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[xxbasch-livesxx.livejournal.com]

Who:Larsa, Balthier and Basch
What: Giving Larsa his heart
Where: Archades
When: Morning
Rating: PG-13


They'd talked and agreed. It was time, yet Balthier knew this was something he needed to do alone. Basch had demanded to accompany him, though Balthier had made it perfectly clear that Basch would not be allowed to come in with him. So, after teaching Basch to fly the hoverbike, he took up his rightful seat behind the rider's seat and they flew to Archadia. Skimming the air, Balthier pointed out where to fly nearest to. Larsa's bedroom balcony at House Solidor. It was so different to Al-Cid's balcony in Rozarria, yet vaguely similar. As the bike skidded in thin air, Balthier jumped from it, setting foot on the balcony, cradling a glass jar made of pure darkness to his chest. "Stay near," he murmured to Basch, before slipping between the curtains, through the open doors leading to the bedroom.

Larsa shifted slightly in his chair, staring out the large bay windows near his desk with a small smile. He had a cat, no, a kitten in his lap. The small animal was asleep and purring. Even as a heartless he liked this, the little warm creature shifting a little and chasing something in it's dreams. He allowed himself to space out, petting the kitten and closing his eyes, he could tell someone wsa coming, but where would the fun be if he didn't allow him inside. Setting her don on the floor she stretched and trotted away, going to wander in the expansive layout. Still Larsa did not turn around. He didn't want to look.

Balthier's stormy eyes set on the boy. It hurt to see him like this. Greyed skin, darker hair... even if he concealed the yellow eyes, he knew they were there, inside. His frown was set deep on his brow as he watched Larsa, his fingers reaching back and twitching against the grip of his gun. "Larsa." It was soft but loud enough to hold some strength. Everything that had happened to him in recent months had brought him down a few pegs, making him a more world weary man. As such, it was hard to see a boy so young so... warped.

The said boy turned and stood, smiling gently, though of course it was fake. "Yes, Balthier? You came in through my bedroom did you? Did you see where my kitten went?" He cocked his head slightly to the side, his own hand twitching slightly by his side, shadows near him shifting.

"I believe it went under the bed, Larsa," he muttered, his eyes fixed on the boy. He lifted the jar, holding it securely in one hand. "We've business to attend to. After what you did at the ball in Rabanastre, do not think I shall allow this to continue." He watching him, his eyes noticing the shadows, though he tried to remain unaffected by them.

Larsa lifted his own Jar then, still smiling and even closing his eyes again. "Showing off what we have? I have one of those too. A differen't heart however." He chuckles after this, walking towards Balthier, intending even to just walk by and find his kitten.

Without a flinch, he watched the boy, swallowing thickly at the heart beating in that jar. "...whose?" He tilted his head just slightly. His glistening bronzed skin shimmered like glitter compared to the young Heartless' grey tones, but a pang of guilt hit him as he recalled just how pretty that skin really should be.

"Zell Dincht." Another soft chuckle then as he hid the jar from view, running a gloved hand over the back of his neck and to scratch at the base of his skull. "He was really sweet, slightly stupid...But Sweet. He taught me some hand to hand basics."

"That is Gabranth's job, and you know it." He twitched his nose slightly. That had been his job, along with Gabranth, when he'd been a judge. He'd fought against the little Emperor when he was but an Emperor in Waiting, only a small child. "You've a lot to learn, boy. Taking hearts and putting them in jars is something your bastard brother does. Not you."

"I just wanted to keep him. This way he won't leave me." Larsa seemed to bristle slightly then, shoulders tensing as he hugged the heart to his chest and looked back at the pirate. "I don't want it back. Leave."

Balthier laughed dryly. "You've taken to removing hearts from people to ensure they will not leave you? How childish." He smirked slightly, reaching to his shirt, unfastening enough buttons to reveal his chest, tugging his shirt to the side to offer his heart. "Hungry?" Tilting his head, Balthier rolled his eyes slightly. "I know what that hunger feels like, Larsa. I have been a Heartless, as you are. I was worse. I had no control over myself. No power to restrain my hunger."

