HOME SWEET HOME

LIGHTNING

My breath came in rapid pants, and I slowed to a stop. Fang placed Snow onto the ground gently, so as not to injure the still unconscious giant. Hope collapsed to his knees, the shock plain on his face. I wondered if my own expression mirrored his.

An explosion sounded behind us, emanating from the distant rooftop we just vacated. Another followed the first, larger and louder, and my stomach clenched. Suddenly, a bright light flashed, illuminating the rooftop, then it was gone. All was silent.

"James." I murmured under my breath.

Fang stared at the rooftop, just like I was, her expression unreadable. Hope was shuddering, but I had no emotion to spare for the boy. All of my feelings were now with the man who sacrificed his life so that we could escape.

I brought a finger to my lips, and replayed the moment in my head. James' lips on mine was like a heaven I never thought I could have, never thought I would need, and now, never would have again.

"He's... he's gone." Hope said, his voice shaking.

I couldn't answer. I felt that if I opened my mouth, if I responded in any way, I would be overcome with the pain and loss that I was wrestling with.

"Do you think he...?"

Hope posed the question, one that I was asking myself. Could James still be alive? Every fiber in my body begged that he was, but I knew that he couldn't be. There was no chance.

"We can't stand around here, all day." Fang said, trying to regain some of her practicality, but none of us moved. I was numb all over. Tears stung my eyes, and my chest ached horribly.

I replayed the kiss again, and the wonderful, blissful feeling I discovered in the depths of James' closeness.

I blinked, and shook my head. Now wasn't the time to grieve. We were still in danger. I shoved James from my mind.

"Come on." I said, pulling Hope to his feet. He was unsteady at first, but soon found his balance.

How far to your Dad's?" I asked.

Hope swallowed, and Fang listened intently.

"We're almost there." Hope said. "Follow me."

Hope led the way, and I followed, but I wasn't focused.

He pulled his helmet off slowly to reveal a handsome face with dark brown hair that was disheveled and messy.

"I'm here to help." He said.

I fought the lump in my throat as the memories surfaced. They seemed so long ago.

My fingers brushed against rough, callused skin, and they tightened around an unknown someone's wrist.

It was the soldier.

He twisted his arm slightly, and his hand wrapped around mine. The contact was soothing in the darkness.

Why was life so unfair?

I turned to see James rubbing his head, a small shard of rock at his feet.

"Ow-Okay I'm in pain." He said.

The corner of my lips twitched in an amused smile.

"It's okay, just don't get the idea that we're all best friends because we're stuck in the same situation." I said darkly.

James grabbed my arm, his expression concerned.

"Hey." He said quietly. "Like it or not, we are stuck in this situation, and we're all you've got."

He was right, and now he was gone.

"Lightning!" A voice called to me from behind, and I was quick to recognise James' voice.

If it weren't for the extra pair of footsteps I detected, I wouldn't have stopped, knowing full well that James would be able to keep pace.

"Wait for us!"

He had been an invaluable part of the team, a companion, a friend, and for me, so much more.

"Girl?" He asked.

"What? No." Hope said, surprised at his guess.

"Gorgeous girl?" He asked immediately.

I raised my eyebrows at him.

"What?" He asked, his cheeks reddening. "It's I Spy."

"Gorgeous girl?"

He shrugged self-consciously.

He thought I was gorgeous.

"Since I told you that," he said. "Will you tell me about your piercing?"

I felt the heat flood my face.

"You noticed?"

He grinned. "Of course."

My eyes narrowed. If he noticed, he had to have been looking at my stomach. Why such an area interested him was a mystery to me.

Not anymore.

An odd thought occurred to me, as I allowed sleep to take hold. In allowing James to guard us, I had trusted him. It was a jolting realisation, but as I drifted, I knew that if anybody was worthy of that trust, it was the soldier standing over me.

Protecting me.

Protecting me...

"Why are you looking at me like that?" I suddenly asked.

