(no subject)

[xshatterheartx.livejournal.com]

Who: Balthier & Fran
When: Late Evening
Where: Rabanastre
What: Balthier has bedroom issues
Rating: PG-13



Fran had gotten Krja settled in bed and taken a few minutes to herself to take a bath. She was exhausted. Mentally and physically. She moved to the bed, dropping her towel before wriggling under the cover to snuggle up to her lover.

Balthier was sat up in bed, reading a book, his glasses settled on his nose and his body naked under the thin cover. His wounds were unwrapped to let soothing cool air get to the skin, especially since they seemed to weep less and less. With a smile, he ran a hand through Fran's hair. "Hello, love. Is she settled?"

Fran smiled softly and gave a nod. "She is. She sleeps." She wriggled closer to Balthier, curling into his side, spidering her fingers over his stomach.

Balthier shivered slightly to the feel of her fingers, setting aside his book and glasses, smiling down at her. "Mm? Well, I am glad someone can sleep."

"You are more than welcome to go to sleep, love. Do you wish me to apply the balm to your wounds?"

Balthier laughed slightly and leaned down, pressing his lips to hers. "I do not wish for sleep nor balm, Viera." He purred.

"Mm." Fran kissed Balthier softly, nipping at the man's bottom lip gently. "Then why don't you take whatever it is you want, Hume?"

Balthier pressed her back into the bed, kissing her sweetly before moving to nip and lick at her throat. "Mn..." He furrowed his brow slightly.

Fran threaded her fingers through Balthier's hair, tilting her head aside. "You are pained at the movement?" She asked.

"No..." He mumbled, kissing a little lower, his hand smoothing over her breast. He could feel that he was aroused but nothing was 'happening' down 'there'.

Fran raked her nails over his scalp slightly, giving a soft purr to him. "Then what troubles you?"

"Nothing." He muttered, kissing down between her breasts. After a moment more he shifted to sit up. "Excuse me. I... I cannot." He mumbled, attempting to get off the bed.

Fran grabbed his arm gently. "Balthier? If it hurts too much we do not have to. We can just cuddle."

"It is... not the pain." He shrugged her arm off, looking away. He couldn't believe this was happening. To him!

Fran lowered her hand, shifting to sit up a little. "Then what? You do not find me desirable anymore?"

"Of course you are desirable, Fran... I just..." He sighed, leaning into her and burying his face in her neck. "I can't get it up." He breathed against her skin.

Fran blinked. "Oh?" Realisation quickly hit her. "Ohhh." She threaded her fingers through his hair softly. "Do not worry about it, love. No doubt you are just too exhausted. It happens to most men at some point."

Balthier shook his head slightly. "I have slept most of the day, Fran. I am not tired... this damn illness is taking everything gradually and then all at once." He sighed heavily. "This world is being spiteful, Fran..."

"There are many types of exhaustion, love." Fran sighed and stroked his head tenderly, rocking a little. "The world is a cruel woman."

"I'm on the verge of giving in, Fran. I cannot take much more of her spite." He muttered, shifting to lay down, resting his head on her leg.

Fran swallowed hard, a lump forming in her throat. "Keep fighting, love. We shall find a cure."

"Fran, I know how slim our chances are. I know that by the time we find said cure, I will most probably be far too broken for it to aid me..." He muttered, petting her knee affectionately. "I am so tired of everything..."

Her eyes filled with tears that she refused to shed. "Then I shall once more offer you escape. Just ask it of me and I shall end this pain."

"I cannot ask you to do that, Fran. I will not put upon you the guilt I have for my father." He murmured, closing his eyes as he stroked her leg.

"I would do it if you asked. If you truly cannot handle this pain... I shall not selfishly ask you to suffer it."

"And I shall not selfishly ask you to suffer that pain." He looked up at her, smiling lightly. "If the time comes where I cannot truly handle a moment more, I shall end it myself."

Fran continued to pet his hair lovingly. "I shall put all my efforts into finding the cure. The wedding, the holiday, all of it, I shall forget them all to focus."

