hero; and this one is sorta weird…basically set in an AU-ish version of the Type-0 universe. I haven't finished that game, so I took a lot of liberties :x very minor spoilers for that game

"Will they be safe?" was the only question on Hope's lips.

"Certainly," Dr. Arecia replied, taking a slow drag from the elegant-looking cigarette she held. "You're well aware of your wife's status in the dominion's military, aren't you?"

"Of course, but - "

"But nothing, Doctor Estheim." Dr. Arecia gave him a smile that looked a bit too much like a smirk for his taste. "She can quite obviously take care of herself. As for your daughter…"

"Yes?"

Another smirk. "Class Zero will take excellent care of her."

That was exactly what he was afraid of.

—

Why Seven had been chosen for such an elite class, he didn't know. Despite the fact that he had prime access to most of the classes and cadets in Akademia, Hope didn't know much about Class Zero. Nobody seemed to - even Lightning, who'd been fighting for their dominion of Rubrum as soon as she'd been able, mostly as a means to support her sister, Serah. Hope had met Lightning a little over twenty years ago in Rubrum's capitol of Akademia while he'd been healing injured cadets after a mission.

Lightning had been one of those cadets. Despite her standoffish-ness at first, mostly because she didn't want anyone to have to think they'd have to miss her should she not come back alive, he'd very quickly fallen for her. To his surprise, she'd always had a little crush on him.

They'd gotten married less than two years later, which was actually quite a long time for someone in the military. Usually marriages around here were quick - if they happened at all - because you never knew how long you'd get to spend with someone and how long you'd get to remember them.

Fortunately for them, despite her career, they'd both flourished. Not only was Lightning a commander for Class First, but Hope had basically graduated over the years from simply healing cadets to having his own lab where he could study magic and eidolons to his heart's content.

They also had a daughter, who, in his opinion, was way too young to be a cadet. Seven had been born on the night of a meteor shower, and named for how many falling stars they'd seen right after she was born. It suited her, he thought.

Life at Akademia also seemed to suit her. Though he often wished his daughter had taken more of an interest in science, she clearly took after her mother instead and was extremely proficient in battle.

Maybe that was why she'd been chosen for Class Zero.

Hope didn't want to think about any other possibilities.

—

"Really, Dad, it's fine." Seven crossed her arms. "You don't have to bring me here to 'chat'. Doctor Arecia treats us all well. I have no problems saying that in the open."

Hope just hummed in response, absentmindedly moving around some stuff on his desk, where he was sitting. "Even so. I feel like I never see you anymore."

"Because you're holed up in here, Mom's out on missions, and I'm busy training with the others." She shrugged. "I guess…I can make more of an effort though, if it means that much to you."

"It would." Hope couldn't hide his smile. "It'd mean a lot to your mother, too."

"I definitely agree."

Hope's gaze immediately went to the new voice and grinned, quickly approaching his wife and giving her a greeting kiss. Luckily, Seven was more than used to her parents being ridiculously affectionate with each other and didn't bat an eye.

"How was the mission?" Hope asked.

"Tolerable. Some of these cadets sure have mouths on them, though." She arched an eyebrow at Seven. "Hopefully you won't end up like that."

"As long as everyone pays attention and puts forth the effort, I won't need to be," she replied.

Lightning smiled a little, pride in her eyes as she lightly wrapped an arm around her daughter's shoulders in a half-hug. "That's exactly what I like to hear."

Hope watched the two of them share a smile as he sat back down, amazed as he always was at how much alike they were. Most of the time, it felt like Seven was the best of both of them. He couldn't have wished for anything more.

"Do you know when they're going to start sending us out on missions?" Seven asked her mother. "Not that I don't appreciate all of the training, but…"

"It'll come." Something flashed in Lightning's eyes at Seven's desire to go out of the battlefield. "You'll get your chance. It's better to be overly prepared than not."

"I know. But more people are being added to Class Zero. I bet the higher-ups are planning something."

Hope's eyebrows went up. "How many people are in Class Zero now?"

"Twelve, including me. A guy named Nine and a girl named…" She cleared her throat, faint splotches of red forming on her face. "…A girl named Sice came the other day. Doctor Arecia says we'll be ready soon."

"Ready for what?" Lightning asked.

