A.N. So, here's the next chappy.

Salvation

Chapter 4: Humans are Pets

Lightning went through the gate first and hid behind a few bright leaves. When she was sure that there was no danger, she waved at Hope to tell him to come to her. Hope left his cover and ran over to her and stood behind her. Lightning looked around carefully. When she discovered no danger, she relaxed again. Hope noticed this and put his hands on his knees and sighed. „Can't believe we made it.", he said relieved. A moment later the door closed again. „That'll slow down the pursuit."

„But aren't there troops on this side? We can't relax just yet."

„Right. We press on.", said Lightning and took a few steps ahead. „I'll take point. You watch our backs."

„Actually..." Lightning stopped and turned to the boy. „Why don't you let me take point?", he asked, while looking at the floor. This surprised Lightning. She didn't think he would ever get the idea to take point. „Can you handle it?", she asked anyway. Hope ran in front of her and looked at her firmly. „It's not a question of can or can't." Lightning couldn't suppress a small smile. He really was a good listener. „Now you're learning.", she replied and sent him forward with a nod. Hope smiled happily and went ahead. „Keep your eyes front. I'll watch the rear."

Hope nodded. „Got it." When they went on Lightnings smiled a bit wider. Even though he was still very weak, he wanted to prove her he could show strength too. Maybe it wasn't so bad to have him around. On their way they met a lot of monsters, but they were no match for the trained soldier. „Have you ever been here before? On duty, I mean.", asked Hope, as they went a few kilometer. „No, I haven't.", answered Lightning. „This area's covered by the Woodlands Observation Battalion. You scared?" Hope looked for the right words. „Uh, not really. I'm ready to fight if I have to." Lightning knew he was lying. She had the feeling that he was afraid of her reaction when he told her the truth. Although Lightning didn't really know why she was doing this, she took her survival knife out of her red pocket and held it toward Hope.

He looked confused to her and the knife. „To keep you safe.", she said shortly. Hope then took a step closer and took the knife. He looked at it, while Lightning went to the elevator, which was directly in front of them. „I'll want it back."

„Lightning." She stopped and looked at him over her shoulder. „...Thank you." The pink-haired woman nodded and moved on. She waited until Hope was standing behind her and activated the elevator. That thing brought them up and then they could go on. They were silent most of the time. Hope seemed to be very focused on his job, otherwise he would have started a conversation with her long ago. But it was better this way. Hope suddenly stopped and looked up. „What is it?", asked Lightning and came a few steps closer to him. „We need to hide!", he said, grabbed her hand and dragged her behind a branch.

Lightning let him drag her along, too surprised to do anything against it, and hid with him. She looked up and saw a couple of soldiers, which flew past them on aero bikes. Funny, she hadn't noticed them...„They don't seem like they're even looking for us. I mean, we're l'Cie and we're on the loose.", said Hope as they left their cover again. „PSICOM's keeping it all under wraps. They don't want their failure publicized. Better to lose us than lose their pride.", explained Lightning. „So the other soldiers don't know about us. Right?"

„Right. They don't know anything about any fugitives.", she said and went on with him. Then again there was silence between them. Lightning still thought about, what she should do with Hope. She couldn't just abandon him. But she couldn't drag him into her fight like that either. What should she do? Lightning was torn from her thoughts when Hope called her. She turned to him and saw a Behemoth that guarded a gate. „This is the guardian of the fal'Cie.", she said and walked beside him. „We must defeat him to get through?"

„Yes." The Behemoth noticed them and growled. „Don't worry, I'll take care of it.", said Lightning and instinctively summoned a pink, rose-shaped crystal from her brand. Then she took her gunblade, threw the crystal into the air and destroyed it by shooting at it. Seconds later Odin appeared. Lightning ran into the battle and the Eidolon followed her. The two attacked the Behemoth with powerful lightning attacks. When he became weaker, Odin transformed into his Gestalt form and turned into a horse. Lightning climbed on and was now fighting with Odin's twin blades.

Actually, she'd expected the fight to be tougher, but with Odin it was almost too easy. „Light, I'll help you!" Lightning stopped the attack and saw Hope came running towards her. „Stay where you are!", she called to him. When she turned back to the monster, she couldn't dodge his attack anymore. His paw hit her and threw her away. When she hit the ground, the air was pressed out of her lungs. She took a quick breath again and tried to get up, but the big open wound that ran all over her torso, prevented her to do so. „Lightning!" Hope knelt beside her and looked at her anxiously.

