Lightning x Hope: Final Fantasy XIII- You are My Hope

Chapter 3: In Love with Hope

Hope Estheim had always possessed a brilliant mind. He was once director of Academia on the Old World, the leader of science and technological development in the old world and definitively one of the brightest humans currently alive. He created the proto Fal'Cie, and headed Project Bhunivelze in hopes to assist in humanity's struggle to survive. His dream was once to protect humanity and help guide it hand in hand with this friends. But fate was not kind to them, and thus his friends' lives were thrown into turmoil again and again. He watched on as his mother died to protect him, became branded a L'Cie and enemy of the people, had to fight tooth and nail to survive in a world that had abandoned him. Then finally, having saved the world, he had to step up and assume the role of a leader once more in the absence of Lightning. Even now, he continues his mission to aid humanity even has an ordinary human. In his own way, his entire life has been in service of others, and he had no complaints. In fact, he enjoyed it; as long as he could live in peace researching whatever fascinated him and doing all he can for what he believed in, he didn't mind the extra work he had placed upon himself. That was simply the kind of man he was. 

But Hope wasn't always such a selfless, courageous man. Lightning had met him as a child, lost and defenseless. Hope was merely an shy civilian boy, without any experience or preparedness to take on the world. Then again, was that really his fault? No teenage boy could be expected to carry the fate of the world on his shoulders. Which was a testament to how amazing he truly was.

It was their journey together that changed Hope. Hope's drive to survive, to avenge his mother and ultimately to protect his dear friends he had made him tougher and stronger beyond his years. Lightning could see it in his eyes back then, and she could see it in his eyes even now. 


Despite being many years his senior when she had met him, through their trials and tribulations, somehow Hope ended up being biologically older than her! Time is a strange thing when paradoxes and meddlesome Gods get in the way of the laws of nature.

 Claire Farron was 22 this year. Hope? Hope was about to celebrate his 27th birthday.  

There was, of course, a good reason for this ridiculous development, but it would only hurt to try to make sense of it. 



Claire sat outside on the patio outside, facing the ocean as the evening sky turned an orange hue, musing over Hope. 

That brat ended up older than me. And to think I used to be able to pat his head. 



She found it hard to think of him the same way as she had a long time ago. He was infinitely more mature now. More mature than even her at times. Taller, his voice more masculine and strong. 

She often spent time alone with Hope those days, either helping him look over some new invention or rant about her daily problems to someone who wouldn't walk out. She enjoyed Hope's company more than anyone's. Trusted his words like no one else's and believed in him more than anyone else, besides Serah. Perhaps Bhunivelze had known that and chose to use Hope as his tool to guide Lightning, knowing of her trust in Hope. 


She loved listening to his voice. That voice that was full of life and ambition, yet was soothing and somewhat tenderly innocent. She loved his eyes, back then and now. Eyes that had their sights  focused on tomorrow. She felt a weird tinge of happiness every time they were fixated on hers. Such a strange feeling, she thought. 





Claire continued to sip tea, thinking. Thinking. Thinking about... hope. Soon, night had fallen. And she had fallen asleep out on the patio. Thinking about Hope.