Cloud´s Sibling

Chapter 2

A Childhood Friend

Lightning's eyes widen as soon as she enters the bar, or rather, as soon as Aerith enthusiastically pulls her inside.

"And… and you say this place is Tifa´s?"

Aerith smiles brightly, feeling very proud at her best friend´s achievements.

"Yes! She owns it! Isn´t this the coolest bar you´ve ever seen?"

In spite of herself, Lightning smiles for the same reason, and Aerith can´t but notice that, if possible, the taller woman looks even more beautiful whenever she smiles.

"Well… yeah! I´m happy, and impressed, to know she went so far and all by herself."

Aerith giggles, and is about to retort when a sudden scream is heard at the kitchen´s door, startling the two women.

"Lightning!"

The pinkette doesn't react as quickly as she would've liked when a soft body suddenly collides with hers. Slender but muscular arms wrap around Lightning´s neck, pulling her down due to her taller frame, while her vision is obstructed by locks of raven hair.

"T-Tifa…?"

"Oh my God Lightning! I thought I would never see you again!"

The brunette holds her neck tightly, almost painfully, clearly overjoyed to see her childhood friend again. Although Lightning is happy to see her friend doing well, she feels embarrassed by the display, acutely aware of their audience, and awkwardly pats Tifa's back.

"I´m… I´m glad to see you again, Tifa."

Tifa plants a firm kiss on Lightning's cheek before pulling back slightly, her hands still gently gripping Lightning's forearms as she gazes at her with affection.

"Oh my...! But just look at you! The last time I saw you, you were a scrawny little girl! And now, you've grown up to be so... stunning!"

"Tifa!" If Lightning was already feeling disturbed by all the touchy moment, now her cheeks definitely are burning at all the attention. She liberates her arms from her friend´s and gives a step backwards, crossing her arms in front of her chest in a protective stance. "That´s… that´s completely out of line! Besides, talk about yourself! You´ve… well you´ve… grown…" Lightning moves her eyes away, her cheeks blushing even more, suddenly all too conscious of Tifa´s assets.

There´s a giggle at her side that makes her blush even deeper.

"I´m glad to know I´m not the only one that noticed your sex appeal, Cloud´s sister."

"Hey!"

Tifa laughs in return.

"Oh! You have no idea! Even when we were kids, many people did notice her, since Lightning was the cutest, most beautiful girl in Nibelheim!"

"Tifa!"

"Ooohhh…? I´m sure guys were always around her all the time, seeking for her attention!"

"Certainly not!" Tifa giggles again, her attention now solely on Aerith, as if Lightning weren't standing right next to them. "She was always so serious and eager for a fight that all the boys in town were scared of her! Poor Claudia had a harder time raising Lightning than Cloud!"

"No way!" Aerith giggles even more, covering her mouth as if in disbelief.

"Tifa! That´s enough! She doesn´t need to know all that!" Lightning takes a step forward, trying to protect what little remains of her pride.

The girls giggle a bit more but eventually comply.

"So, you are indeed Cloud´s sister." Aerith asks her, inclining her body slightly forward to see her face better.

Lightning huffs, crossing her arms over her chest once more.

"Did you doubt it?"

"Well, no but…" Aerith sends a look of appreciation to the girl. "Well, it´s quite hard to believe such a beauty would be a sister of such a sour boy."

Tifa intervenes, all too happy to see Lightning and Aerith, her two best friends, getting to know each other.

"You have to believe it, Aerith. Lightning is Cloud´s twin sister. And one of my best friends."

Finally, Tifa manages to coax a small smile from the tall pinkette with her assertion, unaware that this sweet gesture sends Aerith into fangirl mode once more.

"Thank you, Tifa. You´re my best friend too."

"Awww… when did you get so sweet?"

Tifa smiles back and embraces her again, this time in a gentler hug that doesn't make the tall pinkette falter.

"But tell me, all goofiness aside, where´s that brother of mine?"

Tifa suddenly opens her eyes wide, remembering her assignment.

"Oh! Right! He had been waiting for you to arrive, but then got called back to dispose of a few stray monsters over the platform. He won´t comeback until late at night, I´m afraid, so he asked me to keep you company."

Lightning´s eyes suddenly fall in disappointment. It´s more than evident she had been eagerly waiting for their reunion.

"Oh… okay… I guess, we´ll have to wait."

"Oh, but not here!" Aerith interjects, starting to feel captivated by Lightning's various expressions. She notices how the pinkette's face resembles Cloud's, yet it's more expressive, more... relaxed. Unlike Cloud's permanent cool façade, Lightning seems at ease, as if she doesn't need to prove how amazing she truly is. The brunette thinks it's understandable since, after all, Lightning already exudes coolness just by standing there.

