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[shatterhearted.livejournal.com]

Characters: Fran, Balthier
Progress: On going
Summary: The pirate pair need to talk…
Location: The Strahl
Date: January 1804
Warnings: Balthier gets his own warning. So… Balthier. And possible wibbles.



Fran’s heart was heavy, her mind filled with conflicting emotions and thoughts. She was sat out on the Strahl’s wing. It was her place of solitude. Balthier used the engine room to be alone, and she, the wing. Always the right wing, never the left.

She knew what she must do; but knowing that she must do it for the best doesn’t make it any easier. Despite leaving behind the path of the Viera more than fifty years ago, there are still certain instincts that remain. Sure, she can drink with the Humes, talk with the Humes, sleep with the Humes, but she cannot push away her Vieran instincts. The most current one being to find a mate. She cannot hear the Wood’s call, but she can feel something deep inside her heart urging her to take a mate.

And this is where her trouble lied. She loved Balthier. She loved him more than anything in the world… um… worlds. She would do anything he asked of her. He was her soul mate, in her eyes. Yet, they were from two very different worlds, and they wanted two very different things. And as such, she had to set him free.

Their relationship had always been hard to put down in words. If anyone asked them what their relationship was, they’d always said ‘partners’. They worked seamlessly around each other. In battle, in flight, in piracy, in bed, whatever the situation they worked almost as one. The transition from friends to lovers was natural enough, but it was since then that things had changed. Everything was much more tense than before and Fran had developed an insane jealous streak. A jealousy she had never felt before and it threatened to destroy everything they had built up over the past six years.

She has to do it. There is no other option. After all, it is easy to find a new lover; it isn’t so easy to replace a best friend.

Comments

[xbalthierx.livejournal.com]

Seated in the engine room, cursing occassionally under his breath at the pieces of his gun, Balthier was trying to decide just how the thing had suddenly decided not to work. Of course, he'd been a little preocupied recently with ferrying around Viera and dealing with Vaan's... Vaan-ness aboard the airship but that was no excuse for neglecting his weapon.

Of course, the young Hume was particularly tense at the moment, anyway. Things had changed. They'd always been so at ease with each other, but this whole 'love' kick had just made them so odd. Fran was a jealous woman, apparently, and Balthier disliked her need to claim him.

Being claimed was something he had always hated. He just wanted things to be like they were before. They had an intensity together. A relaxed sort of passion that no one else seemed to fathom.

Before they'd decided to be 'in love', Balthier had been considerably more at ease with her. He loved her. He really, really did. He just didn't think he loved her enough, in the romantic sense, to give up the freedom he'd worked so hard to get.

[shatterhearted.livejournal.com]

With a sigh Fran pushed herself to her feet, heading back inside of the Strahl. She ducked her head as she entered the engine room, long ears brushing against the top of the frame. She didn't feel the need to announce her arrival, no doubt Balthier would've heard her shoes long before she reached the room.

Crossing over to him, she held out a hand towards the gun. "May I?"

[xbalthierx.livejournal.com]

"You deal with it. Damn thing." Palming it off to the Viera, Balthier cleaned the gun oil off his hands with a rag, taking care to remove and polish each brightly coloured ring.

Leaning against the workbench, he watched her. "I've done everything I can; damn thing just doesn't want to work."

[shatterhearted.livejournal.com]

Fran looked the pieces over, examining each one in turn, hoping that by concentrating on the gun the nervous ball in the pit of her stomach would vanish. She used a single claw to remove clogged up oil and powder from inside the gun.

"Now the Strahl is back in the correct hands. I shall return to my role as navigator and mechanic." No mention of lovers or partners. Perhaps her way of saying what needed to be said without words.

[xbalthierx.livejournal.com]

"As expected. You are the only one willing to get filthy in that engine." He gave a light laugh, entirely oblivious to her nervousness. After all, he wasn't a mind reader.

Replacing all the rings to their correct positions, Balthier gave a light sigh, tossing the cloth aside. "I may take Vaan off later, just to spend some time with the boy. It's been a long time."

[shatterhearted.livejournal.com]

Fran didn't return the laugh. Strange that, since it was around Balthier she could let herself laugh freely. It was Balthier who had broken down her barriers and wormed his way into her heart and soul. She set the gun down, lifting her gaze to look at Balthier.