The teen looked away then, not willing to look at the bare chest. He wanted to, he wanted to steal his heart and keep him, but he knew going near him was a bad idea. "Hunger? For your trashy heart? No."

"Oh, come now, Larsa. You hunger for all hearts. It might be a little dented, though my heart is very pretty. Think of how good it must taste, Larsa," he murmured, taking a step forward. He unfastened all his buttons, leaving his shirt open. "You ache to devour every heart, Larsa. I know just how that feels."

The young heartless took a few steps back then, turning away from Balthier and moving out onto the balcony. "Leave."

Balthier smashed the jar against the wall, taking Larsa's heart in his hand, running at the boy and attempting to force it back into him.

Larsa's frame tensed entirely the moment his heart itself was grabbled, tossing himself to the side with a small coughing fit. He didn't want it back. "No!" Rapidly he shook his head, smashing the jar he held Zell's heart in aswell, just holding it tight.

Balthier forced the heart into the boy's chest, watching as it glowed and seemed to melt into him, before it was gone. And he was still straddling the boy, panting slightly with his hands pressing to the floor, either side of Larsa's head. "Larsa..." he muttered.

With a small sound he smacked the floor, destroying every heartless in Archadia before he no longer was one, letting all of those hearts go free as he kept his eyes on Zell's. His body arched into the hand as it pressed against his chest, returning on of the most important things. It took a moment but his whole frame went limp, a little bit of color slowly coming back. Yellow eyes faded to brown, his hair lightening a few shades and that grey skin becoming the fair archadian tone.

Balthier brushed his fingers through that lighter hair, laughing lightly. "Gods, you always were so pretty..." he mumbled, stroking his hand down over Larsa's cheek. "Are you alright, my dear?" He looked down at him with a gentle expression, soon shifting off him, to let him get up.

Very slowly Larsa sat up, holding his breath and coming to realization of what he had done, he inched away from Balthier, looking up at him and shaking his head. The solidor's eyes were wide as they began to water, slowly breathing breathing in before his breath caught once again. "Noo..."

Balthier reached out and curled his arm around the back of Larsa's neck, kissing his head. "Come. We shall get you some rest, hm?" He frowned a little, wondering just how heavy the weight was on the boy. It'd damn near crushed him when he recalled what he'd done to Fran when he was a Heartless. Larsa's pain must've been monumental.

Rapidly the child shook his head, squirming away from the pirate and backing to the edge of the balcony. His shaking hands took a hold of the edge, with a small, pain filled smile, the smaller male hoisted himself up and closed his eyes. "Goodbye, I can't do this anymore." He shook his head, leaning over the edge before letting go and allowing himself to fall.

Balthier had been a little startled by Larsa at first but wasn't quick enough to grab hold of him. Rushing to the edge, the only thing he could manage to shout was "Basch!!!"

When his name was shouted, the Captain was already so close he saw Larsa fall. Swinging that bike around as best Balthier had taught him, Basch slammed forward, bringing an arm out and snatching Larsa from the air, pulling him onto his lap. "You fool boy!" he scolded, bringing the bike to safety on that large balcony.

Larsa was full out sobbing by the time he was returned to the balcony, barely able to breathe because of how hard he was crying. He had killed so many people, he had said so many bad things. He didn't want to live anymore, he didn't want to do anything. "Kill me...Please. Please!"

Balthier scooped Larsa up from Basch's lap and carried him, sobs and all, inside the bedroom, nudging the little kitten aside as he rested the boy on the bed. "No, no, Larsa. Death is no escape from it. I know that better than anyone," he murmured.

Basch strode in after them, sitting on the other side of the boy and petting his hair. He'd taken charge of the teen when Noah died but he'd left and let this happen. It was entirely his fault for leaving Larsa unguarded. "Balthier is right. You have nothing to blame yourself for. The people shall not blame you either."

"It's my fault they're dead. It's my fault that I became a heartless in the first place! I went there alone to talk to me brother. Please just let me die...B-Bach can take over Arcadia...It would end with me anyway...I cannot do this anymore!" Again he shook his head, curling up and begining to shake horrible, eyes still closed tight.

