A/N: Big thanks to ATK1734 and Lumina for reviewing the first chapter! *(^^)* This second one's for you guys. I apologize in advance because it's going to be short. Here goes nothing!


CHAPTER II. First Meeting


Serah

My sister was here. She was literally standing in my doorway.

"I am home." I heard her say, her usual straight posture reduced to a tired slump. Her eyes looked tender but cautious. I could tell from her expression exactly what was on her mind. There was so much blame and self-loathing.

I am the worst for making her feel this way.

It was so good to hear her voice again. These would be the first words I speak to her in months, and I wanted them to be meaningful.

Claire had come to see me. No matter how angry she had been or whatever was done and said between us — all of that ceased to matter now. All was forgiven.

I felt my emotions bursting out of me as I threw my arms around her neck. My eyes were stinging, tears already pouring out like there was no tomorrow.

"W-welcome home!"

I cried for a while in Claire's embrace and she stood there dutifully, letting me release the full extent of my emotions. When my crying turned into sobbing, Claire spoke in her most gentle voice.

"Serah, I am sorry."

I felt the guilt slap me in the face with full force. "I-it's fine!" I insisted, pulling away from Claire to look at her. She was busy examining something on the floor.

"Look at me, please." I insisted, watching her reluctantly meet my gaze.

"Claire, it's fine." I pressed on. "Really. I am sorry too. I was selfish and I sprung everything suddenly on you. You even took time off to take me to the festival. That was not the right time to tell you about my big move-"

"No," she met my gaze with her classic I-am-not-backing-down look. "Serah, you should have been able to open up to me. The fact that you agonized over when to tell me already confirms what I know to be true…" She placed her palm over my head, petting me gently. "I am sorry I failed you as a sister."

There was no turning back when Claire went down this black hole but I knew I had to do more. I couldn't give up on Claire when she was like this.

"You did your best!" I protested, earning a grimace from her. "I am happy you're my sister! And you're a damn good sister at that, too!" I added sincerely, to which she responded with a sad smile.

"When you…" she looked away thoughtfully again, heaving a sigh before continuing, "...told me that you want to go abroad, I should have listened to you. I should have given you a chance. I realized that I only ever joined the military to take care of you. I only cared for that house because I thought of it as a place to keep you safe, to salvage whatever little I could of your childhood. I thought you'd never want to leave that place. I was wrong about everything. And it took losing you to figure that out."

Tears slid down my cheeks again as I witnessed Claire making what was probably the longest speech of her life.

"Serah, I am sorry I was hard on you. I was harder on myself, I promise you. It was the only life I knew how to live."

I took her hands in mine, my head replaying her words over and over.

"Wait…" I began, my eyes felt heavy from all the crying, "Why are you talking about your life...our house in the past tense?"

She met my gaze, smiling a little more like herself. "Because it is in the past. I am here now, if it's not too late to try that 'starting over' thing you were talking about."

I threw my arms around her again, shrieking in joy. "I can't believe it!" I almost shouted as Claire covered her ears jokingly to tease me.

"Geez-"

"Wait," I interrupted, holding both my hands in front of her. "One second, YOU QUIT THE MILITARY?" The shock was too much. I really thought Claire was going to stay in the military for life.

"Mmhmm. All done." She replied casually.

"What about our house?" I asked incredulously.

"Sold it off to a young couple. We can stay here for as long as you like." She told me in her usual calm and composed tone.

"Wow…." was all I could say. It was all so much to process. And Claire had done all this to be with me, to support me and my dreams.

It was my turn to drop my head and look away.

"I am sorry…" I felt bad for so many things. I knew what made Claire as tough as she was. And I knew her better than anyone. I knew that this was one of the hardest things she ever had to do. But I was also grateful - grateful for having someone like her in my life. Someone who would love me enough to give up their whole life. So I finished with, "...and thank you." Those two simple words lingered in the air for some time. There was a heaviness in my heart and it seemed to have passed, leaving behind only lightness.

I am so glad we made up. And now all that was left to do was catching up.

Claire told me about how she was promoted but she decided to quit instead of accepting the promotion. She listed our house for sale and luckily a really lovely Mr. and Mrs. Leonhart had taken it. She returned her office car, sold my scooter, and sold off all our furniture. The past month had all been listing things online and meeting people for her.

She had applied to the university right after quitting the military and had to take the entrance exams. They did an online interview after she aced the exams and the Dean loved her. Her performance on the entrance exams and during the interview was so spectacular that they gave her a full ride too!

