I haven't finished the game yet so if there are any charecters changes before certain events I certainly haven't gotten up to them so please don't point them out because that'll just ruin the game for me ._.
Chapter 1
"So you see, we need the graviton ores in order to progress with our work." Hope finished his lecture, the two time travelers were nearly falling asleep on their toes, "But of course, I'm sure we can wait another few days. You all need some rest."
"What? No..." Noel woke up, dark brown eyes bright with forced energy, "I'm not much of a...science...intellect."
"We can get started on it right away." Serah nodded.
"Oh no you don't." Alyssa stood in their way, "We have extra bunks with your names on them. I'll show you there...well, Serah at least. Director, should I get someone to show Noel to the male bunkers?"
"I'll do the honor," Hope shook his head and looked at the younger warrior, "I'd love to speak with Noel about his time on the way, if you don't mind."
"I'll answer whatever I'm comfortable with." He nodded.
"I don't know..." Serah's light blue eyes were full of worry now, "I don't want to waste another minute...leaving Lighting for another day..."
"Another night here means a few seconds everywhere else," Alyssa reassured her, "Come on! We just got new pillows!"
"What do you say?" Noel looked at his partner. Serah hugged Mog, the little moggle was asleep in her arms, snoozing away.
"I guess so," Serah finally said.
Hope gave a sigh of relief, the last thinghe wanted was for these time travelers to fall asleep somewhere less...safe. With all the gates to different times it was hard not to worry.
"In that case, follow me!" Alyssa took Serah by the arm and ran down the ramp.
Located in Academia, according to the travelers, in 4XX AF, Noel and Serah were the safest here. The city's defense would protect them from anything and this would most certainly be the safest place to rest out of all the time lines they've visited, according to their stories.
"We going anytime soon, doc?" Noel yawned.
"Yeah, come with me." Hope rolled his shoulders, he himself hasn't had any sleep for at least a few days, the project finally taking a toll on his health.
The Director and the Hunter walked side by side as they walked out of the green lit lab and into the lobby. Noel blinked at the sudden bright light and looked over at Hope, following his general direction.
"I'll answer whatever questions you have for me as long as you answer mine." Noel broke the silence as they walked. They could hear Alyssa speaking feverishly to Serah, the poor girl could only nod at whatever she was saying and try not to trip on her own feet.
"How does your sword work?" Hope asked, a curious emerald gaze on the weapon strapped to the Hunter's back.
"It's a combination of two swords," Noel took the blade from his back, slipping the smaller golden blade from the middle of the larger one, "The bigger one is for more defense, but both are pretty useful for fighting. Now what's going on between you and Alyssa?"
"Me and Alyssa...?" Hope's eyes got wide, "We're colleges!"
"So are Serah and I...in a way," Noel shook his head, straight brown locks shaking as he did so, "But I've never passed her looks like Alyssa does to you."
"Alyssa is a very affectionate person, if you hadn't noticed. She's nothing more than my fellow college. We share the same difficulties from the past maybe that's what makes us look closer but...Noel, please, you are sorely mistaken." Hope tried a smile and put his hands up.
"Whatever you say, 'Director'," Noel said the last word in a high-pitched voice, mocking Alyssa's tone.
"I thought the future would hold more...intellectual people." Hope chided, grinning at the look on Noel's face. They stopped in front of two great doors, which slid apart to give way to an elevator.
"Well the future can only hold people who can survive," Noel folded his arms, "I doubt your genius brain could survive a day over there."
"I was skilled with magic. I can just as easily pick back up." Hope looked at the younger boy, a challenging gaze passed through the both of them.
"Right, Serah told me you were the the youngest kid in the group. According to her, everyone said you had a crush on some girl named Vanille." The Hunter finally said, breaking the silence.
"It was not a crush. We just...had a connection, you know?" The image of the young, happy pink haired girl came into his mind.
"That's a crush, brain boy," Noel knocked his knuckles against Hope's head just as the elevator came to a stop, "I'm sorry for what happened to her."
"She's in a happier place...with Fang. I'm glad she was able to leave here on a positive note. She deserved it...after what she went through," Hope stepped out into the long corridor, "But anyways, this here is the bath hall. Once you're done you should head down the hall and take a right, pick any room there, they're all empty."
"Where are you going to go?" Noel asked.
"Take a shower," Hope sniffed his collar, "Oh boy, I thought a few days wouldn't seem so bad."