He looked away. He had been staring at me for over a minute with an odd expression.

"Nothing." He said quickly.

I had found the attention flattering.

"What...?" I started, sitting up, but he didn't give me the chance to speak.

He pulled me towards him into a tight hug.

"James..." I said, surprised, and I pushed him away. "What happened?"

He had been relieved that I was alive.

"Lightning." He mumbled, reaching out to stroke my face with his hand.

I swatted his hand away as he brushed his fingertips against my skin. He blinked, confused.

"This is my dream, Light." He told me, patting the empty space in the bed beside him. "And you're wearing considerably more clothes than last time."

I blinked.

So did he.

I suppressed a small smile.

My eyes fluttered open, and I felt something leave my face.

"Good morning." He said, smiling.

I smiled at him, then I came to my senses. I frowned as I realized my position, and quickly propped myself up on my elbows.

"Morning." I said self-consciously.

"I'll assume you didn't mind sharing a bed with me, then?" He asked, chuckling as I blushed.

"That was... completely unintentional." I retorted.

"Admit it, you were comfortable." He pressed, barely able to keep a straight face.

"I... that's not... we're not talking about this." I said.

He grinned.

I had beencomfortable.

"You're not alone, James." I said quietly, and Hope nodded.

He wasn't.

"Calm down, James." Fang said, winking over my shoulder.

I turned my head towards James, my face going red as I gave him a small smile.

He had been blushing furiously while Fang examined my brand.

"Lightning." He whispered my name, and his head inched towards me.

I didn't pull away. Instead, my face arched upwards in silent consent.

Finally, passionately, our lips met, melting around each other like a fire, moving in perfect synchrony.

Enough!

"Light?"

A voice shook me from my rapid spiral of despair. Hope was looking up at me, concerned.

"You okay?" Fang asked.

Hope rounded on her.

"Of course she's not!" He said, as if it were obvious. "James is dead! He was – I mean, he and Light – He's dead!" He stumbled over his words, trying to put it as delicately as possible, as if mentioning our rooftop display would cause me to break down.

I wasn't a fragile girl. I was Lightning. I couldn't let James' death deter me.

"I'm okay." I said, and I stepped forward.

"Which one is your house?" I asked.

Hope led the way up a flight of stairs and stopped at a long brown door.

He hesitated.

"He saved us, Light." Hope said quietly. "He kept us safe."

I was wracked by a single sob, a long shudder down my spine.

"I know." I answered.

"Here." Hope said, reaching into his pocket and extracting the knife I had given him. "Snow said Serah bought it for you to keep you safe, and now that James..." He trailed off.

I took it silently, turning it over in my palm.

"Operation Nora didn't work out." Hope muttered.

A mess of emotions coursed through me, and I pulled him into a tight hug.

"Thank you." I whispered.

I let him go.

"I'll be okay." I said.

Hope nodded, and turned to the door, pressing the doorbell.

The door slid open, and a tall man in a business suit and glasses stepped out, gasping as he saw Hope.

"Hope!" The man said.

Hope didn't respond immediately.

"Mom's gone." He said.

I stepped forward and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.

I was determined to regain some semblance of my persona.

I forced the memories of James away, but I knew they would never leave me. I didn't want them to. They were all I had left.

All I possessed of the soldier who had changed me, of the man who had, in such a short period of time, become closer to me than my own sister.

All I possessed of James Hudson.

Bartholomew Estheim lived in a large, classy home. The furniture all looked brand new, and very expensive, but none of us stopped to admire.

After a brief explanation of our situation, I had left Hope with his father, and taken the unconscious Snow into the bedroom.

I bandaged his wounds, feeling somewhat self-conscious at tending to the half-naked giant that was my sisters fiancè.

I did what I could for him, the rest was up to him, and I retreated to the corner of the room, my eyes glued to the television and my knife in my hand.