"Wow…" I listened to everything intently as we sat on a bench outside the dorms. The outdoor sitting area had a few benches amidst the thick growth of maple trees. The leaves were already turning yellow. Claire and I were enjoying the quiet farewell of the leaves as the trees prepared for their annual rest. It almost felt like it was going to be the same for us and our past.

I spaced out for a while but Claire's voice brought me back. "Your roommate is very interesting," I heard her chuckle as she leaned back on the bench, looking ahead.

"You've met Vanille?" I asked, tilting my head to look at her.

"Yeah. She tackled me as soon as I entered the building. Thought I was you." Claire shrugged and I felt myself explode with laughter.

"Omg, that is hilarious. But yes, that's Vanille! She does that a lot. But she's great. She really helped me settle in when I first got here, even though she's a freshman herself. You'll love my other friends too."

"Yeah, I don't know…" Claire tried to chicken out of any potential social situations. I rolled my eyes.

"Oh come on. You have to give them a chance." I pouted, watching Claire consider it thanks to my awesome begging skills. "Well how about this," I folded my hands across my lap. "What if all my friends are like dangerous people. Like thugs and stuff?" I tried to lure my overprotective sister in.

It seemed like it was her turn to roll her eyes. "Yeah right," Claire snorted and I made whining noises loudly until she caved in.

"Geez, alright. Alright. Let's do it."

"Yay!" I clapped my hands together, quickly whipping out my phone. "I am gonna text everyone right now. We can all meet for dinner near the west gate.

"Serah…" my sister called my name hesitantly, furrowing her eyebrows. I let out a small sigh, nodding understandingly.

"I know, I know. You're still Lightning."


Cloud

I was sitting on the floor between two bookshelves in a usually quiet section of the library, proofreading Zack's paper.

I can't believe I have been doing this since freshman year.

It's peaceful here so I can concentrate. But not today.

There was a lot of chatter on campus today. People were constantly talking about an allegedly beautiful sister of a girl I knew. She was on Tifa's squad and I hung out with that group quite a bit. So far I had heard - or had been forced to hear - all sorts of details about this person by loud people in corridors, classes and even the outdoors. I don't know if the Dean auctioned her file off or something, but people seemed to know all sorts of things about her.

Or they were making them up.

Two girls giggled as they settled on the floor on the other side of the bookshelf I was leaning against. "She's sooooo proud. She walks like 'I am so beautiful and you're all below me.' I saw her earlier." The first girl spoke through a fit of giggles.

"Really? Serah's so nice though. Can't believe her sister's like that…" The second girl chimed in.

"Apparently she's like, shot people before. Cause she used to be in the police or something." The first girl continued.

I tried to ignore them as I tried to focus on Zack's paper. I needed this done before dinner. But the background noise only grew more animated.

And annoying.

"Yeah, I also heard she's rooming with Tifa."

This worked in catching my attention.

"Uh huh. Poor Tifa. She's stuck with that unfriendly Miss I-am-better-than-everyone-else for the rest of the year. I bet she's always judging people." The first girl exaggerated.

I found myself chuckling. Oh, the irony of that statement...

Slamming my laptop shut loudly deliberately (immediately following which the chatter died down), I stood up and begrudgingly began walking towards the exit. No part of campus would be spared from gossip today. I just needed to go back to my room and finish this damn thing.

Just before I was about to leave the library my phone rang loudly.

Shit, I forgot to turn this thing on silent.

I narrowly avoided the death glare of our librarian as I fumbled with my phone, sliding it out of my pocket and quickly silencing it. There was a message from Tifa on the homescreen.

Cloud, dinner with the gang tonight at our usual spot! Please come. Serah wants to introduce all of us to her sister.

Soon it was dinner time, and I found our usual table already full. Our usual hangout spot, as we called it, was a stylish cafe bar called Cocoon near the west gate. It was an old mansion belonging to the owner's great grandparents, and he had reformed it into a retro hang out. The ceiling was high like a church, with tall glass windows, retro lamp lights, vintage decor and sturdy wooden tables. Booths were made of black cushions, matching the overall dark interior. This place was chill, less exciting than the clubs where people liked to get wasted. So it was left to people like us, who liked to take it easy and drink slowly until the late hours of the night.

I watched laughter roar from the people on our table, earning grins from other tables around them. It was so lively from where I stood, sometimes I felt out of place here.

Tifa waved to me excitedly, patting the empty space on the booth next to her. I nodded, walking towards the group, doing a small wave.

