A/N: Chapter Two. Thanks for your suggestions. :D And sorry for taking eternity to update. There was a lot going on lol. (Lots of games to play rofl rofl. I'm not done with AC:Revelations and FFXIII-2, and I'm reading Mockingjay but oh well, school's almost done.) Oh, and if you recognize a name, I borrowerd it and it's from one of the shocking fragments you get from Captain Cryptic about Hope. Trololol. And as you can see, the title of this chapter is the same as the title of the first, save for the color. But I promise they have totally different meanings! Hee. :D

No Spoilers for Final Fantasy XIII-2 please. I haven't finished yet, and a lot of people haven't either, I guess. Heee~


KALEIDOSCOPIC

Their love was like a Kaleidoscope- colorful and ever changing; unpredictable, yet so beautiful at the same time.

CHAPTER TWO: "Green Eyes."


"No, we're just friends, " Hope and Lightning repeated for the millionth time that day.

The old couple that asked if they were together smiled at them in response as they turned around to walk away. Weird that they asked, Lightning thought. Normally people would just conclude that they were together since they're two people of the opposite sex having lunch together and laughing like there's no tomorow. Then the next thing you know, you just kind of hear chatter about them dating. It was annoying, yet somewhat flattering, those questions about them being together. But Lightning was somewhat thankful for them, since she's being presented with the opportunity to straighten things out before weird rumors begin to spread. This always happened every time she and Hope "bonded" or went out "as friends." She didn't mind it though. She couldn't say no to him.

And here she is still, sitting across from him in a red, strapless, cotton dress that her younger sister lent her and forced her to wear. She was even wearing that light pink lipstick Serah made her put on. She protested, of course, saying that her lips had enough color. Her sister paid no mind. She must really love them together. Eveyone must really love them together, or not. Plus, Lightning was sure she heard the lady say something that sounded like 'you two would make beautiful children,' but she ignored the thought and turned to the silver-haired boy who was sitting right in front of her. He was appily taking a bite out of the all-meat pizza slice he held in his hand, as if he didn't hear what the lady said a while ago; Or maybe he was just so used to hearing it that he didn't really care anymore.

Lightning knew he wasn't that kind of boy, though. The pink-haired soldier remembered everything that happened between the two of them. She had no regrets in meeting him. And somehow she was happy that he followed her back then at the Vile Peaks- that he didn't give up when she told him to leave her alone a thousand times. She knew him more than anyone. She knew this boy more than he knew himself, herself even. After all, he was the boy she'd been through so much with- the boy who somehow became the reason for her change. He was the man who could make her into 'Claire' again- the one who was able to bring out the best in her, every single time, in every single way. He was the boy she'd draw her gunblade out for. He was the one she made a promise to protect. He, in return, promised to look out for her as well. They were partners, after all.

But after everything they've been through, Lightning still couldn't help but think how ridiculous it would be if they became a couple.

It made her wonder what Hope thought about this, but she thought that he'd probably have the same sentiments as she did.

'Just friends,' The pink-haired lady thought to herself as she bit into her own pizza, stealing one more glance at the eighteen year-old that sat inches from where she was. He's grown so much. In fact, to Lightning, he was the type of guy she would want to marry someday. She didn't really think that much about marriage, or love in general. There was absolutely no time for her to be flirting with those buff soldiers back at the corps. She thought of them as comrades, possibly brothers, but nothing more. Besides, she knew she'd probably scare all her suitors off before they even got to the front of her house. She was entirely different from her younger sister, Serah, who was nice and charming and all that. But of all the guys that came to the Farrons' house with flowers for her sister- the ones, of course, that didn't cower away when they saw Lightning- Serah just had to pick that idiot, Snow.

Lightning never liked Snow. She thought of the blonde man as unworthy from the moment she laid eyes on him. Of course, all that changed when she saw how much he really loved her sister. The truth is, he was the only one who believed in Serah from the beginning. Even Lightning didn't believe that her sister was a L'cie, a fact that she regretted a lot. But letting Serah marry the oaf? That she did not regret one bit. The only thing is, now that Serah and Snow are married, Serah had been bothering Lightning 24/7 about getting a date since she's been single for like, ever. Lightning of course, only pretended to listen when Serah would tell her that she knew a nice guy who was whatever. She never really cared-or knew- much about men and romance. How are you supposed to feel when you're in love, anyway?

