Thirty Minutes

Warning: Swearing, mention of death and I don't own these characters.

PROLOGUE

Their bodies were armored in rubble; Zack remembered that much.

And the blood, the screams.

It's how they'd unofficially met. Less than romantic circumstances—Zack Fair and The President's oldest niece, Claire Farron—AKA Lightning. Oh, how he wished this could've gone differently. Gaia had hurled one hell of a curveball that morning and for the first time as SOLDIER (second class) Zack felt rendered useless.

And he was only twenty-one.

"I can't fucking move, yo!" Reno had shouted agitatedly, a strain in his usual playful voice. From where the noise came from, Zack didn't know. He couldn't see amidst the darkened wreckage. "My leg's stuck under—!"

"Just hang on, Reno," Tseng's calm voice answered over the misting dust. His teetered steps seemed to crunch closer to Zack than Reno. "I'll get you out."

Even over the disturbing screams of the terrified civilians and Shinra employees (who were all either buried alive or laying next to corpses) Tseng's soothing words seeped some relief into Zack's mind. He tried to push his thoughts elsewhere. In the end, his brain searched for the familiar in Reno's misfortune, recapping the time he'd broken his arm three ways in basic training, freaked out, and The General himself pacified him while Professor Hojo gleefully reset the bones.

Angeal only allowed Dr. Hollander to treat him afterwards.

Stranger times; before the Mako injections.

Now, after the Mako, the debris caused Zack damage that he'd feel for some time, but he'd endure. Even with the thick wooden beam digging into his back, Zack knew he would live. He was afraid that if he moved even an inch, it'd slide off and potentially hit any victims who survived nearby.

As if he'd allow that to happen.

"Serah," Lightning murmured underneath him. She was cradled to his chest with his biceps secured around her waist and a bloodied gloved hand resting just on her scraped knees. Her white dress appeared second hand now, a distant memory from the creamy silk she'd been wearing when he'd gazed upon the Farron family mere moments ago during The President's speech.

Zack's form was hunched over hers, with one knee firmly digging into the ground to keep steady. He was slowly leaning forward the longer the beam sunk into him and he gritted his teeth when his check pressed into some jagged metal. The slightest of movements would cause the surrounding area to cut more of his skin and some of Lightning's crimson was melding into his, merging their blood. It's as if they were trapped in a cocoon of rubble. An awkward position but a safe one for Lightning.

That's all he cared about.

"Serah," she muttered again. No doubt, the nineteen-year-old was talking in her sleep. The fall had knocked her unconscious, since it was Zack who'd yanked her body underneath him at last second before the ceiling caved in. Her face would've been smashed into that beam if it he hadn't rushed to save her. As if the dust settling in their lungs weren't enough, the frenzied shrieks echoing in the dark frightened him, trace mementos that death haunted the wreckage. The dust covered their bodies and each inhale collected at the back of their throats, outdoing even the thickest of molasses.

Zack brushed his hand through her spiky strawberry blond hair as best he could, feeling her relax in his arms.

And also feeling the stickiness pouring from her hidden concussion.

"Hang in there," he whispered. His Mako blue eyes tried his best to see around them but with piss poor results.

"Zack?!"

Angeal.

Zack peered up at the heavens, muttering, "Thank Gaia," and then called out, "We're over here, Angeal! I've got Lightning with me! Have a medic on standby if you can!" He had seen Angeal running to cover the Farron family, too, but he hadn't known the outcome of his mentor until now. He'd been closer to Serah, but Zack hadn't seen who had covered Mr. and Mrs. Farron.

"Sis!" he heard Serah crying. "I can't find mom and dad!" He didn't have to be above ground to know Angeal had chosen to save her instead of her parents.

"Serah," Lightning answered instinctively while her eyes fluttered. "Serah…" Something else she reflexively did while awakening was clutch Zack's arm as she tried to shift her body closer into his. Probably to escape the rough debris on her exposed side. In the frightening darkness, only Mako peered down at her.

It's all she could see, all they could see, and to her, his irises glowed a brilliant bluish-purple.

Their noses were nearly brushing; she'd felt that much. Especially when he carefully lowered his head and nervously whispered, "Uh, hi." What else could he say, really? Everything he'd wanted to voice during The President's speech had died in the back of his throat. They'd been staring at each other since Lightning arrived that afternoon with her family, but Shinra had a strict no fraternization policy.

Still, Zack mechanically rushed from his seat and onto the stage when he saw the explosion in the ceiling.

And here they were...

So taken aback by her current situation, Lightning didn't respond for a moment. He could see her gray-blue eyes completely focused on his own, though, infatuated with them even in the black.

"Someone set off an explosive on the ceiling during your uncle's speech," Zack went on, gulping. He knew his sudden serious tone didn't suite him. "But I don't think it was meant for your uncle—"

"You're bleeding." Her assessment was correct. Presumably from his head or neck, since the dripping was splattering on her face and rolling down her skin. She had enough room to reach up and embrace his shoulders in a bid to escape the wrath of impaling wreckage. "There's something heavy on your back."