"Roughly twenty-five hundred civilians believed to have come in contact with the l'Cie are now being held in quarantine by the Sanctum." The news-reader said. "Our latest insta-poll has shown a vast majority in favor of the immediate Purging of these individuals..."

Snow gave a rasping cough, and I turned.

"Hey." I greeted him as he sat up. "Lay down."

I flicked the knife closed and strode over to him, sitting on a pouffe by the bed and crossing my legs.

"All right." Snow said, lying down.

"Huh. I see you took the kid's toy away." Snow said.

I sighed. "He gave it back to me. Said he didn't need it any more."

Snow was silent for a moment.

"Go figure." He said finally, staring up at the ceiling.

We were silent for a minute.

"It was too much." I said quietly. "What happened to Serah. All I could think about was, 'What could I have done?'"

I wasn't sure why I was saying these things, but I had a sudden urge to tell someone why I had fought.

"I hated myself for not trusting her."

I looked down at the knife.

"It hurt too much. I couldn't face it."

I put the knife in my pocket, and let the silence stretch.

"Look, Snow." I began. "I... I'm sorry. Forgive me."

I was sorry. Sorry for the way I had treated him, sorry for not realizing that he was looking out for Serah as much as I was.

"For what?" Snow asked, sitting up.

I stood.

"Everything." I said.

"If you told me your real name, I suppose I could." Snow said, lying back down.

I turned to him and chuckled.

"Have Serah tell you – when she comes back."

"Deal."

The silence again filled the room.

"Hey." He said suddenly. "Where is everyone?"

I looked at him.

"We're at Hope's place, he's with his Dad, and Fang is around here somewhere." I said, trying not to think about the missing person.

"Where's James?"

I shut my eyes, and didn't respond.

"Light? Where is he?" Snow asked, more forcefully this time.

I swallowed.

"He's... not here." I said vaguely.

"Not here?" Snow asked.

I shook my head.

"When's he getting here, then?"

I turned my tortured expression on him.

"Never." I said, and was again tormented by the stinging in my eyes and the lump in my throat.

Snow sat up.

"What happened?" He asked seriously.

"We were overwhelmed." I said quietly. "James stayed behind so that we could escape."

Snow was silent.

"I'm sorry." He said. "Hope mentioned you two were... close."

"We... were." I whispered.

"Hope said he liked you."

Although it was a statement, I could hear the question behind it.

"He kissed me." I said softly.

Snow's eyes grew wide.

"He what!" He asked, his voice suddenly a shout.

"Shh." I hissed.

"Sorry." Snow muttered. "He kissed you?"

I nodded.

"Did you hit him?"

I glared at him.

"Why would I hit him?"

"Because he kissed you."

"Why would I hit him for kissing me?" I asked.

"You didn't?" Snow asked incredulously. "I guess you do have feelings."

I gave him a look.

"Maybe not for you." I said.

We were silent again.

"Lightning... I'm sorry." Snow whispered.

"I wish he were here." I said softly.

"Is there any way that he could have survived?" Snow asked.

I shook my head.

"I saw the explosions, no one could have lived through that." I said.

Snow fell silent again.

At that moment, the door to the bedroom opened.

Hope was standing in the doorway.

"My dad said he'd like to see you guys. He wants to talk."

Our group sat down on the couches, but I stayed standing.

It was Snow who made the first move.

He stood, then knelt down and touched his head to the ground.

"The blame is mine." He said. "I couldn't save her."

Bartholomew didn't respond, but Hope quickly intervened.

"If it wasn't for Snow, I wouldn't be here right now."

Bartholomew looked up.

"Snow." He said. "Did Nora... Did she say anything to you?"

"Hope." Snow answered. "She said to... to get him home."

Hope nodded.

"And that's exactly what you've done." Bartholomew said.

Snow looked up at him, his face surprised and relieved.

I let out a sigh. We couldn't afford Bartholomew's enmity, so his forgiveness was well-received.

