Disclaimer: I do not own any from Square-Enix.
Pairing: SnowxHope
Warning: Contains Yaoi with the usual fluff.
Here is chapter 2. Sorry for the late update but I am currently nursing a terrible writer's block.
Also, I would like to thank LightPhantom742 for editing this chapter.
Chapter 2: School and Sleep
Hope sat, bored, his right elbow on the desk with his chin resting in his palm. His eyes wandered around the classroom as the other students had their focus on their opened books. Even though the world was facing a threat, there was always time for school. He then turned his attention back to his desk, eying the thick novel. It was one of those stories written a century ago by an eccentric man and his life story, about finding the meaning of life or some answers to satisfy his aching and hungry soul. It was very uninteresting by his standards. He sighed and turned his gaze to the beautiful scenery of Palumpolum outside the window. The city was tall and lively with retail stores at every corner. Then a sudden realization came. Everything was peaceful and quiet as if the war wasn't going on at the moment. It was odd though to notice. Hope's eyes glanced around the classroom once more and there was nothing out of the ordinary or wrong with the sight of his classmates and his teacher going about their own business. But still, Hope couldn't help feel his stomach twist and his fingers scratching his throat, making it dry. Everyone was acting normal, or he believed that to be, like the war wasn't happening. The second thing was that hardly anyone in school uttered the word Pulse. The world below was like a closed book, a taboo of a sort referred by the people on Cocoon.
Then the ear-piercing chime of the bell signaled the end of the last period and before the ringing sound could subside, most of the students in Palumpolum City Academy's Literature class had already gathered their belongings and were making their way to the door. "Please read the last three chapters of the story over the weekend and don't forget to fill out the questions on the sheet I handed out earlier. The question sheet will be due when you return on Monday." The teacher said hurriedly.
The swell of the students heading to the exit doors would have swept most students away, especially someone as small as Hope. He had learned to never go to his locker after last period, seeing that it was a waste of energy trying to push through a tidal wave of incoming bodies. It was a gruesome try on his first attempt, but he had learned from that trial and error to take his stuff before going to his last class. It wasn't worth the energy to go to his locker. The flow of students led him into the courtyard before dispersing around him. He took a moment to let the warm sunlight bathed upon his body as he took a deep breath of fresh air to fill his lungs. The air was so clean and mild, carrying the scent of pine aroma and the salty sea breeze. Hope clung to his bag's straps on his shoulders and crossed through the courtyard before entering into the street, his feet walking on their own, headed to the Rivera. The day ended normally like any other and it was a kind of everyday which would continue tomorrow too.
"Hey Hope, wait up!" A girlish voice called out.
Hope stopped and turned around towards the voice calling his name and saw a blonde running towards him. Hope suppressed an annoyed frown from appearing on his face when he saw it was Alyssa Zaidelle quickly approaching him. The young blonde was dressed in a white shirt with the sleeves rolled up, a sky blue tie and skirt with black shoes. She carried a black handbag which was hanging down her left shoulder. The Academy didn't require students to wear a uniform but the girl liked to dress classy. Cheerful and intelligent, Alyssa was a very popular figure at the school. Everyone liked her, but Hope harbored some veil less and loathsome feelings towards the girl. She was just like him, young and gifted, and they shared four classes together which led people to believe that they were a pair. Her father also worked with the Sanctum, alongside his father, which only encouraged their image together as a couple- Something which he wasn't too fond of knowing. When Alyssa got up to him, she clasped and wound her arm into his and smiled brightly. "Let's walk home together."
"I am not going home." Hope stated, gently pushing the girl away whenever she tried to cling to him while trying to hide the displeasure in his voice. Funny it may be seemed, Hope wasn't lying. His father was still at work and his mother was at the tavern. "I am going to my mom's tavern."
"Can I come?" Alyssa asked, skipping in front of him and leaning too eagerly in front of him.
Hope sighed when he saw the hopeful expression on the girl's face. It was so easy to say 'No' but he couldn't. He looked away and nodded instead. They walked down streets with him leading the way.
"You didn't look too good in last period." Alyssa said, still smiling brightly while received a curious and dumbfound look from Hope. "You were gazing off."
"I was... just thinking."
"Something important?"
"Just a thought." Hope only answered. They didn't utter a word to each other afterward and the world, strangely calm and quiet, didn't either. The only sound between them came from the warm afternoon winds rustling the trees and the rhythmic smacking noise of their shoes brushing against concrete. His feet came to a stop suddenly, but Alyssa managed a few more strides before she noticed that he wasn't beside her.
