A/N: Re-post. It's mostly fluff from the early days of Squall and Lightning's relationship.

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Theme 56: Darling

Pairing: Squall Leonhart / Lightning Farron

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The first thing Lightning noted was she was drifting.

Not in the figurative sense, but that whatever uncomfortable bed she was sleeping on, it continue to sway ever so gently, albeit haphazardly. The unmistakable splash of water only added further to her observation.

And it was damn colder than it should have been, and she pulled her blanket closer.

"You damn schoolboy." She murmured reflexively, eyes still closed in her sleepy state.

"I'm… sorry?" Came the uncertain reply.

Hearing his voice, Lightning felt herself relax on the strangely hard and swaying bed she was on. If Squall was still here, then she was safe.

He was probably up to something stupid again, but it was too early—and more importantly, cold- in the morning to pay him any heed.

So, she snuggled closer into her sheet with the full intent of returning to sleep.

Of course, Squall was oblivious to Lightning's quest for sleep when he continued, "I thought you wanted to cruise through on a gondola."

It took the gears inside Lightning's head an embarrassingly long time to figure out what he meant, but when she did, Lightning cracked one baleful blue eye open. "What did you say?" She asked in slow and dark tone.

"Yesterday. On our way back to the lodge." Squall recounted. "You said you wanted to ride a gondola."

Lightning pressed a hand against her eyes to stifle an oncoming headache. "Schoolboy." She groaned. "Tell me we're not on a gondola."

She could actually hear Squall's confused blink. "But we are."

"Why?"

"Because you-"

"I know what I said." Gods, did she have the will to get up this early? Considering how late they had returned to their lodge and what her internal clock was telling her, she can't have been asleep for more than four hours! "I'm asking why at this damned hour?"

She cracked an eye open once more and, indeed, she could see the dawn sky above her. As if to further prove she was not on her comfortable bed, a gentle wind swept past her, making her shiver.

And how did she even get here? Did Squall smuggle her onto a boat…?

Gods, now that she thought about it, Squall would do that, so he likely did.

Lightning was unsure whether to be impressed or disturbed, but she considered sleeping with one eye open for the foreseeable future. She knew she lowered her guard around her boyfriend—a product of how dependable he was during their travels in the world of conflict- but this was ridiculous!

"I wanted to show you the sunrise." Squall flatly answered, breaking Lightning from her mental rant.

His tone was measured, as if finally realizing he might have messed up somewhere.

Good.

Who said idiots couldn't learn from their mistakes?

With a resigned groan, Lightning finally decided to get up.

"Fine." Lightning grumbled, sitting before him and pulling her blanket closer when the dawn breeze swept by them once more. "Where are we going?"

"East." Squall plainly replied.

Lightning frowned, blue eyes narrowing. "You're doing this intentionally, aren't you?"

"Doing what?"

"Being vague." Lightning pointed out. "It's… unnerving. Usually, you just don't say anything." She palmed her cheek thoughtfully. "Why the change of heart?"

Squall's lips curled into a small smirk. "Maybe I'm just spontaneous."

Hah, fat chance. Squall was the least spontaneous person Lightning had ever met. Unpredictable, sure, but only because his brain cooked up absurd things. But spontaneous? Hah!

Hell, she wouldn't even be surprised to find out he had planned this.

…Lightning blinked.

And then she blinked again as realization finally set in.

Her lips slowly formed into an 'oh' before she smirked in turn, "Is that what this is about?"

Honestly!

The schoolboy!

Seeing how Lightning reacted with amusement instead of the awe or satisfaction he was looking for, Squall pouted. "You keep saying I don't do anything to surprise you."

Predictable and unromantic, were among the other things she teased him with. Just the night before, feeling particularly playful during dinner, she had called him out! Who knew he took those words to heart?

"Yeah, but did you ever stop and think about how this looks?" Lightning gestured to where they were.

Two people alone, riding a gondola near daybreak? Squall tilted his head. "Nobody saw us."

Lightning rolled her eyes. Typical schoolboy to miss the obvious.

It wasn't a cliché murder setup she was hinting at, but trust a SeeD's mind to be muddied in that gutter.

"I doubt you were even paying attention, but that's not the point." She sighed. "Can I trust you when I sleep if you can easily put me on a boat? If our situations were reversed, can you trust me?"

Squall titled his head. "I trust you."

The bluntness of his admission lit embers upon Lightning's cheeks. Or maybe it was the sincerity in his steel eyes. "And I trust you." Lightning stammered, responding automatically.

She really hated how flustered Squall's honesty made her feel.

"Then I don't see the problem." Squall shrugged.

It was Lightning's turn to pout. How could he be such a jerk, sometimes? Why couldn't he understand?

He was just sitting there in his warm jacket, rowing their boat, oblivious to how embarrassed she was at being caught off-guard!

And why was it so damn cold?

Lightning shivered, pulling her blanket closer.

It was then when a sudden, chilling thought froze her.

What was she even wearing?

