A/N: First, I know jealousy is different from envy but just go with it. It was the only thing I could come up with. When I first got to the matchmaking part, I was finding it all funny, especially when she suggested Vaan may be her soul mate. But when she and her hume found each other, I found it sweet. Until I actually looked at what the lovestruck guy said. His love for the Viera was because he saw Fran and Balthier. I wondered how Vaan would react to hearing someone say Balthier looked like Fran's lover.
This'll be a seven part story, a chapter for each of the deadly sins. The first chapter though is more jealousy (obviously) than envy, but please bear with it. Anyway, Thanks for reading and please review! It is very welcomed and loved and wanted! Thanks and enjoy!
It was a rare sight to see Vaan angry except for when it came to the Arcadian empire or when someone talked ill of his brother, Reks. So when Vaan stormed into the Strahl beet red in the face with a nasty scowl on his face, everyone's head turned.
"Vaan? Are you okay?" Penelo asked, not used to seeing her closest friend like this. She rushed over and put a comforting hand on his shoulder, which he removed rather quickly.
"I'm fine Pen," Vaan grumbled, eager to exit the room of staring and confused eyes. Balthier was surprised, but found the young orphan's expression to be quite amusing. In his mind, Vaan looked like a spoiled little brat that didn't get his way and was trying to suppress a tantrum. Sort of the same way he thought the princess looked like ninety percent of the time, but with Vaan the look was far more endurable.
"Your face does not match your words," Fran commented, who was leaning against the wall. She had a neutral feeling about the boy. He could be rather bothersome and childish at times, the later being understandable given his young age, but he was also a skilled fighter and had his own sense of justice, something the Viera woman liked in the boy. He and she did not interact too much though, for Vaan was sometimes confused by what she said. But even so, she thought that they were on adequate terms.
"Shut the hell up!" Vaan screamed. Fran knew she was wrong as those surprising words shot mixed with the most hateful glare she had ever seen him produce with his now icy looking grey eyes, which contrasted the red state of his face. In a moment, he stomped out of the room into the hall, ignoring Penelo's panicked questions and Fran's raised eyebrow.
Balthier looked over to his partner, silently asking her if she had possibly done something to aggravate Vaan. Understanding his message, she shook her head. She couldn't think of anything she had done. The most she had spoken to him was earlier when she asked him to help in the engine room, where they were mostly silent, before he left to do some errands in Rabanastre. So it puzzled the both of them why he'd be angry at her of all people. Balthier sighed and stood up, deciding to get to the bottom of it, lightly patting Penelo on the shoulder to get her to calm down.
"Don't worry. I'll check to see what's the matter," Balthier assured before leaving the room as well. He immediately went to Vaan's room, where the boy stayed in whenever he didn't want to be seen, since he mainly slept in Balthier's room now. The pirate didn't bother to knock, knowing formalities were pointless between the two, and walked in, closing it softly behind him.
Vaan was sitting on the floor at the foot of his bed with his head resting on his knees, looking away out towards the window. Balthier could swear he could hear faint sobs, which worried him. The man took a seat beside him, wrapping his arm around quivering shoulders. Vaan looked up with wet but still rather angry eyes. Balthier caressed his cheek, placing a small kiss on his forehead. To his surprise, Vaan pulled away.
"What's wrong?" Vaan moved himself so he sat now on the bed, nibbling on his bottom lip.
"Have you ever slept with Fran?" Vaan asked suddenly, voice laced with bitterness. Balthier stared back at him rather dumbfounded. Sure, Fran he admitted was truly gorgeous, her dark skin looked lovely together with bright, flowing silver hair, and she was rather thin with beautiful legs and a mysterious, alluring expression. A wonderful, gorgeous woman, but also his trusted partner in crime, his closest friend, almost like a sister or mother to him. Balthier had no intention of sleeping with her and potentially ruining the carefully crafted bond they had created.
"Of course not. I don't see Fran in that way," Balthier slightly laughed, joining Vaan on the bed, taking a lock of is sandy hair into his jeweled fingers. Vaan's stare did not waver.
"You're lying," Vaan accused, slapping Balthier's hand away. Balthier, shocked, stood up.
"I'm telling you the truth Vaan!" Balthier yelled, now feeling fed up with the boy's rotten attitude. Vaan gave a small laugh, not believing the man. "I think you'd better tell me what the hell is wrong with you, for I will not have you continuing to call me a liar!"
Ashe and Penelo pressed their ears closer to the door as the room fell silent after Balthier had yelled. Basch had not too much interest in the whole situation, only hoping that it'd be done and over with soon, but Fran could hear everything quite well with her ears from her spot beside the captain in the kitchen. The three women listened hard.
"Down in town, I helped this Viera find herself her soul mate, or that's what she called him. The guy apparently was in love her and felt confident with himself to confess because he'd seen another couple. A Viera and Hume pirate."
"You mean-?"