„Haven't I told you to stay out of this?" Hope didn't answer, but began to heal her wounds. „I just wanted to help you.", he muttered. Seconds later a warm feeling went through her and she felt how the wounds closed. The pain vanished and Lightning stood up again. „Wait—"

„No, I need to help Odin." Lightning pushed the boy away from her and ran back into the fight. „You stay right where you are, understood?", she called. The soldier grabbed Odin's weapon and climbed on the Eidolon again. With a few targeted hits, the Behemoth got weaker. Then she got ready for her final attack. She jumped off of Odin and turned midair to summon a mighty lightning storm and defeated the Behemoth. Lightning landed again, gave Odin his weapon back and sent him away. Then she heard Hope came running to her. „Light, you okay?", he asked and looked at her anxiously. „Yes, I'm fine.", she replied, but she winced as her half-healed wound began to ache again.

Unfortunately, Hope noticed it. „C-can I take a look?" Lightning glared at him darkly, which made him wince. He didn't expect her to undress in front of him, did he?! „No, that's just a scratch.", said Lightning and went ahead through the gate. Hope ran after her quickly.

Eventually they reached an area where PSICOM bred his monsters. Unfortunately, they were forced to kill every single one of them, otherwise they couldn't go on and would be trapped. Lightning didn't mind, but Hope became more exhausted with each fight. But he tried to hide it from her. Whenever she had the time, Lightning healed her wounds that she got from the Behemoth. She found out that her healing magic was not as strong as Hope's. But she didn't ask him for help, she had too much pride to do this. Who would ever ask a child for help?

When they finally left this area, her wound was not as bad as before. „Get some rest.", said Lightning, when no monsters were in sight. Hope was totally exhausted and immediately sat down panting. Lightning looked further for possible dangers around and heard that the boy was playing with her knife. „What's eating you?" she asked, without turning to him. „Okay, I can tell you're hung up on something. Is it the l'Cie thing?" When he didn't answer, she turned to him and put a hand on her hip. „Not really...", he mumbled in reply. „What is it then?"

„You wouldn't understand." Lightning came closer and knelt down in front of him. „You and I are partners, Hope." Hope glanced up at her, before he avoided her gaze again. „It's just..." He let out a deep sigh. „It just sucks that I'm so weak. I mean...you have to constantly take care of the strong monsters and I've been having trouble with the little ones..." Lightning sighed softly. „Don't sweat it. If you train hard, you'll become stronger."

„Easy for someone like you to say."

„Hope." Finally he looked up at her. „When I started the training, I wasn't better than you." Hope raised a skeptical eyebrow. „Believe me. All you need is training." When he nodded, she ruffled his hair. „Ready to move on?"

„Yes." They stood up again and kept going. „Uh, Lightning?"

„Hm?"

„Could I...use one of those?", he asked and pointed to her gunblade. Lightning looked down at him in surprise. „Bit too heavy for you."

„Okay.", he said disappointed and looked at the knife in his hands. Lightning didn't know what to say to cheer him up — she's never been good in this stuff — so she just put a hand on his shoulder. After they once again changed the tier and had to fight many monsters, they saw some dead soldiers lying on the ground. „What happened here?", asked Hope, as they came nearer. „Bad luck. They came looking for us and found something worse."

„We can't just leave them like this!" Hope went closer to them. „Don't touch anything!", snapped Lightning, grabbed his arm and quickly pulled him away. Hope fell and landed on his butt. „Control your emotions. If you want to survive, you forget about sympathy." Hope gazed downward. The soldier sighed and turned away from him. „How can I explain?" She thought for a moment and then turned back to him. Hope still didn't look at her, so she came a few steps closer and knelt down in front of him. „Think of it like a strategy. Focus on your ultimate goal and shut out everything else. Still your mind. Move on instinct. Let doubt take over, and despair will cripple you.", she said and stood up again.

Hope stood up as well. „Strategy. Good. I'll take anything to help me get through this." Lightning nodded and then they went on again. Before they knew it, dust was approaching. They went really far by now and Lightning had the feeling that Palumpolum was near. She looked at Hope and saw how exhausted he was. „We'll rest here." When he heard this, he sat down on the floor. „I'm sorry."

