(no subject)

[leatheredlion.livejournal.com]

Who: Squall, Balthier & Fran
When: After Squall’s meeting
Where: All over Balamb Garden & the Strahl
What: Moving out
Rating: PG-13



Squall had waited until he was alone in his office before allowing himself to cry. He was suddenly regretting his actions. SeeD was all he knew. All he had ever known. He started to pack up what belongings in his office that he could manage, before reaching for the phone, calling Balthier.

Balthier was aboard the Strahl, hovering around Utica, seated in the captain's chair with Krja on his lap. As the phone rang, he rubbed his eye, holding it to his ear as he pressed a button. "Hello?"

Squall choked back some tears. "Hey..." He paused for a long moment, not really sure what to say. "Um... Could you help me pack up some boxes when you've got some free time?"

"Uh... sure? What is wrong, Squall?" He frowned a little, standing up with Krja in one arm carrying her along towards the bedroom.

Squall was silent for another long moment. "I... just quit my job..." He murmured, throwing a stapler and pen into a box as well as all his files on the Heartless.

"What?!" He walked into the bedroom and plopped Krja on Fran's stomach, gritting his teeth. "Why in Gaia would you do something like that?!"

Fran blinked as Krja was plopped down on her stomach, she rose an eyebrow at Balthier.

"They were going to suspend me over the whole Centra incident and I snapped and quit on the spot... Now I have to pack my stuff and get out... I guess I'll be living on the Ragnarok for now..."

"Hah, no you will not!" He looked down at Fran and kissed her nose. "Prepare the spare room, love. Squall is moving in." He murmured, heading back for the cockpit right away. "Rinoa has left, Squall. She has taken up home in Balamb Town. You shall live aboard the Strahl."

Fran gave a nod and plopped Krja down in the playpen, before moving to the spare room to make up the bed and ensure there was room for Squall, his belongings and a wheelchair.

"I can't live with you guys, I'll be in the way... Though I guess I could baby-sit while you um... yeah..." He tipped some more stuff into his box, including the name plaque off his desk.

"You are not going to be in the way. Ever." He murmured, piloting one handed with his eyes sharp as he swung the airship down towards Balamb Garden. "What will happen to Garden now?"

"They've already appointed a new Commander..." Squall murmured, unplugging his laptop and slipping it into it's case. "I imagine he'll be making himself at home in this office as soon as my stuff is out..."

"This is... it is truly ridiculous. Do they honestly think anyone will put into Garden what you do?" He growled in anger and frustration before landing the Strahl, possibly for the last time, at Balamb Garden. Turning her off, he swiftly stood and headed offboard, keeping the phone call going.

"I screwed up. They want me gone. Even if I hadn't've quit, no doubt they'd have kept me suspended indefinitely..." Squall rubbed at his temples, looking around the office for anything else he could manage from his wheelchair.

Balthier sighed, walking fast to the elevator and hitting the button for Squall's office. "Squall, this is mad! You've no right to be forced into resignation!" He growled.

Squall set the phone back down in the cradle, offering a sad smile to Balthier. "I made my bed... as they say. Now to lie in it..." He pointed toward a glass box on the wall, containing his first gunblade, Revolver. He held out a key. "May you get it down for me?"

Balthier gave a nod and crossed to it, unlocking the case and removing the weapon, holding it out to Squall. "Why did they suspend you anyway?"

Squall took the gunblade from Balthier, running his fingers over it gently, before laying it securely in it's leather case. "For screwing up at Centra, leaving the boys unattended and all that..."

"Ughh... those boys have skill beyond the majority of fighters I have ever known." He sighed and leaned against the desk, crossing his arms. "I remember why being in the military so disgusted me..."

"I guess... I won the freedom I always sought..." Squall murmured, frowning at the box containing two years worth of belongings from his time as Commander.

Balthier leaned over and pressed a kiss to Squall's forehead. "Times change, angel. We just have to find a way to adapt." He sighed softly.

Squall petted Balthier's thigh lightly, offering him a sad smile. "I should go pack my stuff back at my dorm..." He murmured, not wanting to cry.

Balthier shifted to his knees in front of Squall's wheelchair and leaned forward, curling his arms around the teen and holding him close.

Tears rolled down Squall's cheeks and he nudged Balthier away lightly, wiping his eyes. "I'm fine..."

"No, you are not." He murmured, cupping his face. "Please, let me at least do this for you, my sweet angel," he whispered, looking deep into those blue eyes.

More tears flowed, a soft sob escaping Squall's lips. He squeezed his eyes shut. "Let's just pack and get the Hell outta here..."

Balthier leaned in and kissed his nose gently. "Anything for you, Squall." He brushed the tears away with his thumbs, shifting to stand a moment later.

