Do you know my secret?
"home sweet home,,,"
"Uh…?" and just like that Hope was cut of his daydreaming and breathtaking panorama of hi tech city before him, while standing at the edge of Palumpolum,
"hm?" he turn around to meet cool glare, drawing him back to reality, Light was standing beside him in her usual stance hand on hip irritated by boy bewildered gaze
"never mind" she rolled and waved her hand in dismissal " let's move!" as she jump from another platform and start walking in front of him, again,,,
he hurried after her, but,,, "Wait!" she stops abruptly at the sound of his voice and turn around slowly to look behind what? Seeing her frowning face,,,
"um, " Hope stopped briefly "this is where I grow up, so.." hesistant before looking up again "I'll... I know this place, and,,, all its shortcuts! ,,, can I take the lead?" his eyes widen in expectations for answer,
"hm" Light frowned "hurrying to early death?" murmuring to her chin but to his surprise "alright you have the honor!" she slap his back with grim smile in what seems to be agreement and without much of fuss or thinking,
"all right!" he quickly straighten his back and start running eagerly taking the lead with unexpected enthusiasm, but it worn off quickly after a while even they were able to avoid most of the enemies along the way, he feel waxed, running all day in front of Light as he asked to be in charge for this part of the route he try his best not to show how hard it was for him to keep up with her, and to stay in constant alert, as his eyes start to waver with day getting darker, he stopped catching his breath looking around corner for a sight of enemies,,, or Light, to his relief he didn't see sign of any, that's good he slip on the ground taking deep breath and glancing over his surrounding as in this half-darkness it start taking strange shapes suddenly he had this feeling,,, somehow,, this place,,, seems familiar,,,, he cast another glance over twisted construction intervened with overgrown grass ,,, and radiant bright colored elements popping out,,, igniting his imagination as his mind start to spin strange ideas making him think how could this dreamlike spectacle what may be a ruin of unkempt garden or a nightmare stage, or,,, his breathing stopped in realization,,, as his fantasy take another turn as he try to think what could it be look like under day light? His eyes gazed back into now abandoned children playground, he once know so well and spend so many docile days playing with his favorite friends or just lying on the soft green grass and looking at the looped sky above, those sensation blur his vision making it hard to draw a line between present and his distant past as damn of memories threaten to break trough darkness around him bringing back feelings now seems so far away like belonging to someone else,,, his fingers crossed over the bandage on his hand, am I still me? He shake his head closing his eyes with back resting on small wall behind him focusing on breathing as his hands fall to the ground gripping for hold, only things that keep him from falling apart just now,,, as he trouble to keep those radiant memories at bay, he didn't want to remember he didn't want to look back and in a same time...
"having trouble to remember? huh?" it seems Light catch up without him noticing now waiting for him to move while glancing around over numerous pipes going up and under ground turning this place into artificial labyrinth or maze that required some wits to solve and find a right path that will take you where you wanna be, so far they manage to pass mostly unnoticed thanks to Hope so, she cast another look to a boy still sitting on the ground, maybe he just need some time to say where next?
no, he shake his head standing up ready to start running again,,,
but he didn't go to far when,,,
"are you all right?" did she see that? just for a moment his focus slip and he trampled on something keeping his balance in last moment,
"Yeah, I'm fine," he replied quickly without looking back, truth was he couldn't take another step. When did it become so dark? Suddenly he could barely see anything.