"Face to face like this, it's hard to believe you're all dangerous fugitives."

I sat down while Bartholomew spoke.

"But the entire world is scared to death of you l'Cie." Bartholomew continued. "No, not even just you. People who've helped you, bumped into you. Sometimes it's even just people who've walked by one of you." His voice took on a tone of disgust. "They think they're 'tainted' and want every one of them Purged."

"The Sanctum's a puppet of the fal'Cie!" Snow said loudly. "To them, our lives don't mean anything at all."

Bartholomew contemplated Snow's words.

"We'll stop this." Snow promised. "Take down the Sanctum, and save Cocoon."

"You've thought that through?" Bartholomew asked.

Snow raised his eyebrows.

"If l'Cie take down the Sanctum, fear of Pulse will only get worse." Bartholomew countered. "It won't stop at fear. People will take up arms and stand against you. Can you imagine it? The rampant violence?"

"When the government's control is gone, the citizens will revolt." I said.

Snow sighed.

"So, what then?" Fang asked. "We're supposed to just smile and eat a bullet? That means you, too." She looked at Bartholomew.

"I know I'm part of this." Bartholomew said. "I'm on your side of the fence. Harborer of l'Cie, and a public enemy."

"Coming here was a bad idea." Hope said thoughtfully.

Bartholomew turned, and placed a hand on his son's shoulder.

"This is your home."

Hope smiled, and Bartholomew stood.

"We're all here. Let's figure this out together."

Suddenly, the lights flickered, and then switched off.

I was in action immediately.

PSICOM.

I heard the rumble of cruisers overhead, and the sound of many footsteps outside of Hope's home.

I peered around, letting my eyes grow accustomed to the darkness when a noise sounded above me.

"Heads up!" I said as the glass ceiling smashed, and several tear gas grenades entered the living room.

I held my hand over my mouth, coughing violently as soldiers flew in.

"Hope! In the back!" I heard Snow shout.

Hope grabbed his father by the arm and lead him to the bedroom, but he stopped by Snow, who had collapsed.

"You're not ready for this." I heard Hope say. "I'll stay here. Snow. Help my dad!"

A soldier approached me, gun raised, and I flipped over him, my hands curling around his helmet and twisting it violently until I heard a sickening crack.

I saw Snow accompany Bartholomew into the bedroom, and then a soldier confront Hope, who spun around a second too late.

I dashed forward, launching a powerful kick at the soldier, sending him to the ground, then lifting my foot high and bringing it down on the prone soldier.

Fang joined my side, leaving a trail of downed soldiers in half the living room.

"We need to get out!" Fang yelled as I slashed at another soldier. "Barricading ourselves in here isn't going to make them give up and go away!"

The flow of soldiers ceased, and silence reigned supreme. PSICOM wasn't going to risk sending more in when so many had already fallen.

I crouched by the row of windows and peered around them.

A mass of soldiers were gathered, their guns trained on the house. Fang and Hope were stacked up next to me.

"Who ordered the battalion?" Fang said as a gunship appeared.

"They'll take out the whole building next." I said.

I turned to see Snow emerge from the bedroom, and motioned for him to join us.

Snow escorted Bartholomew out of the light that flooded most of the living room, and settled into a dark corner.

"Dad!" Hope ran over to his father.

Snow peered around from behind me.

"My turn." He said.

Snow pulled off his trench coat, and I stepped aside, allowing to take my place beside the window.

He put his back to the wall, his trench coat in one hand, then he held out that hand in front of the window.

Bullets spewed from their rifles at the sight of the tan coat, and slammed into it, leaving an array of bullet holes.

I stepped forward. What was he doing?

"Snow." I cautioned him, but he held out his other hand to silence me.

"Don't shoot!" He shouted. "I'll show you what a l'Cie looks like!"

The rapid firing ceased, and Snow stepped into the light, his hands up.

I saw the multitude of red dots dance around his body.

