Lightning was so glad to be back from that awful mission, back to a dry bed to sleep in, back to taking warm showers and being served warm meals on a regular basis, that she didn't spare the events of new year's eve too much thought.
Reaching the top of that mountain the day after the fireworks, they had secured the materia Shin-Ra desired and had left without further ado in one of the turk's helicopters.
Now that they had returned, she´d settled back into her old routine. Feeling distinctly more greatful about it than she ever had before.
Suddenly there was nothing boring anymore about doing nothing but slaying monsters all day and training in the gym to keep herself in shape, occasionally spending the nights out with the guys.
The guys...
Things had become a little awkward between Sephiroth and her ever since that mission, or maybe it was just her, imagining things again. Lightning wasn't sure.
The silver haired first class had resumed his distance after the incident at the fireworks, hadn't talked to her much, hadn't done anything really that would have indicated something intimate had occured between the two ofthem, giving her the impression that she had totally misread the events from New Year´s Eve.
Lightning couldn't really blame him.
After all nothing had happened really? Had there?
Of course he hadn´t intended to kiss her!
Why would he want to do that in the first place?!
They were just colleagues after all. Comrades. Friends at tops. No, not even friends. Their relationship was prefessional exclusively.
Why had that thought even occured to her?!
Sephiroth had saved her life once more and they'd spent some time looking into each other's eyes. No big deal. Okay. He'd had his arm around her. True. But he'd only tried to steady her, hadn't he? Had only kept her from sinking to her knees. Everybody would have done it. That was all there'd been to it, really, hadn't it?
It had.
Oh, she must have been delusional to think that there might have been something between them. Must have hit her head when she'd slipped on that cliff or something.
He was General Sephiroth Crescent after all. And, first class or not, she was just Claire Farron.
Just Claire Farron.
She wasn't sure what had passed beween them on that damned mountain.
Didn't know what had ridden her back then. Didn't know how her silver haired comrade thought about any of these things.
The only thing she knew was that he had saved her life – again. And that the whole experience had done nothing to quelch the crush she had developed. Because yes. It had to be a crush. A stupid girlish infatuation as her mother would have called it. What else could it possibly be? She hardly even knew the man, didn't she?
All in all she was a little glad that he was keeping his distance again, was relieved maybe. Knew that it was better this way, better for her at the very least.
Those moments she'd experienced with him, the way she'd felt there, even just the memory of it was too intense, too raw, too everything. Too much.
The truth was she had burned there. And she would have burned to cinders, hadn't he turned away from her.
And it had scared her. In a way it had.
It was new. Was unknown to her. Uncharted territory.
And it so wasn't her. Wasn't who she was. Wasn't what she strived for.
So she chose to simply follow his lead, didn't pay him much attention, or at least she tried to, telling herself that it was nothing everytime their gazes met, everytime those deadly mako killer eyes burned into her own, burned a path right through her to reach straight into her heart, her soul.
It was another one of those cozy afterwork meetings.
They were sitting around the usual neatly set table on a thursday evening, Angeal serving them spareribs this time, that Genesis brought up the topic of First Class uniforms.
'You know Lightning, now that you are allowed to wear a uniform of your own choice, I was wondering... Maybe a pink leather cat suit would be just the thing for you.' he suggested taking a generous sip from his glass of red wine.
Next to her, Zack Fair almost choked on his fries, while her own eyes widening in shock, the pink haired first class found her mouth gaping open in horror as desperately she tried to process what her colleague had just said.
Fishing for words Claire Farron found she had nothing to say in answer to this ridiculous idea of his.
Looking at the others, her eyes pleading for support, she found Angeal Hewley shaking his head in disgust while Sephiroth just stared at Genesis in bewilderment, both of them apparently lost for words too.
'Uhmmm...No thanks...' the girl began somewhat carefully, hoping that her refusal wouldn't hurt her comrade's feelings.
'I think I´d rather stay with my regular First Class uniform...'
Though a coat might come in handy she had to admit at an afterthought, as she thought back to that mission on the mountain with the constant rain and chill.
That mission on the mountain...
Not looking Genesis in the eye, set on not looking at Sephiroth either, she quickly turned to get up and pour a glass of water from the sink for Zack, who was still coughing uncontrollably.
'That´s a shame... Really...' Genesis replied, sounding somewhat hurt.
'If ever you decide to change your mind, don´t hesitate to inform me. I know just the place!'
Unsure of what to say, Lightning just gave a tiny nod, wondering not for the first time whether Genesis might be homosexual.
It would definitely explain a lot.
It had to be either that or his excessive consumption of alcohol.
'So there is this boxing match coming up next week, at Men´s hall down in Sector 6´s Wall Market...' Angeal attempted to swiftly change the topic.
'I think I might test my powers against the Security Department once more. It´s time we finally kick their asses! What do you think? You´re in?'
Zack was thrilled to say the very least, starting to ask questions about that ruddy match immediately.
Claire Farron couldn't be excited that easily though.
Wall market... That place was scary in a lot of ways. Especially for a girl. It wasn't exactly the place she longed to spend her evenings.
Not that anybody down there could actually pose a threat to her. Not at all. But still... Even being anywhere near people like Don Corneo gave the pink haired soldier a headache.
Besides, she didn´t exactly approve of the everlasting rivalry between SOLDIER and the Security Department. Where exactly was the point? Weren´t they supposed to fight for the same cause?
All in all she saw no sense in supporting any of this nonsense.
'Men´s hall?' Sephiroth asked, as though he'd read her thoughts, furrowing his brow somewhat skeptically.
'Couldn´t they find a better location?'
'Yeah... I know... But Beautiful Bro agreed to let us use the ring for free...' Angeal justified instantly.
Lightning found she didn´t feel eager to find out what kind of person that 'Beautiful Bro' was anytime soon.
No. She would definitely stay at HQ, let the others do whatever they wanted. She'd attended too many of their lame parties in the past, too many occassions where she had found herself longing for the privacy of her room.
'Can I fight too?' Zack began eagerly.
'Easy there... maybe you should just watch... to get an impression first...' Angeal tried to calm him down. But to no avail.
'No, I want to fight too! I can do it Angeal! I´m not Third Class anymore!' the pup insisted to his former trainer´s great dismay.
'Genesis, you´re in, aren´t you?' the burly first class asked, looking over at his childhood friend expectantly.
'Erm...I don´t know...' Genesis replied, picking at his dinner unenthusiastically.
He too, was clearly still to be convinced.
'Oh come on Gen´... We can stop by Honey Bee Inn on our way back home.' the black haired first class bribed, his eyes twinkling at his comrade suggestively.
Uuugghhh... Guys please!
Maybe they should have called it sector sex alright.
'Okay, Okay!' the redhead finally gave in. 'But it´s your turn to pay this time!'
'Okay, fine with me... I´ll pay.' Angeal promised, patting Genesis on the back.
'Light, you´re in too?' her comrade suddenly turned to ask her.
'What? For the boxing match or the honey bee inn?!'
