Tales from the New World
A Hope/Light Collection
#1: Cuddling
"Hope, what are you doing?"
Hope smiled widely and his eyes seemed to actually sparkle as they looked up at her from her lap. "I'm cuddling with you."
"I'm not a cuddly person," she countered, frowning down at him with a cocked eyebrow.
"On the contrary, I find you very cuddly."
Lightning rolled her eyes but didn't make a move to push Hope away. If he found lying with his head in her lap the most productive way to spend his day, who was she to rain on his parade? "Don't you have work to do?" she said with a sigh as she brought a hand up to run her fingers through his soft, silver hair. The afternoon sun caused the pale strands to shine like moonlight.
"I am working," was his reply. He closed his eyes, enjoying her touch. "This brain never stops."
Lightning let out a short chuckle. "You're such a kid," she said fondly, combing her long fingers through his bangs.
"I'm older than you," he pointed out with a teasing smirk.
She rewarded his lip by poking his forehead. "Then shouldn't you be out there looking for a girlfriend instead of hanging out with jailbait like me, old man?" she teased back.
Hope opened his eyes and met hers with an amused twinkle. "You're my girlfriend."
Lightning raised both her eyebrows. "Is that so? I wasn't aware."
He shrugged, but that playful smile never left his face. "I meant to tell you."
Lightning rolled her eyes again and used both her hands to squish his cheeks together. "Is that your way of asking me out?" she asked, her own cheeks pinkening slightly.
"That depends," he replied, fish-lipped from her hold on his face. "Is it working?"
"Give me three good reasons why I should say yes," she demanded, removing her hands from his cheeks to rest them on his forehead instead.
Hope closed his eyes again. "Hmm..." he said, making a show of thinking over her request. "Well, you can stand me. That's a pretty good reason," he offered.
"That's one," she counted.
"And I've known you for a millennium," he stated. "I know all your likes and dislikes."
"Two."
His smile turned soft and he opened his eyes to look at her adoringly. "I love you."
Lightning's breathing hitched and she looked away from him as an embarrassed flush spread across her face. She brought up a hand and covered her face bashfully. "That's a good reason," she mumbled into her palm.
Hope lifted his arm, pulling her hand away and forcing her to look at him. He smiled brightly, seeming entirely unashamed of his unexpected confession. "So, is that a yes, then?"
Lightning nodded once, swiftly. "Sure."
They heard Serah squeal excitedly from inside the house and shared a blush.
Hey, all! I've decided to make a collection for the less-than-story-length Hoperai ficlets that pop into my brain. Not all of these may be set in the New World, but I'm sure many of them will be as I very much enjoy writing about post-LR Hope and Lightning.
Enjoy!
