Oh if David knew how comforting it was to hear that. And if he’s honest, a turn on itself.

“You are precious to me,” he says, another kiss on the corner of David’s mouth. “How could I not be tender?”

He turns David’s face back to him, meeting his gaze steadily. David needs to know that’s Balthier. That that support and kindness is there regardless of what else is happening.

And then he leans in to take David’s warm, succulent lips in his, biting hard.