Sorry about the delay. With my mom so sick I had to go back to the US for a while and jet lag is a bitch. I will put up one more chapter this week before I go spastic again. Hopefully next month I'll be on a better update schedule.

As Hope's bodyguard, the bodyguard of the Lead Advisor and Director of the new cocoon project. Noel had been challenged by the Council and other parts of the government and the Academy for his role. Hope had convinced them by explaining that his purview was time travel and the cocoon project, but also a bit of a white lie that Noel was his protector in the past and the he'd come to this time in another experiment, which had waylaid the people who were allowed to know his top secret experiments... And cooled off everyone else thankfully.

Noel had realized fairly quickly that what Hope was doing was replacing memories of Alyssa with memories of Noel. It let an unsettled feeling in his stomach, but in the history was an offhanded mention of Hope wanting to travel with an advisor that later backed out and it was easy to sneak in Noel. Noel was labelled a guardian and Pulse expert. More to throw people off about it then to set him up as a researcher. And he settled in comfortably next to Hope, if a little bored with the things that the scientist did every day.

"You know, it's not the I'm a great scientist that I get to do all these things." Hope commented as he sat down his datapad and looked over at the latest of scientists challenging Hope's hypothesis on the breaking of the crystal pillar.

"I know what the record says director, but the reports state that the pillar is fine. Has been fine for a hundred years." The scientist, Millie Cloaks stated as she herself set down a datapad that displayed a hologram image.

"I know what you are going for, but the point is this: the pillar is safe for now. According to everything that we have, the pillar will fall in 500AF. We've tested many theories back in the first decade and more testing occurred after I left. I don't know of any way to really cushion Cocoon that would really do us any good."

"I'm just concerned, moving the entirety of society onto this Ark seems rather temporary."

"Trust me it is not." He smiled gently. "If you're remembered, I lived on Cocoon until the fall. And before that humanity had lived on Cocoon for thousands of years."

"But that was held up by a Fal'cie." She replied faintly.

"Yes, but we won't be relying on them anymore." Hope's tone was firm and brooked no argument. "The building of the Ark is going well. Once the shell is complete I'll consult the agricorps and see about setting up something like Sunleth Waterscape there, as well as renewable farming. The center of our world can be human made. It is now and it will continue to be so."

"Yes sir." She whispered as she stared at him. He smiled gently as she turned to walk away. She paused at the door. "I'm sorry for not believing Director. I'll talk to those directly on the team and see what types of machinery they will need to begin setting up terra firma inside instead of just building shelters."

"Thank you Dr. Cloaks." The door slid shut behind her and Hope shook his head. "It's kind of strange... Back then it took so much to convince people to move off Cocoon since most of it was no longer viable with the Fal'cie dormant. Now... convincing them to move off Gran Pulse is just as bad."

Noel laughed softly but he was focused on one part. "Humans are stubborn... but there's one question I have... What did you mean by 'not a great scientist?' Every time you say it people just kind of nod it off as modesty but..."

"Well, to them it's modesty." Hope replied quietly. "Because they can't really understand."

"What do you mean?" Noel tilted his head to the side and Hope smiled at the sight.

"I can talk to machines. Like how Serah and Vanille could do it too, talk to animals I mean. Mostly people have been found to be able to communicate with animals or plants. I haven't heard of someone else who can 'talk' to machines. But I'm sure I can't be the only one."

"So what? Is most of your science the machines telling you things?" Noel teased, a bright smile on his face. "Because I think I know a machine that might-"

"Don't tempt me." Hope interrupted lifting his left hand playfully. "I'm quite fond of ice magic."

Noel laughed heartily. It felt good to be around Hope and be relaxed. While they were on the third day and time was running out. He felt rather safe within the halls of the Academy. He knew that when they went outside the danger would be back. But then again as Hope had said, if what Snow said was true, then it would be tomorrow that everything would go to hell. Hope smiled at him and then looked down at his paper work.

"I know it's not what you intended... but thank you for staying with me... Noel." Hope had a faint blush across his cheeks and Noel sat up more. It was the first indication that he'd seen that Hope might be tempted to go beyond friendship. He watched as the other man distinctly ignored him. Not wanting to let the chance go he pushed for a greater reaction.

"It's nothing. After all, you've done a lot for me too."

"I like showing you new things." Hope admitted the blush deepening. "I like... treating you."

"I like you too." Noel drawled as he stood up and approached the other man. "It's been a lot of fun these past two days."

"Good." Hope stared down at his desk but when Noel's shadow fell over him he looked up. Noel leaned into his personal space and smiled at Hope. The kiss wasn't unexpected to say the least. Not with the way that Noel was leaning forward giving Hope the time to back out of it.

