AN: A super short one, sort of a prelude to the "Families" story.
Fran does not pry into Balthier's past, and has never outright asked him any question pertaining to it; instead, she has circled round the subject, until he finally confesses some such knowledge that reveals to his partner, piece by piece, the sordid details of his former life.
Often, though, she senses he sees through her game, playing along only for a love of wordplay.
They are both fairly secretive, and so although they have been partners for some time, there are still thousands of things she does not know about him, and he would say the same of her, she is certain.
Perhaps this is why she stays; constantly, she learns new things about him or from him, and Fran would confess, if she were prone to confessing (she isn't) that Balthier is the single most fascinating Hume she's ever met.