"I guess we'll know when it happens." The loud chime of a bell interrupted her before she could say anything more. "Sorry. It's time for class."

"Go on." Lightning patted Seven's shoulder before letting go. "Make us proud."

"As always," came their daughter's confident reply before she left the lab.

There was a beat of silence before Hope's eyes slid over to his wife. "Okay. What is it?"

Though Lightning usually frowned on public displays of affection between cadets, she was a lot more affectionate when the door was closed, and proved this by settling herself on his lap, her arms looping around his neck. Hope nuzzled the top of her head, always glad that even more than twenty years did nothing to calm the love between them.

"It's nothing in particular," Lightning finally murmured. "I'm just…"

"Worried about Seven?"

She glanced up to look her husband in the eye. "How'd you guess?"

"It's pretty obvious," he teased, but then leaned in and kissed her gently when she just frowned at him. "I know," he murmured between their lips. "I'm worried about her, too."

"I'd feel better if I knew what this Class Zero was all about, but everyone's so tight-lipped about it." She sighed. "Have you found out anything?"

"I haven't, much to my dismay. But I…I do have a feeling there's something more going on here. The fact that Class Zero is already talking about going out on missions so soon is suspicious. Other cadets in the other classes have worked years for it."

"Maybe it's because of us," Lightning suggested. "Maybe the other kids there have families connected to Akademia as well. That could be it."

"Maybe," Hope replied, though he didn't sound convinced. He found her lips again. "I'll look into it, though. It couldn't hurt."

She made a quiet hum of agreement, the two of them just quietly holding each other until she murmured, "I suppose…as long as we all remember each other, that's all that really matters."

.Instinctively, Hope tightened his hold on her, nodding when she did the same. Sometimes that was all he wanted, to simply hold her so that they would never forget.

He didn't know what he'd do if he ever woke up one day only to realize that he'd forgotten his wife or daughter.

Or both.

—

"My cadets have a special order with Class Zero," Lightning said as she barged into his lab and slapped a folder on his desk.

Hope immediately stopped what he was working on and looked through the papers, somewhat in horror. "What?! Are they even ready for this?" He looked up with wide eyes. "Are they sending Seven?"

"Yes." Lightning's jaw clenched and he realized she didn't know whether to be proud or worried. It was probably both. "But that's not what I'm worried about. Well, too much."

It took a moment of scanning the mission orders for him understand. "Your cadets are the backup?!" he cried. "But they've had years more experience! We don't even know what kind of training the rest of Class Zero has had!"

"Believe me, I protested, too. But the higher ups are adamant about this." She glanced around like someone was listening and murmured, "I heard Doctor Arecia say that Class Zero will be our 'secret weapon'."

Hope's hands involuntarily clenched into fists at that, but he relaxed slightly when Lightning lay her hands on top of them. "Hope, listen." Her voice was still quiet. "I don't know exactly what's going on with all of this. I want to find out, not just for Seven's sake, but…for ours." Now she met his eyes in absolute sincerity. "Because, Suzaku forbid, if anything goes wrong out there, I…"

"I know," he replied quietly, shifting his fingers to twine them with hers. As soon as Seven had started her training in Akademia, he'd always known this.

If it came down to it on the battlefield, Lightning would sacrifice herself for Seven without question.

Hope couldn't fault her for that. He'd do the exact same thing. But still…

"You have your Knowing Tag, right?"

Lightning pulled down the collar of her turtleneck a bit, revealing a silver chain. Hope knew that attached to it was a metal tag that listed her full name, date of birth, and her closest family members - himself and Seven, of course. Her old one, which had been stamped with Serah's name instead, was at home.

"I guess that's all I can really ask." Hope reached over and cupped her face in his hands. "And…that you be careful. Don't do anything heroic. Please."

"As careful as I can be," she promised, leaning in to kiss him.

It was one that didn't last nearly long enough, because before he knew it, it was mission day. Seeing Lightning march out to battle was always horrifying in its own way, but seeing Seven - who was with two other Class Zero cadets - among those marching out was a thousand times worse.

He wondered if it was time to have a little chat with Dr. Arecia.

—

When the mission was over, Hope felt nothing but intense relief. Though Dr. Arecia had basically brushed him off during their little 'chat', it seemed way less important now - because he still had his memories of his wife and daughter.

