Hope sat on the edge of the bed, hands clasped on his knee while he waited for someone to fetch him some thing to wear. He had been told his own clothes were in a state and were still being repaired and cleaned as well as possible, but rather than let him wander the 'Garden' in the paper thin pajamas, he was being loaned one of the dark-blue uniforms that everyone seemed to wear.
"Here we are." Dr Kadowaki hadn't been gone long as promised and Hope shot her a small smile before standing almost to attention. He'd been brought up to respect those in authority, those being teachers, doctors, basically anyone older then he was... "Relax, there's no need to act so formally."
"I'm not, I'm just-" He had even bowed his head just then and he laughed softly as he realised. "I guess I am." He stood a little straighter and looked at the uniform she held out to him. "Habits are hard to break, I guess. Thanks."
"I think it's about your size." She set it down, even leaving some clean under-garments. "I'll leave you to get changed. When you're done, Quistis will be along to collect you."
"Not Squall?" He asked already pulling the bland shirt over his head, struggling when he needed to be careful of the bruising on his chest.
"He's in a meeting at the moment, he's asked Quistis to show you around."
Finally the shirt popped clear of his head leaving his hair ruffled.
"Okay." He called and continued to dress. He felt a bit stuffy inside such a formal looking set and it felt strange in such dark colours especially when his silvery hair stood out so much against it.
All that was left to do was cover his brand and he found the pair of fingerless gloves, but they didn't reach far enough up his arm to cover the mark completely. While he accepted his fate, he was still very aware of the reaction of those on Cocoon who had seen it, the panic that had followed. He sighed softly and searched the pile for anything else he could use. A bright yellow bandana struck out and he smiled, the bright colourful strand of material reminded him of his own clothes and the fact it was his mother's favourite colour.
Hope sat on the edge of the bed, quickly wound the bandana around his wrist and tied it. It wasn't so tight as to restrict his movement and it covered the L'Cie brand nicely.
"Are you ready?" A soft sweet voice asked followed by a polite rap against the door.
"Yeah." He called and got up, grabbing his boomerang.
He'd met Quistis once before and so he recognised her easily among the people of the infirmary. She and Dr Kadowaki were stood talking as Hope approached.
"Good morning, Hope." Quistis smiled, her long golden hair framing her face as she adjusted her glasses.
"Good morning." He bowed his head.
"So well-mannered." He blushed and rather than stammer a thank you he kept quiet.
"Hope, you have fun but don't over-do it." Kadowaki instructed as he followed Quistis from the infirmary. He shot the kind doctor a smile and a nod before leaving. He'd been eager to leave the infirmary, not that there was anything wrong with the place but, a few days ago when he'd escaped, he'd been mesmerised by the size of this 'Garden' and to get a chance to explore it now was a wish come true.
Quistis was a good guide, he'd expected something like an official tour to be a bit of a bore, but she made learning stuff easy and fun. She seemed popular with the other students too and Hope found himself an envied target of her 'official' fan club.
"Don't look so worried, they're harmless." Quistis said with a smile as they walked away after excusing themselves.
"So long as their looks can't kill." Hope added and quickly turned away from the strange little group.
"So, what do you think so far, Hope?"
"About Garden?" A nod. "It's amazing. There's nothing like this back home. People are afraid of people like us." He looked down at the yellow bandana wrapped around his left wrist.
"People always fear those they don't understand. It takes courage to learn and to grow past such trivial, illogical fears."
"I can understand it though. I used to be one of them, until I was cursed." Quistis tilted her head curiously.
"Why do you call your wonderful gifts a curse?"
"Because of the price." Hope shook his head, wondering whether he should tell her. "Because, L'Cie have a focus and if we don't complete that focus, we become. . . no longer human." He swallowed thickly wondering what her reaction would be now.
"Have you completed your focus?" Hope paused.
"I think so. I remember fragments of a battle and then the whole sky was, alive." His hand went to his forehead trying to alleviate the ache there. "I…I can't remember anymore, when I try. . ."
"Are you hungry?" Quistis changed the subject.
"Starving." He was grateful for the distraction and fell into step behind the graceful woman as she led the way to the cafeteria. It was early and the students had gathered for breakfast, even the 'Trepies' as they called themselves. Hope hid behind the tray he had been given and just followed, eyes trained on his feet.
"So what are you hungry for?" Hope looked up at the counter trying to decide. It all looked good but the lone egg muffin drew his attention and got his stomach growling fiercely. With the snack on his tray he waited for Quistis to choose her meal before sitting together by one of the windows.
