~ During The Storm ~

I do not own Final Fantasy 13

[Terribly sorry of the errors in this fanfic. I swear, everytime I do spell check on here, it NEVER saves it, and it's frustrating! (I write my stories in Wordpad, so I have no other way to spell check.) Please, if someone would volunteer to beta read this, I'll be forever grateful!~]

Snow quirked an eyebrow at the boy. Of all the weirdest things the kid had done thus far, this one was definitely up there; with no questions asked, he held Hope's injured hand, causing the latter to hiss out in pain. His knuckles were tinted pink from the swelling, and small droplets of blood started to arise from the fresh wound. Snow did the first thing he could think of, which was to raise Hope's hand to his lips, and leave a gentle kiss against it. Kisses made everything better, right?

Hope blushed, and began spluttering out incoherent words. Although his hand still stung immensly, he couldn't help, but feel anxious, excited, and flushed all at once from Snow's kiss. It was trully amazing what the simplest of actions from the man could do to him.

"Come inside so I can take a better look at that wound." Without waiting for a reply from the boy, Snow pulled him inside, shutting the door behind them.

This was Hope's first time to Snow's house, so of course he had a picture in his head of what it looked. This, was definitely not what he had imagined.

He had always thought Snow to be a clean man, but his house didn't do that thought much justice. Clothes were hung, and thrown carelessly around portions of the room, empty restaurant cartons took up another good part, and there was this strange smell Hope couldn't quite put his finger on. It was either bad meat, or really good cheese.

"Have a seat, be right back." Snow vanished to the back of the house, to the bathroom, Hope guessed.

He stared at his swollen hand, it still tingled from the elders lips. Why did he do that? It was something from a fairy tale...well a fairy tale to Hope. His prince had come in his time of need, sweeping him off his feet and causing his heart to skip beats. It was nothing he ever experienced before and he didn't want it to end.

Snow came back a few minutes later and stared at the boy. "Didn't I tell you to sit kid? Well I guess I can't blame ya, my couch iiiiss covered in Serah's shit." he picked some clothing off the couch and tossed it across the room. "Go ahead sit." Hope nodded and sat on the empty space Snow had cleared off. Snow smirked and got onto his knees in front of the boy. "Noooow...Let me see that hand of yours."

"R-right..." he held his injured hand out to Snow and looked the other way to hide his light blush. The elder's touch was warm and caring despite the roughness of his skin. He gently ran his long thick finger across the boy's knuckles.

"Damn kid what'd you do?" he laughed and gently dabbed his knuckles with a wet cloth. The cold water sent jolts of feeling throughout the boy; it slightly burned.

"I punched a wall." it sounded silly when he said it. What was he thinking? Of course he was weaker than the wall, he should have expected injury.

"Woah seriously? You musta had some force behind that punch! I'm impressed." he laughed and sprayed the cut with disinfectant causing the boy to cringe in pain. "Hey hey calm down, it'll only sting for a little bit. Now tell me, what made you punch the wall?"

"I-I was angry! Lightning went to comfort Serah even after I told her about the vase. It's annoying!" Hope sneered. Truthfully, he was angry that everyone was blaming Snow for the incident. All he did was state the truth.

"Heh kid that will always happen. Those two care for each other over anyone else. Don't let it bother you. And heeyyy, didn't I tell you to tell Light that I broke the vase?" he teased the boy and then smiled. "Thanks kid, you're alright." he ruffled Hope's hair and smiled.

"No...no problem." he slightly laughed as Snow continued to wrap his hand in bandage.

Hope slightly trembled as Snow cupped his hand once more-with softness he didn't know he could even muster-and continue wrapping the bandage gently around it. Every light touch sent bolts of electricity through Hope's frail body, and he knew he had to of been blushing, the heat burning his cheeks. Snow didn't seem to notice how flustered he was, as he finished up, and grinned, inspecting his handy work.

"Not bad, if I do say so myself." the blond chuckled, standing up, and cracking his back while doing so. His sheer height would make anyone else feel intimated, but it only comforted Hope, feel protected by the presense.

The silverette smiled up at him. "Thank you, it feels loads better now." He rubbed his bandaged hand, the pain nearly subsiding now.

A crack of thunder suddenly boomed, and lightning lit up the sky outside. Hope yelped at the unexpectedness of it, nearly jumping out of his skin. He hated thunderstorms, they always haunted him with memories he didn't want to remember. Snow picked up on his fear, and sat beside him, his attention, however, out the window.

"Looks like a bad storm...I don't want you out in that." His concern for Hope made the latter blush more. "You don't mind staying overnight, right?"

Hope's blush had turned at least 5 shades of red darker by now. Not even in his wildest of dreams had he ever imagined Snow ask him anything along those lines, but now, the chance of them being together seemed that much more attainable. With Serah, and Lightning out of the way, nothing could stop him now. He nodded, flashing him a smile that added to his cute, innocent face. "I-I'd love to, Snow."

Snow grinned. "Great, I have some spare clothes you can sleep in. They probably won't fit, but it's better than nothing." He chuckled again, and led him into his bedroom, which was surprisingly cleaner than the rest of the house. The blond rummaged through his closet, until he found a pair of shorts, and a t-shirt, the smallest he could do.

Hope thanked him, taking the clothes, and changing into them in the bathroom. The shirt hung loosely on his small frame, and exposed his shoulders, and most of his chest. The shorts fit him a bit better, but still hung low on his waist. Hope knew there was a huge size difference between them, but this made him feel so small in comparison. Sighing, he walked out, and returned to the room, his clothes folded up in his hands.

"How do I look?" Hope asked softly.