They were both granted a three day leave, so Hope took some time off as well so they could all be at home together for awhile. Seven couldn't stop talking about the battles.

"It was incredible," she gushed in her own quiet manner. "This is something I've spent my life watching Mom do; something I've been training for for just as long. To put it to use is exhilarating."

"You did do very well," Lightning replied with a smile. There was a glint of pride in her eyes that there was no hiding, despite how much she disapproved that Class Zero had been put on the frontlines. "That whip was definitely made for you."

"They do provide some interesting weapons for all of you," Hope commented. "Most cadets are usually provided with either a gun or a sword."

"Class Zero is special." At her parents' raised eyebrows, Seven shrugged a little. "That's what Doctor Arecia keeps telling us."

Hope met Lightning's eyes for just a moment, glad to see she was mirroring his concern. What on earth was that woman hiding…?

"At any rate, you were great in battle," Lightning finally said with a little smile at her daughter. "Very dependable. Maybe one day we can take on some of the wild monsters out in Rubrum together." She gestured towards Hope teasingly. "This one can watch."

"Oh, thanks." Hope tried to sound offended, but it didn't really work and the three of them dissolved into laughter, a sound that he wanted forever etched on his heart.

—

As Class Zero kept getting sent on more and more missions, Hope started growing a little less worried…and more concerned. Their reputation was spreading throughout Akademia as an 'unstoppable force.'

Honestly, it wouldn't have concerned him so much had Seven not actually believed she was unstoppable.

"Doctor Arecia says we're special," she repeated for what felt like the hundredth time this conversation. "Come on, Dad. She knows what she's talking about."

Hope didn't really have solid proof to sway her one way or another, so all he said was, "Just remember that anything can happen out there. Anything. It's why all the cadets wear those Knowing Tags."

"I know that," she snapped. "I know what I'm doing out there. In case you've forgotten, I've been training for this my entire life."

"Seven," he warned, hoping that was all it would take. Discipline came a little more naturally to Lightning."I'm well aware of that. I just - " He reached out to rest his hands on her shoulders for a moment. "All I want is for you to be careful, sweetheart. I tell your mom the same thing all the time."

"Does she get tired of hearing it, too?"

"Probably." They both chuckled, but it seemed forced. "Go back to class. Come see your mom and I before your next mission, okay?"

"Okay," she agreed, then surprised Hope by giving him a quick hug before leaving the lab.

He wanted to turn time back twenty years so she could've grown up somewhere, anywhere else, that wasn't a place of war.

—

"Absolutely not," Lightning all but hissed. "I don't care if Doctor Arecia thinks you're ready. There's no way I'm letting my daughter invade enemy territory."

"Light - "

"You're not my commanding officer, Mom!" Seven snapped. "Doctor Arecia is! Which means she's the one that tells me where to go and what to do. Your cadets are just backup!"

Hope inwardly groaned, wondering if he should step in at all. When Lightning had stormed into the lab with Seven following soon after, both of them as angry as he'd ever seen them, he figured it had something to do with a mission.

"I'd have to agree with your mother, Seven," Hope said gently when there was a pause. "Invading enemy territory sounds like something that should be left to troops more experienced."

"But we are experienced," she insisted. It took Hope a moment to realize that she was talking about Class Zero as a whole. "All of us, we just have this…this power. We need to put it to use!"

It had to be Dr. Arecia that was putting thoughts like that into the cadets' heads, but he shoved that aside for now. "There's a difference between having power and knowing the right way to use it," he replied.

"He's right," Lightning quickly interjected. "You could be the strongest cadet in the world, but it doesn't mean a thing if you don't utilize that strength properly. During an infiltration mission on enemy territory is not the way to find out how."

Seven stared at each of them with an unreadable expression. "You never take my side," she muttered. "Either of you."

"Seven - "

"I'm going on this mission. Nothing is going to stop me." She stared at Lightning. "I know you're commanding the backup cadets, but just…stay out of our way."

"Seven - !" Lightning cried when their daughter turned and ran out of the room. It wasn't until Hope had taken one of her hands to stop her from running out as well that he realized she was trembling.

"Let her go for now," he murmured, pulling his wife close. "What's wrong, Light?"

