Three Red Roses – "I love you."

What do you think of when you see the colors red, white and pink? What do you think of when you hear the word love? What do you think about when you smell the scent of roses? Does your heart flutter? Does it constrict with joy? Well ladies and gentlemen, it is here at last. Arguably, the most romantic day of the year… and the busiest… well it depends on your profession of course. Yup, you guessed it. Today is the famed holiday; Valentine's Day.

Two figures sat atop of Fated Inc; the building with a near perfect view of the blossoming parade below. The party was in full swing as the impossibly large floats trailed each other one by one. Rosy and crimson colors decorated the streets creating a sea of joy. People crowded alongside the roads drowning in this euphoria. Not a single face was untouched by the happiness around.

Correction: All but two were feeling the Valentine's spirit.

"I can't believe they assigned me with you." The woman spoke as she stood tall and noble while eyeing the crowds.

"Hey I'm great. You're not the one stuck with the ice queen. Wait you're worse, you are her. How do you even have the requirements for this job anyways? Don't you have to have a heart? Or even emotions at least?" Her partner (much to her chagrin) retorted. Unlike her, he was laid flat on his stomach, peering down the sight of his armament.

"Can it, Caelum before I do it for you." Her voice left no room for doubt, it was meant to be feared, not to be challenged. However things never really went her way anymore, especially when it came to him. Like fish to bait, he tried to defy her in any way possible; at anytime possible.

"I'd like to see you try, Farron." And there it was. The snarky comeback that always always followed her threats.

"Etro, you are absolutely insufferable." She huffed away her growing annoyance towards the man as her eyes locked onto the next target. Her right hand reached over her shoulder behind her back to grab two of the tail feathered, sharpened sticks. She placed them directly against the curved, yet smooth surface of the object in her left hand. Her body flexed appropriately as she drew her weapon. The dart-like and otherwise deadly carvings were placed gently between her thumb and index finger, while the other was resting on her pinky finger. Both ready to bury themselves into anything that got in their way.

"Yeah and what era did you come from." He mocked. His eyes briefly lingered over her fit form, taking note of how each lithe muscle moved as she turned the weapon so it laid horizontal to her; before finally glaring at the ancient abomination in her hands.

"Shut up. I have a taste for the classics." He grimaced and shook his head before returning to his task at hand.

"You got a taste for something alright. No way one of those can hold up to my baby thou-"

Fwip!

The two projectiles flew from the bow and imbedded perfectly into two strangers bumping into each other. The arrows then exploded into a small firework of glitter and hearts, leaving no permanent mark. As expected the two strangers began to walk side by side as they entered a café; smiling all the while.

"You were saying?" She smirked, clearly satisfied with her aim (and being able to shut him up.)

"Lucky shot." His eyes lit up when he saw a woman sitting on the bench reading a magazine and her destined lover walking down the street towards her direction. His trigger finger was set as he waited for them to cross paths.

3…

2..

1..

Fwip!

Bubbly hearts surrounded his targets as he looked on in surprise. He didn't even pull the trigger. Then he realized what had happened.

"Farron!" He roared, looking at her in disbelief. Meeting his gaze she acted innocently.

"What? I'm just doing my job. I can't help it if a certain someone is getting rusty." Mischief danced in her eyes and a smug and tiny grin found its way to her lips.

Oh it is so on!

"You don't know what you just started, Farron." His eyes hardened once again as he looked down the sight of his rifle. He had a competitive streak. They both did.

"Same rules as last year?" She arched an eyebrow, clearly amused as she presented the contest.

"Loser has to do whatever the winner says for the entire day?" He clarified, all too eager.

"Exactly." She confirmed.

One year ago

"Light, you really shouldn't egg him on like that."

"Why not Serah? He needs be knocked down a peg or two." The two girls sat at a round wooden table picking away at their lunches.

"He's just… confident…" Serah tried to reason, but Lightning was having none of it.

"No Serah, he's an ass. A-S-S. Ass." She took a sip of her drink.

"You're just angry that he hits on you and isn't afraid too."

"Serah," Lightning pointed to the sandwich on her sister's plate. "Eat."

"Hey." The familiar voice grated on her nerves as she physically looked like she was in pain from hearing it. Noctis noticed this of course. "Very funny, Farron." He leaned in close to her ear. "Don't act like you hate the sound of my sexy voice." A shiver ran down her body as she registered the words. It's because she's disgusted (she tells herself.) Her natural reaction is to push his face away from her poor ear using her palm…which coincidentally has her sandwich in it this time around. A few seconds go by as everyone in the lunch room takes in the situation that had unfolded. They first person to move is Noctis as he retracts his face from the fluffy, carbed up bread, wiping the crumbs from his face.

