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Balthier sat within the Strahl, looking down upon Archades. It was such a busy place down there, even more so now that the monarchy Ivalice had been ruled by had fallen. He had grown up here, yet knew almost no one. His father- Cid- had always been a strange man, never home, always at the lab. He had never known his mother, but inside, a thought bubbled, and today it had finally reached the surface. He had given it quite some thought. Who would have fallen in love with his father? It was probably quite a scandal. He distinctly remembered breaking free from the life of a judge to convert to a life in the skies, to a lifetime of theivery and such. He also thought of the day he had met Fran.
Now he glanced up, turning his head slightly and looking at Fran.
Fran, however, took no notice, just continued her work with Navigation.
"So... Fran, where are we headed?"
Fran looked up. "We recieved an urgent call from Rabanastre," she said softly in her thick accent.
Balthier blinked, raising his eyebrows. "Oh, did we now? From who?"
Fran gave a forced smile. "It is a surprise." She then frowned.
Balthier frowned. "Is something wrong Fran?"
"Since when are you concerned about me?" she asked quietly. It was easy to tell something was nagging at her mind.
Balthier gave a baffled look. "Haven't I always, Fran?" He sighed and ran a hand through his hair.
"I... It does not matter. Turn around and head West, Balthier."
Balthier nodded sternly, taking the controls once more and swiftly maneuvering the airship from its spot in the clouds, following Fran's instructions to soar to the familiar and friendly town of Rabanstre.
Balthier shrugged, quite utterly confused, and headed off towards the Sandsea. He opened the door to find Vaan, Penelo, Larsa, and Ashe all standing there smiling brightly.
"Welcome back, Balthier!!!" they all shouted in unison.
Balthier smiled softly. "Hello, you bunch of hard-headed rascals. I hear this is urgent?"
Vaan burst out laughing.
Everyone turned and stared at him.
Vaan sweatdropped. "What? I couldn't help it."
Penelo turned back towards Balthier. "Sorry Vaan ruined it. But no, it wasn't urgent." She giggled. "A certain someone decided to drop by and was whining about missing you." Her eyes flickered towards Ashe several times.
Larsa snorted. "Oh, yes, I missed you terribly, my dear Balthier."
Penelo thwacked his head. "Not you!"
Balthier gave an inquisitive look. "Princess Ashe?"
Ashe blushed and looked at the ground. "Balthier... It's nice to finally see you again..."
Balthier nodded. "Yes, I suppose it is."
Penelo giggled once more. "Come on, let's give these two some privacy." With that, Penelo, Vaan, and Larsa all left.
Balthier leaned against the counter. "An urgent call, Fran told me. This doesn't seem very urgent."
"Well I..." She blushed again, looking down. "I have some... good and bad news..."
Balthier merely narrowed his eyes slightly. "Yes?"
"I... The good news is... Basch proposed to me... And I said yes..."
Balthier frowned. That had been like a smack in the face. He hadn't been expecting that. "And the bad news?"
"I... The bad news... is that I love you, as well..." She frowned. "I... I'm so confused..."
Balthier blinked. "You... love me?" He snorted. "I guess there's a first for everything."
Her head snapped up. "How can you be laughing at something like this?! I'm serious!" Her hair fell in front of her face and her breathing was heavy in anger at him.
Balthier blinked once more. "Oh. You... /are/... serious..." His cheeks turned a very light pink in color. "But I... Princess, I'm not sure I feel the same..."
"Well then... at least let me do this..." She quickly stepped forward, catching his wrist and leaning up to press her mouth firmly to his.
Balthier was startled, and he went to move backwards, but found himself unable to due to the fact that the bar counter was behind him. He had no choice but to let her kiss him, not wanting to hurt her by pushing her away.
Ashe parted her lips against his, forcing her tongue past his lips, letting them run over his teeth and caress the roof of his mouth.
Balthier, having never been kissed before, let his eyes fall closed, leaning into the kiss, allowing himself to return it just this once to experience the feeling.
The door opened and Fran stood in the doorway. The light from outside had been blinding, and she could barely see anything. "Balthier?" She stepped in farther.
