Final Fantasy XII – Ffamran/Fran

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"Ffamran, are you crying?" she asks quietly so the man with the large needle can't hear. "It hasn't even happened yet."

He scowls at her with as much menace as a sixteen year old Hume child can possess. "I am not crying. Whatever incense someone is burning in this filthy place is making my eyes water."

She nods, wondering again why she's bothered to partner with this boy. He can barely even talk without his voice cracking yet he deigns to give the orders. Today is Earring Attainment Day, some ritual he finds necessary to continue his transformation from runaway judge to full fledged sky pirate. Fran has no need for such things, but she is not a Hume teenager who has only read about piracy in books.

Fran watches Ffamran's eyes grow redder as the man rubs something wet on his ear to prepare it for the inevitable. "Look at me."

He does so, still not entirely trusting. Fran gives the man with the needle a look, and she leans forward, grasping the boy by the chin and pulling his face against hers. He sighs happily, and she tries not to roll her eyes. Ffamran's joy is cut short then, and he cries out against her lips as the needle pierces his ear. She continues kissing his trembling lips until the man pats her on the shoulder to indicate that it is all over.

The poor boy looks confused, excited and mortified all at once. He fusses with his new ear jewelry and can't really look at her. "Fran?"

"Yes?"

"Can I get another one?"