Abruptly, Lightning pushed her blanket away just enough so she could glance down at her body.

The woman let out a long sigh as relief washed over her.

She still wearing the same clothes she had worn to bed. Meaning, the silly schoolboy didn't attempt to dress up her sleeping body. Good.

Still, it was little wonder why she felt so cold from a simple breeze, or why she woke up with a blanket trying to strangle her.

"Lightning?" Squall prodded, drawing her attention.

Rather, Lightning's attention was drawn to his warm-looking bomber jacket.

"I'm cold. Give me your jacket." She demanded.

"I'll get cold, then." Squall pointed out.

"Well, you should have thought about that before kidnapping me." Lightning countered, partially teasing and part in sarcasm. "Now, give."

Squall rolled his eyes but promptly shrugged off his jacket, and Lightning snatched it as soon as it was in arms' reach.

Lightning had to stifle a sigh when she put it on. Squall's warmth still lingered in the jacket, and Lightning felt herself heat up instantly.

It smelled great, as well.

"Are you happy now?" Squall grumbled.

Lightning glanced at her pouting boyfriend, his torso clad only in his shirt while he steadfastly steered them east. He seemed cold.

Feeling generous, Lightning wordlessly sidled towards him. Their gondola shifted with her movement before she finally settled beside him, sharing her blanket with him. "Now, I am content." Lightning declared once she tucked her head against his shoulder.

Whatever hare-brained plot this was, at least she was now comfortable.

Lightning glanced up at him. "You're lucky you're so pretty."

"What?" Squall shot her a puzzled look.

"You're so pretty." Lightning repeated. "Therefore, you can get away with stuff like this. Otherwise, any other woman would think you're a creep."

Squall narrowed his eyes at her, still confused. "But we're dating."

"Even still."

"We've had sex." Squall bluntly stated. "I think you and I have done stranger things together than this."

"And declare that fact to the world, why don't you?" Lightning challenged amidst her burning cheeks. His lack of tact, ugh! The bastard!

"Lightning." Squall suddenly cut in.

"What?"

He nudged her beneath their blanket. "Look."

Lightning followed his gaze—and saw.

Squall had steered them towards the outskirts of the rustic water-city, which opened up towards a vast lake. Seemingly endless greenery surrounded the crystal blue waters, and a myriad of warm-colored flowers made the landscape seem even more like a painting.

But that was nothing compared to the radiant sun peering past the far mountain, from the gap made by the large waterfall that cut through the white peaks, casting its light towards them- seemingly just for them.

Light seemed to dance as it pierced through the mist from the far waterfall, only to waltz over the lake's surface. The whole world seemed to explode with color, and the cold morning breeze—the same breeze that seemed the bane of her existence—seemed to sing sweet melodies in her ear as it swept past her, gently ruffling her hair.

"Uh, wow." Lightning remarked, immediately at a loss for words at the picturesque sunrise.

Though clearly not a poet of any level of skill, even she could appreciate beauty when she saw it.

…What were they arguing about again?

Lightning mindlessly shrugged off whatever it was as unimportant.

"This is beautiful, Squall." Lightning found herself saying. It took her a moment before she could tear her gaze from the shimmering water and look at him.

She found him smiling warmly down her, smiling that small but sincere smile of his that had his normally stony eyes shimmering, and Lightning found her cheeks warming up once more.

"I'm glad." He said—and it was clear to Lightning that neither was he a poet.

Being so very close to him, Lightning found herself admiring his smile, before her eyes were drawn to his. And there, she noted something peculiar.

The whites of his eyes were red; blood vessels dilated from exhaustion.

"Were you unable to sleep?" She broached, already knowing the answer.

"I had a short rest." Squall murmured. He knew it was futile to lie here—Lightning was uncannily adept at spotting his every attempt, and she had made it clear multiple times that she wasn't happy with it.

She had once told him, frankly, that he better hurt her with the truth so they both can get over it, rather than she spend endless hours worrying.

Trust was always at the heart of their relationship.

After all, they were partners.

"But…?" Lightning prompted, smirking at him patiently.

"But you were right. I… wanted to do something spontaneous." Squall slowly admitted. "And with you mentioning a ride on a gondola, I was up late browsing through tourism blogs. This spot is, apparently, a secret only few know of. The locals don't want crowds to gather here."

"And I suppose not a lot of people are willing to steal their girlfriend in the dead of night and paddle her cold body through the cold dawn?" Lightning teased.

"And that." Squall briefly smirked before, slowly, his lips curled back into a mellow smile.

Beneath their blanket, Lightning felt his hands cup hers, and she tilted her head at him questioningly.

"I'm…not particularly experienced in this dating thing." Squall grudgingly said. Indeed, there had only ever been one before Lightning. "And I know I've been very busy, lately."

"Traveling the world." Lightning pointed out with an easy smile, graciously sweeping the nastiness of his dealings under the rug.

"Yeah." Squall slowly met her gaze. "I just… wanted to let you know. You know?"