Noel could only give the older man a look. Hope let out a laugh and opened an empty bathroom door. There were three shower heads with a wall in between each to make a small cubical, all three were off and empty. Hope was taking off his tie when he saw the Hunter come in.
"I...kind of need a shower too." Noel gave a smile to try and break the awkward tension.
"Help yourself." Hope nodded, continuing to unbutton his uniform shirt.
Wrapping himself in a towel Hope left the dirty clothes in a neatly folded pile, passing by Noel's growing pile of laundry. Noel's uniform was a fashion Hope had never seen before, large baggy blue pants held up tight around his waist by different colored sashes and belts. His tight fit shirt lay on top of the pile, showered with the rope that tied around his right arm and the large leather wielding glove. The smell of ash, blood and dirt filled the air once Noel shook his head and faced the Director, his own white towel tied around his waist.
"Can I help you, Director?" Noel raised an eyebrow.
"Might want to leave your clothes for cleaning crew," Hope said after a moment, "You can wear Academy uniform until they're done."
"White doesn't really...match me, if you haven't noticed." Noel rejected the idea.
"You're just going to sleep in them, don't worry." The Director knocked his knuckles against the younger boy's head as he headed into the nearest stall, pulling the curtain behind him.
"Whatever you say, 'Director'." The Hunter said with his teasing voice again. Noel passed Hope's stall and headed into the one furthest from him, by the natural comfort law of course.
Hope washed himself clean of his state of stress, both from his projects and the boy two stalls down. No, Hope wasn't one to share any romantic affection toward anyone he encountered although maybe it was because Hope was oblivious to anyone's Hope was certainly feeling something now and it wasn't from the heated shower either.
He's just a boy. Hope chided himself, scrubbing his nails deep into his scalp with shampoo.
"Hey! How the hell does this work?!" Noel shouted in surprise, "Stupid shampoo is everywhere!"
"Hit the green button to your right." Hope said calmly.
"Thanks." The Hunter breathed a sigh of relief.
A boy that is not from this time. You mustn't mess with the timeline. Hope continued, washing the soap from his body and hair. But a nagging feeling told him it wasn't going to be that easy to break away from.
A few minutes of silence and both of them stepped out of the showers at the same time. With a towel around his neck Hope looked over at the Hunter once more, restraining the heated feeling in his chest. Noel was terribly built, of course, it was a wonder he has yet to notice any of the ladies pass second looks at him.
"Is there still soap in my hair?" Noel asked.
"Looks clean to me." Hope said stiffly.
The Hunter walked past him, bending over to pick up his clothes. Hope leaned down to pick up one of Noel's belts, it had fallen off the pile and into Hope's. In unison they picked their heads up at the same time, banging into each other with a loud sound.
"Ow." Hope put a hand to his head, Noel only shook his head and looked up at the emerald eyed director.
"Sorry, didn't see you there," Noel blinked, "Let me see your head."
"It's fine." Hope reassured him but Noel didn't take no for an answer. Noel's calloused fingers ripped away Hope's soft hand and pushed back even softer white hair.
"Well, you'll certainly have a little bruise there for a while," Noel pressed his fingers against the small wound, "But nothing that'll hurt this big brain of yours."
"Oh, haha." Hope's voice thick was sarcasm, he rose from he position, passing Noel's stone hard chest and pausing to meet his gaze.
"You certainly have the same child look Serah told me about," Noel said, turning his head to the side, "How do you keep it?"
"I don't." Hope straightened himself, breaking eye contact with the younger boy, "I've tried to grow out of it, believe me. I don't see why people keep saying that."
"Don't worry, you're still the respectable director everyone here loves." Noel grabbed his things and followed after Hope.
"I think it's my turn to ask a question," Hope said as they walked out of the shower stall, "Is there a girl back home?"
"A girl...?" Noel stopped for a moment, "Not exactly...why do you ask?"
"Just a curious scientist." Emerald eyes bore into Noel's gaze, "Come I'll show you your bunk. It's next to mine. You know, just in case if you get scared at night."
"Oh please, what am I going to be scared of? A couple of sleep deprived white coats walking around at night?" Noel snorted.
"Believe me, you'll regret those words once you see Alyssa on three hours of sleep." Hope grinned.
The boy is a treasure. Hope thought. It'd be a shame to let him go so easily.
Both of them laughed as they continued down the hall in nothing but towels for clothes.