Like she knew.

Maybe the boy in front of her would let her know how it feels to be loved.

Maybe Serah's right that it is a bit embarassing/surprising for a woman of her age- who's got just as much love to give as the amount charisma, beauty and fearlessness she possesses- to still be single.

Or maybe...

'No,' Lightning shook her head and blinked her eyes. Impossible. That is completely absurd.

Lightning Farron is NOT in love.

"Uh, Light?" The silver-haired boy snapped his fingers in front of her, worry crossing his gentle features. "Are you alright?" He asked. Well, she did look pretty weird just staring into nothing and suddenly shaking her head. She stared at him for a moment, her blue eyes prying into his own green. No words came out of either one's mouth, but their eyes seemed to be doing all the talking. She breaks the eye contact to adore his looks and laughs internally at her failure to notice earlier how handsome he looked in his blue cardigan. Her eyes then move back up, focusing on his face. He's got one eyebrow raised now.
"Huh? What? Oh yeah...I'm great," She replies with the warm smile she reserved only for him. Hope just smiled back at her. Does this mean...?

'Etro, how alone am I? The only person I can turn to for love advice without feeling ridiculous, is myself,' she thinks.

She examines the boy sitting across from her. He wasn't a bad catch, wasn't he? Tall, intelligent, handsome and tough. Understanding too- just what she needed.

Hmmmm...

Still no.

Lightning Farron is NOT in love.

But the way she looked into his deep, emerald eyes and the way she smiled at him would make anybody think otherwise. Even the biggest idiot in the world could tell. There was definitely something happening between the two of them. There was definitely some sort of weird connection, a weird aura that surrounded them whenever they were together. Could it be that-

Nevermind.

"Hello? Light?" The silver-haired boy waves his hands in front of her blue eyes slowly and snaps his fingers- like those magician whatsamacallits do on TV when they try to wake someone from a trance. Lightning blinks a few times, finding herself staring into the deep green once again. She suddenly wonders why Hope doesn't have a girlfriend yet.

'What the hell's he waiting for?' Lightning screams in her mind. She answers her own questions with high doubts that Hope is waiting for her, but she still hangs on to the possibility. She looks around the room, and reality hits her square in the face. Hope's been staring at her for a few minutes now. A weird expression crossed his features- somehow he still manages to stay good-looking- as he waits for Lightning to put an end to her inner monologue. Lightning's cheeks color themselves a slight pink as she mutters a small sorry to the boy. He replies to her apology with a laugh. And what Lightning fears, but knows will come next, happens.
"So, Light," he says as he puts his drink on the table. "What was that you were thinking about?"

Of course he would ask about what's been keeping her preoccupied for the last, say, 10 minutes or so. She didn't like keeping things from him, but there is no way she would tell him about this stupid embarassing inner monologue about being in love.

And of course Hope respected Lightning a lot. But if she didn't tell him, she wouldn't get off the hook so easily.

"Stuff," she replies casually, trying to hide the embarassment in her voice. She was best at things like this anyway.

Hope rolls his eyes playfully and replies, "Okay," in a strange tone. Lightning know this means that she'll have to tell him before either of them dies. Maybe she will someday, or maybe she won't. God, she hated this. She felt like a stupid hopeless romantic teenage girl. She's a soldier, for crying out loud. What the hell's she doing thinking about sissy stuff.

"Well, if you're done, we can go now...Unless you wanna stay for a bit..." Hope trails of. He isn't sure if Lightning is listening to him, seeing the expression on her face from a few seconds ago has returned and her inner monologue has began once again.

Lightning, howeever, gets up on her feet before Hope even thinks about it, and says, "Alright then, let's go."

The pink-haired soldier is already walking out of the fast-food resto, and Hope stumbles as he gets up on his feet to try and catch up with her. He calls out for her to wait, but she just turns around a little, enough to reveal the smirk that she now wore on her face. The silver-haired boy sighs jokingly and loudly, hoping that she actually heard him. He takes off in her direction with his hands in his pockets.

He finally catches up with her just as she's standing about seven feet from the entrance of the restaurant.

"Lightning!" He jogs casually up to her as he rolls the sleeves of his cardigan up to his elbows. The lady turns around and smiles as she recognizes the owner of the voice. Lightning finds Hope waving at her as he's headed her way.

