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[xshatterheartx.livejournal.com]

Who: Fran, Balthier, Vaan, Krja, Kellie
When: Day
Where: Rabanastre
What: Test piloting Vaan’s ship
Rating: PG-13



Balthier fixed his shirt and pressed the button to open the door of Vaan's airship. The boy had asked him to test pilot it, saying it was "most likely" safe and "probably" ready to fly. At those words, he had little confidence in the machine but Fran had checked it over and deemed it flyable. So, on her words, Balthier gave a half wave to the teen and his Vieran lover as he moved to step onto the craft.

Vaan crossed his arms, shifting on his feet. "I hope the flight goes well. I'm tired of living in an Aerodrome..." He muttered to Fran.

Fran pushed Krja's pram back and forth with her foot, watching as Balthier stepped onto the ship. "The engine is in good working order. Everything is connected up properly. Balthier is a skilled pilot. It shall be fine."

Balthier stepped inside and seated himself. Easily starting up the machine, he managed to get her up into the sky with relative ease. However, that was where the shit hits the fan. The airship lurched forward, a normal thing for a ship so small, but as it soared through the sky, the vitals began dropping rapidly. It was leaking oil, fuel and water and the pirate couldn't do a damn thing about it.

"...Fran... what... what's happening? Does he normally fly so... erratically?" Vaan tilted his head, looking up to the airship that jerked and shook in the sky.

Fran's ear twitched quite frantically. "Something is wrong..." She murmured, contemplating whether there was time to get back to the Strahl to fly under the smaller ship, but the way the ship was moving it seemed unlikely.

"Heed me, damn you!!" Balthier shouted at the control panel, banging his fist on it. However, that did literally nothing and soon enough the airship shot high into the sky, coming to nose-dive right into the sand, going up in flames almost instantly. The pirate was knocked unconscious by the crash he had no responsibility for.

"Fran!! Balthier!!!" He stood frozen on the spot, eyes wide at the wreckage that was once his little airship.

Fran pushed the pram in front of Vaan. "Stay! Protect her!" She took off running across the burning sands in the direction of the flaming wreckage. She began climbing into the burning, twisted metal, the small ship filling with smoke. "Balthier?!"

Balthier was inside, still against the console but unconscious and almost dead. His lungs were filled with smoke and he was not responsive to her calls.

Vaan gripped the pram's handle and bit hard into his lip as he watched Fran move, eyes full of fear and worry for the idol pirate.

Fran cast a Protect spell over the injured Hume, in an attempt to ward off the flames, long enough to get him free. She clawed through the restraints holding him in place. She curled her arms around him, pulling him against her, faltering a little under the dead weight. She started to pull him free of the wreckage, coughing a little as smoke filled her own lungs. She kicked a section of burning metal down, clearing a larger space to exit from.

Balthier was shook almost awake to her movements and as soon as they were free of the little airship, harsh coughing began as fresh air combated with the smoke inside him. "F-Fran..."

Fran laid him down on the sand once they were a save distance away from the airship. "Do not speak. Rest now." She murmured, kneeling over him to tend to him as best she was able in the current conditions.

Balthier's hands gripped her arms, his breath laboured as he looked up to the Viera. "Fran... ngh... I think, mayhaps, this is it..." He couldn't feel most of his body, the pain was too intense, and he had been cut open and burned in the wreck. His death was most probably now.

Fran cupped his cheek softly. "Shh. Do not say such things, Hume. The Leading Man never dies... Is that not what you always say? Especially in the desert, t’is not a fitting end for such a Hume." She cast her most powerful healing magicks over his injured body.

Coughing harshly, Balthier shook his head slightly, barely feeling the curative magicks. "Fran, mayhaps you should take your leave? I daren't wish for you to watch this." He ran his hand over her cheek. "I do... ngh... I do so love you, Viera." At those words, his hand dropped and his eyes fell closed, his head lolling back. He was on Death's doorstep.

Fran's heart was heavy, panging with pain in her chest. This scene was all too familiar. She leaned down, pressing a tender kiss to his lips, resting her hands on his chest, casting more magicks. "I shall not let you die, Hume!" She slammed her hands against his chest hard. "I shall not!!"

The force of the hit jolted his heart alive, a slight gasp coming from his lips but nothing more than that as his breathing stayed, shallow but there.

Fran shifted to cradle Balthier's head in her lap, stroking his hair with such tenderness. Tears rolled down her cheeks, dripping onto the Hume's face.

Balthier remained still in her arms, breathing shallowly and making no physical response to her.

Vaan had pushed the pram towards them, frowning as he saw Balthier. "I-is he...?" He couldn't bring out that last word.

