I figured I would write a little something based off of FFXIII-2, since I've only been writing for FFXIII, and I now realize that not all of my stories could actually take place with the new timeline. Nevertheless, here's some experimentation.

Hope wakes up in a cold sweat. He's alone in his room, he checks his clock. Four AM. The year is 10 AF and Hope is 24. He glances across the room of his Academia authorized temporary living quarters at Alyssa Zaidelle. Everyone could tell that she liked him, it didn't escape his notice. And everyone also wondered how he put up with her. She's annoying and clingy and all too desperate. But amongst all that, he found himself taking a liking to her. She reminded him of Vanille. She was happy and almost whimsical, and it made him miss his old friend all the more.

Yet she isn't the reason Hope woke up so suddenly. He had had a dream. He should expect himself to dream of Alyssa, since he was almost certain that they would end up together, yet his dream consisted of someone he could have never anticipated.

Snow had been supporting himself over Hope's body. His blonde hair was brushing Hope's pale skin. All Hope could remember about him was how much he wanted Snow.

"Dammit, that's so messed up." Hope rubs his eyes and slowly climbs out of bed. He hadn't seen Snow for years, why was he dreaming of him now? Hope carefully opens the door, letting his blonde assistant sleep soundly. He walks down the hall to his open and flowy office. He sits down and studies his research. "There has to be something I can do."

Hope's mind wanders more and the words on his papers seem to blur. His vision gives way and allows him to think of his dream again. Snow is over him, leaning down to him. Kissing him. Hope snaps his eyes open and shuns the thoughts that plague him. The fantasies that make no sense. Drowsiness slips in again and fades his vision. He sees Snow again, but there's something different about him this time. His hair is brown and he's slimmer. It takes Hope a moment to recognize the face of Noel, the man he'd met along with Serah a few days prior. He's too tired to open his eyes, so his mind wanders.

His thoughts lead him to a different time, where he's happy with Snow. Then to a future that consist of only Noel and himself. The two fantasies battle one another so fiercely, Hope is jutted awake again.

"What the hell is wrong with me?"

"Knock knock." Alyssa is at the door, with a confused look on her pretty face. She isn't pretty the way Serah is, but her look is different and unique. It makes his heart ache with memories of someone similar. "Are you okay?"

"No, not at all." Hope buries his face in his hands, not wanting to think anymore. Snow and him just seem right, but Serah is in the picture too. Noel is new and mysterious, someone he wants to discover. Yet Alyssa is here, easy, and reminds him so much of how much he cared for Vanille it's crazy. A distant dwelling thought blinks in his mind, the question of 'Why can't I have them all?' Hope doesn't know how to process this entirely, but he doesn't dismiss it either.

Maybe he can have all he wants. And maybe he can make it work. He could pull it off; he's smart enough, right? It could be an experiment. And what's an experiment without a little risk? Something in Hope's mind switches. He's going to do things he'll regret, he realizes. And most of all, he's going to enjoy it.

"Can you come here for a second, Alyssa?" Hope beckons to her with two fingers. What happened that night changed Hope Estheim forever. His mind was a blur, temptation took over. He longed for everything he knew he couldn't have. He made up his mind that he would have Snow, just because he was off limits. He would explore Noel, just because he wanted to. He would steal Alyssa's heart, just for the sake of having it. It was a very un-Hope-like idea, but maybe he could pull it off. And that alone made him want to rebel.

Interoffice sex is frowned upon, but there were never any frowns when it took place. And Alyssa definitely wasn't upset with the fact that it occurred, even if it was on a cluttered desk.

I have an interesting idea with this story, but I don't know if I should continue. What do you think of Hope/Alyssa+Snow+Noel?