

"Ha! Took ya long enough." Barret snorted, and then nodded to the door for Lightning to walk with him. The hallways of the GC base in Academia was packed with soldiers and other officials tending to their dues.

"So what did you get her?" Lightning asked, crossing her arms across her chest as she contemplated her own present.

"Hm?" Barret hummed absent-mindedly.

"Tifa. What did you get her?" The pinkette repeated, rolling her eyes at the man's lack of attention.

"Oh. Uh." He hesitated, glancing at her from the corner of his eyes, "It's a secret."

"Right..." Lightning raised an eyebrow.

"Well, you'll know once she gets it." Barret snickered, further raising suspicion. She pressed her lips into a thin line, narrowing her eyes on him like a hawk before he let out a nervous chuckle. Even after working closely with him everyday for the last year, it seemed as if her temper was something he still avoided like the plague. "W-Well, here's my stop." He stammered, laughing awkwardly and fled into the elevator, "Anyways, head to the hangar at three. Cid's gonna take us back." He yelled out to her as the elevator doors closed.

Whatever.

As he went up the building, Lightning went the opposite direction. The building layout hasn't changed at all, and she knew exactly where the training rooms were. That 'fragment' was no longer a fragment anymore; it was a part of her now. She owed the life she had now to the fragment after taking her name and identity. Other than Raines and Barret, no one else knew the truth. There were some people who recognized her, but none could tell she was an imposter... in a very, very distant sense of that word.

As she threaded through hallways, she would occasionally salute soldiers and cadets who would recognize her and address her by her rank. Brigadier General Farron; she didn't even know why Raines had awarded her with that designation. After all, 'Claire Farron' had always been listed as a sergeant despite her unrecognized influence as a Special Ops Agent given superior authority due to being the General's handpicked group of soldiers. Raines had probably wanted to put her name out as the Savior who stopped Sephiroth from destroying the world and garner greater public support. This was another reason why she wanted out.

The people in Edge didn't flock to her like the people here did, and Raines' propaganda certainly didn't help. In addition, she hated politics. She shared that similarity with Barret, so it didn't take long before they were painted as black sheeps among the GC higher echelons. Barret was AVALANCHE's leader, an influential person in Edge, and widely known as one of the few who had been brave and strong enough to stand and win against SHINRA. While she was the Savior who had supposedly defeated Sephiroth and saved the world, veteran of the great Purge, and the late Colonel Jihl Nabaat's protegé. Both of them held controversial titles that politicians and haters like to nit-pick at, but they would take it in stride. While the AVALANCHE leader would travel back and forth, Lightning was physically stationed in Academia and thus couldn't even escape the annoying badgering. Lightning mused that Barret simply didn't care, and it's not like Lightning did. She just couldn't help but think that they all held such unrealistic views about life. It was pitiful sometimes.

Soon though. Soon enough, she'll be in Edge with the people she actually cares about. The training room was a great place to find her privacy, and also a great way to pass time. In a few hours, she'll finish with her work out, take a shower, and then meet up with Barret and Cid. Soon. Soon, she'll see Tifa again.

...

Cloud dropped the last box by the closet where Aerith was neatly organizing the clothes. "This is... all?" He asked, shaking his head as he took in the total of five compact boxes that had arrived from Academia.

"That's what Light said." The Cetra hummed, picking one of Lightning's shirts and measured it on herself, "Well? What do you think?"

"Not your style." Cloud said with a shrug before wandering around the room and peering out to the view of the city the balcony offered as if to appraise the place, "She'll need more stuff to fill this place up."

"She can just use Tifa's stuff," Aerith shrugged, tossing one of the empty boxes away, "or she'll buy new stuff."

"True."

"Plus, Light told me that Fang, Sazh, and Vanille's wills magically appeared and wrote everything they owned to her."

Cloud snorted and smirked, "Couldn't they have given us some of it? So what? Lightning's bank account suddenly tripled in size?"

"Quadrupled... or... well, actually maybe more." Aerith laughed and smiled softly.

"Quadrupled? From Hope as well?"