Balthier attempted to yank his mouth away, but to no success. Ashe merely clung tightly to him, deepening the kiss.
Fran stood by a table as her eyes adjusted to the light, and when she could finally see again, her eyes narrowed. "Just as I imagined it would be..." She turned and ran, biting her lip slightly.
Balthier finally couldn't take it anymore. He shoved Ashe off of him, which sent her flying into a table in front of them, but he took no notice as he rushed out after her. "Fran, wait! It's not what it looks like!" He wiped his mouth, spitting on the ground.
Vaan stood outside, and he blinked. "Ugh, do I want to know, Balthier?"
Balthier shot Vaan a nasty look, then dashed off to the moogling, knowing that Fran was bound to be headed for the Strahl.
"To the West Gate!" Balthier barked at the moogle.
The moogle frowned. "Why in such a hurry, kupo? Is somethin' going on I should know about, kupo-po?"
Balthier's expression hardened and he stamped his foot furiously. "Just get me to the Aerodome!"
The moogle shrugged. "If you say so, kupo." He waved his arms, hopping into the air slightly, and Balthier was gone.
Balthier pushed Sorbet the Moogling Attendant aside and dashed into the Aerodome. "Quickly, I need to board the Strahl!" Balthier shouted, nearly breathless.
"I'm sorry sir, I'll need to see your identification card, ownership documents, and airship license."
"You watched me get off of the airship, why not let me on?!"
"Sir, please calm down or I'll have to ask you to leave." The woman tapped on the counter impatiently.
Balthier huffed loudly, shoving the papers in her face. "There, can I go now?!"
The woman looked back, then tapped on a keyboard, activating a hologram-computer screen. "I'm sorry, Mr. Balthier, but it appears the Strahl has already left the hangar."
"WHAT?!"
The woman threw her hands up defensively. "I was only kidding. You may enter the hangar."
Balthier pushed away the guards who usually escorted people from the lobby and tore down a hallway, coming to a screeching halt at the airship. It was slowly gliding away from the docking port. He saw a rope hanging down and noticed it was attached to an arrow lodged within the metal siding. /Fran... she can't get in it without me.../ He quickly grabbed hold of the rope, scampering up it like a rat and flinging himself upon the deck. He yanked the arrow out of his precious Strahl and then threw open the door to the inside, which had been forcibly unlocked. "Fran? Fran, where are you?"
There was a loud growl and the Strahl lurched forward suddenly, causing Balthier to lose his balance and smash into a table holding several maps, a compass, and some left over money from a long-passed raid.
"Fran? Please, listen to me! It didn't happen that way! She kissed me! Not the other way around!!"
Fran chuckled harshly. "Oh, and poor Balthier's not strong enough to push her away?"
"I didn't want to hurt her..." he growled harshly. He quickly approached her, clicking the auto-pilot button over her shoulder, and setting their destination to a place on the far side of Ivalice. "Shall I show you what she did to me?"
"What do you mean?" Fran asked, narrowing her eyes.
Balthier grabbed Fran's chin, forcing her face upwards as his mouth descended upon hers, claiming her as his.
Fran's eyes widened for a moment, then she relaxed and let her eyes fall closed. "O-oh Balthier..." she mumbled against his lips.
"Shh... Quiet Fran..." he whispered, not removing his mouth from hers as he let his tongue snake gently past her lips.
Fran let her arms wrap around Balthier's neck, raising herself to her feet so he didn't have to bend over- on the contrary, she had to bend over a bit.
Balthier placed a hand gently on her jawline where her ear would be if she didn't have her huge Viera ears. His other hand wrapped around her waist softly, pulling her closer to him. He deepened the kiss softly, smiling slightly as Fran responded by deepening the kiss even more. He pulled away gently. "Except Ashe's kiss was a lot more harsh, forceful, and demanding."
Fran blushed slightly, wiping her mouth on the back of her hand softly as she sat back down, looking away.
Balthier raised an eyebrow. "Is something wrong, Fran?" He leaned against the arm of the chair opposite her. "Did... you not like that?"
Fran shook her head. "N-no... I did..."