Balthier shook his head slightly. "No, Fran. I wish to be married and spend one final happy time with our children before I die. I shan't let you forget it all."

"But if we can find a cure..." The Viera murmured, seeming weak and frightened.

Balthier shifted to sit up, kissing her lightly. "If we can, then good. If not, I do not wish to have missed those things for nothing."

Fran returned the kiss, before hiding her face against his neck, trying to fight back her tears. She wouldn't cry in front of him.

Balthier ran a hand down her back, kissing her shoulder lightly. "Please... do not hold back what you feel, Fran..." He murmured.

"I do not wish to fill your days with my tears. I shall cry once it is over." The Viera moved.

Balthier gave a sigh and shifted to lay down, wriggling to lay on his good side, his back to her. "I hate that I shall leave you with such pain to endure..."

Fran shifted to spoon behind him, resting her arm over his waist. "Do not worry about me."

"All I do is worry, Fran." He muttered, grasping the back of her hand lightly. "It is cruel and unfair of this world to take me away when you need me... when Krja needs me."

Fran pressed soft kisses to the side of Balthier's neck, silent tears rolling down her cheeks.

Balthier rolled over, ignoring the seering pain as he rested on his damaged are, curling both of them around her and kissing her softly. "Please, Fran... do not cry over me..."

The tears wouldn't stop despite her best efforts. "I am sorry. I do not wish to burden you..."

"You are not a burden. I just do not deserve this sorrow." He held her close kissing her head. "If you need to cry, do all you wish."

Fran hid her face again, sobbing softly against his skin. "I am so scared." She whispered.

"Scared of what, love? Me dying?" He tilted his head a little, soon pulling her to lay on top of him, easing his pain in his arm.

Fran rested her knees either side of him to support some of her weight. She gave a nod, choking a little on her tears.

"Do not fear, love. I shall be safe and well again. No head hunters nor fiends shall harm me." He kissed her cheek gently. "I will always be at your side. Always, Fran."

"The Sky. She steals you from me... I despise her." She murmured.

"Ah-ah, love. She does not steal. I was hers all along. Before I knew you." He brushed a hand through her hair. "Do not hate. She will be kind again someday."

Those tears continued to fall, dripping onto Balthier's chest. "I do not wish to live a life without you."

Balthier kissed the top of her head, nuzzling her long ears. "It is not without me. I will always be with you and Krja. The moogles, too. They all need you, Fran. Stay strong for them, love."

"I am trying. But I feel I may snap... I am so tired. I do not know what to do to make everything right."

Balthier sighed quietly, nuzzling her lovingly. "Nothing will ever make it right, Fran. Losing you would break me beyond repair. I assume it is the same for you, love. Yet, I must hear you say you will fight strong for Krja..."

Fran swallowed hard and nodded. "Of course, love. I shall always be strong for her."

Balthier gave a gentle nod and kissed her head. "We shall do as we've planned. We will marry and take a holiday with the children. We will seek a cure in the meantime."

The Viera nodded again, wiping away her tears. "Yes, love..."

"If we find a cure, then we shall use it. If not, I do not want regrets in life. Not marrying you would be my biggest, Fran." He murmured.

"I do so love you, Hume. Never forget that."

"I shan't ever forget it, Fran. I love you so dearly, Viera. My very own princess without a crown." He smiled up at her. "You be strong, you hear me, ma'am?"

Fran flushed a little and swallowed hard. "Mm. Always." She ran her hands over Balthier's shoulders.

A small wince came as she touched his wounded shoulder but he leaned up and kissed her. "Good. Now rest, Viera. You are exhausted. Lay on me, I wish for your warmth through the night."

Fran rested her head on Balthier's uninjured shoulder, closing her eyes. "I am fine." She murmured, eyes closing.

Balthier pet his hand through her hair, holding her with both arms, nuzzling her long ears quietly, his own eyes closing to hide his tears.

Fran petted his hair tenderly, as she drifted into an uneasy sleep.