Hope climbed the rocks that led behind the waterfall and sat down on the cool grass behind it. Lightning followed without questioning his choice of a spot. She stopped next to him and looked around.
"It's so calm back here," she said.
"Yeah, I sat back here after you left," he replied. She looked down at him with soft eyes and then sat in front of him with her back facing the water.
"Are you ok Hope?" she asked, brushing his hair out of his eyes. It grew a little since they met and barely brushed over his eyes. He nodded and smiled.
"Most people would call you a demon bent on killing and taking yet you love like any other person. I'm really glad I met you Claire. You've changed the way I thought about a lot of things and taught me truths I don't think I would have found out on my own. I guess I just wanted to say that to you and let you know how grateful I am," he said shyly.
"You've taught me things too Hope. Things I thought I already knew but I guess I needed a reminder," she said. He smiled and then reached out to touch the bandana tied around her arm.
"You still have it," he said happily.
"Of course," she replied. His hand traveled to her face and he leaned forward to rest his forehead on hers.
"I love you," he stated.
"I love you too," she replied. He kissed her once and then pulled away. She whined when he stopped and he laughed.
"You are teasing something that should not be messed with. It's not only me here," she reminded him.
"I know," he replied mischievously. She growled and tackled him to the ground. She licked his cheek and he laughed.
"Trying to get me back for when I did that to you?" he asked with a smirk.
"What if I'm just sampling you?" she shot back playfully.
"No, you're the eat-first-worry-about-taste-later kind of animal," he said. She smiled and picked him off the ground. His smile slid off his face and she smirked at him.
"Hey, what are you doing?" he asked. She ignored him as she carried him to the edge of the water.
"Oh no, Claire please. It's probably freezing in there," he pleaded.
"I don't think you have a problem with cold," she said before she tossed him through the waterfall and he landed with a splash in the water. She dived in after him, cutting through the water. He burst from the surface gasping for air. He looked around for her and was suddenly pulled underwater. He flailed to the surface to see Lightning laughing at him.
"N-n-none of that was f-f-f-funny," he stuttered as his teeth chattered. She swam to him effortlessly and pulled him to her.
"Come on, let's get you dried off," she said. She towed him to shore and dragged him out. He stood sopping wet and agitated.
"That's what you get when you mess with the playful side of darkness. I guess I just have morbid humor," she told him. He was still frowning. She busied herself with wringing out her hair and cloths and he used fire and wind magic to dry himself off. Now that their focus was done, no one knew exactly why their powers lingered but Hope wasn't going to complain. He offered to use the magic on her and in minutes they were both sitting behind the waterfall again, dry and comfortable.
"You know, the night really isn't that cold after feeling something way colder. Now it seems a little warm out," Hope said as he leaned back on his arms. Lightning nodded absentmindedly.
"We're taking the survivors out to Oerba tomorrow aren't we?" Hope asked.
"Yes," Lightning replied.
"Then I'm glad we got to spend some time together even if I got dumped in freezing cold water," Hope said. She leaned against him and sighed.
"Cold water bugs you but I don't?" she wondered aloud.
"You're different though. Your skin is a little colder than average and some may argue that your heart is ice, but I can feel the warmth in you," he explained.
"It's probably because you can sense your own light I took from you," she reasoned. He shook his head.
"No, it's because I'm the only one who can sense just how much you can love," he corrected. She gazed into his eyes and he stared back. Ever so slightly she pushed aside his collar and inspected the scar.
"I'm still unsure if hurting you is love," she argued. He reached forward and put a hand on the zipper of her turtle neck. He kept her eye contact as he zipped it down just enough to see an identical scar on her shoulder. He rubbed a hand over it and sighed. They sat that way with their hands over each other's scars. The mood turned serious. Hope felt the change and looked for a way to undo it.
"What can I say? The bad part of you likes my body and the good side of you likes my heart," he chuckled. She laughed and pushed his shoulder. He grinned, happy to pull her out of the darkness once more. He removed his hand and zipped up her turtle neck. She started to remove her hand but he gripped it before she pulled away. He tugged gently and she allowed him to pull her so that she lay on top of him. She stayed motionless listening to the sound of his heart beat and held him close.
"I'll always be there for you Claire; through thick and thin," he said suddenly. She lifted her head to look at him.
"Yeah, and I'll be busy watching out for you kid," she replied, trying her best to mimic the way she talked to him for what seemed like a long time ago. He laughed and before long she joined him.
"You know, you've changed," he said after their laughter settled down.
"How so?" she asked uncertainly.
"Not in a bad way. You've loosened up despite what you went through," he said.
"I had help," she replied.
"But it still made you who you are today," he countered.
"I'm still a danger to all of us Hope. Don't forget that," she cautioned.
"I know that, but you're still a good person," he said.
"Person?" she said thoughtfully. He sighed in frustration.
"Lightning look at me," he commanded sternly. She looked at him out of shock. She never heard him use that tone of voice before. He gazed into her eyes intensely and for once she was struck speechless by him. The darkness roiled and came to life. She could sense the desire and passion roll off of Hope and trigger the dormant animalistic side of her. He rolled them over so he was on top and bent down to growl into her ear.
She responded with a deep growl of lust. Her breathing picked up and her body cooled slightly. He smirked and her eyes flashed gold. He kissed her jaw and worked down until he came to her turtleneck. He unzipped it and continued to her shoulder where he nipped at her softly. She pressed into him and almost bit back when he bit her shoulder. He pulled back and kissed her passionately; she responded strongly, her desire waiting to be released.
"Let it go," he mumbled against her lips. He felt her resist the temptation but he could tell it was wearing her down. The shadows snaked across her skin in intricate patterns and strangely curled onto him in a loving embrace wherever he touched her. He watched a particular tendril caress his hand where he had placed it on her cheek.
"I can't let it claim you Hope. I can't let it take your light," she panted.
"Don't worry it won't," he said soothingly. His face was mere inches from hers. He teased her with his tongue, gently sliding it across her bottom lip. She whimpered and pulled him into a deep kiss. She explored his mouth roughly and when he responded with just as much strength he felt her teeth sharpen. Her hands gripped his arms tightly and then relaxed when he slit his tongue on her teeth. Her tongue immediately cleaned his mouth of all the blood and she moaned. She pushed away from him and shook her head.
"Hope we need to stop," she warned. He heard a hint of fear tinge her voice under all the desire. At this point, he was just as lost in the moment as she was. Her eyes glowed but Hope wouldn't take no for an answer. His hands ran down her sides, came back up, and slid softly under her uniform. They didn't stray too far up without permission but just enough to feel her smooth skin against his hand. Her breathing hitched as he caressed her. She reached out suddenly and removed his hands. He looked disappointed but she moved to his jacket and pulled it off, almost ripping it in the process. She threw it aside and pushed him on his back. She straddled his waist and smoothed her hands across his chest. He watched the shadows take over her and the mysterious beauty of her demonic side arose.