Hope didn't want to back out. Throughly unexperienced in such matters as a subtle connection like this. He let Noel lead as he sighed deeply into the kiss. Nothing more then a gentle chaste kiss, Hope didn't open his eyes when the other pulled back.

Noel took in the man before him, dark eyelashes still laid against his cheeks. His pale skin was still flushed but for a different reason now. Noel took in everything about him, imperfections and all. Noel set his hand on Hope's cheek gently and leaned in for another kiss. He never made it that far as he pressed a little too hard against the desk and grunted in discomfort as the sharp end pressed into his side.

"Ow, ow." He backed up, hands flailing as he lifted up the side of his shirt to see a red mark across his skin from the sharp press. He was distracted from his pained actions by soft laughter. Hope was looking at him with a sincerely happy smile on his face. One that he'd never seen before. "Beautiful."

Hope felt his face flush ever more at such whispered words. He looked down at first, in embarrassment before he shook himself and looked up. "This is probably not the best place for this... Let's go out to eat tonight."

Noel nodded eagerly and grasped the silver haired man's hand tightly. "Can we go to the one place with the... whatever it was. The place you really like?"

Hope laughed again, let his hand caress Noel's and smiled a bit brighter. "Sure."

For the rest of the day, Noel happily followed Hope around. Thinking of what could happen tonight when they talk about their feelings for real.

Hope's favorite restaurant in the year 400AF is based off an old Palumpolum restaurant called Futures that his mother had loved. He didn't want to admit that he was super sentimental but memories of his mother was as much a daily motivator for him as the people that he was working to save and be reunited with now. As Noel excitedly looked over the menu. Hope wondered how he couldn't be nervous.

"After this," Noel started and when had he put down the menu. "is it all right if we go straight to your place..."

He trailed off but Hope knew what he meant. Not having a lot of people around for most of his life, had made Noel a private and rather solitary person. Hope was in a lot of ways the same way but his project had increased his reliance on others to a point he couldn't ignore. But like this, just quietly being with Noel was a great improvement on his life that he hadn't known he needed. The prospect of starting a relationship was an even greater gift.

Dinner went by quickly and as they walked back towards his home. Hope found himself throwing caution to the wind and grasping Noel's hand as they walked through the quiet streets. Academia was like a paradise most days. Or maybe the calm before the storm considering what the future held, but tonight... He looked over at Noel as he the hunter led the way through the streets. Tonight was a little bit of paradise for Hope.

When they reached his apartment, Hope could feel butterflies in his stomach. Now that he was faced with the part about actually talking about having a relationship everything suddenly felt frightening. Almost like the first time that he'd set foot on Gran Pulse. The elevator ride was quiet and even once they were inside, Noel was quiet as he put away his weapons.

Hope copied him, having forgotten that he was wearing his boomerang because of Snow's dire threat a few days ago. With more thought he also pulled off his Academy jacket and gloves. Noel smiled at him brightly and approached him again and grabbed his hands.

"It feels good doesn't it?" Noel asked quietly as he continue to look at him. "Just being together."

Hope swallowed hard as he realized that there was still so much more outside their little bubble. He pulled his hands from Noel's and pressed them to the taller man's face and looked into his eyes. He wasn't sure of what came over him, but he knew that this was something he wanted more then anything. He leaned up the little bit it took to connect their mouths. Noel chuckled lightly against his lips as he settled his hands on the silver haired man's narrow waist.

"I'm not sure this is what Lightning had in mind." Noel teased as he pulled back and pressed his forehead against the shorter man's."I can't say I mind the outcome though."

Hope smiled gently, he could feel tears building behind his eyes. He leaned into the other, letting himself rest. Noel slid his arms further around the other to hold him tight as the silver haired man pressed his hands to the hunter's chest. The strong heartbeat under his hands was reassuring.

"It's a little fast isn't it?" Hope murmured lightly. "But it feels right? Like now that we had time to breathe it all feel into place."

The hunter hummed his agreement as he shifted a bit to cradle the scientist. The silence stretched between them comfortably for a few moments before Hope pulled back and led them to the couch to sit together. Hope pressed himself back against the hunter, laying his head on his shoulder. He wasn't normally one for physical contact, but he found himself scared that if he couldn't feel the hunter's skin that he would realize it was all a dream.

"I guess, this is the point where I ruin everything." Noel murmured even as one of his hands played with the bottom of Hope's shirt, slowly pulling the back of it out of his pants. "But... the future is changing..."