"Could you... start moving this stuff while I pack up my room?" He asked, hating not being able to do it all himself.

"Certainly." He scooped up the box and kissed the top of Squall's head before heading towards the door, sighing softly.

Squall smiled a little and wheeled himself out after Balthier, moving to the elevator and then on to his room. He took a deep breath before starting to pack up his belongings. A lifetime of stuff into a few boxes.

As soon as he'd dropped of Squall's things at the Strahl, Balthier headed back to the teen's dorm, knocking once before walking in anyway, leaning down to nip Squall's ear playfully. "Hey..."

"Hey..." Squall replied, looping his arms around Balthier's neck. "It feels kinda strange... this room has been home for so long..."

Balthier smiled softly, nodding a little. "I know that feeling. I was only a few years younger than you when I left home..." He murmured.

Squall tipped a drawer full of old photographs into a box, along with a shoebox full of keepsakes.

Balthier shifted to sit on the edge of the bed, running a hand through his hair. "Anything you want me to do?"

"Make a time machine and go back in time a few days?" Squall asked dryly, before pushing the box towards Balthier. "Shove all the stuff off the top shelf of the wardrobe in there?"

"I can do a lot of amazing things with scrap metal but I think that is out of my range," he murmured, taking the box and opening the wardrobe, doing just as told.

Squall was about to reply but the words dried on his lips as an electric shock dog collar fell out of the wardrobe onto the floor by Balthier's feet.

Balthier blinked at it, raising an eyebrow as he leaned down and picked it up, tilting his head before looking to Squall. "Do I even need to ask?"

Squall flushed brightly, staring at the floor. "Would you believe me if I said it was Angelo's?"

"... No." He chuckled and crossed the room, kneeling in front of the teen and curling the collar around his neck, fastening it with a smirk.

Squall blushed more, chewing on his bottom lip a little, his eyes meeting Balthier's.

Balthier leaned in and kissed him firmly, purring against his lips. "Mm... it looks very beautiful on you, Squall."

Squall returned the kiss, threading his fingers through Balthier's hair. "Mm. Doesn't do much without the remote though."

"I figured. though, no doubt, you shan't be telling me where that is, hm?" He chuckled lightly, nudging their noses together.

Squall cupped Balthier's cheeks, purring softly against his lips. "It's on that shelf, somewhere."

Balthier gave a smirk and chuckled a little, going back to that shelf and fumbling around. Finding a small remote, he flicked an on switch, looking over at Squall as he did.

Squall gritted his teeth, his upper body shuddering as a mild shock passed through him. "Ngh... use the dial to adjust the voltage..."

Balthier smirked and sat on the desk, watching Squall. He turned the dial up a little, wondering just why this appealed to the teen.

A soft moan escaped Squall's lips, his entire upper body trembling. Goosebumps appeared along his arms, his head fell back and his eyes drifting shut. If his lower body had been working, he'd've been so hard by now.

The smirk growing, Balthier shifted closer to Squall, leaning in and kissing him, receiving a pleasant shock from his lips. "Mmn..." A soft laugh escaped and he turned the dial up another click.

The teen's hands gripped at the arms of his wheelchair, his lips parted as he moaned openly. His skin was flushed, his Adam's apple quivering against his throat as he panted with soft breaths.

Balthier chuckled and settled back on the desk again. "Hmm~ now I wish I'd known about this sooner. I'd have thoroughly tortured you over and over by now." He purred, turning the dial up again.

Squall cried out in pleasure, his knuckles turning white from gripping the wheelchair so hard, his eyes rolling back in his head.

And with that, Balthier turned the dial right down, and off, smiling lightly. "Well, well... what a handy little device this is~" He cooed.

Squall remained perfectly still for a long moment, just panting hard. Eventually he let his head fall forward, blinking open his eyes to look at Balthier with nothing but pure lust.

Balthier moved close to Squall and slid his tonge up the teen's neck, from just above the collar, all the way to his lips. "Mm... you look incredibly sexy all flushed and... electrified."

Squall gave a breathless laugh, hooking an arm around Balthier's neck. "Gods~ I feel... I feel like I've just been thoroughly fucked." He purred.

"Hm? Well, that just goes to prove you've lost nothing with this lack of feeling from the wound down." He kissed Squall softly, smiling at him. "Pleasure has nothing to do with the genitals. It is all in the mind~"

Squall flushed and stole a firm kiss. "It's still not an excuse for you to electrocute me at every chance you get..."

Balthier grinned at him and nipped him gently on the lips. "No, I shall only do it when you decide to tease me." He cooed, petting his fingers through Squall's hair.

"Oh? Tease you? How do I do that?" Squall murmured, grabbing Balthier's wrist to pull his hand to his mouth, abusing those fingers.