Balthier looked at Basch with a frown, sighing slightly. "Larsa, it is not your fault. Vayne is the one who caused all this trouble. Leaving all this destruction in his wake." He shook his head a little, rubbing the boy's back affectionately. "The Solidor line may end with you, but your father was Emperor for years, he was truly very old when he died. You may live far longer than even he did."

"Balthier speaks truth, Lord Larsa. You've nothing to be at fault for. Now sleep, young Lord. We shall each watch over you until you are sleeping and calmed."

"I am not fit to be an emperor." He says this quietly once again, scooting away from them both and hiding himself under the blankets, gloved hands scratching at his arms even though the fabric. There would be no cuts, but the boy would deffinately bruise himself if he kept at it.

The pirate gave a sigh and scooted to get under the blanket as well, grasping hold of one of those hands and holding it in his own. His grip was strong and he wouldn't let the boy have his hand back.

Basch followed under the blanket, taking the other hand a little looser and kissing the back of it. "My Lord, you should not get worked up. You can prove your worth when you have recovered from this ordeal."

It took a long while for him to fall asleep, he was unable to keep still, or stop crying. Chances were he had actually passed out because of how little and irregularly he was breathing. Very slowly his body went limp, and his breathing straightening out.

It wasn't long before Balthier slipped into slumber next to the boy, keeping hold of his hand and suffering nightmares of his own. It was horrible, each dream always hurt worse than the last, but he was used to it by now.

Basch settled beside Larsa, his eyes closing but sleep never really finding him as he kept guard over the Emperor and the pirate, being sure the two younger men were safe and content in their sleep.

Larsa jerked awake in about 5 hours, eyes wide as he looked around. Why was he home? When had he falled asleep...? Why couldn't he use his hands? The boy looked down, blinking rapidly at the sight of the pirate and the fugative. Had they taken him off the ship...? "U-Hm...G-Gabranth... V-Vayne..." the last thing he remembered was trying to talk his brother out of firing the nethecite cannon.

Balthier stirred at the sound of Larsa's voice, blinking a little bit. He grunted as he looked at the teen, shifting to sit up in the sheets, brushing a hand through his hair and shivering as a breeze from the open balcony doors hit his exposed chest. "Larsa... how are you feeling?" He mumbled.

The Knight leaned up on one elbow, petting Larsa's hair back. "Did you dream of my brother and yours?" He tilted his head a little, looking down at the pretty Emperor he had so terribly failed to protect.

Larsa looked over to the bare chest and blushed darkly, shifting an little and deciding not to look at either of them, looking down instead. "N-No...I-I was just with them! On the Bahamut....W-Where have they gone? Where have you taken me...?" He shook his head a couple of times, tugging at his hand, further embarassed by the fact that they had been holding them. Had they... Quietly the young boy whimpers.

Balthier frowned, looking over at Basch before looking back to Larsa. "Um... Larsa, it has been fully two years since we were all at that battle. Vayne and Gabranth are both dead..." he looked at him like he was crazy, scratching at the back of his own neck.

With a frown, he tilted his head at the boy. "My Lord... you know well that our brothers are dead. We have discussed it much in the past..." he murmured.

"No! No they can't be dead!" He tensed up then, eyes widening before closing tight as he shook his head. "I was just...You're lying! Don't tell me these things! W-Where is...Gabranth...P-please...I need Gabranth..."

Balthier looked at him, eyes wide and mouth agape. "Larsa... please, calm down. Gabranth and Vayne, they are dead and you know this!" He shook his head hard.

Basch shuddered a little. "My Lord, this is not amusing. This joke is, in fact, cruel. You know well how my heart hurts for my twin, yet you bring him up after two long years..."

The boys eyes began to water again and he rubbed them carefully, sniffling a couple of times. "H-How did they die...W-Why can't I remember that? Y-You're lying to me...They can't be..."

"Basch... mayhap the trauma has caused him to repress the memories of the last two years. Would that not explain how he comes to be this way?" He spoke as he thread his fingers through Larsa's chocolate coloured hair.

