VII

Lightning yawned.

Bodhum had been getting darker earlier, lately, as it did for six months every year. And even though it was still early, she couldn't help being tired. She'd decided to surprise Serah and walk home with her, something they rarely had the chance to do. Unlike Lightning, Serah had club activities, so she wouldn't have been out yet. She'd thought of it all while in her history class, and she was convinced that for once, her plan would work.

She turned the corner, her legs subconsciously working by themselves.

Just a few more steps and she'd be at the school gates.

"Why don't you go cry to your mommy and daddy!" she faintly heard someone say. She raised her eyebrows and went to investigate.

Serah was crying, tears pouring down her cheeks as three older boys taunted and teased her.

"Baby Farron!" one called.

Lightning frowned. She was furious. No one could make Serah cry and get away with it.

"What the hell do you think you're saying to her?" Lightning snapped.

The three boys turned to face her, each of them wearing their own little smirk.

"Come to join the party, have we?"

"Ooh, a high school girl!"

All their words were doing was fuelling Lightning's anger- her hatred.

"L-Lightning..." Serah sobbed.

Lightning turned to her sister and put an arm around her, pressing her face into her stomach.

"Get out of here" she muttered to the bullies.

One half-spat, half-laughed, "I'm not afraid of you!" he pounded his chest with his fist and continued to smile.

"You should be" she murmured. With that, she dove into action, letting go of Serah abruptly and punching two of the three guys in the face.

"B-bitch!" the seemingly youngest swore, cupping his bleeding nose.

Lightning flicked the blood off of her aching fist and glared at the leader, whom she had not harmed.

"Alright, alright, geez... If you ask me, you Farron sisters should've died along with your parents!"

Lightning held her breath and relaxed her hand. When they were out of sight, she let it out, only to find that it wasn't really a breath at all; it was more like a quiver.

She knelt in front of Serah and tried her best to smile.

"...They're gone now. Don't worry, they won't bother you anymore..."

"C-Claire..." she snivelled, wiping her eyes with her sleeve. "They made fun... of mom and dad... a-and..."

Lightning pushed Serah's head onto her shoulder, silencing her. "Don't think about what those idiots said. They don't know a thing about you- about us." She swallowed the lump in her throat and fought back tears.

"Why are you here...?" Serah added.

"Came to pick you up, just as well, too" Lightning sighed. "Let's go home, alright?"

Serah nodded.

They walked hand in hand, all the way to their home. And then they were quite for a little bit.

--

UUUUUUGGGGHHHHHHH

Writing. Is. Hard.

Guess that's a downer since I want to be a writer... -_-

Aaaanyways. It's short, but it's really all I could think of.

Serah gets picked on...

I want Lightning as my sister!

Enjoy, I guess.

Reviews would be much appreciated. ^^ All your support is so heart-warming! Thank you, thank you, thank you!