"Hey, Alyssa?" Hope called out, breaking the silence that stretched over a minute between them. His eyes cast at the road up ahead.
"Yeah?" Alyssa replied her brow knotted together when she saw the long expression on Hope's face.
"Do you ever wonder what's outside of Cocoon?" Hope asked and saw that the girl gave him a confused look. He expected as much. He knew it was a stupid question and questions like that usually lead to trouble. People lived a comfortable life on Cocoon and so the word Pulse barely scraped their tongues. "Forget about it then." He sighed, brushing the thoughts aside, and walked past the girl.
When Hope and Alyssa arrived at the Riveria they were welcomed by an empty tavern, devoid of life, and a not so draft building. The air inside the tavern was thick and it was making their clothes suddenly cling to their skin like paste. Most of the windows were open but it wasn't enough to quell the thick heat inside the building.
"Welcome back sweetie!" Nora suddenly appeared from out the kitchen, looking slightly flustered from the heat. "...And you brought a friend. Hello Alyssa."
"Hi Mrs. E." Alyssa greeted.
"Mom, it's like a sauna in here! Why is it so hot?" Hope exclaimed.
"The air conditioner is broken." Nora sighed feeling exhausted from the heat. She took a seat on a barstool, her form slumping almost bracing against the bar counter, taking a menu sheet to fan herself. "And unfortunately the tavern wouldn't be open until it is fixed."
"Did you call a repair guy?" Alyssa inquired.
"I tried too, but no one answered. However, a friend of ours gladly came to my aid." Nora informed with a warm smile.
"A friend of ours?" Hope blinked, cocking his head and raising a suspicious brow. Then suddenly a humming sound emitted through the walls as cold air started to blow out from the air vents in the ceiling. "It's working?"
"He fixed it." Nora cheered happily before standing up and quickly closing the windows around the tavern. She took a deep breath as the cold air slowly started to develop inside the building. "Much better."
"You can say that again." A familiar masculine voice said. Hope flinched, feeling his heart lurch in his chest hearing the most infernal voice his ears had ever come to hear. His green orbs only wavered for a moment before they met the sight of a blond walking into the room, his golden locks and hard body glistening with a sheet of sweat. The man was dressed in gray sweatpants and a plain white shirt which didn't do any justice for Hope's eyes seeing the way how the sweat made the white shirt stick to the man's body, showing every ridge of hard muscle. Hope glanced away, feeling a bit embarrassed, quickly diverted his eyes from the man's toned and muscular body to meet a pair of bright blue eyes which were looking back at him. Then he noticed the smile, no, the wide grin on the man's face. Why did he always have to carry that grin on his face? It was annoying to look at but at the same time it was too contagious to look away from.
"Thank you so much. I am indebted to your kindness." Nora said sincerely while offering a warm smile to the blond.
"Don't sweat it. Just a Hero doing his job." Snow grinned, missing Hope rolling his eyes.
Nora chuckled, shaking her head amusingly. "Alright Mr. Hero." She then took off into the kitchen, preparing to open the tavern for the evening. The sudden AC malfunction had put her business in a setback for the afternoon and she couldn't open the place to the public under its previous condition. Now that her problem had resolved, she could at least try to rake in some profit for the evening.
"Hi there Hope." Snow said happily, shifting his gaze to the teen, and reached out to ruffle the mop of silver hair, but the teen had foreseen his action and hastily ducked his head away. He let out a chuckle seeing that the teen had already caught on to his new and fond habit.
"You stink." Hope only replied, cracking a smile seeing Snow sniffing his shirt and then the blonds' face cringed in disgust.
"Hope, be nice!" Nora's voice expressed warningly from the kitchen.
"He does smell. Really bad." Hope pouted.
"Well, the storage room wasn't exactly paradise and a hot shower does sound nice right about now." Snow grinned and his ears perked when a giggling noise distorted the air. He eyed towards the noise and saw a blonde girl standing beside the teen. His brow furrowed and he leaned towards the teen, swinging an arm on Hope's shoulders, drawing the teen closer. "Is this pretty little flower your girlfriend?" He whispered a little bit too loudly.
"W-What?" Hope spluttered as an embarrassing heat rushed to his face, and pushed the blond away feeling awkward. He heard Alyssa clear her throat while muttering an awkward 'ummm' under her breath and stood squirming on her feet, feeling uncomfortable. Her face was also a bright red, like a tomato, but for another reason. "We're not like that…" He admitted, looking away.
"Great!" Snow cheered.
