Hope scanned the dark scenery of the Padra Ruins. The humidity kept the monsters in their homes. He walked along the tall rocks and plants that loomed over him. Something wasn't right. Why was he here? There was no sound, no wind, no movement of anything. Everything was silent. That is until he heard a laugh. He didn't know why, but the laugh caused a chill to go down his back. It was...how would he describe it? Maniacal? Knowing? Maybe evil even? He turned to where the sound came from. Nothing. No one was there. 'Maybe it was the wind.' Hope thought. Then he heard it again. Hope turned to see where the laugh had again come from. This time he could've swore he saw something. A figure of some sort. 'Okay. That was not the wind.' he concluded.
Since Noel had been living with Hope he had had the same recurring dream of the Padra Ruins. Only this time was different. Before, there was no laughter or mysterious figure. Hope had a bad feeling about this. He heard the laughter a third time but closer. As if it were right behind him. He turned around once again, and this time he saw him. Caius. Hope couldn't make a sound before he felt a strong hand around his throat and his feet lifting off the ground. "I can have fun with you." Caius said menacingly as he examined Hope's body. Hope clawed at the Caius' hand while the rest of him kicked and squirmed around frantically. He fell to the ground as Caius released his grip, leaving bruises around the silverette's neck. Caius kneeled down and grabbed his hair, pulling it back, forcing Hope to look up to him. He felt for his boomerang only to discover that he did not have it. Caius chuckled. "Heh, your defenseless." Hope was terrified. Why was Caius here? How was he here? Wasn't he dead? "Now, now. Is someone not enjoying this?"
"Let me go!" Hope grunted.
"As you wish." Caius said mockingly.
Hope bolted up in bed, sweat running down his forehead and dripping onto his sheet. He was too terrified to even notice that he was shaking, therefore did not notice any other noises he was making because of the violent shaking. 'Deep breaths, Hope...deep breaths.' he thought to himself. 'It was just a nightmare. Just calm down.' Twenty minutes went by and his violent shaking had not stopped in the slightest, 'Maybe I just need a more secure place to sleep...yeah...that'll help.'
Noel had woke up about four in the morning, maybe five, who knows. But if there was one thing Noel knew now, it was his craving for chocobo milk. The teenager slowly got up from his bed, and started to head for the kitchen. After almost tripping and dying a few times he finally made to the fridge. 'Man,' Noel thought, 'we gotta clean up sometime.' All of a sudden Noel had for forgotten what he had come out there for and instead of questioning it made his way back to bed.
He noticed that it felt different. The bed that is. As if one side of the bed was dipping in some sort of way. Hmm. 'Probably just me.' Noel ignored whatever suspicion came up about his bed, and went back to sleep.
Noel woke up later that morning to find something odd. Yes, very odd indeed. What he found was one very sleepy Hope Esthiem draped over his chest, or waist...or both? Either way...
'Okay, this is awkward,' Noel thought, ' and WHY IS HOPE IN MY BED!?" Noel tried pushing Hope off of him. That's when Hope decided to wake up.
"AAAAAAAAAAAGHGH!" Hope yelled as he was pushed of Noel's bed, "Why on God's green earth would you do that?" Hope questioned as he sat up. "Couldn't you tell I was trying to sleep?"
"But why in my bed?" Noel questioned back. Hope stayed silent.
"Maybe I'm sleep walking again?" he lied.
"Hmm-mmh." Noel raised an eyebrow, "I highly doubt that. Whadja do? Trip and fall into my bed?"
"...well-"
"No." Noel interrupted. "I don't care if you actually did-"
"But-"
"Out-"
"But-"
"OUT!"
"Why?"
"BECAUSE WE'RE BOTH HALF NAKED, AND IT'S KINDA WEIRD WHEN YOUR HOUSEMATE IS DRAPED OVER YOU WHEN YOU WAKE UP IN THE MORNING AND-" by this time Noel was getting close to hyperventilating, that's when Hope interrupted .
"Okay!" Hope threw his hands up, " I'm leaving."
"And close the door on your way out."
"Why?"
"Because I don't want you watching me while I change!"
"We're both guys!
"I don't care, it's creepy."
"You know what," Hope continued, "I'm going to leave the door open...just because."
"HOPE!"