"Uh?" The two girls look at Aerith with a questioning stare, Tifa being the one to ask. "Not here? Where to then?"

"We should go up Sector 8 on a shopping spree!"

"Shopping spree? Why?"

Aerith´s playful smirk makes Lightning raise an eyebrow.

"Well, don´t you remember, Tifa? Tomorrow we have the LOVELESS performance."

The bartender opens her eyes wide, a soft smile gracing her full lips.

"Oh! Yes! We have the tickets already!"

Lightning raises a second eyebrow at seeing the two women almost fangirling.

"What´s that?"

Aerith sends her way the brightest smile she can conjure.

"A play we´ve been waiting for so long to assist to! And the time is almost up!"

Lightning gives a step backwards at the overly excited flower girl. She can battle armies, can kill the biggest monster, hell! She could go against a god if she needs to! But a chirpy girl whose whole attention is centered on her? Well…

"Oh, and you´ll both go see it?"

Tifa winks at her.

"You´re coming along too, sweetie. Cloud got the tickets, and hoping you might be here by the time of the play, he bought a ticket for you as well."

Lightning pinches the bridge of her nose and shakes her head, starting to feel a headache forming.

"Did my stupid brother ever consider asking me if I wanted to go?"

"No." Tifa leans over her, trying to imitate Aerith´s cocky smile. "But he knows you would never say no to something I proposed."

Lightning can´t help it and blushes at the brunette´s daring action. Since when did Tifa get this… flirtatious? She gives another step backwards, all too conscious both girls are breaking her personal bubble.

"Okay, fine! But stop doing that! It´s making me uncomfortable."

Tifa and Aerith giggle simultaneously, causing a bead of sweat to appear on Lightning's forehead.

"Does that mean you´ll come with us?"

Lightning shakes her head, but her words betray her.

"If Tifa asks for it…"

Aerith jumps up in glee, clapping her hands excitedly, while Tifa giggles and places both hands on Aerith's shoulders, sharing in her friend's joy.

"Fine, fine, but we really need to head up before your brother arrives," Aerith intervenes, taking Lightning's hand with both of hers. However, seeing Lightning furrow her brow suddenly, Aerith withdraws her hands as if they had burned her. Lightning raises a delicate eyebrow, and Aerith starts to rant under those deep blue eyes looking intently at her.

"I'm... I'm sorry! I understand we just met, and I feel I'm being a little too pushy. It's just..." Aerith nervously tucks a lock of hair behind her ear. "You seem so familiar to me, with your looks resembling Cloud's so much. I guess I just got carried away."

"Umh..." Lightning was momentarily speechless, only to be brought back to her senses by Tifa's nudging. She might have been like her brother at times—sour and moody—but her experiences during her SOLDIER missions had taught her a great deal about life. She had suffered enough and paid enough with her blood to understand empathy and tact, though they still didn't come naturally to her. She sighs heavily but forces herself to take a step towards the embarrassed girl.

"It's okay, Aerith. I'd like to get to know you too. It's just... it's hard for me as well. I'm not really comfortable with being touched so easily."

Aerith smiles brightly at her.

"I understand, don't worry! I'll try not to overwhelm you, but please bear with me. I'm a touchy person, so I hope we can find a middle ground?"

Lightning scratches her neck.

"Yeah… I guess so…"

Now it´s Tifa the one to clap her hands in joy.

"Excellent! Then we really can go buy your dress for the night, Lightning!"

"M-my dress?"

"Well yeah… Aerith and I already have our dresses, and I´m sure you don´t want to take those filthy and ugly clothes to the play."

Lightning looks down at herself.

"What´s wrong with these?"

Aerith giggles, immediately forgetting her recent promise and taking Lightning´s arm with both of hers.

"It´s really nothing wrong with these, you look quite sexy on them, to be honest. But they´re not fit for the place we´re going to."

Lightning blushes again. What´s wrong with this girl? Tifa taking her other arm shakes her from her thoughts.

"Plus! Your brother already agreed to use nicer clothes too, you can´t let him go by himself, right?"

"Actually, I´m sure I can…"

"Nonsense!" Aerith intervenes, still clung to her arm. "You´ll be the most beautiful girl in the theatre, you´ll see."

"Obviously, not more beautiful than us!" Tifa protests playfully and Aerith laughs.

"Absolutely! But first, we'll have to figure out what to do about those amazing eyes of yours—they give you quite an advantage!"

Tifa and Aerith release her and share a giggle, plotting their next move as they stroll hand in hand toward the counter. However, Lightning grabs Tifa's wrist and pulls her close, speaking in hushed tones as if to avoid being overheard by the cheerful brunette.

"Tifa? Am I missing something here?"

"Uh? What do you mean?"

