He winces. He hasn’t meant to frighten her, and it’s the first time she’s seen him be so explicitly cruel to assailants. It’s exceedingly rare for him, but it’s not the time to explain that. He just has to hope her trust isn’t broken. The hand on his arms instead of his isn’t an ideal sign.
“I’m taking you home,” he says. He doesn’t care about revenge or making a point or any of that. He just wants her safe and away from here. If she thinks less of him for his methods, well, he will have to respect that.
They’re almost to the door when he feels the sizzle of magic, sees the glimmering lines of a military grade barrier spell lattice across the entire threshold. He’s clenching his jaw even before he hears Piaget’s voice, and he’s pulling Aerith behind him, putting his body as a shield. He doesn’t trust this monster not to damage his prize to hurt Balthier; that controlinf cruelty has always been his biggest weakness and what makes him so dangerous.
“We are leaving quietly or with a bang, Piaget. You choose.” And for maybe the third time in his life, he points his gun straight at another person.
Piaget is maddeningly calm, and its Aerith he addresses. “What did I tell you, Princess. It’s theater, all of it. He’s going to try to cut me out of the deal, convince you that you mattered, and hand you off in the night. Wouldn’t you rather go back with some dignity?”
Balthier sees red at the idea of locking in her in a lightless cell as any sort of dignity. He knows he has to get himself under control or they won’t get out of here, but a snarl escapes him, and he cocks the gun. “Last chance.”
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Date: 2023-02-19 09:11 pm (UTC)“I’m taking you home,” he says. He doesn’t care about revenge or making a point or any of that. He just wants her safe and away from here. If she thinks less of him for his methods, well, he will have to respect that.
They’re almost to the door when he feels the sizzle of magic, sees the glimmering lines of a military grade barrier spell lattice across the entire threshold. He’s clenching his jaw even before he hears Piaget’s voice, and he’s pulling Aerith behind him, putting his body as a shield. He doesn’t trust this monster not to damage his prize to hurt Balthier; that controlinf cruelty has always been his biggest weakness and what makes him so dangerous.
“We are leaving quietly or with a bang, Piaget. You choose.” And for maybe the third time in his life, he points his gun straight at another person.
Piaget is maddeningly calm, and its Aerith he addresses. “What did I tell you, Princess. It’s theater, all of it. He’s going to try to cut me out of the deal, convince you that you mattered, and hand you off in the night. Wouldn’t you rather go back with some dignity?”
Balthier sees red at the idea of locking in her in a lightless cell as any sort of dignity. He knows he has to get himself under control or they won’t get out of here, but a snarl escapes him, and he cocks the gun. “Last chance.”