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The Ones Who Know You Best

"Balthier."

I know that tone of voice all too well.

"A word with you?"

I am most certainly in trouble. I smile winningly at the rest of the group, who collectively look rather confused. "Go on ahead. We'll catch up."

Vaan accepts this at face value and heads off, staring in unrestrained wonder at the Eryut Village. Basch and Penelo follow him; even at this distance, I can tell the young woman is making fun of Vaan's actions. Ashe glances at me, hesitating; I wave her forward and nod slightly. She sighs and shrugs, then follows the others. I watch her walk away. Hopefully they'll find Mjrn soon so we can leave; I can feel the disgust radiating from Viera I cannot even see.

"Balthier?"

I sigh and turn to Fran, my most innocent smile gracing my face. "Yes, Fran?"

She smirks slightly. "You are not in trouble. You may drop the act of innocence." Fran pauses a moment, then continues. "It looks ridiculous on you, anyway."

I clutch my chest in mock pain. "You wound me, Fran, wound me to the core." She almost rolls her eyes-- a very Hume response, I notice-- and shakes her head. I drop my hands and tilt my head. "What is it?"

"Why do you follow the Princess?"

Frowning, I lower my voice. "Fran, I would think that you of all people would have the decency not to question my intentions--"

"It is not your intentions that I question, but rather... your motivations." She folds her arms and regards me, her expression carefully blank.

I imitate her posture and expression. After all this time, we still play these games with each other. I don't mind so much-- it keeps me in practice for dealing with Hume women. "You doubt my motives? You think that I was lying to Basch?"

"No..." Fran shakes her head. "But I know you did not tell him the whole truth."

I drop my arms and sigh. "Fran, what do you want me to say? I'm not sure what you are asking me--"

"What are your feelings towards Lady Ashe?"

Ah, so that's what this is about. Simple enough to deal with. I flash her my most charming smile. "Why, Fran, are you jealous?"

She blinks impassively. "Is there something that I would be jealous of?"

Damn. She is far too perceptive. I toy with the idea of continuing the verbal sparring match, but ultimately decide on surrender. Better to do it now, while I have some of my dignity and secrets in tact. "No, Fran. There isn't anything. I respect her, I worry about her, and... I admit I find her attractive, but there is nothing between us."

Fran allows a slight frown to appear on her face. "You sound regretful."

I look away, studying the intricate wooden patterns of the Viera walkways. "I hate not knowing what might have been," I murmur, more to myself than Fran. I look back up at my friend and sigh. "Whatever I may or may not feel for her is irrelevant, as are any feelings she might have for me. She is a Princess, someday to be Queen. I am a pirate, a criminal and an exile with a bounty on my head." It would never work comes the unspoken ending.

Fran nods, then places a hand on my arm. "You will end up with an aching heart either way," she says, and I am suddenly reminded of the vast gulf of years between us. She is one of a few people who can make me feel young, and foolhardy, and worst of all, inexperienced.

Forcing a smile to my face, I look over at her. "Well, it is the role of the leading man to suffer some heartbreak," I declare. "Makes him a more sympathetic character."

Fran studies me for a moment, then nods. She understands what I'm saying, and more importantly what's left unsaid. "You should go catch up with the others," she says.

I nod and bow. "Thank you, m'lady." She smiles, and knows what I mean.