Prompt #24

A/N: Serah is kinda...Idk. A bitch here? Sorry. I like her, but it's fun to make her evil.

Comfort

"Just! Just get out!" Came the high pitched scream as a loud slam preceded to that statement.

Hope awoke from his slumber at the sound and looked around the room. He was used to these usual fights.

Lately, after getting offered to live with Snow and Serah, Hope would see the couple's true colors.

Snow and Serah were happy, loving, in the day. Serah would clean, cook, help out the kids at the school, meanwhile Snow would try to fix things around town, hang out with Hope, and relax.

But when night came around…Serah and Snow fought. Not physically, but verbally.

It seemed, in Hope's point of view, that Serah would blame Snow for doing nothing while she did everything. It was sort of true in a way, but Snow didn't fall back either.

He, staying true to his code name, became a hero for the people of New Bodhum. So he would be beck and call for anyone and sometimes they weren't easy tasks.

Hope would try to fall back asleep and just pray that they could make up, but it got worse.

This time Serah would try to throw things at Snow. She became a different persona than that sweet, nice, innocent person she is. And Snow? He just let it come to him. He never tried to abuse Serah physically. He never even raised his voice.

Hope would hear him speak calmly, but there was slight anger rising up in that tone of his. It was the lost confused anger. The one Snow had when he first confronted him in Palumpolum about his mom.

The silver haired teen brought the bed sheets closer around him and got off the bed.

He quietly slid open the door and frowned at the sight before him.

Snow was leaning against the wall head in hands. Hope saw the tremble in his hands and the blood down his cheek.

His eyes softened into worry as he knelt down. He hadn't heard what Serah threw at Snow this time or whether it was something else that caused his injury. Whatever the case, Hope was the one who would always feel bad.

He never tried to come out of his room to help Snow. To comfort him.

The first time it happened, Snow was the one who apologized. He was the one who told Hope that if he ever got uncomfortable or if things got ugly, to go with Yuj.

This time though…Hope took action.

He gave a sad smile.

"Hey…"

Snow looked up and gave a weak grin.

"Why are you up kiddo? Guess you can't sleep because of us again huh? Sorry." He muttered.

The teen frowned and stared at the cut. It was a slash against Snow's cheek.

"I-I want to help." He stated.

Snow shook his head.

"Don't get involved. I'm not really setting a good example here right? I wish you didn't have to hear all this…"

Hope narrowed his eyes.

"But it's not your fault!" He argued, but Snow held up a hand.

"Yeah, but it's not Serah's either. Recently…she thinks I'm cheating on her." He chuckled. "I wonder where that came from. I can't yell at her…she's my fiancée. I love her."

Hope sighed.

"Are you cheating?"

Snow scoffed.

"Hell no. Didn't I just say I love her? Yeah this whole 'fighting in the night' is getting old, but what can I do? I just hope she…she gets better."

Hope sat down and hugged his knees. His eyes staring at the ground.

"How do these arguments even start?" He whispered.

Snow sighed and winced as he touched his cheek.

"I don't know…she just…says something and then turns it into a dispute. Listen, you don't have to worry about us…I'll handle this. You just head on back to bed okay?"

Hope curled his fingers on his knees and kept his frown.

"But you're not okay Snow. I'm not weak anymore…I'm not stupid. This doesn't have to be on your shoulders okay? Maybe if I talk to Serah-

Snow placed a hand on Hope's shoulder cutting him off.

"Hope…"

The teen stayed silent and stood up.

"Let me at least clean the cut? Please?"

The blond gave in and stood himself up. He smiled at the shorter boy.

"Hope…I've never said this but…I'm glad you are here."

Hope nodded.

"Yeah… me too."

The duo went into the bathroom where the first aid was and Hope searched for it. Snow sat on the small seat wiping off the blood on his hands. The small silverette giving a comforting smile and cleaned the long cut and placed a bandage.

"There." He murmured.

Snow gave a cheeky grin.

"Thank you."

Hope went back to bed and Snow settled for the couch.

Hope tapped the fork on his plate staring at the morning meal. Snow already left for his daily jobs and Serah was busy washing the dishes.

