All For You

He never really realized just how... in control he was of Azzurra. He nearly dictated her whole life without knowing it, but also wanted her to have the freedom she never had and deserved. He wanted her to be strong, to take care of herself, to do anything she ever wanted. But he could never imagine his life without her in it. He felt just as she knew, that she depended wholly on him. That had she left him she would have been in danger. Even if she got stronger, even if she had someone else, there was no way he would willingly let her go.

He smiled gently as she responded, strengthening her legs and due to all his previous thoughts he was happy for her. And those deeper feelings subsided for the time being while she was here in his arms.

Her next question though made a nearly dramatic change in his expression, his face didn't frown but relaxed and he almost felt soured by the troubling question. He held his breath because he honestly didn't know how to respond. If they had any normal relationship, Balthier had never even had a girlfriend to compare, than that would be their label. But no, it was complicated, and he was really understanding just how wrong it felt to call his sister his girlfriend. "I don't know Azzie." His voice was forced into a gentle tone because he didn't want to alarm her. But his mind moved back to when he met Poem by the lake when he was crazy and sick. "I just love you... more than anything." It was an honest truth because Balthier had never had temptations like he did with Azzurra. He never found other women, or men, attractive, there was absolutely no feeling he knew that he could compare to what he felt with Azzie. And along with the guilt of laying with her, he also felt the guilt of not feeling the same way about Psalm. Everything about their relationship screamed wrong to him, even while Poem's words and history had at least eased his mind in clarity. "Azzie... please..." He leaned forward, his paws carefully wrapping around her just a little tighter as he began to kiss her. Being with her made him forget all of what was troubling him, even if it was just for a few moments.

"Azzurra & Balthier"