Balthier smirked at first before yanking his hand away, giving Squall a playful glare. "None of that, boy. You shan't have your wicked way with me just yet." He chuckled before glancing around. "Were we not here to pack, hm?"

Squall chuckled. "Mm. I believe we were packing until you decided to use my toys against me." He purred.

"Ah, now that was purely for you, obviously. I got no satisfaction from it whatsoever." He gave a cheeky grin before heading back to that wardrobe to get the rest of the stuff from the top shelf into that box.

Squall laughed and wheeled himself to his drawers, beginning to empty the contents into his boxes.

"Hmmm, I never realised you had so many things, Squall..." He chuckled, beginning to box up the teen's clothes in a different box.

"I don't have that much stuff really..." Squall murmured, before spanking Balthier playfully with a leather belt.

A hiss escaped and Balthier glared at the teen playfully. "You should watch it, brat. I've been known to become... predatory after being whipped."

Squall laughed before wheeling himself closer, whipping Balthier again.

Another hiss came and he grabbed the belt, folding it and making a snap sound as he pulled it tight. "Watch it. Seriously." He all but growled, leaning down to bite the teen's ear.

Squall purred, running his hands along Balthier's sides. "You wouldn't do anything to hurt me. I'm in a wheelchair." He cooed.

"Pfft, think that will stop me? You're no different to when you were walking. Still a little brat with a big mouth." He cooed back, biting a little more.

"You love my mouth." Squall purred, nudging Balthier's cheek with his own. "Come on, let's finish packing and get out of here!"

"I love it too much..." He sighed dramatically before laughing and moving to finish packing, stuffing all Squall's belongings in boxes.

Squall looked around and the now seemingly bare room, a sadness lingering in his eyes, before he rested one of the lighter boxes on his lap. "Let's go."

Balthier gave a nod. Stacking up the rest of the boxes, he picked them all up and scrunched his nose up. "Remind me to never move into a house. I do not think I could manage all my own things..." He mumbled.

Squall gave a soft laugh. "If you ever moved into a house, on the ground... I'd gladly help." He teased, knowing the chances were next to zero.

Scrunching his nose up as he walked out with all Squall's boxes, he rolled his eyes at Squall's teasing. "The only way I'd ever settle on the ground would be if I really, truly had to. I'd never choose to."

"Yeah, yeah. I know." Squall smiled, wheeling himself and his one box towards the exit.

Balthier chuckled softly and walked at Squall's side, leading him towards the docking bay where the Strahl remained open and waiting for them. Then he paused, looking at the steps onto his airship.

Squall frowned a little before forcing a smile. "Heh... Even the sky doesn't want me..." He murmured, rubbing the back of his neck.

Balthier smirked. "Ah, this is where you are wrong. Wait here a moment please!" He then headed on board and dumped the boxes in the spare room before heading back to the door, keying in an access code in a panel by the door. Suddenly, the stairs of the Strahl angled down and formed a smooth ramp. "How do you suppose an Imperial fleet ship would be of any use without a ramp to allow on chocobos, hm?" He cooed to Squall.

"I am not a chocobo!" Squall huffed, yet he was secretly happy that he could get on board without causing Baltier a lot of trouble. He smiled a little and wheeled himself up the ramp.

"Welcome on board." Fran purred, leaning against the doorframe to the cockpit. "Make yourself at home. Whatever you need shall be yours."

Balthier laughed and pet Squall's hair as he boarded, scratching behind his ear affectionately as you'd do to the crest on a chocobos head. "Good little feathered friend~" He teased before winking at Fran. "I'll get the boy settled, you've earnt yourself a rest, love." He murmured, leaning to kiss her softly.

Squall smiled softly at Fran, a mutual affection and respect being shared in their gazes. "Thanks, Fran." He nudged Balthier's hand, huffing a little. "Not a chocobo!" He repeated, wheeling towards where he remembered the spare room to be.

Fran kissed Balthier tenderly. "The room is tidied, Krja is asleep and dinner is in the oven. Anything else you wish for, love?"

Balthier quirked his eyebrow, giving her a cheeky look before kissing her once more. "Nothing else, love. Thank you." He murmured, soon following after Squall, toying with his hair as he walked behind him.

Squall batted Balthier's hand away gently, wheeling over to the bed, determined to get it right this time.

Balthier pouted playfully at him before shifting to begin unpacking the boxes into drawers and a wardrobe that had recently been occupied by all of Rinoa's and Loire's belongings.

Squall rested his arms on the bed, lifting himself across, and actually managing to get the majority of his body onto the bed rather than the floor.

Balthier smiled silently before shifting more of Squall's things from the boxes, glad to see the teen was getting the hang of things gradually.

