1. Heart
Noel held Serah close in his arms, waiting… praying for when she would wake up. She had just had another vision and was lying practically lifeless in his arms. He couldn't take this anymore. If they continued on…it was becoming more and more apparent to him that Serah would lose her life. Perhaps even with her next vision, the way she had fallen pray to this one.
Noel wanted to believe, as much as Serah did, that she would be able to find her sister. That everything was going to be alright for her. That she would live. But unlike Serah, he hadn't been taught his entire life to never give up hope. He'd seen so many people die… And Serah was only human. Noel pulled her closer against him, laying his cheek on her head, closing his eyes. He'd already lost everyone else that had ever been important to him: his parents, Yuel; and soon, Caius. Why do I have to lose her too? Serah is all I have left, and I can't even protect her... He thought, sighing, trying to fight back the tears trying to well up in the corners of his eyes.
Noel soon lifted his head again, moving his way to standing up, still holding Serah up tightly in his arms. He leaned her head on his shoulder so she wouldn't hurt her neck lying back. His hand lingered for a moment against her neck; it was so warm, and he could easily feel her pulse. The thought of her still being alive was slightly comforting, but what tore him apart was he didn't know for how longer. How long before that beautiful heart of hers would stop beating all together?
Noel sighed again and started walking. He wanted to clear his mind of these thoughts. He had always had them since he had figured out Serah's fate, but as her visions had a larger toll on her body, the worry increased exponentially.
He felt Serah inhale deeply against his neck, and stopped walking for a moment to glance down at her. Her slim body moved against his, attempting to stretch out her limb before her icy-blue eyes cracked open. She blinked, a little confused as to where she was for a moment, but as her vision became clearer and she became more aware again, she figured it out. Serah lifted her head away from Noel's shoulder, her eyes soon meeting his. She smiled a little shyly at him. "I passed out again didn't I…?"
Noel nodded. "You did."
"I'm sorry Noel…"
He shook his head and sighed. "Its alright, it isn't your fault. I'm just glad to see you awake again."
Serah nodded and smiled to him. "Yeah, I'm alright now." She continued to stare up at him for a few minutes, before breaking the silence and giggling. "You can put me down now you know." She teased.
Noel chuckled lightly as well, allowing her body to slowly slip out of his arms and guiding her feet to the ground. Serah stepped away, stretching her arms over her head before they laid towards her back, hands clasped together behind her. "So, she we get going on finding that artifact then?" she asked, her ponytail bouncing over her shoulder as she looked back at him.
Noel nodded to her. "Lets. The sooner we find it, the sooner we can find Lightning." He said to her, smirking. Serah smiled bigger and nodded to him almost excitedly. "Right!"
Serah and turned forward again, and Noel looked down, the thoughts from earlier still swirling around in his head.
Little did he know that not to long in the future, he would hold onto her again, but this time, Serah wouldn't be waking up.