Balthier laces his hand in David's. "We're going to have a lovely homecoming, and then we'll figure out the rest of this," he says coolly. He didn't know how yet, but he'd be damned if they didn't.
David a year ago wouldn’t have been that confident, not in the future and not in their union.
His hand gently turns David’s face to his, but there’s nothing gentle about his kiss. “Even fate ought not be fool enough to try to cross us,” he murmurs firmly, and right now, he means it. He has no desire to have to bring down gods again, but he would. He could.
They both are. Balthier couldn’t believe some days how much he’d grown and rooted, how much they both had. That wasn’t something he was going to let go easily, not even around the edges.
“A thing we have in common,” he chuckles warmly. And if they need help, well, he’s been experimenting with what he can bring back from Ivalice. Fran still has their Esper glyph.
These roots were running deeper with each day, each crisis, and each moment of support. Soon they would be deep and spread and help assure they would weather any storm... if they were given a chance.
As for David... he hasn't had the courage to go back home yet. Because to do so would be to step into a time where he had another romance, another life, and he wasn't that man. He felt like he hadn't been that man in years.
"Someday," he says at last, "Will you come home with me? To maybe a different time in my world if I can do that? I would like to get to know my sister."
And the best way to do that, actually, might be to put himself near a younger version of himself in a world where his powers are whole, so that he could reabsorb them. It might even work.
Balthier blinks, staring for a second as his lips part. He hadn’t really expected that David could invite him any closer than having accepted to entwine their lives by moving in, and yet.
He smiles, cradling the other’s face and kissing his head. “I would go anywhere you asked me,” he assures David. “But I would be particularly honored to meet your sister.”
Which also makes his heart catch as he realizes the implication of that. “I…if that’s possible then…maybe you could meet my mother.”
Was that really so much to believe? David doesn't even know it. But he enjoys the affection because it makes him feel alive. So alive.
"After we figure out how to protect the people we love who aren't in this room, yeah. I would like to see if that's possible. I want her to know someone will keep her son safe."
Balthier chuckles, parting enough to get back to his food, but one hand lingering on David's thigh.
"Look at you, not having to be convinced to take a vacation after we do some utterly exhausting world-saving task." He squeezes the other's leg. "I want her to know someone keeps her son's heart safe. He's perfectly capable of taking care of himself you know."
But it's just teasing. He knows David would go to any length for him, should he need it, and that's something that took a long time to believe. He doesn't take it lightly, not when he knows that it isn't just duty. They'd leave holes in each other, if they were gone, and that's terrifying, and it's also so, so indescribably wonderful to be entwined that way.
"Well, I can't very well take a vacation before we do some utterly exhausting world-saving task," he points out teasingly. "Oh, I've been recruited to do some... minor displays of rebellion. Nothing with me there personally, just some anti-Fantasfuck propoganda. And there's a thing with Sephiroth I should brief you about."
Because it's important to keep his boyfriend up to date. And they need to figure out what to do to support Otto of course.
As for the rest, he rubs the back of Balthier's neck.
"Her son's pretty busy keeping my heart safe too. And given it's my third one, that's a pretty lofty task."
"It's a good thing you've moved in, so I can occasionally force you to rest," he teases back, but none of this surprises him. He's always liked that David is so involved in things, and he deeply appreciates being kept abreast of it.
He sighs with pleasure at David's hand though, leaning back into the touch. "Extremely busy. Most demanding charge I've had," he assures David. "Worth every headache."
"I was hoping you'd say that. In that case, do you want your cake before or after a bath? Or, dare we even indulge in the bath?"
Honestly, David being willing -- wanting, even -- to put work and the outside down and focus on them is the most wonderful housewarming gift Balthier could ask for.
"Indulgence looks good on you, you know that? Not going to be able to keep my hands off you when you're glowing like that. Head upstairs. I'll get this put away and come join you."
He raises his hands and makes a circling motion with them. And yeah, he forms a glowing golden circlet of stars between them and puts that on his head.
Balthier can't help kissing him, a big grin on his face. "I still remember your face above me and glowing like a god, right around the time I was falling in love with you." Another kiss. "I think the self-aggrandizing humor sealed the deal, though. Makes me feel like I have a match for mine."
"I'm glad you find it flattering. I can't always help it. It's part of the power set. Adapting unconsciously to be more like those I care about so they like me more. A lot of people do it unconsciously, but I guess I do it more?"
