hi, ok I came out of my long break from this before I kind of have to go back into another one :c I'll try to update asap, lots of work in school in all now. Reviews and comments are always welcomed!

Chapter 9

Noel strode through the halls, ignoring the gazes of everyone who stopped to stare at him. He was only a child in the eyes of this hospital. A child that bore scars no one has ever seen, and those who have? They've seen them on the battlefield in the middle of a war. Wasn't he supposed to be in a bed? Get some help? What was Alyssa just standing there and smiling for?

He walked down the corner, into the ER "resting" rooms, those patients who came sucessful out of life endearing surgery were wheeled in here. Hope was in here. Noel peered through the doors, watching as each room got bigger and bigger. The larger the room the more life threatening the surgery was, according to Alyssa. His breath caught as the size of the rooms became big enough to host a party of five...seven...ten people.

Noel stopped at a room that could hold ten people for a game of a twister and a zumba tournament. The room was bleach white, everything but the metals and colored wires in the room was white. Sunlight fell through the white curtains, warming up the floor it touched. There was a boring wood framed portrait of a bunch of purple flowers. He opened the door quietly, noting the figure on the white bed.

"...Noel?" Hope looked up from his book, half his face was covered with bandages from a vicious head wound and the other half of his face was bruised, a rather green-yellowish color now. His chest was bare, strapped fully down in sterile strips and his legs hidden under a warm, white knit blanket. Hope's eyes were bright with joy as he looked at his dear partner, taking note that he was just as well as he was.

Noel slammed the door behind him in his haste to touch his older partner. The book was knocked from Hope's hands and Noel launched himself onto his body. Arms gripped tightly around his chest, a weight pressed up on his legs and another heartbeat slammed madly against his skin. The familiar scent of Noel scent Hope into warm frenzy of affection. He clutched the boy's shoulders and pressed his arm against his neck, running a hand through chestnut brown hair. Neither of them moved, fully enjoying each others touch to their full content.

"I thought you died." Noel mumbled against his neck, sending a tickle through Hope's senses.

"I certainly wouldn't go without thanking you." Hope lifted his free leg up to press it against Noel, nearly pulling him into a full cuddle.

Another few moments of silence, Noel shifted his weight to sit himself on top of Hope. His hands supporting him while pressing on either side of Hope's lithe body, the bottom half of his body leaning against Hope's bent leg and on top of his other. They were face to face, studying each others wounds. Hope let out a little laugh as he watched Noel's brows furrow in complete concentration, his canine teeth bite over the corner of his lip and his nose scrunched ever so slightly as if to smell his wounds.

"What's so funny?" Noel demanded.

"Your face." Hope's chuckle became laughter, for the first time in a while Hope finally felt happy without having to force himself.

"There's nothing wrong with my face." The Hunter's face flushed with a pink shade of embarssment.

Hope only laughed a little harder at that, quieting his voice as he took two hands to the boy's face. Noel glanced at Hope, taking his gaze away from his bandaged covered chest and allowed Hope to bring him forward.

With a little pained effort Hope managed to kiss Noel full on the lips, feeling the Hunter's breath catch in his throat as the warmth radiated through the both of them. Noel, nearly begging for more, forcefully pressed into Hope, taking his face with his hands and biting a little on his lip. Hope flinched at the pain, softly triggering his trauma, and let out a little mmpf.

"Sorry." Noel pulled away, pressing his forehead against Hope's as he glanced down at his lips. A little blood trickled down, creating a darker shade on Hope's mouth.

Hope only pressed down his fears and smiled. "I missed you too."

The older man gave a little squeak as he felt a tongue dab against his new wound.

"Caius won't hurt us anymore." Noel said, occasionally his gaze would flicker from emerald eyes to bleeding lips.

Another dab.

"I...I'm glad to hear it." Hope couldn't full believe Noel, not after what Caius did to him. The marks would stay, the wounds that streaked across his chest were jagged and illegible from the surgery, and fade away given the time and medication.

"Trust me." Noel said with a sharp could only nod. Suddenly the boy got off the bed, ripping out of Hope's hands.

"Mr. Esthiem, your therapy is scheduled for now." A nurse came into the room. Noel heard the nurse even before she stepped in, and busied himself with his loose bandages. "Oh, hello Noel! How are the wounds?"

"Never better," Noel forced a smiled and looked at Hope, "I'll be back later."

"I'll request for the door to be left open." Hope nodded, unsure of the gaze in Noel's eyes.

Noel came back as promised, but not at a time Hope would have thought. Right before dinner time, around eight at night. The ER "resting" side of the hospital was quiet for the most part, except for the footsteps of a certain Hunter. He slipped through Hope's door and placed the "Do Not Disturb" card on the door, being in the reasonably healthy state he was Hope just had to answer to the nurse when she knocked on the door and there would be no worries.

"Noel...it's a bit late, isn't it? I thought you would have come during the afternoon." Hope was well enough to stand on his own and walk around his room, but he was still required to be wheeled around through the halls. He stood half out of his clothes, the bath of the next room running loudly in their awkward silence.