The words had escaped her lips before she'd even realized what they implied and it was with the others looking at her curiously that quickly she shook her head.
'I... Erm... No... I think I´d rather stay here...' she stammered instantly, raising her hands apologetically.
'But Light... You´ve gotta come! Don´t you want to see me fight?!' Zack instantly tried to change her mind, giving her his pleading puppy-eyed look.
Damn.
'No sorry... I can´t...' she said, averting her gaze and going back to her meal.
She could tell from Zack´s expression though that this was far from over. Very far from over.
'A sip of that Applejack, anybody?' Genesis suddenly interrupted, pulling an enormously sized bottle of brown liquid out of his crimson leather coat.
Somehow Lightning wondered how he always managed to hide those things away in his tight-fit garments.
'It´s Banora White...' He informed proudly.
'But you have to come!' Zack´s irritating voice echoed off the walls of the first class corridor and forced their way through Lightning's tortured eardrums.
He´d been going on and on like this for ages.
The pink haired first class had just arrived, back from a mission, having slayed monsters all day, and she was feeling worn. Her uniform drenched in the juices of various creatures, she wanted nothing more than to take a shower and to get some rest.
No, she certainly didn´t have much patience left for Zack Fair´s rants today.
Can you please just shut up!? she pleaded with him inside her head, producing the healing materia she had received from Sephiroth from a pocket of her baggy trousers to take care of the several cuts and bruises she had gathered during the course of the day.
She wished it could also mend her irritated mental state. But unfortunately, after using it on her head, she could tell no difference.
She entered the common room, Zack hot on her heels, to be greeted by Genesis and Sephiroth, who were apparently absorbed in a game of chess.
Taking in her battered state they both knew better then to ask her questions.
Their female comrade just brushed past them and at a brisk pace took down the First Class corridor to then quickly enter her appartment, shutting the door into Zack´s face and turning the key twice to make sure the door would keep him out for good and hopefully put an end to this annoying discussion.
She was proven wrong almost instantly, as she found Zack´s voice carry through the locked door effortlessly.
'Please Light! Please, Please, PUUUUHHHHHHHHHLLLEEEASSSSSEEE!'
Maybe she ought to call on the Shin-Ra property management department and ask for some extra door seals or something.
Sighing in frustration she made her way over to her bathroom to get rid of her dirty clothes and step into the shower, the refreshing currents of water running over her head mercifully blocking out her friend´s voice after all.
It was some time later that clean and somehow relaxed and feeling a lot better, she made her way back to the common room, finally ready to face the others.
She joined them in their talk about recent events for a few minutes, Zack holding his tongue for once, but sending pleading looks her way here and there.
Trying to ignore the puppy's furtive gazes Lightning had gone back to studying her mentor's profile again.
She didn't know when this had begun exactly. Somehow she had always enjoyed watching him, enjoyed memorizing the way his marble forehead melted into the curve of his nose, enjoyed observing the gentle rise and fall of his chest as he breathed the filtered HQ air.
She knew she should stop it. Knew it was futile drooling over him like that, knew that they were colleagues, that she could never possibly allow herself to hope for more and still...
Still, none of all that kept her from studying the first class's feautures when she thought he wasn't looking, kept her from memorizing the shape of his eyes, the angle of his jaw, the way the right corner of his lips would ride up evertime he gave his haughty trademark smirk, dimpling his cheek in a way that made her want to plant a kiss there, ridiculously as it seemed.
Somehow the topic had changed without her even noticing.
Zack and Angeal were now discussing swordcare. Genesis Rhapsodus was busy picking at his cuticles while the subject of Claire Farron's obsessions was looking out the window.
Lounging on the Shin-Ra couch, dressed in his black leather coat as usual, long silver hair thrown lazily over his shoulder, with his features relaxed and his gaze roaming the rooftops of the city below General Sephiroth Crescent looked like a character from a tragic tale. Somehow deep in thought, somehow not there with them at all.
Claire Farron couldn't help but wonder what was running through his handsome head.
'I don't know man, I think the best way to deal with monster juices is still just wiping it off straight away with whatever one can find... Piece of cloth, grass, monster hides...' Zack was saying to Angeal when suddenly Genesis took the word.
'Oh come on we've been through that a thousand times already. Let's go and hang out at Loveless avenue or something? I could really use some change of scenery.' The redhead interrupted and it was just that very moment that Sephiroth looked up to catch his former apprentice's gaze.
She was quick to turn her attention away to Genesis and it was only a moment therefore that their eyes had met.
Had he caught her staring there?!
Lightning wasn't sure.
She could only hope he hadn't.
Her musings were brought short by Zack Fair who was getting on his feet to turn towards Genesis apologetically.
'No. We can't. We have some business this evening.' he suddenly announced out of the blue as holding out his hand to Lightning, sky blue eyes twinkled at her meaningfully.
Her gaze snapping up to her friend Zack Fair, Claire Farron only stared.
'Do we?' she asked somewhat warily as hesitantly she reached forward to take her comrade's offered hand.
What the fuck was going on?
She couldn't remember them having made any plans for that night.
She wasn't the only one wondering it seemed.
She could sense her sensei's eyes following her actions closely, could feel his gaze on her skin where her finger's touched her comrade's, could feel it travelling back up to her face, burning silent questions into the side of her skull.
Forcing herself to look at Zack instead, she didn't move to meet his eyes.
'Yes. We do.' the puppy said as quickly but gently he pulled her up to her feet.
It was throwing an appologetic look at Genesis over her shoulder that Lightning followed him over to the elevators, not daring to look at her former mentor even for a tiny moment.
'What was that all about? You can tell me now...' she muttered as the grey aluminium doors of the elevators shut behind them.
'You will see...' her friend answered somewhat cryptically.
'This isn't about that stupid boxing match again or is it?!'
Her words were lost in the noise of the elevator door opening again and the cool female voice announcing that they'd reached the entrance hall.
It wasn't until they met Cloud Strife waiting near the information counter that Lightning realised the whole thing had been planned ahead.
'Wait, where are we going?!' she demanded as they strode out of the lobby and made their way to the sector 1 train station.
'It's not to seventh heaven again, is it?' she asked somewhat warily.
All those nights spent drinking, evading possible suiters, wasting precious time really, Claire Farron could not bring herself to spend another one of those.
Not now. Not today.
'No of course not. Tifa has her day off.' Cloud muttered somewhat regretfully and it was then that Zack revealed their actual destination.
'We're going down to sector 6. Cool Vagabond Johnny's 's piercing parlor.' the pup disclosed.
'What?! You cannot still be serious about that rubbish.' Lightning bristled.
'We were drunk when we said we'd do this...'
'No. I am dead serious.' Zack Fair said decicively.
'I am getting this earring. And you two are coming with me.'
'It's the least you can do after you shut that door into my face this afternoon, you unfaithful bitch.' he chided, a mischievous smile tugging at his lips and spreading to his sky blue eyes.
Claire Farron mentally face palmed herself.
'Sometimes's you're a real pain in the ass Zack Fair, do you know that?' she muttered in reply.