"No, he's still considered a wanted criminal." Shaking her head, Aerith pushed herself up and moved to stand beside Cloud before the balcony, "I guess they didn't bother trying to change it. I'm not surprised. Everyone here knows him as the traitor who had killed the people he worked with for three years, and they way the GC had reported it, his reputation is pitch black. Everything he owned had been seized by the military."

"It's still the truth though isn't it?" Cloud said after a moment of contemplation, "And it's not like we can tell people why he did what he did..."

"Yes. It's just sad though."

Cloud asked with a big exhalation, "From who then?"

Aerith turned to Cloud and gave him a meaningful smile, "Jihl." He looked surprised; his mouth dropping before closing to voice nothing but shock. "Apparently, Jihl had bequeathed all of her assets to Lightning, down to the last cent. Her will had been with-held by the PSICOM, y'know, who knows that they were thinking, but I heard Yaag Rosch was the one who had given it to Lightning personally."

"I wonder, if Nabaat were still alive, would she know that Lightning's-"

"I think so." Aerith quickly and surely answered, "I think she'd notice in a heartbeat."

"I guess." Cloud mumbled before snatching Aerith's hand with his, "Well, let's go. Or do you want to finish up here?"

"That's fine." Tugging Cloud closer, she swiftly placed a peck on his lips and lead him out of Lightning's new apartment back down onto the streets, "You've got your deliveries to make, and I have to get back to the store. My flowers are waiting for me!"

"That can wait." Cloud mounted his bike as Aerith climbed on behind him. "We'll get lunch first."

"Your treat though."

"Of course."

The engine of his bike purred before it lurched forward, zooming down the streets effortlessly. "Cloud?" Aerith yelled over the whipping wind.

"What is it?"

"You never told me how it went."

"How what went?"

"When Lightning bought you this bike."

A smirk played across his lips at the memory, "It was easy. You just need to know what to say."

"Funny hearing that from you of all people." Aerith retorted.

...

The cloth swept across the counter, cleaning it of the crumbs of the morning breakfast the kids had left behind. She snuck a look at her reflection in the fading moisture and sighed when the telephone rang. The dishes still had to be done, the water in the sink was still running... "He's not here." Tifa said to no one but herself. It continued to ring though. Finally willing herself away, she dried her hands on the clean cloth and headed up stairs. "Hello. This is Strife Delivery Service. Anything you-"

"TIFA!" Her heart leapt to her throat when she heard Marlene's voice scream on the other end. In a blink of an eye, a black face bag pulled over her head.

...

Her boots tapped on the floor impatiently, her bored eyes staring up at the ceiling where the large white lights hung. "Finally." Barret huffed after tossing his suitcase into the transport, "Where's your stuff?"

Lightning glanced at the empty spaces beside her feet and shrugged, "I've got nothing."

"Hn. I guess you can buy anythin' you need in Edge."

The pinkette nodded, then moved to follow Barret but her chest suddenly seized in pain. "Ngh... Tifa..." Her expression darkened with murder.

"Lightning, what is-"

"I'm going first."

"Wha-"

Chaos wrapped around her body, and Lightning wasted no time creating a portal to take her directly to Tifa's place. She stepped out into the empty bar bathed in an eery silence. Hushing her footsteps, Lightning quickly slipped up the narrow stair case with her fingertips dancing over the hilt of her Blaze Edge. There was a sudden loud crash from the upper floors, prompting Lightning to sprint up. Just as she grasped the knob, the door suddenly slammed open. She crashed back against the wall, eyes wide when a quick blur passed right in front of her and darted down the stairs. "Damn it!" Tifa hollered, bursting out of the same door and tumbled after, "Yuffie! Get back here!"

"T-Tifa?" Lightning stammered.

"Claire!" Tifa twisted around, "What are you- wh- whaa!" She lost her footing, flailing her arms like a crazed chocobo trying to take flight.

