Lightning's Thoughts

On Clothing

Due to her military training, Lightning had become practiced in profiling. Whether it be an enemy, a comrade, or someone she was designed to protect she could pick out most of the information she needed just by looking at them.

There was nothing special about the clothes Sazh wore, and perhaps that utter sense of normalcy was what threw her off about him. He was either just an average Joe, or someone trying hard to blend in to the point where he disappeared. So, in other words, an average Joe. He wasn't someone of importance, so she initially ignored his very presence.

Hope's clothing showed that he was a child, maybe somewhat rebellious, but also sensitive, impressionable, and reserved. She knew to be wary of him instantly. Children are some of the most unpredictable people to deal with.

As for Snow, his clothing made it obvious that he was a delinquent of some sort. It led him to be cocky, loud and tough, but didn't show any sign of his soft side. It made him an easy target for her anger. If he was just some punk, who cared if he was her personal punching bag?

One look could tell anyone that Fang and Vanille were different from others. While not instantly knowing they were of another time, it did not come as a shock. The shape and coloring of Vanille's clothing told of her youth, her optimism, practically screaming that she would be an annoying girl. And Fang?

"What are you wearing a red cape for, do you think you're a superhero or something?"

Lightning stood up and folded her arms, watching the horizon intently. She had just relieved Fang from her night watch. Fang always seemed to antagonize her when no one else was listening. She presumed that it was the way of her culture, similar to the struggle to be alpha male, Fang had to assert her presence to the only threatening woman. That would be the only explanation to why it was always her, but even still it did nothing but piss her off.

Fang made it clear that she could take care of herself and she didn't need anyone or anything else. Not only did she assert her independence with a simple look, she was elegant and beautiful in every way. Except her rotten personality.

In truth, it made Lightning a little jealous. Fang not only appeared strong, but feminine and in comparison she felt silly in her uniform. Lightning wore what she felt to be practical as well as comfortable but next to the effortless draping of Fang's sari, she felt like a child in a costume. Beauty practically radiated from the woman. And Lightning? She felt like a mess.

She knew that she had sacrificed her femininity for the military, for the respect of her comrades, for Serah. It never bothered her before. The problem was that Fang had all that, and sacrificed nothing.

Lighting walked around the perimeter of their camp, pausing to glance at her reflection in a pond. She saw what Fang saw staring back, or at least what she thought Fang saw.

An exhausted young woman putting on a front of heroism. Her hair fell awkwardly around her face from a bad self-hair cut. She probably showed off too much skin. Fluttering behind her in the slight wind, dangled a bright red cape, like that of a hero from a Saturday morning cartoon, mocking her very being.

She remembered being given the choice of a cape. It wasn't a mandatory uniform accessory, but she had chosen to wear it. Lightning liked the grandness of it. It made her feel strong, important, like a knight of old or a hero from a comic book.

Lightning sighed and shook her head, whispering to herself, "I'm worse than Snow."

While that man went on and on about being a hero, at least he didn't wear a symbol of his self-proclaimed heroism like a flag. She glanced down at Snow who was sleeping about a yard away. As her eyes darted from her reflection to his back, she spotted something on the ground. Glancing back, her eyes narrowed with a devious plan.

Using a nearby stick, she prodded the substance just a little bit closer to him. Then, by lightly poking him in the back, she got him to roll over into it. With a slight smile of satisfaction, Lighting moved away, waiting for morning to come.

"Ugh, Gross!" Snow groaned, waking up covered with streaks of Chocobo-dung.

Hope glanced up at Lightning as the group laughed at his "misfortune." She shot the boy a thumbs-up and the two of them smirked, reveling in the silly prank.

A/N: While at this point in the game the two of them don't hate Snow, it doesn't mean that they won't mess with him :3

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