Squall wriggled and squirmed, before giving an exhausted flop, letting out a soft sigh. "Hey... you don't have to do that you know... I can do it later."

"Mm, I thought I'd make a start... unless you'd prefer to do it?" He shifted to stand, sitting on the edge of the bed and petting his fingers over Squall's arm affectionately.

"Heh. You just want an excuse to look through all my stuff." Squall purred, half joking. He pushed his weight into his arms to sit up a little more.

Balthier chuckled lightly and scooted to sit on the other side of the bed, crossing his arms and crossing his legs at the ankles. "Fine. I shan't help!" He murmured, giving a childish, playful pout.

Squall returned the pout, holding out his arms to Balthier for a hug, wibbling his bottom lip slightly.

"Aww, do not give me that look!!" He snuggled Squall up in his arms, kissing the top of his head and nuzzling him affectionately.

Squall purred and snuggled into Balthier's embrace. "I demand snuggles with my princess when she awakes." He murmured, nuzzling his pirate lover.

"Of course. Anything to make you feel at home, Squall. This might not be Balamb Garden but the Strahl has been home to many, over the years. She is a good home." He murmured softly into the teen's ear, holding him close.

Squall nuzzled more, curling his arms around Balthier's neck, all but clinging to him.

Fran knocked on the door before entering carrying a tray with three mugs on it, two containing tea for Balthier and herself, and one containing coffee for Squall.

Balthier smiled at Fran, nuzzling the top of Squall's head. "Look Squall! That disgusting tar you enjoy drinking!" He teased, leaning over to take a cup of tea. "Thank you, Fran~"

Squall gave a soft laugh. "It's not tar. It's caffeine in a cup." He murmured, forcing himself to sit up more, taking the coffee from the tray. "Thanks, Fran."

Fran set the tray aside ad sat down in the wheelchair beside the bed, leaning ofer to brush her thumb over Squall's cheek. "You look exhausted."

"I am afraid the boy has been through far more than what is fair, Fran. We shall have to smother him in affection." He nodded once before kissing Squall's forehead and sipping his tea a moment later.

Squall rested his hand on top of Fran's, before lacing their fingers together, smiling softly at her. "I'm fine. Just a little tired." He murmured, leaning into Balthier more.

Fran returned the soft smile, before looking at Balthier. "Affection, hm? I believe we can do that."

Balthier resting his chin on the top of Squall's head, kissing his hair a moment after. "Tired, hm? Perhaps some sleep? Would you rather we leave you in peace, sweetheart?"

Squall continued to hold Fran's hand, toying lazily with her fingers. "Sleep would be nice... but you guys don't have to go if you don't want..."

Fran leaned over to kiss Squall's forehead. "Rest now." She smiled, freeing her hand. "We shall come back when you awake."

Balthier finished his tea and set the cup on the tray, kissing Squall's nose. "Sleep well, my dear," he whispered before scrambling off the bed and heading out of the room.

Squall smiled at Balthier, blowing him a kiss before shifting onto his side, burying his face into the pillows.

Fran set her own cup down before shifting to pull the blanket up over Squall, kissing his head once more. "Sweet dreams." She smiled before collecting the tray and following Balthier out.

Balthier huffed a little as he headed for the cockpit, starting the Strahl up and bringing her to the skies pretty swiftly, running a dusty hand through his dusty hair. Really, packing was dirty business!

Fran returned the tray to the kitchen, before joing Balthier, standing behind his chair, pressing a tender kiss to his hair, letting her arms drape down over his shoulders.

Resting a hand on her arms, Balthier smiled softly, piloting the airship towards somewhere safe in the skies, in a Jagd area to keep head hunters away. "I worry for him..."

"His state of boy or state of mind?" Fran asked, already having a good idea about what the answer would be. She nuzzled his hair with her nose. "We shall look after him."

"Both," he mumbled, sighing softly. "He is very fragile physically but the knock to his mentality the last few weeks... it must be hell for him..." He murmured.

"We shall put back the pieces between us." Fran replied, nudging Balthier's chair with her foot to turn it to face her, crouching enough to cup his cheek. "He helped us. We shall help him."

Balthier smiled softly and leaned in to kiss her. "You know, I think you are an insanely wise woman." He swept her off her feet and pulled her to his lap, turning the chair back and gripping the Strahl's controls with one hand.

Fran gave a soft laugh, cuddling into Balthier a little. "Wise? I do not think so. It is merely the right thing to do."

"Mm, no, you are wise." He said simply, nuzzling her cheek a little, keeping one eye on the sky as he piloted.

Fran toyed with Balthier's hair, resting her head on his shoulder as she watched the sky. "We shall fix him. I promise."