A/N: Finally! Romance! The series are almost ending, I hope you've all enjoyed the ride so far! Please enjoy! :Meresta
Summery: The best conversations are held at times where one is supposed to be dreaming.
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Suggesting a malexmale pairing, actual contact this time.
Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy XII.
Tea
"We can not thank you enough." Larsa said, smiling as the two pirates gaped at the enormous amount of gil they were just presented with.
"I think you're coming close." Vaan replied. If he didn't love his job, he'd retire.
"Definitely." Balthier added.
The young prince and his girl were left in the safety of Mt. Bur Omisace, and so it was time for the sky pirates to leave. They exchanged goodbyes and good lucks, Vaan smiling when he noticed Balthier actually caring for their wanted friends. It was hard to tell the difference between the older pirate's 'I don't give a damn'-look, and his 'I pretend not to give a damn'-look. However, Vaan was able to do it by now.
"What are we going to do with the money?" Vaan asked, toying around with some coins. He'd never felt this rich in his entire life and he had to admit; it was a pretty darn good feeling.
Balthier shrugged, walking back to the sofa, handing Vaan a cup of tea. It was getting dark outside.
"Make a wish."
The younger pirate accepted the cup and took a moment to think. Balthier sat down beside him, awaiting a reaction. Their eyes met, and before they knew it, a smile was shared.
"What is it?" Balthier asked, unable to stop smiling. Moments like these happened more often lately. Vaan raised his shoulders, and chuckled.
"Nothing much." He took a sip from his tea, almost burning himself. He made a face and put the cup back on the table. "I just realized every dream I had has come true."
"Every dream? You mustn't have many dreams then." There were many things the two of them didn't have, and Balthier couldn't really believe his partner was satisfied.
"How about you?" The wheat blond questioned, curious.
"I don't dream." He got up from the couch, gazing at Vaan for a minute, seeming to doubt something. The wheat blond looked back, but after a few seconds, the older pirate left for his room. His partner remained alone in the main quarters, staring at his cup until the tea turned cold.
That night, Vaan couldn't sleep. He wasted time, twisting and turning, his partner's words echoing constantly through his mind.
Balthier didn't dream.
Vaan's dreams were simple. He wanted to be a sky pirate, fly an airship, be rich. He wanted to be able to do whatever he wanted, without having to worry about anything at all. He wanted to be happy.
A strange feeling overwhelmed him when he realized, Balthier was the one who gave him all that. He squeezed his eyes shut and turned again. If it wasn't for the brunet, all of his dreams, would still be dreams. He would still live in Rabanastre, stealing for a living. Talk about coincidence.
All the places he had seen, all the people he met. Satin sheets, dirty hammocks, Seeq's with terrible timing. Silver rings, emerald gems, mice.. He even got to meet old friends again. Burns, sickness, an uncountable amount of starfruits. Through summer heat and heavy rains, through tombs, caves and castles.
Not just that.
All the nights they stayed up late, just talking about whatever came to mind. All the times they didn't have to say a word to understand each other. All the playful bickering, all the silences that got weirder by day. The laughs, every time they finished the other's sentence. Their hands, finding a way to the other's shoulder, when things got a bit too rough. The bond they had, the trust they shared.
All because of Balthier.
The feeling Vaan couldn't identify was getting stronger, rushing through his blood, keeping him awake. He was frightened, scared. He needed reassurance, he needed..
He needed his partner. He needed him to dream, to breath, to sleep.
Vaan hid his face in his pillow, realizing he couldn't use the 'because we are such good friends' excuse any longer. This wasn't just friendship, but what was it? Aside from frustrating. Was it possible that he was falling for..
He couldn't be. It would ruin everything. Unless of course..
He turned violently, pushing his pillow against his face. He wanted the confusing thoughts out, now.
Suddenly, he heard footsteps coming near his door. A soft knock followed, but Vaan didn't respond. Balthier opened the door carefully, and stood in the doorframe. His eyes searched through the dark for his partner, who had no trouble spotting him.
"Vaan." He said softly. "Are you awake?"
The wheat blond nodded, but realized his partner wouldn't be able to see it.
"Yeah. Can't sleep."
The brunet sighed.
"Me neither. I think it's the weather. Care to join me?"
The younger pirate sat up straight, brushing his hair back.
"What will we be doing?"
"We will be discussing the great matters of life over the extract of various herbs and flavors."
They both chuckled. Never too tired for fancy words.
"I'd like that."
"Hey..Balthier.." Vaan was looking at his hands, holding a new cup tightly. His colleague looked up.
"Yes?"
"When you said you didn't dream.. what did you mean?"
The brunet took a moment to think about this question.
"Dreaming earns you naught. So why do it?"
"But..aren't there things you want?"
"Who knows.." The brunet answered absently, taking a sip of his tea. "All I know is dreaming won't help me get those things."
Vaan looked outside, hints of the sunrise were showing through the clouds. He didn't realize it was already that late.
"You know, some times I'm scared." The wheat blond said softly.
"Of what?"
"That I might be dreaming all of this."
"Well, you're not."
"You're awfully confident."
"With good reason."
The younger pirate turned and faced his partner, who smiled reassuringly. Balthier's hand found it's way to Vaan's shoulder, summer had left it with small, white lines where his rings were supposed to be. The brunet was about to retreat his hand, when Vaan leaned into the touch. Feeling slightly awkward, Balthier let his hand linger on the skin of his colleague.
The brunet didn't know what he was doing anymore, all he knew was time stopped ticking when Vaan let himself rest against his chest, relaxing under the touch of his fingers. The older pirate felt an extreme nervousness rising inside him and he did all he could to keep his hands from shaking.
"Hey..Balthier.." Vaan said sleepily, not seeming stressed at all.
"Hmm?"
"We'll always be pirates, right?"
"Of course we will."
"And," The wheat blond continued. "flying too?"
"We won't touch a ground for a second."
"Promise me."
"I promise you."
A smile formed on Vaan's face as he closed his eyes, slowly drifting off to sleep. Balthier watched him, still softly stroking his shoulder.
Balthier didn't dream.
He didn't dream, because dreams are unreachable, and Balthier could reach whatever he wanted.
Lately though, he hasn't been completely sure what it was he wanted. Where just friendship and support would seem enough, there was this void inside of the older pirate, he couldn't seem to fill. He was having more and more trouble with normal conversation and each time they had to reach for each others hand, to help each other up those final steps or boulders, he started shaking.
Though he wasn't sure what the meaning of all this was, he did know he couldn't escape it with the excuse of them being partners.
It was confusing, and he hated being confused. It seemed that lately, his body and mind were forcing many other feelings upon him which he hated to have. Jealousy, when others would even blink at Vaan. The urge to let him know that yes, he would very much walk on water if the wheat blond asked him to. With grey eyes shining in his thoughts, it didn't seem all that hard. Nothing did.
These feelings were all feelings he had not experienced before and he had a hard time placing them in the right category. This went beyond care and partnership, but Balthier wasn't sure if he liked the direction it was going in. Being in love made someone weak, something he couldn't afford to be. He sighed deeply, allowing himself to let his thoughts go.
He glanced at his partner once more, before closing his eyes as well. Rain softly ticked on the glass windows, creating a soothing rhythm. Outside, the sun was rising, announcing a new day.
He didn't care what it would bring because right now, Vaan was in his arms.
Both cups of tea stood next to each other on their glass top table, slowly turning cold.
Reviews are very much appreciated!