"I don't think it's a problem." Hope intercepted quickly as he sat up and looked at him. "The future isn't set. But remember what Snow said... there's a large price to pay. And whatever it is, it will affect all of us. And considering how much of the future... this part of the future requires my time travel I can't go back... I can either be alone in 500AF or find you in 700AF."

"That's if we even remember each other. Because when we fixed 10AF you didn't remember us when we met you in the fixed timeline." Noel pointed out and Hope sighed in frustration.

"Well then if that does happen it's not like we'll miss something we don't remember." He snapped in irritation as he curled his hands into fists. "Who knows how long it will take everything to happen. Do you want to sit here with me for weeks, months or hell maybe even a year or two pretending that we don't feel anything for each other? If time is going to run out for us I want to live it to the fullest."

"Hey." Noel's voice was quiet as he lifted Hope's face up to see his red rimmed eyes. The anger leaving a high flush to his cheeks. Noel kissed him gently. "I didn't mean to make you upset. It's just..."

"Whatever the cost will be Noel... It's going to be a lot. If what Snow believes is true and whatever Lightning might have inferred..." He swallowed hard and lifted his hands to cup Noel's face again and stared deeply into his eyes. "I don't want to die wondering what it could have been like. Even living with only the memory is better then that."

"You aren't going to die." Noel hissed possessively as he pushed Hope down into the couch and crouched over him. "I'm going to protect you."

"Even if I live to be an old man. I-" He was cut off by the dark haired man's mouth.

This kiss was different then previous ones. Rough and possessive, practically claiming the older man. Hope kissed back just as fiercely but he was no where near as aggressive as the younger man. The scientist clutched at the hunter's shoulders, pulling him down even as Noel braced himself with an arm beside the scientist head and the other on his hip. Hope parted his legs, wanting the other man closer without thought. Pressed together that way sent a shiver of pleasure through him and he moaned weakly, breath stolen away.

"Too much." Hope gasped as he pulled away. Noel didn't heed him at first, pressing kisses down along his neck, to his shirt. But the hunter didn't move any further, just laying down on Hope, allowing his body to be cradled by the older man.

"You know... you're probably right." Noel whispered and Hope couldn't help but smile as he held the man on top of him.

Hope woke up to the sight of richly tan skinned and far too bright sunlight shinning into his eyes. He was curled up into Noel in his bed in their night clothes. It was comforting, Hope thought to lie with the hunter and feel maybe a fraction of the comfort that Serah must have felt when she was reunited with Snow all those years ago. It wasn't perfect, but it was something to ease the pain.

It hadn't surprised him that Noel had saw no reason for such things as pajamas which made sense though it had embarrassed Hope last night but felt perfectly comfortable now. He looked over at his clock, it was getting closer and closer to the time that he had to get up, the silver haired mage felt dread pool in his stomach.

Today was the day, and he wasn't sure that he wanted to go outside yet. He hadn't touched Noel enough, hadn't spent enough time with him. And as his mind searched franticly for things that he'd wanted to experience before his own death... He'd wanted to have sex with the younger man. His thoughts must have been loud, becuase Noel, who must have been humoring him by pretending to be asleep shifted.

"Hey."

"Hey." He breathed as he tried not to think about all the terrible things that could happen today. Right now, he wanted to live in the moment with Noel and think about how wonderful the other was.

All right, so maybe lamenting his own death was making him sappy and sentimental, but he felt he was aloud.

"Yo... person here under you." Noel teased as he tilted the silver haired man's head up. Noel's eyes were gentle as he stared down at him and Hope swallowed hard as he looked at him. A kiss was pressed against his mouth that calmed down all the frantic thoughts that ran through his mind. "How about we start with breakfast?"

The alarm went off, blaring through the room. And Noel who'd never spent a morning with the scientist jerked in surprise. Hope reached out and turned the alarm off. He looked at Noel and sighed softly before he set up. What was next he wondered idly? What all would happen today that would cause him problems? When would the attack happen? Snow had only given him clarification that today was today.

"Hope. Hope!" Hands were on his shoulders, shaking him slightly. "Look at me."

"S-sorry." He smiled a little surprised at the rapid pace of his own breath. "I just can't help but think about it."

"Well stop." Noel commanded gently. "We have a lot to do today with the graviton core placement tests today."

"I know, but my mind..." He trailed off and glared down at Noel's chest. "Stupid Snow ruins everything."

"Stupid Snow is just trying to save your life the best way he can." Noel replied raking a hand through silver locks. "You had to deal with him for weeks... months? During the Fall, shouldn't you be use to this by now?"

"If you mean him screaming 'Serah' constantly and moping and basically annoying the shit out of the rest of us... Then yes, I had to deal with Snow." Hope grouched as he squeezed his hands in his lap. "He's such a stupid jerk."