"Wait up!" He laughs, and so does she. It's like that time in the Vile Peaks, on Cocoon, years ago. The four of them- Sazh, Vanille, Hope, and Lightning- went their separate ways upon landing in the Vile Peaks with the help of Sazh's awesome piloting skills. Lightning ran off on her own, thinking at the time that the others would just get in her way. Hope was the only one who gathered up the courage to follow her and pleaded with her to let him stay no matter how many times he was pushed aside. How far would he have gone just to chase her?

The way he jogged in front of her this very moment reminds her of that time exactly.

"Thought you'd never catch up," she said as he finally came to a stop beside her. He looked at her and smiled. Then somehow, Lightning felt a strange mix of feelings brewing inside of her. It didn't show in her confused eyes, or the warm smile that she threw back at him. She just didn't know what the feeling was. All she knew is that it wasn't a bad feeling. Nope, not at all.

"Shall we?" Hope interrupted- or rather, penetrated- her thoughts once more and gestured towards the exit of the mall. Lightning just gave a small nod and smiled.

And so they walked side-by-side, Hope's hands were concealed in the pockets of his grey jeans and Lightning's hanging stiffly at her sides. Neither of them dared to break the silence that almost completely engulfed the both of them. Lightning walked with her head down, thoughts straying from her reality- which was made up mostly of Hope's actions at present- and her fantasy- which is also about said boy. Hope walked casually, his eyes shifting and his fingers tapping against the fabric inside his jeans impatiently. Suddenly, his eyes lit up and a smile found it's way to his face. It appears that someone has called her name.

"Hey, Light," he said to her, "Wait here for a bit, okay?"

She nodded, her eyebrows furrowing in confusion as she headed over to window shop clothes at the nearest store. The name? Well, that she didn't even bother to take a look at. She looked closely at the clothes, or at least pretended to. She rolled her eyes in disgust, frilly dresses and ribbons are totally not her style. So, she turned away from the store, eyes already searching for her companion the moment she whipped her head around. Hope, on the other hand, was already embracing someone tightly when Lightning turned around to end her five-second window shopping.

"Who the hell is that?" Lightning growled in a low voice.

Fire was burning in her deep blue eyes, and her lips twisted into a grimace. Her teeth were gritted inside her mouth and her fists were clenched at her sides. Who the hell is that woman? What the hell is she doing hugging my partner? How in blazing, burning, inferno do they know each other? The questions were endless in her mind. But the one of the more important questions she needed to ask herself was, 'Why the hell do I care so much?'

Why did she?

She pondered over the question as she leaned against the concrete near the shop she was checking out a while ago.

Hope was just a friend. That's what he's supposed to be.

Is being angry when other people hug your 'friend' normal?

"No. But it is normal for lovers!" Serah's voice rang in her head, putting emphasis on the word 'lovers.' "Oh, my dear Claire~" she coaxed.

Her internal monologue was now turning into a dialogue.

"You're just jealous. Everybody feels it. It's normal and it just means you're in l-"

'No way.' Lightning shook her head vigorously. They was no way in whatever-place-was-worse-than-hell she was in love with Hope. End of story.

"Denying won't help you~" Her sister's voice resounded inside her head, giggling and saying a whole lot of random stuff about love that Lightning just passed off as nonsense. Lightning turned to look at Hope again, and this time he was conversing with the woman- laughning and smiling and whatnot, like there's no freaking tomorrow.

The pink-haired soldier's eyes narrowed in on the lady. She was young, probably Hope's age, and had her long, auburn hair falling in loose curls on her sides. Her eyes were blue- like Lightning's own eyes- only it was a few shades darker than her own. She donned a black round neck sweater which was tucked in her denim shorts, a gold rucksack hanging on her left shoulder.

She looked at Hope and the woman intensely and was shock to later find them both looking back at her. She tried to act normal, although she didn't know what the hell they were looking at her for. Then she noticed Hope waving, although she didn't know where he was directing his gaze at. She looked behind her, left and right, feeling stupid after realizing there was nothing but the wall. She then assumed he was calling her attention, and looked towards him with a surprised, quizzical look. She jerked her thumb in the direction of her chest, and mouthed the word, "Me?" to which the silver-haired boy nodded.

Lightning sighed and walked towards Hope and the woman casually, trying her best not to look angry or jealous. She stopped in front of the two of them, but before she could open her mouth to utter any words, Hope introduced her to the woman.