"Serah kept me." He apologized lightly, rubbing his head free of a headache. Serah and Alyssa put him through multiple tests to check his body for any internal wounds, there were none much to his surprise.

"I hope everything went well." Hope raised an eyebrow at the Hunter, "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine, I uh...is the bath running?" Noel asked, stepping more into the room.

"Yes I was just about to-" Noel didn't give him a chance to finish. A fierce, begging tongue fought in between his lips and pushed him through the doors of the bathroom. Hope returned the passion just as well, slamming the door behind him just as Noel came in, he took the chance to pin the Hunter up against the door. Only to feel hands ripping at the buttons of his hospital shorts.

Hope grabbed Noel's wrist, keeping his hand clenched tight around his shorts so they didn't fall off, and pulled away from him.

"Isn't this all too sudden?" Hope asked tenderly.

"We've face fucked each other before, I don't see how this is different." The tone in Noel's voice made Hope flinch with embarssment, his face flushing a dark shade of red as Noel kissed him again, his hand slipping away from Hope's grip and freeing himself of his own clothes.

With a splash Hope was pushed underwater by the weight of the Hunter, for a moment he panicked but felt hands drag him upwards, lips still against his as they came out. Hope gasped as they pulled away, pushing a thick flop of hair over his forehead to look at Noel. They were both nude in the tub, bandages slipping free from their skin because of the bubbly water. Noel hungrily ripped at Hope's sterile strips, wanting to bite into the flesh where Caius touched. A sense of territory washed over him, making him ignore the little cries from Hope.

A splash of water came over his face and Noel came back to his senses.

"I...I'm sorry." Noel breathed, holding his head. "Did...I hurt you?"

"No, of course not," Hope touched Noel's face tenderly, "I just...need you to promise you'll stop when I say stop."

Noel looked down at himself, taking off his own bandages first and tossing them onto the floor with a wet splat. Hope did the same, showing the fading stitches and scars on his chest to Noel. The bubbles of the bath grew at an aggressive rate, they were scentless and tasteless, only there for Hope's mutual comfort. Hope reached behind him and pressed the button to stop the bubbles and the water from flowing in. Silence trickled between them now. Noel looked up and nodded at Hope, he promised he would stop when he says stop.

Noel tried once more, kissing softly at the flesh of his neck and sliding further into the tub. His nose touched the water as he ran a tongue up Hope's chest, sending a shiver down the director's spine. He bit sharply at Hope, taking in parts of his flesh before sinking further.

"Noel?" Hope questioned the Hunter's direction as his head went underwater, bubbles closing around where the Hunter left. He let out a shuddering gasp as he felt a mouth close around his cock, the difference in the temperature of the water and the mouth of his partner sent Hope into the beginnings of a heated frenzy. He bucked his hips, feeling Noel pull away for a moment and then let out a low moan as Noel took him back in.

His fingers slipped against the white tub, struggling to get a grip as Noel continued to pleasure him. At some point he noted how long the Hunter had been underwater and sent a hand down into the water to feel for him. But suddenly he felt a finger slip inside of him, his back arched and he shouted at the pain. Noel came out of the bubbles, shaking his face clear of water and didn't hesitate to bite into Hope's neck. The director felt the finger slip out and back in, ripples of pain made him give out stutters of moan.

Noel captured his lips, feeling the little grunts of pain as he stuck another finger into Hope. After moments of awkward pain Hope gave out a low, pleasured moan, forcing himself to pull away from Noel and press his face hard against his neck. The Hunter seemed to have found Hope's little bundle of pleasure nerves, he hit it again, getting another soft groan from him. Another hitched his breathing to gasps, refusing to take any moments of rest from each hit now Noel felt Hope's teeth dig into his skin. Hope's toes curled against the sides of the bath as he tried to keep his composure. Noel pushed his head under Hope's chin, letting his partner gasp and breathe as he sucked at his skin, nails leaving little pricks at his skin.

Hope felt his stomach tighten and there was no denying Noel felt it too. The Hunter ducked his head underwater again, taking Hope into his mouth and pushed at the pleasure spot one more time. Senses in a white hot fury Hope released himself into Noel, letting out a shout of pleasure. Noel came up from the surface, coughing a little and licked the spittle of Hope from his lips. Hope himself rested against the tub, breathing heavy and tipped his head back against the wall, exposing his neck.

"Must I..." Hope fought for breath to speak. Noel rested himself on top of the director, folding his arms against his chest above the scars, his chin on his arms. "Must I return the favor?"

He picked up his head, brushing a slop of wet white hair from his face to meet the Hunter's gaze. Noel noted Hope's flushed face, taking a mental picture of his cherry red cheeks and lusty green eyes. Noel loved seeing Hope like this.

"Only if you want." Noel said, smiling a little.

"I'll be a surprise visit." Hope smiled back.

Noel only pushed himself up to kiss Hope lightly on the lips, tasting him one last time before slipping out of the tub for dinner.