They arrived at 'Cool Vagabon Johnny's piercing parlor' about twenty minutes later. A tiny rundown shack covered by some loose layers of asbestos board.
The walls were dirty, smeared with mud and the windows were borded up with cardboard.
'Are you sure this is the place?' Claire Farron asked rather doubtfully.
'Dead sure.' Zack Fair replied as he gestured towards a white cardboard cutting where someone had scribbled 'Welcome to Cool Vagabond Johnny's Pircing Parlor' in washed out red magic marker.
It looked like it'd been done by a 6 year old.
'Zack please...' the pink haired first class began but it was ignoring his friend's protests that he shoved her through the hung up carpet that served as a door.
They entered to find themselves in a small crammed room filled with what seemed tons of rubbish gathered form the slums and a table and two chairs occupied by two young man looking up at them from a game of cards.
There was a moment of silence where they all just stared at each other, before finally Zack Fair spoke up, doubt and confusion clear in his voice.
'Is this the... Erm...Cool Vagabond Johnny's Piercing Parlor?'
The two guys in the middle of the room, they exchanged surprised glances before finally getting up from their chairs they made to great their unexpected customers.
'Yes, yes sure, it is! I am Johnny! Welcome, welcome!' the man with the spiky red hair said, moving forwards and taking Zack by the shoulder brotherly.
'What do you want man, we got everything. Nipple piercing, navel piercing, frenum piercing, lorum piercing, prince albert.'
'Maybe a little Christina for your friend there.' he added at an afterthought.
Claire Farron couldn't help but cringe.
The pink haired first class was not old fashioned. Had no prejudices, no animosity towards body jewelery whatsoever, but still. A genital piercing. No fucking way.
Besides, she rather would have died then expose herself infront of someone like Johnny, and letting someone touch her there... No there simply was no way. No fucking way.
That guy had to be mad for even mentioning it.
The pink haired female glaring daggers at the man infront her, it was Zack Fair who answered levelly.
'No... Uhm.. No thanks. I was rather thinking about something a litte bit more... sophisticated.'
'An earstud maybe, yes something like this.' he said moving over to one of the cupboards that Lightning had first taken for rubbish and gesturing towards some of the pieces that lay there displayed, then back at his earlope.
'Something like this should do. One for me and one for her.'
Looking back at his female comrade he winked at her enthusiastically.
'Okay, okay. If you insist. That makes 50 gil each.'
It was without waiting for his friend's agreement that he dug around inside the pockets of his pants, fishing out what looked like 80 gil.
'40 each and we have a deal.' he said as he held it out in front of him.
And it was before Lightning could get a word in that the man with the spiky red hair had taken it from him and turned to prepare his torture instruments.
'Zack...' Claire Farron muttered somewhat warningly.
'I will not get that earring.'
It did her no good.
'You promised it.' Zack Fair said with his mischievous smile and it was a second later that he'd turned her by her shoulder, making her face Johnny and her curel faith.
'No. I mean it guys.' Lightning insisted. 'I'm not getting one of those.'
No way was she going to wear that stud in her ear where everyone could see. There just was no way.
'Come on, Ladies first.' she heard her comrade's voice behind her, felt his palm pressing into the small of her back, shoving her forwards and looking at her expectantly.
'Hey. That's not fair. You were the one who wanted to get those things.' she argued as the other man came over to lead her to one of the chairs.
But then again she'd promised it, or so Zack had assured, back on their way from seventh heaven on the day they'd passed their breathhold challenge.
She'd promised it. Drunk or not. And Claire Farron kept her promises. At least the ones she made to her friends.
'I'm getting one of these.' she quickly made up her mind, gesturing at a plain silver belly button piercing displayed on one of Johnny's cupboards.
It made all the others stare at her surprisedly.
Well. At least she'd be able to hide this one underneath her soldier uniform. Plus it was cute... Well a little.
'What about you Zack? Sticking with your ear stud?' she said somewhat challengingly.
Her dark haired comrade only raised his brows.
'Coward.' she mouthed as she sat down on the chair and made to roll up her shirt to expose her flat smooth belly.
The pup had expected his friend to back out, had expected her to leave him to get his pirecing all by himself, had expected her to maybe, maybe, maybe if he were lucky get that ear stud with him. But never in a hundred years would he have imagined his comrade to get herself a belly button piercing.
Never ever. It so wasn't her.
It was in utmost bewilderment therefore that Zack and Cloud watched on as Vagabond Johnny stepped up to their comrade and started fuzzing around at her belly.
Claire Farron was no pussy. She took the whole procedure without the bat of an eyelid.
Sure it stung a bit. But not for real. Nothing compared to the injuries she had received out on her missions, or in her private trainings with Sephiroth. Laughable really in the face of her profession.
It was over in a second and she was up and back on her feet in almost no time at all, admiring her new acquired accessory in a grime smeared cracked mirror.
It was a lovely piece she had selected. Nothing too big but not too small either. Plain in a way, not too overbearing, not as big to cause her troubles on her missions, but not too plain not to be noticed either.
'It does have something.' she acknowledged sincerely as she turned to find Zack and Cloud staring at her, the latter looking pale as a sheet.
'Now it's your turn man.' the piercer said.
'Come on man, I do not have all day.' he urged as he lead Zack away to the seat.
'You do desinfect those things from time to time, don't you?' the puppy asked somewhat sheepishly as for the first itme since they'd entered he semed to take in their surroundings.
Suddenly he looked a little nervous, looked a little scared.
'Yeah, yeah.. Sure... From time to time...' the redhead murmured as he leaned down to work on him, forhead screwed up in concentration, as he marked Zack's earlobe with a tiny x.
'Don't worry, this will only take a sec.'
Zack Fair looked ready to bolt as he sat there on his spindly chair, shuffling his feet waiting for the needle to pierce his soft puppy skin.
It was only a second later that he jumped up to his feet.
'Ouch!' he yelled looking at the man right next to him reproachfully.
'That hurt you know!'
'Of course it hurts. That's all part of the Johnny experience.' the redhead said, patting his customer on the shoulder reassuringly.
'It's on the house.'
Claire Farron couldn't bring herself to hide her giggle.
Zack Fair could be such a child sometimes.
Lightning's piercing healed fast. Faster and better than Zack's did, at least, and she was secretly gleeful, feeling that it served him right getting that ridiculous idea in the first place and then dragging her into it too. Cloud could count himself lucky not to have made first class yet or he would have been bullied into getting one of those things too, that much she knew for sure.
Judging from the pallid tint he'd sported just from watching, they would probably have had to carry him back to HQ.
Inspecting her new accessory in the mirror of her first class bathroom Lightning couldn't help but notice that it did enhance her looks. Not that anyone would ever see it here in Midgar. But it would have been a real eye catcher in one of her bikinis back at the beaches of Bodhum.
Would Serah have approved? Lightning didn't know.
Would she ever even find out? Would she ever actually see her sister agin. Somehow she wasn't sure.
Lightning tried not to give it too much thought.
And there were enough things to keep her mind occupied as it was.
