Title: Wishing on a dandelion.

Author: Potatocrumbs

Pairing: Vaan/Balthier

Rating: T

Summary:

Vaan wishes for protection for those he loves. Vaan/Balthier. AU drabble. Angst. Spoilers.

Authors note:

The idea for this drabble was written six months ago: It was originally a script for a FF12 fan comic. The dandelion tale is just something that my sleep-deprived brain found "shiny" enough to spawn a drabble. And what is up with my angst? I need to stop having brain-farts.

And oh, yes. I do know Balthier doesn't really die ;-) He is the leading man after all.

_

„To wish on a dandelion one must blow and spread it's seeds over the earth.

Only when one have helped giving birth to a thousand dandelions will the wish come true."

-Dalmascan folklore.

.

It's a clear night. The wind is tickling Vaan's naked arms with the tall grass around him. It's peaceful and nice and Vaan enjoys the silence only broken by the far-away laugh of Penelo sitting around the fire with the rest of the crew. He leans off one of his hands, brushing off dirt on his leg before letting it touch softly on one of the flowers that are all around the great, wide field. He picks it, and stands up, eyes following the movement of the small white, down-like branches covering it.

He almost misses the telltale crunch of somebody behind him.

"Vaan."

Balthier comes up besides him, hands lazily behind his back, face turned forward not looking at him and not giving any indication of wanting to speak.

[Dear Balthier, I miss you.]

Vaan jumps slightly as Balthier's fingers grabs around his hand, making the dandelion's seeds shake. He lets a slow smile come forth on his lips and Vaan's eyebrows shoots up in surprise as Balthier blows and scatters the small seeds out over the field.

"Bal-"

A small step and a short kiss and they're standing close, the hand still resting on Vaan's. Vaan can feel the heat of Balthier's body and the comforting smell he has gotten used to while occupying the sky pirate's bed.

"What are you wishing for?" Balthier sounds amused, that small smirk of a smile still intact, Vaan's head dips down, looking up though his pale eyelashes. He is silent for a small moment, and then looks up past Balthier to the sky.

" I used to wish for the safety of my brother-"

"-and now?"

Vaan hesitates, looking directly at him.

"Now…it's for someone else."

[My wishes couldn't save my brother…]

The Bahamut lands with a sickening, thunderous explosion that can be heard though the skies. The ship shakes- Vaan stares, hands gripping the controls of the Strahl so hard his knuckles are turning white, his heartbeat pounding in his ears over Ashe's fanatic voice screaming into the receiver:

„Balthier!

Balthier!

Balthier!"

[…they won't save you either.]

End.