He shouldn't pry into this…but he had to.

He didn't want to see them hurting each other of petty disagreements.

"Hey Serah…" He started.

Serah hummed in response.

"Are you and Snow…," he paused and noticed the way her shoulders tensed. He picked at his food. "Snow is a good guy Serah…you know that… he would never hurt you. He loves you. So…I uh…don't…um…fight with him anymore."

The pink haired female stopped her task and had a troubled expression. Her mind had many thoughts in her head as she murmured softly.

"It's you…"

Hope blinked looking at her.

"What?"

She clenched the plate in her hands.

"You're the one Snow's cheating on me with." She said clearly.

Hope dropped his fork.

"N-No it's not like that." He bit his lip eyes looking downcast as he tried to find the right word. "Snow just talked to me and I wanted to help you guys. I swear he's not…Serah he loves-

"Shut up! Stop lying. I see the way he looks at you and the way you look at him. He touches you a lot and…and you like it when he's with you. How did I not notice?" She whispered staring down at the plate. She narrowed her eyes.

Hope stood up.

"Serah I don't like Snow…not like that! He's just my friend. He loves you! I-

He was cut off as he stumbled back hitting the chair. He body fell to the ground as he touched his right side of the face. He could feel the stinging sensation as the small droplets of blood formed.

Serah lowered her hand and brought it to her mouth.

She couldn't believe she threw the plate at Hope. She took a step forward.

"Hope…Hope I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean to…"

"I'm back!" Snow announced with a happy tone in his voice.

Hope turned to the sound and stood up cradling his face. He kept his eyes on the ground as Snow entered the kitchen.

"What's up guys?" He said grinning. He dropped his grin as he saw Serah having a guilty look on her face and Hope staring to the side holding his cheek.

"What's going on?" He muttered.

Serah shook her head.

"I didn't mean to…" She whispered.

Hope avoided Snow's gaze.

"It's nothing…I'm just going to the restroom for a bit." He replied walking off.

Snow turned to Serah.

"Babe…Serah…what happened?" He glanced down at the floor and saw the shattered pieces of the plate. He furrowed his brow trying to piece things together.

She closed her eyes.

"I…I never meant to hurt him. I just…" She didn't finish her sentence.

Snow clenched his fist.

"You…you hurt Hope?"

She looked up at Snow.

"It's just…he was talking about you…he was talking about us and I assumed…he was the one who you were cheating on me with. But I'm stupid…I'm so sorry Snow. He tried to tell me you love me and would never…but I didn't listen. I was just angry."

Snow narrowed his eyes.

"And that was a reason to throw a plate at his face?"

She lowered her eyes.

"I-I'm sorry."

He sighed and placed a hand on his head rubbing it.

"Clean up this mess and I'll check on him." He muttered walking past her.

He went up the restroom door and knocked on it but saw it slightly open. He slid it across and saw Hope sitting on the covered toilet seat staring at the floor.

He looked up.

"Snow...uh…sorry for getting into this. You told me not to, but…I just wanted to help and—I guess I screwed up."

Snow crouched in front of Hope and smiled a bit.

"Hey it's nothing to worry about. I just…wanna see how you're doing…"

Hope smiled.

"I'm okay. I was shocked, but it didn't hurt much. Did she tell you-?"

Snow nodded.

"Yeah and I think…the only way to end this…is to let her go."

Hope's eyes widen.

"You mean break off the engagement…But you said you…"

Snow shrugged and placed a hand on Hope's shoulder.

"I know what I said and I will love her…but you can't get in the crossfire and it's my job to also keep you safe. So…once I settle things with her, we will be moving into a home I started working on."

The teen cocked his head to the side confused.

"Did you have this planned?"

"No, but I thought in advance just in case it came down to this. Sounds okay?"

Hope nodded.

"Yeah…sounds okay."

Snow chuckled.

"Good because I was thinking, maybe we should add a Chocobo as a house pet."

Hope laughed.

"Yes that's seems doable."

Snow stood up and stretched his limbs.

"Well let's get the hard part out of the way. You good?"

The teen nodded.

"I'm fine…good luck."

The blonde gave a thumbs up.