"Over fifty years ago I left the Wood. I left my path believing that Viera may begin as part of the Wood, but it is not the only end that we may choose. This you know." She paused, one ear drooping slightly. "I also left because I felt trapped. I would not wish that feeling upon anyone." She really hoped she didn't need to explain further.

[xbalthierx.livejournal.com]

Staring at her rather blankly for a moment, Balthier took up the gun again, clipping the barrel in place as he pondered her words silently, removing the safety catch and squeezing the trigger, making a slight sound of approval as it fired, despite being unloaded. It actually made the right sound.

"I see." Filling the gun with rounds, Balthier slid it into this holster and smiled warmly at her. "Then you have no reason to feel trapped any longer." And with that said, the pirate snatched up the oil for his gun and headed for the door.

[shatterhearted.livejournal.com]

Fran stood, wiping her hands against her legs to wipe away the oil. "Balthier. It is not I that is trapped." Her voice was cool, but not cold, her eyes holding an unreadable expression. "I am not blind. I see you. I see you claw and flutter at your bars like a bird caged. I free you from that cage now."

With that she began to walk towards the door, patting his shoulder lightly as she passed him.

[xbalthierx.livejournal.com]

"How ironic is this? The leading man cast aside by his leading lady. What an unfitting tale." Shaking his head at the Viera, Balthier neatened his cuffs and made for the cockpit, trying to decide just where he planned to take Vaan.

There were many choices of places but, actually, he was feeling pretty... freed right now. If anything, he just wanted to tell his father about how things had gone back to normal but, considering he'd just, technically, been dumped... well, that was a dig to his ego.

[shatterhearted.livejournal.com]

Back to normal for him, perhaps, but inside Fran thought her heart might break. She took a few moments to collect herself, before joining Balthier in the cockpit, leaning against the doorframe. "Cast aside is a little harsh. You are, after all, my partner."

She paused, jaw clicking as she tried to find the right words. "I have but one request..." Another pause. "Allow me the chance to find other residence at the times when you wish to... entertain a guest."

[xbalthierx.livejournal.com]

"I'd rather entertain myself, thank you," he murmured lightly, eyes scanning the map lazily as he drummed his fingers against the console of his airship.

Casting a glance back to her, Balthier gave her his winning smile... well, smirk, and tilted his head. "If you wish for things to be as they were, then do sit and rest, Fran. Besides, what point is there in 'entertaining guests' when Vaan is aboard? The boy's mouth would scare any sane Hume away."

[shatterhearted.livejournal.com]

Fran crossed over to her own seat, settling into it. Part of her wanted to flee, but then things would never be the same. She looked over the map with Balthier, giving him a soft smile. "My request still stands. You know how the stench of Hume sex irritates my nose."

She was half teasing, half serious, yet her smile didn't leave her lips. "Mayhap you should take the boy to the Hunter's Camp. Somewhere familiar? Or mayhap Treno, I am sure the two of you shall be able to... acquire some goods."

[xbalthierx.livejournal.com]

Balthier rolled his eyes at the comment about Hume sex, deciding to take the high road and not reply to her rather racist dig. Of course, he shared in her dry humour every so often but the issue of race had irked him considerably, recently, as Cid seemed hell bent on pointing out Fran's race every chance he got.

"I may allow him to decide. I've seen much of this world already; Vaan has seen so little. I suppose it's only fair he makes his choice."

[shatterhearted.livejournal.com]

Fran gave a nod. "Mm. I am sure wherever you venture the pair of you shall find mischief and adventure waiting for you."

Fran then shifted to stand, brushing her claws through Balthier's hair as she passed him, just as she had for years. "I retire to my quarters. My door, as always, is open to you, should you need me."

[xbalthierx.livejournal.com]

"But of course. Where would the leading man be without his rather foolish protege?" He gave a small laugh, leaning away from her hand in his hair, as usual, sliding his own fingers through his sand coloured locks to neaten them.

Quirking a brow at her, Balthier gave a sly little smirk. "I do hope this means we've the same relationship as always, Fran."

[shatterhearted.livejournal.com]

Fran gave another nod, doing her best to ignore the twisting pain in her stomach. It was for the best after all; to save their partnership. "Of course."