Fran kept her eyes on Balthier. "He is alive... barely." She sighed. "Vaan... take Krja back to the Strahl? I shall move Balthier when he is more stable..."

Vaan nodded, slipping a few potions and antidotes from his belongings and dropping them carefully on the sand. He took a last look at his wrecked home and turned to leave.

Fran continued to cradle Balthier's head, threading her fingers through his hair. She reached for one of the potions, dipping her finger in to brush across Balthier's lips.

The touch to his lips made his tongue come to taste the potion. A slight noise, mixed with his breathing, came out at the taste.

Fran brushed her finger over his lips again, leaving more potion against them.

Balthier tasted it again, breathing becoming steadier and heart strengthening slowly.

She resumed her gentle petting over his hair, watching over him intently, not taking her eyes off him for a second.

Gradually, Balthier flickered his eyes open, and although it was blurry, he could see Fran above him. "...nh..." His chest moved quickly to his short breaths.

Fran moved her hands to pet Balthier's chest softly. "Do not strain yourself. Rest."

Balthier choked on his breath a few times, his eyes gradually focussing. "Wh... what happened?"

"The airship... It crashed." Fran continued to cradle Balthier in her arms. "I am so sorry... I... I must have missed something... I must have overlooked a problem..."

"It is not your fault." He reached up, stroking a hand over her cheek. "The airship would not heed me. It was acting alone."

"I should have checked it more thoroughly..." Fran leaned down, pressing an upside down kiss against Balthier's lips.

Balthier kissed back, stroking her face lightly. "Do not blame yourself." His eyes fell shut for the moment as he lay there, breathless.

Fran shook him gently. "Balthier..." Her hands cupped around his face.

"I'm alive..." He murmured, half opening one eye but soon closing it again. He was weak and tired, and very, very sore.

Fran let out a relieved sigh. She wasn't entirely sure just how she was going to get him back to the Strahl. He was a little too heavy to carry all the way, and too injured to drag. She held his head protectively. She'd have to think of something soon, they couldn't stay in the desert over night, they'd possibly freeze.

Balthier trembled slightly against her leg, his breathing shallowing a little more. He as he lay there, blood began to colour the golden sand a reddish brown as it finally escaped through his shirt and through the decorative holes in his armour.

Fran bit her lip to silence a gasp. She sliced through the leather holding Balthier's armour on, followed by his shirt. "...Balthier..." She rested her hands over the worst wounds, casting magicks to try and heal them.

"Agh..." He arched away from her touch, a frown crossing his face at the pain of it all. He wasn't able to take the touches; it was too much for him in this state.

Fran frowned. She picked up the remains of Balthier's shirt and shredded it into strips to use as bandages to try and slow the bleeding.

Balthier panted and groaned in pain, eyes shut tightly as the sun beat down on them both. He wasn't doing well as a sweat clung to his skin.

Fran took the water pouch from Balthier's side. It was almost empty and not in the best of conditions, but she lifted his head a little, holding the bottle to his lips.

Balthier panted, choking down some of the water before trying to move away from the bottle, the sweat cooling on his flesh in the wind.

Fran lowered the bottle. She frowned, watching Balthier.

The pirate coughed, eyes full of tears at the pain and his body writhing a little under the heat he felt. His hands grasped handfuls of sand, the grains falling between his fingers.

Fran cupped his cheek. "Balthier..." She sighed, leaning in to his him tenderly. "I do not think I have the strength to carry you back to the Strahl..."

He could hear her and his eyes opened a little. "J-just... go..." He growled in pain, panting hard. "Leave me... here... agh..." His body tensed all over in pain as sand clung to his sweat soaked skin.

"Do not be foolish, Hume. I shall not abandon you." She frowned, wrapping his arm around her neck. She rested a hand on his chest, casting Float over the Hume.

His body was lifted merely a half a foot off the ground but it kept him off the sand. His arms hung down and he still writhed, gasping in pain.

Fran hooked an arm under Balthier's legs. He was heavy. Even more heavy in his current state than usual. The Float spell took most of the weight, allowing Fran to stand, lifting the Hume.

Balthier could hardly breathe for the pain and the fever that were eating at him but he tried hard not to be too weighty on her hands.

Fran's steps were slow and steady, she gritted her teeth, focusing only on carrying Balthier, praying to whatever entity that the spell would last at least long enough to get closer to Rabanastre.

Balthier's head fell back as he slipped unconscious again, his arm hanging down and his chest heaving as he breathed shallowly.

Fran's steps began to falter as she got closer to Rabanastre. Her arms ached, it was taking all her strength not to drop Balthier.