"Of course I mean you and Fran? How many other pirates have Viera partners? The guy kept saying he saw them in love and figured he had a chance with her. And when that Viera wasn't rambling on and on about soul mates, she said 'those two share a special bond that cannot be broken or surpassed.' or something like that. So tell me the truth. Do you love Fran? Have you slept with her? What about me dammit!" Vaan finally stopped to catch his breath and he looked like he was on the verge of bursting into tears. Balthier stared wide eye for a moment before it dawned on his. He sighed, not expecting this out of Vaan. The only thing that Vaan had accused of him was that he loved Fran, which he did. She was his closest and dearest friend, like a mother to him. And though she was beautiful, he'd never sleep with her, potentially breaking those delicate bonds.
Balthier grabbed the boy by his shoulders, drawing him in close. Vaan struggled to get away, tears breaking loose, but his hold was firm. The pirate held Vaan like that until he finally calmed down. The blonde finally gave up and laid into his chest, his head pulsating. Balthier wiped away a teardrop that lingered on his chin.
"Really now Vaan. I never would have pegged you for the jealous type," Balthier chuckled, the sound vibrating through the younger boy's skull. Vaan gave a laugh of his own, moving away.
"I'm not jealous!" Balthier patted his blond locks, then jerked his head upwards to capture the boy's lips. They tasted slightly salty.
"I promise you Vaan, I have never slept with Fran, nor do I plan to. She's like a mother to me. I would have thought you would've had more faith in my love for you," Balthier whispered into his ear, making the boy's heart wring with guilt. Balthier laughed softly as Vaan tried to find the right words to apologize. Sparing the boy he drew him back into a hug, stroking his back.
"I'm sorry," Vaan finally apologized simply, closing his eyes to ease back the pain of the pulsating headache.
It was some time before the pair left their room. Ashe and Penelo had fled from outside some time ago when they started hearing moans and pants. Vaan sheepishly looked around the corner of the hall, both hoping and not hoping to find Fran. He really wanted to apologize for the way he acted, which had been far too overboard. Like Balthier had said, he never really realized how jealous of a person he was, it was shameful. The hall was clear, so the next place he decided to look in the place the Viera was most likely to be, inside of the engine room.
He held his breath as he peeked inside, the loud clanging of the machinery drowning out the thoughts he had. He could here the clacking of wasn't sure if he wanted to go inside any further.
"No need to be shy. I know that you are there," said Fran's voice, echoing throughout the room. He should have guessed she would have already know he was here. He stepped inside, closing the door behind him. Fran poked her head out from behind one of the engines, a spot of grease on her cheek. "You have come to apologize?"
Vaan felt his cheeks flare red ashamed. "Yeah, I just let something stupid get the better of me. I didn't mean to take it out on you. I just..." Vaan hadn't noticed how quickly she had ended up in front of him. She lightly stroked his cheek in a motherly sort of way.
"Do not dwell on it. Jealousy is something everyone can feel but no one can really control," Fran said softly, her emotionless face softly tinted with kind understanding. Vaan felt a little more relieved. He hadn't told Fran why had been upset, but he deduced she had been listening into their entire conversation. Vaan gave a small smile, but it was replaced with a confused expression. Fran handed the boy a wrench and started to head back to the machines.
"Would you lend me a hand?" Fran asked, acting as if nothing happened. Vaan nodded and walked over to help her, but pondered for a second.
"Hey Fran. You said everyone can feel jealousy. Have you ever felt jealous?" Vaan asked quietly, almost a squeak. The idea was absolutely preposterous that Fran of all people would feel jealous or envious of anyone, but he just had to ask. To Vaan's utter surprise, the Viera gave a soft chuckle. The boy had rarely seen her attempt at a smile, but a laugh was something he'd never hear in his lifetime.
"I did say everyone, did I not?" Fran looked down at her toolbox, looking for a bolt, but her long fingers came up empty. She turned to Vaan and sighed. "Could you go back to the town and pick up some tools?" Fran asked, quickly scribbling a list of items for Vaan to fetch, most which were available near the aerodrome. Vaan took the list in his hands, feeling she somehow willed the parts away so she wouldn't have to speak any further. He started to head out when Fran spoke again.
"I was all that Balthier used to have, and he was all I had left. He is all I truly have, but he finds comfort in another now it seems. You are not as close to him as I was, but you are closer in ways I could never be. His heart beats for you." She looked at the surprised orphan with sad eyes. "I should be happy he has found his happiness, but I cannot fully force myself to be truly happy, for I was not the one who brought it. That is my jealousy."
A/N: I kind of have this thing where Fran is sort of in love with Balthier but in the best friend kind of way. Does that make sense? I think she'd be jealous of Vaan like Vaan's jealous of her. The end was hard to do so I ended it as is. Was that a bad idea?
God bless Final Fantasy Melodies. Its the main reason why I'm pushing these guys out so fast. Anyway, I was thinking of making this a series of sorts, of the seven deadly sins. Next is going to be sloth.
Please please review, It'll make things come out much faster. And thanks again for reading! Love all you guys! See you in the next chapter!