"Hi guys," I greeted, settling in the seat next to Tifa. Tifa's hand turned my face towards her, and our lips met in a peck.

"Hi handsome."

"Hi." I replied awkwardly, observing the scribbling on the wooden table. I still wasn't used to PDA, and I don't think I ever could get used to it.

"Bro! How's my paper coming along?" Zack brought two pints of beer and sat next to me, grinning like a Cheshire cat.

This. This right here was the source of my frustration.

I took the pint with an annoyed look, sighing. "Yes, yes, I am on it. Would've gotten it done this afternoon if it wasn't for-" I stopped, glancing at the pink haired girl called Serah sitting across from me, listening intently.

It wouldn't be nice to finish with 'all the gossip about Serah's sister.' Nobody needed that.

"I got distracted. Sorry. I'll finish tonight." I took a swig of my beer.

"That's what he said-" Zack began but I smacked the back of his head with the menu.

"Aw, you know you love me." Zack rubbed the back of his head and drank his own beer before leaning forward on the table, eyes glistening with curiosity.

"So, so. Vanille, you said you've met Serah's sister?" He asked with so much enthusiasm that he would be easily misunderstood if we didn't know him as well as we did.

"Lightning? Ohhhh yeah I met her alright." Vanille built up the suspense, feeding Zack's curiosity about the new person.

Lightning… What an usual name. Well, I guess I am Cloud so anything goes.

I was smiling at my private joke when Tifa spoke next to me. "Me too!" She said, leaning forward as well. "She's going to be my roommate, by the way." She added with a hint of pride that was hard to miss.

"Awww, that's unfair!" Vanille protested to which Serah faked a hurt look.

"Girl, that hurts!" She exclaimed but Vanille shrugged her shoulders, "Look girl, you're cute and everything but your sister is mighty fiiiine."

Even I found myself grinning at Serah's look of mild disgust.

Tifa agreed wholeheartedly. "I know what you mean!" She squealed and I turned sideways to look at her. "It was kind of love at first sight for me." She cooed and I actually felt really entertained by this.

"Don't say that, you've got Cloud." Vanille protested. "I got no one, so I can hit on Lightning all I want."

"I am pretty sure you're straight." Snow, the tallest guy in our group, said as he draped his arm around Serah.

"No, I was straight. I am pretty sure I am a lesbian now." Vanille joked and we all burst into laughter.

"Sorry I am late." Vanille's tall, green eyed friend joined the group. Trailing behind her was Vincent. I waved at both of them as they slid inside the booth.

"Beer?" I asked and Vincent quietly nodded in response. "Anyone else?"

A few hands went up at my question. Damn we could all drink.

"Five more pints of beer!" I put my hand up, waving it for the waiter to see through the crowd. He acknowledged me with a thumbs up as he went back to the bar to get our drinks.

"So where is your panty-dropping sister?" Fang joked as Serah's lips transformed into a pout. "Guys!" She chastised as we laughed, "She's my sister. Please don't be gross." She crossed her arms defensively before checking her phone.

"Oh, she's right outside. She said she's bringing a friend."

Tifa's arm snaked around mine and I felt her lean against my shoulder. As if on cue, the beer arrived followed by two people, one of whom was the Dean's son. The waiter blocked the girl but Hope stepped forward in plain view.

"Hi Hope!" Vanille extended her palm and Hope returned her high five. "Hey bud." He smiled at her before turning to everyone else. "Hi guys, mind if I join?"

"Do you drink?!" Zack asked - well sort of shouted, startling Hope.

"Yeah, of course." He asnwered as he stood there while the guys shifted to make room.

I could understand Zack's reaction, though obviously I didn't approve of it. Hope was sort of an elite at school, the studious kind who comes from a family of wealthy scholars. Chugging beer was not a good fit with his image.

"Two more, please." I heard the deep, feminine voice of the girl behind the waiter.

"Hey sis!" Serah called out and the new girl slipped seamlessly in the space, no awkward bumps with the table. I noticed her leather jacket first, spiky hair not that different from mine falling all over in a messy awry. Her hair was tied back in a loose bun, a few long strands betraying it as they draped over her thin neck. I looked up to her face only to find sharp features, high cheekbones, a straight nose and full lips. But her eyes were the most surprising. The pale aqua color was identical to Serah's, but compared to Serah's round dough eyes, her sister's eyes were hawklike.