Kellie had been sat on a wall by the Eastgate. She gasped a little when she saw Fran and... Balthier? She squeaked and rushed over to try and help.

The pirate became dead weight in Fran's arms and soon his breathing had stopped again as his fever took total control.

Fran gave an annoyed growl at her own weakness, attempting to cast magicks over him.

Kellie wanted to ask questions, but the look on Fran's face was enough to silence her. She simply helped to carry the seemingly lifeless Hume.

At the magicks, Balthier took in a gasp of air, struggling in the grips of the women for only a moment before resting down again, panting hard.

Fran and Kellie carried Balthier to the moogling attendant, who transported them to the Westgate, where they carried the injured Hume to the Aerodrome towards the Strahl.

As soon as they arrived on the Strahl, Vaan shot from the cockpit with Krja in his arms. "Here." He held Krja out to Kellie and took over, gripping tight hold of the pirate and carrying him to the bedroom, dropping him carefully on the bed and moving to tug off the pirate's pants. "Fran, get me a cold, wet cloth."

Kellie blinked at the child thrusted into her arms. She held it at arm's distance, not quite sure what to do with it.

Fran moved to the bathroom, filling a bowl with cold water, and grabbed a wash cloth returning to Vaan.

Vaan took the cloth and reached under Balthier, wiping the sand and sweat out of his wounds. "I suggest you take your daughter before she's dropped on her head..." Vaan murmured to Fran, casting a glance to Kellie.

Fran took Krja from Kellie. "Thank you for your help. You may leave now."

Kellie pouted and rocked on her heels. "Will he be okay??"

Fran held Krja against her chest. "... It is unclear yet."

Balthier's muscles twitched beneath his skin, the fever still bitter and spiteful at his body. "Nghh..." His body jerked away from the touches to his wounds.

Vaan frowned and soaked the cloth again, wiping away the sweat from the pirate's chest and abdomen. "He's dehydrated."

Kellie pouted more, but left quietly at the sight of Fran's glare.

Fran set Krja down in her crib and moved to the kitchen and moved to make a drink up for Balthier. It was a special blend of herbs she had given him many times when he was dehydrated after a night of drinking. She returned to the bed and sat by Balthier's head, raising it with one hand, the other holding the glass. "Take a sip."

The pirate jerked his face away, grunting and closing his eyes. His hands grasped; one in the sheets and the other on Vaan's bicep. "Nngh..."

The teen bit his lip a little, still resoaking the cloth and washing the sweat from Balthier's body with care.

Fran used pillows to prop Balthier's head up, cupping his cheek lightly, turning his head. "Just a tiny sip? For me?"

Balthier shook his head, raising a hand to bat at hers. "No..." He groaned, breathless and shaking.

Vaan gave him a sharp slap on the chest. "Behave and drink, pirate!" He ordered.

Balthier gave a growl but weakly moved to drink, not wanting more physical abuse in this state.

Fran held the glass for Balthier to drink from. She threaded her fingers through his hair tenderly, leaning in to kiss his forehead.

Vaan began washing lower on the pirate, cleaning around his genitals now.

Panting, he swallowed down some of the herbal drink, gagging a little but soon managing to drink it down. At the feel of Vaan's hand, he groaned and brought a foot up, pressing it to Vaan's cheek and shoving him away.

Fran kissed his forehead again. "Now, now. Do not kick the nurse. Shall I take over?"

Balthier gave a nod and huffed slightly, still annoyed and frustrated at the fever but feeling a little better now the sun wasn't beating down on him.

Vaan handed the cloth to Fran, shifting up the bed to pet back Balthier's hair comfortingly.

Fran took the cloth and took over Vaan's task of washing Balthier. "I am sorry about your airship, Vaan. I do not know what I missed... it seemed fine..." She frowned, scrunching up her nose as she washed Balthier.

Balthier yawned, nuzzling into Vaan's hand and laying comfortable for the way Fran washed him. He wasn't even listening to them talk.

"It's okay. She was a death trap, anyway. I doubt you missed anything." He shook his head.

Fran finished washing Balthier and set the bowl of water aside, fetching a cotton thin sheet from the wardrobe, thin enough not to make Balthier's fever worse, but enough to give him some comfort.

Balthier shuddered lightly, leaning into Vaan as he was the only one near him now. "Mnh..." He yawned slightly.

Vaan stroked Balthier's hair, looking at his face. "He should be okay, by morning I reckon..."

Fran moved to pick Krja up, before returning to the bed, sititng at Balthier's other side, leaning into his side. "I was so afraid..."

Balthier shuddered lightly, leaning into Vaan as he was the only one near him now. "Mnh..." He yawned slightly.

