Authors Notes

I liked writing this chapter, I think some parts of it are very cute. I hope you agree.

Chapter 4: Trust

"Hey Light. Wait up!" Hope shouted rushing off the train. He was intent on returning Lightning's necklace. He barged out of the trains doors and stopped and stared at the station. It was a lot bigger than he remembered. When he was originally here studying the ruins with the Academy the train station only had one platform and was for Academy personnel only. Now it had evolved into a fully-fledged station with more than one platform and trains arriving every minute from all around pulse.

"Hope!" Snow shouted, his head clearly visible over the rest of the crowd. "Hurry up. You're gonna get left behind."

"Don't worry about me!" Hope reassured him. "I'll meet you on the outside."

Snow nodded and easily sifted through the crowd to the stairs leading out of the station. Lightning and Serah followed in his wake. As Lightning reached the stairs she looked back for Hope and smiled and Hope grinned right back.

"I'll be there soon! Trust me!" He yelled while jostling with fellow citizens. Obviously they didn't recognise him, he couldn't go anywhere in Academia without being followed by a crowd. 'It's nice to have a change of pace.' he thought cheerfully, knowing that Lightning would be waiting for him…

Eventually Hope made it out of the congested station. He looked around for his friends but could not see them anywhere.

"Hope!" a quieter voice shouted as if muffled. It was Serah she was pushing her way through to him. She grabbed his hand and pulled him through the crowd to a less busy area.

"You didn't have to do that." Hope started. "Thanks though."

"I did." Serah said panting with exhaustion. "Lightning was getting claustrophobic and Snow was getting impatient."

"Ah. Okay." Hope replied, giving in. He knew what Snow was like when he got impatient. But he didn't know that Lightning had a problem with crowds. "Oh and Lightning…"

"Yes." She replied.

"You dropped this." He said holding out her pendant expectantly.

Lightning quickly looked down at where the pendant used to be. "Hmm… I didn't even notice. Thanks" she said with the utmost sincerity. Although her eyes glinted when she looked back at Hope, which lead him to believe she had planned this all along as some kind of test. He smiled to himself knowing that he passed.

Lightning reached out to grab the trinket. But Hope pulled it away.

"What? Don't I get a reward?" He joked.

"Nope." she replied stoically, lightly hitting him in the shoulder whilst snatching the possession.

'That was weird.' thought Hope disappointedly. 'I expected a hug or a handshake or something.'

"Come on lovebirds! We ain't got all day!" Snow shouted a bit too loudly, snapping Hope out of his daydreaming and causing Lightning to glare at him furiously.

Snow and Serah ran along the pavement hand in hand with Lightning and Hope walked and talked closely behind them. Until they reached a bus stop.

"More travel." Lightning commented, visibly annoyed by how long it was taking to get to the Paddra ruins.

"Don't worry Light." Serah tried to subdue Lightning. "It's not far now and if you're tired I'm sure Hope won't mind you resting on his shoulder." She finished.

Lightning glared at her.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Serah asked. "You know you want to." She said smiling and nudging Lightning in the ribs.

"You're so embarrassing!" Lightning groaned.

"Ah ha! You didn't disagree though!" shouted Serah triumphantly making a fist much like her fiancé would.

"For makers sake…" Lightning replied while shaking her head. Her cheeks had become a little pinker though.

Snow and Hope simply stood back and chuckled at the women they loved arguing.

"What are you laughing at!" Lightning shouted in frustration.

"Uh, Nothing…" Both men said while pretending they had not been paying attention…

Lightning and Serah continued to argue, until the bus turned up ten minutes later. The two couples boarded the bus and took seats opposite sides of the bus from each other to reduce the amount of arguments.

Serah and Snow avidly looked out the window spotting the renovations in the city and Hope and Lightning talked a little before Lightning rested her head against Hopes shoulder. He looked over slowly and grinned. 'Ha. Serah was right.' He thought. Lightning looked up into his eyes at that moment.

"Thank you for finding my necklace. It means alot." She said simply and hugged him tightly. "I trust you." She added as she laid her head on Hopes lap and went to sleep. Hope just smiled and brushed her hair out of her eyes.

'Wow.' He thought, surprised by Lightning opening up to him suddenly.

It wasn't long before they reached the ruins of the old civilization of Paddra. Hope looked down at Lightning, who was still sleeping soundly. He didn't want to wake her as she looked so serene. But he had to. He stroked her hair. "Lightning…" he whispered, his voice raspy from lack of hydration.

She opened her eyes almost before he finished saying her name.

"We're here." He finished.

She sprung up. Accidently placing her hand on Hopes crotch.

"Ow… Light!" He yelped.

"Sorry… I was just excited. (Not in that way. Pervs. - Sir E) I haven't been here before." She explained.

Snow and Serah were already out of the bus and were mouthing "Hurry up." at Hope and Lightning. So they disembarked. Snow was jumping about he was so excited.

"So Hope, where should we go first? Since you know this place better than anyone." Snow asked.

"I know the perfect place follow me." Hope started. 'This is going to be great.' He thought optimistically…

Authors Notes

Sorry to leave it on a cliffhanger but I can't write forever. I imagined the station to be a lot like Kings Cross in London or something like that. I hope you liked this chapter. If you did, send me a review or favourite this story.