I first wrote this story quite a few years ago during my lunch breaks at work. It was only recently I decided to type it up. Review if you want.
Final Fantasy and all of its respective trademark property is owned by Square Enix. I don't own a thing.
Hope was staring. He knew he was staring, but he made no effort to stop, especially considering who he was staring at. Lightning Farron. Or, at least that was her moniker. From what little he knew of her, she was a former soldier of the Guardian Corps, 21 years old and extremely beautiful. That last part he kept to himself, though, since she's probably pound him into a pulp if he said as much out in the open.
The first time they met, he found her to be quite intimidating. She possessed a certain strength of character that made her seem resolute and determined in a way that Hope could only dream of. Her every action seemed focused, every body movement measured, every sentence calculated. It was as though she was an amalgamation of efficiency, dedication and direction. Not really qualities that could be described as endearing, but they struck a chord with Hope. She was his polar opposite, wielding every characteristic that he did not, to say nothing of her physical skills - stamina, endurance, fitness, all things she had in abundance that Hope lacked.
It was, in fact, these very qualities that drew Hope to her in the hopes that he might one day be able to wield such attributes for his own. Above all else, that he could exact vengeance upon Snow Villiers. In truth, their mutual disdain for the man was the only thing they had in common.
Back in the Vile Peaks, however, she had almost left him behind, citing his weakness as a liability. Were it not for Odin's intervention, Hope worried that Lightning would have left him to his own devices while she persevered in her attempts to bring down the Sanctum. But she didn't, and instead chose to take him under her wing. Compassion, it seemed, was another of her saving graces.
And graceful she was. Hope couldn't figure out if it was another attribute she controlled or whether it radiated naturally, but she carried herself so well. A sight to behold, whether in combat or at rest. He could lose himself, as well as a few hours, just staring at Lightning Farron. Which is exactly what he was doing right now.
"Something the matter?"
"H-huh?"
"You've been looking towards me for a while now. Is there something on your mind?"
Oh, not really. I just couldn't help but stare in complete admiration of the woman teaching me how to be strong.
"Just brooding over some stuff."
"Remember Hope. If you spend too long fixating over one thing, it can distract you from everything else that's happening around you. Without input, you can't make good decisions. Take in your surroundings, but don't be overwhelmed by them."
"I'll try to keep it in mind. There's more to being on point than meets the eye huh?"
"Don't worry about it. You're doing fine."
Hope was a little taken aback by that. Not long ago, Lightning was ready to leave him and continue down her own path. Now she was encouraging him, giving him support and advice whenever he needed it. Just like mom.
Wait, what?
Did Hope just compare Light to his mother? Lightning was certainly a lot of things but maternal wasn't one of them. She was a warrior focused on battle. She'd fight her way towards a goal and take down anybody who was foolish enough to get in her way. But that begged the question: why did Hope compare them? Was it was because Lightning was doing the things Nora used to do for him? Yes, that was the most reasonable explanation. What other role could Lightning play in Hope's life who would do these sorts of things?
