Thanks to those who reviewed!!!!

This is Chapter 2!!!

There are a few FF7 mentions here so

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DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN ANYTHING!!!


Chapter 2

-Lightning-

Lightning lay on her bed and stared at the ceiling. Snow was right. She failed a mission. Never before had she failed a mission. But then again, her target was no ordinary man. She rolled on her side.

Noctis.

Her old friend now enemy.

He was once a good man. He gave her a place to stay when her house and family burnt to the ground. He was so nice. Full of himself, but nice. She hated him for it.

Lightning looked at her gunblade. She looked at its beauty. Shiny silver, sharp, well-made. It was years and years old but it still looked good as new. That weapon had been with her all her life. Even before she was chosen to be a Keeper she had that gunblade. It was a gift from her parents. She missed them. She couldn't even say goodbye to them. Just like she couldn't say good bye to her.

There was a knock at the door.

Lightning looked up.

"Come in."

Vanille came in holding a tray with an apple, pancakes with maple syrup and a glass of orange juice. Her favourite.

"I heard you were a little down so I brought you some pancakes!" she smiled

Lightning returned her smile and took the tray from her.

"Thanks!" Lightning replied

"Well you better get ready 'cause we're going in two hours." Vanille smiled sweetly

"Okay."

"I got to go. See ya!" Vanille walked out of her room

Lightning looked at the delicious breakfast. She would eat it after she got dressed.

Lightning groaned as she got out of her bed. She had a short shower and looked in her wardrobe. She took out a brown, zip up top and a short brown skirt and put it on. She then put on her white button-up shirt, red scarf and brown, soldier boots. She put on her gloves and her gravity-defying device on her thumb.

Now all she had to do was find her pink bag that she put on her left leg…

"Hey stranger."

Lightning jumped.

"Nice place you've got here."

Lightning turned around and frowned.

"What are you doing here?" Lightning scowled

"I just wanted to say hello."

"Well get out of here, Noctis."

Noctis chuckled, "Is that the way to greet an old friend?"

"Who said you were my friend?" Lightning hissed

Lightning turned to her gunblade and reached for it. Noctis frowned and disappeared. He then reappeared in front of Lightning and pushed her to the wall.

"Uh, uh, uh. No use slicing me to bits. I just came here to talk to you."

Noctis pushed her harder towards her wall as she tried to wiggle out of his grip.

"What do you want?" Lightning twisted her arms in an attempt to break free. Damn he was strong…

"I already told you. I just want to talk. Please listen."

She looked into Noctis' eyes. They looked like they were pleading. Begging her to listen.

She wasn't sure what to do. One part of her wanted to rip out his throat and the other part wanted to listen.

"Lightning?"

"I don't know." Lightning whispered, "I just, I don't understand."

"Lightning? What are you talking about? Look, all I want to do is talk."

Lightning needed to know. She had to ask. She needed the truth.

-Noctis-

"Why, Noctis? How?"

He saw tears forming in Lightning's perfect, icy blue eyes. His heart ached. He hadn't seen her cry since that awful sin was committed. What was he thinking that day? How could he do that to them? To her! She was so beautiful. He had to explain.

"Lightning, please." Noctis pleaded, "I was stupid. I ju-"

"Shut up!" Lightning yelled

"Light-"

"Just shut up!"

She just wouldn't listen. All he needed her to do is to just shut up and listen. Since his hands were occupied, he needed another way....

"I hate you so much you stupid, lying arrogant pri-"

Noctis smashed his lips against hers.

It was the only way she would listen. He lost her once. He wasn't prepared to lose her again. He knew this was incredibly un-Noct-like, he knew that, but he couldn't let her go. Not when she was so close.

He kissed her with all the passion he had locked away for all those years. Noctis moved his right hand from her arm down to her waist and his left hand he reached for her neck. He pressed his body against hers.

Noctis moved the hand on her neck down her sides so that both hands were on her waist.

He knew he shouldn't have come. He knew this was wrong. Even seeing her was wrong, but he ignored the warning bells in his head.

Why did she have to be so amazing?

-Lightning-

It was so unlike him. Noctis's lips felt warm and firm as he continued to kiss her. She hated him, but she didn't stop him either. Lightning's hands, out of their own accord, had moved from the wall to his back. She then wrapped her arms around his neck and tilted her head to kiss him better. What was she doing?

Noctis ended the kiss, but still wouldn't let her go.

"I hate you." she told him

Noctis smiled and ran his index finger against her cheek.

He whispered into her ear, "I love you. Run away with me."

And boy did that seem like a super idea at the time. They could be like Tarzan and Jane, swinging through the trees eating bananas and coconuts living happily ever after...

Yeah. Tarzan the two-faced, self-centered jerk!

Lightning broke away.

"Y-you need to go." she stuttered

A small smile touched Noctis' face and she frowned.

