First of all, I know it has been two month since I updated, despite my having said I would update soon. I have many excuses, but excuses are excuses. Strange that the more I try to end this with some kinds of BANG, the more I stuck. Anywhoo…. I hope that you would still enjoy this last chapter. Not much jealousy in it, just some Warm and fuzzy feeling that I couldn't help but put them in, if it was too… err cliché for your taste, please forgive me X(, I am a hopeless person who obsess with romance
Title: Jealousy
Pairing: SnowxHope
Genre: Romance and Humor (I hope)
Rating: T
Warning: nothing, or WAFF
Disclaimer: The game Final Fantasy XIII and its characters do not belong to me in any ways.
Chapter 7: Carbuncle plushie.
The weather in Gran Pulse was… quite harsh to say. It was always hot and sunny in the morning, but in the evening, the weather changed abruptly and became cold. And it did not do well for a fourteen-year-old boy, especially after said boy just fainted and got his Eidolon. Long story short, Hope got sick. Therefore, the group had decided to remain in Vallis Media for a couple more days so Hope could get better.
…And Snow could not stop worrying (panicking would be a better word). His current mission was to scout the area, but his mind kept wandering back to their camp, where Hope was resting. In his defense, he couldn't help but worry as it had been three days since Hope got Alexander, and the boy still looked even paler than usual, his skin was burning and his breath uneven, not to mention the teen had been sleeping for half a day now. Besides, wouldn't it be better for the teen if Snow stayed in the campsite to protect him? Instead, Vanille had pulled out a Carbuncle stuffed toy… and old looking stuffed toy, out of nowhere… and gave it to Hope, saying that the Eidolon's spirit would protect him, give him warmth and help him get better.
Snow snorted 'As if that toy can do anything'. What shattered his self-esteem though was the fact Hope seemed to believe those protection stuffs that Vanille put up, because he kept the plushie with him all the time. When he was eating, when he was sleeping, when he was taking a bath, the Carbuncle plushie stayed beside him, watching him, taking his lithe and developing body in with those soulless eyes of it… 'On second thought, I should stop there.' Snow reprimanded himself.
Without even realizing it, his feet had brought him back to the campsite. The face of an awaken and smiling Hope made his day, but the image of the silver haired boy hugging the plushie close to his chest, snuggling it with his face and cooing over it, no matter how cute and innocent, completely ruined the day.
"How are you feeling, Hope?" He gritted out between his teeth.
"Much better. Thanks for asking, Snow" Hope beamed. "The Carbuncle doll really works, you know?"
"Ah…" The older man forced a smile.
"When he is with me, I feel as if I am protected. No nightmares at all, even my insecurities seem to vanish too" The teen was smiling affectionately at the toy while Snow wondered where the urge to tear the almost torn up plushie came from.
-SxH-
Snow didn't know if he should feel happy or sad now that the Carbuncle doll really ripped. It did look old and torn up, and no offense, with all those hugs and snuggles Hope gave it, the chance that it would be torn up was really high. But… the disappointed and sad look in Hope's eyes was, to say the least, heart-breaking.
"Don't worry Hope. It was old anyways." Vanille tried. "I think he only keeps himself together until now because you are already well and don't need him anymore."
"Ah, I think I know. But…" He trailed off, then sighed. "Never mind"
-SxH-
It was around midnight, mostly everyone had gone to sleep, except for Sazh and Fang, who were on guard.
The blonde glanced over to Hope and was surprised to see him whimpered in his sleep, his body shaking slightly. He looked like he was having those nightmares about his mother again, and a small cry of "mom" coming from his lips was enough to confirm Snow's guess. Guilty took place inside his chest, and before he knew it, his instinct guided him to roll over to the teen's place. Taking off his coat, he gently draped it over the small and quivering body. He himself lay down face to face with him, then he put an arm around Hope, the other squeezed his hands. He pulled Hope closer to him and whispered softly in his hair "Don't worry, I am here. I will protect you" The reassurance was repeated over and over again.
Hope calmed down, his body visibly relaxed as he slowly fell into a deep sleep. Hope had another dream that night, but one about a certain blonde hero who he knew would always be there for him.
=.=.=.=.=.=
AN: (The An are longer than the chapter itself...) Thank you very much everyone who read/review/fav/alert. Special thanks to Windmill3490, Bommie, Kikirara, Lady Midday, Amon2, memories .of .rain for your kind and encouraging words. ^ ^
You always make me feel so happy. I would be an obnoxious liar if I say every mails notifying reviews/favs/alerts and the traffic chart doesn't make me happy and squealing for an entire week XD.
And, as you know, this will be the last chapter of the series. Who read the old summary would kinda have an idea when it is going to end, I think. But if you have any new idea, please feel free to tell me, I will try and see if I could work that idea around :3
I will be working on a Transformer fic I have adopted, and a Final Fantasy XIII fic (SnowxHope, of course) I have been wanting to do for sometimes now. Until then, ciao and have a nice day.