She could be nothing but a blitz of light in the midst of a battle, but at that moment, Lightning simply stood in place and didn't know what to do. Quickly adapting to the situation, Tifa leapt down the remaining steps, which were quite a few. The pinkette winced upon seeing Tifa make the landing with a loud thump and stumbled forward to brace herself against the wall. "Tifa, are you-"

"Don't!" Tifa hissed as she slowly straightened her back and cleared her throat, "Don't ask." She repeated with a smile that sent shivers down Lightning's back. "What are you doing here? I didn't- oh... are you here for my birthday?" Tifa laughed.

"I thought you were in danger."

"Right, speaking of that..." Tifa twisted around, her eyes leveling over the quiet bar, "Yuffie, I know you're here."

"Hmhmhmhm..." A deep chuckle resonated in response, "I knew you'd come."

Lightning crossed her arms and craned her head up to see Yuffie descend from the roof above her. The youngster grinned, raising her hand out before slapping the top of Lightning's head as she landed on the ground, "Yuffie, what the hell?" Lightning muttered, glowering over the ninja.

"Snrk..." Raising an eyebrow, Lightning regarded Tifa who had her hand slapped over her mouth to hold back her laughter, "Y-Your head..."

"There!" Yuffie announced triumphantly, "I win. The best birthday present ever! I bed Cloud and the others can't compete with my genius."

Swiftly swiping the top of her head, Lightning found the red ribbon that Yuffie had stuck and tossed it furiously to the ground, "You little-"

"Hey, hey, hey!" Holding her hands up in surrender, the ninja slowly backed away, "This was Marlene's idea!"

"You're not going to get away with that." Lightning growled menacingly. To make her worry and teleport all the way over here, only to find out that it was nothing but a prank, but above all, a damn red ribbon was stuck to her head. No one was going to get away with that. "I'm going to-"

The door beside them creaked open and out peeked Marlene, her brown eyes sparkling upon seeing Lightning on the other side. "Light! You really came!" The said woman's mouth dropped open. "Yuffie was right!" Latching onto Lightning's waist, Marlene gave her a grand hug before pulling her towards Tifa, "Happy Birthday!"

It was like water to fire. Tifa instantly melted and lifted Marlene up for a big hug. "This is the best present ever."

"Really!?"

"Yes, but," Tifa said, looking at Marlene's eyes strictly, "don't do that again. I worry about you okay?"

"O-Okay..."

"Good." Setting Marlene back down, Tifa ruffled her head, "Where's Denzel?"

"He went to look for a present."

"Good for him." Lightning murmured, turning a steely gaze at Yuffie before snatching the ninja by the back of her collar before she could escape, "As for you though. You should be old enough to know better than to scare Tifa in order to get me-"

"I know. I won't do it again. Promise."

"As if I can take your word." The pinkette sighed, "Well, I'm here now anyways." Releasing Yuffie, Lightning walked back down to the ground level of the building with the other three, "Barret and Cid are on their way."

"You could've just let them come with you." Tifa suggested.

"You know I don't want-"

"-the others to get dependent on you for that."

"Exactly." Lightning nodded, "I don't want to risk others seeing me open the portal and raise unnecessary questions."

"When's the party!?" Marlene burst, looking excitedly between Tifa and Lightning.

"Not yet." Tifa smiled warmly and gave Marlene a small push from behind, "Why don't you go find Denzel? And Yuffie? Go with her."

"Eh?" The ninja hummed, "Want some alone time with your present?"

"You could say that." The fighter answered with a teasing wink, effectively making Yuffie roll her eyes and give in to her request. They waited until they were alone before Tifa gleefully glided towards Lightning and pulled the pinkette into a hug, "I can't really fault Marlene for giving me something I already own... but the idea of it was sweet." Tifa murmured, peering up at the azure blue eyes through her eyelashes.

"You'd think I'd have some say in that." Lightning retorted evenly, "Though this was probably Yuffie's idea and she made Marlene play along with it."

"Not that I mind." Tifa said as she drew a tantalizing finger down Lightning's jaw, "You're here now, a few hours earlier than expected, but I'll take whatever I can get."

"You're... really simple aren't you?"

