(no subject)

[balthier-strahl.livejournal.com]

Who: Balthier and Fran
What: Waking from a nightmare
Where: The Strahl
When: During the night
Rating: PG-13


Fran had been stirred from her own peaceful slumber by Balthier shifting and fidgeting beside her. She blinked her eyes open, ear turning a little. She sat up, looking over at Balthier, frowning a little at his telltale signs of a nightmare. She reached over and stroked his cheek. "Balthier... wake up." She murmured. When he didn't stir, she rested her hands on his shoulders and shook him a little. "Balthier?"

The pirate jerked away, groaning slightly. His eyes remained tightly shut but a tear escaped and ran from the corner of his eye, down the side of his face. His breath was laboured and he had a look of fear and desperation on his face.

Fran shifted closer to him, desperately wanting to wake him from whatever plagued his dreams. She shook him harder, letting her claws dig into his shoulders slightly. "Balthier!!"

At the feel of real, physical pain he gasped sharply, eyes snapping open as he forced himself to lean up on his elbows. He panted hard as a cold sweat covered his skin.

Fran cupped his face, brushing her thumbs over Balthier's cheeks. "I apologise, I did not mean to startle you. You were having a bad dream."

His breath shook as he looked to her in the moonlight. "I... it is fine..." He spoke breathlessly, batting away her hand as he shifted to sit up more, absently brushing a hand over his bare torso, where his heart was.

Fran frowned a little and sat back on her own side of the bed. "Shall I get you some water? Do you wish to discuss it?"

"...water... would be good." He glanced down to the sheets, his eyes a little vacant, with no answer to her suggestion of discussion.

Fran gave a nod and climbed off the bed, moving to the kitchen area, returning moments later with a glass of chilled water for Balthier. She held it out to him, her free hand moving to his face.

Balthier took the glass and sipped it, not moving from her touch but not leaning into it. His gaze was still so very blank but his skin felt icy cold and his body language showed fear.

Fran crouched beside the bed until she was eye level with Balthier. "Whatever did you dream of, love, to cause such a reaction?"

He didn't speak. He simply continued to drink the water until the glass was empty. Once it was, he gripped it with both hands, his eyes fixed on it. "It... is unimportant..."

Fran curled a finger around the edge of the glass to attempt to move it away. "Your words say it is unimportant. But your body does not."

The pirate made a slight grunt as she took the glass but shifted in the bed, the sheets rustling. "My body... my body is naught but a liar. It is... not important what I dreamt."

Fran gave a nod and pushed herself to her feet. "Very well." She moved around the bed, back to her own side, sittng on the edge.

Balthier frowned, bringing his knees to his chest for only brief moment before swinging his legs out of the sheets and standing unsteadily. Once he righted himself, he moved to Krja's crib, reaching in to stroke a finger over her cheek... pausing a second before he did so.

Fran watched Balthier, her ear twitching a little. She remained silent, just watching him. Krja stirred a little, making a slight grab for that finger, but did not wake.

As she made a grab, he withdrew his hand, frowning like a child bitten by a cat. After a brief second, he backed away, moving to sit on the bed, his back to Fran as he watched the crib warily.

Fran crawled to him, resting her head on his back, arms snaking around his waist. "Tell me what troubles you."

At her touch, he took in a breath, eyes falling closed. "Many... many things trouble me. Though... you should not concern yourself with me."

Fran nuzzled between his shoulder blades. "By now you must know that I will always worry for you. Do not shut me out. Whatever troubles you so that you fear touching Krja? That you cannot look me in the eye?"

Balthier gritted his teeth, arching away from her slightly. "Must you always do this? Dig away at me until I am naught but a crumbling mess for you to toy with?!" As soon as his words left him, he turned, shaking his head. "I did not mean that... I am tired..."

Fran released her grip and shifted away from him, getting up off the bed. "Rest." She spoke simply.

Balthier clenched his fists, only to hiss slightly at a sharp pain in his hand. Uncurling his fingers, a small pin with the emblem of the Heartless was exposed in his palm. The pirate raised it, looking at it with fear and determination. The pin Mickey had given him in his dream was here, in his hand.

Fran tilted her head a little, eyebrow raising in silent question, arms crossing under her breast.

"...it was real..." he breathed out, his body tensing. If it was real... then his father was really there. His father had truly said all those hurtful things.

Fran blinked. "R-real? That is foolish... dreams are not real. They cannot be."

Balthier held the pin out to her. "I was given this in my dream, Fran. How else can I have it but for it to have been real?"

Fran stepped closer to him, taking the pin from him, examining it for a moment, nose wrinkling a little. "You never left the room. A dream and reality cannot cross, it is impossible.."

"In my dream, I was aboard the Strahl. I was alone... until a being came and he offered me freedom from the darkness that held me." His eyes fell to the pin. "My father... he said such hateful words..."

Fran curled her fingers around the pin and moved to sit beside Balthier. "Cid is dead. We all saw him die. His words cannot hurt you. He is gone!"

"I felt him, Fran. I felt his hand on my neck and I hit the bastard myself!" At that, he looked to his hands, seeing the scrapes down the edges of his hands from hitting Cid's chest.

Fran rested her head on his shoulder. "Real or no. They were only words. You are a far better man than he ever was."

"...I am worse." His voice was a whisper as he recalled his father. "At least when he snapped, we knew it. I knew of his insanity... and it was Venat that caused it. My... ways are my own. No Occuria controls me."

Fran frowned a little. "What makes you say such a thing? You have your faults, as does any person, Hume or otherwise, but it doesn't change the fact that you are a good man."

"How can you say I am a good man?!" He snapped, jerking around to look her in the eye. "I am a liar, a thief... I have betrayed you countless times! Even now, were I left to my own devices, I would betray you again!!"

Fran turned her gaze away. "Mayhaps. But you have your good points too. You have saved me countless times. You are a kind man and a wonderful father."

"I have saved you... but mayhaps it was for the glory." He gritted his teeth. "That... that child is better off with no father than one such as I." He took the pin from her hand and stood. "I am naught but trouble; I will be the death of you both..."

Fran tilted her head to watch him. "You speak as though you intend to leave..."

Balthier stared at the pin then let out a long, heavy sigh. "I am being foolish. The prattlings of a tired, unwell man." He leaned to her and kissed her cheek. "Forget I spoke of this. Let us rest, hm?"

Fran petted his hair softly and gave a nod. "Let us hope the morning brings us light." She pulled away and moved to sit on the edge of the bed,

The pirate smiled at her, his eyes warmer than they had been all night. "I apologise for my words. I do not mean them... I am tired." He shifted to lay on the bed, holding his arms out to her.

Fran remained still for a moment, before giving a soft sigh, shifting over to cuddle into Balthier's embrace.

Balthier nuzzled her neck lightly, kissing her there gently a few times. "Am I forgiven, love?" He murmured, petting her spine.

Fran tensed a little, but quickly forced herself to relax. "There is nothing to forgive, now sleep, my sweet Hume."

"I... love you." He mumbled, shifting to bury his face in her chest. His hands stayed on her back, stroking her spine slowly.

"I love you too, Balthier. With all that I am." Fran murmured, stroking his hair tenderly. "Rest now, my love."

Balthier gave a slight nod, nuzzling her breasts lightly before releasing a sigh. "I... am... sorry..." He muttered before falling asleep once more.

Fran continued to pet his hair, watching him to ensure he was settled, befor eletting her own eyes fall shut.