Alright. Loki is an actual god, and if David is calm enough to trust his intervention, then Balthier is going to focus his full attention on David. Who clearly needs it.

The spend their life together comment hits strangely though, like a string out of tune in a song he otherwise knows. It’s not for now. He packs it away easily enough, but he can already feel it curling claws into his own insecurity.

A good thing he can compartmentalize. That it’s easy to focus externally. He gives David a gentle grin.

“Good news. I’m an arrogant two-faced coward and liar who is both too clingy and too slippery to keep anyone around.” Because he wagers David won’t let him get away with that.