It was exactly one day before the upcoming boxing match her comrades were so enthusiastic about, that Claire Farron was making her way down to do some work out in the SOLDIER gym.
She hadn´t been assigned any mission for some days now and things had started to get boring again.
Zack and Cloud were often out doing their own business, meeting up with their girlfriends or whatever it was they did when they went out alone and since she didn't want to sit beside them, the fifth wheel on the cart, she had to find a way to keep herself busy.
Since she wasn't a fan of roaming the streets of Midgar all by herself and she kind of evaded the natatorium at all costs after her near drowning experience, the gym had become her sanctuary once again, her favourite hangout place to kill some time.
Well. It wouldn't be on that night, it turned out.
She was halfway down the First Class corridor when she was unfortunate enough to run into Genesis Rhapsodos.
'Hey where do you think you´re going!?' her comrade asked her somewhat playfully.
'Don´t you want to wait for all of us to go down to Loveless Avenue together!?' he added, looking at her puzzled expression expectantly.
'Huh?' the pink haired female giving him a quizzical look she found she had no idea what he was actually talking about, until then, finally, she felt her heart sink as realization dawned on her.
'You forgot?! Didn´t you?' Her comrade accused, his voice indicating that once again, she had hurt his feelings.
Somehow she couldn´t help but notice that this kind of thing was happening a lot lately.
'I can´t believe it...' the redhead said shaking his head in annoyance.
Oh no...
The Loveless performance Genesis had made them promise to attend...
Lightning had forgotten about that one completely.
'No...No... I didn´t forget!' she stammered, frantically racking her brain for a suitable excuse, but nothing seemed to come to her mind.
'She was just making her way up to Director Lazard´s office.' she was suddenly and unecpectedly saved by General Sephiroth Crescent who had apparently just emerged from his quarters.
Huh?
Was she?!
'Yeah... Uhm... That´s right... I was about to meet Director Lazard...' Claire Farron managed, deciding to better play along and sending a questioning look her former mentor´s way.
'Lazard just asked for us in order to discuss our upcoming mission.' the silver haired first class validated instantly.
He was lying for her again.
Lightning almost could not believe it.
It had been ages since he'd done something like that for her. Years really.
Together the two of them watched as Genesis Rhapsodos' features relaxed.
'Oh... Alright... Well, I hope you´re done in time to make it down with the rest of us together.' he said seemingly appeased as he turned to enter his appartment.
'See you in a bit.'
Puhh...
That had been close...
The pink haired female sighed in relief.
'Thank you.' she quickly expressed her gratitude as turning around to look at her former sensei she met his mako eyes.
'You´re welcome.' the general replied, eyes going straight to her face.
'Nobody wants to be at the receiving end of Genesis' wrath when it comes to Loveless.'
Claire Farron couldn´t help but smile.
It was the first time they had been alone together ever since that evening on the mountaintop at new year's eve and someow Lightning couldn't help but feel awkward.
Even more awkward then she usually did, whenever in his presence.
'You really did forget about that play, didn´t you?' the general saved her from finding something witty to reply.
One of his trademark smirks tugging at his lips, he looked over at her knowingly.
That smirk of his... She hadn't been aware of how much she had missed it.
Somehow she could never get enough of those.
'Yeah... I did...' Lightning admitted, blushing slightly underneath her former trainer's gaze. She didn't know whether it was because she really had forgotten about Genesis's play or just because of him.
Probably the latter.
Somehow the general's presence made her nervous once again, made her pulse speed up, made the tiny hair on her arms stand on end and made the skin on the back of her neck erupt in goosebumps, just like he had done back on that damned mountain. Her body still remembered. And so did her heart. An afterimage of the real thing, Lightning didn't know how to suppress.
That man was the death of her, she knew it. If only he would stop having this effect on her. If only he could let her be in peace.
It wasn't going to happen anytime soon that much was for sure. Even if he wasn't there, the memory of him was somehow always present soemwhere at the back of her mind, came to invade her thoughts and pestered her every waking hour of her life.
If only he wouldn't look at her like that...
Mako green eyes boring into her's as though he was trying to look straight into her soul. Or open her ribcage to rip out her heart and crush it at her feet.
Lightning wasn't sure.
Somehow she never knew what was running through that pretty head of his, what was going on behind those handsome marble features.
'Well... I'll better get myself ready then.' the pink haired first class finally choked out as not without difficulty she tore herself away from the silver haired man's mako gaze to walk straight back to her own apartment, where quickly she made to lock the door behind her, careful not to fall into the trap of looking back at him.
Leaning against the now closed door her heart beating inside her ribcage fast, Claire Farron quickly took a few deep calming breaths.
Yes.
She liked that man. More than she would ever dare to admit.
But sometimes she was also scared of him.
Scared of the effect he had on her.
Scared of what he made her feel.
Scared of the way she couldn't read him, didn't know what to expect of him, what he was thinking when he stared at her like that. Did he know about the turmoil that a simple look of his evoked inside her? Did he even fathom? And if he did, was he enjoying it? Was it some kind of game for him? Another mind game he'd come up with to torture her? Or was he completey unaware? Oblivious to the effect he had on women, the effect he had on her.
Lightning didn't know.
Somehow she wasn't even sure she wanted to find out.
They miraculously all made it to Sector 8 to watch the performance of Loveless in time.
'Oh can´t we just do something else instead?' Zack Fair moaned, bored already.
'We could go to Goblin´s bar or something...'.
There was only silence for an answer.
Although everybody was thinking along the same line, nobody dared to say a word.
Not even Sephiroth.
Though they all looked as enthusiastic as though ordered to eat slugs, they all knew better than to try anything.
Genesis would insist on them attending anyway.
There was no need to start an argument.
The red-haired First Class himself seemed to be bubbling over with joy as he reached the ticket counter, he bought six entry cards.
Well... At least he had the decency to pay for them.
Handing their tickets to the girl at the entrance the six of them entered the theater, a dark room filled with rows and rows of seats and a small stage in the front, concealed now by a set of heavy dark curtains the color of Genesis' coat.
'Back row has the best view!' Genesis informed as they made their way over to the seats he had just indicated.
Sephiroth entered the row first, choosing to sit next to the aisle, then went Angeal, voluntarily seating himself between Sephiroth and Genesis acting as some kind of chaperon.
Zack, Cloud and Lightning had a silent fight for a few seconds about who was going to have to sit next to Genesis, with Cloud naturally loosing and taking the seat next to the annoying First Class´s other side. Claire Farron followed behind Zack who sat down next to Cloud.
Good.
At least she was far enough away from Genesis to be out of earshot once he started commentating on the show or something.
Relaxing back into her seat Claire Farron decided to give the whole thing a try as finally, after the room was stuffed with people, the lights went out and the curtains were lifted.
And indeed, she made it through Act I and II, deciding that it wasn´t that bad after all.
Looking over at the others she observed Genesis´ fascinated face, his hands gripping the armrests of his seat in anticipation, his lips forming the words spoken by the actors a second in advance as he knew everything by heart already.