"You don't really think that." Noel replied and Hope shook his head and looked up at him with twinkling eyes.

"Oh, I mean every word of it. The only good sides he might have, he shows to Serah." He sighed softly and leaned forward into the hunter. "I shouldn't waste time on this."

"You can do whatever you want." Noel replied quietly. "I'm here to listen to you at the very least."

"I honestly think that there are better things to listen to then me complaining about Snow." Hope teased and then stretched his arms above his head to feel his bones pop pleasingly into place. "He's like an older brother that you know got dropped on his head too many times as a baby."

Noel gasped and laughed hard into the sheets as he rolled away for Hope. "Warning next time!"

Hope smiled at his partner's? Yes, partner, he liked the way that sounded, continued laughter. "Let's get ready, I want to get myself busy so that I can stop thinking about it.

"Okay." Noel sat up and reached for his clothes. "I'll use the bathroom down the hall."

Hope sat at the main console of the control room, his eyes darting back and forth between the computerized hologram and the video feed from the sight. The basic structure of the bottom of the new cocoon was complete but the topside was still in the works. The cores had been placed in what he'd thought was the optimal places but now to test if that was enough. Five gravitation cores had seemed like enough but he wasn't totally sure anymore now that he didn't have Alyssa to back him up.

He choked on his breath as he thought about her. She had vanished during the night that he'd spent with Noel. And though the memory of her had been fading all along, only preserved by Noel's influence he still felt guilty. She had done a lot for him and had done a lot for humanity. But now, now she was gone and everything she had done had been attributed to others.

If there was one thing that he could do and that was in limited capacity, it was to remember her. And maybe it was a bit of his own selfishness that forced him to try and remember. While Noel remembered her perfectly, it was only his memories of 700AF that were being taken from him... Hope was forgetting things within his own past. Within the parts of his past that were connected to Noel.

Which terrified him. He had talked a big game about traveling to 700AF and finding Noel to continue their... relationship. But, if he forgot Noel, would he even bother to leave 500AF? And what would his life be like if he forgot Noel and the adventures of him and Serah. If all he could remember was choosing to leave everyone he loved behind.

If all he was left with were the bad memories what would become of him?

A heavy hand dropped on his shoulder and he turned to see Director Nabaat, a name that always made him start at first, even if said person wasn't related to Jihl Nabaat at all. Or well, if they were 400 years into the future would be enough to remove any connection to the PSICOM Colonel.

"You with us?" He asked quietly as he look at him. Director Suin Nabaat was a hulking man, sharing a similar build to Snow but with skin the color of rich earth. He was a fatherly kind of man and had latched onto Hope with a father's kind of empathy.

"My mind has been distracted today." He admitted quietly. "Do to the..."

"I know." The hand squeezed gently. "Once the tests are over, I'd feel better if you and Noel left for today. I know it's only delaying the inevitable but... Maybe changing your habits will give us some more time to figure out who could be behind this."

"I would say yes... but just in case there is nothing we can do... I really have to have those meetings with the Agricorps today." Hope stated quietly. "If I can get everything that I can set up before I... Incase something happens I'd like it done. I need to get it done."

Director Nabaat nodded in understanding but his face spoke of exactly how he felt about it. Hope was in many ways the 'hope of the future.' He had awakened barely a year ago and had immediately started to aid research without any question, with out any desire of recognition. He had a feel that the young Director hadn't wanted it either, but it was hard considering who he was to not be. After all, this was his project and his vision to change this future.

As the levitation tests started, Hope kept his eyes glued to the screen. Halfway through the test, Noel entered the room and leaned against the wall. The silver haired man knew without looking that he was looking at the screen, watching as the new cocoon slowly lifted 50 meters off the ground and was released, floating of it's own accord. As the cranes took a hold of it and allowed it to float higher.

Hope breathed a sigh of relief. Even if things went to hell today, he had done it. The new cocoon would be able to be lifted and while the evacuation wasn't for another 70 years or so, he knew that the Academy would now completely stand down by the orders he'd set down for the future.

Maybe now he could focus on things for him. He looked at Noel and smiled thinly. It was good but there was still a worry. The last part of the levitation test, required Hope to go to the annex facility on the outskirts of Academia to calibrate the placement of the gravitation cores.

All that the had to go on was that the attack would most likely happen at the annex facility, but Hope needed to make that trip. So they had agreed to make it as small a trip as possible. He looked at Noel. The attack would happen there. What kind of attack no one knew, but they had to let it happen. He swallowed hard, and prepared for the hardest part of the day.