Rolling her eyes, the black-haired woman retrieved herself from Lightning's comforting warmth, "And you're a real mood killer. BUT. I think I know what you're getting at, and no, you're not allowed to give me something like that for my birthday. I want a real present from you."

"Real huh?" Lightning muttered underneath her breath, "I guess..."

"So? How is work?" Tifa asked, situating herself behind the bar counter to swiftly whip up a drink while Lightning grabbed a seat directly across from her.

"The usual. The GC and PSICOM are still recruiting soldiers as we speak. Raines wants me to overlook some of the training."

"Training?" Tifa laughed, "Well, I guess that comes with the job, Brigadier General."

"As if. He's just using me as some sort of figure-head. Probably thinks that if the people know that I'm the one in charge of new recruits, people would choose to sign with the GC over the PSICOM."

"You are pretty popular." Tifa acknowledged, "Not that I mind of course."

Lightning raised an eyebrow at Tifa's off-hand comment, "You don't mind, but I do. I get this enough in Novus Chrysalia."

"Then why don't you just quit?" The fighter asked, handing off the finished drink to Lightning and started making her own, "You won't though, I know you won't. Somehow, I think it suits you to be doing what you're doing right now. What would you do otherwise? Start a restaurant? You're not good enough of a cook. Nor do you care for anything in particular like Aerith and her flowers to turn it into a business. I definitely can't see you in business regardless." Tifa listed, smirking at Lightning's glare, "You're more of someone who likes to order people around, and you can't do that with customers. You'll just get annoyed too quickly."

"I never said I wanted to quit." Lightning huffed and took a sip, "I just don't like the attention. People are always watching me. Maybe I should've just dropped everything once it was obvious things were looking up again, like you three did."

"There's nothing you can do though."

"There is." Lightning refuted as she absent-mindedly spun the glass cup on the table, "I've... requested a transfer to come here."

The cup in Tifa's hands nearly slipped from her grasp, "Y-You did?!"

"Is... that alright with you?"

"Wha-" A large smile blossomed on Tifa's face, "Of course! So did you get a go-ahead? But I thought you had to train new recruits-"

"I think Raines knows I'm not the type to teach. I can handle one person at a time, but groups? No way in hell. In case you haven't noticed, I get pissed at people who can't do what I order them to do as well. Like I said, it's for the publicity. At least I can breathe here."

"Then when is your transfer going to be finalized?"

Pursing her lips, Lightning took another slow sip from her drink as if to purposefully postpone her answer, "Tifa... everything's... been finalized already." Looking at the black-haired woman and her blank expression, Lightning's grip on her cup tightened, "I'm here to stay."

"O-Oh..."

In an attempt to hide her own unease, Lightning smirked wryly, "I guess I can't say that this is my present can I?" Tifa's mouth dropped open again, and then closed with her eyes wide, which did little to ease Lightning's growing distress. Slipping her hand into her pocket, Lightning revealed a key and placed it on the counter carefully, "I've had Cloud and Aerith help me... I bought an apartment here and you can... move in." Lightning said before hastily adding on, "If you want."

"Light, I-" The sudden jingle of the bar's doors made both of them jump, although Lightning quickly hid it and looked down at her drink while Tifa dealt with the customer. Tifa moved away from the counter towards the table the customer had taken a seat at to take the order. For all that she had done; facing world destructions, fighting Gods and Calamities... to find that she would get nervous when asking something like this from Tifa was quite the revelation. "Alright, so one behemoth steak." She listened to Tifa take the order, "I'll get right on it." There was some slight chatter but soon she could hear each of Tifa's steps approach her again. Instead of pretending that Lightning hadn't said what she had, Tifa tugged on Lightning's shoulder to call for her attention. A verbal answer wasn't given, rather Tifa merely pressed her lips against Lightning's cheek. "Don't feel so nervous." Tifa whispered into her ear, "I can feel it too y'know."

Upon hearing Tifa's soothing laughter, Lightning calmed. Even if she was the one being laughed at, it was alright. Lightning felt like laughing at herself as well. She should've known exactly what Tifa's answer would be. As the fighter returned behind the bar, she snatched up the key that Lightning had placed on the table and pocketed away. All that was left now was the party.