„Don't sweat it. Rest up, I'll look around." Then she went away, without waiting for his answer. Nearby she discovered a few PSICOM soldiers, who also discovered the bodies. They talked about a monster that's raging here, but they didn't talk about l'Cie. Apparently they really didn't know anything about them. She crept back to Hope and found him asleep under a tree. Lightning sat down beside him and Hope laid his head on her shoulder, as if he felt her presence. Involuntarily she had to smile. No one ever had the guts to come near her like that. Either the boy was very brave, or very stupid.

Lightning looked up when she heard noises. And they came closer. She shook the boy immediately. „What is it...?", mumbled Hope sleepily. „Someone's coming.", whispered Lightning. Hope immediately jumped. „Be quiet, maybe they haven't found us." But when she heard a shot and a bullet pierced into her left shoulder, she knew they found them. „Light!" Lightning ignored the pain, grabbed Hope's wrist and dragged him along. But they didn't get far, because soldiers blocked their way.

Lightning searched for another way out, but they were surrounded. A squad of about thirty men surrounded them. „Not so fast, l'Cie.", said one of them. There was no other way out. She couldn't protect Hope all alone. She needed help. The pink-haired woman lifted her hand and placed it on her brand. Immediately the soldiers aimed at her, but they didn't shoot. Apparently, they wanted to know what she's doing. She summoned her crystal. „Stay close to me.", she whispered to Hope as she threw the crystal to the soldiers. As expected, these idiots shot at the crystal. They thought it was a grenade. As the crystal shattered, Odin appeared. Most of the soldiers attacked the Eidolon, so Lightning could take the initiative and kill the first ones.

Hope helped her and attacked the soldiers with magic. When they defeated all the soldiers, Lightning sent Odin away and went to her knees. To summon Odin a second time after such a short time, tugged at her strength. „Lightning!" She jumped at his panicked exclamation. Then everything happened so fast that even she couldn't really get what happened. Hope ran in front of her and then she heard a shot. Lightning's eyes widened as the silver-haired boy stumbled backwards and fell to the ground. She caught him and let him lean on her.

When she saw the soldier, who just shot at Hope, she cast a lightning spell and defeated him. She looked around, before she struggled to get back on her feet and carried the now unconscious Hope away from there. They couldn't stay after all. More soldiers might show up there as well. Lightning carried Hope a few meter until she eventually used up all her energy reserves. She hid him under a tree and sat down. She laid Hope carefully in front of her and started to observe his wounds. Without wasting any more time, Lightning took off his yellow jacket and his black shirt to examine his wound. The bullet hit him just above the heart. She put two fingers on his neck. His pulse was very weak.

She reached into his pocket and pulled out her knife. Then she tried to get the bullet out of him. Hope screamed in pain and a few agonizing minutes later it was done. Unfortunately, she had nothing to stop the bleeding, so she simply put her hand on the wound and cast a healing spell. Her hand glowed green and Hope's body took all the energy up. The bleeding stopped and the destroyed tissue regenerated instantly. When it was done, she tested his pulse again. It was stronger and steady.

She'd saved him. Lightning sighed in relief and dressed him. Then she took care of her own wounds, which she could ignore till now — well, kinda. She also had to remove some bullets out of herself, before she could heal herself. When that was done as well, she lifted Hope's upper body and pulled him closer to her so that he could lean on her, between her legs. Of course, just to keep him warm! She put her arms around him, closed her eyes and laid her head atop of his. After this fight she'd earned this rest.

Lightning awoke, as the silver-haired boy moved. She lifted her head, opened her eyes and looked directly into his leaf green ones. „L-Lightning...?"

„Hm?"

„Why...?"

„You were shot.", interrupted the pink-haired woman. „I've healed you and wanted to keep you warm."

„Oh, I see. Thank you."

„No problem." Then she saw concern in his eyes. „And what about you? You were also injured."

„Nothing serious. I've cured it." For a while Hope just stared at her. That was so awkward that Lightning wanted to look away, but she couldn't. „You look exhausted."

„I'm fine. I slept for a while." Even though she jumped at every little noise, she at least could sleep a bit. Hope looked away from her and leaned against her. He laid his head back on her chest and his hands on hers. Moment later, a warm sensation went through her, which gave her new strength and her half-healed wounds healed completely. „You don't have to do this, Hope. You should save your energy.", said Lightning, when she realized what he's doing. „But I like doing it for you, Light. That's the only way I can thank you for everything." That left her speechless. Even though she never asked something in return, he wanted to do something good for her.

