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An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
Chapter 3 is online now!
Do U like that?
( pic property of the creator )
I bought pink orchid that smells wonderful and named her, Claire. Also I have to put it in a white-orange pot, because, Hope....
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
Chapters: 30/? Fandom: Final Fantasy XIII, Final Fantasy XIII-2, Final Fantasy XIII Series Rating: Explicit Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence Relationships: Hope Estheim/Lightning Characters: Hope Estheim, Lightning (Final Fantasy XIII), Sazh Katzroy, Alyssa Zaidelle, Maqui (Final Fantasy XIII), Amodar (Final Fantasy XIII), Paddra Nsu-Yeul, Lebreau, Yuj (Final Fantasy XIII), Gadot (Final Fantasy XIII), Rygdea (Final Fantasy XIII), Alexander (Final Fantasy), Noel Kreiss Additional Tags: Romance, Drama, Fantasy, Action/Adventure, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, fabula nova crystallis, Minor Character Death, Abduction, Fluff and Humor, Slow Burn, Hurt/Comfort, Family Issues, Family Feels, Crisis of Faith, Torture, Eidolons, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder - PTSD, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Friends to Lovers, Falling In Love, Angst, Child Abuse, Slow Dancing, Cuddles, War, War violence, Self-Harm, Crystogenesis, Kissing, Protective Lightning Farron, Religious Fanaticism, Domestic Violence Summary:
She was his guardian and he was her charge. They had beaten their fate and she had kept him safe. But when she awakens from years of blissful sleep into the birth of a new war, can she still protect him? Can she still keep her promise? They found strength in each other before, can they find that strength again?
A continuation of the continuation. Enjoy!
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“Here we are, Light,” Hope said as he pulled into the driveway of a small thatched cottage in the middle of nowhere. Ivy covered the front of the house; birds flew around several bird feeders that had been set up; bees zipped in between scores of flowers that surrounded the base of house.
“It’s absolutely breathtaking Hope,” she said as she got out of the car. He smiled.
“Wait until you see the best bit,” he said wiggling his eyebrows. “Here, let me get that for you.” Hope took Lightning’s case from the passenger footwell. She gave him a smile, those reserved solely for him, and have been since the Whitewood. Hope unlocked his front door and held it open for Lightning to enter. Oooh, he's such a gentleman. Lightning could practically hear Lumina swooning.
Lightning entered Hope’s home. The first thing she noticed was the enormous window directly opposite the front door; the window went from the floor to the ceiling and was several paces in length. It had a stunning view of vast fields covered in flowers, with mountains in the distance and a fast flowing river curving around the base of them. Lightning moved up to the window, placing her hand on it palm flat.
“I take it that this window is the best bit then Hope?” she said, barely above a whisper .
“Yeah it is. Wait until sunset though, then it is truly spectacular. Although I must say that my view right now rivals it.” Lightning turned round and saw a pink cheeked Hope with his soft green eyes looking straight at her. Kiss him! Kiss him! Kiss him! Lightning was struggling to restrain Lumina now. Hope shook his head.
“Sorry Light, I’m being a terrible host. Allow me to show you to your room.” Hope turned on his heel and walked to the left of the front door, Lightning’s bag in hand. Lightning followed, noting that the room she was in had nothing on the walls.
“Here you are Light.” Hope opened the wooden door to reveal a small room, with a bed and a chest of draws in. Again, Lightning noticed, there was nothing on the walls. She walked in and placed the box containing Odin's crystal on top of the draws, next to a vase of freshly cut roses.
“There is a bathroom through the door there. It has a shower in, but if you would like a bath then feel free to use the bath in the main bathroom. My home is your home Light. Please help yourself to anything you would like. I’ll let you get some rest and freshen up.” Hope placed Lightning’s bag on her bed and turned to walk out of the room.
“Oh! That’s right. Wait Hope. I have something for you.” Lightning went over to her bag and opened it. Inside, buried underneath clothes was a rectangular package wrapped in blue wrapping paper.
“Oh just what I always wanted! A blue rectangle!” He said, smirking. Lightning shot him a glare.
“Don’t get cute. It’s a gift from Serah.”
“From Serah?” Hope moved over to the bed and sat down, taking the item offered by Lightning. Lightning sat down next to him. Hope peeled the wrapping paper off the corner and carefully unwrapped it. He was shocked to see a hand drawn Alexander in his Gesault form staring back at him, beautifully framed in a wooden frame. Hope traced Alexander’s left shoulder with his finger.
“Did Serah draw this Light?”
“Yes she did. She’s always had quite a passion for drawing.”
“But how? She never saw Alexander. How could she know what he looked like?”
“She doesn’t. She says that she can ‘see' him. But what is really strange is that she couldn’t continue the drawing unless I was in the room with her. She loses her glimpse of him if I’m not in the room” Hope looked up from the picture and turned to look at Lightning. Calming green met calming blue; she had been staring at him.
