/I wanted fluff so I wrote fluff but it's like really short part one of this fluff because I'm horribly busy. I'll make it up over the weekend, ok? ok. thank you./

Chapter 10

It's been a week since the incident with Caius. Hope was getting better, bruises fading and bones healing quickly thanks to a greatly built medical team. He worked out of his wheelchair and moved into a slow walk. Hope walked from his room and toward the dining area where Alyssa, Serah and Noel were all sitting.

"Hope!" Noel grinned at once, nearly knocking over Moggle as he raised his glass of apple juice.

"Hey." Hope smiled and took a seat next to Noel. Alyssa and Serah sat on one side, laughing at some joke Hope had come in too late to hear. "What's for breakfast?"

"A little bit of waffle...and some whip cream. I love this stuff," Noel was shoveling down a whole spoonful of whip cream into his mouth as he spoke, "How'd you guys even make this?"

"Magic." Hope teased him and stole a spot of it from Noel's face, licking the whip cream from his finger.

"We've got can-fuls!" Alyssa chirped. "We could send one to your room."

"Please do," He nodded sincerely to the girl, "Serah, how's the rib?"

"Just about better. Alyssa says I just need one more surgical procedure and they can move the rib back into place." Serah smiled at her time traveling friend. She'd been worried sick for the past few days, he rarely came out of his room and when he did, he was never there to see her. She figured he was going to Hope's room to chat but still..she couldn't help to sense her friends was still thinking hard on the fight with Caius.

For the past few weeks, Serah's been in and out of the surgical rooms. With each visit the medical team moved the bent rib slowly back into place, allowing to heal and re-heal as they inserted a jelly like substance between the crack to keep it from closing all the way It wasn't as painful as it sounded, Serah would stay unconscious from the medication and wake up with only a pounding throb at her side.

"Great! We can finally get on the road with your graviton ores." Noel looked at the two directors. "I've been itching to get back on the field."

"In due time, Noel." Hope said soundly. "But for now, enjoy the rest of your 'vacation'."

"Yeah, about that..." Noel leaned to Hope's ear, away from the hearing of the two girls across the table, "I'm going to need to borrow you for the day. So clear out whatever you thought of doing and meet me at the front of the building."

"I...uh..." Hope thought about the two meetings he had to attend, the three science groups he had to check up on and-

"Hope, I'm still in charge until you're able enough to walk on your own." Alyssa piped up. Hope raised an eyebrow, realizing that she took over the meetings he'd missed for the last few weeks. He turned back to Noel, whose large brown eyes were overly hopeful.

"Around tenish, sound good?" Hope asked.

Hope cleaned up as best as he could. He looked at his chest once more before zipping up his hoodie, the scars were beginning to turn pink and the pain started to subside. Hopefully, the scars would go away by the end of the month. Before Noel left. He didn't mind Noel to see his body...well, that was before the accident. Now, Hope couldn't help but flinch every time the Hunter got near him to make an advance.

He didn't want to remind Noel of anything that happened that night. Not until they both could get past it.

Hope walked as fast as he could to the entrance of the building. There he spotted his boyfriend, dressed up in something that wasn't his hunting clothing for once. Noel wore a white shirt with an open grey vest with black pants to go along with his get up.

"Hey," Noel got up from his spot, grinning at the sight of him, "You ready?"

"Do you even know where you want to go?" Hope asked.

"No. I was going to ask you the places I had in mind." Noel reached for his hand, holding it tightly. "You like ice cream?"

"Noel..." Hope trailed off, pinching the bridge of his nose in annoyance. He took one look into those hopeful brown eyes and broke into a smile. "There's an ice cream shop down town. But there's an arcade on the way."

"Great! Let's go!" Noel gave a shout of joy and dragged Hope out of the building, ignoring the stares from everyone else.

"Oh gods, this boy will be the death of me..." Hope mumbled under his breath, grinning all the same.