#operation estheim

“Hey Mom …”

Gloved hands gently rest the vase on island counter. Dimmed lights of the sunset shine through his patio door, shining into the kitchen. It glimmers through the light green vase, shining through the water and petals of fresh tulips. Her favorite flowers.

“It’s been a while hasn’t it? I wonder if you’ve been watching.”

The young man shuffles to find his briefcase, hands busy removing restraining gloves. From the briefcase, he pulls out a small frame. He glances at the picture and finds his way back to island counter, sea-foam hues never leaving the frame’s contents. Back when they were happy. Back when his family was whole. The sides of his down-turned lips twitch, but his efforts to smile are futile. He can’t pretend. He can’t simply brush off the itching pain. Pale hands set the frame down in front of the glass vase. Translucent green and pastel brown create a comforting contrast.

“You don’t have to worry about me anymore. I have people who care about me.”

Team NORA, Lightning, Cloud, Brother — each figure’s image eases the tension in his pale lips. A swirl of warmth forms in his chest. The warmth of happy memories. Perhaps even — the warmth of family? And pale lips curl upwards in a brief chuckle.

“I’m sure you would’ve liked them.”

Beryl orbs stare into the picture as his fingers reach out slowly, and softly caress the glass. He takes in the features of her face, as if any moment the last evidence of her existence might disappear. The tingling sensation of his nose signals the falling of his mental wall. But no — not yet. He swallows the lump in his throat, using all of his strength to hold back the formation of tears. He had to be strong, right? He had to be strong.

“I’m working with PSICOM now. Operation Estheim is underway.”

Pale fingers retract back to his bubble as he speaks. His head falls and eyes close; teeth clench and unclench as he forces the emotions aside. The young man takes a moment to think back to his missions and journeys the past year. Had he reached any closer to his goal? Joining PSICOM certainly made his vision seem more obtainable. But …

“But ... I wish you could be here with me.”

"So Brother ... can we keep him?" But Hope could only stare at the feline creature nuzzling into his younger brother's form. A regal white with black stripes. Hope knew very well what the creature was. "You want to what?" He stood with his arms crossed, eyes wide, and his voice incredulous. "Just let him." Spoke her voice, beside him. But as Hope turned to the source she had already begun to walk away, back into the house the three shared. Soft barking could be heard as she opened the front door and walked inside. "But Brother! I'll take care of him! You know I can."

The pout. The eyes. Hope sighed and rubbed his temple. It couldn't be that bad could it? Not to mention the look in Light's eyes when she first saw the tiger ...

"Alright. We can keep it."

"Him!" A frown appeared on his younger brother's features. "And his name is Snowflake!"

Music. Balloons. Customers. Alcohol. Oh the wonders of Cafe life.

He and Lebreau had brought the cake out from the backroom, as inconspicuously as possible, and placed it on a large table in the patio area of the Cafe. That way the group would have space to walk around or to just mingle.

"Brother!" He called, and instantly a silver head turned toward his voice. He grinned, pearly whites showing. His hand motioned for the younger boy to come over. And in turn the other customers and staff turned as well.

Hope spoke from the other side of the table. "Surprise!" He lightly pushed the cake closer to his brother's side of the table. A picture of Hope with boomerang raised at the ready was masterfully depicted on the front. Or as masterfully as one could be with frosting. A small image of Alexander, Hope's Eidolon, could be seen in the corner, slightly blurred. On the bottom edge of the cake read the words, "Stay strong and never give up Hope." in teal frosting. Several candles lined the sides, already lit.

Boom. Boom. Vibrations through the wooden floor. He warned Gadot before about the dangerous of loud music. Not just because of what it would do to the Cafe's foundation over time, but what it could do to the customers and staff members over time. Hope sighed. He decided to ignore his frustrations at the moment and focus on the task at hand. A large rectangular shaped cake sat on the table in front of him. He had finished the baking and a larger portion of the decorations already. All he had to do now was add the final touches. He bit the inside of his lip, the tube of frosting sat comfortably in his right hand. He outlined the image of a boy. Then the image of the boomerang hand in his hand. On the side he drew a small blurred image of the boy's Eidolon. A small smile formed on his lips as he pulled the tube of frosting away from the cake. A sense of accomplishment and pride washed over him to join the already settling nostalgia.

So? What do you think Xander?

"Hmm add three eggs ..."

Crack. Went the shell of an egg. It's contents were spilled into bowl in front of him, slowly sliding down the bowl's mixture. Crack. Yet another shell broke, with skillful hands, Hope spilled it's contents to join the first. Crack. Went the third and finally egg. Not being a one for creating unnecessary trash, Hope placed the six half-shells in a container. He would use them for compost later. Hope then walked over to the sink to wash his hands in preparation for the next step.

In that half hour interval he couldn't find her.

But he did find where his heart had flown to. With heart filled with pure love, he was able to write a simple message attached with a flower. With note sent on his way, he grinned, fantasizing about her reactions. Only the positive ones of course. 

Slowly the scenarios faded, some becoming a darker reality that he hoped.

Was the magic wearing off? 

His confident smirk slowly faded and his heart pounded with fear once more.

What have you learned, young one?

The moogle magician had wanted to teach him this. A taste of confidence. 

"Life is about taking risks." The breathy words left his throat, his mind still processing the short experience. Hope sincerely smiled before looking up at the sky. The lesson the moogle wanted to teach him was obvious.