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[xshatterheartx.livejournal.com]

Who: Balthier & Fran, with Vaan, Krja and a barmaid appearing briefly
When: After he gets back
Where: Rabanastre
What: A quiet drink doesn’t go as planned
Rating: PG-13



The Leading Man was seated in his captain's chair with his feet on the edge of the console. Krja was on his chest, still warm skinned but not screaming. She was babbling quietly. The pirate had his glasses rested on his nose and a book in his hand. He'd been to see the young sky pirate to apologise and thank him. As of yet, he hadn't spoken to Fran.

Vaan was seated in Fran's chair, his arms folded on his chest and his eyes closed. It looked like he and Balthier could've been brothers. The sun had slightly darkened the younger male's hair and his skin held the same colour as the Leading Man. Vaan had found it very upstanding of Balthier to apologise and he knew it wasn't easy for him. Right this moment, however, the boy was almost asleep.

Fran had been relaxing in a deep, hot bath. Letting the scorching water melt away the tension and stess she had been feeling. She had dressed in a fluffy, towelling robe, drying her hair as she walked to the cockpit, pausing at the sight of the two men and the infant. She leaned against the doorframe, smiling soft.

Without knowing Fran was there, Balthier had began humming the tune to an old Archadian song his father used to sing to him as a child. He didn't think Vaan was awake and, even if he was, he didn't rightly care.

Fran moved across the room, resting her arms on the back of Balthier's seat, her hair dripping slightly, causing a puddle around her feet. "Your voice soothes her."

The sounds of her movement had reached his ears and he didn't flinch as she rested on his chair. "Mm. So it seems." He looked over his shoulder at her and smiled. "You look well rested." He stroked his hand down Krja's back.

"I feel better. A nap and a bath and I feel ready to face the world again." She murmured, running her fingers through Balthier's hair. "Poor Vaan. The boy is exhausted."

Balthier smiled, eyes falling closed behind his glasses to the petting. "Mn... he was more than energetic earlier. We battled a while, just some training. I think I wore him out." He chuckled, opening his eyes to look at the boy. He reached his foot over and nudged his leg. "Boy."

Vaan's eyes flickered open and he smiled sleepily at the two older pirates. "Hey..." Stretching a little, he ran his hand through his own hair. "You guys... back to normal?"

"We are getting that way, I think." Fran replied, resting her chin on her arms. "I do hope Balthier didn't give you a hard time during training." She gave a light flick to the older male's ear.

Merely twitching a slight flinch at her flick to his ear, Balthier returned to reading his book and petting Krja's back soothingly. She was so very warm against his unarmoured, shirted torso.

Vaan laughed a little. "Nah, he wasn't so bad. I held my own. I did have to cure a gunshot wound... but it wasn't so bad." He shrugged a little.

Fran frowned a little, tugging Balthier's hair to tilt his head up. "You shot the boy? You should learn how to play fair, Hume." She murmured, flicking his nose.

Wincing slightly, Balthier smirked at Fran. "He was attempting to stab me, Fran. What else was I to do?" His eyes sparkled with mischief as he grinned at her.

The teen gasped slightly. "I was not! I was only trying to... uh... um..." He looked away, laughing slightly. He was attempting to stab him, but only in fairness of battle.

"Boys and their toys." Fran replied, giving each of them and playful glare. She turned her attention back to Balthier. "I thought, mayhaps, we might venture into town for a drink or two at the Sandsea?"

"And who, pray tell, is to look after our daughter, hm?" Balthier tilted his head, raising an eyebrow at the Viera stood over him.

Vaan shifted to sit up more. "Oh! I will! I mean... if you guys need to go talk things over and get back into the flow of things, I'm more than happy to look after Krja!"

Fran smiled down at Balthier. "I believe that answers your question." She looked over at Vaan. "You already know where everything is, and you know all the basics to caring for her." She smiled at the young Hume. "If you find difficulty, Nono is here, and we shall only be at the Sandsea."

Balthier stood, closing his book and laying the child in Vaan's arms. "You do anything to harm her and it'll be more than a shot wound you'll be tending to." He smiled and ruffled Vaan's hair before looking to Fran, moving his glasses away. "I do so hope you are to dress."

Vaan nodded and Krja close, nuzzling her like she were his own. He was really attached to the little mixed-species child. If anything, he was certain he loved the little bundle.

Fran shot Balthier a slight glare, before turning to head back to the bedroom. She quickly dressed in her usual attire and tied her still damp hair up.

Balthier didn't bother putting his armoured leathers on and simply placed his glasses aside. Heading to the bedroom, he leaned in the doorway, watching Fran. "As beautiful as ever, love."

"Says the Hume blinded without his glasses." Fran replied, slipping her shoes on. "I see your words of flattery have not vanished."

"Blinded? Ha, they're simply for reading." He moved over to her and hooked an arm around her waist. "My talents with the fairer sex have not vanished, either."

Fran rested her hand on top of Balthier's for a moment, before pulling away, looking at him over her shoulder. "Do not think it so easy to get back into my good books, Hume." She half-teased.