"Damn it, Farron!" Before Noctis could begin his rant an old and haggard looking man stomped into the room. His appearance is short as he simply throws a stack of papers on the Farron's table and storms out. The front page reads 'RESULTS.' Simultaneously two hands come colliding down on the papers; one belonging to Lightning Farron, the other belonging to Noctis Caelum.

"Let go, Caelum." The tension builds.

"You first, Farron." A crowd accumulates with popcorn at the scene playing out in front of them (they all know the bet between the two.)

"Scared that you lost?" She teases.

"That's not even possible."

"Then let go."

"Not a chance."

"For the love of! Give it here! I'll read it!" Serah gets up from the table to swipe the stack away from the two adults, no, children. She flips the page and scans it. "The person with the most 'singles mingled' is… Lightning!"

"What?! No Way!" He grabs the papers only to see that his name was not next to the number one slot. His eyes lock with his sworn enemy as she tilts her head giving him an 'I told you so' look.

"Admit defeat?" She holds back a smile.

"Fine. Yeah. Whatever." He slumps over, mouth in a distinct pout. He grumbles like a four year old who had his toys taken away. "What do you want me to do?" She delightfully pulls a bag out from under the table. She passes him…

A white cloth

A ridiculous plastic bow and arrow (the arrow having a big, bright red heart at the end of it.)

And a blond wig.

"You, Caelum, are going to be our very own cute little cupid for the rest of today." He tries to hide the shock. He tries to force down the blush spreading on his face. He tries to play it smoothly like he always does.

"If you wanted to see me half naked all you had to do was ask, Farron." Her grin does not falter, because he knows he lost, she knows he knows. She gets up, walks over to him and places a hand on his should.

"Go get changed, Caelum. Oh, and make sure that diaper is secure, okay? Wouldn't want you to be fired for indecent exposure or anything."

The streets become a flurry of hearts and sparkles as the arrows and bullets make contact with the people below inciting a fruitful and hopefully long lasting love. Although the intentions behind these emotions are a bit frivolous, seeing as they are the product of a not so friendly competition.

"Come on, Farron give it up. I'm winning this one."

Bang! Bang!

"Don't get cocky."

Fwip! Fwip! Fwip!

"Losing won't be that bad! I picked out a really cute outfit for you to wear! Tell me, how do you feel about sequins?"

Bang! Bang! Bang!

"Shut your mouth, Caelum."

Fwip! Fwip!

"Oh, testy. Farron, why don't you just admit that you like having me around? You have feelings for me."

Bang!

"You know what? You're right. I do have feelings for you. I detest you. I loathe you. I hate you."

Fwip!

"Wow such strong feelings. I'm flattered."

Bang! Bang!

"Results are in! Results are in!" Noctis sings as he runs down the halls and into the cafeteria. He makes a beeline towards a certain pinkette. "Read 'em and weep, Farron!" He interrupts her mid chew. She grabs the papers out of his hand and flips to the results.

1st Noctis Caelum
2nd Lightning Farron

She nearly chokes on her food but, she takes the defeat like a mature and responsible adult… with a glower. "Hooray. Congratulations Caelum. You won. I'm so happy for you." She bites out as bitterly and sarcastically as possible. She sighs. "Where's my outfit?" She curses at herself as she extends her hand to him, using all of her might to uncurl it into anything that isn't a middle finger or a fist.

"Hm? Oh I'll give it to you to change into later… for our date." He wears a self satisfied grin on his face like a champ. He laughs when he sees the look of utter distress on her face, like she would do anything but that. But there is no convincing him otherwise. No one else but Noctis knows that since the first time he had met Lightning she had become the girl of his dreams and he had finally scored a date with her and he was not letting go of it. "I'll pick you up at seven." He shoots her a wink and exits the cafeteria using his 'cool guy' walk, but the moment those doors close behind him he breaks out into a giddy 'head over his heels' dance.

Noctis thinks he had seen it all and boy was he wrong. His new favorite thing to see is a flushed and adorably embarrassed Lightning Farron that is done up from head to toe due to her sister's handiwork. He presents her with three roses. With it he teases her with three little words that would surely make her redder than even possible. "I. Love. You." It does the trick. He laughs when she trips over herself trying to form a proper sentence, stuttering she's able to get out three words of her own. "Y-you're an… idiot!" Yes, victory had never tasted so sweet.

A/N- Did you get it? Did you? Did you? They were modern day cupids! Haha, Happy Valentine's Day!