[ Between the whole calling Balthier to nearly die in his arms episode and Reyes trusting him with knowledge that he was the Charlatan, Balthier was genuinely feeling that whatever there were, it was deep and it was fairly stable. Unfortunately, he also felt given those two incidents that anything not specifically offered was thus specifically a demand for space. Which he has worked extremely hard to respect, even though he's aware some part of him resents the distance.
So even though Reyes is melting around him, and Balthier feels his own stress and concern leaving him under the shivery pleasure of having his head scratched and being given corny affirmations of being wanted and oh he sighs as Reyes's cheek lays against his head--
A wave of irritation still runs through him, hot, at that comment. ]
Ah yes, because the two things you like most are me discussing Charlatan affairs and us being direct.
[ Don't do this, Balthier.
Reyes isn't his father, isn't someone who looks to knock him down when he does a good thing, or change the rules so he can't win. He knows that.
But he's tired, and he put so much into this, and maybe he was expecting a thank you or Reyes being impressed with him or something that wasn't a suggestion that he needed to be supervised. In piracy. In Ivalice.
Or for, you know, listening to Reyes's insistence that Charlatan things stay secret and away from Balthier. ]
no subject
So even though Reyes is melting around him, and Balthier feels his own stress and concern leaving him under the shivery pleasure of having his head scratched and being given corny affirmations of being wanted and oh he sighs as Reyes's cheek lays against his head--
A wave of irritation still runs through him, hot, at that comment. ]
Ah yes, because the two things you like most are me discussing Charlatan affairs and us being direct.
[ Don't do this, Balthier.
Reyes isn't his father, isn't someone who looks to knock him down when he does a good thing, or change the rules so he can't win. He knows that.
But he's tired, and he put so much into this, and maybe he was expecting a thank you or Reyes being impressed with him or something that wasn't a suggestion that he needed to be supervised. In piracy. In Ivalice.
Or for, you know, listening to Reyes's insistence that Charlatan things stay secret and away from Balthier. ]