Title: You Look Better When I'm Drunk
Pairings: Hope/Lightning
Warnings: None, unless you don't like underage drinking or a load of curse words.
Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy XIII (aside from my PS3 disc and my intense love for Hope Estheim) nor do I own the song title. Credit goes to Square Enix and The White Tie Affair respectively, I only use them for my own entertainment.

A/N: Personally, I ship NoeHopu, not Hoperai. I've never really had a thing for thinking of Hope/Light, but in any case their possible romance should've happened during or just after their l'Cie journey. I don't like this XIII-2 Hope/Light pairing - Hope knew her when he was young, it should've hit him harder than mother duck syndrome. So in this story, Hope is fifteen and was rid of his l'Cie brand after they completed their Focus, and no one turned to crystal - because apparently this happened and I haven't ever finished XIII so I didn't know this. Either way, I hope (pun intended) that my fellow fans don't attack me for butchering this pairing or something else silly. Enjoy~!

"And then I was like, "Bitch, what'd you say ta me? I'm like, the king of cupcakes. Honestly, get tha' in your pretty lil head, darlin'!"" Hope giggled, downing his umpteenth shot. The group around him nodded excited, all drunk themselves, hanging onto his every word. For a mere 15 year old, he was pretty entertaining. He had lightened up quite a bit once his l'Cie brand disappeared, along with the others.

A flash of pink hair caught his eye, causing Hope to turn and see Lightning at the entrance to the bar. "Ligh'ning!" he called, waving his free hand at her. "Come over an' have a drink!"

She met his gaze and walked over to the table, eying him critically. "Hope, I think you've had too much alcohol. You're underage as it is." She looked over at the bartender, who ignored everyone completely. He didn't seem to care that Hope was underage, serving him whatever he asked for anyway.

"Nuh uh~!" the teen laughed, hiccuping afterwards. "C'mon Light, be a ligh' bulb and loosen up! You need some brightness anyway!" He handed the older woman a drink, his eyes crossing in the cutest way as he did. He didn't see the soldier's eyebrow twitch in amusement.

"Seriously, Hope, you need to stop. I won't baby you any longer, kiddo." She flicked his forehead, smiling at his overly-loud "ouch!".

Hope swiveled around in his chair, facing the ex-Guardian. "Fine, I'll get up," he said firmly, making to stand. Unfortunately, he tripped on air, falling towards Lightning, who caught him with ease. A grin stretched lazily across his lips as he leaned into her warmth.

"Hope?" Lightning asked, wide-eyed. In the dim light of the bar it was hard to tell, but a light dusting of pink spread across her cheeks when Hope nuzzled her chest.

"I might crazy, but I think tonight has only begun..."

"What?"

"I'm not your normal type, but we can make an exception..."

Lightning gave him a stern look. "Hope, what are you singing?"

He continued as though he hadn't heard her, "A little less thinking and a lot more drinking, that'll work for me tonight..."

The pink-haired woman laughed quietly. "You aren't getting any more alcohol, Hope. I'm making sure of that," she replied.

"When the room starts spinnin' and we start sinnin', I begin to realize..."

Lightning pushed Hope upright, holding him at arm's length. He's really drunk, she thought. Maybe a bit too much... he'll have one hell of a hangover tomorrow morning. With a small frown, she realized she would have to be the one to take him home. And deal with his stomach. That would be pleasant.

"You look better when I'm drunk!"

Hope leaned forward, standing on his tiptoes. Lightning didn't understand what he was doing when he suddenly swayed to the side, fixing him with a strange look but remaining where she stood.

"Hope, I thi-" She was cut off as Hope placed a gentle, not-too-sloppy kiss on her lips. The soldier's cheeks darkened considerably, but she slowly kissed back after a long moment. It wasn't a euphoric, heavenly feeling, being kissed by a drunk teenaged boy, but it wasn't an awful one either.

Maybe getting drunk is contagious.

The silver-haired teen pulled away slowly, looking up at Lightning through his fluffy bangs. He gave her a sheepish grin, holding one of her hands in his and taking a step back. "I know you think of me as a son, or student, but I really like you, Light." He blushed cutely, glancing off to somewhere behind her. "A bit too much, I guess."

He was startled when the older woman began to chuckle, and was even more so when she pulled him into a tight hug. "Don't worry, Hope. I've kinda of always had a thing for younger, silver-haired guys. And you're the only one I've had the chance to meet." Her gaze was warm, and she pressed a kiss gently to his forehead. "Let's get you home. You're going to be puking soon, and I'd rather it be in the toilet than my car."

She took his wrist, leading him out of the bar. Before they left, they were stopped when a few of the drunks that had been sitting around Hope began to clap loudly, cheering for the teen that had managed to win a woman's heart. Said teen blushed profusely, taking the lead and hurriedly pulling Lightning out of the bar. Lightning chuckled at that and led him into her car, where she drove Hope to her apartment to endure a night of nursing him from his drunken stupor.

A/N: Surprise, surprise! I actually made a second chapter for you guys. Click onwards, shipper!