That's it, I cant go any further,,,
he need a break, fast, or else he was afraid he could fell asleep while walking and end up running into enemies or Light rage if she catch him slacking off while he should be in charge, she might accept him for a while but he didn't want to risk being abandoned again,,,
his shoulders slumped as he looked around unfocused,,,
just in that moment something flashes trough his mind, with ground under collapsing,
"look out!" he reacted quickly grabbing Light arm and pulling her down for cover, what the? Just in time as flash of bright light hover above their heads? It turns another round in their direction, Light scowled as she barely manage to avoid crashing over Hope if not abruptly stopping on her palms and bruised knees, maybe it's a patrol? Hope pale in instant as Light didn't need to think twice ready to bolt up into another fight, "Wait!" if not for Hope holding her back, "Maybe they didn't see us?" his voice sounded desperate almost crying, still gripping on her upper arms with strength that reminds her of reason they were hiding, they were branded l'Cie, that fact alone was their death penalty, "so what?" even snapped by surprise Light replied sharply glaring at him "you're suggesting we just sit here like mices doing nothing until we're found out?" her eyes flashed dangerously but he was too tired to walk and even less willing to fight, so "it's not good to draw attention!" he whispered, trying his best to talk her out, "Look, we're almost there!" he pointed above her head, "remember?!" Hm, as she look up at ray of faint light still lingering above trough crack on top of curved pipe they were taking for cover, It was barely enough for two of them to hide sitting across each other, but not even enough space to stand up straight, as her position didn't allow much of the view to the outside, she could only guess is there armed guard or how many she can take down before alarm is up?
thinking what to do next? With worried expression his eyes fall down to her palms swiftly sweeping over her bruised knee that would meet same destiny if not for gloves she always wear, "are you hurt?" Hope asked worryingly, "No, just a scratch, " she replied matter of factly, even she was l'Cie, it still hurt, as she bumped on something hard while landing,
"sorry" he apologize, hearing his thin voice somewhere across pitch darkness making this claustrophobic narrow space look even smaller,
she frowned, "fine",
but when she try to stand up, ah! One of her belt stick to his pocket somehow, she start feeling more and more irritated as she didn't manage to get free from it instantly,
"let me try," Hope rushed to help before she loose her nerves completely, but it was to dark to see much and he was to nervous to do it successfully, her expression getting darker blending with darkness around her as she went silent, as her rage start to boil, she didn't like this, feeling stuck at the bottom of pitch dark place and being to close, look at boy pale face under this faint light makes him look even more fragile, making strange contrast with his green eyes, and unnatural radiance of his gaze when he look at her,
Light? He asked without ever stopping fiddling with her belt
she didn't reply, with her mood turning from bad to worse, she didn't like what she see, that look fragile and spite in same time, it reminds her of,,, Sarah,, was first thing she think of, but no it was just like,,, it reminds her of everything she try to forget, all the things wanted to keep away, and something she couldn't grasp yet, her when she was his age now staring back at her with everything she cut off when she decided to grow up and left behind far away never to look back, now starting to return to hunt her,
it was to much, she wanted to run away from everything, she snapped "why don't you take off that boomerang of you pockets!" slapping over his hands in attempt to stand up making him stop what he was doing,
his eyes rise at her face bit embarrassed, he swallowed, by any chance he didn't want her to find out about content of his pocket, it's not my boomerang, so he slowly folded his hand awkwardly behind his back and "here,,," returning it next moment with boomerang "but I don't see how will that help,,, ? " , he replied honestly, placing it beside him in same moment he did that something snapped and Light was suddenly let free falling backward as it seems electric charge released from it was enough to break magnetic or whatever force was linking them together by now, "you were right! who would tell this will help?" Hope say looking at her face surprised, she sight in relief finally able to move leaning on her back, watching at Hope folding his boomerang behind his back, like taken by magic tension she felt just moment ago was gone, feeling much easier now she start laughing,
"what is it?"
" nothing,, " she look to the ground with enigmatic smirk "now I know your secret!"