Balthier smirked slightly. "Fran, can you tell me why you /really/ left the other Viera and Ecryut Village?"
Fran looked up. "It was for my own reasons."
Balthier nodded. "M-hmm, I see..." He frowned. "Where are we? It's dying hot in here..."
Fran frowned. "I believe you set the course wrong. We are just over the Uru-tan Yensa Sandsea."
Balthier shrugged. "I merely set the course to give me time to show you what Ashe did to me." He smirked.
Fran blushed darkly, looking away.
Balthier frowned. He was absolutely sweating. He pulled off the golden part that went over his shirt, unbuttoning the shirt underneath.
Fran raised an eyebrow. "What, can poor Balthier not take the heat?"
Balthier frowned. "No, I can."
Fran smirked. "What, just showing off?"
Balthier folded his arms over his chest, tapping his foot slightly. "If I wanted to show off, I could do a lot more than just unbutton my shirt, Fran."
Fran chuckled. "So it /is/ the heat then."
Balthier realized what he had done. "No, that's not how I meant it!"
"What, you merely unbuttoned your shirt for the joy of it?" Fran was clearly amused by Balthier's self-confusing ramblings.
"I... Oh, shut up, Fran."
"Oh, it seems that I have struck a nerve."
"Fran, quiet or I'll kiss you again."
"I would like to see you try." She was grinning now, a rare sight when Fran was involved.
"Fine." Balthier stepped forward, leaning down to kiss her, but just in time she leaped out of the seat in the opposite direction. "Oh, going to play hard to get are we?"
Fran smiled slyly. "You know I would never break my tribe's tradition."
"You wouldn't? So leaving the Golmore Jungle /wasn't/ against the Viera laws?"
"That was a slight mishap on my part." She tapped her foot impatiently. "What, the heat finally getting to you?" she asked as Balthier lunged at her. She swiftly stepped out of the way, and Balthier paused, panting.
"No, not at all." He sucked in a large breath and darted for her once more.
Fran merely laughed, running into her cabin and slamming the door in his face. There was a click and it had been locked.
Balthier stumbled backwards as he was smacked in the face by the door. He rubbed the back of his head in embarrassment. "Fran..." He sighed and went to look out the windshield of the airship. He looked down upon the Sandsea, and noticed a large group of what seemed to be soldiers on the ground. He frowned. The one in the center looked like Vayne. But that couldn't be... Vayne Solidor was dead. Balthier picked up a telescope laying on the control panel and looked down. There was no doubt about it. It was unmistakably Vayne. "Fran, come out here!"
Fran could be heard giggling. "Sorry, but you shall have to find your way in! You'll never claim your kiss from me!"
"Fran, this is serious! Vayne's alive!"
"Nonsense, Balthier, that is impossible."
Balthier backed away as a soldier looked up, pointing right at the Strahl. Vayne frantically began shouting orders, and suddenly a huge missle fired from a cannon on the ground below. The ship rocked violently and sirens went off as the room began to flash red. "Damn!"
Fran unlocked her door, rushing out. "What is happening?"
"Vayne's men shot a hole in our siding." He quickly looked at the control panel and the Strahl's status bars.
Fran shook her head. "Balthier, it appears to have cracked our fuel tank." She watched the fuel level sink quickly. "We cannot make it out of the Sandsea. We will have to fight..."
"Numbers have never stopped us before Balthier... Are you alright? You are acting strange..."
Balthier shook his head. "Yes, I'm fine. Call the others, we are going to need them."
Fran nodded, quickly taking Balthier's cell-phone from him.
Balthier landed the Strahl roughly, jostling it around as he attempted to control the ship as the fuel depleted. He managed to at least make it a good distance from the troops. He paced quickly as they waited for the others, wondering how they would get there. He looked over at Fran. "Fran..."
"Yes?" Fran asked. She noticed that he seemed quite upset and nervous, and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Balthier, calm yourself... Are you acting this way as a result of my actions earlier?"
Balthier shook his head, running a hand through his hair. "I... No. It was probably Ashe who screwed with my mind to make me like this..."
"Are you sure?"
Balthier sighed and shook his head once more. He slumped into chair. "No... I'm not quite sure about anything right now..."
