Building Bodhum

New Bodhum 0AF Part 3

''Hey Lightning, It's been a week since Hope and I came to the NORA house. Hope and I have finally settled in, well I say settled in… Hope has nightmares about his parents; they are mainly about his mother, Nora. I hope he finds peace soon; we know what it's like to lose parents, don't we? The village is going well and Snow wants to call the place New Bodhum. I think it's nice, it has a ring to it. I can't wait for it to be finished; we can then begin to bring people here. Make it just like the Bodhum back on Cocoon. I hope you'll see it one day, I hope I'll see you. Lightning, where ever you are, please come back to me. You're the only person missing.''

''Serah? You up?'' Hope peered into her bedroom. The thin curtains let the suns ray pass through and illuminate the room, Lebreau's bed was already made. Serah sat up, stretched and let out a huge yawn.

''Ugh… good morning Hope.'' Serah yawned.

''Morning? It's afternoon!'' Hope laughed, he shook his head and walked to the steps of the house. Serah got dressed and met him out there. The sun was warm on Serahs pale skin, she looked around and spotted a tall fair haired man lifting large planks of wood.

''Snow!'' Serah shouted. He turned around to see Serah waving at him. He put the plank down and walked over to her. He was sweating slightly, he had taken his bandana, trench coat and shirt off. As he walked Hope noticed various muscles in his torso, he blushed and looked down.

''Hey Serah.'' Snow said smiling, he bent down to kiss his short fiancée. This hurt Hope, he still had these complex emotions for Snow, the ones Snow had clearly forgotten.

''Ugh… I'm going to see Maqui… Bye.'' Hope said quickly, he hurried away.

'' See you later.'' Snow replied. He looked at Serah, who had waved Hope off and was now looking directly at Snow. He wondered why Hope had quickly left… then reality hit him like a ton of bricks. Hope still had those feelings and Snow had just provoked them. He quickly felt a wave of guilt rush over him, he thought Hope was the one who forgot.

''I'm going to see if I can give a helping hand somewhere so I'll go find Lebreau, bye Snow.'' Serah said kissing his cheek. She left to allow Snow to continue with his work and she could get something done so she didn't feel completely useless.

''Well I've got to get back to work anyway, I'll see you later.'' Snow left Serah at the entrance to the NORA house and returned to the pile of wood he was moving. He felt the sun scorching his shoulders, so to avoid a sun burn, he put his shirt back on. After a few hours Snow was exhausted. He decided he'd go find Hope and they'd go hunting so the group could have something that isn't plant based. Snow found Hope in Maqui's workshop. Hope was busy finding tools and parts for Maqui as he worked on his next big project… which, to Snows surprise, was just cleaning out some more PSICOM assault rifles.

''Hey, what do we need more rifles for?'' Snow asked.

''Well, when we move more people here they'll need some weapons to help defend the town. Duh.'' Maqui replied, he was currently cleaning the barrel.

''I though Yuj only salvaged one of these things anyways?'' Snow had no clue they had so many rifles. There were at least 9.

''He did… we salvaged the rest from the assault on the Purge train.'' Maqui replied, a slight harsh tone in his voice, Snows constant questions irritated him, but then again, any questions irritate him when he's working.

''What do you need anyway?'' Maqui asked. Snow clearly wanted something because if he didn't he would be working.

''Oh actually I'm here to see Hope.'' Snow replied placing his hands in his pockets.

''Me?'' Hope said in surprise, pointing at his chest.

''Yep, I'm tired of eating vegetables so I decided I'd go out hunting.'' Snow said with a smile.

''You're taking Hope hunting? Seriously you are going to take Hope hunting? Are you serious?'' Maqui said in utter disbelief.

''Uhh…yeah why?'' Snow said slightly confused.

''It's Hope. He's not exactly Mr Muscle now is he?'' Maqui replied, laughing.

''Thanks Maqui, thanks for the encouragement.'' Hope said rather sarcastically. ''You know what, I will go hunting, and I'll bring back the largest Gorgonopsid I can find!'' Hope was rather annoyed, he stormed out. ''Come on Snow!'' He shouted for outside the workshop. Snow laughed. He looked down and shook his head and walked out. They climbed up to the top cliff where Snow had previously fought the group of Gorgonopsid a couple of weeks ago. They scoped around and Snow noticed several tracks.

''Uh Snow…?'' Hope sounded rather nervous.

''What is it Hope?'' Snow whispered, looking around.

''How are we going to fight a Gorgonopsid with no weapons? All I have is this boomerang.'' Hope showed him the boomerang. It was worn down, scratches decorated the edges but the colour could still be seen. It was a deep banana yellow.

