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[helpdesk_hero]

This is David Alleyne, I'm not available at the moment.
Please leave your name, contact information, and what this is regarding after the beep.

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[portolan]

Balthier follows, equally wanting to just take a minute to brace himself against the way old, cruel memories surface and the sinking feeling in his stomach tells him something is wrong, wrong in a way that empires grow and countries fall, but right now there's a task to do, and that's easier to focus on.

But as David's speech gets more pointed, he stops what he's doing and goes to hold his love tight, as much for himself as for David.

"We'll figure it out," Balthier says. He doesn't want to uproot this life they've built. Doesn't want to think about being chased from his home again. Especially not when he likes this one. "If I have to build us a flying apartment, we'll figure it out."

[helpdesk_hero]

Arms around him, and the comfort from it is intense. He wants to break down, he wants to scream that it isn't fair, he wants to riot. This happened back home. This happened in the last world. All he wants is a chance to live a life and do good. Why does there have to keep being a barrier? Why does he keep getting stopped?

"I like what we have," he says, his voice soft and hurting. "I like being-"

Wait, no, stop. Let him go back to that other thing, because it makes him laugh.

"I doubt either of us have that skill."

[portolan]

Balthier's feelings aren't dissimilar, and made worse by not being able to assure his partner that things will be alright with any real conviction -- though he does believe if anyone is stubborn enough to figure it out, it's them.

Still, it breaks his heart to hear David so hurting. "I know. I do too--" His voice is soft too. He's gotten better at not pushing his emotions away when David is low.

But then David's laughing, and while that wasn't Balthier's intent and some tiny part of him doesn't want to be laughed at for trying to help, he's smiling too, glad to hear that sound.

"I've been working on getting sky stone through the world transport, and we know enough people. If that's what we need, I'll find a way. Or do you doubt a man who has slain gods?"

Still, he holds David tight, kissing his temple and breathing in his familiar scent. So long as they aren't separated, they'll figure this out.

[helpdesk_hero]

Oh, he's stubborn enough to do something. But if there was on secret he was going to keep from Balthier, it was the plan he was formulating with Rook. Ikol's boyfriend was going to help him put together a team to try and wipe the Alliance's records of Starfallen. Maybe. He doesn't know yet.

But Balthier would want in, and he doesn't think there is place on the small operations team for that.

"No, I don't doubt you. I... There was tech in my world like that. But I'm not exactly the best to trust around flying things for long periods, love. I tend to crash them."

The sky bike wasn't so bad. He was never controlling that.

"I just wish I could find somewhere safe to be away from all of this."

[portolan]

Balthier would absolutely want in, and while he'll be temporarily hurt -- and wary -- he was kept in the dark, he'll be able to respect David's decision. Even if he'll want a word about being honest and trusting him to respect boundaries as opposed to keeping secrets.

"Who says you're allowed to steer?" Balthier chuckles. "We have continents that have floated for thousands of years. I've flown ships since I was a boy."

But he squeezes David, dropping his games. "I know, love. I do too." The real problem was that David, even more than Balthier, would be miserable away from his friends and from people to help. They couldn't just disappear.

[helpdesk_hero]

Good thing David will be telling Balthier once a decision is made that he’s actually going through with it. No reason to worry Balthier over the whole thing before there was, confirmed a thing. Always better to let your boyfriend know that you might be doing something that could end you up in superhero jail and might require his villain self to break you out and ‘seduce’ you to the dark side.

“I’ve only flown them since I was a teen. And had the skills of the best pilots the X-Men had. And they still keep crashing.”

Usually because he’s being shot from the sky. That’s always the worst part. He’s been in about four of those instances now. He’s just not allowed to be in planes, it’s not safe for the other passengers.

“If my work wasn’t here, I’d just leave,” he admits with a sigh. “With Josh moved to LA and Otto seriously reevaluating his alignment, it wouldn’t be hard.”

Except there’s Balthier’s work. That will keep them here too.

[portolan]

"Well I have better luck, and any story I'm in, I'm the leading man, so we'll see about all that," Balthier teases. He is not letting David sit in a pity-party about a hypothetical solution.

