The Hand You've Been Dealt

He nearly lost it himself as his sister broke in his arms, but somehow he was still able to hold it together. Allegro was his idol, he wanted nothing more than to be just like his father and did absolutely everything he could to make his father proud and happy to have him as a son. And he may have felt like this hurt him more than Azzurra to some extent, though Azzurra had her own very personal memories with their father too. Balthier felt completely cheated at this point. Their mother had abandoned them much earlier than had actually happened, and now Allegro did. It wasn't right, even if Allegro believed they were old enough to take care of themselves or that Balthier was raised enough to be the man of the household.

"He said..." It was hard for him to speak, his voice much more traumatized than his actions, "He just said he couldn't do it anymore..." He didn't really know what that meant. Because from his eyes, they had always been a kind and obedient family together. He didn't know the harsh feelings Allegro felt towards Azzurra and relating her more to Aranea than the rest of them. But just like Azzurra, and probably his other two siblings, he was completely blind sided by this. And deep down where he couldn't touch, he didn't want this kind of responsibility.

"I'm sorry, I-" He inhaled quickly but deeply, "Couldn't stop him." He put his forehead to hers, closing his eyes like it was a bad dream, like it would all go away or he would wake up and it would be tomorrow and none of this would have happened. "Azzie..." His breath trembled as it left him, though no tears were falling and he wasn't collapsing in to her. Though maybe he didn't need to for her to understand how he was feeling. It seemed she was having near the same thoughts. Their muzzles were touching side by side, and his own lips lingered just before hers as he felt some kind of strange tension between them. Like closing the distance would relieve him. But there was a part of him that told him it was wrong to do that or to feel that way. And he only just lingered there, fighting back the urge to fall into her as he held her close.

"Balthier"