[Fanfic] To Learn Something New (ch 20)

Title: To Learn Something New

Author: Vianna Orchidia / Annasthacy Chashyme
Fandom: Final Fantasy XIII Series
Character: Lightning Farron, Hope Estheim
Rating: K+
Genre: General
Disclaimer: Final Fantasy XIII is property of Square Enix. I do not own the series and the characters, and I do not gain any profit from this fanfiction

Warning: set during LR

caramel /car·a·mel/ n a light brown candy made from butter, sugar, and milk or cream; sugar that is cooked until it is burnt and that is used to give color and flavor to food

There was a new pattern Lightning found herself going in. Running around Nova Chrysalia, helping people and collecting their Eradia, finding some sense in this Chaos-filled world, and ultimately returning to the Ark at 6 a.m sharp were the grand patterns and she's having no question about it. No, she meant a small, mainly insignificant pattern that was picked up unintentionally one day as she got teleported back to the Ark after helping a small girl in Yusnaan.

This little girl gave her several caramels as thanks after locating her long-lost precious family album. Lightning remembered having quite a sweet tooth so naturally this made her very happy, perhaps, but currently she's in no condition to feel anything. So she just smiled a little and patted the girl's head before heading off.

Lightning pocketed the caramels for all day after that, taking only one during a train ride and forgot about the rest as she tackled her way across the Dead Dunes. Only when she floated in Historia Crux and heard a small rustling sound from her pocket did she remember about the confections. There were still a few. She didn't think she would be able to eat all of them right away so maybe they were going to stay in her pocket for some time more.

That was until she materialized at the spacious, white room of the Ark and heard the usual greeting from the boy with equally white hair.

“Welcome back, Light.”

Oh. It suddenly dawned on her. Looked like the caramels didn't need to melt in her pockets after all. There's someone to share. Focused on this, she strutted toward Hope without offering prayers to the Yggdrasil first, which raised question to said boy.

“Light?” he carefully asked, stance a little guarded.

“Here.” Without any further explanation, she held out the remaining caramels in her hand.

Hope, not expecting the turn of events at all, stood stunned for two seconds before blinking at the offered sweets. His mouth formed the most intelligent answer ever existed. “Huh?”

“Remember that girl earlier?” He nodded. “Well, have some. I'm not going to eat the whole things myself.”

“...oh. Thank you.” Hope swiped the caramels off her hand and opened one.

Satisfied to see her mission completed, Lightning finally turned back to her usual spot before the Yggdrasil and offered the Eradia she collected for the day. She sure took her time to assess the new flower blooming on the life tree and contemplate at some things, but when she turned around to speak to her only companion, she found the boy chewing at the recently received caramels slowly, diligently. She stared. Stared some more.

And somehow, for the following days she always made sure to have some caramels stashed neatly in her pocket at 6 a.m.