Fran opened her eyes and looked around the dim lit room.
"Were am I?"
"In a land far, far away where everyone lives in peace and harmony"
"What?"
Balthier smiled at her. "At Marquises. But we can´t stay here for long so you have to get better quickly."
Fran tried to nod but stopped, a killer headache haunting her. "Tell me… what exactly happened?"
"The roof fell down on you and then you insulted me."
She smiled at the memory, funnier now then it was when it actually happened. "That I remember. The Bahamut exploded… right?"
"Something like that."
"You should have left me there."
"Absurd. I´m the leading man. I have a duty to my call."
"Is that what you refer it as? Your call?"
Balthier shrugged.
A moment of silence.
"Why didn´t you leave me, Balthier?"
He looked at her in wonder, like she was stupid. "You know I could never do that, Fran. You´re my partner!"
"Maybe. But I´m still just a simple life form that was thrown out by my own people. I do not deserve it."
"Oh come on!" Balthier rose and walked over to her. He fell down on his knees and looked down on where she was lying. He gently placed his hand on her cheek and smiled. The gentle, caring touch of someone who cared deeply about someone else
"You mean so much more to me then you realize, Fran. A life without you is now impossible for me to imagine."
"But you do try."
"Only to make sure that I don´t want you to go."
Fran placed her hand on his, not wanting him to let go. "Stupid Hume."
"Stupid Viera."
"Maybe… But at least I know of it."
Balthier looked at her. Fran didn't make jokes very often, and when she did, she made him a bit confused. A smile showed, and then he got serious.
"Never leave me, Fran."
She nodded, just as seriously, knowing that she couldn't leave for the same reason he couldn't. As he had said, he meant so much to her. "I promise. I never will." Then her eyes lit up. "But I still think you´re just the supporting role."
Balthier looked at her in disbelief, eye browns raised.
"Like I said. Stupid Viera!"
Then he kissed her.