The pinkette definitely looks awkward, but she really has to ask.

"Do you… would you think Aerith might think I… swing the other way?"

Tifa giggles, her hand femininely covering he mouth, and then shakes her head.

"No, silly, don't worry. I really don't think so, especially since she already has a boyfriend. I think it's just that you resemble Cloud so much... You'll soon see she's like that, very touchy and huggy. At times, she reminds me of Marlene, you know? But don't worry, if you want, I can talk to her and make her really commit to keep her hands off you, at least a bit. Would that be okay?"

Lightning nods hesitantly.

"Yes, please. I mean… I don´t mind much but…"

"Tifa smiles at her, appreciating Lightning's effort to maintain closeness with her dearest friend."

"I know, I know, it´s just too much, right? Don´t worry, at first Cloud too had a rough time accepting her hands all around him, but now he´s more than used to her ways."

Lightning´s eyes grow wide at the new info and blushes even more.

"What? What do you mean her hands…? Oh, damn! Tifa! I really don´t want know that kind of stuff about my brother!"

"Oh?" Tifa raises an eyebrow in surprise at Lightning´s outburst, quite lost on the reason. Then, as understanding dawns on her, she giggles even more, playfully slapping her own arm. "Don't be silly! I didn't mean it like that! What I meant is, Aerith was just like you saw her now when she first met Cloud. At first, he wasn't used to her touchy-feely ways, but he eventually grew accustomed to them. You'll see, Aerith is a sweet girl and a great friend. You two will get along just fine."

Lightning sighs, and then grants her childhood friend a smile.

"Fine then. If you trust her that much, I´m sure I´ll be able to trust her as well."

"Oh, Light! You're the best!" Tifa hugs the tall woman once more but, mindful of their recent conversation, quickly lets her go. She still grabs Lightning's forearm, though, gently pulling her towards the counter. Lightning appreciates the gesture and follows Tifa without resistance.

"Well, you just said it earlier. It´s true I really can´t say no to anything you ask of me."

"You're making me very happy, Light. But let's change the subject and tell me a bit about yourself. I know you became a SOLDIER alongside Cloud, and that you've been living in Junon for a couple of years now. But what's been going on in your life? And what made you finally decide to drop by? Cloud didn't mention why you're here. Did you come all the way from home just to see him?"

"Well, not exactly. I just recently heard words of Cloud living here, that´s why I applied for a deployment mission in Midgar and wrote him as soon as I got the green light. Fortunately for me, it didn't take too long."

"Oh! Really? That´s very lucky for us as well, then! Can you share what is this mission about?"

Lightning shakes her head, though never loses the smile.

"I´m sorry Tifa, it´s a secret mission, I´m really not supposed to talk about it. Not even Cloud knows what is it about."

"Oh… well it´s okay, I guess, though you very well know you can trust me with anything."

Lightning hesitates. She has never liked seeing Tifa's sad eyes, not even when they were children. Despite being acutely aware that she's not supposed to disclose anything about her mission, she trusts Tifa completely. Additionally, knowing how well-connected Tifa is wherever she goes, Lightning realizes she might be able to help her with her research. After sighing once more, her resolution solidifies, and she leans in closer so that only her best friend can hear her words.

"Please don´t tell anyone, but I´m here to hunt and bring down a group of eco-terrorist known as AVALANCHE."

Tifa´s beautiful crimson eyes open wide in shock and terror at the ominous news.

What?

oooooooooooOOOOOOoooooooooo

Author's Note: Okay, I hope you like this one. I'm not particularly touchy either, only with my closest friends, so I can understand Lightning's discomfort with Aerith's personality. In the Remake, Aerith doesn't seem too concerned about touching Cloud so much (but let's be honest here, even though Cloud isn't a fan of close encounters, he IS a guy after all! Being touched by a beautiful girl must be quite pleasant for him!). So, I imagine that's how Aerith would be with Lightning, especially since she already feels a strong connection due to Lightning's resemblance to Cloud. What do you think?

I´m sorry if Lightning is a little bit too OOC in the story, but I´ve always seen she´s rather… awkward, whenever there´s a sentimental situation around her, especially a girly situation. Also, to clarify, I want to use Lightning´s personality in LR:FF13, her more mature and open attitude, instead of her original FF13 one, where she was all angry and explosive. I know it should be the first, but Lightning is a character who has evolved soooo much through her games, that I wanted to pay homage to that. Not all characters get such an amazing arch. Hope you don´t mind.

In any case, I promise we´ll see about her harsh, determined and strong personality as well, especially since she came to Midgard to hunt down the AVALANCHE. Oh dear! If she only knew!

I still hope you´re liking the story.

I don´t own final fantasy, I do this for entertainment purposes.