Lightning wanted to tease him. Squall was being uncharacteristically open with his feelings, and she wanted to wring him out for all he was worth.

Especially after he had given her so little sleep, and not in the usual way that left her sore and satisfied in the morning.

However…

"I know." Lightning nodded, smiling warmly at him. The boat jostled slightly as she curled deeper into his side.

She supposed she could let him be, just this once.

Because, one day, she might be able to honestly tell him how he made her feel, too. Without all the embarrassed stuttering and roundabout stammering.

The enthralling smile that bloomed on Squall's face in response caught her off-guard, and it might as well have murdered her.

Lightning's eyes widened as heat erupted on her cheeks, and she was at a loss for words.

Fortunately, or unfortunately as she would later decide, Lightning was saved from becoming even further flustered by the sound of another boat approaching.

"Excuse me, you two. Excuse me!" Someone hailed them from behind. "If I can just ask a few questions?"

Squall and Lightning glanced at the newcomer's direction and saw a uniformed cop approaching on his own one-man boat.

Lightning glared at Squall—silently commanding him to take charge, and Squall sighed in resignation.

"Yes, officer." Squall asked. "How might we help?"

"Wonderful. Not meaning to intrude, especially on such a fine morning, but the station received a report about a suspicious man carrying an unconscious woman and then boarding a gondola." The cop explained. "The source was worried something malicious was afoot. Maybe a kidnapping or worse. Tell me, did either of you see anyone strange pass by?"

Lightning thought about it. "No, officer." She turned to Squall. "Far as I know, it's just been us two. Right, Squall?"

"Yes." Squall frowned. "Although that is concerning. Did the witness say anything about what the suspect looked like?"

"Nothing too identifying. Suspect is a tall young man with brown hair. Might have had a scar on his face, come to think, but the witness said it was too dark to be sure." The cop recounted. Lightning blinked as she quickly realized what was happening, and a quick glance towards her boyfriend showed that his thoughts were in the right direction. "He was carrying the body of a woman with light red hair, I think."

Lightning sniggered.

The officer glanced at Lightning questioningly, before shrugging it off as nothing important. "Suspect was also wearing a black jacket." He added.

Lightning's smirk widened even as she discreetly pulled her blanket closer around her—obscuring from view Squall's black jacket that she was wearing.

Squall's brow twitched. "We'll keep an eye out, officer."

It seemed her boyfriend finally figured it out.

"Thank you. Say," The officer narrowed his eyes in suspicion, focused on Squall. "Now that I got a good look at you, I just realized you have brown hair and a scar on your face." He pointed out.

"Indeed I have, officer." Squall deadpanned, staring back at the officer.

Her boyfriend must have taken to heart that he was a poor liar, so he remained tight-lipped. Still, his stare was so stony that the common officer before them might as well have been a cockatrice.

Lightning almost burst out laughing, and she hid her face against his shoulder. It didn't stop her body from shaking, however, and, beneath their shared blanket, Squall squeezed her hand disapprovingly.

An awkward silence descended upon them as the two men continued staring at each other. Lightning was tempted to add fuel to the fire but, ultimately, decided that Squall did make the effort to try something romantic so she might as well bail him out.

"If that is all, officer." Lightning pulled herself from Squall's shoulder just enough to flash the officer an easy smile. "We would like to be able to return to our lodge before the breakfast rush starts. Isn't that right, Squall?"

"Yes." Squall answered evenly. To any other person, he might have appeared unfazed, but Lightning could see the shadow cast over him.

Her boyfriend was sulking.

"Oh, sorry to keep you two." The officer quickly apologized. He placed his paddle back on the water while he continued, "Thank you very much for your time. If you find anything suspicious, please don't hesitate to contact us. And make sure you safely return."

"We will, officer." Lightning smiled pleasantly, inwardly gleeful at how tense Squall was to her touch. "Have a good day~" She almost sing-song'd with how giddy she felt.

Gods, could the officer leave already before she had a hernia from stifling her laughter?

Squall seemed to shrink beside her, clearly not sharing her amusement at his predicament and no doubt dying in embarrassment on the inside. "Yes."

"You both, too. Take care."

When the officer was out of sight, Lightning finally burst out snickering. "Schoolboy!" She guffawed. "Gods!"

"It's not funny." Squall protested, looking like a drenched cat.

"Oh, it is."

"I almost got arrested." He stated unhappily.

"I know."

"For kidnapping."

"Mhm." And her eyes were telling him 'I told you so'.

"…It's not funny."

"It is." Lightning patted him on the back. "And you know it."

"It's…" Squall made to protest before begrudgingly conceding, "…only a bit."

Lightning leaned her head against his shoulder. "I'll treasure this." She sighed.

Lightning felt Squall's hand rest on her waist and pull her closer.

"…Whatever."

His ears were on fire, however, and Lightning smiled.

Today, Lightning decided, was going to be a wonderful day.

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A/N: Happy Christmas, y'all~