did hope and serah even interact in xiii because i dont remember it if they did
also if i were hope and watched some stranger and a girl i barely knew go off to save someone i really loved, i would hate the stranger so much. I'm shallow like that.
"It's lonely without her, isn't it?" Serah was jerked back from her daydream as Hope spoke. After jumping through numerous time gates, they had finally landed in Acadamia, and met up with Hope. She sent Noel to go off and get supplies, and Hope had invited her to share a cup of tea and catch up.
"With who?"
"Lightning."
"Ah," Serah started, but stopped. Yes, it was lonely without Light, but not as much as she had expected. It seemed shameful, but ever since Noel had come, she wasn't lonely anymore. In fact, she was ...happy.
"Yes, but now I have Noel." Hope didn't respond, and they both drank more tea in silence. It felt odd, being around Hope, as if she expected him to be younger, to be weaker. He always seemed to be slightly lost, as if he was in the wrong time, or as if he was just about to say something.
"Do you regret it?"
"Hmm?" He seemed almost scared. Nervous?
"That you have such a responsibility. That the whole timeline is resting on your shoulders. That you have to bear such a burden."
"I-" Did she? Was she angry that she was dragged into this so many years ago? That it was her branded a l'cie, not some other girl with such an unlucky fate as to meet a Pulse Fal'cie?
Serah was, and she would forever be. As much as she tried to not pity herself, she can't help but wonder what life would be like if this whole adventure had never happened. If she was happily married, with Lightning by her side. It was only her friendship with Noel that made her feel guilty.
"Oh, it's nothing. Besides, you're the one with all the responsibility here, Hope! You're the one that's actually doing all the work!" He smiles, but the lost look doesn't go away. It makes him look older, she decides. Older and more tired. There were black rings under his eyes that Serah had never noticed, and he smiled less than she remembers. Like he's dying slowly, she thinks. Like he's driving himself into the ground.
"Are you working too hard, Hope? You should take a break, don't tire yourself out!" Another smile, though this one was strained, and he doesn't look at her. His eyes wandered out to the sky, and she followed his line of sight. There's nothing there, not a cloud, not the sun, not even Cocoon.
"I'm jealous," he spits out and looks down shamefully. "I'm jealous that whatever I could be wrong, that you and Noel are out there and actually changing things, and that whatever I do could be wiped away in an instant. I know I shouldn't be, but you guys get to go and meet Snow or Lightning or whatever, and I'm stuck here. I'll always be stuck here. I'm sorry, I better get back now, I'm due for a meeting."
"Hope-" She never knew he felt like that...was she so preoccupied with herself that she didn't realize what was happening with her friends?
"Sorry for leaving so suddenly, Serah. I'll see you next time. Tell Noel I said hi."
"Wait!" But he was already gone. He had specified 'next time' instead of soon, Serah noticed. How angry would she be if she was in Hope's place? Forced to watch from the sidelines as a boy she hardly knew and one she didn't ran off to save her sister? As she was left behind, though that was nothing new to her.
"I'll see you soon," Serah said, but Hope was already gone, and Serah wasn't sure if she'd ever see him here again, but she would try her damnedest to.
