It was a bright day out when Vaan decided to visit him. There was a secret passageway down there but he decided that he would go the long way around. As he made his way there, a fast airship passed ahead. Vaan being Vaan, all thought of visiting Dalan dispersed from his head. He knew who was home and he couldn't wait to see him.
Vaan hurried home and was surprised with what he saw. Fran was pacing the room while Balthier was groaning. Balthier was injured although Vaan couldn't see where or how. Vaan cautiously approached and asked Fran what had happened.
"He's broken a bone in his leg but he still wants to go off on an adventure. I know that his spending more than a day indoors will drive him mad but he has to do this, for his own good."
Balthier spat at that. "I don't need time inside. I will be fine. It will heal like everything else."
"See what I mean. He refused to see a doctor so I bought him here to Penelo."
"And you have good timing, coming back like this." Penelo commented as she entered the room. "You can help me. But why are you back so soon? I thought you were going to see Dalan."
"I was but I saw Balthier's ship and I just had to see him. It's been ages since I last saw him. I thought that Balthier might have better stories for me."
"That I'm sure he does but first you need to help me, Vaan."
"Yes Penelo. How can I help?"
"You could start by finding the bandages. I still haven't found out where you hid them. Honestly, I don't know how you hide everything you use."
"Sure."
Fixing Balthier up proved to be harder than either of the teens thought it would be as he squirmed and complained. After a good three hours of getting nowhere, Penelo just hit him a little too hard over the head with a pot to knock him out.
The next morning, Balthier woke up with a splitting headache and saw that Vaan was on watch.
"Vaan," Balthier called softly. Vaan jumped.
"Yes Balthier."
"How are you?"
"I could ask you the same. Does it hurt?"
"What?" as Balthier tried to sit up, he was reminded of his problem. "Oh. Yes."
"What did you do?"
"I'd rather…not say."
"Okay. How have you been?"
"Well. And yourself? You look so much older. You've grown well."
"You have too. How does it feel to be getting old, old man?"
"Stop with the insults, Vaan. I'm not really… in the mood for that."
"Okay. Just… I've missed you. You being hurt… bought me back to reality. When I saw your ship… I was so happy. I wanted to be taken into your arms and be hugged for all those years we missed. I came here because I knew that you would come here. When I saw you hurt I…" Tears overwhelmed his vision and will and before Vaan knew what was happening, he had thrown himself onto Balthier and was crying his eyes and heart out.
Vaan knew that people were going in and out of the shop and were giving them strange looks but he didn't care; he had his Balthier back and he was never letting go again. After a time, Balthier decided that it was time to tell Vaan his feelings on this topic.
"Vaan,"
Vaan looked up and saw a sincere face looking down into his.
"There has been no day when I have not missed you. This is why I wish you to come with me the next time I go away. Will you?"
"Yes!" It would be no understatement to say that he squealed.
When Balthier was fully healed, Vaan went with him and shared each of his adventures with him.