Snow looked at the young boy standing innocently in his oversized clothing. He looked utterly adorable with the blank expression and big eyes.

"Not too shabby my man. You look better than Serah did in them." he laughed to himself and turned around to stare out the window.

"Snow, where am I going to sleep?" Hope asked and looked around the room. Snow's house wasn't very large and it only had one bedroom from what Hope had seen.

"Oh right I didn't even think about that! Ehhhmmm... ah you can take my bed for the night. I'll just clean off the couch for myself." he pressed his knuckles together and nodded.

"Oh! Uh.. thank you!" Hope smiled again and fixed the one sleeve of his shirt that continuously fell down his arm. The two stood in quiet until another bolt of lightning and roar of thunder echoed throughout the house. The sudden sound caused Hope to fall to the floor and cover his ears.

"Wow kid you really hate storms don't you. C'mon why don't you get into bed a while." he picked up Hope from the floor bridal style and placed him gently on the bed. Despite Snow's wide figure and tall height, he was extremely gentle. Or this is what Hope began to conclude anyway. This side of Snow... was new and very attractive to Hope. It was like Hope had discovered a weak side to the determined strong male.

"Th-thanks again Snow." thunder cracked again as the boy's body began to tremble once more.

"Ah kid don't worry, I'll stay in here until you fall asleep." and that simple sentence comforted the shaken youth.

Hope smiled, and pulled the sheets over himself, sighing contently at the immediate warmth, and security of knowing that Snow would be beside him. He was like his blanket; Hope sought after him for comfort, and fervor, and would do anything for the excuse to be held by him.

Still, even with the man just inches from him, he couldn't help, but miss the feeling he had gotten earlier when Snow kissed his hand, or even when he was treating it. Hope wanted to capture that feeling once more.

"Ah, Snow?" His small voice poked out from the overall stillness in the room. Snow murmured something, Hope took it as a yes to continue. "Did you...Want to sleep in the bed...T-together?" He twindled his fingers shyly, blush slowly returning.

Snow's eyes had grown wide. He didn't think, knew, actually, that Hope meant that in a sexual context, but definately did not expect those words to come out of the innocent, adolescent's mouth, and so randomly he might add.

"I-uh, sure?" He really didn't want to sleep on the couch in the first place-it was hard on his back-but thought it'd be awkward mentioning the idea of sharing a bed to the kid. Now with the permission to, he crawled beside him, the bed creaking from the added weight.

Hope felt his heart stop when he heard the springs creak in protest under them, the bed shifting more towards the left, the flash of blond in his eyes. He was laying down with Snow, his formal arch-enemy, his crush, his everything, and was that much closer to making him his. That was when a new thought had suddenly entered his mind.

Serah. The wall that prevented him from making the first move, the blockage, obstacle in his path. Recalling the times Snow held her, kissed her, touched her in front of Hope, made him feel sick, and disgusted all of a sudden. If he kissed Snow, he'd be tasting her, the secondhand bittersweetness of her lips. If he layed on top of him, Hope knew he wasn't the first to be in that position.

More images flashed through his mind, blurred his vision. Snow pounding into Serah, her crying out for more...The whole idea of it all just reminded Hope he could never have him. He was a mere kid, child; what would Snow ever see in him? What made him better than the pink-haired girl he used to love?

"I have to go..." Hope shot out of bed, startling the man beside him who seemed dazed, if for only a moment.

'H-hey! You can't leave kid! Its pouring outside!" Snow practically threw himself out of the bed and towards the boy.

"It doesn't matter!" Hope tried to speed his way out of the room but wasn't fast enough. Snow grabbed Hope's wrist and yanked him, hoping it'd just be a warning. However, Snow underestimated his strength as the younger lad fell backwards against his chest.

"Now be rational here, you can't leave." Snow mumbled under his breath. Secretly, he didn't want the boy to leave. He felt alone in the house without Serah there. He was so used to the company that being alone... was well lonely.

"But-" Hope started to say before realizing his current standing point. Despite Snow's name, he was extremely warm. His body heat radiated around little Hope, causing his breathing to change its frequency. It felt so good to have this warmth, it was nothing he had experienced before. But then he remembered, SERAH had been this close to Snow. SERAH had seen Snow naked. SERAH had been everywhere in this house. And it nauseated him. "I CAN'T BE HERE! I-IT REEKS OF HER!" he turned around and punched Snow in the chest and tears of frustration raced down his face. No matter what, he could never have Snow. He was already contaminated with the Serah disease. However, that thought was cut off when the older man wrapped his strong arms around the boy.

"Hope, Serah is gone. Don't worry, I'll never take her back."

Those words meant more to Hope than anything else at that moment, in the world. Hearing those words, filled him with this incredible feeling; the feeling of hope.

Barely parting his lips to speak, he whispered, "You...You won't?"

Snow shook his head, closing his eyes as if picturing his life without Serah, comparing it to the days he spent with her, the days that seemed so far away now. "I still love her, but it's better this way, better for everyone." As Snow spoke, Hope lingered to every word, nearly at the edge of his metaphorical seat; after he finished, Hope released a breath he didn't even know he was holding. Could this mean...They had a chance to be together?

He just had to know what Snow felt for him. Even if he didn't feel the same, Hope had to release his feelings now. Like a ticking time bomb, he was ready to explode from all the bottled up emotions contained within him up until this point.

"Snow...What do you feel for me?"

A/N - YESSSSS, I'M SUCH AN ASS, I CUT IT OFF AT A CLIFFY! HAHAHA!

*ahem* Anywho, I'm surprised, and also extremely happy at how much attention this story is getting. 10 alerts? Thanks everyone! ^^