His powers made it so much easier to mirror people in some ways.
(no subject)
13/6/23 16:23 (UTC)"Alright then. I would love to spend some time up there then."
But he would probably insist on the illusion protection.
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14/6/23 07:45 (UTC)(no subject)
14/6/23 21:49 (UTC)(no subject)
15/6/23 19:03 (UTC)His hand gently turns David’s face to his, but there’s nothing gentle about his kiss. “Even fate ought not be fool enough to try to cross us,” he murmurs firmly, and right now, he means it. He has no desire to have to bring down gods again, but he would. He could.
(no subject)
18/6/23 21:48 (UTC)"Fate can try. Mutants don't really appreciate gods drawing lines for us to walk."
(no subject)
25/6/23 00:52 (UTC)“A thing we have in common,” he chuckles warmly. And if they need help, well, he’s been experimenting with what he can bring back from Ivalice. Fran still has their Esper glyph.
(no subject)
26/6/23 21:13 (UTC)As for David... he hasn't had the courage to go back home yet. Because to do so would be to step into a time where he had another romance, another life, and he wasn't that man. He felt like he hadn't been that man in years.
"Someday," he says at last, "Will you come home with me? To maybe a different time in my world if I can do that? I would like to get to know my sister."
And the best way to do that, actually, might be to put himself near a younger version of himself in a world where his powers are whole, so that he could reabsorb them. It might even work.
(no subject)
27/6/23 23:09 (UTC)He smiles, cradling the other’s face and kissing his head. “I would go anywhere you asked me,” he assures David. “But I would be particularly honored to meet your sister.”
Which also makes his heart catch as he realizes the implication of that. “I…if that’s possible then…maybe you could meet my mother.”
(no subject)
28/6/23 22:02 (UTC)"After we figure out how to protect the people we love who aren't in this room, yeah. I would like to see if that's possible. I want her to know someone will keep her son safe."
(no subject)
29/6/23 01:10 (UTC)"Look at you, not having to be convinced to take a vacation after we do some utterly exhausting world-saving task." He squeezes the other's leg. "I want her to know someone keeps her son's heart safe. He's perfectly capable of taking care of himself you know."
But it's just teasing. He knows David would go to any length for him, should he need it, and that's something that took a long time to believe. He doesn't take it lightly, not when he knows that it isn't just duty. They'd leave holes in each other, if they were gone, and that's terrifying, and it's also so, so indescribably wonderful to be entwined that way.
(no subject)
30/6/23 18:57 (UTC)Because it's important to keep his boyfriend up to date. And they need to figure out what to do to support Otto of course.
As for the rest, he rubs the back of Balthier's neck.
"Her son's pretty busy keeping my heart safe too. And given it's my third one, that's a pretty lofty task."
(no subject)
30/6/23 21:53 (UTC)He sighs with pleasure at David's hand though, leaning back into the touch. "Extremely busy. Most demanding charge I've had," he assures David. "Worth every headache."
(no subject)
1/7/23 12:52 (UTC)"You joke, but I might well be."
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1/7/23 13:28 (UTC)(no subject)
7/7/23 15:43 (UTC)(no subject)
11/7/23 19:36 (UTC)"Are we talking business and me scoffing at questionable decisions tonight, or are we going to leave that for after your welcome?"
(no subject)
12/7/23 14:30 (UTC)"After my welcome," David answers. "Please let's leave more business until later."
(no subject)
13/7/23 19:28 (UTC)Honestly, David being willing -- wanting, even -- to put work and the outside down and focus on them is the most wonderful housewarming gift Balthier could ask for.
(no subject)
13/7/23 20:24 (UTC)Especially since he'll get to have Balthier with him.
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13/7/23 21:02 (UTC)(no subject)
13/7/23 21:25 (UTC)He raises his hands and makes a circling motion with them. And yeah, he forms a glowing golden circlet of stars between them and puts that on his head.
"There we go. Glowing."
(no subject)
13/7/23 21:39 (UTC)(no subject)
13/7/23 21:57 (UTC)Though he happens to smile and wrap an arm around Balthier's waist.
"Have you considered I try and match you?"
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13/7/23 22:15 (UTC)And he looks pleased as can be at the arm around his waist, even more so at the comment. "You know what? No. I hadn't. And now I'm flattered."
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15/7/23 23:05 (UTC)His powers made it so much easier to mirror people in some ways.
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