Not that he wants to dismiss David's very real stress, either.

"We'll get things moved, we'll see how the winds are blowing, and we'll weigh all of our options." Otto commutes with a transporter. It's not ideal, no, but it's not impossible, and Balthier's mind has already run various workable scenarios.

[helpdesk_hero]

Oh, is he? So David's the love interest? Honestly, he could settle for that for a change.

"I'm not sure what options there are," David sighs before slipping from his lover's arms and then moving toward the lab. "I don't even know if the Alliance will still chip in for residences."

[portolan]

There were always options.

"You're dating a pirate, love. One who has had a year and a half to stockpile rare goods, stash away extra money, and has a network of people who own him favors and will buy things under the table."

But -- that does beg another question, one that rises in his throat as he lets David go and follows him toward the lab.

"I had imagined doing this much more romantically, but you could always move in with me."

He doesn't entirely expect how hot his face gets or how tight his stomach feels, even if he manages to make the offer calmly.

"I had been thinking about asking anyway," he adds. It just hadn't made sense with David's lab and kitchen being made to his needs. So he'd already been aware that, if his life went the way he wanted it to, he may have to consider moving in the future regardless.

[helpdesk_hero]

Okay, that's a very good point. Charming pirate boyfriends are really useful. And wonderful. To him specifically. Which he's thinking about as he starts to take things off of work tables to prepare them for packing.

His hands freeze when Balthier says those words. His hands are shaking enough that he has to put down the fragile latest prototype for his guard dog toy. Only then does he turn to look at Balthier. And he doesn't bother to try and hide just how much emotion is running through him. Hope and longing and desire, but also a bit of fear.

"You know, I've never been asked that before. Well, Josh did because my best friend and he shouldn't live alone probably and... oh god that doesn't matter. Do you mean it?"

[portolan]

Balthier's flush turns to a boyish look of surprise as David's hands tremble and he turns to face him with that beautiful look of hope and want. Balthier can't blame the fear at all; that's there for him too.

But he breaks out in a grin, reaching out for David's hand. "Here I had decided you'd feel boxed in, or if it was something you wanted you would have said something. Of course I mean it. I miss you when you're gone. And -- " He steps closer again, kissing David as much to be sweet as to hide his own face for a moment. All this time, all this trust, and he still has trouble, sometimes, admitting the depth of his feelings. "You're the most important part of my life. I want a future with you, and eventually, that means living together."

[helpdesk_hero]

No, of course he wouldn't have said something. Sometimes his relationship with Balthier feels like a soap bubble: like it will break if he looks at it too long. No, he hadn't dared think it. Sure, his apartment had the advantages of the lab, but even the kitchen could be forsaken if he'd been asked.

And that kiss is better than sweet. It's nourishing. It's soul-strengthening.

"Then yes," he says, tilting his head forward to press his forehead against Balthier's. "I'll figure out another place to keep my work later. But yes. I would be happy to live with the dashing rogue that stole my heart. And tried to steal booty for me."

[portolan]

It's occurring to Balthier that's probably what happened; he's growing at catching himself writing stories for others, but he still has a blindspot when his fear of overstepping and breaking his own soap-bubble fantasy dominates his rational mind.

But with David leaning so sweetly into that kiss, lingering so close and agreeing so happily, Balthier can't help chuckle at the both of them, hand holding David's neck and brushing his cheek. Maybe it's wonderful, actually, that he waited and asked like this. All of this is still terrible and daunting, but, what a bright spot amidst it.

"I will be so happy to have my beautiful figure-skating genius living with me," he says back, humming with contentment as their foreheads rest together. "I love you."

[helpdesk_hero]

It's terrifying. This is all so deep and serious and David's so happy in the face of his fear and that's scary in a whole other way.

"I love you too," David says. And yeah, Balthier's getting his key once he bounds out. Someone has to move his clothes for him. "I love you more than I know how to say."

[portolan]

It is terrifying, and it's also ... grounding. Every time Balthier leaps, David either catches him, or leaps too. And that's wondrous.