"Why?" he asked innocently, taking Lightning in his arms once more

"Because I have to go in less than 10 minutes and if I don't show up to this meeting I'll- What the hell are you doing?"

Noctis had started stroking her cheek with his thumb and was now caressing her hair.

Lightning stepped back on the wall.

"You really need to go, before… uh…Snow gets here! Yeah..."

Dammit! Snow of all people?

Noctis frowned, "Who's Snow?"

"He's…my…boss?" Ok that was a downright lie but she didn't care. Anything to make him leave. Apparently he saw right through her lie and chuckled.

"What?" she asked in frustration

"I know you're lying, Light. If you want me to go, all you have to do is say please."

"Fine. Can you please go?"

The Prince sighed and bowed his head. "As you wish." Then disappeared.

Why did this have to happen now? To her? She looked at her clock.

10:12AM.

She sighed. Late. Again. She'd have to run. She didn't even get to eat her pancakes!

-Noctis-

What was he going to do? Announce to his subjects that the woman he loved didn't love him back? No! Instead, Noctis punched his wall then winced at the pain of his bloodied fist. At least the wall had a huge crack in it.

Lightning.

Boy was she stubborn. And tough. And strong. And beautiful.

He ran a list through his head of all the things she was to him.

She was the most incredible girl he had ever met.

Just now, her lips soft under his.

He brushed his finger over his lips, remembering what it felt like to kiss this goddess.

Hey lay back on his bed and stared out the window. It was a full moon outside. It was midnight here unlike Cocoon. He wished she was here. Images of Lightning entered his mind.

Lightning holding her crystal. Lightning fighting, moves fast and powerful. Lightning smiling, perfect teeth showing. Not that she smiled much anymore. Noctis yawned. He didn't realize how tired he was. And just like that, the Prince closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.

-Lightning-

"Lightning! Where the hell have you been? You're LATE!" Snow hissed as Lightning quickly entered the room.

Thankfully, no one noticed her enter.

She looked around the large meeting room. It had a large, round, white table and 27 white chairs all around it. They were for the 27 Commanders of Team Nora Resistance group. People were talking to one another, sipping their wine glasses. It was too formal for Lightning's taste.

"Hey Lightning!" said a voice behind her

She whirled around her and grinned at the sight.

Her friend Sazh was smiling while holding a little baby chocobo in his hands.

"Where did you get THAT?" Snow asked

Sazh smiled even bigger, "I found her orphaned. She was about to die, so I am taking care of her."

"AWW she's SOO CUTE!!!" shrieked Vanille who just entered, "Lemmie hold her!"

Sazh laughed and gave the baby chocobo to Vanille.

"What's her name?" Lightning asked

"I was thinking Hina." Sazh replied

'plink-plink-plink'

Everyone stopped what they were doing and sat down.

Lightning sat in her usual spot. Totally opposite the director, holding his wine glass while tapping the side of it with a spoon.

A shiver went down her spine. The director was exceedingly freaky. With graying hair, scar on face and a goatee, he looked…strange. That weird outfit didn't help either.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, you all know why I have called you here. There is an issue that needs to be resolved. Prince Noctis Lucis Caelum…"

Lightning's eyes widened.

"…has become a serious threat. We need not kill him, but we need his crystals. All eight of them. Commander Lightning do you know anything of this? After all, he is your target."

"Um, well…I…found out that Noctis keeps his crystals in his…palace?"

"Is she asking us or telling us?" whispered Snow to Vanille who hit him.

"Oww. What was that for?" Snow hissed at Vanille

"Shut up." Vanille whispered

"That's very interesting." Said the director who took a few notes

"Commander Lightning, I have a new assignment for you. Become friends with the Prince…"

Lightning scowled. Become friends? After what he did? They had better be kidding.

"…and find out where the crystals are located and take them. You may dispose of him however you see fit. Understood?"

Lightning sighed. At least she could kill him afterwards. "Understood. I'll get onto it as soon as I can."

"Good. Now to other matters..." the director began

Lightning wasn't listening after that. She knew it wouldn't concern her. But how on earth is she supposed to be friends with him again? The task was practically impossible!

Suddenly, her mind flashed back to when Noctis had kissed her that morning. She smiled. Maybe it wasn't going to be so hard after all.
When she got out of that boring meeting, Lightning looked for her cell…

-Noctis-

"Noct? Time to wake up. Noctis? Helloooooo?"

Noctis mumbled something and rolled over.

"He's not waking up." Said a voice

"Maybe we should get a big stick and wack him." Said another voice

"C'mon Noctis. Wake up!" said a third voice, shaking him

The Prince groaned as he rubbed the sleep out of his eyes.