Her unique eyes found me invading her space and decided to return the favor. Her gaze cut through mine and I felt a strange sensation stirring inside of me. It was difficult to ignore. If I stared at her any longer it would become conspicuous, but it felt impossible to look away right now.

Thankfully Serah had placed her hand on her sister's, and Lightning now turned to face her. "Light, let me introduce you to my friends. You've already met my roommate Vanille."

Lightning shook Vanille's hand and Vanille burst into a fit of giggles, confusing her. All of us knew the conversation that had taken place before she came in so we couldn't help but laugh.

Serah rolled her eyes and cleared her throat. "Ahem, and this is Fang." She shot Fang a threatening glare as Fang hopelessly tried to control her spreading smirk. Lightning nodded and shook hands with her.

"This is Vincent," Serah continued as Lightning and Vincent both stood up to shake hands, "Tifa, your roommate." Lightning nodded and shook hands with Tifa next to me. "Cloud, her boyfriend." Lightning met my gaze with her sharp one once again. Our hands came together for a firm shake, and I was surprised at how strong her grip was. The handshake was brief and respectful.

"And Zack!" Serah finished. Lightning shook hands with an awe-struck Zack, sitting down once the introductions were over. Serah had saved one for last.

"You a-already know Hope so," Serah delayed as the big guy called Snow fidgeted nervously next to her, "And ahem, um, this is my b-b-boyfriend, Snow."

Her sister seemed conflicted. Her glare was murderous and I was glad I wasn't Snow. Seeing Serah's 'Be Nice!' expression, she seemed to have softened slightly. She extended her hand first. "Hi, I am Lightning."

Snow took it and shook her hand excitedly. "Nice to meet you-ow."

Both Vincent and I let out a chuckle as it slipped past most of the others. But damn Farron that was some squeeze.

Snow withdrew his hand after the long handshake was over, using his other hand to massage the one Lightning had attempted to break in her death grip.

The atmosphere sort of tensed with Lightning clearly annoyed by this revelation and Serah squirming uncomfortably. I wanted to clear the air so I asked the first question that came to mind.

"Anyone want another drink?"

Thanks Cloud, the messiah of alcoholics, I thought bitterly at my lack of ability to produce something better in that moment.

Lightning's pint glass was untouched, but she was the first to raise her hand, surprising all of us. "Hey, Snow." She tilted her head to the side to scan him. Snow almost jumped in his seat.

"You can drink, right?" Lightning had issued the challenge. Snow had picked up on it. He now glared at her, running his eyes up and down her form as if to say 'I am bigger than you.'

"Sure, bring it on." Snow declared.

I glanced awkwardly at the others. "Anyone else?"

"We'll have a drink too." Noel and Yeul had joined us, shaking hands with Lightning vigorously before slipping in next to Zack.

"We have heard a lot about you from Serah." Noel's words had taken away from some of the tension in the air. "It's a pleasure to meet you Lightning." Yeul echoed Noel's sentiments and Lightning nodded softly in her direction.

"Likewise." She said as she raised her glass to them and downed the entire pint.

The group spent about three to four rounds of beer questioning Lightning about her life. I could tell that she wasn't much of a talker and tonight she was so focused on outdrinking Snow that she was really out of the conversation. But she did her best to reply, putting in a lot more effort than Vincent and I ever did.

"Will you try out for my cheerleading team?" Tifa asked in a deflated tone, already knowing the answer.

"How about archery?" Yeul chirped with a little more confidence than Tifa, as Lightning somewhat nervously glanced between the two of them. "How about MMA? I am also the captain of that team." Tifa added but Vanille rolled her eyes before saying.

"Please, MMA is like an individual sport, why do you want to recruit Lightning-"

"Yeah, no I'll have to pass. I have to take freshman and sophomore year exams together this year, so there won't be any extracurriculars for me any time soon."

"You can join the dance team. You don't even have to come to practice. I'd just love a beauty like you on the team." Fang said out of nowhere, to which Lightning snorted.

"Yeah in that case you've got the wrong person. I think you're confusing me for Serah." She replied modestly to which I couldn't help but smirk.

So much so for all the gossip I had been hearing about her all day.

It was true that she walked and sat in a somewhat proud manner, but she was far from stuck up. She was definitely a looker too, but I guess she hadn't noticed that about herself. And damn, this girl could outdrink every man I knew.

Eight rounds later Snow had waved the white flag. Lightning was on her tenth, just to rub it in his face.

"Should we call it a night?" Noel had his arm wrapped around a sleepy Yeul.

