He could feel nothing but for a pulse beneath his fingers, a steady, rhythmic motion, the beat of life.
Her heart.
Her skin was hot against his cold hands, and when he touched her, she shivered, but remained sleeping. He pulled her close. Who knew desert nights got so cold? She turned over in her sleep.
"Balthier..."she murmured.
"Fran?"he replied, only to find she was talking in her dreams. He smiled. She was dreaming about him. The prussian velvet of the night sky, studded with diamonds arced above them, the moon hung on a gossamer thread. He ran his fingers through her platinum locks, marvelling at the silkiness of her hair. It fell through his fingers and onto the sand, where it seemed to glow bright white against the yellow ochre. Fran was taller than him, but at that moment she was positioned in such a way that her head was level with his chest, her cheek pressed against his skin. Her long eyelashes made shadows on her face as they flickered, curling gently on her cheeks when they were still. Her long ears brushed his chin. He pulled their blanket about them tighter. It was unbelievably cold for a night preceding a day of flame. Vaan and Penelo had wanted to sleep under the stars like "real sky pirates", and everyone went along with them, even the princess, who slept not to far off. Even Basch was asleep. Vaan and Penelo had fallen asleep immediately. Only Balthier remained waking, enjoying the unity between himself and his partner, as they lay together. They did not have to indulge in actions of carnality to enjoy each other. One touch was enough. Just being near each other was enough. Balthier sometimes wished for a little more. Fran, however, was happy with just his words. As they had sworn to help Princess Ashe, they had both decided at the start of the journey that they would not hinder the progress of the group by becoming a couple. It was better for them just to be friends as the others were. It irked Balthier that he could not relieve the "tension", but he had to put up with it.
And Fran could be vicious when he pestered her.
No, it would seem he would have to make to with hurried kisses and clumsy embraces.
It was enough o make him pity the kiltias.
He couldn't cope with celibacy. No way.
Even thinking about it made him feel ill.
He played with a stray lock of Fran's hair. Her eyelashes flickered. She opened her eyes, and dark met crimson as they gazed at each other.
"Go to sleep."she commanded, before turning her back on him in a decidedly rude fashion.
"Your wish is my command, oh great one."he replied mockingly, rolling his eyes.
He found himself on the sand with no blankets and an odd looking lizard as a bedfellow.
He tried to make the best of it.
The next day, everyone awoke bright and refreshed.
Fran did not, it seemed, harbour any guilt over the happenings of the previous night.
Balthier was not impressed.
The lizard that had been his only company for the evening had taken to following him.
It was about as large as an Estersand wolf, and infinitely more vicious. It has shared his bath, breakfast and bed.
It was orange.
Fran found it immensely amusing, but of course, she never revealed her amusement. If Balthier was so desperate for carnal relations that he had to seek out a lizard, then she had to do something about it.