He had probably seen this enactment a hundred times.
Looking further down the row Lightning could make out Angeal seeming mildly interested and Sephiroth, who judging from his facial expression was downright bored.
Well... When it came to it, Genesis´ friendship must have meant a lot to him.
After all, he was still there.
And Lightning knew he wasn´t one to have much patience.
It was right then that the pink haired female found her musings interrupted by a tiny snore.
Her gaze wandering over to Zack Fair sitting right next to her, she realized her friend was fast asleep.
Lightning couldn´t help but giggle.
It was near the end of the presentation that suddenly Claire Farron received a mail, telling her that she was assigned a mission she needed to tend to immediately.
Not very sorry about having an excuse to leave, she decided to wake up Zack, who was still sleeping soundly in his seat right next to her, his head resting on Cloud´s shoulder who didn´t seem to mind at all, just to tell him she needed to leave and why.
Figuring Genesis had to blame this one on Shin-Ra instead of her, the pink haired soldier got up from her seat and crept her way out of the room and into the foyer.
She had almost reached the front doors, her mind consumed with her upcoming task already, when suddenly a flash of silver in her peripheral vision caught her eye.
Looking over to her right, she found her favorite First Class General lounging at the bar, a drink set in front of him as obviously he was skiving the last acts of the play.
For a second Claire Farron considered to just leave and let it be.
But no.
She couldn´t let him get away with that so easily. Could she?
No. She wouldn't. She so wouldn't.
She didn´t know how he had managed to sneak out of there without Genesis noticing in the first place, but she knew she wouldn´t just have that. No way could she let him get away with it.
This was the perfect opportunity to overcome that strange weakness she'd developed torwards him. That weird awe, obsession really. To proove herself that she could handle it, had it under control. The perfect opportunity to show him that she didn't consider him superior anymore. That she was his comrade now. Not his student. And that she could face him eye to eye.
And okay... Maybe there was more...
Maybe she just wanted to hear his voice again, maybe she just wanted to see that trademark smirk. One of his adorable half smiles maybe...
If only she could get one of those...
Quickly brushing those last few thoughts away, the pink haired female straighened her uniform and – quickly before she could change her mind again - approached.
'Shouldn´t you be somewhere else?!' she began, eyeing her former mentor sternly as he turned around to look at her somewhat taken aback.
'I could say the same about you...' the silver haired first class retorted readily.
Lightning could hear a trace of amusement in his voice. Could tell that he was pleasantly surprised to see her. Could tell he hadn't expected her to escape Genesis' grip too, or that she'd even try. And she also saw admiration there. It was something she had not expected either, to find there in his mako eyes.
Either way, she hadn't gotten what she'd come for, hadn't seen that pretty smile. Would she get one out of him? Well at least she could try. Couldn't she?
'Would you like a drink?' the general asked somewhat hesitantly, mako eyes boring into her's in a way that almost made her blush again.
Was he really inviting her to a drink?
The thought alone made her heart beat faster, made her pulse speed up.
Suddenly she felt so infinitely sorry that she had received that mail. That she'd been given that assignment.
The silver haired first class had never asked her out on drinks before. Had never asked her to hang out or to do anything remotedly normal really. It was the first time he had wanted to spend time with her alone that wasn't for the purpose of training, and Lightning couldn't help but regret missing the opportunity to lead a normal conversation with him, to maybe get a glimpse of the person behind the marble mask, behind the legendary war hero facade.
There was nothing for it though.
'No. I can't. I was just assigned a mission... It´s urgent.' she informed her comrade, thrusting her phone into his face and raising an eyebrow at him challengingly.
'What´s your excuse for dropping out like that?'
'Well... It was kind of a medical emergency really.' the general replied, holding her gaze.
Claire Farron only arched a brow.
'I have reason to assume that I would have died out of boredom in there, had I stayed much longer.'
Her forhead furrowing suspiciously, the female first class gave the man in front of her a doubting stare.
'I just couldn't bear that bullshit anymore...' her opposite clarified.
'Hm... Actually I thought that it was pretty good.' the woman informed. Her voice was neutral now, convincing almost.
The silver haired legend, he could only snort at that.
Who was she trying to fool?
'What´s so important that you have to leave now anyway?' the general asked, giving her one of his demanding looks that called for instant explanation.
'They seem to have a problem with some beasts entering the HQ maintenance shafts again...' Lightning trailed off, suddenly feeling stupid about having been assigned such an insignificant task.
Giving a long drawn sigh, she decided to voice her irritation.
'I imagined my First Class missions to be a tiny bit more... Demanding... '
'Yes... I know. With the Wutai war over now they don´t seem to have much work left for us, huh?' the general mused.
'It certainly seems so...' Claire Farron agreed.
'Don´t worry you´ll get your fair share of top priority missions soon enough.' Sephiroth said, giving the soldier infront of him a tight assuring nod.
'Are you coming to the boxing match tomorrow... Cheer on Zack or something?' he asked carefully after just a few moments of silence.
'We could watch Zack and Angeal flatten the security department. Could be fun. Or we could just... Talk more.'
Feeling her cheeks blush for real this time, Claire Farron quickly looked away.
Was this some kind of invitation? Somehow Lightning wasn't sure.
Did he really want to talk with her?
'Oh... I don´t know.. Zack´s been bothering me with this since last week...'
'But?' the general prompted, looking at her expectantly.
'But... I don´t feel like joining really... It´s just not my thing.' she told him honestly.
'What a pity. I would have been delighted to see you fight. Defending your SOLDIER honor or something. Would have made Angeal proud.' the silver haired legend said, his voice soft now, mako killer eyes boring into her own once more.
What was it with everybody wanting her to join this nonsense?!
'SOLDIER honor... I think that´s a lame excuse for starting a fight.' Claire Farron retorted quickly.
'There is always an excuse...' the hero said.
The pink haired woman found she didn´t really get the whole scope of what the first class was implying.
'I think you rather go back inside... Or you will miss the ending.' she suggested somewhat dryly, hoping it would set an end to that ridiculous conversation. Hoping it would never end all the same.
'I could accompany you... Help you out with that mission, give you some backup?' the general began somewhat carefully.
'Nice try...' his former protégé deadpanned instantly.
The silver haired man only raised an eyebrow in response.
'No... I suggest you behave yourself and go back inside to watch this beautiful performance of Genesis´ beloved book.' she ordered, doing a bad job at repressing a smirk of her own.
No way was she going to let him breathe down her neck while she was busy stirring up wererats and slaying drakes, getting herself drenched in monster juices, blood and slime.
And no way was she going to be his excuse for skiving Loveless either.
'At your command, Lieutenant...' the general finally said. His mako green eyes never leaving her own, there was the ghost of a smile playing at his lips now.
Was he mocking her?
Lightning wasn't sure.
Still. She'd gotten something akin to a smile from him and somehow she felt proud. Mission accomlished. Not full marks maybe. But enough.
Enough for now.
Giving the individual infront of her a small tight nod, feeling somewhat flustered, the pink haired woman turned to leave.
