I have others in-progress, but they're taking so f*cking long to write...so this is a continuation of Theme 10. I guess this means I'm gonna have to start subcategorizing universes soon. xD Ohh God, looking forward to that.

Anyway, Enjoy~

57. I'm In

"Great…I'm twenty-four and I'm already suffering from empty nest syndrome."

After her father's death, Lightning Farron had begun wondering why her parents had built their house as large as they had. Her beachfront home could have easily housed seven people and still left plenty of elbow room for each. She hadn't really noticed just how roomy it was until her father was gone - which resulted in less time outside - and when her mother died, she was even more acutely aware.

After Cocoon's fall, Lightning had begun wondering why she'd opted to build a near replica of her home on Cocoon. Granted it was on a smaller scale, but it was still far larger than she'd anticipated. Even with Hope and Serah living with her for a few years, it was still a little too roomy for her. It was worse when Hope went off to find an apartment closer to his university, and now, with Serah gone, her home did nothing but amplify how really alone she was. Three months had passed since her sister had moved out, and Lightning still caught herself hauling herself out of bed in the morning and making breakfast for two - sometimes three. Other days she would have breakfast on the table and get as far as walking into Serah's empty room before she remembered.

Amodar had made it clear to Lightning that she wasn't going to be using her career as an escape from her problems. As much as she hated to admit it, he was right when he told her that Serah had embraced her future and moved on, and in turn, so should Lightning. Though she'd acknowledged his concerns, he still restricted her work schedule to eight-hour shifts, four days a week, undoubtedly knowing that she would more than likely work overtime to bypass his orders.

Thus, Lightning was left with around four days of free time on her hands every week, counting time she spent awake outside of work the days she was on. While she watched tv, worked out, or whatever she could think of to do to pass the time, she often wondered if Amodar was trying to kill her this way. Honestly, what superior would force more time off after something like this? It was cruel and unusual punishment, Lightning thought.

Her thoughts coursed through the same dull trail hundreds of times every day, and she spent hours telling herself that work would help alleviate some of the pain left over from Serah's moving out. Drilling the principle into her own head wouldn't do anything to change her situation and she knew it, but as long as she was thinking, she wasn't aware of Serah's absence.

Whenever she wasn't mentally cursing Amodar, Lightning took to cleaning. She'd managed to practically clean the house to the point of being able to build computer chips in her living room, leaving only Serah's room untouched. She'd considered cleaning it several times, only to open the door and be smothered by the overwhelming scent of years' worth of various perfumes and lotions, the aromas of which she knew were more than likely hopelessly engrained in the carpet. The door would be closed, the vacuum stuffed back into the closet, and Lightning would spend the rest of the day cursing Amodar for not letting her work.

Though Hope had admitted that he was in love with her, their relationship hadn't really changed. They talked more often and spent more time together, but Lightning wasn't sure if it was because they'd gotten 'together', as Serah might have said, or because Hope wanted to make sure she had someone to talk to while she adjusted to life alone. He hadn't been outspoken about his feelings for her, but they both knew they were still very much present. Lightning had yet to discern the nature of her feelings when it came to Hope, but the butterflies still lingering in her chest had tried time and again to push her to a decision point, but Lightning knew who she was – of all the things she knew never to fall prey to, her feelings were the most important. She had always been wary of her own emotions, which had led to her selfless care for Serah after their parents' deaths, and eventually Hope's after Cocoon's fall.

Lightning had just finished vacuuming up the potting soil she'd accidentally spilled while moving one of her plants when the doorbell rang. She looked across the living room to the front door, tugging her hair into a tighter ponytail. She groaned, a slight smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.

"Hope, you come over almost every Saturday," she huffed, watching his smile through the screen door. "I think you're licensed to walk through my front door and then say you're here."

Even through the tightly-weaved strips of metal making up Lightning's screen door, Hope's blush was obvious.

"Well, you know, you have a crazy private life, Light. I wouldn't want to walk in at the wrong time," he replied, walking inside.

Lightning gave a derisive snort. "Oh, yes, because every night I have the wildest time washing the dishes and sweeping my kitchen floor."

"Dishes for one person can get pretty wild."