"She's a good cadet. Better than most just starting out," Lightning murmured, leaning her forehead against Hope's shoulder. "But what if the enemy is better? That's what she doesn't understand - that there's always someone better. Someone looking to be a hero or for glory that has no problem killing cadets without hesitation."

Hearing her actually say it like that made Hope hold her closer, both for the horrors she'd seen and knew, and for the ones Seven had yet to see. "That's why you're there. You can protect her until she knows. Just - "

"Don't do anything heroic," Lightning murmured, her arms finally wrapping around Hope's waist. "I know."

They both sighed in unison and simply remained wrapped up in each other until Hope murmured into her hair, "Watch. After the mission, she'll apologize. Both of you will." He kissed her forehead. "Seven's growing up, and we need to let her. It'll be okay."

"Don't make promises you can't keep," she muttered, but he could feel her little smile when he kissed her gently.

"I try not to." He smiled back. Kissed her again. And again.

"I - " she sighed quietly in between kisses, " I need to get ready for the mission. I haven't even gone over the briefing with my cadets yet."

"I won't keep you." Hope pulled away a bit and stared at her as he often did, memorizing her face - the one he loved so dearly, with all his heart. "Come back safe."

"I will." She was staring at him too, at least before she leaned up and pressed their lips together one more time, this kiss soft and lingering. "I love you."

Those were words they said to each other all the time, but for some reason, there was something…bittersweet about them he couldn't quite pinpoint. Even so, he replied with the same. "I love you, too."

Lightning finally managed to pull herself away, even though Hope just wanted to keep holding on. He didn't let go of her hand right away and instead let it slide through his, savoring the touch as she walked out of the lab.

"Eyes front," he reminded her. She paused and then nodded, not looking back.

—

When Hope woke up the next morning, he had an eerie feeling that he used to share his bed with someone. The fact that he knew his daughter and the wedding band on his ring finger confirmed that he was right.

But he could not remember who it was.

—

According to the report he'd stolen from the office, the commanding officer of the backup cadets during the infiltration mission two days ago had broken her own orders and pushed Seven away from an incoming explosion. The Knowing Tag - the one he was twirling in his hands - attached to the subsequent dismembered body read Lightning 'Claire' Farron-Estheim.

It was partially his last name. In fact, his name was on the tag as well, and so was Seven's.

But it wasn't all of this information that made him shove the papers aside…

…It was the fact that even though he could not remember who she was, his heart ached as though half of it had been ripped away. Moments later, he could not help but sob into his hands, knowing he would never get that half back.

—

"I don't remember her," Seven said a few days later while sitting in his lab. She looked absolutely no worse for wear, which confused Hope to no end. He couldn't remember, either. But that didn't mean…

"It's the will of the crystal," he explained in a tired, broken voice.

"I know that."

Hope got the feeling that her eye-rolling was something she'd gotten from her mother…the woman neither of them could recall. Somehow, he managed to ignore it and continued talking, because facts were much easier to deal with. "Our dominion of Rubrum is guided by the crystal of the great Vermillion Bird, Suzaku. In order to continue on to greatness and power, the crystal commands our minds to forget the dead once they pass." He stared at the Knowing Tag that he'd barely let go of, adding in a murmur, "…No matter how noble their sacrifice."

At the explanation she largely already knew, Seven's face softened a bit. She looked away, playing with the chain around her neck that had her own Knowing Tag, should anyone need to identify her body if she was killed in action, since no one would remember her by sight.

A shudder ran through Hope. The very thought was horrifying…but now, ultimately, a reality.

"I remember some of it."

His head snapped up. "What?"

"Not her, of course." Seven folded her arms, looking lost in thought. "I remember getting pushed away from the explosion and the heat from the fire. I didn't know a life had been sacrificed to save me, much less…"

"…Your mother's."

She hummed quietly in agreement, now looking at a spot on the floor. "But you know what?"

"Yes?"

"I…" Now she stood up a little straighter, looking him right in the eye. "I don't feel sad. The crystal is right in making us forget. How can I mourn someone I don't remember? And how long would I be out of commission if I needed to mourn at all? Then I'd have to get all of my skills back. It's a waste a time."

Absolute shock and horror crossed Hope's face. "How can you say that?! This is your mother we're talking about!"

"You don't remember her either!"

