Title: Yggdrasil

Author: Winter Still

Pairing: Balthier/Vaan

Summary: In exchange for a Galbana Lily, Vaan is given the key to change the universe.

Chapter: 9/? "Cover ground or knock around?"

Note: I really want to finish this story for everyone who has paid it any attention this past decade. Sorry for the wait. I've lost all my notes and unpublished chapters I had written for this story but I won't be stopped. I also won't go back and edit anything so you can enjoy the story as you remember it. I'll just continue from where I left off with all the elements of this AU I can juggle.

Balthier tried sitting up but the pounding pain of his wounds quickly had him back horizontal. He cursed himself for getting hit by some forest churl and potentially losing more time to Vaan's frantic search for his nonsense. It really doesn't have a thing to do with me, he thought to himself, consciously stopping himself from grinding his teeth in frustration. How did I end up so entangled?

If Balthier stopped to really think about it- nothing that had happened recently made any sense. Why were the beasts of the Salikawood suddenly so frequently crossing his path, and why were they all so mutated and powerful? How long did Vaan and Balthier unknowingly share the Salikawood as their temporary home? Why now did they cross paths?

The necklace, Balthier thought. The boy's necklace had gone missing.

Is that why he had found Vaan that grey morning, almost as if he had been placed for Balthier to find? Because Vaan had been looking for Fran's gift? He thought back to their interaction- though the combination of dehydration and bloodloss made the recollection hazy. He remembered Vaan accusing him of taking the necklace.

Why would Vaan accuse- "Balthier, you're awake," Vaan exclaimed. He knelt next to Balthier's prone form. During the aristocrat's musings, it seemed Vaan had been rather productive - he had gathered water in a large leaf folded so Balthier could drink from it. Grateful for the hydration, Balthier made no protest as Vaan helped him sit up enough to gulp down the cool water. "I found a waterfall not too far from here," he explained, as if answering a silent question. "We should get you back to the moogles. They can help heal you up."

Balthier quirked an eyebrow at him but didn't say a word. hesitant to disturb them getting along for more than 5 minutes. His doubt must have been palpable, because the boy rushed to say without prompting "I've lived with them for a couple months; they know enough about Humes to get by. Plus it's safer if we are all together."

"Moogles are fighters now, are they?" Ah, there went the easy peace. Well, Balthier had held on as long as he could have through Vaan's naive ideas.

Vaan flushed and his fingers tightened where he held Balthier to steady him. "They lasted this long," he muttered, looking down.

"What about you," Balthier asked softly, trying not to visibily wince. "Will you still look for your necklace?"

The blonde shifted where he sat, his gaze snapping to Balthier's like magnets. "Of course I will. I can't leave without it!" Vaan's chest bumped against the overseer's shoulder, as he unconsciously puffed out his chest to bring the point home. He was so warm, Balthier noted, even now- even in that vest. His chest was well-defined and while the outfit was a bit exposed for Balthier's personal taste, he could see why someone wouldn't cover up all that muscle. "It's not like I can easily replace something like that."

"Why keep it?" Balthier pressed. "Surely you can find a seed anywhere. You didn't even plant the one you were given! It's probably not viable anymore."

"It's not about that! It's got value to me."

The Archadian's head pounded. He had to get back to work eventually. How long could he afford to be distracted? HIs father had been distant during their last talk and Balthier, perhaps too easily, imagined his father's burgeoning disappointment with the project in his distracted silence. He needed to focus on his work, his father's goals. His head throbbed again, reminding him of the pressing issue. While he brooded, the blood on his lip had coagulated again and the sting was somehow sharper when he opened his mouth to say "We should get back to camp. For now," he continued, despite Vaan's eyes brightening with interruption, "we should go back to my bungalow. It's closer and I have medical supplies."

Vaan pursed his lips but seemed to assent to his conclusion. "Fine," he said with a nod. He moved to help Balthier sit up, but the man gritted his teeth. "Are you gonna be okay?"

"Distract me," Balthier breathed, trying to remember a time when he wasn't in pain. "Talk to me." Vaan's slightly husky voice wavered but was soothing as they stabilized into a standing position. His tanned hand grabbed Balthier's wrist as he wrapped his arm around his shoulder. He felt the warm pressure of Vaan's other hand on his hip as they stumbled forward together. The blonde hesitated before launching into a story that involved moogles and alcohol, but Balthier wasn't really listening. He let Vaan's voice wash over him like a wave, tuning in and out as the pain ebbed and the road disappeared under his feet.

Vaan grunted lightly as he steered Balthier into the bungalow. "The desk," Balthier said, his voice light from exhaustion. The blonde stopped in his tracks.

"What? You want to sit at the desk?" Vaan's brows furrowed. "Isn't it time for bed? You have to rest up, right?"

Balthier's arm ached from being pulled across Vaan's shoulder. His free arm swung low and brushed his fingertips across Vaan's knuckles. "I need to tell my father what's happening here." Vaan looked over at the desk covered in a red runner, with small crystalline paperweights, and a photo of a man in glasses holding a baby.

"Can't this wait 'til tomorrow?"

Balthier sighed, dragging a head up to his forehead. "I am tired," he admitted. The blonde nodded, decision made. He continued to pull Balthier over to the bed, tipping him over once they were close enough. Balthier's hand stayed at the back of his neck as Vaan leaned over him. He rubbed the short hairs at his nape as he used his weight to keep Vaan close enough to murmur. "The healing potions are in the armoire, bottom drawer."

He coasted on the ebbing waves of pain, maybe due to the relief of knowing he would have a the sweet tang of a hi potion to chase away the haze. He would write to his father about this. The doctor would want to know about the strange activity of the Salikawood beasties. Although, he still couldn't associate it directly to his research, but that he could figure out later.

Vaan pressed the chill bottle into his hand, startling him. He must have been slowed by his blood loss, because Vaan wordlessly took the small decanter and fiddled with the top until the cork released with a pop. Even though he didn't make a sound, Balthier's gaze settled around Vaan's pinched expression. When Vaan looked up, he reached for the back of the brunet's head- cupping him gently.

Balthier could only manage a chagrined smile at the situation, distracted by the feel of Vaan's calluses where his hair was shorter. The blonde paused and Balthier realized he was waiting for permission. He caught his gaze - pinched, he noted, worried? - and nodded, enjoying the delicious friction of Vaan's hands as he moved.

As the potion was tipped into his mouth, he found himself mourning lightly. He'll never have a reason to touch me like this again.