This one contains Lightning Returns spoilers!

dreams; LR universe

Sometimes she dreams.

It was not becoming for a Goddess to sleep on her crystal throne, the only light in this dark, dreary realm, but at times, it feels necessary. She cannot explain why or how she desires these little bouts of rest. It was almost a human necessity.

Perhaps that was what she dreamed of.

The images were always so hazy in her mind. She would see a flash of silver hair, a warm smile, and kind green eyes. There was never a name to the face - should there have been? - but it filled her with a longing familiarity. At times, she could not help but wonder if these dreams were trying to speak of some sort of unknown path; somewhere she should have gone…

No.

The thought made her eyes pop open, the pictures fading from her mind. How could she think such a thing? Even entertain the very thought? There was no one she longed for more that her Almighty God.

Surely, though, if she spoke of these concerns to him, he would forgive her. Hers was a merciful god, after all - she existed solely for him and her duty. There was nothing else.

But had that always been the case?

She could not recall ever dealing with humans; she merely took pity on them and sent the Chaos - spirit - into their hearts. Yet it seemed it was humans she always dreamed of.

Sometimes there were others. A girl with hair akin to her own, with a tall man beside her. Another man with hair as dark as night, with a child on his shoulders. Two girls that were connected in every sense of the word. Another man and a young girl with long, flowing hair that seemed achingly familiar.

The only constant, however, was that silver hair and those green eyes. She dreamed of them every time she closed her eyes. It almost reminded her of…of….

"Wake, my Goddess."

The shadows her eyelashes had cast faded when she opened her eyes. She stood from her crystal throne, only to immediately fall to her knees in front of him, always willing to deliver herself to her god.

With two long fingers, he touched the underside of her chin, tipping her head up gently. Such a simple touch sent fire through her veins.

Was it familiarity?

"Rise," he commanded, not unkindly, and she slowly go to her feet. His fingertips lingered over her skin, drifting down the side of her neck and over her shoulder. She immersed herself in the simple touch. It was almost more than she could hope to dream about.

Hope…

The word - was it merely a word? - flickered in her mind for an instant, fading as quickly as it'd come. Instead, she gazed at the glory of her Almighty God - her kind, merciful, wonderful god - and reveled in the flowing robs that adorned him; his tall, lithe body with crystals studding his skin; his grand, inviting wings; the windswept silver hair; those eyes….

Kind, wonderful, green eyes…

…the same as in her dreams.

"May I ask you something?" she found herself saying.

If he was surprised, he hid it well. His gaze remained only on her - an easy task, since they were the only ones in this endless realm - but she knew that he would always have his eyes on her, no matter where they were. "Of course."

"Do you ever find yourself dreaming?" His grip on her shoulder tightened slightly, but she found herself hardly noticing. "There are times when I rest, and I see things in my mind…things that don't quite belong here."

He stared at her for a moment before responding. "My Goddess," he murmured, drawing her close. "How long has passed since I've been here, if you find yourself taking on the dreams of humans?"

"Far too long." A slight smile formed on her lips. She hadn't mentioned that these dreams involved humans, but perhaps she didn't need to.

He knew her. Her Almighty God knew her; every bit and moment of her, and would forever.

"Do not trouble yourself with something so fleeting," he continued. His voice took on a low, nearly soothing tone. "Submit yourself to me….my beautiful goddess."

Yes… She could not help but obey his will, since it was entwined with her own. She needed him, she desired him. His love was the utmost honor. Somehow, she always knew that there was no one else - there never had been and never would be.

He pulled her closer still, hands sliding in a protective hold at her back. It was just a moment later that their lips met and she willingly melted into them, unsure of how such a gentle kiss could feel so needy, so full of longing.

For a brief moment, her eyes flickered open as they kissed, long and slow and lingering. To her surprise, his were open as well. They bore into her more than they ever had before, as if he was truly seeing right through her.

"Lightning…"

The word came from his lips, just a hair away from hers - still so close that she could feel them move as he spoke.

Perhaps that was what triggered the flash of images through her mind, of rose-colored hair and a silver-haired man who didn't have wings, yet could send her heart soaring. There were nervous touches, awkward kisses, hands entwined in the sweetest possible way. She could see flowers and smiles and endless nights that forever settled into memory.

"Are you well, my goddess?"

She nodded. "Of course." Their lips pressed together again, this time more eagerly, and she pulled him close, not wanting him to know that she simply wanted to feel.

Because for an instant, when he'd spoken that word - that name - she'd seen into the depths of a human heart.

Surely it was but a fleeting dream. What was real was her god's love, his desire for her. She would be his, and only his.

And yet, when she slept on her throne during times when she was alone and it was only her and the endless rolling Chaos…

She could not help but dream.