The scene below him was that of a forest, the trees were tall, green and bursting with life. Brightly coloured birds sang in their tops as a warm summer sun shone down.
"Usually you'd be able to watch the world go by, but for the moment we're stationed by Balamb till the repairs are complete."
"The Garden can move?" He asked, quite impressed and Quistis nodded with a smile. "The whole thing?" He was still trying to understand just how that was possible; it was so big and not exactly aerodynamic enough to fly. His head swirled with the possibility as he tried to work out just how that was mechanically possible, but maybe it wasn't. "Junction?"
"No one is really sure; the technology is older than anything we've ever seen before. All we know is that its there to protect SeeD and SeeD are here to protect the world. It's why we train."
Hope felt all starry eyed as she told him. What would life have been like for him and his friends if they had been treated with such respect and awe instead of fear and hatred? He blinked down at his meal, suddenly not very hungry anymore.
"Penny for them?"
"Huh?" He met her eyes and returned her smile. "Oh, just thinking about my friends. I wish I knew if they were okay."
"I'm sure they are. In fact I bet they're just as worried about you as you are about them."
He nodded.
"Eat up and I'll take you to the bridge. Squall should be ready by now."
He nodded again and was about to take a bite out of the muffin when movement caught his eye. The flash of a scarlet cloak flowing from the right shoulder of a beige jacket and a familiar Gunblade, folded and hanging from a feminine pair of hips.
Hopes heart raced, for a second he thought he was going to throw up because he felt so anxious.
He stood as he saw the back of the figure retreat from the room and he screamed her name causing most of the personnel in the cafeteria to turn in their direction.
"Hope?" He ignored Quistis and bolted from his seat heading for the door, barging past any who were in his way to scared he was going to loose her to care about manners now. "Hope!" Quistis was right behind him but he couldn't afford to stop and explain. He ducked under a tray filled with hotdogs, the young man who they belonged to screaming in anger as his lunch tumbled to the floor but Hope didn't care.
He reached the door and barged through leaving chaos in his wake. The familiar splash of scarlet tumbled around a corner out of site, heading for the exit. Again he screamed her name and jumped the full height of the stairs landing; knees bent hands out in front to stop his tumble, running again using the momentum to get up to speed again.
He took the next corner at speed, skidding right into a tall guy in a trench coat who grabbed hold of Hope by his shoulders, halting his pursuit and he struggled angrily against the hold.
"Easy, partner." Hope shook his head and tried to scurry away watching helplessly as the red fabric danced out of sight.
"Let me go, she's there! Light!" as if persuaded by the sheer desperation in his voice, the tall cowboy let go and Hope bolted for the exit.
"Irvine! Don't-" Quistis' exasperated comment was drowned out by the intensity of Hope's blood thumping loudly in his ears. He grabbed a railing and took the stairs down three at a time, misjudging the last and tumbled down the rest painfully, but he was up as quickly as he fell and running for the light ahead. She had to be there, she just had too.
He came to a skidding halt looking out on a wide grassy plain, a misty gray horizon. . . hiding something. A flutter of red drew his attention and he tried to run for it but couldn't move, suddenly the floor at his feet jerked and he wobbled, managing to keep his balance he watched as the grass, just a step away moved. Garden was moving. He was fixated, watching as each blade passed under him and the misty grey got closer as Balamb Garden sped towards it and the fluttering red cloak.
Faster and faster they went traversing the misty landscape at a speed never before seen. The metal frame of Garden began to shake as the incredible speed shook the structure apart. Piece by piece Balamb Garden fragmented and tumbled away into the nothingness behind Hope, who just kept a trained determined eye on the single splash of colour animist the grey. So fast now, and he was close enough to almost touch the wayward fabric of Light's cloak and he reached for it. Scant centimetres remained as he stretched himself desperate for the contact and once he had it, he wished he didn't.
Light emerged from the mist, breaking through the moist air like breaking free of a body of water. Her eyes were empty, her mouth curled into an evil smile and her Gunblade was drawn and ready to cut him down. He felt the heat of the slice as it cut its way through his body and her smile grew.
Feebly he called her name, holding his abdomen where the blade had cut through and blood pooled at his feet.
"Light. . ?" His eyes spilled over with tears as she coldly gazed back at him.
"Do not seek them out." Her voice echoed loudly around him but faded so it was barely comprehendible. "They will die if you try, boy."
