Disclaimer: I do not own anything from Square-Enix.
Warning: Contains Yaoi!
Pairing: SnowxHope.
Summary: Cocoon is at war with Pulse which Hope comes to resent when his mother's sweet and warm tavern is currently congested with loudmouth and loathsome soldiers.
A new story here! Yay! If you thought A Sentinel's Retrieval was the surprise, then you are sorely mistaken. So get your trashed bucket and be ready to hurdle because this will be one fluffy story.
Chapter 1: Love And War
Peace was something that was hard to acquire. It was something that Hope craved so much, however, it was something he could not attain at the time being. He had had a peaceful life once. Back then he was just an ordinary, which he believed to be, fifteen-year-old teenager living a simple teenage life. It was a peaceful time with only school being the height and challenge of his life but then everything changed when the attack of Pulse came and shattered the shell of the outer rim of Cocoon. It happened six months ago and then the world was sent into disarray after the government declared war against the world below. His peace now was a locket with no key for him.
Hope suppressed the urge to glance around his once sweet mother's tavern, The Rivera, seeing the cause for his desire of peace. The building was filled with windbag soldiers and it was driving him up against a wall. After the Sanctum announced their intention to protect Cocoon against another Pulse's invasion, men from all over Cocoon were called up by the Sanctum military to take up arm and fight against the terror of Pulse. The new recruits, youthful and spirited, came to Palumpolum first where a large Sanctum military campus was stationed at the outskirts of the city. The campus was specially designed for basic training the new recruits before they were shipped off to the world below. And for past months now, his sweet mother's tavern had been overrun with these loud and annoying savages before they were called away and then another fresh batch of recruits arrived, taking their place.
He remember a time once when the tavern was filled with nothing but kind and sweet customers who dropped by just to get a quick drink and snacks before heading home. Those customers were sophisticated, not like these soldiers, rowdy and uncivilized. Hope had missed the old men who came in and drank while sharing about their past stories and the younger crowd who would come and complained their problems to his mother.
To be honest, Hope didn't understand why every afternoon after school he comes to help his mother at the tavern. However, seeing the soldier enjoying their so-called moment of 'peace' before they were sent away to Pulse added a different kind of pace to his life. They distracted his thoughts and his mother's constant worries about the threat of Pulse, despite the soldiers having an unlikely way of showing. Hope watched lightheartedly as the soldiers flirted with girls on the streets only to get rejected. They then walked into the tavern and drank until they could not barely stand up straight. He watched with an amusing brow as the drunkards left the bar, with low amount of brain cells, to flirt with the girls once again. Then they do it all over again the next day. It was barbaric. The teen couldn't believe that this was the soldier's finest moment before they were shipped off to Pulse.
As days went by, he had grown accustomed to the soldiers' antics. More soldiers meant more customers and in return, the tavern continued to flourish. His mother seemed to like the booming business as it kept her and him on their toes everyday. Everything was going smoothly except for him.
"Hey there kiddo."
Hope's right eye twitched in response. He was occupying himself with restocking the flavor beverages in the refrigerator behind the counter before letting out a weary sigh. He reluctantly turned around coming face to face a grinning blond seated at one of tables laid out on the other side of the tavern. He could put up with the soldiers and their foul antics, but Snow Villiers was a man he could barely tolerate as one would tolerate a bad rash. Every single thing about this man was annoying. That brash grin smirking on that self-assertive face. The stupid coat he lived in like a mobil home. Hope had begun to wonder if the blond ever washed that coat. His appearance just screamed chaos. And that was only on the surface. It was his arrogant attitudes that seeped within the blond he could not stand. Every bloody day, the robust blond stepped into the building with his red-haired looking friend, calling himself the hero and his duty to protect Cocoon. And the other soldiers only seemed to boost his egos more when they all cheered and took a round of shots when they heard him say it. The other soldiers and his mother would find his dedication admirable, but he found it obnoxious. The man hadn't done any remotely heroic yet and he was already calling himself Cocoon's savior. He didn't understand which world the man was living, clinging to such foolish and optimistic determination.
"Hey kiddo," Snow called again.
Hope's right eye twitched again. That was another thing he hated. The idiotic man had given him the nickname the first day when he walked into The Rivera and then everyone seemed to pick up on it. He didn't like the name, but his mother found it cute. Hope then returned his attention back stocking the beverages in the fridge, unaware as the figure of his discontent stood up and walked towards him. He placed the last bottle in the fridge and turned around, coming face to a grinning blond on the stool.
"Didn't you hear me calling you?" Snow asked sweetly, leaning against the bar counter.
Hope sighed wearily. As much he wanted to ignore this man, he was a customer and he didn't want to get a mouthful from his mother for being rude. "Yes?" Hope asked dryly.
