Disclaimer: Me obviously don't own because if I did, I would personally kill Barthandelus's owl, Seriously, that's where all his power is! Snow would me mine, all mine, Lightning would be my kick ass body guard and I would have the most of the Eidoliths as my pets, except Alexander 'cos I don't think he'd fit in my house or garden for that matter :/ hmm..
Warnings: Fluff, slight bashing of Light, Serah, Sazh, Vanille and Fang, maybe an Ooc Hope, depends which way you're looking.
A/N: Hey another chapter, whoot whoot. Oh just completed FF13-2, tis awesome and I can't wait to see if there's a sequel to it too. And just to say, this has nothing to do with that plot either, as you probably know but I have keep telling myself or I'd get confused lol. Too many plot bunnies charging around my head XD. Read and Review and tell me what you think :)
Enjoy!
For the second time in the past few days Hope found himself staring at a sleeping, snoring Snow who was sprawled out over the small two seater couch, his feet hanging over the arm. Try as he might, Hope couldn't help but find the scene somewhat endearing as he sipped his early morning cup of tea. Well, his fifth cup actually. He had woken up at the ungodly hour of four am with thoughts of Lightning and her behaviour from the day before rushing through his mind. He was still a little hurt at her attitude but now he was mostly annoyed and wanting answers. She had never been that abrupt before nor has she ever sounded so cold. Maybe it had been because of Snow? The thought had passed Hopes mind many times, and the more he pondered it, the more he began to believe it.
Lightning had never been the emotional type, but she had always given him a concerned look if she noticed a scratch or a bruise on him, she would give the lecture of staying safe and if he needed anything, he was to send a message to her immediately. But at the sight of Snow, she turned colder than the Shiva Sisters Diamond Dust. Was Lightning really that angry at Snow for splitting up with Serah? Or was it because of how angry Snow had been at her for not telling the blond where he lived?
Hope sighed heavily, those questions had been floating around too. Lightning may have given Snow and Serah her blessing, but Hope had always been able to see the displeasure in her eyes whenever the two wasn't looking. Maybe she had never gotten over her dislike for Snow? Maybe she blamed Snow for something. Either way, Hope had no idea and it bugged him to no end. However it still raised the case of why everyone refused to tell Snow where he lived. He was shocked to learn that even Vanille had refused to tell Snow where he lived, the pinkette was notorious for her bad habit of spilling secrets, like when Fang had accidently broke Lightning's favourite mug, something the soldier was strangely fond of, and swore Vanille to secrecy, it had taken the Pulsian five minutes to spill the beans to Lightning who had charged after Fang with her gunblade glinting in the sun and chasing the dark haired Pulsian for hours until Fang shouted for mercy.
She didn't get it.
Hope remembered being called to treat Fangs bruises and cuts, the tanned woman had simply chuckled the whole time, her dark eyes glinting with the promise of revenge at the stoic woman.
Hope was jerked from his thoughts when a thud was heard and a loud groan sounded through the small room from the direction of the couch. Hope glanced down when he noticed that Snow was no longer sleeping and was it fact slumped on the floor, still snoring lightly, even as a bruise blossomed over the side of his forehead where he had hit it on the ground. Hope couldn't help but laugh, the man could have a possible concussion and still the blond sleeps peacefully.
Feeling that he should probably see to that bruise, Hope placed his cup down on the little rickety end table by the door and knelt over Snow to shake him awake, though he was wary after what happened last time.
Hope laid his hand on Snow's shoulder, trying his best not to ogle the sheer muscle mass the older man had. While he had grown a little while off on his adventures as l'Cie, Hope had gained an almost feminine curve to his body, which was embarrassing. It came to something when cute little Vanille looked more manly then he did.
"Snow? C'mon wake up, you've just bashed- eep!" Hope blushed at the mouse like squeak escaping him as he found himself once again smushed against Snow's chest, breathing in the musky scent on the man before him. The silverette sighed and this time relaxed instead of trying to escape. He hated to admit it, but the soothing, rythmic sound of Snows heartbeat was seriously making him sleepy and he felt his eye lids droop unwillingly.
Snow lay as still as could, a sneaky smirk curling his lips when Hope's breathing evened out as the kid clocked out for a while. He had heard the other get up at four am, being l'Cie and always ready for danger never leaving him even after six months. He had thought at first Hope was getting up to get a drink of water but after a couple of minutes of listening to Hope clean the dishes from the day before, Snow had frowned but had found himself falling back to sleep, Hopes unconscious humming filling his ears. Then he had fell off the couch, hitting his head on the floor and realised that Hope was still awake, so he devised a plan and pretended to sleep like his skull wasn't pounding like a behemoth was bashing against it. The other had foolishly fell for the trick and Snow found the little squeaks Hope gave rather adorable. Now Hope was asleep on his chest, curling against his side.
Snow felt as if he had just saved Cocoon again, he felt happy that he was helping, even if that meant being a pillow. He was happy being Hopes pillow/hero. He had thought once that only Serah would need him as her hero, but that had changed when Hope had disappeared from Oerba and his life seemed to ground to a halt. Not even Serah's sweet words could distract him from the fact that Hope was gone, Hope wasn't there anymore. Hope was on his own! He had literally panicked for half a second until he noticed no body else panicking and calmed some, but now he knew he could never leave Hope on his own again.
Not outside this hut anyway.