'Take care.' she heard her former sensei call right after her.
'The maintainance shafts can turn into a death trap this time of the year.'
Lightning didn´t look back to see his smile. A genuine smile that reached his eyes for once.
It was 10 p.m. that Claire Farron made her way down to Sector 6 alone.
She was late for the boxing match. She was aware. All the others would already be there.
She had spontaneously decided to come, knowing how much Zack would appreciate her showing up and she had been feeling restless and bored back at HQ anyway.
Yes. Those were the only reasons. At least that she told herself.
It definitely had nothing to do with her former mentor and their conversation in the lobby of the theater. No. Definitely had nothing to do with the way he'd looked at her back then, nothing to do with the almost smile he'd given her.
Nothing to do with the fact that he'd invited her for a drink, that he'd suggested they could talk more. Nothing to do with the way he'd looked at her again, that intense gaze, burning her insides. No. It had nothing to do with him.
Nothing at all.
She was doing this for Zack, and Zack alone.
The pink haired first class made her way past Don Corneo´s and the Honey Bee Inn as fast as she could, headed towards the local gym without sparing the prostitutes lurking in the streets as much as a glance.
Upon entering the building - music blasting - people shouting - she immediately realized why they called it 'Men´s hall' alright. There were a fair amount of transsexuals and crossdressers among the visitors.
Feeling a little bit awkward she pushed through the crowd towards the ring.
Why would a man pretend to be a woman in the first place?
Claire Farron didn't know. Being a woman herself she could see no reason why they would.
Reaching the front row she realized she had arrived just in time to witness Zack´s turn against one of the guys from the security departmet.
Her friend had received an ugly blow to his face already and his nose was bleeding freely but apart from that he was doing fine, practically flattening his opponent as she watched with her fingers crossed.
Joining Angeal and Cloud who were both supporting Zack at the top of their lungs, Lightning watched the other guy in the ring go down to his knees.
'Hey! You´ve made it!' Angeal stated, obviously pleased to see her and greeting her with an amicable hug.
'Beautiful Bro has outdone himself! Transformed this little gym into some kind of disco or something...' he explained, gesticulating at the walls as the pink haired female looked around to take in the atmosphere.
He was right.
The main lights had been dimmed and replaced by color-changing spots and there was a huge disco ball attached to the ceiling in the middle of the room and the giant speakers in the corners had been turned up to full volume.
It was crazy.
A disco gym.
Beautiful Bro had outdone himself indeed.
Claire Farron was taken by surprise by Genesis´ arrival, who, bumping into her from behind, showered her with booze from his mug, drenching both of their clothes in the process.
The redhead was obviously drunk already.
It wasn´t exactly anything new.
'Hey Light... Nice to see you!' he yelled over the noise of the room.
'Oh... Uhm... Sorry bout that...'
He looked down at her apologetically upon realizing his malheur.
Taking a deep calming breath, Lightning turned back to watch Zack raising his arms into the air triumphantly as the gong signaled that his turn was over.
He didn´t seem to mind the blood oozing from his nose and streaming down the front of his first class uniform.
The crowd cheering in applause, Genesis raised his pitcher to empty the rest of it´s contents over their heads.
Oh, she so knew why she had wanted to stay at home...
The pink haired female kept scolding herself in her head for being stupid enough to come there in the first place, only half watching as Zack climbed out of the ring to be embraced by Aerith wo quickly started dabbing away at his face with the hem of her dress.
She was turning back to her friends, about to say something to Angeal when she found the burly first class had entered the ring to have a go himself at defending his SOLDIER honor.
Being penned-in by the crowd, the bodies of strangers soaked up in sweat pressing against her own and drenched in the remains of Genesis´ drink Lightning could definitely think of more enjoyable ways to pass her free time.
Thinking that the situation couldn´t possibly get any worse, she absentmindedly let her gaze wander the room, mako green eyes flashing somewhere in the crowd instantly catching her attention.
Sephiroth.
He was standing over at the bar and for a tiny short moment their gazes met.
Had he been waiting there for her? Was he expecting her to join him?
He'd been wanting to talk to her, that was what he had said, wasn't it?
It was...
Lightning found her heart giving a tiny crazy flutter she couldn´t quite explain to herself, to then sink with the speed of a brick thrown down a bridge into a raging stream as she realized that the first class general wasn´t exactly alone.
Claire Farron didn't know what she had expected.
The silver haired legend surrounded by two girls drooling all over him, Lightning studied their tightly-cut dresses with distaste.
Fangirls.
There was no doubt to that.
Their skank styled clothes leaving only very little to the imagination, Claire Farron found one of the girls she'd labeled sluts, resting her hand on her former mentor´s forearm, found her pouting up at him seductively.
Lightning couldn't help but bristle.
Never had she seen her mentor being so casually touched like this.
Never would she have imagined that he would allow it. That someone touching him like this would live on with their hand attached. And without any rational explanation the pink haired female felt anger rise inside her at the sight of it.
The acidic searing kind.
It was absurd.
What did it matter to her in the first place?!
The first class general could spend his time with whomever he wanted.
Still, that terrible bubble of hatred erupting in her belly, she couldn't do anything to calm it down.
For a moment she didn´t know whom she disliked more.
The girl throwing herself at her former sensei so shamelessly, or the man himself, for letting that woman touch him like that.
Unable to tear her eyes away, Lightning continued to watch as the insolent bitch put her other hand on the general´s shoulder before pushing herself onto her tip toes, she leaned in to whisper something in his ear.
The tall man bent down to catch his companion's words and Claire Farron felt bile rising in her throat when she found one of those trademark half smiles she secretly adored so much forming on the first class´ narrow lips.
What could that girl possibly have said to cause that smile to spread?
Lightning couldn´t help but wonder as she felt a foreign ugly feeling blossoming at the pit of her stomach, felt it grow and spread to every cell of her being.
Hadn't she actually seen it herself, she wouldn´t have believed her former sensei would waste his time with those brainless fan club bitches. Smile at their doubtless stupid words even.
He deserved so much better. Didn't he?
Disgusted by the scene that was developing infront of her, Claire Farron watched the girl who had been whispering into her sensei's ear draw back and giggle somewhat flirtatiously, her eager hand working it's way into the hero's pretty silver strands, and suddenly the first class general looked up once more, meeting Lightning's gaze again.
Cold mako killer eyes on glacier blue ones.
The fangirl leaning back now to show off her boobs for him, the silver haired general, he didn´t really seem to notice, didn´t really seem to care.
His mako eyes were fixed on Lightning´s blue ones, their gazes were still locked.
The skanky fangirl took a quick sip from her drink, obviously offended now at the general´s lack of attention, then brought up her hand to touch one of his cheeks, gently bringing his face down to look at her again and breaking their eyecontact in the process.
How dare she touch his face like that? Claire Farron found herself raging in her head.
Never would she have imagined anyone daring to touch her former sensei's face at all, not even Genesis or Angeal, and now that she had seen it, Claire Farron realized how much of a fool she'd been.