"Me! I'm a l'Cie!" I heard him say. "Surprised? Expected some kinda monster? I'm flesh and blood like you!"

I waited.

"An ordinary citizen of Cocoon!" Snow's hands balled into fists. "Don't you get it? This has been our home our whole lives! How could we even think about destroying it? We want to protect this place just as much as you!"

Doubtful muttering broke out amongst the ranks of soldiers.

"You must be Snow Villiers."

A new voice joined the throng, and a man I recognized stepped forward. I had seen him earlier today, at the Agora where Snow had appeared with Fang.

"Yaag Rosch, PSICOM Division." The man said. He had silver hair, and sported a black overcoat. "I understand your plight. However, the Pulse threat is not so easily dismissed. The very existence of you l'Cie puts every last one of us in danger."

He paused.

"Tell me, do you really think your life is worth more than the lives of millions of Cocoon's citizens? I do not. And so, it falls to me to order your execution."

I narrowed my eyes at Rosch.

"It's that simple." Rosch continued. "It is my responsibility to see you put down."

Rosch turned.

"Your lives are forfeit." He said.

"Aw, cut the crap!" Snow yelled. "You want l'Cie, then kill l'Cie! Why do other people have to die. The Purge has got to stop!"

"Do you think we want to Purge our own people?" Rosch retorted. "If any trace of Pulse remains, the populace will erupt into chaos. Without sacrifice, without the Purge, Cocoon will die!"

At that moment, grenades bounced in front of the soldiers. Smoke billowed from them, and engulfed the soldiers.

"Who fired? I gave no order!" Rosch cried.

Snow sank to his knees in a fit of violent coughing.

Explosions rocked the rooftop, and bullets riddled the PSICOM troops.

I watched as chaos reigned, and the soldiers broke, running this way and that like scattering mice.

"We're leaving!" I said, standing. "Hope! Tie up your dad."

I turned to Bartholomew.

"We threatened you, and forced you to help us. Got it?"

"There must be something else-" Bartholomew started, but Hope spun around to face his father.

"Do what she says!" He ordered. "I can't let you get dragged into this."

Hope began to wrap a length of rope around his father's wrists.

"I want to stay here. But there's no place for a l'Cie." Hope said. "I'm going with the others."

He stood, and went around to his father's front, so that he was facing him.

"We'll survive somehow." Hope reassured him. "I promise you that."

I watched them share this moment, Fang standing beside me.

"Dad." Hope said. "I hate to run out on you-"

"You're not running!" Bartholomew suddenly said. "This is not running away. You've made a choice." Bartholomew stood. "You'll survive, and do what needs to be done."

"You mean complete my Focus?" Hope asked.

"Don't you worry about that!" Bartholomew said, shaking his head. "You make the choice."

Hope hesitated, then stepped towards his father and embraced him.

"Thanks, Dad." Hope said after they broke apart.

"Damn it." Snow muttered from outside.

I looked outside to see Snow standing.

I looked up.

The gunship was bearing down on him.

"Hope!" I shouted, and ran outside, Fang close behind me.

"Our turn, Hero." I said to Snow as I passed him.

"What? I can handle a little gas." Snow said weakly.

"Catch your breath!" Hope said loudly, blocking Snow's path. "I'll throw in some hits for you!"

I spotted the insignia on the side of the gunship.

'Havoc Skytank'.

I wasted no time on talk, instead launching several bolts of magical energy at the ship.

The Skytank responded by firing one of the four cannons on its hull, and I dodged out of the way. It was too far away to engage in melee, so I settled with magic and the rifle form of my gunblade.

"Fang!" I yelled. "Take out that cannon!"

Hope and Fang were mirroring my actions, using magic to attack the Skytank.

Fang nodded, and sent a massive fireball at the cannon just as another projectile ripped away from it.

The fireball collided with the rocket just as it left the cannon, and they exploded, but the magic did its job.

