AN: I am so so sorry it took me so long to get this chapter up. Life and family again.
Review thanks!
thewhitespirit: Sorry it took so long but you find out who was spying on them in this chapter.
Kyandee: I'll work on putting more emotions in the chapters. As for said yeah I know. Trust me I get sick of typing it.
ben4kevin: Sorry about the wait for the chapter.
NekoEiko: Glad you like the cuteness but there is going to be more drama than cuteness in the next few chapters.
madapocket: I know right. Took them long enough! Stupid boys.
.rain : Thanks for the cookies and milk :)
simply anonymous: Things are about to become very chaotic!
meiruhamu: Thank you and they are cute together!
rebirth-flame: Thank you for the nice review. And things are about to turn very interesting!
Chapter 10 Darkness
Noel was not jealous or that's what he kept telling himself. Wanting to do something fun before the weather turned bad Noel decided to take Hope to the hunter's camp that he frequented. At the moment Hope was talking, very adamantly, to Jolie. He was Thaddeus' youngest son and he had been on a long hunting trip returning earlier that morning. The man was a year younger than him with dark skin and long dark hair. He also happened to be a kind of ex or at the very least a fling.
"Someone's jealous," Sandra teased as came and stood next to him.
"I am not jealous!" Noel snapped as he turned to look at her.
"Then you won't mind me saying what cute a couple they would make," Sandra said with an impish grin.
"They do not," Noel growled as the glanced back at the other two.
"Of course they do," Sandra said her grin widening. "Just look at them. Jolie is the best example of tall, dark and handsome. Beautiful skin, long dark hair, tall lean build. Hope is just the opposite. Petite build, big innocent eyes, smart and sweet."
"Oh shut up!" Noel said as he stomped away and headed towards his boyfriend.
"I knew you were jealous!" Sandra called after him. Noel choose to ignore her. The woman liked to rile him up.
As Noel neared Hope and Jolie he couldn't hear what they were saying but he could tell that whatever it was Jolie was laying it on thick and Hope was completely oblivious to the flirting. He cleared his throat to let the other two knew that he was approaching.
"Hi Noel," Hope said as the turned around and gave him a small smile. Hope smiled a lot more these days and even though they were still tinged with sadness Noel knew that Hope as on the mend. It scared Noel how even more attached he had become to the other man since they had gotten together.
"Hey," Noel said as he casually threw his arm around Hope's slim shoulders giving Jolie a back off look as he did so.
"Oh," the taller man said with a look of surprise. "Sorry I didn't realize."
"Realize?" Hope asked as he looked between the two men. Noel shook his head. Hope could be so clueless. He had no clue that Jolie had been flirting with him. Jolie sighed and looked disappointed. But then he gave them a charming smile.
"It was nice talking to you Hope. Maybe we can do it again sometime. Noel," the man then gave them a wink and left.
"Do you two not get along?" Hope asked him after Jolie was no longer in hearing range.
"We get along fine," Noel told him unless of course he started flirting with Hope again. "Why do you ask?"
"Because he left so quickly," Hope said as he looked back at the retreating man.
"He just realized that he didn't have a chance," Noel said with a mischievous grin.
"A chance at what?" Hope asked curiously tiling head slightly to the side in what Noel thought was an adorable way. Noel chuckled. Hope really was oblivious when it came to people.
"He was flirting with you Hope," Noel told him.
"No," Hope said with a shake of his head. "We were just talking. Besides why would he flirt with me?"
"You're just too cute for words sometimes," Noel said as he gave Hope a quick kiss making him turn a nice shade of scarlet.
"I'm not cute," Hope muttered as he looked anywhere but at him. Noel smiled. In some ways Hope was very old and in others he was very young. That was just one of many reasons Noel loved him.
"If you say so," Noel told him. "So you want to stay here a few more days or do you want to head back home?"
"We've been here four days already. Might as well go home," Hope said as he looked off at the horizon a contemplative look on his face.