He nodded slightly. "It is possible. Though, it does not aid us at all." He looked down at Larsa. "Your brother killed mine. Wounded him heinously and I had to carry him back t-to the Strahl... I... I was with him until his dying breath." His own breath shook and his gaze found the blankets. "Vayne... he..."

"D-Don't tell me...I-I don't need to know...You don't need to say it." Without really realizing it the small boy leaned against the pirate, into the fingers running through his hair. "I-I'll learn on my own..."

"Wise words, Larsa. Learning these things on your own will be far easier than if we were to bombard you with two years of events." He curled a finger under Larsa's chin and tilted his head up to lock their gazes. "What matters is that you are well."

Basch swallowed hard, patting Larsa's knee gently. "Would you like me to get you anything, My Lord? A glass of water? Something to eat, perhaps?"

He smiled slightly at the other male, shifting a little once again. "A-Ah..right...I'm the emperor now...aren't I? You don't need to do anything, aren't you a guest...?"

Balthier chuckled slightly, smiling down at Larsa. "Indeed. Emperor Larsa Solidor. Archadia is yours." He winked at him before kissing the top of his head.

Basch laughed gently. "I am not a guest. I am your personal attendant, as my brother was before me. I took his charge and place." He smiled lightly. "Now, anything you would like? And you, Balthier?"

Larsa blushed slightly once again, shifting a little and nodding a couple of times. "Aaa....I would love some milk, Basch..."

"Oh, Archadian tea, with two sugar and a dash of milk. You know I prefer not to drink alcohol these days." This would seem so very strange to Larsa as, two years ago, he was all but an alcoholic.

Basch gave a nod and shifted from the bed, crossing to the door and finding the nearest servant, asking her for what was required of them.

He stared at Balthier then, more then a bit confused. "No...alcohol for you...? What else has changed, Pirate?" He chuckles slightly shifting away and straightening himself out. "Have you settled down?"

Balthier laughed awkwardly, scratching at the back of his head. "Well, a lot has changed with me..." A smile came and he rested back on his hands, his chest bare but the piercing shining from his bellybutton. "I've... settled for the most part. Fran and I have a daughter, her name is Krja." A soft smile stayed on his lips.

He felt a sort of pang then, wincing slightly and looking a bit confused about it aswell. "I'm happy for you! You two make such a good couple..."

"Uhh, not of late. We argue a lot." He shook his head slightly. "Enough of that, there is a lot for you to discover. You should ease into it all. I shan't have you getting worked up and overexhausted."

"Why would this get me worked up...?" He questions quietly, shifting a bit closer still and closing his eyes, content to be near the man who had protected him several times in the wilderness.

Balthier curled an arm around Larsa and kissed the top of his head. "Because there is so much that has happened. It might be a little painful to go through it all again..."

"I must learn eventually...It's better here with a friend then alone with someone I don't know." He says this softly, leaning on the pirate with a little smile. He really enjoyed being this close.

"I suppose, but not all at once, hm? Besides, you've got a whole country to run. My birth land, I might add. You'd better do a good job!" He tapped the young Emperor on the nose, smiling at him.

"I can't very well run a nation if I don't know what the problems are." He chuckles at what the other male does though, wondering why he didn't mind Balthier treating him like a child, but he didn't like it when AlCid did.

"Hn, Archadia's problems are the same as always. Mind, with Draklor out of use at the moment, we find less troubles with nethecite." Balthier shook his head slightly. "Tensions with Rozarria are as they ever were, probably more so now that Al-Cid is no longer part of house Margrace, but King Al-Cid Margrace of Kerwon, thanks to his marriage to the Kerwonan princess..."

He blinks a couple of times before cocking his head to the side. "So...I no longer know anyone of Rozarrian power? How am I to ease tension when I don't know anyone." He scoffed slightly, rubbing at his throat and nuzzling a little closer him. "When did he get married...?"

"A little over a month ago... mind, if you spoke with King Margrace, I am sure you may be able to work through him to his father." He muttered, petting his hand through Larsa's hair.

He makes a little sound, closing his eyes and waiting patiently for Basch to return. THat however slowly rose questions. "Why are you here, Balthier?"

