My eyes scan the younger Farron, who's warm smile was a stark contrast to her sister's stoic expression. Although their features were the same, from her pale pink hair that hung to the left like her sister, to her blue eyes, the way she carried herself was completely different. Serah's demeanor was laid back and happy. Even though she'd been uprooted and sent to a place the polar opposite to her hometown, it seemed like she didn't have a care in the world.
"Come on. Let's get you home," Light tells her with a warm smile.
The pair set off towards the school gates and onto the street. I trail behind and examine them curiously. Even though I hadn't known her for very long, it was strange to see Light acting this way. From the moment her sister left school, Light wore a pleasant smile and her whole face brightened when she looked at Serah. As they walked down the street, the pair talked about school mostly. Serah did her best to ask about her sister's job, but Light was masterful at redirecting the conversation without having to answer.
"Have you been eating enough?" Light asks, looking down at Serah like a worried mother.
"I haven't missed a meal, as promised," Serah replies.
"Is your room presentable?"
"Yeeeeeees.." the younger Farron sighs. "I know you used to do all of the cleaning in our old house, but I can do it, you know."
"I guess we'll see then, won't we," Light tells her as she reaches the hotel entrance.
I follow the pair inside and across the white marble floor. An older woman in a suit watches the three of us from behind her reception desk, but smiles at Serah as we head towards the brass panelled elevator to the right. Light presses the '3' button and the lift doors close before jerking up. The small, metal elevator made me feel nauseous, but it soon came to a halt and the three of us exited into a long corridor that had a red carpet.
"You okay?" Serah asks, stopping to look at me with a worried expression.
"I'm fine," I reply.
Serah leads us to the second door on the right and opens it with a key she pulled from a small pocket in her white, sleeveless dress shirt. Light gestures for me to enter and the three of us go inside to find a large room that was split between a bedroom and living area. A bathroom was the only part that was separated by walls, allowing a sense of privacy from the rest of the room.
"Serah, I've got some good news to tell you," Light begins, glancing at me with a grateful smile. "I'm gonna have enough money to get us a little place somewhere after my basic training is over thanks to-"
"All of your sister's hard work," I interrupt. "She's doing really well."
Light turns to me and looks at me is if trying to figure out why I said that, but knowing Serah was watching, she turns back to her and smiles.
"For real!?" Serah squeaks excitedly.
"Why don't you go and take a shower before you do your homework," Light suggests, changing the subject.
"I'll leave you two to it then," Serah replies, glancing at me before looking at her sister with a grin.
"Why did you say that?" The pinkette questions with a hushed tone after her sister closes the bathroom door.
"You're working hard for her. I didn't want to take that away from you," I reply honestly.
"How very modest, hero," Light scoffs briefly, but her expression quickly turns sincere. "Thank you."
"Don't mention it."
An awkward silence grows between us, and for the first time neither of us seemed to have anything to say. The muffled sound of the shower was the only noise to be heard and I avert my gaze to the floor. I can't help thinking another shot of that mako reactor would have given me an amusing conversation point when the pinkette finally speaks.
"Tell me about yourself, Strife," She says with a tone that was closer to a demand than a question.
"What do you want to know?" I frown.
"Anything! I'm trying to work you out but you're a weird one," Light replies, not intending to mean offence.
"Gee, thanks.." I say, rolling my eyes.
"Come on, give me something. You have any family in Midgar?"
"No. I've no family other than my mother anywhere. She was an only child and so am I," I answer.
"What about your-," She began, but stopped herself short. "Sorry,"
"I never knew my father.. According to my mother I never had one, but I figure she was just bitter about him." I explain.
Another spell of silence briefly washes over the room. I could tell Light was feeling guilty for asking, but I didn't mind. I've managed to survive for fifteen years without a father. I don't need one now.
"Ready to tell me your dream girl's name yet?" She asks as I catch a smirk rise from the corner of her lips.
"Not interested.." I shake my head, embarrassed to talk about Tifa.
"For what it's worth, you shouldn't need to prove yourself to anyone. Hero's don't get the girl. they're the ones that usually don't make it because their pride has gotten in the way of their own self preservation."
"You're a bundle of joy, aren't you, Light?" I reply sarcastically.
The pinkette shrugs at me, seemingly not too bothered about stamping on my dream with reality. The annoying thing was that it was probably good advice. The bathroom door opens and Serah walks out wearing pyjamas and patting down her damp pink locks with a towel. The pair of us turn to her as a loud siren wails outside. The loud drone was enough to have the three of us rush to the window to see what was going on. People in the streets stopped what they were doing and began to look around as the siren faded and an announcement echoed through Midgar.
"All non-essential military personnel return to the barracks immediately! This is not a drill! All non- essential military..."
"What's going on!?" Serah shouts with a worried expression.