"What are you thinking about?" Noel asked him.
"Home. I haven't had one since," Hope then shook his head as if he was trying to get rid a bad memory, "let's just say that it's been awhile. But now. Thank you Noel." Hope gave him a small smile and Noel's heart fluttered in his chest. It amazed him how such simple words could have such an effect on.
"I…" Noel said unsure of what he could say to make Hope know how much he meant to him. Noel kissed him again although this time much more passionately. For a moment Noel forgot that they weren't alone that was until he heard someone whistle. They quickly broke apart. Noel looked up to see a smirking Sandra.
"You sure know how to ruin a moment," Noel said as he glared at her.
"Just thought that I would let you know that you guys look good together too," she chuckled and then continued on her way.
"You sure have some interesting friends," Hope said once again blushing.
"Tell me about it," Noel grumbled. He then grabbed Hope by the hand and started to lead him back to the inn. "Come let's go pack so we can leave early tomorrow." He had enough of sharing Hope.
They were halfway home and staying at one of the shelters. The air was already getting cooler so they were sitting inside. Hope smiled as he saw Noel lounging on the small bed. It had been so long since he did something as simple as this. And it made him happy. There was a time that he didn't think he would ever be this happy again. Still there was a part of him that was worried that it would somehow be taken away.
"You seem to be deep in thought," Noel commented.
"I'm just happy," Hope said not wanting to worry Noel any more than he already did. Noel gave him a sappy smile.
"I'm happy t…" Noel started to say but he was interrupted by what sounded like a small explosion and a bright flash.
Without another word the two of them ran outside to investigate. There was no sign of what caused the noise and the light but there was a person standing there. They were wearing a long black cloak with a hood coming down so low that it covered their face. That was unnerving in and of itself. What made Hope really nervous was the silver lobo standing calming at their side. Hope noticed that Noel had his hand on his sword ready to draw it.
"Who are you?" Hope asked ready to grab his boomerang if the need arose.
"I'm hurt that you don't recognize me," they said as they threw their hood back and Hope's blood ran cold at what he saw. Standing in front of them was Alyssa. Her hair was a lot longer and her eyes were now black but there was no mistaking that it was her.
"Alyssa?" Noel said sounding unsure but his body language didn't change.
"I'm glad someone recognized me," she said with a cold smile.
"What do you want Alyssa?" Hope asked. He wasn't sure if he believed Noel or not about the trap she set not working. But he never told Noel what was in the letter she left behind. He didn't think it important. Now he was regretting it. Noel didn't know how dangerous she was. He wouldn't make the same mistake twice. He would not let that woman hurt someone he cared about again. This time he would protect Noel.
"What do I want," she repeated and then laughed sending a shiver down Hope's spine. "There are a lot of things but you are first on my list." She then pointed directly at Hope.
"Like hell!" Noel shouted.
"I thought you would say that," Alyssa sighed. "I suppose I should give you a demonstration." The woman raised her hand and the boulder that was near Noel exploded into nothing but dust. After seeing that Hope knew that there was no way that they could fight her with their power level. Hope could barely use his magic and Noel couldn't use his at all.
"If I go with you do you promise to let Noel go?" Hope asked.
"Hope no!" Noel shouted. "What do you think you're doing?"
"Trying to keep you safe!" Hope shouted back.
"Aren't you two sweet," Alyssa said her voice mocking. "But I don't think that's going to work. If Noel is anything like his friend then he won't rest until he gets you back and we can't have that."
Once again she raised her hand although this time it was surrounded by a black light. Things then seemed to go in slow motion for Hope. The light shot from Alyssa's hand and it was headed directly for Noel. Hope didn't even think. He jumped in front of Noel. The black light hit him directly in the chest. It was so cold that it burned. Then it felt as if ice was running through his veins. Then there was darkness.
AN2: Don't kill me for how I ended the chapter (hides under bed)! I am working on the next chapter now and it will be up within a week. Promise. Please leave a review and tell me what you think!