Now, was it right to keep from him about his Heartless past? Or would it serve him better to know? "I... came to see you. Basch and I... we came to allow me to return your heart. A monster called a Heartless took it from you, and I returned it, to save you." Okay, so it was only half of the truth, but it was enough.

Basch strolled back in carrying a tray of tea and other drinks, along with Larsa's glass of milk. He set it on a tea-service trolly and pushed it to be by the bed, handing the milk to Larsa. "Here, My Lord."

His brows furrowed but he nodded slightly, a bit confused but deciding he didn't know if Balthier was having a bit of trouble explaining it. He smiled to Basch, taking and sipping at the mik contently. "Call me Larsa, Please"

Balthier took his tea and sipped it, smiling softly at the heat of the steam against his face. "How nostalgic of us. This reminds me of our journey together," he chuckled.

The oldest man chuckled and nodded. "It does with me, too. Though, it must be more normal for Lord... for Larsa, hm?"

"I don't know anything else.." He says softly, shifting a little and sipping more at his milk and swaying slightly. "Mm..."

Balthier chuckled lightly and sipped his tea more before glancing to the watch Squall had bought him, checking the time. "I mustn't linger much longer. I've to be back to the Strahl soon.

Basch gave a nod. "I... shall stay with Larsa. Should you need me, you know where I shall be, pirate." His eyes held more meaning and they shared a moment of understanding.

Larsa looked from one of the larger men to the other, shifting hesitantly away from Balthier to lean on Basch, finishing his glad of milk with a small content sound. "I don't want you to go...But I suppose your child needs you."

"Indeed she does. I shall return to visit, Larsa. Now Archadia is yours, I feel less threatened here. It holds no home for me, no family, but friends." He smiled softly.

Basch blinked down at Larsa before sipping his own tea, chuckling lightly. "It does, Balthier. Friends in both Larsa and I, hm, Larsa?"

"I hope someday Archadia can be home once again to as many people as it should." He shifts a little, leaning up to kiss Balthiers cheek before leaning back once again.

Balthier laughed, smiling at Larsa's gesture before returning the kiss and placing it on Larsa's forehead. "I must go." He finished his tea then looked at Basch. "Take care of yourself, my dear Captain," he murmured. He placed a quick kiss to the older man's lips before striding out of the balcony doors and sitting astride that hoverbike, soon taking off.

Basch returned the kiss as he felt it and watched Balthier leave, soon looking down at Larsa with a smile. "Now, little Lord, how are you feeling?"

Larsa blinked a few times at the real kiss, watching Balthier fly away before nuzzling into his judge with a small sound. "He kissed you...I feel fine. Just confused.."

"Ah, he did. I am afraid Balthier and I have... rather a complicated friendship." He chuckled softly, petting Larsa's hair. "I expect you will be very confused no matter the moments right now. Fear not, it will all be clear eventually."

"Oh...I kind of wish he had kissed me too..." He mumbles, relaxing at the petting, closing his eyes and trying to shift closer still to the man who was supposed to be his protector now. He was the same size as Gabranth...they had similar voices aswell."

"Hn, I bet you do. You spoke many times over the past two years of your affection for him." He murmured, chuckling softly. "I am sure he realises it by now, as well."

"I love him, don't I?" He says softly, rubbing at his eyes again and trying to ge a bit more comfortable. "But he's taken...And I'm too young for him..."

"I believe so, and yes, you are too young. He is twenty four now, you are but fourteen, Larsa." He kissed the boy's head before looking at him. "Is there anything you wish for?"

"Someone to love me." He chuckles quietly, shivering and looking around his room. "Age doesn't matter to me...I don't understand why it would to anyone else."

"Because that is how things are done." He shifted to sit behind the boy, wrapping his arms around him and resting his chin on Larsa's shoulder. "I love you, Larsa. Just as my brother did."

"You know as well as I that it is not the same, nor is it the love I want." He relaxes a little more, slouching forward and cracking his eyes open. "Perhaps we should sleep a little longer..."

Basch nodded slightly. "If you wish to sleep, I shall stay with you, Larsa." He gently lay the boy down and shifted to lie beside him, pulling the blanket up over them.