Welcome to chapter 2! Let's continue with our little story about Balthier's insane jealousy! Hope you enjoy! Reviewing earns updates…and makes you super cool….really it does
And I'm Doing Just Fine
Chapter 2: Count Your Fading Scars
Basch thought he could hear Vaan screaming, no, that couldn't be Vaan…Penelo maybe? He opened his eyes, unsure of exactly who the blurry figures bending over him were. He tried to move, and regretted it. He could feel some type of sticky liquid all over his chest and running in a thin stream from his lips. After managing to make his arms cooperate he touched a calloused hand to his mouth, wiping away some of the liquid. Red? He thought, confused, and then he remembered…Balthier had shot him.
Penelo, Fran, and Ashe heard the shot from downstairs where they were all sitting, having a drink before bed. They rushed up stairs at the sound and were half way down the hall when they saw the pirate coming toward them. At first she didn't notice anything out of the ordinary, but then Penelo saw that Balthier had his gun in his hand.
"Balthier?" she asked hesitantly, a growing panic creeping into her heart.
The pirate didn't say anything, but the look on his face said it all. He was pale, covered in a thin layer of sweat. His face showed no emotion, but his eyes showed a combination of sorrow, fear, regret, and pain. He handed Fran the gun, and pushed past them slowly, walking calmly down the stairs and out into the street.
Penelo broke out into a run, trying desperately to get to Basch's room as fast as she could. She could hear the others following closely behind. Terrified that she was going to find her best friend dead, tears were already spilling down her cheeks when she entered the room. To her relief, Vaan seemed uninjured, he was kneeling on the ground, and for a moment she thought that perhaps he and Balthier had only had a fight in which a shot was fired but didn't hit anyone. Then she saw Basch. He was crumpled on the ground, a growing pool of red around him. She screamed.
"There is nothing I can do," said Fran as she knelt across from Vaan, surveying Basch's wound, "We will have to wait for him to die and raise him."
"Vaan how did this happen?" asked Ashe, who had not dared to approach her fallen friend.
The boy didn't answer for a moment, he just sat there staring at the blood on his hands, occasionally sniffing and wiping tears from his face with the back of his hand.
"Vaan?" Ashe called, louder this time, trying not to panic as the man she was beginning to think she loved lay bleeding to death before her, "I need you to tell me what happened."
The boy looked up at her, "Balthier shot him," he said, "I…I…didn't know what to…it all just happened so fast…"
"Someone should go and find Balthier," said Fran, looking up at the others, "I will take care of Captain Basch. He will be fine."
"I'll go," said Ashe, knowing she could not handle watching Basch slowly die in front of her, "Penelo, take care of Vaan," she whispered to the younger girl as she turned to leave, "See if you can calm him down."
"This is all my fault Ashe, I…I told Balthier that I saw Vaan going into Basch's room…I didn't think he'd…well…do anything like this."
Ashe gave the girl a reassuring pat on the arm, "It's not your fault Penelo, and you heard Fran, Basch will be fine. Don't worry ok?"
She didn't think anything about what Penelo had said about seeing Vaan go into the captain's room, she and Basch had been doing a strange dance over the past few weeks, and although neither of them had made any promises she felt sure that the knight had strong feelings for her…she knew she had them for him. She wasn't sure where to start looking for the pirate, for all she knew he could have taken the Strahl and left by now, but she ventured out in the street, determined to find him and figure out what was going on.
Balthier left the inn and kept walking without looking back. His anger had somewhat transformed into a hollow feeling of emptiness. Now that he'd had his revenge there was nothing left, and nowhere for him to go. He doubted even Fran would be willing to have anything to do with him after this. He walked with no real destination; his only goal was putting more and more distance between himself and the inn. He passed through the east end of the city quickly, moving into the southern plaza. His feet were moving on autopilot, leading him straight to the aerodome where the Strahl was waiting.
Ashe knew the pirate well enough to know that the first place he would head would be straight to the Strahl, so she began her search there. She was so sure that he would be there, trying his best to flee before they had a chance to get to him that she almost didn't see him as he headed toward the East gate. Why would he be headed toward the Estersand? She thought, but she didn't waste any more time thinking about it before quickly following after him. She followed him out of the city at a distance, not quite sure what to say when she reached him, and a little afraid that he would attempt to kill her as well. She had no choice but to approach him when the pirate sank down into the sand, letting his back rest against a canyon wall. The desert was dark, but there was just enough light from the nearby city and the brightly lit stars that she could make out the pirate's form a short distance ahead of her. If he heard her approached he gave no sign of it, he didn't even turn his head to face her when she sank down beside him. She was almost surprised when he spoke first.
"Is Basch alright?" he asked, and she couldn't really tell by his tone if he really cared either way.
"Fran was staying nearby to raise him."
The pirate nodded, "And Vaan? I imagine watching his lover die had him quite upset."
Ashe didn't attempt to hide her surprise, "His lover?"
"Yes," Balthier muttered, leaning his head back and gazing at the stars, "It seems Captain Basch and Vaan have developed feelings for each other."
Ashe shook her head in disbelief, "That just doesn't sound right, Vaan is crazy about you…and Basch…" her voice trailed off and she looked to the ground.
Balthier turned and gave her a sympathetic look, "And Basch," he said, "had certain feelings for you. Yes I thought that myself."
Ashe nodded, "You're sure about them?" she asked, her tone begging the pirate to say no.
He nodded, "I heard them. Apparently Vaan thought it quite funny how clueless about the whole thing I was."
"I'm sorry," said Ashe, attempting to fight back the tears that had formed in her own eyes to learn that the man she had been so sure cared for her was in love with someone else. In fact she couldn't help but want to shoot Basch herself now.
Balthier attempted a halfhearted smile, "I'm an idiot," he muttered, "I knew better than to let myself get this close to someone." He saw a rogue tear escape the princess' eye, and he put his arm around her, "I'm sorry you had to learn about Basch from me," he said.
Giving up on fighting back the tears, Ashe sniffed and shook her head, "It's better that I know now," she sobbed, "I mean before it progressed any further."
He handed her a handkerchief, "I'm sorry your highness but I don't think I can help you in your quest any longer."
Ashe nodded, "I understand. I'm going to have a hell of a time continuing on myself now, having to stay and watch them," she paused for a moment to blow her nose, "You really love Vaan, don't you?"
Balthier nodded, "Seeing him with someone else would kill me. And Basch would be at the risk of being killed on a permanent basis."
Ashe attempted a sad smile, "He might still be at risk for that. Will you be ok?"
"I suppose time heals every wound," he muttered sadly, "But I'll never be able to forget him. I suppose I'll think of him every time I count the fading scars of my past."
They sat there together in the dark for a long time, and Ashe watched the Strahl take off into the darkness when Balthier announced that it was time for him to go. She almost wished she could go with him, but her duty to Dalmasca was more important than her broken heart.
To be Continued…
Hope you enjoyed! Review if you'd like to see Chapter 3: Broken Hallelujah.