Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy 13.

Warnings: Nothing really.

A/N: Finally the chapter is finished! But credit has to go to EnTheOriginal on youtube because there is no way I would have got through my writers block withou them and their awesome remix's. Please R&R, it would be greatly appreciated and massive apologies to everyone who has been waiting for an update.

Enjoy!


"SNOW, I'M GONNA KILL YOU!"

The door to Hope's cabin burst open and a tall blond came hurtling out, peals of laughter escaping him as a drenched Hope chased after him with his boomerang. He dodged and swerved to make sure he didn't get hit by the weapon as the teen looked rather determined to decapitate him. It was only a harmless prank, though maybe pouring freezing Sulyya water over the sleeping silverette hadn't been the wisest of things to do but what could Snow do? The day was wasting away and he was sure Hope would be pissed if the blond had allowed him to sleep all day.

Snow let out a loud 'oof' as Hope managed, surprisingly, to tackle him to the rocky floor; his head narrowly missed a jagged rock. More laughter bubbled up in is chest, causing him to wheeze with the effort to not let it escape lest he be alive no longer. He winced when Hope's boomerang hit him on the back, probably leaving a bruise that would hurt for a few days.

Eventually Hope got off the older man and watched him suspiciously, rubbing his forehead while doing so. When Snow had dumped the water on him, he had bolted upright in shock and fell off the couch, smacking his head as he fell.

"What in Eden's name compelled you to do that?! No, wait it was your idiotic brain." Hope muttered to himself at the end, wincing when he head throbbed. Snow chuckled and came closer, wrapping a strong arm round Hope's shoulders.

"It was just a joke! Jeez you need to lighten up," Snow shook his head and looked round the rocky terrain. "Living here in Sulyya has made you grumpy. What could we do to make you happy...? I know road trip!" Hope blinked in confusion before it dawned on him what Snow said and his face paled as he ran to catch up to the blond.

"No! No, Snow. We are not going on a road trip! I'm happy here!" Hope cried as Snow continued to pack two bags full of stuff, ignoring how every now and then Hope would take stuff out in an attempt to stop the blonds progress. It was sadly failing as Snow could carry a lot more than Hope.

"You'll love it, Hope. The open wilderness. The starlit sky! It'll be brilliant."

"That's great, tell me how it went when you come back." Snow laughed as he hauled the two bags over his shoulder and grabbed Hope round the waist, dragging the teen along with no effort.

Hope watched as his little cabin disappeared behind rocks as Snow headed towards Mah'habara. He sighed deeply and shivered when a cold breeze tickled his wet skin. He pouted while Snow couldn't see.

"Hey, Snow?"

"Yeah, kiddo."

"I'm cold." Hope grunted as he was dropped to the floor unceremoniously and glared up at the blond. At this rate Snow was going to break every bone in his body! The sound of rustling was heard as Hope rubbed his backside. He waited for a moment, wanting to see what the blond had packed and was surprised whewn he had a fluffy towl and a warm jacket thrown at him. When had the big brute packed them? Hope dried his hair and then took his sopping night shirt off, replacing it with the jacket, it was then he remembered he was only in his boxers. His face felt suddenly warm and he cleared his throat shakily.

"Uh Snow? Could I have some pants too?" Snow looked down at him for a moment and Hope was reminded of the time where Lightning gave him the same stare. It used to make him feel like diving off one the many cliff just to get away, but with Snow using it, now he felt like giggling like a girl which made his blush darken and Snow frowned.

"Are you okay? Have you got a fever?" Hope felt his heart stop as Snow reached for him and he quickly jumped to his feet while wracking his brain for something to say.

"Y-yeah! I'm fine. I just want to pants to wear before I get ill." Snow frown deepened and Hope thought that Snow had figured out why Hope's face was red but then Snow shrugged and went back to rummaging in the poorly packed bags for some trousers. Hope caught them and quickly dressed, trying to ignore the fluttering sick feeling in his chest as his heart beat two hundred miles per hour. Snow had started off again, obviously heading towards where Hope hoped Atomos wasn't sitting, waiting for them but at Snow cheery yell, he knew his prayers hadn't been answered. He willed the blush to disappear and followed Snow into Atomos.

The ride was silent besides the soothing hum of Atomos, it was a relaxing sound to hear and Hope nearly dropped off to sleep by the sound of it. He remembered back in the day when they had been travelling towards Oerba with the gang and they couldn't wait to get off Atomos, even though the Fal'Cie was too busy drilling holes to notice six freeloaders, now he never wanted to get off, somehow Hope felt safe within the Fal'Cie now.

Mayvbe it was because he had been on his own for so long and had stared at where Atomos would be stationed every evening out of his window, wondering that if he had left his little cabin would anyone notice? But then he would shake those thoughts away and carry on, besides he was just being dramatic then and now he was glad he had stayed, he had Snow for now and he couldn't be happier. He hadn't even thought about Alexander since the blond had shown up, he didn't know if it was because the blond was like the Eidolon, a solid wall, or because he had been too busy looking after said wall to have time too. Still it was nice being so busy, it was nice having someone to care for besides himself.

Hope was about to drop off to sleep when a sharp nudge woke him up and he glared at Snow who rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly.

"Sorry, foot slipped." The was a rumble and Snow lerched suddenly, nearly ending up in Hope's lap. Hope burst into giggles, patting Atomos.

"Good boy." There was another rumble, which made Snow tense and then it went back to the soothing humming. Snow huffed.

"Trust you to befriend a Fal'Cie," Snow muttered, looking at Hope accusingly. "You made him do that didn't you?" Hope snorted and kicked Snow's shin in revenge.

"Don't be stupid, Atomos did that on his own, make you left a show scuff on him." Hope said, eying the floor curiously and then burst into laughter when Snow actually lifted his feet to check there were no marks. Snow mock glared.

"That was cruel."

"It's my fault you're stupid." Hope replied with a shrug. He yelped when Snow let out a battle cry and dived for him, the blonds fingers instantly finding Hope's ribs and the teen let out a loud bout of laughter, trying to wiggle away.

"N-no stop! Snow!" Hope pushed at the blonds hands currently ticking but he might as well been trying to move Alexander in Gestalt form, he let out a wheeze, trying to catch his breath through the giggles to plead for mercy when Atomos suddenly came to a halt and rumbled loudly as if to stop them like a scolding parent.

It worked.

Hope climbed into his seat and tried to get the crinkles out of his shirt. He glanced at Snow who was watching the walls of Atomos very closely like Dysley himself was about to jump out.

"So where are we going?" He asked and shivered when Snow grinned.

"Well, I was thinking we'd do some camping on Archylte Steppe, maybe go see the Chocobo farms, then go through Vallis Media and see if our old airship is still there and then have a stroll through the Yaschas Masiff to the Paddraean Archaeopolis, maybe see if any Cie'th stones are still about. Like tthe old days."

"...Like the old days, huh." Snow gave him a look.

"Yeah! Y'know when me and you went hunting for food that one time and brought back Flan eggs by accident and nearly poisoned everyone?" Hope could help but crack a smile and nodded his head.

"Well then, I can't wait."

The strange thing was, he really couldn't..


A/N: Please Review.