Fran blushed slightly and looked down at him. "Would that kiss I kept from you earlier console you?"
Balthier shrugged slightly. "I don't know..."
"Well, I suppose it cannot hurt to find out..." Fran leaned down and kissed him gently, missing his lips slightly and getting the corner of his mouth.
He turned his head a little so that their lips met, leaning up into the kiss as he placed a hand on Fran's cheek.
Fran blushed darker, placing her hands on his shoulders to support herself, returning the kiss passionately.
Balthier pulled away slightly, smiling softly. "I think that cheered me up a bit..."
Fran smiled. "I imagine I know what your conflict is, Balthier. You have grown accustomed to fighting with more people than us now... You feel insecure without the others, do you not?"
Balthier's eyes widened. "You figured all of that out because of a kiss?"
Fran chuckled. "No. The kiss allowed me the time to think without being concerned about you."
"Oh... Well... Maybe I /have/ grown too comfortable with having others to fight by my side..." He looked down. "I hadn't thought that would happen to me..."
"It is nothing to be ashamed of, Balthier."
Balthier nodded. "Yes, but that does ruin my sky-pirate reputation..." he muttered to himself as he thought. He shrugged. "Oh well. The others will never know." There was a loud banging on the door. Balthier looked up. Vaan stood outside, waiting impatiently to be let in. Penelo, Ashe, and Larsa stood behind him. Balthier got to his feet, striding over to the door and opening it. "Where's Basch?" Balthier asked.
Vaan walked in, followed by the others. "Basch's shift with guarding the palace ends in about 2 minutes. So he'll be here in maybe 15 minutes or more."
Balthier nodded. "Any news on where and how fast Vayne and his men are headed?"
Vaan thought for a moment and shook his head.
Penelo stepped forward. "Well, judging by the speed of our Chocobos, they're not moving very fast. They seemed to be setting up more cannons and such."
Fran raised an eyebrow. "Chocobos?"
Balthier laughed. "You came here on Chocobos? They must have been some damn fast Chocobos, then."
Ashe nodded. "Only the best."
Balthier looked over at Ashe. "What are you doing here, Princess? I specifically gave Fran orders to tell you to stay behind." He looked over at Fran, who nodded.
"I /did/ give the orders, did I not, Ashe?"
Ashe frowned. "There's something I need to clear up with Balthier. I think he's forgotten who exactly I am."
Balthier grabbed her tightly by the arm. "Yes, Princess, who /are/ you?" He dragged her into his cabin. "What do you think you are doing, Princess Ashe? What happened to you?"
Ashe yanked her arm away. "Nothing happened to me, Balthier," she snapped.
Balthier shook his head. "Then we all must have had a severe case of amnesia recently because the Ashe everyone else knew never acted like this."
Ashe frowned. "I've changed since then, Balthier. This new... power I've been given since going back home... It's changed me..." She looked up at him. "Balthier, please... before Basch gets here and Fran gets suspicious... Kiss me, please..."
Balthier shook his head. "N-no... Ashe, that would be the wrong thing to do..."
"I don't care... Please..."
Balthier shook his head again. "No." He said firmly.
"I can have you thrown in the dungeons of my palace..."
"Because I didn't kiss you? Oh, that's really a valid reason to do so..."
"No... I can because you're a sky pirate."
Balthier froze. "You wouldn't dare..."
"Try me." Ashe stared up at him.
"I..." Balthier's mind was playing ping-pong with itself. He didn't want to be thrown in prison, and he definitely didn't want to kiss Ashe, but he really had no other option. His freedom, or his will? He sighed, leaning down and pressing his mouth firmly to hers, in not exactly the most gentle kiss. He then quickly pulled away.
"That was strangely unsatisfying, Balthier. Do it like you mean it, like you love me..."
"Ashe, we don't have time to play these games," he hissed.
"Balthier, I'm warning you..."
Balthier sighed once more, leaning down and kissing her gently, letting his tongue push its way into her mouth.
Ashe moaned softly, taking one of his hands in hers and placing it on her breast, making him squeeze gently.