''Well I knocked several out with my fists… so I'll just use these.'' He said making two fists and showing Hope.

''You're like a living, breathing meat tenderiser!'' Hope laughed. He immediately stopped at the sound of a roar. Fear rushed over him, he hadn't fought a monster since Orphan and with no powers how was he going to win. Snow spun around only to be floored by a very large Gorgonopsid, he punched the beast off him and got back up. The Gorgonopsid ran at Hope, at that point Hope snapped his boomerang open and launched it towards the monster. The beast was struck upon his snout, to which he reared up in pain and Snow delivered a blow to the beast's stomach and a final blow to beast's skull.

A bone shattering crunch was heard as the skull of the beast connected to Snows fist. The beast was dead. Snow clutched his right hand with his left.

''ARGH!'' Snow roared.

''Snow! Snow are you alright!'' Hope began to panic.

''Argh… I think I've fractured my fist…'' Snow replied, wincing at the pain.

''Here'' Hope took off his scarf, once it was unfolded it was rather large. He created a sling and hung it around Snows neck and put his injured hand through it.

''Thanks, Hope.'' Snow said, he was surprised by how Hope still cared for him. ''I need to say something… I…'' Snow began.

''Just leave it Snow.'' Hope said coldly. ''You've got Serah back, it doesn't matter about me.''

After a short pause Hope looked into Snows eyes, he could see Snow was hurting just as much as him, emotionally anyways.

''I'm sorry, I didn't mean for that to be so cold.'' Hope apologised.

''No.'' Snow looked down and closed his eyes. '' You're right… I got Serah back and I left you, I left you all alone.''

''You did.'' Hope choked on his words, he began to well up. Snow put an arm round him, he whispered sorry into his ear and Hope looked up at him. He gazed into his sky blue eyes, he leant up, almost on his tip toes. He kissed Snow. Snow kissed back, holding onto the teen as if he was afraid he's lose him forever. Hope opened his mouth, whilst he pressed his lips hard against Snows. Snow took his chance and began to explore Hopes mouth. Hope returned the favour. Snow finally broke the kiss, they both stood there breathing deeply gazing into each other's eyes.

''I'm sorry, Snow. I think I love you, but I'll always be angry at you. Always.'' Hope said as he walked towards the Gorgonopsid.

''It's okay… I understand Hope.'' Snow said before he turned to look at the teen preparing the drag the beast. Snow used his good arm to help drag the beast along to the NORA house.

Once the pair returned to the NORA house, Serah panicked seeing her fiancée hurt. They all sat down and told their short story whilst Lebreau worked on their upcoming meal. They left the part about them kissing out, obviously.

''He screamed.'' Hope laughed.

''Hey, it was a heroes scream!'' Snow protested, whilst the others laughed. ''And then Hope gave me his scarf and we came back here with our prize.'' Snow boasted, he was clearly proud of himself.

''Hello? Could I speak to the leader please?'' A voice came from outside. Snow stood up and approached the lounge area, which was by the entrance to the NORA house.

''That would be me.'' Snow said rather confused. There were two cavalry soldiers standing at the base of the steps to the NORA house. ''What do you need?''

''Um… we are here to deliver a message and collect someone.'' The first soldier replied nervously. If it wasn't for the 6' 7'' brick wall standing in front of him he'd be fine.

''Collect?'' Hope approached the steps, just as everyone else did.

''You must be Hope, Hope Estheim right?'' The second soldier asked.

''Yes… do you need me for something?'' Hope said curiously.

''Your father, Bartholomew Estheim, is alive and we are here to take you to him… if you want to.''

''My dad! I'm… I'm not alone, I'm not alone anymore.'' Hope said as he fell to his knees, with his head in his hands. ''I have to go, right now!'' Hope said his goodbyes and thanks everyone for what they did for him. He then left with the soldiers. A few minutes later Hope heard a familiar voice… but it wasn't his dads.

''Hope! Wait up!'' Snow called after him. ''Here, you almost forgot your scarf.'' Snow folded it and put it on the teen.

''Um… thanks Snow.'' Hope replied, he hugged Snow and said goodbye once more. As he walked away he stopped and turned his head slightly towards Snow. ''This doesn't change anything Snow. When I said always… I meant always.'' Hope turned his head towards the horizon and walked on with the soldiers. A single tear escaped the teen's eye, and rolled down his cheek and off his face. Snow watched as Hope walked off into the distance. He wasn't sure about his feelings for Hope, but he was sure about one thing though, Hope would always be angry at him.