"I am in need of your presence."
"Huh..." Hope made a face, his brow knitted together while he stood staring at the man like he had a second head growing on his left shoulder.
"Take a load off and come join us at the table?" Snow suggested gesturing the table he was sitting.
"Thanks for the offer, but I still got some work to do."
"C'mon Hope, you gave been on your feet all the time. Come chill with us for a while?" Snow suggested, smiling brightly.
Hope could feel a vein popping outside of his forehead. He hated that smile with very nerve in his body, but repressed the urge to reprimand back to the thickheaded man. I was one thing over and over again with this man. "Thanks again..." Hope let out another sighed. "But the work isn't going to do itself you know."
"It's okay sweetie," Nora said warmly, walking into the room from the kitchen. "You have done more than enough for today."
"See! Even Nora, which I might add looked radiant today, even agrees with me," Snow smiled, winking at the woman.
Hope raised a disapproval brow at his mom when she chuckled lightly from the unnecessary information from blond. "You don't know when to quit, do you?" Hope glared at the blond. Snow was persisting if anything. This man was a creature of its own kind. It was something he never tackled before. Customers came in the tavern, asked for a drink or two, and he watched as his mother served them. No one had ever asked him to join him or her company. Some regulars might know him on an acquaintance level; never had anyone tried this before.
"Not in my book," Snow grinned. "So, you coming?"
"Fine," Hope caved in, ignoring the sudden brightness glittering into a pair of deep and intense sapphire gems and the smile on the blond's face which became wider. He let out a tired sigh. Maybe this will put a stop to the man's persisting and loathsome behavior. He unknotted the white, full-length apron tie around his waist which he wore over his usual attires and folded it before placing on the counter. Then a heavy arm slouched over his shoulders before guiding him to the table. This could only mean trouble for him.
Hope took the seat beside the blond and fiery-haired man at the table who looked relaxed in his seat. He hoped for his dear life that a rush of customers fled into the building so he didn't have to sit at this table. However, life wasn't being fair at the moment and continued to torture his soul. Another thing he noticed about Snow was that there were always two empty beer bottles on the table every time they came to the tavern. Most soldiers that came to the tavern were heavy drinkers, however, Snow and his friend only drank at four bottles the most. And how they spend the three to four hours nursing that one bottle. He didn't understand their strange concept. It would seem cheaper to buy a six pack a week and drink it at their own place by themselves than wasting more money coming to the local hangouts.
"Isn't this better?" Snow asked, ruffling those soft locks.
"I guess..." Hope mumbled, moving his head away from the blond's hand.
"Sorry about him kiddo. This is how he alway is," The fiery-haired man said with an apologetic expression.
"You mean 'never takes no for an answer' kind of guy?" Hope smiled at the fiery-haired man. At least someone understood what he had to go through everyday.
"I am afraid so."
"Hey, I am a little hurt that you could belittle me in front of Hope here," Snow pouted to his friend.
"Well you are one of a kind," Gadot chuckled.
'Tell me about it...' Hope chuckled back. He turned to blond's companion, looking bashfully and feeling the red blood of embarrassment rushing to face. He was never good at first meeting. "Errr... Who are you?"
"Ah, yeah. Sorry. I'm lacking in my introductions. This here is my best friend Gadot," Snow introduced.
"Please to meet you," Gadot nodded at the teen before glancing around the tavern. "This is quite a nice business your mother has running here."
"Thanks," Hope said sincerely. He glanced around the inside The Rivera, admiring his mother's hard work and sweat. There was a long bar placed against the other wall in the center with lamps dropping over the counter. There were two hallways on each side the bar, one leading to bathroom and other to the kitchen. Glass tables with design steel feet accompanied with four comfortable swivel chairs were remotely stationed around the room. Other than himself, this building was his mother's pride and joy. His father wasn't too keen to the idea of the tavern from the start, however, his mother was very persistent woman until his father's front crumbled and finally gave his wife his full support of her decision. And it seemed like his father made the right call as Hope looked around inside the edifice crowded with people.
"It's the best hangout in the city," Snow cheered.
"It's the only hangout you go to," Gadot stated, taking a sip from his bottle.
"Oh... really?" Hope asked raising a curious brow to the blond.
"Yeah. After a long day of training, I asked him where he wants to go and guess what his answer always are?" Gadot asked, smirking at his blond-haired friend.
"I think I already knew the answer," Hope cracked a smile to the fiery-haired man when he saw the glare Snow was giving to his friend. "So where are you two from?"
"Bodhum," Snow answered in a heart beat.
"Wow... really?" Hope's eyes lit up.
Snow nodded. "We lived there since long we could've remember."
"Then that means you saw the summer fireworks? It's one of world best attraction."