Hope blinked confusedly, raising a brow at the blonds' smiling face. "What is that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing." Snow winked and walked past the teen, towards the front door but stopped and turned around. "I will see you later tonight then?"
Hope mentally sighed. He had had enough of Snow Villiers with one encounter today, thank you very much. The man was annoying and tiresome to keep up with. "Do I have a choice?" He grumbled.
Snow placed a hand under his chin, giving a contemplative look before a grin split on his face. "I am not sure. We will have to see when I come back."
Before Hope could bite back at Snow's words, the blond left, leaving a pair of green orbs still staring, not so happily, at the door and swearing under his breath. This man was certainly not good for his health. His eyes shifted to Alyssa when he heard her chuckling amusedly. "What's so funny?"
"You seem so different." Alyssa said smiling warmly, making the silverette flinch. The teen looked away quickly, an embarrassing blush appearing on his cheeks. She laughed softly. "I have never seen this side from you before."
"Well it's probably his fault." Hope huffed, feeling a knot twisting his stomach.
The afternoon blurred together uninterestingly as Hope spent the next two hours or so studying with Alyssa while his mother busied herself preparing the Rivera for nightfall. As the afternoon slowly started to dissipate, Alyssa eventually called it quits and left. The studying itself ended in failure, a waste of time for him seeing that he had his head somewhere else. As much as Hope had tried, he still couldn't shake off what Alyssa commented earlier. Hope knew that he was always reserved in public and tried to not let his emotions get the better of him, however, Snow Villiers was making his emotions slip through the cracks of his skin. And for dear life he still couldn't shake off the image of the man grinning at him with that infectious smile. The smile was always directed to him and it made him feel weird, a feeling he couldn't explain. Hope mentally cursed to himself. Even though Snow wasn't here, the idiotic man was still plaguing his mind.
To distract his thoughts from a certain blond man, Hope began assisting his mother with preparations by tidying up the place and restocking the inventory. After the minor AC setback and his mother's dedication by wearing her heart on her sleeve, the Rivera was open for business by nightfall. Slowly but progressively, some locals stopped by for a quick drink and a snack. The place started out quiet to Hope's blessing, but as night perpetually blanketed itself on the city, the soldiers flooded into the tavern, bringing whatever pretty catch they found outside in their arms. And then the noise in the tavern exploded. Hope sighed wearily. Well there goes his peace and quiet. Can his night get any worse?
The door swung open and a flash of yellow caught his attention. His eyes immediately flickered towards the door and saw Snow followed by Gadot. However, something seemed different with the tall man when his eyes spotted a young and pretty blonde woman attached to his arm and the way the man was smiling, looking happily at her. A pair of bright sapphire orbs quickly snapped towards his direction, meeting his gaze. The tall man smiled at him before calling out loudly and joyfully his name with the same enthusiasm in his voice when he usual greeted him but Hope chose to look away, feeling a weird sensation growing in his stomach.
"Hope, I think I left a wine bottle in the storage room. Can you go and get it for me, sweetie?" Nora asked, looking a bit distraught.
Hope nodded and walked into the kitchen and into the storage room at the back. He didn't want to admit it, but for some unknown reason, his mood had just dampened when Snow entered the place. He found the wine bottle resting on a shelf and left the storage room.
"Thanks sweetie." Nora smiled.
"No problem." Hope drearily muttered, placing the wine on the counter. His mother, however, looked at him strangely.
"Is something the matter, Hope?"
Hope ignored his mother's concerned gaze and risked a glance out the corner of his eye towards Snow's direction. The blond was sitting at his usual table with his best friend on the other side in the Rivera. The young girl that Snow had brought with him was seated beside him, pressing herself against the blond and smiling cheerfully. And Snow was smiling back. There was a slight fear throbbing in his chest and Hope felt disturbed by the animated and complex emotions that suddenly materialized inside of him. Usual by now the stupid man would've already annoyed the hell out of him. Snow never brought a girl to the tavern before now that Hope thought back. The problem wasn't that Snow couldn't find a pretty woman, but that he could. Well it was evident by his handsome and good-looking features that girls probably flocked towards him. Really, Snow could have any woman he wanted. The man just had to turn on the charm and then watched them melt into a puddle on the floor which he had to mope up. Hope blinked to himself when another thought came to him. When did Snow become handsome and charming? Maybe it was fatigue catching up to him that made him think that.
"Hope?" Nora called out again.
"I am just tired." Hope breathed out tiredly, giving his mother a weak and reassured smile. "Schoolwork has been stressing me out lately."
