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[xshatterheartx.livejournal.com]

Who: Fran & Larsa
When: A while after Vayne’s funeral
Where: Larsa’s Office
What: Talking
Rating: PG-13



It had been some time since Vayne's funeral. Hopefully enough time for the hurt to have healed slightly for the young Lord. Fran walked along the streets towards his office. It probably wasn't wise, but she had to see him, after all, it had been her who took Vayne to the Estersands in the first place, led him to his death. She knocked on the door, scuffing her foot against the floor.

Larsa opened the door slowly, hesitant mostly to open any door now, afraid of what may be behind it. He blinked slightly when where he looked normally for most grown men brought his sight only to the Viera's chest. "A-Ah...Fran. D-Did you need something?"

Fran folded her arms across her chest, looking down at Larsa. "I wanted to see how you are coping. May I come in?"

He nodded slightly, stepping back into the large room, unable to look at anything for too long, his gaze always finding it's way back to his feet.

Fran stepped into the room, looking around for a moment. "How have you been? I'm sure it has been hard on you."

"I've been functioning, Fran...There are so many things to do after V-Vayne's death..." He mumbled, shifting his feet uneasily before moving over to where his brother had been sitting not long enough ago.

"I am sorry." She rested against the edge of the desk. "Is there anything we can do to help?"

He sighs softly and shakes his head, setting himself at the chair and sifting through a few papers. "I don't imagine there is. You are pirates after all. You do and take what you want."

"We also look out for those we care about. We do have some loyalty to others after all."

"Then shouldn't you believe and trust in them also?" He asked softly, lifting his gaze to look at her before smiling, brows lifted slightly and brought together gently. He was scared, but he was trying to hide it as best he could.

Fran turned her gaze to her feet. "We did not want to believe the charges were your doing. But when on the end of an Imperial assault, it is hard to believe any different."

"I'm in love with Balthier, Fran. You two are perfect for each other and I just keep getting in the way. I'm sorry for sleeping with him. But I don't regret it. I'm sorry that Vayne found out. He made me watch everything. He hung me out the window in Bhujerba. He used my mist poisoning to his advantage." He paused, rubbing at his eyes and breathing deep. "Vayne used me, you hold contempt for me, Balthier is hesitant to be around me. He doesn't want to be by me anymore." Larsa let his head drop then, touching his chin to his chest and hugging his waist. "The man I love doesn't trust himself around me, doesn't trust me. I am not alright. I will never be alright. But I'm the emperor of a large country that nearly every other country hates. I cannot let weakness show."

Fran was silent for a long moment. To speak so openly of Balthier's and Larsa's encounter was still a little raw for her. It had hurt her far deeper than she cared to admit. "You are still young. You have so much of life ahead of you. Do not become a slave to something if it does not make you happy. You will make mistakes. You will love and lose many. It is the way of Hume life."

Larsa shook his head slowly and looked up, his face void of most emotion as he forced a smile. "I only lose Balthier for you, Fran. I am the 'Mistress' in your relationship. The only one I'm sure hit you harder than you thought possible for a Viera. Balthier is a true pirate. He can steal hearts as well as anything material."

"Balthier steals many hearts. He always has. It is the way he is. Yet his own heart belongs to the sky. Which is how it should be." She curled her fingers around the edge of the desk, gripping lightly.

"He did the same, thought he gripped at his sides hard enough to make him wince. "Then you know very well that I shall never get it back."

The Viera moved her hands, to rest her arms across her stomach. "You will find a love of your own. You are still a child, do not rush into such things."

"Can you truly still think of me as a child, Viera? I've slept with your man, and I rule a country. Telling me not to rush into something is...Impossible. I've grown up far more that the preteen you see sitting in front of you."

Fran gritted her teeth at the words. She pushed herself off of the desk, walking around the office. "When I first met Balthier he was sixteen. A child in age. He had been forced to grow up beyond his years. But even now when I look at him, he is still a child in many ways. You should never be forced to grow up before you are ready."

"Yet look what the world has done to me. Nearly thirteen in age but...how many other children has my country done the same to? How many families have been ruined like Solidor due to Archadia's thirst for war?" He watched her move; letting his hands fall from his sides and into his lap. "Balthier said he would steal me away if I couldn't do it. But I'm sure that you wouldn't want that. I would get in the way again. So take Balthier and fly away."

"I do not own him. If he wishes to steal you, he shall." She moved to the window, resting her hands on the glass, looking out. "You have the chance to rebuild this city, to rebuild the world. You also have a chance to run away and leave this life behind you. That is your choice."

"Yet he is yours, thought his body may stray his heart belongs to you." Larsa rubbed a little at his eyes again, watching her lean on the window for only a second before he looked away. His favorite place to stand he could no longer look at.

"You make it sound like I m the cause of all problems. But I shall not apologise for falling in love with him."

"It's not what I meant...But if you want to take it that way then alright...Just leave, Fran before you take things I say wrong and truly hate me."

"I do not hate you, Larsa. I am hurt. But I do not hate."

He just nods slightly, standing and moving over to look out the window as well. "This city is in fine shape. No buildings in disrepair...Rabanastre I fear would not approve of my help...Bhujherba is doing well. Nalbadia...I could work on rebuilding...The Henne mines I could repair. I shall merge new and old...I've cancelled the bounties on your head that Vayne brought forth...You're fee to fly with the ones you've accumulated over the years..."

Fran kept her eyes fixed on the window. "Do you hate? I am the one who led Vayne to his death. Do you hate me for that?"

"Balthier is the one who delivered the final blow. Squall the one who distracted and joined in the fight. Vaan, Penelo as well. If I were to hate you I would need to hate them aswell."

"Penelo is innocent in this. Her hands are free of blood." She kept her eyes fixed on the city. "We did what we had to do, not only for ourselves, but for the world. Did Balthier tell you Vayne had been filling himself with Nethacite?"

"He had been last time...Had he not? I...I imagine that would be why he was always tired and sickly." Larsa mumbled, leaning on the window and shaking slightly now.

Fran reached out a hand to pet Larsa'a head. "I am sorry it ended the way it did."

Larsa jumped at the touch, looking up at her for a few seconds before looking back outside. "I knew it would. I was...W-waiting to lose him...A-again I guess.."

"He was driven to madness by power. His heart dark. He does not deserve your tears."

"Yet I will cry for him. He is my brother..."

Fran once more petted the boy's head. "I guess siblings will always make us cry."

Again he flinched at he touch, nodding slightly.

"You fear me?" Fran asked, tilting her head to look at Larsa.

"I'm not used to being touched. I've been alone in here since Balthier let my sleep at the casket."

"He did not speak much of your meeting. You should not lock yourself away from the world."

"I don't...No one comes to see me anymore."

"Why not join Balthier and I on the Strahl until your mind clears?"

"I can't do anything, I would just take up room and make you two uneasy."

"We would enjoy the company. It would give you some time away from this office, to collect your thoughts."

"Alright...If you really wouldn't mind...I'd like to fly with you two." He smiled slightly then, stepping away from the window.

Fran gave a smile of her own, once more resting her hands across her stomach. "We shall clear out a room for you, since the moogles claimed the room that was once mine."

Larsa nodded again, closing his eyes and stretching. "I'll...Wait here then..."

"There is no need. It will not take long. You should pack, and meet us at the Aerodrome."

Larsa nodded and looked around, thinking about what he should bring before just moving over to his bedroom and grabbing some clothes.

"I return to the Strahl." Fran called to Larsa. "We leave in three hours. I hope you shall be there."

"I...I will."

She smiled softly, before turning to leave the office, to make her way back to the Strahl.