My first FFXII drabble. I hope you like it guys. I might have some pairing drabbles later, but for now, enjoy the gen.
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Vaan wasn't afraid of the dark. He could spend hours on end hunting rats in the shadow of the Overflow Cloaca, without a worry of what was hiding just behind him beneath the darkness. But, the way Balthier had said it – 'Worse. Much worse.' – well, it worried him. Just slightly.
I mean Balthier was overreacting, right? Sure, Barheim Passage sounded big, and sure lots of monsters came out in the darkness, but… they couldn't die, could they? His adventure had just started!
When the light dimmed, and the corpse rose before him with maggots wriggling through the thin shell of its skull, Vaan was more afraid of the dark than he had been when he went into the sewers for the first time – barely eight years old.
They had headed for the Mimic sucking the power, and the lights brightened just a tad, but as they ran through to the railway, another corpse shuddered out through the ground. Vaan didn't scream, he just… shouted out a bit. Just a bit. He wasn't scared of the dark.
He saw Fran get struck, but she acted as if it hadn't happened and jumped back nimbly. Balthier shot out, and Vaan sucked in a breath and sliced forward, catching the monster through its gruesome head.
'You hesitated.' The sky pirate grinned at him, brushing some dirt off his dress shirt with vague irritation. Vaan grumbled something under his breath and headed towards the next mimic. Balthier just chuckled and murmured something to the Viera, heading forward at a far more casual pace.
Vaan's hand trembled as more corpses came through the ground. Even Balthier's forehead was furrowed with concern, and Fran was gasping harshly. Basch wasn't doing so well, with no weapon and no protection he was resorted to his fists and already his arms and torso were covered with gashes. They cast each other a weary look, and Balthier grinned and shrugged. Vaan nodded and ran forward again.
He wasn't afraid of the dark. But he was afraid of dying, so he was going to push through until they reached the light.
Fin