The firing end of the cannon was reduced to a blackened shadow of its former capabilities.

I took the opportunity to unleash a rapid slew of bullets, and they pierced the Skytanks armor, leaving a line of bullet holes.

The ship fired again from one of its other cannons, and this time it was Hope who flung himself out of the way.

"You okay?" I called over to him as he leaped to his feet.

"Yeah!" He replied, sending a wave of ice magic that encased a portion of the ship.

I quickly threw a large bolt of energy at the iced armor, and it exploded, revealing a mass of wires.

Chunks of armor fell to the ground far below, but the Skytank was far from finished.

A rocket slammed into the ground a meter away from me, and I was thrown backwards, hitting the ground hard.

I ignored the pain that was racing through me, and stood quickly.

I copied Fang, and launched a fireball at the offending cannon.

The fireball hit the part of the cannon that was attached to the Skytank, and it fell, sparking, but no longer dangerous.

"Take out the cannons!" I yelled, and the three of us launched various magic energy at the cannons.

But the Skytank was not going to give up so easily.

The remaining two cannons issued smoke, and rockets raced towards.

I gasped and dived, but Fang wasn't so lucky. She dodged the first rocket, but the second exploded a foot away from where she landed.

I rushed over to her, avoiding another rocket that was fired at me, and slid to a stop at her side, already waving my hand over her wounded body.

"Light, look out!" Hope suddenly yelled.

I turned, and saw a rocket speed my way.

There was no time to move, and even if I did, Fang wouldn't survive the blast.

I didn't move, indecision stalling me, and then it was too late.

The smoke trailing behind the rocket marked its path through the air, and I leaned over Fang's body, shielding it with mine.

The rocket exploded.

Ten meters away from us.

I breathed again, and looked behind me.

Snow was kneeling, panting rapidly, his palm outstretched and his brand shining.

He gave me a wide grin, but I barely noticed as I healed Fang's wounds.

Her eyes snapped open, and she looked around, saw me, then sprang to her feet.

"Thanks." She said, already running to re-engage the Skytank.

I joined her, throwing several bolts of energy at the two cannons.

An explosion rocked the ship, followed by another, and the cannons were rendered useless as we continued our relentless assault.

I threw more magic at the hovering gunship, and its metal exterior was rapidly torn off under our blows. Bits of metal rained down, and the engines began to sputter horribly.

The Skytank looked half its original size now, with so much of it having been blown apart.

I jumped up, as high as I could, and gathered the magic I had become accustomed to, holding out my palms.

I hurled a giant ball of magical energy. It shimmered brightly, glowing in the night sky, and it pulsated slightly.

The ball struck against the front of the Skytank, and an explosion rocked the rooftop.

The entire front of the ship was gone, only a smoldering ruin remained, and the engines could no longer hold against such abuse.

The ship fell, slowly, its entire frame ablaze, and it sank below the rooftop, the engines still sounding faintly.

As the Skytank fell out of sight, another ship replaced it.

"Again?" Fang yelled. "There's no end to these guys!"

"They never learn." I said, then sank into a half-crouch.

Before I could attack, however, a yellow beam of energy pierced the second Skytank, and the PSICOM ship exploded in a massive display of heat and light.

I looked up to see another ship approaching us, its energy cannon slowly closing.

I raised my gunblade, prepared for another battle.

The ship landed, and a ramp slid open, revealing several soldiers that ran towards us.

"Heya, Fang." One said.

My brow creased, and the soldier took off his helmet.

The man had long, reddish-brown hair that flowed past his shoulders.

"Need a ride?" He asked, chuckling.

I sighed, and lowered my gunblade as Fang spoke.

"Don't get cute." She said amicably. "Right." She turned to us. "Let's move it."

I turned to Fang.

"You know these guys?" I asked her.

She winked at me.

"Course," she said. "They're the Cavalry."

"Oh." I said, understanding.

I followed Fang onto the ship.

JAMES

I dreamed...