...

The party wasn't anything extravagant, and Lightning wouldn't expect it to be. Everyone was there; Cloud, Aerith, Barret, Cid, Yuffie, the two kids, even Vincent and Red XIII came. Presents were given, wishes were made, and laughter shared. Time passes though, as always, even if they don't notice that it does until the end. Lightning snuck a furtive glance at the person sitting in the passenger seat, marking Tifa's peaceful expression as she watched the city streets zoom by. "A gil for your thoughts?" Lightning shifted at Tifa's perceptiveness.

"Are you sure?"

"About what?"

"This." Lightning said, nodding her chin to the approaching apartment complex.

Tifa hummed, looking up the building, "It looks good."

"Tifa, I'm serious."

"I know you are. I'm serious too." Tifa said, "After all, that's going to be our first home together."

Home. Lightning nearly smiled. "I guess that would be my present."

"Hm?"

"I want you to have it. You wanted something real right? You can have the apartment." Tifa suddenly broke out laughing, clutching her sides until she was curled over in pain. "W-What?" Lightning muttered, glaring at the road in so that she won't crash the rental into anything because of the distraction sitting beside her who, for God knows why, thought her statement was hysterically funny.

"Who buys someone an apartment for their birthday?" Tifa said in-between laughing fits, but soon calmed down. "Not that I'm complaining."

"Of course not..." Lightning replied dryly, pulling the car into the underground parking to look for their parking space.

"I'm happy Claire." Tifa said, "Really, really, happy." As the car pulled in, Tifa had already opened the door and stepped out right when it stopped, "So much happened today, I guess I'm just overwhelmed."

Opening the trunk, she helped Tifa unload her presents. It wasn't that they were big or heavy, but a hassle to handle. Cookbooks, new aprons, new kitchen wares; everything seemed to revolve around cooking, all except for Barret's present which he insisted that Tifa should open once she's home and said that it was something that was meant to stay at home. As they got on the elevator, Lightning continued watching Tifa from the corner of her eyes. Saying that she was overwhelmed was one thing, but this wasn't what Lightning thought being overwhelmed would be like. Tifa looked sombre for some reason and it bothered Lightning endlessly, "Are you alright?"

The fighter's eyes didn't move away from the glass windows of the elevator as it rose higher and higher, "This... kind of reminds me of Academia." Tifa said, "It's been four years since I first met you. Do you remember? My dream world?"

"Yeah."

"This is pretty close isn't it?" Tifa smiled, turning to look at Lightning warmly, "This is all I ever wanted, and I know that you'd do anything for me."

"Right..." The pinkette shifted on her feet uncomfortably, secretly grateful that the elevator had arrived to their floor because she had no idea how to respond to such a statement. "That's awkward."

"No, you just suck at accepting gratitude." Tifa retorted, hooking her arm with Lightning's as they walked into their new home. Flicking on the lights in the hallway, the pinkette allowed Tifa to walk in first to explore the new place. It was clean, moderately designed, and it reminded Tifa greatly of the apartment Lightning has in Academia, accept this one had a breathtaking kitchen. "That's... incredible." Like a child in awe, Tifa drifted over there, smoothing her hands over the dark granite counter top. It was completely loaded with everything a chef could possibly dream for.

"You should see the rest of the house too." Lightning stated, waving Tifa over to follow her through the large living room and into the hallways leading to the room. They had an extra room, an office, and one master bedroom, all already furnished with basic items. Upon entering the room though, Tifa grinned when she saw the large balcony. Lightning's balcony in her Academia apartment was the one thing Tifa adored the most. "Huh." Tifa turned to see Lightning kneeling beside five boxes and approached curiously, "I guess Aerith didn't finish."

"Finish?" Tifa echoed.

"I paid Cloud to deliver my stuff for me and asked Aerith to help me unpack."

"I'll help you tomorrow." Tifa offered, flipping open one of them to dig inside. She pulled out a few t-shirts, boy shorts, and sweatpants; Lightning's daily living clothes seen only inside the house, "Anyways! I'm going to take a shower." Tifa announced, clutching an over-sized t-shirt to herself.

