Chapter Text
Vanille looks up when the door opens. "Fang!" she says, hopping up from the chair. "Well—Fang? Are you all right?"
"Yeah—I..." Fang sits on the edge of the hard hotel bed and blinks rapidly.
With a frown, Vanille moves to her and takes Fang's shaking hands in her own. "What did you find?"
For a long time, Fang doesn't say anything; she just looks out the window at the darkening sky. Voice shaking, she whispers, "I found Hope," she pauses, "And maybe Light. But for sure Hope."
"What?" Vanille asks, wide-eyed, and she pulls her hands from Fang's.
Fang stands and then starts pacing. "Look, Vanille. I know it's crazy. It's been—fuck, I don't know how long it's been. They're dead. I know they're dead. But it was Hope. His name is Hope Phylo and he looked, acted exactly like—"
"There's no such thing as reincarnation, Fang," Vanille says, her own voice shaking. "It's crazy to get your hopes up. They're gone, Fang. They died before we woke up. A long time before we woke up. It's just a—"
"It can't be a coincidence. He knew me, Vanille. Maybe he didn't know who I was, but he knew me! I could see it in his face. In those eyes I remember clear as day."
Fang grasps Vanille by the shoulders; Vanille lowers her eyes and slumps. "Please, Fang. Please. We've lost our family twice, please don't do this."
And tears start streaming down her face and Fang pulls her into a hug. "I know, Vanille," she murmurs. "I miss them too. But if it is Hope—and I know it is—don't you think he's worth it?"
It's a low blow and both of them know it, but Vanille nods regardless, shaking. "Alright, Fang. Alright. We'll go see him. Okay?"
"Don't worry, love, it'll be all right. Now, let's get some shut eye."