"I'll call it…Operation Nora."
"Nora?" I repeated quizzically. A sad half-smile crossed Hope's feminine features. His voice deepened with loving sentiment as he answered.
"My mother's name."
It suddenly made sense. Exactly why he followed me. Why he insisted on taking the lead. Why he was struggling so much to keep his fear under wraps. He wasn't just trying to get stronger – he actually intended to kill Snow.
"Your revenge?" I inquired, disapproval heavy in my voice.
He clenched his hands into his fists and nodded, his back going rigid with anxiety. "Yes." He must have known I planned to talk him out of it, because he kept talking. "Don't tell me!" he murmured, his voice beginning to break here and there. "I know getting revenge on him won't…won't bring her back…" He whirled around to face me, shoulders trembling and eyes filled with hurt and hatred. "I know that!" I could see the tears he was fighting before he looked down, clenching his fists even tighter. He took a few shaky breaths before turning those big blue eyes back up to me, revealing the pain and unrest tearing him apart. "But 'sorry' won't cut it!" he finished, his voice quiet and broken.
I met his eyes for just a second, but it was too late. I kept quiet – not because I couldn't be bothered, but because I understood. I felt every word he said. The pain he felt was mine when I was his age. It was mine even now, as I fought to gain my own revenge against the Sanctum. I certainly couldn't judge him. Not when I was exactly the same.
As Hope turned away from me and continued on, I knew I had to give him something else to hold on for. But as I began to follow after him, it hit me.
In all our misfortune, our world and everything we had – everyone we loved, everything we'd ever known – it had all been taken from us. Nothing made sense to us. How could it, when we were all enemies of our homeworld? The realization sinks into my chest like a sledgehammer.
Deep down, he knows I'm the only one who understands him. I'm the only one who can fathom what he feels.
I'm all he has now.
I shook it off and kept following him. I told myself that I didn't want to be burdened with that. I didn't want to be the only person he has to rely on. It was hard enough being strong for Serah. Hope's father would be there for him, too, once we made it back to Palumpolum.
Deep down, however, I resolved not to let anything happen to him, and chose to strengthen myself in my decision to protect him. Because with Serah gone…
…he's all I have.