"Nothing to worry about, sis." Light smiles, hugging her sister. "I do have to go though."
The older Farron hugs her sister tightly and her smile turns to panic as she glances at me. Neither of us knew what was going on, but we knew it wouldn't be good. I check the clock on the wall to make sure we hadn't missed our curfew, but that was hours away. Knowing what Captain MacMillan is like, this could very well be another trial.
"Let's go, Cloud," Light says confidently after releasing her sister from a tight embrace.
Lightning jogs swiftly to the door and I turn to do the same when a soft hand grips my wrist, causing me to turn. Serah stood before me, looking into my eyes with worry and fear. For a moment she said nothing, as if she was too scared to speak, and continued to meet my gaze with eyes just like her sisters before she finally spoke.
"Please don't let anything happen to my sister," She says barely in a whisper.
I say nothing but I harden my expression and give her a confident nod. The worry vanished out of her eyes and the younger pinkette released her grip on my wrist, allowing my to head to the door. I hadn't really thought about it until now, but it must be awful to worry about a sibling like that, not knowing if this would be the last time they saw each other. My thoughts turn to my mother and I make a note to myself to write her a letter the next time I have some free time. Passing Light, I rush out of the door and into the corridor. Light pauses to take one last look at her sister before reluctantly closing the door.
"What do you think is going on?" The pinkette questions as we run to the elevator.
"No idea. Nothing good though.."
I press the elevator button repeatedly until it finally arrives and the doors slide open. Inside I hammer the ground floor button, but the lift didn't have any concept of our urgency. It felt like we'd be in this lift forever when it finally touched down. The brass doors open slowly and the pair of us had slipped through before they'd even got half way. Our footsteps from the marble floor echo through the lobby, causing the woman behind the reception desk to glare at us as she was taking a call.
We must have been running for twenty minutes before the parade yard came into view. The whole military district was alive with action, but the parade yard was lined with fellow recruits. My eyes spot Chris in the group, stood at attention but swaying slightly; probably from drinking too much. We fall in line with burning legs and lungs as Captain MacMillan walks out of the barracks with a look of disappointment plastered across his face.
"Listen up, recruits.." He says in a surprisingly sad tone. "The Wutaian forces have regrouped into a single fighting force instead of their usual guerrilla warfare. They have defeated two Shinra battalions and pushed us back several miles. In retaliation and to end this war for good, the President has ordered a full military assault and his instructed us to send everyone; including recruits."
"But, Sir! We haven't even fished basic training," A boy in the front shouts out.
"For what it's worth, recruit, I believe this is a terrible idea. Sadly its well above my pay grade and I have to follow orders. That being said, as of this moment you are no longer recruits and are now official members of the Shinra infantry. You have ten minutes to gather up your rifle, pack and helmet. You are all to be transported to Junon and then onto the South east shore of Wutai."
In an instant chatter erupted from everyone on the parade yard. Fear gripped most of them and a girl near the front fainted at the thought of being sent into war. Part of me was terrified, but I couldn't help but feel excited to prove myself. If I did well over there then they'd have no choice but to let me into SOLDIER.
"What the hell are you smiling at?" Light asks, pushing my shoulder to get my attention.
"It won't be long until I'm SOLDIER," I answer.
"Are you so fucking naive?! We're going to die out there, Cloud!" She barks.
"What do you mean? Some Wutai soldiers are no match for Shinra," I tell her confidently.
"Did you not listen to a word he just said?!" Light continues to bark. "Two battalions gone! A thousand trained infantrymen dead, Cloud!"
"Surely you knew that you'd be sent there eventually?" I ask.
"Yes! After I had the proper training and had at least half a chance! A few hundred rounds at some targets and a hike doesn't make a soldier! Cloud… I can't leave Serah alone in this horrible place..."
"Hey, I won't let anything happen to you. Your sister made me promise," I reply, not reacting to her angry tone.
"Well I feel much better now, knowing a boy who's never been in battle is watching over me..."
"If I wasn't watching over you when you crossed that frozen river you'd have not seen your sister today either!" I finally bark back and storm off to the barracks.
I understood that she was worried but it hurt to think that she had no faith in me after everything I'd done to help her. Maybe it was the fear talking and she didn't really mean it, but I wasn't willing to find out. Heading upstairs, I collect my pack, helmet and rifle from my bed and put them on. This was it.. I was going to defend he world from Wutai and become the hero I promised Tifa I'd become..
My apologies for the delay, I've wrote and deleted this chapter about twenty times over the week because I've not been happy with it. I hope I've not made Light too bitchy. I want her to be the realist and Cloud naive about the whole situation. Both of them are going to realise the shit they're in soon enough.
I've read through most of the recommended stories and I'll never forget is my favourite. There's a few good ones, but they have to have happy endings. I can't deal with a sad ending lol
anyway, I hope you all enjoyed. Let me know what you think!