"I understand. You just relax for now. You've done more than enough for tonight." Nora said warmly, leaning forward and placing a soft kiss on Hope's temple. She pulled a chair and gestured the teen to take a seat.
Hope reluctantly took the seat and watched as his mother got called away by a soldier across the room. At this point, most of the locals had wandered out of the tavern, returning home to their families and loved ones. Only the soldiers and their catch were left remaining, and that included Snow. Hope risked another glance at Snow's direction and saw the blond looking at him, smiling like he usually did for the past month. Unexpectedly, his heart leapt which in course made him quickly look away, but to the horses' luck, Snow stood up and began walking towards him. Hope's heart began pounding in his chest, as nervousness quickly washed over his body like he had committed a crime. He needed a distraction and he needed one fast. He quickly grabbed a towel and began wiping the marble countertop which seemed to calm him down a little as the blond-hair man approached him.
"Mind if I sit here?" Snow asked, pulling a stool out from the other side of the counter and taking a seat. The silverette only shrugged his shoulders, not meeting his gaze. Snow looked around the room, his eyes searching for something. "I see your girlfriend isn't here!" Then Hope's face turned red.
"She is not-" Hope snapped his head towards the blond, his voice rising, but he stopped himself when he saw the blond smiling at him. It was so fetching.
"I finally got your attention." Snow smirked and Hope only huffed and glanced away once again, looking slightly embarrassed.
"What about your girlfriend? It's impolite to keep such a beautiful woman waiting." Hope said, looking past the tall man to the young woman that Snow brought in.
"Huh?" Snow cocked his head, his face twisted into a frown.
"She is looking at you."
Snow glanced behind back, following Hope's gaze to see exactly who the teen was referring too. "Oh, she is not my girlfriend." Snow made a brushing hand gesture. "She is just someone Gadot invited for the evening."
"She seems interesting in you though." Hope commented.
"She's not that great. You are more interesting to talk to than her." Snow grinned.
Hope felt his heart miss a beat as blood rushed to his cheeks when he stopped and looked at the blond smiling at him. Warmth engulfed his body, making the nerve endings of his skin shudder. He was shocked by the intensity of the feeling, almost like it was squeezing his heart. Hope really didn't understand this sudden sensation and yet deep down he couldn't help but feel a little happy. "Ummm…" Hope tried to speak, still in his stunned state. Was he really more interesting to talk to than a pretty girl?
"Hey Snow! Hurry it up." Gadot shouted across the room, calling his friend.
Snow let out an annoyed sigh, rubbing his neck as he reluctantly stood up. "Well, I'll talk to you later." He said and reached out, ruffling the teen's hair as usual.
Hope nodded solemnly and didn't make an attempt to swat Snow's hand away. Snow's hand, which he never noticed before, felt big and warm through his hair. He watched, his eyes boring a hole through the back of Snow's coat as the man walked back to his seat. When did Snow change from annoying and obnoxious to caring and nice?
"H..ope! W..ake up!" A hand nudged his shoulder.
"Hmmm." Hope groaned weakly and raised his head which was lying on the cold kitchen countertop in the tavern. He rubbed his heavy eyes, his body feeling very sluggish and drain of energy. "What time is it?"
"It's time to go home sweetie." Nora said warmly.
"Another five minutes." Hope muttered placing his head back on the countertop.
"Come on sweetie."
"Alright." Hope sighed and yawned, giving in to his mother's plea, and stood up from the stool he was sitting on. As he placed his feet on the floor, they instantly gave way, still lethargic and not cooperating with him after his short nap. His half-senses deciphered hearing his mother calling him as he was falling but a hand suddenly caught around his stomach, stopping his descent.
"Watch it there kiddo." Snow said concernedly, pulling the teen to his feet.
Hope looked up to his capture who was smiling at him. "Snow?"
"Not looking so good there."
"I wanna sleep." Hope whined, resting his form against the larger male.
"You can sleep when we get home." Nora said, doing her last and final round checks around the tavern. She went to make sure the locks were on the windows and then into the storage room to pick up a box containing some goods which she needed to take home. Grabbing the box and bolting the storage room shut, she walked back into the kitchen where she found the older blond with his hand supporting her son, who was currently sleeping on his feet. Nora shook her head amusingly.
"What am I going to do with you Hope?" Nora sighed with a smile on her face and placed the box on the floor before approaching the older blond and her son. She grasped the teen's shoulder, shaking her son awake. "C'mon Hope. Just stay awake for fifteen more minute and then you can sleep as much as you want."
