Chapter 5

"Something is wrong with Hope," Noel said to Serah, "He keep flinching if anyone comes up behind him. "Has Alyssa said anything about it?"

"Hmmm...Alyssa did say Hope was being kept up at night, you must know something about that...I mean you spend all you time with him, right?" The younger Farron sister tapped her chin with a delicate finger.

It's been a week since Serah was hospitalized and Noel was starting to understand the severity of Serah's situation. She was perfectly safe within Hope and the Academy's reach but if they were to set foot in a time gate it was a sure way for that rib to poke something vital. Noel stopped getting antsy after the first few days, his relationship with Hope calming him immensely through the endless hours.

"Well...he's perfectly calm around me. He hasn't said anything...I really don't know what's wrong with him," Noel trailed off, trying his best to keep the red from appearing on his cheeks, "I'm worried."

"It might be some of his research projects...the stress of them all, you know?" She said, trying to reassure Noel, "You should hang around him a little more and find out what...if we find out whats wrong then we can help him."

"Just what I was thinking...thanks," Noel smiled at his time traveling partner, "How's the rib feeling?"

"The therapy is going well...they're slowly moving the bone back in place. They said I should be out by the end of the month," She saw the look in Noel's brown eyes, "I'm sorry, Noel...please don't leave without me, I don't know what'd I do if you got hurt."

"I won't, Serah," He reassured her with a sign, "Trust me. I need you with me when I travel."

They went into a short silence, one they usually shared while they walked through various areas throughout time. It put the both of them at peace, but only for a short moment.

"Look, there's Hope! You should talk to him now." Serah startled Noel back into reality.

"I'll see you later." Noel patted Serah's hand, poking Moggle awake before he left the room.

The stark white haired man walked briskly through the medical center, carrying a coffee in one hand and a clear tablet tucked under his other.

"Hope!" Noel bounded behind the man. Hope gave a shout of surprise and dropped his coffee and tablet. Noel, reflexes and all, saved the tablet from sure destruction, although he couldn't say the same for the coffee. It splattered all over the floor, making dots on Hope's pants and stinging burns on Noel's leg, neither of them noticed.

"Oh...sorry Noel, you startled me." Hope smiled at the sight of his lover, "What is it you need?"

"Can we talk in private?" Noel looked down at his pants, "We can talk while you change."

"Noel...I-er...I don't think this is a good time for that." He said in a hushed voice, avoiding the glances of others as they passed the two.

"I know! I know...I know..." Noel shouted at first, bringing his voice down to a low tone, "I just want to talk to you in private."

"Can't this wait? My apologizes but I've got a bio-mechan-" The director was cut off by Noel's sharp glare, "Ok, ok. Let's walk to my room."

The two walked side by side, a bot cleaning up the coffee mess behind them. Hope's steps were light, as if ready to run, there was a hint of fear in his emerald gaze as he walked down the hall, constantly looking behind his back.

"What's going on with you?" Noel snapped.

"Nothing is going on with me." Hope said, his green eyes wide, "Why are you so cranky?"

"I'm not cranky, dammit, you're the one walking around like some...bird in a room full of cats!" Noel's voice rose in frustration, "What are you scared of?"

"Noel I'm not scared of anything..." Hope denied as he opened his bedroom door, "You should head outside of the lab more, I think the same scenery is getting to you."

"Hope." Noel slammed the door shut, making the machine cranks screech by the sheer power of the younger male, "You are not ok."

"I haven't been getting much sleep lately...just a little paranoid is all." Hope reassured Noel.

"Obviously you haven't been getting much sleep, you've been with me every night. Except for that one night last week," Noel said accusingly as he sat on his bed, "After that you stopped...we stopped...you know..."

Hope started to change out of his pants, letting the silence ride on.

"What happened that night?" Noel asked in a calm voice.

"Nothing. I just got caught up in work...I'm sorry, Noel. I'll make it up tonight, I promise." Hope said quietly, "I just need to fix a few things and I should be free for a few days."

"Hope...please, talk to me." Noel stood, watching Hope wince a little as he put on a clean pair of pants, "Why do you have those bruises?"

Hope looked at Noel, eyes wider than Noel never thought possible. Fear was pulsing through his gaze as he stared at the younger boy.

"I'm a hunter, Hope. I know the signs of a fight. I know you were in one. What happened?" Noel waited for an answer.

Instead he watched Hope shake his head, bit his lip hard enough to draw blood and his shoulders shake. Hope was trying all too hard to keep his composure. Noel shot up like a bullet and grasped Hope without hesitation. Whatever it was, Hope didn't want to talk about it. Noel wrapped his arms tight around the older man, feeling the small shivers of Hope trail into his own body.

"I'm sorry," Noel whispered, "I'm sorry. I just...want you to talk to me."

Hope buried his head, as much as he could, into the crook of Noel's neck. He still shook, but there were no tears, no small cries or anything to say Hope was crying. Noel guided him to the floor, making him relax as he leaned his back against the dresser. With both hands Noel took him away from his neck, pushing soft startling white hair from his eyes and held his face in his hands. Noel leaned into his face, closing the gap between them but pausing just before they could kiss.

Hope's small breaths blew against his nose, emerald eyes focused on the hunter's lips. Noel studied Hope's reaction, seeing only patient desperation but no the desire. Slowly Noel pressed against soft, thin lips, fitting together perfectly. A moment of silence passed between the two, neither of them moved, enjoying the feel of the other against them.

Noel was the first to pull away, opening his eyes to meet Hope's.

"Did you like that?" Noel asked tenderly. Hope nodded, his lids half closed, his gaze focused on Noel's lips.

Noel ducked under the director's chin gently, kissing him softly right against his jaw. Hope shuddered at the touch of Noel's lips against his skin, refusing to move as Noel nipped lower, pausing just above his closed collar.

"Like this?" Noel asked once more, running his tongue against the little dip between his collarbones.

This time Hope nodded.

Noel pulled away from his shirt and began to fiddle with Hope's belt. He felt the director's hand catch his wrist in a swift motion. For a moment Noel stared down at the hands, wondering why Hope would ever rejection an act he loved so much. He looked up at the director, whose pink lips were parted ever so slightly, trying to speak but unable to find the words.

Noel sighed, trying to contain his anger and annoyance.

"Hope, I don't care what it is I just need you to tell me who...did this to you...whatever it is." Noel got up, running a hand through his brown mane of hair, "I just want you back."

"If I told you I hardly think you'd believe me." Hope said low.

"It's Caius, isn't it?" Noel looked at him, "Of course it's Caius."

"How...?" The director started to get up.

"He's done this before...just before everyone in my world died, I did come to a few relations," Noel shook his head, anger welling up inside his chest, "I thought he'd leave me...us alone for just this one time...I...I'm so sorry Hope."

"It's not your fault." Hope shook his head.

"You shouldn't have had to feel the pain. Whatever he's done to you, I'm only suspecting the worst." Noel curled his hand into fists, "It's better if we don't see each other as we are, Hope. Get me a separate room."

"I'm not going to-" Hope started.

"Don't argue with me, Hope." Noel shouted, "You will not be harmed because of my desires. I refuse it. Get me a new room. Stop...seeing me like that. And he'll leave you alone."

Before Hope retort Noel stormed out of the room, leaving nothing but the ghost of a kiss on his lips.