Disclaimer:I own nothing!

Warnings: None really, briefest instance of language. The M is for later chapters. However, this story is going to be short, 3-4 chapters at best. Enjoy!

Her eyes studied his calculated movements with a mix of adoration and envy. Each punch, each step, was a flawless display of his fighting prowess. As Snow and Sazh practiced sparring in the open field during a much-needed break during their quest, Lightning looked on from her comfortable seat on a nearby boulder, feeling more than a little sorry for Sazh. The older man kept backing away, retreating from Snow's powerful attacks with poorly veiled fear in his dark eyes.

Getting a little flustered from observing Snow's shirtless figure, glistening with sweat from the blazing heat, Lightning stood up and decided to put a stop to this. "That's quite enough for one day boys," she said darkly, moving to step between them. "These petty exertions are defeating the purpose of this break."

"Aw let 'em have a little fun," whined Vanille from Lightning's right. She turned to glare impatiently at the younger girl, beaming Lightning's way from her spot on the ground next to Hope.

"Whatever," Lightning replied coolly, turning briskly and walking away with a somewhat dramatic sweep of her red cape.

"Hey, Light!" she heard the painfully familiar voice call, as she retreated from the group's happy festivities to a spot of solitude beneath one of the open field's few trees. "You're just angry because not only can I beat you in a fight but Sazh as well!" the voice taunted her in a jovial tone, clearly playing, but igniting an angry spark in her competitive heart nonetheless.

"I don't remember ever losing to the likes of you, Snow," she called back to him darkly, abruptly ending her retreat and turning to face him.

"Well you will in a few minutes," he said, snickering happily and practically skipping her way, closing the distance between them rapidly.

"Is that a challenge?" she asked simply, already removing her cape and the holster of her sword, throwing them down into the golden and swaying grasses. She began stretching idly, preparing for what she secretly knew would be a difficult fight. She had no doubts of her ensuing victory, however. True, Snow was tough. A fool could see that, but she was tougher, a trained killer. He was a big softie with a silly bandana.

"It sure is," he replied. She could tell that he was also getting serious. Despite his occasional goofiness, Snow was not to be trifled with. He cracked his knuckles menacingly. She noticed the roughness of his calloused hands, wondering what they would feel like on her own skin- NO. She would not allow herself to think things like this, especially not now.

"I'm ready," she said, sounding bored, but really reeling with anticipation. She brought her hands up before herself, gesturing for Snow to attack. He wasted no time in moving her way, swinging his heavy arms in attempt to strike her, but Lightning was living up to her name swimmingly. She easily darted out of the way of even his most unexpected movements, tiring him. Soon the opportunity came for her to retaliate. She jabbed effortlessly at the powerful but slow form of Snow, hitting him 5 times for his every 1 success on herself.

The ease of her approaching victory was making Lightning cocky, though. She was letting her guard down and Snow was noticing. As she lifted her arm for what would have been a well-placed punch to his jaw, Snow hooked a thickly muscled arm around Lightning's unsuspecting neck, catching her in a firm headlock. Fuck.

She tried with all her strength to wrestle out of his grip, but for all her quickness and wit, Snow outdid her in force. "Yeild?" he asked triumphantly, and although all she could see through his grasp was the smooth, tan skin of his forearm, she knew his face held the most arrogant of smiles. She was pissed off.

"Never," she replied scathingly, thrashing around in Snow's tight embrace. So forceful were her movements that Lightning lost her balance and began to fall over backwards. His body was pressed so close to her own in his grip that Snow too began to fall, right on top of her. With quick maneuvering, his left arm let go of its choking hold on Lightning's neck, wrapped around her waist, and spun them both around. Snow fell hard onto his back, despite trying to break the fall with his right arm, and due to his movements Lightning landed on top of him rather than the hard, dry earth that was currently sending sharp shots of pain through his joints.

Lightning lay panting on top of Snow's hard body. Drenched in sweat, she looked down at the blue eyes of her attacker-made-savior. He was half smiling, half wincing in pain below her. For a few moments, Lightning forgot what was decent. She forgot that the others were behind her, looking at them in wonder. She knew only the rise and fall of his muscular chest, the reckless abandon on his face, reveling in the sheer joy of combat. She studied the careless way his sunny blonde hair fell across his eyes, hair now wild and hopeless due to the loss of the bandana mid-fall. She felt his strong arm holding her to him still, and the rush of adrenaline and a little something else coursing through her… well, she could tell he felt it too.

For those few moments, there was no Serah. There was no such thing as a "Fal'cie" and thus they were not "l'cie." They were not social outcasts but two warriors caught up in the passionate dances of battle and love. They did not have a focus, they were not doomed, and they did not have a care in the world. Right then, she ceased to pretend that she resented Snow because he was her precious baby sister's big bad boyfriend. The tension between them evaporated and she bathed in the purity and light that was the truth of her feelings. She resented Snow because he belonged with her. She hated him all those years because he loved Serah and not her. His crooked smile, his ragged clothes, his rugged and ever-present 5 'o-clock shadow… these were things she loved. Things she dreamed of involuntarily in her sleep and voluntarily when she touched herself. It was always him, always Snow. She was the one meant for him, not her delicate and flowery sister.

She was awoken from these thoughts by Snow's hands squeezing her shoulders. "Yo, Light, you okay?" he asked her worriedly. She realized she had been biting her lip so hard in her longing that it was bleeding steadily. She hastily wiped what blood she could from her chin with the back of her hand and stood abruptly. She wrenched herself out of his strong clutches and picked up her cape and sword nearby.

"Of course I am," she snapped, resolutely facing away from Snow so that he couldn't see her furious blush. She could see the others, all on their feet now, smiles gone from their faces as they looked her way in concern. "Let's get moving," she said to them simply.

To be continued… please review!