People just seemed to forget that Hope was a teenager, they just assumed that because he was a l'Cie he could look after himself. Hope had lost both his parents in tragic accidents, one mostly the blonds fault. Nora had died on Hanging Edge, fighting for their freedom, fighting for Hope, and protecting Snow like a true mother would even though they had only just met. Bartholomew had died in Eden, the Cavalry had been spread thin after Rygdea's ambush on Raines, and Hope's father had heard of his sons where-abouts. Bartholomew had rushed out to see his son one last time but got caught in the cross-fire of Sanctum and a Pulse Juggernaught. Nevertheless, Hope had took responsibility of everyone else first, helping them rebuild their lives in Oerba, never taking time for himself until everything was said and done and the silver haired teen found himself watching from the side lines as everyone else was happy. It was then the grief, the pain of losing his family and the knowledge that while Lightning and Sazh had got their family back, Hope had lost his hit him and hit him hard.
Snow knew Hope was strong, the kid had seen and experienced more in his life than the eighty-two year old man who made figurines could ever hope to. He wouldn't be surprised if Hope had turned angsty on them, hell, even fall into a state of depression. But no, Hope had packed his bags and moved to Sulyya, where he lived somewhat happily.
Hope was definitely strong.
Snow gently shifted round until he had the sleeping teen in his arms, Hope's head resting against his shoulder. He carefully placed the teen on the couch, watching with fondness as Hopes brows furrowed and he let out a moan of protest when Snow went to move away. Snow found himself stuck as Hope subconsciously gripped on to leg of his trousers, refusing like a stubborn child to let go.
It was then, while trying to free himself, Snow noticed that Hopes sleeping shirt had rode up, allowing him to see the three thin pink scars marring Hopes left side, they were only a couple of inches long but that wasn't what Snow was bothered about. The fact Hope had them at all was what bothered him. It reminded him of how Hope had been after getting that scratch from the Sahagin, a weak monster like that shouldn't have bothered Hope at all. Instead it had terrified the teen, and now Snow knew why. Why Hope hadn't sided with Lightning and fought for his independence.
Hope had been hurt and there had been no one to comfort him, to watch his back.
Snow growled, feeling anger rumble in his chest, if he had any doubts about staying before, he certainly didn't now. He was staying and that was that. Gently prying Hopes fringers from his trousers, Snow went in search of paper and a pen, needing to write an important letter and send it off as soon as possible. There was a few things he needed to say to a couple of people...
"...Hope has three scars on his side, I don't know how he got them, I haven't asked yet but if any of you had bothered to truly ask if Hope was okay and honestly look at Hope, you would have noticed that he wasn't all right. He needs his friends- no his family to show him that he's not alone. And you all failed..." Vanille choked back a sob, unable to read the rest out loud. The room was silent, even Choco was oddly subdued, the little chick resting sadly on Sazh's hair. Everyone had a stunned look on their faces at having the brutal truth shown to them through a simple letter. Snow had mentioned the Sahagin attack in detail and how Hope had reacted, had said clearly how Hope may act happy, but while you weren't looking his shoulders would slump just minutely, that at times he looked as if he had Cocoon itself weighing heavily on his shoulders.
Even Serah who hadn't really been part of the letter looked as if she was about to cry, her eyes wide and shimmering with tears. She had known Hope was an orphan but thought the other had been born like that, not that he had lost both his parents and it was all her fault! Lightning had gone pale, extremely pale. Her eyes had become blank and her fists were curled tightly, the only sign of her emotions. She was regretting her words the other night, regretting that she had not noticed sooner how Hope acted. Fang was at Vanilles side, hugging the younger tightly. Sazh had his head in his hands, while Dajh looked on whith a confused expression, not really understanding the situation.
"...Why didn't he say anything?" Everyone looked at Lightning who had finally spoke up, her voice devoid of it's usual hard edge. Her eyes glittered with unshed tears as she remembered the one month she had visited, Hope had seemed off, stiff and he had refused to turn his body fully, even taking his time to put the food and blankets away when he would have put them away quickly and in seconds. It was because of the three scars Hope now had, he had been hurt, in pain and not once did he mention that he was in pain, not once did his smile falter, and it was now Lightning realised that she had seen the signs and refused to truly see them for what they were.
She was ashamed that she had missed something so crucial, so important. And here she was worrying about Snow ruining Hopes happiness, getting the other hurt when he was in fact doing the exact oppisite. She had been angry when Snow had the nerve to shout at her but now she knew he had every right. She had thought it was his hero complex coming into play, now she knew it was because Snow had been generally worried about the other.
"We should probably apologise." Sazh looked at everyone, frowning when Fang shook her head, a sad chuckle escaping her.
"Hope wouldn't want, or accept that. Poor Snow would be dead if Hope found out that Snow sent us a letter explaining his weakness." There was truth to Fang's words. Vanille glanced up from the womans chest to sniff and speak.
"Then what should we do?" She asked, looking lost and wondering what they could do to prove to Hope that he had all their support.
No one answered her question...
A/N: Yeah, best not to ask, but I was playing FF13-2 and I noticed that through out the game, Hope was always on the side lines, never really anyones focus. It's all Serah, Serah, Serah. Man, I dislike her so much. Anyway, sorry if I spoiled anything, just to repeat myself, this is no way involved with the plot of FF13-2, it is now freelance lol Read and Review and tell me what you think, please! I'll send you all hugs :)