“Please pass my thanks onto Serah for me, and my regret that she couldn’t make it. And thank you Light, for bringing it all this way.”
“Its no problem Hope. I was coming to see you anyway, with or without Serah.” She smiled at him. He smiled back. They stayed there for some time, or no time at all, staring into each others eyes. Slowly, they both began to lean in, eyes fluttering shut. They were millimetres from each other, moving closer, Lightning could feel Hope’s breath on her lips. The moment was shattered when a loud buzzing noise came from Lightning’s pocket. Nooooooooooo! Lumina really did have a piercing scream, Lightning thought. She took her phone out, still buzzing in her hand, and read the name Serah on the screen.
“Sorry Hope. I need to take this.”
“Of course. Let me know if you need anything.” Hope stood up, walked out of the room and gently closed the door, taking the picture of Alexander with him.
Lightning slid her finger along the front screen of her phone, answering the call.
“Hey Serah.”
“Hi Sis! Did you get to Hope’s safely? Is he okay? What’s his house like? Did he like my drawing?” Lightning chucked at the rapid fire questions from her younger sister.
“I’m here safely, yes. Hope is fine, if looking a little tired. His house is beautiful, a picturesque countryside cottage. He was made up with your gift, yes. Although I’m sure he would have appreciated it more if you were the one to deliver it to him. Remind me again why you and Snow and Vanille and Fang and everyone else couldn’t make it?” Serah just giggled.
“Because of work and other reasons that you couldn’t argue with. You were always close to Hope sis, and I know that he held you very close to his heart. You two should have some time to catch up without all of us there distracting him. Although do pass on all of our phone numbers and emails to him so he can get in contact when he wants to.”
“Yeah I will do.”
“Anything else to tell me sis?”
“No I don’t think so...” Lightning’s eyes glanced over to the draws and to the purple box that sat on top of them. “Oh, Hope bought me a gift. He gave it to me when he picked me up from the station.”
“Oooooh. What is it?”
“It’s a copy of the crystal I used to summon Odin in the old world.”
“Oh wow sis. Can I see it?”
“Unless you fancy making the trip down here, no you can’t.”
“Honestly Claire, you are so bad when it comes to technology. If you look at your phone screen it should have a symbol that looks like a video camera. Tap it.” Lightning did as she was instructed and Serah appeared on her phone screen, giving her sister a small wave. “See, you can show it to me and I don’t even have to be there.” Lightning smiled.
“You always were good with technology Serah. Hold on.” Lightning went and carefully removed the crystal from the box. She held her phone in her right hand and held the crystal in her left by her face. She wanted to see Serah’s reaction after all. Once Serah’s eyes fell onto the crystal Lightning could have sworn that they flashed white, if only for a moment.
“Oh wow Claire. That is absolutely stunning. I...” Serah paused, looking down, brow furrowed in concentration.
“You okay Serah?”
“Yeah. I- I- I think I may know what Odin looked like. Could you send me a picture of the crystal sis? I feel like drawing all of a sudden.”
“Of course. I’ll do that as soon as were done.”
“Thanks sis.” Lightning heard a knock on the door.
“One sec Serah. Come in.” The door opened and Hope popped his head in.
“Sorry to disturb you Light. Would you like anything to eat or drink at all?” As if on cue, Lightning’s stomach made a noise that could have passed for a whale’s mating call. Hope struggled to hide his laughter.
“I’ll take that as a yes then. Come on out when you’re ready.”
“Thanks Hope,” she said giving him a smile and trying desperately to ignore the burning she felt in her cheeks. He turned and gently shut the door. “You could have said hello you know Serah.”
“No I couldn’t. This is meant to be your time with him Light. I’ve kept you talking long enough. Speak soon!” Serah abruptly ended the video call. Ruuuuude! Lightning couldn’t help but agree with Lumina.
Lightning stood and carefully placed Odin’s crystal back into its box, taking a picture and sending it to Serah, and putting on the lid.
Lightning found Hope facing a counter in a kitchen, in a little offset next to the large window that she hadn’t noticed before. Hope turned around and held a tray full of cheeses, biscuits, crackers, and what looked like chocolate cake in his hands.
“Would you mind getting the door just there for me please Light?” Lighting turned to her left and saw sliding patio doors. She opened them and saw a small patio with a table and two chairs facing the mountains that had been revealed so well by the huge window. On the table were two champagne glasses and a bottle. Hope gracefully moved past Lightning and placed the tray onto the table, grabbed the bottle and after a loud pop!, was pouring fizzy liquid into the glasses. He pulled a chair out from underneath the table and motioned for Lightning to sit, then taking the seat opposite.
Lightning sat down, enjoying the heat the chair gave out after spending all day in the sunlight. Hope picked up both glasses and handed one to Lightning. He held his up to Lightning in a toast, “To the new world, and to the savior who brought us here.”
Lightning mimicked Hope’s actions, blushing ever so slightly, lifting her glass to him.
“To the new world, and to the man who saved the savior.”
Trust Issues