"There's also a girl in my arms. If I die, I'll die happy." The SOLDIER was thankful she couldn't see him cringe from the cheesy pick up line, or the bashful smile aimed her way.

"Please," she scoffed. Her smile was hidden in the darkness, but not in her hoarse voice. "With that hair?"

It was Zack's turn to scoff, if only to mock her own. "You know what? It's pitch black in here."

"So?"

"So, you noticed me as much as I noticed you earlier if you remember my spikes."

Lightning couldn't hide the embarrassment and anger mingling in her defensive tone as she announced, "You—shut up before I hit you!"

"You've got no room to do it."

"If I could, I would."

"I'd heal," he assured her quietly. "But right now you've got a concussion. That's what I'm worried about." The hand resting on her knee moved on autopilot and it sluggishly maneuvered upwards to cover hers. Why he was speaking as if they were murmuring sweet nothings to each other was beyond him. Probably too absorbed in the moment to care.

It almost seemed wistful, yet endearing.

If the circumstances had been different, he'd ask her on a date.

Lightning coughed at the same time he did. The dust was getting to them and it was getting rather hot under the fallen mass. Their pitches were rougher than normal, like they had to hock spit. "That's not what I asked you," she forced out. "Look, I've got some healing materia in my pocket you can use until we're out of here."

"I'm not really the best at healing spells—"

"But I am," she argued between coughs. "I don't want you dying all because you wanted to play hero."

"Well, I'm not really good at playing the villain," he said sheepishly. "So a hero's the better option for me. But if I live, maybe your hero could get a date?" At least she couldn't see him wiggle his eyebrows.

Either way, she refused to smile, or reply, out of spite...

And embarrassment.

That's how they were rescued and Lightning sluggishly disentangled herself when they were free. Well, not really, but kind of. She staggered when she reached for Tseng's hand and it was Zack's comfortable palms on her waist that settled her onto a stretcher. Zack watched her eyes search until it finally clicked that her other blue heel was missing.

"Oh! Your shoe!" He mimicked her, scanning through where they'd just been. Got'cha! he thought, scooping it up. His hand wavered upon seeing how badly he stained the item with his bloodied gloved fingers.

Their eyes connected a final time as he passed it to her before hers traveled to his visible wounds. "Don't die," she muttered begrudingly, placing the shoe beside her. "I mean it."

He made a 'pfft' sound. "As if." Crossing his arms, he added, "You owe me a..." He bit his lip with darting eyes. It'd be fooloish to voice their previous conversation. "That thing we talked about. Remember?"

"I agreed to nothing." A smirk tugged at her lips.

"Come on!" He lifted his finger. "Just one da...?" He suddenly clutched his head and a firm hand steadied him before he could fall.

The last thing he remembered had been a gentle clap on his shoulder and Angeal whispering, "I've got you, puppy."

ZLZLZLZLZL

And now, this is what led to Zack being called into Lazard's office nearly a month later, fully recovered and with a raise to boot. His spiky hair had gotten spikier, if it were possible, but he kept it gelled back instead of allowing his usual bangs to frame his sharp pale jawline. The scar he received on his cheek during the incident remained, but he didn't mind.

It was a token reminder of their first meeting.

The clanking of his boots against the metal grey floor—Gaia all this metal was depressing, like a steel cage—alerted Lazard of his presence as he crept up to the door of the director's office.

"Zack," the man greeted from his desk as the younger entered. "Good to have you back."

An unsure wave flitted towards the blond. "Good to be back, director." He walked over to the man, seeming out of place since the incident. "Have you heard anything about a Turk named Reno, sir?" He didn't socialize much with the redhead, but he'd heard from Angeal that Reno's entire left leg had been broken, much to Hojo's delight.

Poor fucker.

Lazard pushed up his glasses. "I've heard he's in better spirits since he doesn't have to stay in the lab."

Zack leaned against the wall, crossing his arms. His eyes were worlds away while he inspected nothing close to interesting on the steel floorboards. "Yeah…"

Lazard regarded him thoughtfully. "And you?"

Mako blue irises darted to Lazard's. "Hm?"

"How are you, Zack?" Lazard angled his head, rivaling a concerned father or older brother. "That must've been traumatizing. They said there was a beam digging into your back when they found you and the blood..." Zack still had the nasty scar to prove it, too.

"M'fine," Zack mumbled. Cumbersome, he rubbed the back of his neck, near where the thick scar was. "I… are the Farron sister's okay?" He knew that Mr. and Mrs. Farron had both perished in the explosion. Their daughters were left to fend for themselves in every way possible, as The President didn't bother to give their parents a proper funeral service (for fear of another attack) or be there for them. The media blamed Mrs. Farron (The President's sister) and they also targeted the daughters. They painted Serah as the sweetest and prettiest of the sisters based on features alone.