"I've got the skill to attempt the challenge, Viera." He leaned in to kiss her neck, biting a little before turning to leave the room.

Fran followed, pausing to check on Vaan. "We won't stay out too long. Thank you so much for this. It will be nice for Balthier and I to enjoy a little time to ourselves."

Balthier nodded once, ruffling Vaan's hair before kissing the top of Krja's head. He held his hand out to Fran and smiled, tilting his head. "Shall we?"

Vaan grinned up at them both. "Take as long as you need! I'll be fine with her."

Fran smiled, leaning in to kiss Krja lightly. "Be good for your uncle Vaan, little one." She whispered, before taking hold of Balthier's hand, smiling soft.

The Leading Man led Fran from the Strahl, towards the Sandsea. Rabanastre seemed like a welcomed sight to the pirate. Having been so far from home for so long, he adored the sight of the weathered buildings and friendly people.

Fran kept a gentle hold of Balthier's hand, letting her fingers brush against his lightly as they walk. Her gaze was fixed on the ground, rather than on their surroundings.

As soon as they arrived in the inn, Balthier made a simple half-wave to the barmaid and took Fran to their usual table. The gesture was for the drinks they always had and a small hello.

Fran sat in the seat closest the corner, stretching long legs out to the side of the table. It felt kind of... nice... to be out with Balthier in the way they always used to be.

Balthier fiddled slightly with the folded back cuffs of his shirt. It was refreshing to be in a less formal form of attire. "Mm... I have missed this old inn."

"The inn or the people?" Fran asked, watching the way the barmaid was looking at Balthier, as she brought the drinks over.

"Well, both, of course." He smirked at the barmaid, taking his drink and downing it in one. "But, certainly, the inn is far more comfortable than I recall."

Fran took her own drink, taking a sip from the glass. She fixed her eyes on the barmaid, glaring at her from under her lashes.

As soon as the young barmaid had left, to get Balthier another drink, the pirate laced his gloved hands on the table, smiling softly. "You and Vaan have gotten close, it seems." His tone held no accusation but his mind did.

Fran gave a nod. "Yes. The boy has been a great friend to me. He has grown. He is far smarter than he looks." Fran took another sip of her drink, raising an eyebrow. "Does it worry you?"

"Worry me? Hardly." He took the new drink from the young girl and smiled at her.

Resting her hand on his shoulder she leaned to his ear. "If you've the time, I'm off in an hour." She whispered, slipping a room key into one of the pouches hanging from his belts.

Fran's ear twitched. Damn sensitive Vieran hearing. She gripped her glass tighter, shifting in her seat a little, body tensing a little.

Once the girl had left, Balthier chuckled, pulling the key from the pouch and swinging it around a little. "Poor child thinks she has a chance." He shook his head slightly.

Fran rose an eyebrow. "And does she?" She asked, downing her drink then.

"But of course not, Fran. What do you think of me?" He scrunched his nose slightly, shaking his head. "I may seem the same old flirt but I'm not about to sleep with anyone."

"Only a select few, mayhaps?" She placed her glass back on the table, slightly harder than expected. "If she has no chance, why keep the key?"

"A select few?" Balthier raised an eyebrow in reply to the glass being set down hard. "A trophy, Fran. A matter of not embarrassing the girl. Besides, what else am I to do with it?"

"Mayhaps it is better to let her down gently, than to give her false hope. Unless of course you intend to bed her."

"I do not intend upon bedding the girl, Viera. Though, with that accusatory tone, it feels as though I already have!" He downed that drink the girl had brought then crossed his legs on the table, folding his arms over his chest.

"Mayhaps you have. She seemed a little bold to offer such a thing." Fran's nose twitched a little.

Balthier's eyes narrowed and he glared slightly. Shifting his legs off the table and folding his arms, leaning across the table to look at Fran, Balthier kept his gaze steady. "I haven't. Yet, with your words, I may just."

"Do as you wish, Hume. You always do." Fran replied, voice almost cold as she turned her face away from his gaze.

"You've not a shred of trust in me." Balthier turned away, too, watching the patrons in the Sandsea.

"Trust must be earned, Hume. You threw away my trust in you that day you left." Fran muttered, just loud enough for him to hear.

Balthier stood, slamming his hands on the table. "You know why I did that, Fran! Try, if you will, to make me feel guiltier for it. It matters not. I refuse to be accused of things I have not done!"

Fran settled back in her seat, crimson eyes fixed on Balthier. "You can look me in the eye and say you found comfort in no other's arms?"

Balthier's gaze flicked down to the table before he just waved his hand as a dismissal, headed to leave. "I am not arguing anymore."

"As I thought." Fran called after him. "Do not expect me to chase you. I've played that game long enough and all it brought me was hurt."

Balthier said nothing and continued outside of the inn, settling at a table outside. Sighing heavily, he rested his legs on the table and crossed his arms. Soon enough, the young barmaid was nearby.

Fran rested her elbows on the table, burying her head in her hands, letting out a heavy sigh. So much for an enjoyable drink together!!