Vaan stroked Balthier's hair, looking at his face. "He should be okay, by morning I reckon..."

Fran moved to pick Krja up, before returning to the bed, sititng at Balthier's other side, leaning into his side. "I was so afraid..."

Balthier had found himself nuzzling into Vaan's knee, unable to really concentrate on what he was doing.

"Yeah, I'm not surpri... what is he doing?" He pointed down at the older male nuzzling his leg, blushing a bright pink colour.

Fran laughed softly, petting her fingers through Balthier's hair. "Getting comfortable, no doubt."

Balthier yawned slightly and slipped his hand around Vaan's thigh, nuzzling his leg. His body was burning hot but as Fran touched his hair, he practically purred.

Vaan wriggled slightly as Balthier got a bit too friendly. "...does he think it's you...?" He blinked up at Fran.

Fran wrinkled up her nose. "It is possible..." Se brought her hand to Balthier's forehead. "...He is burning up again..."

Balthier panted softly, leaning into Fran's touch, squirming softly. "Nhh... ... Squ... Fr... ahh..." His mind was muddled as he panted, another feverish sweat beginning to break out on his skin.

"...What do we do, Fran? He's... if his fever keeps rising, he'll die..." His eyes were wide as he looked to the Viera.

Fran handed Krja to Vaan, before getting up, walking out of the bedroom without a word. She moved to the bathroom, opening the cupboard, digging around in it for a small jar of salve. It was the jar of salve Mjrn had given Balthier when Fran was sick. She returned to the bed and sat down, opening the jar to spread some onto Balthier's skin.

Vaan blinked at Krja then cuddled her all up, nuzzling her nose with his own. He did really love this little kid.

Balthier hissed at the feel of that salve on his skin and began gripping at Fran's wrists, trying to wriggle away from her and push her hands away.

"Hume! Lay still. Do not make me bind your wrists... again." Fran murmured, tugging her wrists free to continue applying the salve.

The teen blushed, looking away at that. He wasn't about to ask what that situation entailed... he had a pretty good idea anyway.

Balthier grunted at her, eyes shutting tightly as he moved. "No... ngh..." He huffed and soon curled to bury his face in her stomach, arms tight around her body.

Fran set the jar down and petted at Balthier's hair lightly, holding him, allowing him to bury his face. "If you do not let me tend to your injuries, you shall die."

The pirate sighed, kissing her stomach through the thin fabric that covered it. "...a-alright..." His eyes closed as he shifted to lay on his back, keeping one of her hands in his.

Fran brushed her fingertips against Balthier's lightly. She reached for the jar and once more began to apply the salve tenderly. She laid her hand against his forehead, frowning a little.

With the aid of the salve, his temperature began to fall but he wasn't out of the woods yet. His wound was bleeding again, all over the bed, beneath the sheet Fran had put over him and out of anyone's view.

Fran's nose twitched, the scent of the salve making her sense of smell less powerful. But she could smell... blood? Her frown deepened and she cupped his cheek, forcing the Hume to look at her.

Balthier's eyes looked to her but they were unfocused and hazy, his pupils had dilated and he was breathing shallowly and quickly, his face flushed in pain and fever.

Vaan scrunched his nose up, looking at Balthier and Fran. "Is he... okay?"

Fran shook her head. "Something is wrong..." She grabbed the sheet, pulling it off of Balthier's naked, bloodied body. She swallowed hard. "Damn..."

Balthier's eyes rolled back, showing only the white before they closed and he hung his head back, his breathing laboured as he began to bleed out.

"F-Fran?! I... I'll get Krja out of the room!!" He cover the child's eyes and swiftly left the room, headed to the moogles. Krja did not need to see that.

Fran quickly shredded the sheet with her claws into long strips. She began to dress the wounds, binding them hard to try and stem the bleeding, casting Cure spells over the Hume as she worked.

Balthier wriggled slightly and panted hard, wincing at the tightness of the bandages around his body. "Nghh... haah..." His body soon began to relax, however, at the curative magicks she repeated over him. His wound slowly started closing.

Fran continued to whisper the spells, resting her hand on Balthier's chest, silent tears rolled down her cheeks onto Balthier.

His chest rising and falling quickly, he began to blink a little at the tears falling on his skin. "...Fran...?" His breath came out in pain.

Fran cupped his cheek softly, leaning in to kiss his head. "Shh, rest now. Do not strain yourself. Save your strength."

Balthier gave a slight nod. "I... am sorry... for the trouble..." He closed his eyes, leaning into the woman he loved, breathless, still.

"Shhh. Do not speak." She murmured, cradling Balthier closer to her.