General Sephiroth Crescent was no saint. He had a whole fanclub of horny women at his disposal and he would have been stupid not to make use of them.
Yes, use.
Because, why wouldn't he?
He was a man. Men were all like that. Weren't they?
What had she expected? That somehow he was diffferent? Of course he wasn't. He of all people. Mr. conceited prat, prince of all conceited prats...
It was hesitantly that the silver haired first class reached up to remove the bitchy woman´s hand from his cheek, was gently that he brought it back to her side before leaning down he continued to talk to her.
The general's attention had returned back to his company and Claire Farron felt the contents of her dinner making their way back up from her stomach in earnest as she realized the strange feeling she´d experienced so deep inside her was jealousy.
Jealousy...
Why the fuck was she feeling jealous?!
General Sephiroth Crescent could spend his freetime doing whatever he wanted with whoever he wanted. Right?
It was none of her busines. Why did she even care?
He was a grown up. A war hero. And a cold blooded killer on top of it all. And he could definitely do whatever he fucking pleased.
With his war hero status and his good looks, he'd probably had more women than she could have counted. And he had all right to it too.
He could have slept with every woman in that room, every woman in whole Midgar and those transsexuals too, and it still wouldn't have been any of her business. Any of her business at all.
Still. Lightning found herself shaking with badly repressed rage at merely the thought of it.
Why was she getting so worked up about it?!
What was it to her anyway?!
Forcing her attention away and back on the boxing match taking place infront of her, Claire Farron tried to quelch her disconcerting feelings, tried to swallow the bitter taste now rising in her throat.
General Sephiroth Crescent didn´t bother to listen to the doubtless brainless whore standing right in front of him as his eyes found his former protégé enter the gym. Her pink hair making her stick out in the crowd effortlessly, he watched her make her way down to the ring where Zack was busy beating up Pete from the security department.
She had come.
He almost couldn't believe it.
And she'd come on her own too. No turks or anyone, tugging along as her company.
Somehow the silver haired first class wasn't sure he approved or not.
Sure, he would have hated seeing her arrive in male company.
But still. Wall market was a dangerous place for a woman. And somehow the tought of her making her way through all that by herself did not sit well with him.
Then again, Claire Farron wasn't exactly everyday's woman.
She was a first class now. Not his protege. She could look after herself now. He was aware. He personally had made sure of that. And having seen her dealing with that scoundrel Reno back at seventh heaven, the silver haired first class knew that she was able to defend herself against unwanted suitors.
She definitely was.
Still. He'd seen her almost snuff it about four times now at least and somehow he couldn't help but feel protective for his former apprentice still.
Well... He'd get over it. Someday. Probably. Maybe...
Never.
His memories travelling back to the top of that mountain, the most recent time he'd saved her life, the most recent time he'd almost lost her, General Sephiroth Crescent felt his insides tighten.
How she'd almost slipped away from him...
The thought of it still gave him goosebumps. As did the memory of his arms around her body, of her fingers clawing at his coat, of her face burried in his chest.
She'd been so close to him there. And yet she'd been so far away. Unreachable somhow. Just as she was now, standing just a few meters away from him.
Somehow she always was. At least to him.
Watching her over the heads of the crowd, the silver haired man could sense his female comrade´s awkwardness as she stood there, squeezed in-between all those people next to Angeal and he mentally face palmed himself when he witnessed Genesis drenching the others in booze.
The redhead could be such a prat sometimes.
He kept observing his former charge, watching Angeal enter the ring until suddenly she turned around to absentmindedly let her eyes roam the location the fags there had turned into a nightclub.
He knew she was probably trying to come up with a plan that would get her out of there and back to HQ without the others noticing, or concentrating hard to make up an excuse to leave without the others being offended.
The general smiled inwardly.
That would have been so her.
Always stuck up, but always intent on not upsetting anybody either.
In this aspect they were as different as two people possibly could be. Well, at least in the latter. He'd never really cared about anybody's feelings. Well. Not until recently that was. Not until her.
The pink haired woman's gaze busy roaming their surroundings, General Sephiroth Crescent took the liberty to study her pretty profile, the delicate shape of her jaw, the perfect curve of her nose.
Then suddenly she turned, their gazes met, and the rest of the room around him seemed to fade into the background.
Caught in the moment, the silver haired first class let himself drown in those sincere icy eyes of her's.
How come one could love somebody's eyes so much?
His gaze resting on his former protege's, the silver haired hero forgot to listen to his fangirl, didn't even notice her futile advances as she stretched to tell him something and it was only automatically that he leaned forward, faking interest in her words, when actually he didn´t even hear a single syllable of what the woman next to him had said, his attention focused on the pair of pretty pale blue eyes only some ten meters away from him.
He tried and gave his comrade a small smile, a futile attempt at cheering her up, he knew.
She was always so serious.
Always stuck up.
But somehow there was more.
He could even detect anger now there in those pretty features.
What was she angry about?
Was she angry with him?!
Yes. She probably was.
Somehow she always seemed to be angry with him...
Sephiroth realized he longed for his comrade to come over and talk to him, or maybe to let him invite her for that drink she had denied him in the afternoon and he couldn´t help but wish the annoying slut right next to him away.
He had no use for girls like her anymore. No interest in them. And he almost cringed when he felt that bitch´s touch against his cheek, almost slapped her hand away in disgust.
Suddenly with Lightning staring at him like this, he wanted that insolent fangirl to be gone, wished she would never have approached him.
Having a hard time taking his eyes off the pink haired warrior in front of him, he managed to catch himself just in time.
The skanky fangirl next to him.
He had almost yelled at her. Had almost shoved her away.
He'd been letting himself get carried away again.
There was no need to use violence though, he quickly reminded himself.
That girl had done nothing wrong to him after all.
Forcing himself to gently but determined push the girl´s hand away from his skin, he leaned down to whisper in her ear.
'I think you´ve had enough for tonight.'
His suspicions were confirmed when giggling without warning the skanky girl stumbled backwards.
He quickly caught her arm in order to not have her crashing straight into the dirty floor.
'Maybe...' she admitted in her unbearably shrill voice.
Not maybe. Definitely.
Looking back into the room, the silver haired general found his eyes searching the throng for his former protégé again.
But the spell had been broken and she was gone. Had melted back into the crowd. Just like that.
'You should go home.' he told the fan girl, scanning the sea of people for that pinkish hair again.
'I doooon´t think I can maaaake it back hooome on my oooown... Maybe you shhhhhould accompany me...' the little skank replied, batting her eyelashes suggestively.
The decorated war hero only sighed in frustration as the girl took his hand in an attempt to tug him towards the exit.
General Sephiroth Crescent had done it uncountable times in the past.
He knew exactly how these things ended.
Accompanying them home...
Being invited inside...
The rest left to the imagination.
He hadn´t even given it a second thought back then.
Had considered every of those woman a trophy. A part of his reward for being a soldier first class and a decorated war hero.
But now... Now somehow he felt dirty just thinking about it.
Using those girls to satisfy his needs...
Angeal and Genesis had done the exact same thing hundredths of times.
