[From Lightning's diary]
Many people asked me why I decided to marry Hope. After all, from I was kid, I am not intellectual type of person that enjoy discourse with various philosophical or scientific issues. Furthermore, he is not romantic and extrovert type of person that often popular among the girls. He spent most of his time either in the library or in the labs, whereas myself, I am outdoor person. I chased bad guys by jumping from rooftop to rooftop or car chase. I am often required to examine abandoned buildings, ruins, or caves and regularly need to fight unpleasant creatures.
It seems that the only reason why we were together was because both of us were converted into I'Cie by Fal'cie Anima. From thereon, he tagged me along where ever I went into. At that time, both of us shared common dislike with Snow. And then, we gradually shared our feelings related to fate, Fal'cie, and many other things. It is more like I am the one that need to guide him instead of another way around. He was lost after her mom passed away, and in the sense I become like Nora's substitute. And I never thought him as a lover, just a kid.
I gradually felt that he become attracted to me as our journey progressed. But it was not same level relationship. During our battle with PSICOM, I was interested in him because his healing ability was very good considering his age. But it is more due to practical reason. Throughout my life, many men tried to approach me for various reasons. However, virtually all of them were trying to control me by boasting that they are strong or rich men and that I will have a good life if I marry them. They were just interested in my pretty face, just like most men are. As soon as they encountered prettier lady, they will ditch me immediately.
However, the reason I am attracted with him is his character development after fight with Orphan. He transformed from naggy little brat into leader of humanity. I watched from Valhalla how he managed the details of his life, including his rigor for his academic study, how he spent by volunteering train most of Academy's staffs at the early stage without being paid, and how he used even his money to purchase needed equipment. He attended personally for any needy and sick Academy staffs and cure them by his medical ability and troubleshoot any problem with their experiment. He was practically doing everything like polymaths from ancient times.
And I knew that he rejected many advance from girls around him. He was close with Alyssa, his personal assistant and also with Vanille. Despite that, he waited for me. He would not know how long it take to meet me again since I was in Valhalla. I was impressed by his faithfulness. And last thing that made me fell in love with him is when he went into chaos to reach me, when I was about to go disappearing into another realm to lock Bhunivelze.
Hope is flexible person that is able to learn and adjust to my lifestyle. Despite his upper class background and scholastic achievement, he has remarkably humble attitude. And unlike many men that approached me in Guardian Corps, he does not fear or intimidated by me, although I am far stronger than him. I do not need any men to protect or provide for me. I am a warrior and capable of taking care of myself.
But I need a man that able to be with me during darkest of times, a man that will be faithful to me no matter the circumstances, and the man who live exemplary life that I can imitate. I do not care if he is 7 years younger or that he is weaker than me. I will protect and provide for him, for his sake, because he is my man.