Drabbles and Whatnot

Searching for Hope

The Eclipse. I've already solved this timeline. This must be a different year... Yeah... This is 10 AF. Not what I was hoping for, but ok.

Academy researchers are wandering around doing researcher things so maybe... Noel and Serah asked around while I stayed back, searching for what I lost a long time ago.

"...Sorry. Only persons on official Academy business are permitted beyond this point," a researcher told Serah. A time nebula erupted in the air.

"Look out!" As soon as Aloeidia showed himself, Noel was drawing his blades and readying an attack.

I stayed out of this one. My head was spinning and my stomach was trying to jump out of my throat. It took some time, but they were able to tire it out.

"Is it dead?" Serah asked cautiously. The creature roared in reply and pulled us in with a sort of black hole device.

A flash of yellow and electricity swept by me, just barely missing my head, before nailing Aloeidia and electrocuting him. The yellow boomerang returned to its owner and I forced myself to stand and walk over to Noel.

"When monsters like these are cornered, they cause a spacetime vortex to appear," a familiar voice said. "An electromagnetic shock usually shuts them down."

I dared not look up; instead I leaned on Noel for support and kept my eyes shut.

"It's been a while, Serah." He wasn't standing too far from us.

"Hope? Is... Is that you?" Disbelief was evident in Serah's tone.

"I'm grateful you remember me," he replied. Oh man... Now my heart's collapsing in on itself...

"Who's this?" Noel asked in irritation and walked me closer to him, an arm around my shoulders to keep me from falling. I just smoothly slipped behind him and acted like a cape of some sort.

"Oh, uhh..." Serah mumbled, noticing my hiding from Hope.

"Director of Academy Research, Team Alpha. Hope Estheim, at your service." He rested his right hand over his heart as he said this. "And you," he paused. "You must be Noel."

"Nice guess," Noel took a few step forward, annoyed that Hope never noticed something that was very important to him in the past. "Who told you?"

"You appeared here with Serah some years ago, at the Bresha Ruins," he stated. "Subsequently, we analyzed the gate and forecast your reappearance at this location."

'Then you would've also known that they're not alone...'

"To be honest, I didn't really believe that time travel was possible. But here you are."
He grabbed Serah's hands. "I'm really glad you're safe," he admitted, looking kind of melancholy. "For me, it's as if time has stopped. Everyone I knew is gone."
"Hope..." He jumped back and let go, realizing what he was doing.

"From your point of view, it's been years since you last saw Serah," Noel said.

"Not just Serah," he replied. "Snow as well. And Sazh and his boy. You all disappeared from my life. It's been ten years now."

"I never thought..." Serah whispered.

"When the paradox occurred some years ago, I thought if I could solve it, maybe you would all come back." Hope explained. I got hopeful for a second.

"Director Hope!" A sadly familiar voice cried. "There you are!" Alyssa was bent over and panting like she just ran a couple miles. She straightened up and placed her hands on her hips. "What we're you thinking? Taking off and leaving me all on my own." I slumped forward onto Noel, face pressed into his back.

Noel's POV

Kurai leaned heavily on me and groaned before falling to the ground, passed out. Serah told Hope her story while I dealt with Kurai. Alyssa honestly didn't look too happy to see her and seemed to enjoy her pain.

The poor child woke up and was conscious long enough to see her latch onto her precious director's arm and try to pull him along. She passed out again right as he shook her off. I followed behind as he and Serah made small talk.

I find it irritating that he didn't even notice Kurai. She passed out twice, I'm holding her /in plain sight/, and if he's who she says he is, he would've noticed her the second she stepped foot out of the gate.

"...Farseers." And suddenly, I was all ears. He led us up a set of ramps and into a shelter housing some kind of research equipment, I set Kurai down in a chair and started listening.

Kurai's POV

I awoke to noise and lights and Hope talking about a weird looking sphere thing. Then the pictures showed Lightning in Valhalla.

I jumped up, knocking my chair over and stumbled toward the device. Noel tried to sit me back down but I refused and inspected the mysterious whatever-it-is. And for the first time since we arrived at the Bresha Ruins, I removed my hood. I tapped it and poked it and glared at it and stared at it. After a few minutes of trying to figure it out, I gave up and gave Hope a blank look before sitting in my chair and ignoring everyone. He was shocked but continued with his explanation. He gave Serah and Noel an artefact. Ahem. Serah and Noel.

"I'm staying here." I said as firmly as I could. "Lightning's orders." Serah and Noel already knew, but Hope and Alyssa didn't. I couldn't tell if Hope was surprised that I wasn't an illusion or if he was alarmed by my sharp tone. I could tell Alyssa was angry, though.

"Take care of yourself, little puppy," Noel ruffled my hair and grinned at me. Then he faced Hope and went serious. "You better not take your eyes off her for one second. She's my baby sister now and she better be in perfect condition the next time I see you." He half-glared at him and turned to follow Serah.

I jumped as strong arms wrapped around me. Neither Hope nor myself said anything. I just sat there while he held me.

"Director, what are you doing?! She could be carrying some kind of disease!" Alyssa shrieked.
"Shut up," I growled weakly. "I'm not some animal."

"Alyssa," Hope's voice was firm. "Go find some work to focus on. Give us some space." She glared at me and stomped off.

Hope sighed and buried his face in my hair. "You disappeared that day..." He whispered.

"I know," I murmured.

"Where did you go?" He asked sadly.
"Etro needed me in Valhalla," I laid my arms on his. "She needed a messenger."

"Why you?" He tightened his grip.

"Because you won't have any doubts when I give you her message. If she had chosen Snow or Sazh, you'd be skeptical. You trust me. We were childhood friends and I was Lightning's little apprentice. You know I wouldn't lie about Lightning and Valhalla."

Hope was quiet for a little bit. "...So what's her message?"

I told him all about Lightning and Etro and how the future is in danger. He listened intently and didn't ask questions.

"You haven't changed..." He murmured after I finished.

"That's what happens when you get stuck in a place where time can't reach," I chuckled softly. He sat in a chair and kept me on his lap. "I was afraid you forgot about me," I whispered.

"I would never," he smiled softly and pressed his cheek against mine. I relaxed into his chest and closed my eyes. Every now and then, he'd nuzzle my neck or gently squeeze my hand to make sure I wasn't a hallucination. Not once did either of us try to get up. We stayed put in that chair until an outside force dragged us out. Thankfully, it was the cold rather than Alyssa.

I followed Hope to his sleeping quarters and made him let me sleep on the floor. Sometime in the middle of the night, I heard him get up and drop a pillow next to mine. A few seconds later I could feel him pull back my blankets and lay next to me. I didn't question him when I felt his back pressed against mine. Instead, I closed my eyes and went back to sleep.