Balthier winced, closing his eyes as he deepened the kiss in illusional lust. There was a knock on the door and Balthier quickly pulled away.
Basch opened the door. "Balthier. Are you and my fiancée done speaking yet?"
Ashe frowned. "Basch, when did you get here?"
"Two minutes ago. Come on, Vayne's troops are advancing at a hurried pace now."
The Strahl was busy with movement as people gathered their preferred weapons from storage units on the airship, loading them, checking the ammunition supplies, checking for dents, scratches, and cracks, and so on and so forth. Balthier loaded a large gun, cocking it and aiming for a target in the back of the ship. Pulling the trigger, he nodded in satisfaction as the bullet went straight through the center of the bulls-eye, then blew up, causing the target to disintegrate to ashes. He watched the ashes fall, looking up at the thought. /Ashe.../ He glanced over at her, then beckoned for Fran to approach him.
Fran nodded as Balthier caught her attention, getting to her feet as she set aside her bow and arrows. She slowly walked over to him. "Yes, Balthier? What is it?"
Balthier groaned. "She forced me to kiss her again," he mumbled.
Fran blinked. "Again?"
Balthier nodded.
"Did you tell her you had no desire to do so?"
Balthier nodded. "Countless times..." He looked down. "She threatened to throw me in her dungeons for being a sky-pirate..."
Fran shook her head. "Something must be troubling her, toying with her mind..."
"I don't care about that right now..." He looked up at Fran. "Please... get her royal taste out of my mouth..."
"How? she asked quietly.
"Fran..." His eyes held a pleading look. "Kiss me... please.."
"Balthier, you are starting to sound somewhat uncharacteristic... There are people around you..."
Balthier frowned. "Yes... you're right... Sorry about that..." He stood up, clutching his gun tightly. "Is everyone prepared for this battle?" he asked loudly.
Vaan turned to face Balthier, a large sword clutched in his hand. He nodded. "I am."
Penelo held up a javelin. "Me too!"
Ashe nodded, holding a sword smaller than Vaan's.
Basch loaded a crossbow and turned. "Let us go."
Larsa nodded, in his hand a small axe that shone brightly.
Balthier nodded. "Alright, let's go."
Vaan laughed as he saw Balthier's joyous expression. "That's the spirit! Lighten up!" He then lashed out with his sword, slicing through a man's armor that was shielding his neck and decapitating him. The troops were more than half dead and starting to retreat, and the six friends were having the time of their lives...
All except Ashe. She stabbed through a soldier's breastplate furiously, then whipped around, slicing through another's stomach. Her expression was hard and hateful, and Balthier couldn't help but feel it was his fault.
Balthier watched as Larsa amputated a few limbs of another soldier, then looked up, staring at the last of the retreating troops.
"Where's Vayne, though?" Penelo asked.
Larsa turned to Penelo. "Penelo, I don't know how my older brother has returned or why, but I know him, and no matter what he seems to be, he acts like merely a frightened child around strong warriors such as ourselves when he is not protected by magic or his soldiers."
Balthier nodded. "Sounds like a big ego-freak to me."
Larsa nodded. "He is."
Ashe stood there for a moment, before suddenly looking faint and collapsing to the ground.
Basch's eyes grew wide and he rushed to Ashe's side. "Ashe! Ashe, wake up!"
Balthier took a few steps back. Just a little more than an hour ago she had been begging him to kiss her, and now she was unconscious.
Fran glanced at him, though she knew he would never have done something to hurt her. "Balthier..."
Balthier looked up. "Yes, Fran?"
"While you and Ashe were... 'talking'... did she perhaps mention something about an illness that could have caused this to happen?"
Balthier shook his head. "No, she didn't say much at all..." Balthier frowned. /What's going on with her?/ he thought to himself.
Balthier sighed and put up his gun, plopping back into a chair. "That was exhausting." He yawned, throwing his shirt over his shoulder after pulling it off. He blinked sleepily. "And we're stuck in this hell of a desert until we can have someone get more fuel for us..."
"Well, look on the positive side, Balthier. You shall finally have some peace and quiet to finish plotting those islands on the map and sorting through their goods we thieved so long ago."
