Following Chapter 2! Sorry if you have to wait long for updates, I'm afraid I'll be pretty busy and the waiting duration will only increase O.O Though I'll try to write a few chapters today and maybe tomorrow! :D

Disclaimer: Square Enix owns Final Fantasy! I own my OC Lena!

Chapter 2: Zack meets Lena the Tomboy

Zack cursed internally as he was frantically dodging every blow from Angeal, just why did his mentor have to insist on training so long and hard!? Didn't the man have anything better to do than torture the living hell out of him?!

Zack yelped as a swing from Angeal's sword managed to cut off a stray strand of his jet black hair. Zack shouted as he swung his fist in the air:" HEY! Watch it old man! You almost cut off my-Argh!",

Zack jumped back, landing on his bent legs as Angeal slashed at him again. What the-?! Zack shouted:" ANGEAL!", startling the man who was deep in thought over something.

Angeal looked at Zack's annoyed and frightened face and immediately sheathed his sword, he said:" Oh, sorry. Are you alright Zack?",

He exploded:" ALRIGHT?! ALRIGHT?! You almost gave me a haircut! What's up with you anyway? You're never unfocused during training.", Zack crossed his arms, staring sternly at his mentor.

Angeal huffed and crossed his arms as well, he said:" It's not important. I just thought about what technique I should teach you next since you're progressing well with simple sword moves.",

Zack pointed an accusing finger at him and said:" Liar! You aren't thinking about training at all! If I didn't know any better you're thinking about Lena!", Angeal's right eye twitched in annoyance as he tried to teach his student some manners.

"Angeal? Uh…am I disturbing?", a hesitant, female voice came from behind the fighting duo.

Angeal was gripping Zack's head, his fist holding him steady while he tried playfully choking him. Zack's teeth were poised over his mentor's arm, ready to bite it should the man attempt to pull on his hair.

Oh, oh.

Angeal quickly let go of Zack, making him almost lose his balance as he straightened himself. He had never seen Angeal act so nervous before. Like an ass, sure, but…nervous?

Angeal stood as straight as a candle as he said:" L-Lena! I didn't see you, we…I was just teaching my pupil how to disentangle himself from a enemy's grip!", he rubbed his fist against Zack's head, making him growl in annoyance and push himself away.

Lena giggled, noticing how the bickering duo reminded her a lot of a father-son or maybe even brotherly relationship. She was holding a plastic container in her hands with a smile on her face.

She said:" Well, if that's alright with you guys I thought you may want to take a break and try some of my Dumbapple pie I made!", she flashed them a beautiful sunny smile.

Zack's eyes widened in awe as he said while licking his lips:" Food….!", Angeal grabbed him by the scruff of his shirt and held him back from jumping on Lena. He coughed into his fist and said with a smile:" You didn't have to Lena but thank you, we will gladly take a break.",

Once Angeal finally let Zack go, the puppy immediately stood in front of Lena, smiling his famous wide smile at her and extending a hand to her:" You must be Lena! Nice to meet you, I'm Zack Fair! Soon-to-be SOLDIER First Class and future hero of Midgar!",

Lena giggled and shook his hand saying:" Ah, Zack! Gen and Geal told me all about you! If I remember correctly Angeal once said you were "as restless as a little puppy". So cute!", she smiled at him.

Zack grinned sheepishly while shooting a death glare at his mentor, who only smirked.

As the trio sat on some rocks and ate the delicious apple pie, Zack asked after swallowing down his food:" Say Lena, how was Angeal as a kid? I bet he was a real devil.", he grinned at his mentor playfully, who shoved him in turn.

Lena smiled and joked:" Hmm…let's see…well you're right! Geal was such a big bully and really mean too! He kept hitting me all the time and picked a fight with Gen whenever he could!", she laughed at Angeal's mortified expression, "Oh c'mon Geal! You know I'm just kidding!"

The older man groaned, putting a palm to his face. "Thanks for making me look like a fool..."

Zack burst into laughter, slapping his knee. "That's a good one!" When the laughter died down, though, the eager curiosity returned in his eyes. "But seriously, what was Angeal really like when he was a kid?"

Lena shook her in amusement and answered, "He was actually very sweet. A real gentleman, always treating me like a princess and always looking after me and protecting me.

He always helped his mother and played with Gen whenever he could, he also never told me to go away because I was a girl when I wanted to play with them. Angeal always talked about honor and his dreams, even back then. He stole Dumbapples but never ones from the most juiciest tree in Banora at a wealthy man's estate.", at that she smiled at a slightly flustered Angeal.

Zack asked scratching his head in confusion:" Why? Weren't they the best ones?", the woman winked at him with a secretive smile and said:" They were but Geal never stole them because he would have been stealing from a friend.".

Everything clicked together and Zack asked surprised:" Wait! Genesis is rich?!",

Angeal sighed and said slightly irritated:" Yes or was anyway. He declined the countless invitations to come back to Banora and inherit his father's business and his wealth. All to join SOLDIER and become someone on his own.", there was a look of nostalgia in Angeal's eyes as he said that.

Lena squeezed his broad shoulder gently, making him smile at her and nod his silent thanks. Zack looked between them saying:" Well, aren't you guys the lovely couple?", grinning like the devil he was.

Angeal immediately hit his student on the head, making the poor boy yelp in pain. Lena only shook her head at them, a light blush dusting her cheeks. She gripped her dress lightly and whispered so Angeal didn't hear:" If only the stars above me could hear my prayers…", she cast a look at the blue sky above her, an image of the tall, dark and handsome First Class SOLDIER and best friend appearing in her mind's eye.

"Lena? You ok?", Angeal asked curiously as he looked at her thoughtful expression.

The woman blinked and looked back at her best friend, she offered him a smile and nodded wordlessly.

Until Zack suddenly stood right before her, sword in hand, jumping up and down eagerly like a little puppy. He said with stars in his eyes:" Lena! Lena! Fight me! Please! If you're Angeal's best friend then you know how to fight right?",

The adults didn't even try to understand Zack's logic, nevertheless Lena motioned for Zack to come at her. She was unarmed and Angeal watched with a mixture of worry and curiosity as his student charged at his best childhood friend.

With a single, fluid move Lena managed to kick away Zack's sword, the sword was suspended in air for a moment before she skillfully caught it in her hand and held it horizontally towards Zack, pointing at his exposed throat.

He said in awe:" Woah…", a look of wonderment all over his face. Angeal himself looked slightly amazed, he knew she was good but…well…this surprised him a little bit.

He grinned at her, feeling proud. He shot Zack a dirty look, silently telling him they will train ten times harder than they did previously. Zack only slumped his shoulders and lazily dragged his feet on the ground, walking like a zombie towards the rock where another piece of apple pie waited for him.

"That was a nice little trick you pulled on him.", he bumped his shoulder lightly against Lena's. The woman smirked and said:" Well, what can I say? Being a tomboy has it's perks.", Angeal shook his head in amusement and chuckled.

It didn't matter that Lena wasn't the most girlish woman in the world, he didn't prefer those types anyway, what mattered to him was how genuine and honest she was. How she was able to smile happily and make the most out of her day despite having faced countless of hardships.

She was one amazing woman and a cunning thief as she stole his heart without him even noticing.

Chapter 2 finished! I hope you enjoyed it guys! :D Write me some reviews if I need to improve something or just tell me what you liked about it ^_^