That was what fangirls where there for after all, or where they?
Not knowing what else to do, the silver haired first class followed the girl outside, the cold night wind whipping his face as he allowed her to drag him along by his hand.
Lightning couldn´t believe her eyes as watching from the crowd she saw her former sensei leaving with that fanclub slut and she found her chest constricting painfully as she watched their retreating backs, their entwined hands, as the silver haired man let his fangirl steer him through the crowd.
Suddenly Claire Farrron felt tears stinging her eyes.
Tears she couldn´t even begin to understand.
What did it matter to her if her former sensei left with that girl?!
That was really none of her business!
Since when did she even care?
It was stupid, she knew, the most stupid thing she could actually think of, but somehow she couldn´t help but feel rejected.
Felt like being stood up.
It was ridiculous really. Sephiroth and her weren't dating. He hadn't really invited her that night. Not like that.
He had no obligations towards her, no anything. They were not even friends. Not really.
And still. His actions stung.
Had she allowed herself to build up false hopes?
Had she really thought that he would wait for her, that he would have a drink with her and talk to her, just as normal people would?
No. Of course he wouldn't.
How could she have been so stupid...
Shaking her head in an attempt to clear her fuzzy mind she barely registered Angeal end the fight against some guy from the security department who needed to be half carried from the ring by his colleagues and she observed the painful feeling in her chest being replaced by anger, rage, suddenly tearing at her insides once again.
There always was an excuse...
Oh yes.
She needed to take this out on somebody. Anybody. Ans now, she thought as quickly she made her way down to the ring. It was before she even knew it that she found herself in front of the crowd, volunteering herself for the next round.
She only marginally perceived Zack, Angeal and Genesis roaring in surprise as they realised what she was doing, barely heard the cheers and wholf whistling she received from the gathered crowd, excited at seeing a girl fight for once.
Yes. A girl.
The only girl in SOLDIER.
That was who she was.
That was who she'd chosen to be.
Time to defend her female soldier honour, as Angeal would have called it.
It was with long decisive strides that she walked up to the center of the ring.
The bright white spotlights blinding her, making it almost impossible for her to see the crowd, the heat of them making her shirt stick to her skin with sweat, Lightning waited for her opponent to step up to her.
It was a lanky young man she had never seen before.
He was about Cloud's posture. Had a scrawny face with honey eyes and dark brown hair trimmed close to his forehead.
He was sporting the blue uniform of the security department and a frown.
Feeling all eyes in the room on her Claire Farron squared her shoulders, took a deep focusing breath.
Then the fight commenced.
Her opponent began circling her.
His eyes travelling up and down her form, he examined her first class attire as if mocking her.
'That uniform won't protect you.' he warned somewhat derisively.
Lightning only rolled her eyes.
Oh, those cheeky remarks, they woudn´t help him much.
His provocations, they didn´t affect Claire Farron in the slightest.
No.
If at all they only made things worse. For him.
The lanky young man continuing to circle her, slowly closing in on her, the pink haired first class just remained there unmoving, followed his movements alertly, waited for her rival to make the first move.
His first mistake.
The room had gone very silent.
Eerily so.
Lightning felt all the pairs of eyes in the gym glued to her.
All of them but one.
She was aware.
A pair of mako eyes was missing.
The only pair that counted.
Suddenly the guy from the Security Department moved. And fast.
Claire Farron didn´t even feel the fist connecting with her jaw, felt like in a daze.
That feeble blow, it was nothing compared to what she was used from Sephiroth.
Sephiroth.
Somehow the man had always had a talent for hitting her where it hurt most.
General Sephiroth Crescent waited for the chocobo coach he'd called to arrive outside in the cold air, watched that fan girl of his crawl into the backseat with impatience.
If only she would hurry up.
Rummaging through the pockets of his coat he picked out 100 Gil to give to Chocobo Sam, instructing him to safely bring that girl wherever it was she needed to go, to then finally head back inside.
Lightning.
He needed to find her in there.
He needed to talk to her.
Talk to her... About what exactly?
Somehow he wasn´t sure.
He could ask her about that mission maybe, the one she hadn't let him accompany her to.
Could ask her about her day.
It didn't matter what they talked about. Not really.
Somehow he just needed to hear her voice. Longed to let himself drown in those pale blue eyes again.
He had never appologized to her for treating her like a complete asshole all those years...
Maybe he could just start with that.
It didn´t take him long to realize were she was, didn't take him long to find her.
All the other people's stares already fixed on her, the silver haired first class looked up just in time to watch his former apprentice receive a nasty blow directly to her jaw.
No...
Not that.
Please. Not that...
He knew he´d hit her himself on plenty of occasions.
He remembered all too well.
But somehow he found he couldn´t watch somebody else do it. Not anymore.
Unable to witness what was happening in the ring he quickly looked away. Still, he couldn't keep his fists from clenching as he heard his female comrade grunt in pain.
No. Definitely not good.
Deciding he wanted to check on her wounds once she was done, he quickly made his way over to the ring where she was now taking her turn at flattening the security guy who'd been unfortunate enough to take her on.
He could tell that she was furious.
Was barely able to control her rage.
It was fortunate her opponent was no match for her.
Letting your emotions take over impaired your fighting skills. It always did.
But it didn't make a difference now.
She was a tigress competing against a worm. And she was beautiful. Fierce. But beautiful.
That guy from the security department was squriming on the ground even before the time was up.
And General Sephiroth Crescent couldn't help but smile.
She really was a tough one.
Well...
She´d had a good teacher after all...
The best.
Suddenly he felt a tiny pang of sympathy for the fellow in the ring.
That fight hadn´t been fair.
That man had lost the second he had entered.
The crowd around him going berserk, people screaming their throats hoarse at the fight's surprising outcome, the first class general in the black leather coat only waited patiently for his comrade to emerge from the ring.
He'd just catch up with her once she came out.
Claire Farron could only stare at the guy writhing at her feet.
Somehow he wasn´t getting up anymore.
She still felt the anger burning away at her insides, still felt her fists shake in rage, as she realized she wanted him to get up so she could beat the shit out of him all over again.
There was blood dripping from her knuckles, open from her striking back so hard, and she found she felt dizzy.
Dizzy with fury.
Her chest heaving with repressed emotion, she finally turned towards the exit of the ring just to find her former sensei waiting there for her, his presence taking her off guard.
Hadn´t he left with that skank just a minute ago?!
Wasn´t that what her outburst had been all about in the first place?!
'Lightning!' He called out her name. Waving at her in an attempt to catch her attention, but Lightning found she couldn't bear to talk to him.
Couldn't bear to even look at him.
Her lower lip cracked, blood running down her chin, the pink haired female just brushed past him, ignored the first class general, as quickly she made towards the exit.
She didn't know why the first class had returned. Couldn't fathom why he'd tried to wave her over. Didn't feel bad about ignoring him, about stalking away like that without even sparing him a glance.
It didn't matter.
She didn´t care what it was he had to say.
Or at least that was what she chose to make herself believe.