Lightning was labeled the bitchy sister, due to her constant frown.

You'd frown too if your parents were murdered.

"That's actually what I wanted to talk to you about." Lazard waved Zack over to the desk lined with high tech computers. "That explosion wasn't from a terrorist attack."

"I figured this must've been an inside job," Zack assessed with an easy nod. "Just didn't make sense for the explosion in the ceiling to happen right above the Farron's..."

Lazard began typing away, opening encrypted files with hasty tapped passwords. "My sentiments exactly."

"Who'd want to kill The President's sister and her family anyway?"

"Someone who wanted his attention, I suppose." Lazard clicked a hidden file and brought up pictures of several Turks. "Someone who wanted him to know he could be next. You see these men?"

Zack leaned forward, dipping his chin. "Yep."

Lazard zoomed in on a profile of one, the blond one. Legend. "What did you notice about them during the speech, any of them?"

Zack blinked, trying to formulate an opinion. "I... I didn't because I don't remember seeing 'em to be honest."

"Neither did Sephiroth, Angeal, or any Shinra personnel during the speech when I asked. Lightning personally remarked that she hadn't ever laid eyes on them before I showed her the pictures, either."

They shared a conscious glance.

It was Lazard who spoke first after adjusting his glasses once more. "You understand now why The President isn't involving any Turks?"

Cautiously, Zack said, "I get it… You want SOLDIER to find out who killed the Farrons?"

Lazard's serious expression unnerved him. "No. The President requested you specifically for this mission." He propped his chin on his knuckles, shaking his head. It was clear the stress of this mission overwhelmed him. "We don't know if any Turks could be covering for the missing Turks that day so we can't involve anyone else. Not even Rufus knows due to his close relationship with them."

Zack forced his expression to remain neutral. "Angeal and Sephiroth—"

"The less people who know about this, the better. This is strictly a solo mission. Not even Scarlett or Heidegger have knowledge of this. If anyone asks, you're strictly guarding the Farron sisters per Lightning's request. She's already agreed to go along with it. We're the only four who are aware."

Lazard must've sensed Zack's quiet bewilderment because he explained, "You're the only person suitable for the job that won't look suspicious to the press and the other Shinra personnel. The media knows Mr. and Mrs. Farron were murdered; they know you're the one who saved Lightning. To them, it'll seem as if she's seeking comfort in sea of unfamiliar faces. It'll seem—"

"Normal," Zack murmured with a reluctant sigh. He raked his hand through his spikes. "So, I'm playing the role of bodyguard while figuring out who killed their parents?"

Lazard carefully clasped his hands together and nodded. "You only report to me and The President. If this gets out—"

"It won't, sir."

"You can't tell anyone, Zack. I can't stress this enough—"

"I won't, sir—"

"Don't get attached to either sister—"

"I wo…" He caught himself before he could hurl out the lie. I already have, he thought. Instead, he said, "Understood, director."

Lazard rose from his chair and gave him a curt nod. They shook hands and Zack was given a key card during the action. "This is for The President's private suite, near his office on the 70th floor." The man held Zack's gaze a little longer when the younger tried to retract his hand. "This is your only card; you won't get another, Zack. Report there immediately. Speak to no one when you arrive. Your belongings are already there."

ZLZLZLZLZL

Doing as instructed, he saw The President waiting for him outside the elevator on the 70th floor. The man had heavy wrinkled bags under his eyes to match his greying hair and even duller suit, the epitome of stress. With a bow from Zack's end, he followed behind the man while they paced down the corridor. This floor wasn't as suicidal enticing as the others. Where metal ought to have been, marble stood in its place. Where steel windows were once framed in more steel, glass enclosed with rich wooden frames aligned the hall. The ceiling was decked out with endless mini chandeliers, too.

So, this is where the money goes, Zack thought. No wonder I haven't gotten that raise they promised me yet.

"I trust you've been properly briefed?" the man spoke up, spooking him.

"Uh, yes... sir," he added as an afterthought.

The penthouse-like home had him reeling. Luxury, pure lux. The only way to describe it.

Up the matching spiral stairs and on the second floor, Zack was ushered to a room. "The girl's rooms are on either side of you, Lightning to the left and Serah to the right." The man gave an uncaring nod and waved over his shoulder as he walked away. "I don't care your relations with my nieces. Just make sure they keep up appearances and come out to eat during meal times."

Zack's brow arched at that. "E-excuse me, sir?"

Being a body guard was one thing. Babysitting was another and according to his missing raise of a salary, he was definitely no babysitter.

ZLZLZLZLZL

Author's Note: This is my first fanfiction and I've been a big fan of ZackxLightning since I read one about them some years ago. I thought I'd add my story to the mix and see how it goes. I welcome any reviews (you can add feedback or constructive criticism if you want) and thank you if you read this!