Balthier sighed. "Yes, I'm really going to spend my time doing work. I think I'll just relax for now. You should too."
Fran shook her head. "I am too serious about my work. I do not accept vacations."
Balthier shrugged. "Suit yourself." He kicked his feet up onto the control panel, having turned the airship off to save the little energy it had left.
Fran nodded, studying the map intently.
"Fran, do you love me?" Balthier suddenly blurted. He blinked. He hadn't meant to say that, only think it.
Fran lifted her head. "Perhaps." She quietly went back to her work.
Balthier turned to look at her. "Perhaps? What kind of an answer is that?"
"Just... Perhaps. That is all."
"What, is that a 'maybe'? An 'I don't know'? Yes, no?"
Fran looked up and sighed. "Balthier, can we speak of this at a more convenient time? I am exhausted and wish to finish this today."
Balthier frowned. "Oh. Alright." He sighed and went back to lounging in his chair. "Why don't you go to bed? I'll finish that for you."
Fran shook her head. "No thank you. I shall do it myself." She picked up a pen, carefully plotting a dot on the map.
"Oh, come on Fran. Just take the rest of the day off with me. There's more to life than work, you know."
"Look who is talking." She didn't even look up from her work.
"Fran... Don't make me come over there."
"And what, kiss me? You cannot catch me. and you know it, Balthier."
Balthier sighed. "You're right." Then, he made sure Fran wasn't looking and kicked off his shoes gently so his feet would make no noise as he stood up, tiptoeing over to her, standing behind her, before letting his hands touch her shoulders, slowly sliding down to her breasts, where he allowed them to rest.
Fran jumped slightly, startled, then looked over her shoulder.
Balthier took the chance to lean forward and kiss her gently, smiling. He didn't remove his mouth from hers as he mumbled, "Got you."
Fran blushed, slightly upset that he wouldn't let her work, but then sighed, relaxing and returning the kiss softly.
"Tired?" Balthier asked through a small pause in their kissing.
Fran managed to nod slightly as he kiss her again.
"Why don't we..." he paused for another kiss. "...go to bed, then?"
Fran nodded again. "All... Alright..."
Balthier swept her off of her feet, taking her into her cabin, though still kissing her. He gently placed her on her bed, laying down next to her. "Goodnight," he whispered.
Fran nodded, yawning and curling up against him, resting her head on his chest. "Goodnight, Balthier..." With that, they both closed their eyes and drifted into a peaceful slumber...
...Well, almost peaceful. Fran hadn't fallen asleep as quickly as Balthier, but when she did, she merely tossed and turned, as if she were having a nightmare...
Balthier sat up, yawning. He glanced down at Fran and smiled softly, standing up, but being careful not to wake her. He walked out into the main area of the airship, looking around as his stomach growled. "Oh dear. No fuel means nowhere to stop for breakfast." He sighed, pulling on his shirt and vest, as well as his boots. He scribbled a note for Fran, before leaving, grabbing his gun as he left.
Where Fran awoke, her face carried a concerned expression, her features furrowed in worry. She shook her head. That couldn't have been a dream. It was too... realistic. She stood up, walking out of the cabin and into the lobby of the airship. She noticed a stray piece of paper laying where Balthier's shirt and boots had been. Picking it up, she read it aloud.
Off to hunt some Axebeak for breakfast. Can't vacation on an empty stomach, my dear.
The charming sky-pirate you know and love... 'perhaps.'
Fran smirked slightly, then allowed her fear wash over her features once more. Her ears drooped slightly, and her tall posture was slouching slightly this morning. Something was wrong with Balthier, she knew it. He would never go fighting without her by his side. /Well, he is desperately attemtping to get me to vacation.../ she thought to herself. /Either that or he merely wants to be in bed with me, and is attemtping to achieve that with his childish charm.../ She sighed. /The childish charm of his that I adore.../
By the time she had been done thinking to herself, there was a knock before the door was opened and someone entered the ship. "Miss me, my beautiful Viera?"
Fran looked up to see Balthier, who was holding two Axebeaks in each hand, four in total.