„...Thanks." Hope's head turned back to her, and he looked at her a little surprised. Then he smiled. „You're welcome." Lightning couldn't resist a little smile in turn. As Hope saw it, his smile grew even wider — if that was even possible. Then she ruffled his hair and held her knife in front of his face. „I had to borrow it for a moment.", she said. Hope took the knife in and flipped it open. She'd cleaned the knife before with her uniform. „Rest a while. We'll have to move on soon.", she said and watched as his cheeks turned red. „Okay." He put the knife back into his pocket, then laid his head back on her chest and closed his eyes. Lightning did the same and took a snatch of sleep.

When she woke up, it was already dawn. It was time to move on. A few more meters and they would arrive Palumpolum. „Hope.", she said, while shaking him slightly. „Hmm?"

„We need to move on. Palumpolum's near."

„Okay...", he mumbled sleepily, while sitting up to stretch himself. Then the two stood up and pressed on. A short time later, they finally reached the exit of Gapra Whitewood and looked at the city Palumpolum. „And? How is it to be home again?", asked Lightning and looked at the city. „Weird.", he replied. „I'm happy, but somehow...not."

„I can understand you." That's how she felt too, when she thought about seeing Serah again. What will she say when she told her she'd become a l'Cie? „But it'll get better. Let's go." This time she took the lead again. It didn't take long before the two reached the city. However, there were a lot of soldiers who apparently were waiting for them. Or the Sanctum ordered another purge. The two l'Cie hid behind some boxes and searched for a way to get by unnoticed. „We can make it. Get to the station, and board the train for Eden.", said Hope. „You think it's still running?"

„Well, if it isn't, we'll make it run."

„Then punch straight into the heart of the Sanctum? Now you're thinking like a Pulse l'Cie." Lightning's thoughts were interrupted when Hope took her hand and shook it briefly to gain her attention. „There's some underground tunnels not far from here. I used to play in them when I was a kid. No one uses the entrance anymore, so even the army doesn't know about it. But I know where it is. We can sneak in under their noses.", he said and pointed in the direction where the tunnel was. „Sounds good." Hope grinned at her. „Great! Here we go.", he said and lead the way. They crept past the soldiers until they finally arrived said tunnel. They climbed through the entrance and after they went along a short corridor, they found themselves in a huge room.

It was brightly lit and just...huge. However, Lightning didn't feel safe and kept an eye on the entrance. „Don't worry, it will be fine. Only kids like me know about that entrance."

„They'll find it.", said Lightning. „They'll call in a team, and canvass the whole tunnel system."

„Then we'd better hurry."

„So, where's this thing come out, anyway?"

„Well, it...it — I don't really know for sure."

„We'll find out today.", she said put a hand on his shoulder as she went past him. Lightning took point again and together they went straight to the center, where some giant, orange thing floated. „This is the fal'Cie for food production.", said Hope. „Name's Carbuncle. That's one of our enemies, being Sanctum and all."

„So... Kill him, and cut off the food supply. That'll make us popular.", said Lightning and imagined this scenario. „I think people have enough reason to hate us, don't you?"

„Yeah, you're probably right. Hungry people make for angry people." There was a brief silence between them before Hope spoke again. „Look at us: Pulse l'Cie, using Sanctum fal'Cie to tell us where we're going. Sort of strange."

„Not really.", said Lightning. „We've relied on them our whole lives. The food we eat, the light and water, it's all from the fal'Cie. You know, I think Cocoon was really built for them. The rest of us, we're just leeches. Parasites."

„You think?" Hope walked a few steps closer to the fal'Cie. „They protect us, nurture us. They take care of, well, normal people. They treat us like we're special, almost like..." He searched for the right words. Lightning waited patiently and then he turned back to her. „Like we're pets!"

Lightning's eyes widened when he said that. He was entirely right with it. Now it all made sense. „Like pets...", she muttered and also took a few steps closer to the fal'Cie. „To them, we are just pets. That's it. Now it makes sense. I've been so blind. I was born into a fal'Cie world, raised on a fal'Cie leash. It was the only life I knew how to live. When it was taken from me, I was completely lost. Without a master to follow, my life has no purpose."

