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[The camera is static, as the feed starts. Serah's sat at the living room table in the house, the flowers that Basch gave to Lightning just visible to her left. She looks tired, exhausted - and her eyes are red. It's not been long since she found out what happened the night before, after calling Basch, and why Lightning never came home. It's only

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[Frowning, Snow helps himself to a seat beside her, gently laying a gloved hand flat against her back. It had been difficult to hear the news about Lightning, and almost impossible to imagine how badly Serah had to be hurting right now. But they way he hurt, seeing Serah so broken? ... he figured he could wager a pretty good guess.]

Hey. Can I get you anything?

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[It's a few seconds before she moves, sniffing, and wiping away the tears on her face, before tilting her head sideways, to look up at him. She's a state: eyes still red and tears half forming there already.

There's little that can be done: she knows that. Lightning's gone. She may come back: she knows that too. But for now, she's gone. And that hurts. Especially more that, when she thought, finally, fleetingly thought, that maybe, Snow could be here as well as Lightning... she's gone.

After a moment, she manages a weak, albeit distant, smile. His presence has always been a comfort for her.] ... a hug would be... nice.

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[Snow nods once, putting one arm around her shoulders before encircling her with the other, giving her a tight squeeze and resting his chin atop her head.]

I've got an unlimited supply of those.

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[She easily leans into him, calm for a moment, just listening to herself breathing in, out, in, out. ... she can't say how glad that he's here right now.

After a few minutes she speaks up.] ... she'll... do you think she'll come back? If she can?

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[He plants a kiss against her forehead before answering.]

If it's up to her, you know she will. She couldn't leave you, Serah.

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[She nods ever so slightly: she knows that, has recited that, and... it's a reassurance that it's said back to her. But her eyes waver, looking away.]

... I'm... worried she's doing something reckless, y'know? Here she... she fought Lufene. I don't know what she did, but... she came back injured... quite badly.

... what if she's...

[Whatever thought she's leading to cuts off. She can't finish that sentence.]

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[He gently catches her by the chin with a crooked index finger, tilting her face upwards so he can wipe away the traces of tears with the pad of his opposite thumb.]

Light's smart. She'll make sure she stays in one piece, whatever it takes, just so she can get back to you. You mean more to her than anyone, anything.

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[At that, she forces herself to look at him: before lifting up a hand and holding his that's wiping away her tears, tight.]

I hope she... remembers everyone else, too. Not just me.

[Like Tifa, Marlene... Basch. There's so many people who forget.]

... hey, Snow?

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[He furrows his brow, noticeable even beneath his bandana, squeezing her fingers before lacing his own through them.]

Yeah?

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... it's... not selfish of me to wish everyone was here, right..? For a moment, I thought... I thought we could be. You, me, sis... I forgot what could happen, and now, this...

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I don't think it's selfish. We should be together, and things are better for us here than back home. [He glances in the direction of his frozen brand. After Serah, no longer being in danger of becoming a Cie'th is way up there on the list of Gaia's perks.]

... it could still happen. Others came back. She could, too. And you know how stubborn Sis is.

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[Her eyes follow his to the frozen brand. Really, she's so glad that all of their brands were like that: how can you complete a Focus with no Cocoon to save?] They are, aren't they?

... mmm. Hopefully she's not... not going at it alone.

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[He settles for offering her another bear hug, this one even tighter than the last, though he does make sure to keep in mind just how much bigger he is. Feels like an effort not to crush her, sometimes.]

She's tough. She'll make it.

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Mm. She will.

[She readily accepts. Snow hugs are the best hugs; she takes the moment to bury her face into his shoulder, instead.]

Thank you.

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[He rests his head atop hers again, this time laying his cheek against her hair.]

Just wish I could do more for you.

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You have. You came after me, back in Bodhum. And now you're here.

[He always finds her when her world's breaking apart. He does. And then he stops the tears. Saves her.]