So I've decided to post a bunch of oneshots and drabbles here. They'll mostly be set in the LR universe, with the exception of this chapter for now since it's an AU. Also pairings will be mostly platonic but probably focusing on some relationship dynamics that I really like (such as Hope and Lightning, and Lightning and Serah, and some others)

Anyway, this first chapter was initially posted on Tumblr. It's based on a little comic translated by tensai-shoujo and is one of the few "happier" stories I've written. Enjoy, and please let me know what you think!

Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy XIII or its characters.

"What's it like being the only woman in the military?"

Lightning glanced down at her young companion, who was watching her with a curious look on his face. His eyes were determined, but his mouth was full of bread, making his expression look cute rather than serious.

"A kid like you shouldn't be asking questions like that," she told him, reaching over to ruffle his hair with her gloved hand. He made a grunt of protest, trying to bat her hand away with his own. She smiled, the corners of her mouth twitching upwards.

She had found the boy a few weeks ago, while she was on evening patrol. Under normal circumstances, she did not allow herself to get too close to civilians. But there had been something different about this one.

xxxxx

He was huddled on the ground in a back alley, his arms wrapped around his knees. Had it not been for the glint of his silver-white hair reflecting the evening sun, she would never have known that he was there.

"It's almost 6PM, it's getting dark out," she said as she approached the boy, and he looked up to acknowledge her presence. "You should head home, kid."

He was silent. She wondered if her uniform had intimidated him, but then he spoke. "I don't have a home," he replied, his voice barely above a whisper. "My parents are dead."

The look on his face was miserable, and her heart softened at the sight. Despite being a child, he looked too old to be taken to the orphanage. He would not be allowed into the military housing facility, so she could not have him stay with her. But if he was left out on the streets alone…

His stomach growled, and his cheeks turned pink. "I-I haven't eaten in a while…" he stuttered, embarrassed. Shaking her head, she pulled him to his feet.

"Let's get you something to eat," she said with a smile. "And after that, we can find you a place to stay for the night."

The boy's face lit up. "You'd do that for me?"

"Of course. It's my job."

She neglected to tell him that feeding civilians was definitely not part of her job description. But being of a relatively high rank, she had the reputation and the money to spare. She led him to a nearby bakery and allowed him to eat to his heart's content. Then, she took him to an inn.

"Let him stay as long as he wants," she told the innkeeper. "I'll pay for it all." With that, she produced a small bag of gold from her uniform pocket and placed it on the counter. The innkeeper knew better than to haggle with a soldier, and he took the bag with a silent nod.

"My work here is done," she whispered to herself, and turned around to leave, only to be stopped by a hand grasping her wrist.

"W-wait!" the boy cried. "You're leaving? At least, could you tell me your name?"

She sighed. "Why do you need to know?"

He blushed. "I…just want to know who to thank. For saving my life."

"All I did was feed you, and now I'm leaving you here alone."

"T-that's enough for me!"

She generally found this kind of determination annoying, but on him, it was almost…endearing. Then, Lightning did something that surprised even herself. She raised a hand to her mouth and let out a small laugh. The boy's eyes grew wide.

"My name is Lightning," she finally told him, her eyes still sparkling with amusement. "You'd do well to remember that."

He nodded. "I will."

xxxxx

"Lightning? Are you listening?"

She snapped out of her reverie and glanced at him. "No, I'm not."

He grinned. "Well, at least you're being honest!"

Ever since their first meeting some weeks ago, she had been running into him in town more often than she had expected. She had learned that his name was Hope Estheim, and that his parents had perished in a recent fire outbreak in the West District. The boy had since managed to find work at the bakery that they had visited together, and they were currently perched on a wall near the outskirts of town, enjoying the scenery while sharing a fresh loaf of bread.

She noticed that this had become a ritual – he would find her while she was on break and bring her something to eat. At first, they had stood awkwardly near the barracks, until he discovered this spot and showed it to her one day. Eating lunch with a civilian was hardly common for a soldier, but Lightning found that she enjoyed his company much more than that of the rest of her squadron.

"They're a bunch of pigs," she stated plainly while munching her bread. Hope looked up at her, confused.

"What are-oh, are you actually answering my question?"

"You don't want me to?" Her icy gaze bore down on him, but somehow he remained unfazed.

"No, I was just surprised. But are they really all that bad?"

Lightning scoffed. "They're noisy and uncultured, and they never take their jobs seriously. You won't believe the number of times I've been proposed to in the past month. It's ridiculous."

Hope looked down at the small loaf in his hands. "When I join the military…I won't be like them. I'll protect people and make them smile, just like you do."

"I don't make people smile, kid."

"But they still do!" He grinned. "I know I did when you helped me."

She flicked him gently on the forehead. "Just eat your bread."

xxxxx

When they had finished eating, it was time for Lightning to return to her patrol. "I'll see you tomorrow, Hope," she told him as she flung her legs over the wall. Her feet touched the ground and she held out a hand to help him down. As always, he shook his head with a smile and jumped down, landing with his knees slightly bent.

"Um, before you go…" he began before she could turn to leave. "There's something I wanted to give you."

He fumbled around in his pocket before producing a small wooden ring, carved with flowers. It was painted with bright colours and looked almost like a toy.

"I want you to have this," he told her, placing the ring in her hand. "You inspired me to become a soldier, and that's what I'm going to do, once I'm old enough. And when I'm finally in your squadron, I'll ask you to marry me, too," he finished with a grin.

She remained silent, and as the seconds passed he began to worry. Finally, she smiled. Not just a twitch of her lips, but a genuine smile that reached her eyes. "I hope you're joking about that last part," she told him as she pulled off her glove and slipped the ring onto her finger.

"I'm serious!" he insisted, but he could not keep the smile off his face, and soon enough they both began to laugh. It was a strange and unusual bond that had grown between them during the short time that they had known each other, but it was strong nonetheless.

As their laughter died down, he spoke again. "Will you wait for me, Lightning?" he asked. "Will you still be a soldier when I'm old enough?"

"…call me Light," she replied, still smiling slightly. "And I won't be quitting anytime soon. Even if I do…we'll see each other around, like we do now. Only then you'll be the soldier and I'll be the civilian."

"And by then, I'll probably be taller than you, too."

"…don't push your luck, kid."

xxxxx

"Hey Sarge, how's it going?"

Lightning rolled her eyes as one of her newer subordinates sat himself down in the seat beside her. Or at least, she assumed that he was new. The rest of her squadron knew better than to sit with her at dinner.

The man raised an eyebrow and grinned. "Y'know, we never really do much around here," he yawned, stretching so he could reach an arm around her. She scooted away, but he managed to grab her left arm, placing a hand atop hers.

"So, Lightning," he began, and she held back the urge to punch him in the face. "When we're both off duty, which is pretty much all the time, let's go grab a drink together out in town."

Calmly, she slid her hand out from under his. Then, she removed her glove, revealing the band on her ring finger. She watched as his smug expression slowly morphed into one of shock and his jaw dropped.

"Sorry," she told him with a smirk, without a hint of remorse in her tone. "But I'm spoken for."