For hoperai week. Prompt: Space.
"Does the sky look the same here as in the old world?" Lightning asked, staring up at the stars above them.
"No. Everything's different, actually. Different stars, different planets, different everything," Hope answered.
They were lying next to each other on a blanket in the garden outside their house, waiting for a meteor shower to begin. According to Hope, the shower was called "the Perseids" and was an annual thing on Earth. Lightning wasn't really that interested in astronomy, but she'd agreed to watch it with him anyway. Hope was excited enough for both of them.
It was the middle of August, and the night was unexpectedly chilly. Lightning shuddered, regretting not putting on a thicker sweater. Hope immediately pulled her closer to him, his arms wrapped tightly around her body.
"Cold?" he asked, moving his hand up and down her arm, trying to cause some warming friction.
"A little. But it's okay," Lightning said with a smile. She moved her head a little to the side, letting it rest in the crook of Hope's neck. "Tell me about them. The stars."
"What do you mean, 'the stars'? Like, all of them?"
"Yes. I like hearing you talk about stars."
Hope laughed and kissed the top of Lightning's head. "You'll definitely regret saying that."
Hope talked for hours, and Lightning didn't regret it even once. Hope had been studying astronomy ever since they came to Earth, and he already knew more about Earth's night sky than Lightning had ever known about the one in their old world.
Hope suddenly stopped talking in the middle of a sentence and pointed at the sky.
"Look, it's starting," he said just as another bright light crossed the sky.
"It's beautiful," Lightning said, a wide smile playing on her lips. Back in the old world, she'd never had time for things like stargazing. Back then, she'd never had time for love, either. But here I am, Lightning thought, stargazing and in love.
"The earthlings have this tradition – remember the fireworks of Bodhum?" Hope said, drawing circles on her arm with his thumb. "How people used to make a wish when they saw them? Apparently, the earthlings do the same thing when they see shooting stars."
"That's a nice tradition," Lightning said. She sank into her own thoughts for a moment, just watching the meteors light up the sky.
"I don't think I can come up with a single wish," she finally said. "Everything's just… perfect."
Hope moved his hands so he could grab her by the waist, and Lightning let out a tiny yelp as he placed her on top of him. "Now everything's perfect," he said, grinning smugly.
"Shit, Hope, I'm heavy," Lightning protested, trying to roll off him.
"No, you're not," Hope answered, wrapping his arms around her to hold her in place.
"I'll crush you."
"No, you won't," Hope said, still grinning at her. "Without all that armor you used to wear, you're actually pretty tiny."
Lightning shook her head, unable to hide her smile. "Shut up," she said, looking down on her fiancé. He was beautiful; even more beautiful than he'd been when he'd led the Academy. He'd carried the weight of the whole world on his shoulders back then, and his eyes had been haunted by stress and lack of sleep. He still had problems sleeping sometimes – and so did she, for that matter – but now they had each other. Together, they could chase away the nightmares.
Lightning leaned down and pressed her lips against his. Hope smiled before answering the kiss, his arms tightening around her. She sighed, savoring the waves of emotions rushing through her body. Six months ago, she hadn't thought she'd ever get to experience emotions like that again. But here I am, she thought, clasping the fabric of Hope's shirt in her hands as he kissed her senseless under the stars.
Here I am.