I got the five votes against the T/V pairing and have rewrote the part in chapter two. You should go read that before reading this chapter.
As Cloud and Lightning walked out of the base they could not help but notice that the Highwind had disappeared. The only reason for it being gone was Cid had moved it because it was fixed.
Cloud and Lightning walked though the streets of Bodhum and tried to ignore all the looks people were giving Cloud. Cloud was used to getting looks because of his clothes, sword, or spiky hair. Lightning was surprised at how many people had returned or moved to Bodhum so soon after the Purge.
"So what's your house like?" Cloud asked to break the silence and hopefully learn something about it before they got there.
"It's a fairly large house on the beachfront and it has a nice view," Lightning said with very little attached emotion.
"And you bought it?" Lightning nodded "When? Why? And how much was it?"
"It cost a small fortune but Serah used to bug me all the time to let her go to the beach. We moved into it a few months before the Purge and that is when she met him," Lightning said almost hissing the last word.
"I thought you were okay with Snow now."
"Being a soldier teaches you how to mask your real feelings," Lightning said coldly "I don't like him because he is such a moron and he doesn't even have a real job. All he does is 'hang-out' with his group which is titled NORA," Lightning almost did not notice Cloud stop, cross his arms and raise an eyebrow. She turned to face him and saw he had a thoughtful look on his face.
"You don't like a blond haired, blue eyed guy because he has no job and he hangs out with his group of friends called NORA. Correct?" Lightning nodded "I'm a blue eyed blond haired guy, with no job, and I hang out with my group of friends that is called Avalanche," Lightning instantly saw the irony of the situation she was in.
"You're not thick headed though," Lightning pointed out.
"Cid, Barret and Yuffie will argue that," Cloud said with a smile "Wait, you own an expensive beach house that overlooks the sea? How much does the Guardian Corps pay you?"
"Enough to make the down payment on a beach house after five years," Lightning said with an offhanded tone "I also sold the property my parents left to me and Serah. I couldn't afford the property taxes and Serah's education."
"So basically, you are fairly rich and own an expensive beach house," Lightning nodded.
"What are you saying?"
"It's just a little backwards because usually the guy has and uses his money and beach house to seduce women."
"I think Serah once watched a show like that," Lightning while trying to remember the name of show but only drew a blank "Anyways, we better get back. Serah won't let me forget it if I'm late," Cloud nodded and they continued on their way.
The warriors guessed it to be about five o'clock when the beach was within view. When they arrived at the beach they both cursed under their breath when they saw what was tied to the dock. The Highwind was gently and quietly hovering above the waves with the rope ladder ending on the wooden dock.
"Well so much for a low profile," Lightning muttered.
"I'll talk to Cid about where he should park his ship," Cloud said to Lightning.
They walked down the beach to the back door of the Farron house and climbed the stairs to the deck. When they opened the door they saw that everyone was in the house. The former l'Cie, NORA, and Avalanche were all talking and getting to know each other.
"Oh look," Serah shouted "They're back!" Cloud and Lightning both rolled their eyes as they were made the center of attention. Everyone went back to what they doing shortly after. Cloud dropped his sword beside the door and was approached by Cid.
"How's the storm doin?" Cid, who was right beside the door, asked.
"Storm?" Both Cloud and Lightning asked.
"Clouds, thunder, and lightning. The materials needed for a storm," Cid said, inventing a name for the duo "Cloud, Lightning and Cloud makes the thunder with the sword."
"Cid, are you drunk?" Cloud asked flatly.
"Gettin there," Cid answered sounding proud of himself as he grabbed a flask out of his coat pocket and walked away.
They saw Sazh talking to Dajh and assumed Sazh was trying to keep Dajh from telling people about the 'man with one wing.' The two soldiers split up after Serah called for Lightning and Barret called, more like ordered, Cloud over to join a card game with him, Snow and Gadot.
Lightning went into the dining room, where Serah was, and was greeted by the excited giggles of Vanille, Serah, and Aerith. She saw Tifa and Lebreau in the kitchen talking but could not hear what was being said because of the guys in the other room.
Serah handed a list of names to Lightning when she sat down at the table. It was the intended guest list for Serah and Snow's wedding. It had all the names of Avalanche, the former l'Cie, and NORA. Lightning was feeling mischievous for a reason unknown to her, though she assumed it had something to do with Aerith being less than five feet away.