Hope staggered and fell from the mid of the air he was standing upon, those cold dark eyes mocking him as he could no longer hold himself before her.
***
Quistis made it down the steps in time to see Hope topple, landing in a heap and surprising those coming and going through Garden.
"Hope!" She hurried to his side and gently turned him over into her arms, surprised by what she saw. He wore a mask that slowly faded from sight. She couldn't tell its colour as it was fading away, leaving Hopes pale, sweat soaked face in its place.
"Quistie," Irvine came from behind, quickly followed by Zell who wore a hotdog still from his collision with Hope back in the cafeteria.
"Him again!" Zell exclaimed his anger fading away when he saw how pale Hope looked. "What the hell is this kid's problem!?"
"Take is easy, Zell."
"You can hardly blame, Zell. This is the second time in as many days the kid has caused a ruckus." Irvine stated only now realising what Zell looked like. "Man I really need to get a camera. Things like this just don't happen every day."
"Cut it out you two, and give me a hand." Quistis demanded as she struggled to lift Hope from where he had fallen in the middle of the road leading out of Garden. Irvine quickly assisted and took the lad from her arms while she dusted herself off.
"He owes me a plate of hotdogs!" Zell huffed following.
"Zell. . ." Quistis shook her head. "Just take him to Kadowaki, I need to see Squall."
"Why?"
"I saw something just now."
"What?"
"A mask."
Both Zell and Irvine paused.
"You mean like-"
"Yes, Zell. Just like Rinoa." Her heart sank to say her friends name knowing she was gone and she quickly pushed past the guys who didn't utter another word. They didn't envy her job, for telling Squall this news risked angering a wound that had no time at all to heal.
***
"Are you sure?" Squall asked not turning to face his life long friend and mentor.
"Positive. Although this one was different. Like, it wasn't quite there. . . it faded away like it was made from air."
"But it had the mark?" He turned now meeting her eyes as she shook her head.
"I don't know for certain, like I said I only caught a glimpse." Squall turned away and strode from his place on the bridge. "What are you going to do?"
"If he has this mask, he's been there. . ."
"Yes, but you know he won't remember."
"Then we make him remember."
"Squall," Quistis grabbed his arm and he stopped, but didn't look at her. "You can't. All the others, including Rinoa. . ."
"Don't!" He snapped pulling his arm free.
"I know it hurts but you can't ignore this! If you force a way into the memories that have been locked away, everything he is will be lost and he'll end up in a coma just like Rinoa!"
Squalls hands balled into fists his anger threatening to run away with him till Quistis slapped him hard.
"I know you blame yourself and I know you want her back, but condemning everyone to the same fate is not helping her." Her blue eyes were glistening with angry tears. "She is my friend and I care about her just as much as you do, but she wouldn't want this." Squall hadn't even blinked since her hand had connected with the side of his face and already he could feel the skin beginning to burn an angry shade of red. "Please, just stop."
"I can't, I need her back-"
He suddenly found himself in Quistis' arms, her hand tickling the back of his neck, playing with his hair before speaking into his ear.
"I know you do." She pulled away blinking back tears. "There was a time I tried to hate her for what she had in you." A sad smile curved Quistis' pale pink lips. "But she was so good to me. I grew to love her as much as I love you."
Squall felt very awkward and wanted to pull away, but he didn't want to upset his friend.
"Quistis. . ."
"Oh don't worry. I won't make this any more awkward than it already is." She laughed and wiped her eyes. "But lately, I have been thinking a lot about Rinoa. Everything we do, every place we go. I often find myself wondering what Rinoa would say, or do, or think. . ." Quistis slowly started walking towards the elevator, Squall following in contemplative silence as he listened to her words. "And when I realise what her reaction would be, I have tried my best to steer you in a way she would, to protect you, to keep you steady." She pressed the button calling the elevator before turning looking at Squall seriously. "And when you don't listen, I hear her cry. When you destroy yourself, she screams so loudly it breaks my heart!"
Squall gazed at her stubbornly and entered the elevator trying to ignore her words but as much as he hated to admit it, they touched him deeply in a place he often cut himself off from. More so since Rinoa had taken ill and left them.
"That's why, I am staying here. If you go down there now and make that poor boy destroy himself, I won't be able to handle Rinoa's grief." Her tone was so serious, her eyes so sad Squall found himself doubting his decision. But as the elevator doors slid closed and Quistis' eyes no longer able to tunnel a way into his heart, he hardened himself to the argument and headed to the infirmary angrily.