"Yeul still has a cinderella curfew?!" Vanille asked in disbelief and Noel challenged her with a smirk. "Yeah, you wanna walk her home past curfew?"

Vanille gulped loudly. "Nu-uh, I ain't dealing with her brother." She sighed, taking the last sip and emptying her glass. "We should all probably head back. It's getting kinda late."

Zack stood up next to me and stretched his arms above his head. "This was fun. Let's do this again!"

The others got up as well. We watched as Serah whispered something in Lightning's ear. Lightning lips pursed, but Serah continued pleading with her eyes.

"Fine." She mumbled and Serah squealed, hugging her tightly.

It was kind of endearing to watch.

"Cloud, come take a walk with me." Tifa asked me in a low voice. I nodded, my eyes finding their way back to Lightning.

Surprisingly, she was stealing a glance towards me as well.

"Sure." I replied, waving to the others. "Duty calls." Fang and Zack both let out a loud chuckle.

"Bye broody." Zack teased as Tifa and I made our way out of the bar, walking into the main street. The lights were still on and the crowd was there, though it had thinned over the evening. We had a relatively quiet walk to the girl's dormitory,

"Don't go," Tifa pleaded sleepily as I helped remove her shoes, carrying her to her bed. Her arms were tight around my neck as I lowered her.

"Sleep." I commanded and she groaned in response before reluctantly letting go of me. I straightened up and turned to leave but her hand gently gripped mine.

"Cloud?"

I stayed where I was as Tifa dozed off after mumbling, "I love you."

I let go of her hand gently, putting on my shoes and closing her door softly behind me. "I know," I whispered to no one in particular, walking out in the cold of the night.

A flash of pink hair was visible, its owner settled on the closest bench to the dormitory, her back facing towards me.

Yellow leaves crunched under my feet as I walked over. I saw Lightning snap her head around in alarm, but relaxed as she identified me.

"Cloud."

I was surprised she remembered my name.

"Lightning," I replied awkwardly as I walked over, hands in my pockets. I glanced at the bench, hesitating. Lightning looked up at me and answered my unasked question with a soft jerk of her neck. "It's not taken or anything."

I sunk tiredly into the seat next to her, leaving some space between us.

"Yeah. Some night," I remarked, leaning against the cool wood.

"I thought you'd take longer up there," I heard her say and felt my cheeks heat up at the comment slightly as I coughed awkwardly.

"Not when she's that wasted." I replied hastily.

"Wow. A gentleman. An extinct species…" she mused to which I chuckled. I noticed that her leather jacket was thin and she was slightly shivering.

Please don't tell me…

"Hey," I began carefully as my words made her turn to face me. "You're not out here in the cold on my account?"

She shrugged like it was nothing.

"It's fine. Wanted you guys to have your privacy. Haven't exactly figured out the whole roommate situation with Tifa yet." She spoke, her arms crossed across her chest. One hand ran up and down the length of her shoulder and elbow in an attempt to warm herself. "And it's nice out here." She finished, looking up at the starry sky.

"It's nice, yeah," I agreed, leaning back to observe the night sky, twinkling with lights. Stars peeked right back at us from the cover of their clouds.

We stayed there silently for sometime. I wondered if I should ask her something, but she was already on her feet. "Good night." She said and I started to get up too, but Lightning stumbled, colliding against me slightly as I was standing up.

"You okay?" I asked as I steadied her.

"Fuck," she cursed under her breath, using the bench for support. Her other hand had gripped my shoulder for support, and I almost felt….disappointed… when she had let it go with such an urgency. "I am good, sorry about that." She said simply, as if wanting to reject my offer to help before I even offered it.

It was weird how guarded she was, and I thought I was guarded. Lightning was on a completely different level.

Or maybe I had softened up over the years because I had some damn great people in my life.

"See ya." I said, not wanting to impose my help and watched her walk as straight as she could manage, disappearing inside the building.

I returned to my room to find Zack already passed out, shoes on and everything. I removed his shoes and tossed them in a corner, grunting as I fell back on my own bed, trying to fall asleep.

I had never met someone like her before.


A/N: I wanted to do a short chapter on just the first few interactions and introducing the other characters. The way I have panned out this story, it's going to be a slow burn because Cloud and Tifa are dating. Don't worry, Cloud and Lightning are endgame. Also, so far I know that Hope's going to have a little crush on Lightning in this story, but I was thinking of making Reno Cloud's main competitor for Lightning's affections. I don't know yet. Feel free to shoot ideas!

Until the next update. Thanks again for reading!