precious treasure; game verse kinda
Like the miracle that had taken place when Cocoon fell all those centuries ago, Hope felt as though this was also one that could have dire consequences. But whatever this unleashed Chaos would do, he selfishly thought that it was worth it.
The miracle had been Lightning's return.
Somehow, after Serah and Noel had fallen out of the gate from Valhalla, Lightning had appeared from a rift that'd broken through it. The three of them had stared in shock, but it was Hope that leaped forward to catch her in his arms, somewhat amazed that he actually could now.
The astonishment was quickly doused, however, as he took in her appearance. The armor she'd been wearing in the Oracle Drive vision was almost completely shattered in most places. What remained was cracked and irreparable. Though there were no wounds on her body, it just felt like she'd gone through some great battle. He wanted to ask Serah and Noel if they'd seen what had happened, but he couldn't tear his eyes away from her.
In a solemn tone, Hope told the other two he was taking Lightning to recuperate at his condo in Academia. To his surprise, Serah didn't protest, but that may have been because he'd held her so close to him that no one else would stand a chance. He carried her like that through the roads of his desolate city, clutching her tightly as though she was the something precious he'd been searching for all this time.
And, well….she was that and so much more.