"Yeah, go ahead." The pinkette answered absent-mindedly, "Everything should be inside already, if not, just yell and I'll get it for you."

As Tifa went off to do her own thing, Lightning stacked the boxes up against the wall to clear out the floor and moved back to the kitchen for a glass of water. No matter what, Lightning mused, it would take her a long time to get used to this kind of life. As far as she could remember, ever since before the death of her parents several thousand years ago in another world, she'd never had any sort of actual familial life. She had always been moving, always fighting, and not once could she simply sit back and watch days come and go in peace. Today would be the first time she would settle down, and she couldn't help but feel slightly excited about this domestic journey she was about to embark on no matter how boring or repetitive it may seem compared to her past.

Her eyes brushed over the new house, after all, she had only been here a handful of times herself. Lightning soon stopped before Tifa's presents, flipping through the cook book idly and made notes to point out which ones she should mention to Tifa the next time she's in the kitchen. Then came Barret's present. It was still wrapped; a small box sitting there innocently.

It's not like it was going to be a bomb.

Her curiosity got the better of her. Peeling off the wrapping paper, Lightning opened the box and frowned at the metal item inside. "What the hell?" The pinkette muttered, "Handcuffs?" She inspected the make of them; clearly below par, if not for appearances only, and undoubtedly not for use in the public security field. Knowing Barret, he probably mixed it up with something else.

"Claire?" Tifa voice called out to her from behind, "Geez, what are you ignoring me for? We don't have any shampoo."

"It's in the-" Lightning turned around and choked on her saliva.

Tifa raised a questioning eyebrow, "Claire?"

The pinkette's mouth dropped open, and then closed, and then open again. Tifa stood there nearly naked if not for the small towel wrapped around her body. Her skin was flush from the hot shower, hair still wet, with droplets of water sinfully cascading down the smooth contours of her jaw and neck. Lightning's hand clenched around the handcuffs, and in an instant, the exact use of this sad excuse of handcuffs slammed into her like a horde of charging chocobos. "Ah-uh... i-it's..." Lightning stammered, desperately trying to keep her composure. Her body immediately burned.

Barret. That asshole.

Staggering back to brace herself against the counter as Tifa approached, Lightning hastily tossed the item back into the box, ""What are you doing?" Tifa asked suspiciously. She had never seen Lightning so flustered before in her life.

"W-What did you need?" Lightning asked as she desperately tried to gather her scattered and hectic thoughts.

"What are you doing?" The fighter repeated again, her eyes darting to Barret's open present, "You opened it? What is it?"

She could feel her blood rush to her face, but Lightning absolutely refused to blush. "Tifa, I don't think-"

Too late. Tifa lent in close, close enough for Lightning to want to scamper back if not for the counter behind her that was impeding her escape. Her eyes wandered over Tifa's body, following the water droplets that sunk into the cleavage before she forcibly tore her eyes away and looked at the roof before darting back to the present Tifa was reaching for and then to the fighter's face. As far as Lightning could see, her expression hadn't changed, and Tifa even examined the handcuffs, "Claire?"

"It w-was probably a mistake."

"Why are you stammering?" Tifa's ruby eyes flickered over to her, and in the darkness they nearly appeared glowing beneath the moonlight. They narrowed on her dangerously, and a taunting smirk crossed Tifa's lips before she teasingly lifted the handcuffs up and slowly trailed to cold metal down Lightning's cheek. Lightning nearly trembled as goosebumps spotted her skin with the unsettling shiver that crawled up her back. "Cat got your tongue?" Tifa's hands ghosted up her arms and down her body, slipping into her shirt for a brief touch before wandering to her belt where she hooked the handcuffs to one of the belt-loops of Lightning's jeans. "No... I suppose I do." Tifa knew she had won the moment she saw desire flash in Lightning's eyes. She leaned in close, sucked on her earlobe and then whispered hotly into Lightning's ear, "I want you now."