The truth of this statement sent what was left of his heart plummeting to his gut. Seven was right - he was losing himself to someone who he never would have known existed if not for the Knowing Tag.

But that didn't explain his broken heart.

"I…"

"I want to continue to fight, Dad," Seven said in a very matter-of-fact tone. "I fight for the dominion. For Class Zero. That's all I need to know."

"Seven…"

"I think that…until you realize that, I shouldn't come here anymore." She turned to leave. "You can contact Doctor Arecia if you need me for anything."

"Seven, wait - !"

The door clicked shut.

Hope couldn't bring himself to run after her - his daughter. His and…Lightning's daughter. How much of her was in Seven? Would he ever know?

All he knew for sure was that now, his heart would never be whole.

Never.

—

"Splendid," Dr. Arecia practically purred, audible even through the doors of her office. "I knew my children would be just perfect."

"Your children?" came a male voice that Hope didn't recognize. Of course, he was eavesdropping and couldn't see who it was.

"Of course," came that too-sweet voice, and Hope winced. "I consider all of Class Zero as though they were my very own."

"Does that mean we can…" a soft-spoken female voice started to ask, and he physically recoiled when he heard Seven finish the question.

"…Call you 'Mother'?"

If Dr. Arecia was surprised by the question, she hid it well. In fact, it sounded as though she'd been expecting it. "Of course, my dear. In fact, you may all call me 'Mother."

There were random sounds approval, which Hope assumed came from the cadets. Somehow, he could pick out Seven's voice, calling Dr. Arecia 'Mother.'

It make his stomach turn.

They then began to discuss an upcoming mission, which just made him even more sick. Class Zero, and them alone, were to invade another enemy city. This particular city, however, was heavily guarded with magic barriers, which was why it was designated to Class Zero only.

"I'm sure you'll all come back alive," Dr. Arecia purred. "Mother would hate to lose any of her children."

Hope finally had to leave and go back to his lab when he heard that, practically writhing with disgust. At least now he had something to think about.

He wanted to be with Lightning again. Even though his mind didn't remember a thing about her, his heart ached for it. He never would have gone so far to say that there was nothing to live for - his daughter certainly was - but he didn't want to continue like this. He couldn't. It hurt as though someone had driven a stake through his chest. If he could see those same falling stars he'd seen during Seven's birth, he would have wished for Lightning to come back a thousand times.

But now, as he gathered up some supplies in his lab, he was sure he'd figured everything out.

He was going to make sure that everyone in Class Zero - including Seven - got through this next mission alive.

—

The magic barriers were unguarded, perhaps because they were so powerful. No gun or sword could penetrate it, even when it was the dead of night like it was now.

Hope, however, had other plans.

Eidolons had been created by the Dominion of Rubrum's very own Suzaku crystal. The great Vermillion Bird had always been generous with its power to its citizens in that regard. Despite the amazing things eidolons could do, hardly anyone ever used them except as a last resort.

Because the summoning required a sacrifice.

Hope held the crystal in his hands and called upon Odin's power, knowing it was the only eidolon available to him strong enough to destroy the gate. There were precious few minutes before Class Zero arrived, and he wanted things to be ready for them.

The last thing he saw was Odin leaping from the light in his chest and obliterating the magical barrier, allowing anyone - cadets, for instance - instant access inside.

He then succumbed to the sacrifice and utter oblivion, one word laced in his last breath.

"Light…"

—

When Class Zero arrived, the magical barrier was broken and Odin vanished in front of their eyes, its task complete.

The one who had done the summoning - the sacrifice - lay a few feet away, his silver hair mussed as though he'd been running towards something before he'd collapsed in death.

Queen took the man's Knowing Tag to surrender later, though something wanted to compel Seven to grab it from her. She had no idea why; she certainly didn't know this man.

Not that it would have made much of a difference if she had.

She stared at him for a moment, wondering why he would have done such an idiotic thing. The uniform he was wearing gave away that he was from Akademia - had he heard about the mission? But Mother had assured them it was top secret…

"Seven, let's go!" Sice cried, already eager for thrummed in her veins as well and she quickly followed, leaving the sacrifice behind.

As she ran, she found herself looking up towards the night sky, which was fairly visible in this city. Right before the first of their enemies appeared, something caught her eye.

Two shooting stars that streaked through the sky, eventually falling into the same path and becoming one.