"He's awake!" Sam yelled

"Yeah thanks to you." Noctis mumbled

"You're welcome!" Sam grinned

"Uh Sam? That wasn't a complement." David enlightened

"I know." replied Sam who put Noctis into a head-lock, "C'mon Noct. You need to get out and enjoy the fresh air while you still can. Remember the 5:00 meeting with your advisors? You'll be in that meeting for six hours!"

"Great. Another incredible meeting to go to." Noctis said sarcastically

Suddenly, his cell phone rang.

Noctis looked at it, gave his friends and apologetic look and walked out of the room while answering.

"Hello Noctis speaking."

"………….."

"Hello?"

"…..Hi Noctis, it me."
Noctis's eyes widened. Lightning, calling?

"I, um, just wanted to ask you something."

It felt good to hear her voice on the other end.

"Sure, but how did you get this number?"

"Well, I still had it from the time we were Keepers of …" her voice trailed off

"So why did you call?"

"I was thinking about what happened…"

Noctis frowned

"…and I want to hear your side of the story."
"W-what do you mean?"
"I was thinking you must've had a good reason for doing something like that so I guess I figured I should ask you what your side was. I mean we were such good friends and I'd hate to lose that friendship."

"Yeah."
"So…you, uh, want to meet up sometime?"
"Sure!" Noctis was struggling to keep the excitement from bursting out of him, "Say can we meet at my place?"

"Of course Noctis. What day and time?"
"How's Thursday lunchtime for you?"
"Perfect. Goodbye Noctis."
"See you Thursday."

"Bye."
At that she hung up.

Noctis smiled. He was hoping for a second chance and this was it. He hoped that he wouldn't mess up.

-Lightning-

"See you Thursday."
"Bye."
A smile appeared on Lightning's face.

"Soooo he said yes?" Vanille asked

"He did." Lightning replied as she finally, FINALLY got to eat her pancakes.

"Plans?" asked a very curious Vanille

Lightning thought for a moment.

"Probably listen to his side of the story. Act as if I forgive him and stuff. Rebuild relationship or so he will think. Find out where crystal is. Steal it, and then I guess I'll just have to see what I'll do with him."

"Nice. Short, sweet and to the point. But," smiled Vanille, "what if HIS side of the story makes sense and you believe him? Then you fall in love and you'll-"
"THAT WON'T HAPPEN!" screamed Lightning

Vanille stared at the normally calm and collected Lightning. "Sorry. It was just a joke."
With a sigh, Lightning turned to her window, "No I'm sorry. I shouldn't have snapped like that. It's, it's just a very touchy subject. You have no idea what it felt like that day. I mean he killed my best friend!"
"Lightning, I'm…I'm so sorry. I had no idea." Vanille looked down

"It's not your fault."

"What was your best friend's name?" Vanille asked

Lightning felt a single tear go down her cheek.

"Her name was Aerith."

-Noctis-

This meeting was incredible. Incredibly boring that is. Noctis looked at his watch and sighed. Two more hours of this torture.

"So what do you think Prince Noctis?"

Noctis immediately sat up straight and said, "I, um, think that maybe we could…uh…add on to this idea to make it better."

The man who asked the question smiled. "Your father would have been proud of you Noctis. Yes I do believe that we need to add something to…"
As the head advisor continued to speak, Noctis's mind was elsewhere. 'Your father would have been proud'. His Father died when he was seven years old. Noctis would be king if not for the fact that he had to be at least 28. And he was not. So until then, he would just be Prince Noctis Lucis Caelum.

His thoughts then moved to when he was a Keeper. A particular memory entered his mind.

'What's it like, y'know, to be a prince?'

Noctis smiled as he watched his friend gaze up at the stars.

'Lightning, my friend, you have no idea how bad it is.'

Lightning looked at Noctis. 'How so?'

'For one,' began the Prince, 'you have to sit though boring meetings.'

Lightning giggled, 'Like our Keeper meetings?'

'No. These meetings are old men rambling on and on about nothing.'

'Well that's a shame.'

'Yes it is a shame.'

Lightning sighed and looked at her watch. 'Well looks like I better go. I promised I'd see Aerith and help her plant the flowers in our church tomorrow, so I better get some sleep. Goodnight Noct.'

Noctis smiled.

''Goodnight Lightning.' He said as she walked off to her and Aerith's home or 'church in the slums' as they called it.

Noctis continued to gaze into the night sky.

'Perhaps I'll join you two tomorrow.' He whispered and closed his eyes

A small smile emerged on the Prince's face. Lightning and Aerith were best friends since they were born. Both orphaned from the fire that killed their parents, they decided to build a church. With Noctis's money and a few hired builders, they finished it and planned to plant flowers in the old-styled building. They lived in it since the time it was finished. But that was a long, long time ago.

As the meeting finally finished, Noctis walked out with a renewed excitement of seeing Lightning again.


Aerith has officially joined the FF13/versus crew-and so will a few more ff7 characters.....

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