"Tifa." Lightning hisses, suddenly hoisting the fighter up and allowing Tifa to wrap her legs around her waist. She pushes Tifa up against the wall, their heavy breaths hot against each other. Tifa's towel drops to the ground.

The kisses are hungry and demanding, her touches were rough yet sadistically gentle, and despite all of that, Tifa couldn't help but smile against Lightning's lips, "Way to break in the new house."

...

When Lightning next woke up, she groaned with frustration upon feeling the metal around her wrist. The bed was empty but it wasn't cold. Lifting her head, she watched as Tifa walk out of the washroom stark naked if not for the towel lazily draped around her neck, "God damn it Tifa, take this thing off." She rattled the handcuffs to make her point.

"Alright, alright." Tifa laughed, climbing onto the bed to unlock the cuffs, "And here I thought you actually enjoyed it."

"I'm going to kill Barret." Lightning muttered as she sat up and rubbed her sore wrists.

"I'm sorry." Tifa murmured, lifting Lightning's wrists to her lips so she could kiss the red skin, "Did you really hate it?"

The azure blue eyes turned to her, emotions untold, before she suddenly pushed Tifa down and settled on top of her. "Of course not." Lightning whispered as she gently brushed Tifa's hair and brought it up to her lips, "There's no way in hell that I'm a masochist though."

"You're more of a sadist."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Lightning snapped with mock offense.

"Nothing. Just speaking what I know." Tifa challenged before amending her tease in a softer voice, "No... you're just passionate."

"I'm still going to kill him."

Hugging Lightning close, Tifa buried her face into the crook of her shoulder. She contemplated on telling Lightning the truth, but maybe... she could just let Barret take the fall for her. After all, if the pinkette knew the truth, there would be far more opportunities for her to retaliate in the future.


"Hm?" Tifa dug her buzzing phone from her pocket and lifted it to her ear, "Hello?"

"Yo, Teefs."

Juggling the bag of groceries in her hands, she walked towards an empty street bench to set the items down, "Hey Barret, what's up?"

"Well, it's your birthday soon isn't it?"

Rolling her eyes, Tifa released a heavy sigh, "Gee, thanks for paying so much attention-"

"I-It's not that! Just tell me."

"What?"

"What you want!" Barret yelled on the other end, making the fighter hold the phone a fair distance away from her ear to prevent any hearing damage.

"It's fine Barret, you don't have to..." Tifa's voice drifted when a certain kind of store held her attention. Every time she go to buy groceries, she would pass a store with its windows and doors all blacked out, and she would never have the courage to go in there. She never knew she was the sort to prank her friends, but just to see or hear the reaction was enough for Tifa to make up her mind. A feral smirk crossed Tifa's expression, "Actually, y'know what?"

"Yeah?"

"Handcuffs."

"What? Why would you need handcuffs? I've got some at the base then."

"No, not 'that' kind of handcuffs." It took a moment, but Barret finally got it. Tifa snickered when she could even hear him blush over the phone. It was supposed to be a joke, and she hadn't expected Barret to take her so seriously.


"I think it was worth it." Tifa mumbled to herself as an after-thought.

"Hm?" Lightning lifted her head slightly but Tifa swiftly wrapped her arms around her again and embraced her harder. A short sweet silence settled before them, "Hey... Happy Birthday."

"Well, we'll be celebrating a lot more of those in the future." Tifa whispered, closing her eyes before humming a soft tune.

"Yeah..." Lightning murmured sleepily, "...together..."

Pressing a kiss to Lightning's temple, Tifa continued lulling her to sleep. She wondered where they would be a hundred years from now. Would they have to disappear? After all, it's not like she could keep the bar open, or would Lightning stay in the GC indefinitely. Immortals would have to live a different life, but even so, the future was intimidating just as much as it was exciting.


I couldn't resist. ;D Epilogue! Yay!

While I see Jihl as ambitious, Lightning is passionate despite both of their austerity. I guess that's why I wrote Lightning as a bit more affectionate than expected, especially at the end. Does that make sense? I don't want to make her appear too OOC...