"Balthier..." Fran said. She stared at him for a moment. He was caked with dirt and dust, and blood splattered his clothing from his fighting and slaughtering of the Axebeaks and other creatures that inhabited both the Uru-tan Yensa and Ogir Yensa Sandseas. She didn't know why, but she found him quite attractive like this, found his appearance quite appealing. Then she noticed a large gash in his arm. It seemed something had ripped right through his shirt to slice open the skin in a jagged manner, and it was rather deep. Fran gasped. "Balthier... what happened?"
Balthier looked down at his arm. "Oh, that? It's... just a scratch. A Bagoly just clipped my arm with its wing, is all."
Fran shook her head. "That is more than a mere scratch, Balthier..." She approached him, touching his arm gently, quickly pulling away as he winced in pain, sucking in a breath sharply. "It hurts, does it not?"
Balthier shook his head. "O-only a little..."
Fran sighed, shaking her head. "Let us get you washed up..." She took the dead Axebeaks from him, dropping them on the floor, then took his hand gently, leading him back out of the Strahl.
"But what about breakfast?"
"I would rather you not die of blood loss because you were starving, Balthier."
"Oh. Alright, then."
Fran led him to a stream, looking down and making sure it wasn't sand (hence the title Sandsea). It wasn't. "Good. Go on, Balthier, get in."
Balthier frowned. "With all of my clothing on?"
"Of course not. I must wash and mend those by hand. Give them here."
Balthier frowned, his tanned skin blushing slightly. "Er... That doesn't seem like such a good idea to me..."
"Oh, Balthier, quit acting so childish. It is only me. You expect me to judge you based on what you look like without clothing?"
Balthier sighed. "Fine..." He managed to pull off his shirt, wincing as the stiff cloth snagged on his cut slightly, then blushed again as he kicked off his boots and removed his pants, handing the clothing to Fran. "H-here you go..." His throat was tight in embarrassment. Normally he would never had succumbed to the will of another person like this, but it was Fran. She was only trying to help.
Fran took the clothing and couldn't help but stare at him. She sat there for a minute, a small smile on her face, then quickly tore her eyes away, blushing darkly. She quickly tossed his boots and pants aside, dunking the vest and shirt underwater as she scrubbed at the blood and muck with her hands vigorously.
Balthier flushed beet red, slowly sliding himself into the stream. He made a face. The water was hot. He glanced over at Fran, then slid in deeper, so that everything from his shoulders down was covered with water.
Fran tried to avoid eye contact with Balthier and finished washing the stains out of his vest, laying it on a rock to dry in the sun. She frowned. "You've gotten blood all over this nice white shirt, Balthier. It shall be permanently stained."
Balthier looked over at her. He shrugged. "Oh well. I can live without a shirt until we're out of this damned desert."
Fran nodded. "I suppose you can. But your pants are leather, and absolutely filthy. There is not much I can do to mend them. Can you live without pants?" she asked quietly.
Balthier's eyes widened. "I... I'll just wear those anyways..."
"That is disgusting."
"I don't really have much of an option, do I Fran?" He scowled. "Can I get out yet?"
"No, Balthier, we have not yet cleansed your wound."
"Fine, I'll do it."
Fran placed a hand on his shoulder. "Balthier..." She sighed. "Why will you not let me aid you? There is nothing to be ashamed of..."
Balthier shook her head. "Fran... you're a Viera, you wouldn't know what I'm feeling..."
Fran frowned, "Are you saying that Viera do not have the same emotions humes have?"
"No, not at all... merely that you've lived in a place where you've had nothing to be embarrassed about..."
Fran shook her head. "How could you say something like that?!" She turned to leave.
Balthier caught her arm. "Fran! I didn't mean it like that!!!" He pulled her closely to him, kissing her deeply, rising from the water slightly so as not to pull her in.
Fran blushed darkly, then closed her eyes. He seemed obsessed with kissing her. Every time he did something wrong, he kissed her. Every time she ignored him, he kissed her. And she was finally starting to feel.. that she didn't just love him 'perhaps.' She did love him.
Balthier pulled away gently. "Fran... Please forgive me..."
"I... I forgive you..."
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