Wha-? taken a back by this, Hope turn red in embarrassment, did she truly find out? He thought about it with dreadful feeling as few round drops of sweat forming on his forehead start to glide in goodbye, by any chance he didn't want Light to know what he was hiding from her, it was part of his childhood, only thing connecting him to life he once had and old world he left behind, it was a b-day present from his parents he get for excellent grades few yrs ago when he was still a kid, he used to carry it with him all the time, and play it any chance he get or whenever he was feeling bored, or anytime his parents fight, which was often,,, he didn't forget to bring it on this trip, he played it in the train and then,,, his face frowned, biting his lower lips, he couldn't remember when was the last time he play it? when did he stop? He glanced at Light as she went silent probably thinking about next move, his palms traced his pocket to make sure it's still there, feeling bit better after ensuring he still have it, good, it's still on it's place, safe and sound, even after all I've been trough,,, lets keep it that way, god knows what would Light do if she know he was hiding his favorite game console in his pocket, he didn't want to risk her getting angry and throwing it away,,, that's why,,, he hope to keep another one of his secrets from her,
like noticing his attitude lighten a bit or she just get bored of sitting and waiting
"I had enough of this!" Light stand up abruptly, whether there was one or thousand guards she didn't care, she didn't have time to waste, anything is better than doing nothing and feeling useless,
She glared at Hope "now you'll see how it feel to have a taste of your own medicine!"
"What are you talking about?" Hope replied, "I didn't do anything!" he protested reluctant to start moving again,
"shut up!" but it didn't work on Light "You did all this charade on purpose! so you can just sit here doing nothing?!" is that a question? thinking how could any of this be my fault?
he noticed it seems her usual self was back, "Stop wasting my time" he almost crack a smile if not for another slap on his shoulders, as she continue while jumping up and out
"Stop whining already and better start walking!" so he finally stand up ready to run after her, but seeing his sorrow expression she may be soften just a tiny bit adding in low voice "oh! and if you hurry you might win a *special bonus prize!" She winked with flicker smile
"What prize?" this was total unexpected, he couldn't think of anything,
"let's just say I have friend in Palumpolum who owe me a favor, and with little luck it'll help me move that out of the picture!"
"*That* you mean,,," he look up at name she was pointing up, of course, she smile in somehow menacing way without stopping walking
"so while we're here I might pay him a visit"
" We are team! I'm going with you!" Hope stopped his tracks,
no, " it's No children allowed!" but she continue never looking back ,
" take your time, what you'll do with that is up to you, whether you decide to sleep it over or take a quick home visit,"
Like I could ever go back home again, he look at the ground clenching his fists displeased, but when he look up Light was already disappearing in the distance, seriously,,, it's not that I have much choice,,, he dashed into a sprint wait!
Whoa! Can't believe how long was it from last update?x,x at least it's here now!^^ lolz
idk when exactly I get idea/to say hope keep his boomerang on his back under his jacket!^^ :)) and hope you don't mind that *magnetic force explanation and *familiar setting /it's for the plot sake!^^ and topic Hope is still a brat and Light is not far!^^ lolz!:)) ;) let just say it won't repeat again!:)) /well, soon, something might?x,x and next ch is a day!:)) again experimented with different writing styles and mood of the story going up and down again!^^ but I think it's funny/not too weird?;) lolz / I know I have stupid sense of humor!^^ please don't hate me 4it!^^;)) again planed 1/2 andended up with over 3pages!:)))
Hope you get some answers and you like it!^^! I Know I do!
THANK YOU FOR ALL SUPPORT FAV AND FALL EVEN WHEN NOT UPDATING!:))
I APRECIATE IT ALL!^^;) there were some big changes n things I do in RL!^^ so,,,,
I'll try my best from now to update at least once in two weeks!:)) we'll se how'll that go!:))
hopefully there will be more updates soon as I have my drafts only need tweaking and check before publishing! only 2more ch and we are on arc2!:)) /ffxiii2!:)) and atmosphere around that is totally different from this so enjoy this and stay toned!;))
p.s this was a looong n hot summer! and busiest ever!x,x as I spend it working on this Lenormand Oracle deck project!x,x painting cards and writing book!x,x/ if you like to know more pm me!^^ :))
p.p.s can't believe my last upload was 4mnth ago?x,x time fly when you are busy!^^ lolz almost forget how to add ch here?x,x had to check on previous ch before uploading this,/must say,,, OMG what a horrible writing style?x,x hope I improved bit here!^^ lolz facepalm ;) lets hope I didn't s*up anything!:)) btw I changed this into *drama tag!^^:)
till text!
Stay happy n lucky!^^
Ciao!^^:)))