#Hoperai

[silketara]

If I had a nickel for every time my favorite nerd spent 100+ years to find and bring back their 'inspiration', I'd have two nickels. Which isn't a lot, but it's weird that it happened twice.

[gamagama0622]

My heart is always with you.　

あなたに心をあげる

[1---27]

I designed their other partners as dolls, of which light and hope are my favorites!

[logang7]

[friendofesteem]

so I crawl back into your open arms

Sketchy redraw based on this tweet (https://x.com/SmuggestSage/status/1819700765868412976) I’m sorry for making it about FFXIII though

[finalfantasyandnerdiness]

Epilogue

Fandom: Final Fantasy XIII Pairing: Hope/Light Rating: G Words: 2.5k Summary: The epilogue and its aftermath told through Hope's point of view.

Hope’s heart was already pounding in his chest when the train he’d been waiting for finally came to a stop. He’d been standing outside the small station for about thirty minutes, and his pulse had been completely out of control the entire time. His emotional state kept switching between joy and terror, rarely landing on anything in between. He’d been dreaming about this moment for an entire millennium. If he screwed it up, he would never forgive himself.

A gentle breeze played with his silver hair, most likely ruining his weak attempt to turn the gravity-defying mess into something more presentable. He’d spent an embarrassing amount of time in front of the mirror that morning, navigating the fine line between too formal and too casual. In the end, he’d left the house in a button-down shirt and slacks, which was a decision he felt somewhat comfortable with. His hair, however, was a wildcard. He didn’t usually care all that much about his appearance, but on a day like this, he’d prefer looking like an independent researcher rather than an eccentric scientist.

At least it wasn’t raining.

The train doors opened, and there she was. Hope watched as she crossed the platform with confident steps, his surroundings fading away until all he could see was her. To him, she’d always shined as brightly as her nickname, but the inner glow she was currently radiating had to be visible to anyone. Her outfit was similar to his, leaning more towards casual but worn with far more elegance.

Warmth bloomed in Hope’s chest. Just by looking at her, he could tell that at some point during her travels, the seasoned soldier had finally put away her sword. When she gazed up at the sky and smiled, he knew that it had all been worth it. He’d nearly sacrificed his life, his soul, and his very existence to make this reality come true, and for that smile alone, he’d do it all again.

Read on AO3

[selhinf]

Ehy people, the Chapter 2 is online now!!!!

( this image Is not my, credit to artist )

[cielleonette]

It's been too long 😭 I've been digging everything hoperai related and I'm wailing. Even my art cannot remedy this hole in my heart.

[rainbowserenity]

Re: cliches, "I'll bandage you up" sounds like a good one for Lightning and Hope 🥰

Neither of them had much talent for cooking. Sure, they could boil pasta or throw something in the oven, but anything more intricate was usually handed over to Serah. So when Lightning walked into the kitchen one day and saw Hope surrounded by pots and pans and utensils, methodically chopping some vegetables, she was more than a little surprised.

"What are you doing?" He glanced up at her voice, immediately breaking into a smile. "Hey," he greeted, adding with a little chuckle, "this was supposed to be a surprise."

She smirked. "You don't sound all that mad that I caught you."

"As if I ever could be." He put down the knife and leaned over for a smooch, only their lips touching since his hands were covered in who knew what.

"True." Her eyes roamed over everything that was spread all over the kitchen. "Now that I did catch you, though, you can answer me."

Hope laughed a bit, the sound tinged with nervousness. "It's silly." "Try me." He sighed and went back to his chopping. "One of my coworkers mentioned how her wife surprised her with this elaborate from-scratch dinner for their anniversary last weekend. The way she described it sounded really nice and I just..." He shrugged, his ears turning a bit red. "It just sounded like something nice I could do for you."

Lightning stared at him for a long moment before a little smile quirked the edges of her lips. She moved to stand next to Hope, gently bumping her hip against his. "You didn't have to go through the trouble." "I want to, though. I always like doing - shit!"