"Saw it. We lived it."
"What do you mean?" Hope asked curiously.
"Me and Gadot here and some other friends ran a seaside bar near the beach. We never missed a firework show."
"That is awesome. I always wanted to see the show and wish upon those fireworks at least once in my life but..." Hope's face fell and let out a sigh. "Mom and dad work too much."
"I can see that..." Gadot said, looking around the crowded building.
"I don't know when the next time my parents will ever get a vacation because of this war."
"I understand. This war has taken away the comfort and peace we once have. That is why we have to fight back, to give Cocoon the peace of mind it once had," Snow said.
"Is that why you become a soldier, to fight back?" Hope inquired.
"Not soldiers, but heroes!" Snow exclaimed. "I am the hero-"
"The hero who swore duty is to protect Cocoon," Hope finished dryly, rolling his eyes. "Yeah... yeah. This is what like the twentieth times I heard you said it."
"And you better not go forgetting it now," Snow grinned.
Hope shook his head amusingly. The man's cockiness was beyond a doubt incomprehensible to this world.
"Aren't you boys having too much fun here?"
Hope looked over his shoulder and saw his mother standing behind him. He looked past her figure and saw the building was completely empty. Where did all the people go? His green orbs then drifted to clock resting on the wall behind the counter which reads 10 p.m. "Oh crap," Hope yelped standing up. It was past closing time. "I'll get to-"
"Don't worry. It's already done. Your father finish early from work at the military base and step in for you," Nora smiled reassuringly, making a gesture to the counter where her husband still dressed in his Sanctum clothing was wiping the marble counter with a cloth.
"I'm sorry. You should've tell me," Hope apologized. He was too engrossed chit-chatting with the blond and his friend that he had forgotten about his work.
"Well you looked so happy with your pals here so I just let it be," Nora smiled, walking towards the counter.
"Pals? Which pals?" Hope gave his mother a questionable look.
"I think she was talking about us," Snow smirked, standing up, stretching his store body.
"Trust me mom, I don't think I could be pals with this guy," Hope smiled, making a gesturing motion to the blond.
"Hey! That hurt Hope," Snow pouted, ruffling the silver mop head.
Hope chuckled, feeling a bit light-hearted as he brushed the man's hand away from his head. So the blond wasn't that bad of person than he had presumed. But the man's personality could need some work. Especially the blond's overconfident and the conceitedness. He took the empty beer bottles to counter where he placed them in the case, ready to be sent back to the shop the next day.
"So I heard you were slacking off today, Hope?" Bartholomew chuckled.
Hope jumped at his father's voice, scratching the back of his head shyly while trying to force the pink lightning on his cheeks down. "Sorry." He said, taking a seat on one of the stool.
Bartholomew shook his head amusingly, clapping his hand on his son's shoulder. He just smiled at his son. His stoned and hard eyes turned to the two figures walking to counter.
"Sir!" Snow and Gadot both saluted.
Bartholomew repressed a smile forming on his face. Instead, he let out a sigh. "Let's keep the formality only at work please?" He suggested, gaining a sheepish look from the two. "Look like tomorrow will be a tough day on you guys or so I heard?"
"Please don't remind us of that. I'm already having nightmares," Snow groaned already dreading the next day to come.
"Miss Farrons is one difficult woman to please. Her last training left my joints aching and burning for weeks," Gadot grumbled.
"And the moment the training is over, you boys ran out from the building and go gallivanting here," Bartholomew chuckled. "Honestly you guys... If I'm not taking care of you, my wife and son are. I need to put a leash on every one of you."
"Especially this one here." Hope snickered towards to the blond behind of him.
"But Hope, you will miss me so much." Snow grinned, stepping behind the teen before wrapping his arms around the figure and resting his chin on Hope's left shoulder.
"Like a leech," Hope muttered, trying to untangle himself the bloody man's embrace.
"Okay now boys, you better get going," Nora advised. "You will need your sleep for your upcoming training tomorrow."
"She is right." Gadot said, walking towards the exit.
"Yeah. I'm beat." Snow said. He ruffled Hope's hair which was slapped away before following his friend. He stopped at the door and turned around, giving Hope one last glance whose hands 'shooed' at him. He smiled at the silver-haired teen and stepped into the night street.
To Be Continued...
A/N: Congratulations on making it to the end of this chapter. Hoped you guys like the story so far... I have been watching too much romantic/war movies lately and seeing that the War of Transgression was an important element leading up to FF13 stories, I had to write this. I am not sure where exactly I am going with plot, so don't get your hopes too high... or maybe you can ;) The story is label as angst also, just because. Like I said, I am still tinkering with the whole plot, and there might be some slightly angst involved.
Please Review (I would like to know your thoughts so far)!