Just Focus (FFXIII)

17) Ignorance is Bliss

"You've changed, haven't you?" Snow asks, peering through the cracks in the fence that leads outside. "Seems like you've toughened up."

I lean against the smooth brick wall of the tunnel, eyeing the ice that broke through the walls just down the corridor. How far did Shiva's impact stretch? Hope frowns, and where he might usually play with his gloves nervously, he glowers right back up at the back of Snow's head.

"I'm a l'Cie," he argues. "I had to."

"Huh." Snow laughs to himself. "The only ones who ought to be fighting the army are us dumb grown-ups." I cringe, staring hard at the ground. And what about the dumb grown-ups who couldn't fight because they had no choice?

"You think it's stupid to fight?" Hope demands. I shake my head at him but he ignores me, pressing Snow for answers that will only drive his anger.

"It is if you get killed."

"At least then you've tried," I snap, annoyed. "It's better than giving up." My mind's eye flashes back to when Snow gave in, laying on the ground and waiting for his glorious death to come only for Nora to save him and get herself killed. What a phony. Snow only laughs again, turning to look back at us.

"Just lay low. Let the dummies duke it out, eh?" He grins, winking. "The army's no match for NORA, right?"

I sigh, shaking my head and wandering in the opposite direction to keep the angry lump in my throat from getting the better of me. What an ignorant son of a... Scoffing to myself, I take a deep breath. He's just ignorant, Marhi. He doesn't know better... But ignorance never equaled innocence, did it? I jump when Snow walks past, scrubbing at my face and turning back to Hope. His face is scarlet and his hands are balled into tight fists at his sides. He's pissed.

"He was... He was smiling!" he hisses, stomping a foot on the ground. I nod, defeated.

"Yeah, he was," I admit. Hope huffs, pulling the survival knife from his pocket. My heart leaps into my throat and I run in front of him, grabbing his shoulders. "Wait! What are you doing?" I demand, forcing him to look me in the eye."

"I'm finishing this."

"No, you're not."

"So you are against me!" he shouts. I shake my head, looking over my shoulder to see if Snow heard. He's as oblivious as ever, wandering along with his muddy trench coat slapping the backs of his holey boots with every step he takes.

"Hope, listen. This isn't the place. If you draw attention to us now, the whole army will be here before you can even think."

"But this might be—"

"There will be other chances, I promise." Desperate, I shake his shoulders and he finally looks at me, his eyes softer than before.

"Fine."

"Thank you," I mutter, letting him go. He tucks the knife away after a moment of sulking and follows after Snow, though he doesn't leave me behind this time.

We catch up just as a beeping sound rings from Snow's pocket. He picks up, resting his free hand on his hip.

"It's me, what's up?" He grunts, startled as he jerks his head away from the device. Frowning, I look at Hope for an explanation. He doesn't look back, scowling at our new leader. "Sorry, slipped my mind." He grins back at us awkwardly. "Great, great! Kids are great, too!" I raise an eyebrow.

"You sound like my dad," I huff. Snow laughs, shaking his head.

"Are you alright?" He jumps again, startled. I can hear an angry woman's voice on the other end. "Oh, hey Sis. What's up?" Lightning? "Rendezvous..." He turns to us. "Hey, don't you guys live here? Is there a place we could meet up with Lightning and Fang?" Fang... is that the other woman's name?