She jumped a little as the knife slipped, slicing along the side of Hope's hand. He immediately dropped it and turned on the faucet to run his hand under the water. When it still kept bleeding after a minute, Lightning took his non-injured hand and started tugging him towards the bathroom. "Come on. I'll bandage you up." Luckily, the cut wasn't deep enough to need stitches, so she made quick work of cleaning it and bandaging it up. Hope gave her a funny little smile the whole time, and when she was finally done, he chuckled a bit and said, "You didn't have to go through the trouble." She rolled her eyes a little at having her words thrown back at her. Two could play at that game. "I always like doing nice things for you." She squeezed his hand a little, glancing up at him through her bangs. "Got a problem with that?" "Not at all." He grinned and kissed the top of her head. "Lemme repay you with dinner now, hmm?" "Right." She let him tug her back to the kitchen, where he kissed her again before going back to his prep work. This was nice, she decided. There was something about watching him cook for them that sent a little flutter through her chest. And if dinner ended up being inedible, well, she was certainly nice enough to have a takeout menu at the ready.

[p-gio]

Hope Estheim stood at the edge of Bodhum's sea, the salty air breezing across his face and sleepy twilight waves lapping at his feet doing less to relax him than he remembered it able. While disappointed, this was not a recent or unexpected development.

The latest attempt sat alarmingly low on the list of things he's made to help calm his thoughts, consumed by a certain ex-soldier, and he was running out of known comforts. That looming blankness making up the rest of the page evoked a barely restrained panic that only one solution may truly put his stress to an end.

All Hope wanted to do was pull Lightning Farron close and confess his long-harbored feelings for her. Feelings that had taken too many sleepless nights to come to terms with. Adoration turned crush, and evolved into something which confined him in misery.

Now that he wasn't a puny, stuttering, short-stack and possessed the ability to tell her without making a fool of himself, it's the one thing he's thought about most for the last two years. Despite the impulse nearly driving him out of his mind, he always cowered from the opportunity to reach out and try.

Understandably so. First off: this was Lightning. The chances of him ending up with a bloodied nose if she didn't reciprocate these feelings were high. Secondly, and the more paralyzing, making the first move might cause irreparable damage to what they have at present.

The bond with Lightning that he's managed to achieve wasn't grown in a day. It was slow going and they'd had to overcome many adversities before getting to where they are. Laughing together, confiding in each other, supporting each other and trusting one another wholeheartedly, that was a blessing he'd climbed mountains for.

He cherished being with her and the others more than anything else in the world, their shared trials at the start of their journey as l'Cie formed an unshakable fellowship between a group who otherwise would've parted ways with a sneer, and that bond only strengthened as time went on.

What if this is what strains it? Breaks it, even. Especially with the rosen-haired warrior.

The threat of destroying his current relationship with her just to quell this longing has trapped the young Director in a petrified stalemate. No matter what; he cannot lose her. He knows he could never recover if he did. In honest, while he loved everyone in their found-family, Hope considered Lightning his best friend, and she the same. He should be happy with that, shouldn't he? That should be enough for him, right?

His sea-green eyes closed tightly in despair, chin tucking toward his collar in a bid to protect himself from the brunt of the truth as he realized... it wasn't. It never would be. Not with the incessant pressure in his chest when he's next to her, or the burning desire to get closer. Not while his hands itched to hold her, to touch her and thread through her delicate pink hair. When the struggle to hide how much he cares for her, how much he always has, was so near to ruining him; what they have now was already over.

The sickness of it all was beginning break the cement hardened onto his lips. For his own sake, his suffering would be bitten behind them no longer. Lightning would know by next they met, she had to, before it killed him.

The darkening tides were up past his ankles now, the surface of the water at his skin trembling to show his failure in keeping that panic at bay. Another affliction his throat had become too tight to swallow down.

Suddenly he felt fourteen all over again, small, weak and breakable, watching and waiting for the impact of his fragile world crashing onto him. And just like back then, Hope Estheim was so deathly afraid.

[advocaado]

Two arts in a day! it's dumping down rain outside and I'm feeling melancholy. This is a companion piece to the sketch I posted this morning. It seems I'm starting a series.

But That Was in Another World - Fanfic

[seasaltpop]

i have to say this. y’all i know we like to have this idea of Lightning being dominant in bed but i am throwing a wrench in that shiT RIGHT NOW because lord knows i bet you she’s submissive in bed because she constantly has to take charge outside of it (y’all know what i mean) and being used to taking orders as a soldier and all i can see her falling under a DAMN SPELL with Hope especially if he goes all Director mode on her and knows this about her like, i can see her just loving allowing her mind to go quiet and letting Hope take charge (and we all know he is no stranger to that) do y’all see what i’m seeing!?

[gamagama0622]

Academia🏢 AF4xx

[1---27]

lightning and hope

[logang7]

[friendofesteem]

heart hands