Lightning grabbed the pen that Serah was holding and began to cross off names. After crossing off four names she looked at what Serah wrote at the top of the page Serah & Snow's wedding guests. Lightning crossed out Snow and handed the paper back to Serah. Serah gave her sister a very un-amused look before restarting her conversation with Vanille.
"So, Lightning," Aerith said in her sweet voice "I hear that you and Cloud are together now."
"Well I guess you could say that," Lightning said indifferently but her cheeks betrayed her with a blush.
"Well for your own sake, keep all the romantic stuff in private for a while," Aerith said quietly so Lightning had to lean closer to hear the woman.
"What do you mean, for my sake?" Lightning asked genuinely curious about what Aerith meant.
"Tifa is deeply in love with Cloud," Aerith explained hating herself for betraying her friends secret. But it was so Lightning would remain in one piece if she ever found herself alone with Tifa "And needs time to accept the fact that Cloud chose you."
"But she looked fine after we all fought . . . him," Lightning said with a hint of confusion.
"Tifa told me that she was ready to rip you in half and beat the . . . out of Cloud when he kissed you," Aerith explained.
"Shouldn't you tell Cloud, to keep it in his pants, in public then?" Lightning asked, stunned that she had actually just used that phrase.
"He's to shy to do any of that stuff if there is anyone, other than you, watching him," Aerith replied with a smile "And yes, I am aware that people act differently around me. Even I wish I knew why."
"What the frick is that!" Everyone turned at the sound of Barret yelling at the top of his lungs and keeping his language clean because of Dajh "This is why we stopped letting you and Vince play!"
"Serah," Lightning said to get her sister's attention "Are you sure you want to get married now?"
"Yes, I'm sure," Serah responded "And yes, Snow, Gadot, Maqui, and Lebreau have to be there," Lightning rolled her eyes and crossed her arms in false disappointment "When do you want to go dress shopping?"
"For you, anytime I'm free," Lightning replied to Serah's question "For me, never."
"Why?"
"Because I'll wear my dress uniform," Lightning said without facing Serah. As that statement created an argument between the Farron sisters, Aerith got up to go find Cloud.
In the other room she saw Yuffie, Hope, and Sazh playing with Dajh, Vincent and Fang talking in a corner, most of the NORA group playing a card game with Barret, Nanaki resting by the front door, and Cloud talking to Cid by the back door. Aerith went over to Cloud, shooed Cid away, and explained the situation with Tifa and gave him the same advice she gave Lightning.
Three Hours Later
Lightning looked at the clock and saw the time was 8:23 pm. She decided that now was a good time to make an excuse to get away.
"Serah, I have to go," Lightning told her sister before standing "Amodar wants me on the evening shift today," Serah did not ask any questions because she was used to Lightning having the night/evening shift.
Lightning walked through the other room and went out the front door. Cloud had made his way over to and was talking to Vincent when he saw Lightning go out the front door. Cloud was about to make an excuse to get away but Vincent spoke first.
"Just go," Vincent said in his emotionless way "I'll tell the others you took a walk. If they ask,"
"Thanks Vince," Cloud replied and went out the back door to avoid suspicion from the others, excluding Vincent and most likely Fang.
Lightning and Cloud met up in front of the dock the Highwind sat above. They walked to a restaurant that was a short walk away from the beach. The two warriors had deal with several people doing the 'Hey aren't you . . .' routine.
Back at the Farron house, Tifa had noticed that Lightning was gone and wanted to talk to Cloud. Tifa saw that Cloud's new sword was leaning against the wall by the back door but could not find the blond. She knew Vincent would know where Cloud was, so she went to ask the gunslinger.
"Hey, Vince," Tifa said with smile before finishing her drink "Have you seen Cloud?"
"He went for a walk into town," Vincent replied flatly.
"When was that?" Tifa asked with her smile disappearing.
"I believe about twenty minutes ago."
"What about Lightning?" Tifa asked with a hint of anger.
"I think she left a few minutes before Cloud," Vincent was actually surprised and confused when the empty glass in Tifa's gloved hand shattered from being squeezed.
Good thing I had a Plan B in the event of the T/V pairing being vetoed. I was actually expecting the pairing to be vetoed.
Sorry if this chapter seems rushed. I am kind of in a hurry to get to the climax of the story but that might even be 10-12 chapters away, if I continue with 5 page average length. (My guess is a VERY rough estimation if I use minimal time-skips)
Don't forget to review.