He knew it was the wrong thing to say the second the words passed his lips, which were quickly trapped between his teeth. "Sorry…that…I didn't…"

"Don't worry about it," Lightning sighed, walking into the kitchen. "You want a drink?"

"Sure," Hope replied, his hands tightening around the bouquet of flowers behind his back. "Do I get the alcohol a few years too early?"

"Not on your life, kid," Lightning said over her shoulder, adjusting the straps of her tank top. She opened the fridge and pulled out a carton of orange juice after setting two glasses on the countertop. "But that doesn't mean I'm not gonna have some," she murmured, returning to the fridge and pulling a bottle of clear liquor from its depths. Hope leaned on the half-wall separating the breakfast area from the living room, pulling the flowers out from behind his back, waiting for her to turn. He'd chosen to get flowers for her on a whim, and he was now reconsidering the possibility of divine intervention. Obviously, today wasn't a good day.

Lightning poured Hope's drink and mixed her own, turning to hand him the glass. Pink immediately flashed across her face when she saw the flowers. Hope blushed himself, smiling shyly at her.

"I figured you might appreciate a little something," he said, his jade eyes sparkling with the innocence of his early teens. "Judging by that drink, it was a good idea."

"Hope," she chuckled, setting his drink on the breakfast bar and turning to pull a vase out of her cupboards.

"Hey, I wanted to. Is that better?"

She didn't answer, but her blush darkened, bringing a satisfying smile to his face. He helped her remove the cellophane from the bouquet and arrange the flowers in the vase before picking up his glass of orange juice. His eyes widened when he felt tiny bubbles in his drink. "Light, did you – "

"It's only soda water," she replied, taking a swallow of hers. "Don't get so excited."

"Just to throw me off, right?"

"Mhmm."

Hope watched as Lightning proceeded to down her drink in just a few gulps, unsure if he should stay and make sure she didn't try to cook or anything once the alcohol kicked in or if he should just leave in the event that she couldn't hold her liquor. He cleared his throat as she started mixing another drink, inwardly wondering what kind of drunk she was.

"So tell me," he murmured awkwardly, looking down at the tile floor. "How is living in a house this big by yourself?" It sounded more insensitive than he'd intended, but Lightning seemed not to notice.

"Echoey," she replied, voice void of emotion. "I'm actually…" she swallowed and looked out the window overlooking the backyard and stretch of beach on her property. "I'm thinking about moving."

Hope's eyes widened. "What? Why?"

Lightning sighed and looked around. "I'm on work restrictions because my superiors think I'm going to be using it to avoid coming to terms with everything. I have about four days of time off every week, and I end up spending most of that time here. I can't really get over anything if I'm steeping in everything here."

"You'd really just leave everything behind, just like that?"

Lightning bristled. "It's not like I want to!" She glared at Hope for a few seconds before forcing herself to calm down. "I can't move on if I end up thinking about how empty the house is."

Several minutes passed in silence. Lightning proceeded to tip her second drink to the ceiling while Hope stared at his shoes and gnawed his lip.

"Hey," he asked after a second or two. "Would you still want to move…even if someone was here to live with you?"

Lightning was quiet, but Hope could feel her eyes on him.

"I guess it depends on who it was," she murmured.

Hope turned his eyes up to meet hers. "What if…what if it was…" he swallowed. "What if it was me?"

"You've lived with me before," Lightning replied. Hope sighed. He had to remind himself that Lightning was still just as human as he was, and therefore had her moments of grating oblivion.

"No…I mean, what if I moved in with you? Permanently?"

Hope wondered if Lightning's blush could ever hope to match the intensity of his. Every second Lightning stared at him in silence, he felt his cheeks flushing redder and redder, and began wondering if proposing he move back in – as a man, not an orphan – was a good idea.

Lightning turned her eyes downward as she processed his words, a deep scarlet blush staining her cheeks.

"I…I guess I might stay, then…seeing as it was bearable with just Serah and I…" she whispered, her eyes still downcast. Hope felt his heart skip.

"So would you let me?"

Lightning looked up. "When would you move in?"

"When would you want me to move in?"

"…as soon as possible."

Hope burst forth and threw his arms around Lightning, coercing a complaint from her. It was promptly ignored, and she didn't fight him. Hope hid his smile in her hair and laughed.

"Alright then. I'm in."