"Hey, so this is Lightning," he turned to the blonde lady who in turn looked at Lightning. The pink-haired soldier tried her best to smile genuinely, but all that she could manage was an awkwardly fake smile. Nonetheless, the girl smiled back at her.

"Elida," she said before Hope could even mention her name, and extended her hand in front of Lightning's. "Elida Karmic," she throws out a smile, this time revealing her sparkling white teeth, as Lightning takes her hand and reluctantly gives it a shake.

"Hope and I go way back, we we're classmates in middle school," she says casually, as if it's no big deal. But to Lightning it was, really, she just didn't show it. She spent years trying to perfect the kill-my-feelings look. Her walls are not just about to break in front of Hope and this friend of his.

"Yeah," Hope confirms. "I used to like her, actually," He jokes. Elida punches his shoulder. Lightning clenches her fists tightly and rolls her eyes, which are thankfully covered by her bangs. It's like a dart was shot, with the needle piercing through her skin. The unknown feeling that entered her system was like poison, painfully irritating poison, and it was spreading throughout her body like wildfire. The more she saw that girl- Karmic, was it?- the more the mixed feelings of rage and sadness began to burn inside of her.

Lightning didn't really want to pay attention to them, though she heard every word they uttered throughout the entire conversation. The only time she bothered to shake her hair off her face was when she head Karmic say she had to go. Something lit up inside of Lightning, she didn't know what, all she knew was she was happy to see this girl walk away.

She happilly waved the woman goodbye, with a genuine smile this time. Her eyes shifted over to her side and she saw Hope waving to the woman as well. She turned her attention back to the lady who was far enough by now, that if Lightning ever decided to say something stupid, she wouldn't be able to hear. She had a smug expression on her face as she watched Elida Karmic walk away from where they stood, close to the parking lot of the mall. Her expression changed though, when she heard his voice.

"Hey, let's go, Light," Hope smiled as he led her to the parking lot, outside the doors, and then to the car.


The walk to their vehicle was painfully, agonizingly slow and the silence almost killed either one of them. The only thing they could both hear was the chatter of civilians entering and exiting, the starting of engines and the slamming of car doors.

They were only feet away from Hope's car. It sort of relieved him, since he couldn't bear another minute listening to just their footsteps and other people's voices. He fumbled for the keys in his pockets and unlocked the car before assisting Lightning to her usual seat in the front seat of his car.

Hope started the engine and glanced over at Lightning, who was still not talking to him. He couldn't tell how much more of the silence he could bear. The silver-haired boy kept stealing glances at the girl beside him as he drove the car out of the parking lot and onto the road.

And he finally decided to speak when he concluded that he couldn't take another minute of nothing.

"Hey, Light," he started out slowly, wanting to, but not taking his eyes off the road. "Are you alright?" he gulped nervously as he anticipated her answer.
To that she replied a short, "No," but Hope didn't buy it.
"Are you mad?" he asked. He didn't have to, though. He already knew something was annoying her. He just needed confirmation.
But the same thing was said. "No," she said without even turning her head. Yes, she was mad. 'Girls,' he thinks.
"Okay..." Hope trailed off as he stepped on the gas.


He waited for her to speak to him about whatever she was thinking about, but no words came and she didn't show any signs of wanting to share anything with him at the moment. He then gave a light chuckle as he rounded a corner on the street.

"What's so funny?" Lightning finally spoke as she turned to Hope, who shook his head in reply but continued to bite his lips as if to show that he was biting back smiles. "What is it?" Lightning says, annoyed this time.
Hope glances at her, then back at the road, wondering if he should tell her what he thought was going on. If she got mad, it would mean the end of the world. But then again, she was never made at Hope, was she?

"Hope." Lightning crosses her arms this time and when he turns to her for a brief moment, raises her eyebrows.

"Okay, okay," he laughs. "But you have to promise not to get mad," he said. She nodded.

He licks his upper lip and bites his lower in preparation for whats in store, and stops in front of Lightning's house to drop her off.

"You're jealous of Elida Karmic, aren't you?" he giggles.


Lightning got home that day with her face tinted a deep pink, making her sister Serah all the more suspicious and somewhat happy about her and a certain silver-haired man.

And Hope? Well, he got home with a bruise on his left cheek.

And a lipstick mark on the other.