Snow couldn't hold back a heartfelt laugh when he heard a protested moan coming from the teen. "If you want Hope, I don't mind carrying you. It beats walking." He offered kindly.
Hope looked up the blond with his heavy eyes. As much as it hurt his pride, Snow threw a convincing logic. He was extremely tired and he wasn't looking forward to walking home. He reached his arms up and the blond only leaned down before picking him up off his feet. Sure he was tired and still confused about what Alyssa and Snow said to him today. But for some reason Hope was happy. He let out a content sigh, resting his head against the blond and closing his eyes once again. This was certainly better than walking.
"Ready?" Snow asked softly, readjusting the teen in his arm to a comfortable position while not trying to stir the figure awake. Nora only curtly nodded.
When Bartholomew opened his front door, he paused and stood staring at the sight before him. His eyes squinted from his lovely wife who looked overly exhausted and then to his son's sleeping face before finally settled on the extra face amongst his family. Snow Villiers had a familiar face, not that the blonds' name and face had gone unnoticed in the military base and in his wife's tavern. However, the picturesque sight left him a bit baffled by the young man carrying his son. "What's-" He began to question but was quickly shushed by both Nora and Snow quietly. His brow knitted together in confusion and before he could open his mouth again, his wife placed a heavy box in his hands.
"Those need to go into the fridge." Nora said to her husband before turning to the blond, looking at her son. "His room is past the living room, take a left down the hallway, and it's the second door. I'll be there in shortly."
Snow nodded and followed the silver-haired woman's instructions. He walked away from the couple into the living room, his eyes looking around the building. The house was big and comfortable. A perfect place to raise a family, Snow deemed. He then moved to Hope's bedroom where he gently placed the teen on his bed and watched as Hope sank deeper in his pillow easily. Snow took a moment to appreciate the sight of the teen, still fully clothed sleeping peacefully. The door behind him creaked open and the couple stepped into the room.
"How is he?" Nora asked softly.
"Sleeping like a rock." Snow smiled. The woman sat on the edge of the bed and shook the teen's shoulder, calling her son's name.
"Mom!" Hope let out a loud groan flopping his head onto the other side of the pillow. However, soft hands guided him up from his lying position.
"You can't sleep with your jacket and shoes on." Nora advised and quickly hauled the orange jacket off her son's shoulders and then pulled off the shoes. With that over, Hope's head collapsed back on the pillows, sighing contently. Nora let out a quiet chuckle and ran her hand through the teen's hair. She stood up and followed the two other men out the door before closing the door quietly. "Seems like you save me twice today Mr. Hero." Nora said with a warm smile to Snow when they stepped into the living room.
"Don't think anything of it. It was... an interesting night." Snow grinned, making his way to the front, but then Nora grabbed his arm and he spun around to face the couple.
"Stay and grab a bite to eat. It's the least we can do for the kindness." Bartholomew friendly offered.
Snow scratched the back of his neck embarrassingly, feeling a bit flustered. "I appreciate your generosity, but I can't." He said, gaining a frown from the silver-haired woman. "It's already late and training starts at the crack of dawn."
Nora pressed on however. "Are you sure?"
"I'm sure." Snow smiled and stepped out of the house.
"He's a sweet man." Nora said to her husband who nodded in agreement. They were standing at the front door, looking on as the blond distanced himself from their house.
"He is certainly a strange one." Bartholomew commented, receiving a puzzled expression from his wife.
"What do you mean?"
Bartholomew sighed, closing his eyes for a moment. "We don't know his reason, but he volunteered himself for the SFU by taking another soldier's place."
"The SFU?" Nora gave Bartholomew a blank look.
"The Special Forces Units. It's a small squadron under PISCOM that undergoes missions on Pulse."
"How is that strange?" Nora asked giving her husband a puzzled look.
"A few people are randomly hand-picked due to the lack of members because of the risks involved with these missions which lead to less soldiers left and participate in the group. It's not a happy group you wanted to join."
"How high are these risks?" Nora bit her lower lip. She didn't like where this conversation was going.
"It's almost suicidal." Bartholomew said sorrowfully, earning a surprised gasp which slipped through his wife's lips.
Nora felt her heart sink when she heard that piece of information. Her eyes turned back to the blond, but the man was already long gone. She didn't understand any of it and it wasn't something she would've expected someone like Snow Villiers to do. "But why would he do that?"
To Be Continued…
A/N: I am still trying to figure out where exactly this plot is going, but I have a (slight)vague idea. I tried to get in as much of SnowxHope interactions as possible in this chapter. Ands thanks you my darling readers for giving for even this fic a bit of your attention.
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