She paused a moment before she turned to Hope. „Hope, listen to me. This l'Cie curse, it took everything from me. My future. My dreams. I didn't want to think. So I fought instead. As long as I was fighting, nothing else was real. I was running away." She looked down and clenched her fists. „And you, Hope...You got swept along with me."

„But Lightning, I...don't understand."

„We don't go to Eden."

„What?" Hope's eyes widened. Lightning sighed as his gaze became serious and came a few steps closer to her. „I...", she began, but she didn't know what to say. „No. You told me to fight."

„I made a mistake!", she yelled and looked away from him. Hope walked away from her. „But — you can't do this. You can't just build something up like that, then abandon me." In a flash, she went to him and held him on his shoulders, so that he looked at her. „I won't abandon you. I won't."

„So what do we do now?", he asked. She had no answer, so she released him and turned away. „We're l'Cie!", continued Hope. „Ticking time bombs. Enemies of Cocoon. If we can't follow the plan, do we just lay down and die?" Then she turned back to him. „I didn't mean we should give up."

„Then what battles do we fight? And against who? Tell me that!"

„I don't know yet.", she replied. Her voice was, compared to Hopes, yet calm and collected. „You don't know yet?!"

„That's right. I don't know yet. But I do know we can't lose hope." Hope sighed and walked away. „Hope? There is no hope. Not for l'Cie." Lightning followed him. „There's you." The silver-haired boy sighed again. „That's my name, not who I am." Then Lightning remembered her own childhood. „I was just like you.", she sighed and held her forehead. Hope looked at her confused. She didn't know why, but for the first time she began to tell someone about her past.

„My parents died. I had to be strong for Serah, so I thought I needed to forget my past. And I became Lightning. I thought that by changing my name, I could change who I was. I was just a kid. Lightning. It flashes bright, then fades away. It can't protect. It only destroys. Serah tried to tell me, but I wouldn't listen."
„That's not true.", said Hope and abruptly tore her from her memories. „Lightning doesn't only destroy." She looked at him in confusion, while he explained. „I mean...You are Lightning and I know that you don't only destroy but also protect." Lightning snorted and shook her head. „I've slapped you and wanted to leave you twice."

„But still, you've protected me until now. When I was seriously injured, you've done everything to protect me, right?" Lightning nodded weakly. „And this is the proof that lightning doesn't necessarily destroy. Also, your nickname is Light, right?"

„So what."

„Light's bright and warm. It protects us from the darkness." Lightning went silent. Somehow his speech really made sense. „You could say that..." Hope searched for the right words. „Well...To enemies you are Lightning. Like you said, they deserve no pity. But for friends you are Light."

Lightning was speechless for a while. „That's...nice.", she said. She had no idea what to say to that. No one ever complimented her. „But now back to you, Hope." Hope shook his head and turned away from her. „Save it."

„Listen to me." Immediately Hope went silent and looked at her expectantly. „We go to your house." Before the boy could protest, Lightning continued. „It's important that you talk to your parents."

„My mother would be the only one who would listen to me.", he snorting. „Dad never had time for us, why should it be different now?"

„Because you're gone for a few days. He's your father. I'm pretty sure he does worry about you."

„I don't think so."

„It's worth a try.", she said, while looking at him seriously. „Right?" Hope avoided her gaze. „Hope." Lightning came a few steps closer and put her hand on his chin to turn his head to her, so that he looked at her. „It's important that you talk to them.", she repeated. „I want you to find the hope you were named for. Staying alive, I can help you with, but I can't — I can't give you hope. That's why you should go to them before we decide what to do next." Hope sighed deeply and looked down. Then she ruffled his hair.

„To fight without hope is no way to live. It's just a way to die." After a long moment of silence, Hop looked up at her. „Okay." Lightning nodded and ruffled his hair again, this time with more force to ruin his hairstyle. „Hey!", laughed Hope and tried to escape from her. The two smiled at each other before they went on. After a while they finally arrived the exit of this tunnel.

It was a lift so no one knew where they'll end up. Lightning went into the elevator, but Hope stopped and looked up as if he felt something. „What is it? Come on.", said the pink-haired woman. Hope nodded and caught up. Lightning activated the elevator when he stopped behind her. „I wonder what they'll say about this whole l'Cie thing...", muttered Hope to himself. „Me too. At least I'm wondering what Serah will say about this." They sighed in unison as they waited until the elevator finally stopped again.

A.N. Yeah...eh...guess till next time. (Maybe)