"I think I have some idea how that feels," he assures David. "And we don't need to figure this out today, but whatever we need to adjust so you have the workspace and lifestyle you need -- if we're going to do this, it's our space, alright? I don't want you feeling like you're trying to squeeze in around me."

He does know enough to know David might try and then get frustrated on things that wouldn't be that hard to solve.

[helpdesk_hero]

If they're going to do it, it will be their space, if Balthier wants that. Fuck, being wanted and not being expected to squeeze in around the edges is so nice. To be allowed to fill space and be welcome...

"Alright then. Okay. Yeah. I want this."

[portolan]

Balthier is already happy beyond any expectation, but hearing David so directly say he wants this makes his breath catch. “Me too,” he says. “So now you’re going to have to deal with me grinning like an idiot.”

Which, he thinks, is the best possible turn of events for today. “Let’s get this packed up, and then let’s do something to celebrate that what we’ve both built is still wonderful.” Because sometimes David needs that focused reminder, and sometimes Balthier does too. He gives David another kiss, the goes to start loading some of the equipment he feels confident moving.

[helpdesk_hero]

"I don't think you could grin like an idiot. Only like the most beautiful man with joy in his heart," David said with a smile.

Yes, it's a good thing compared to what all was going on.

"I have to get back to my hotel tonight," he says, and he doesn't sound pleased by that. Which is the worst. Then he goes to start gathering things. "Can I trust you to do some boxing things up while I'm out of town? I can have it in storage for now."

[portolan]

“Sweet talking me and then reminding me you have work is borderline cruel,” Balthier says, but his smile is as radiant as ever. “Of course I will, and we can celebrate later. We have all the time in the world.” Which is its own strange giddy terrifying thing. Other than the general existential dread of knowing they could be ripped through time and space, there’s really no ticking clock on this, no running toward or away from some big point. That’s…new. And strange. And lovely.

That also gives him time to arrange some kind of welcome for David, and he likes that fine.

[helpdesk_hero]

"You're the one that charmed me," he said with a smile before pocking up some of the less stable stuff.

"Yeah, we really do, don't we? All the time in the world, together."

It's scary, but he's hopeful. He wants to be hopeful. Needs to be actually. There's a chance for something real here, something even more lasting. Which is gleeful for him. Sure, there's other fears, there's a chance of loss, but he's willing to try anyway.

"We're smart people," he says with a smile, "and together we'll figure this out. All of it."

[portolan]

"Has anyone ever told you how attractive you are when you're confident?" Balthier asks, winking at him. It's true, though, and he knows how hard it can be for David to trust the future. It makes his heart swell that part of that is him.

"We will," he agrees. "There's no one I'd rather be doing any of this with." And really, this was every life he'd had, wasn't it?

He gets his load of equipment loaded and secured in the portable closet, and on his way back catches David for another kiss.

[helpdesk_hero]

"You have," He says with a smile. So has Tommy, but Balthier doesn't need to hear that. But the future was looking bright.

So very bright. They could solve this, together. And that was so good.

"Wonderful. Then we'll solve it all together. Hold on, bring the bag over."

Because he's got to start loading other things now.

"When I head back, you'll handle my clothes and stuff, right?"

OurPowers dm, un: Stephen Strange

[rehandle]

[ There are a couple of reasons to reach out to David again now after such a lengthy silence. He never got around to a thank you after the gift that was left for him, too wrapped up in the mess he'd made that needed unraveling, but circumstances are conspiring now to make it important to keep friends, and friends of friends, as close as one can.

He doesn't start with business, though there's plenty to say. Instead, he starts with their missing link. ]

Hello. Excuse the radio silence.

I thought you should know that Loki's gone.

[ It's entirely possible he already does, that Loki planted other stones or handed out other bracelets that would by now have spread the news. But if not, it's his house Loki disappeared from.

He'd rather that absence not go unmarked. ]

[helpdesk_hero]

Which Loki?

[Another lost Loki, and David hates it. They are, in a way, family.]

[rehandle]

Yours.

[ The most straight-forward way to put it when the only two remaining Loki were either from David's universe or his own. ]