Nolan is running, running, running. Away from his father. Away from his decisions. Away from that person he just--oh God. He's going to throw up.
And then there's someone he recognizes. A friend of his father's? An uncle? The details are blurry.
"Thunderclap!" he calls.
Thunderclap turns to him at least. Says Starstruck has to be stopped.
"I know," he says. He licks his lips. He always does that when he's nervous. His costume pulls weirdly. It's only the second time he's worn it. It doesn't feel like it's his so much as he feels like a kid playing dress up. "I just need to talk to him. I can -- I can fix this."
Another conversation, pleading with his father. Cid? Harry? Their faces blur together.
Let me talk to him. Let me give him a chance to leave.
You know I can't do that, Ffamran.
He's my friend.
Power comes with responsibility. Harden your heart. Do what you must. And don't you dare make me look weak for giving you this position.
Balthier squeezes his eyes shut. When was that? When is now? That happened a long time ago, didn't it?
For a moment, he flickers from the 16-year-old kid to himself. But at the thought of what he had to do that day, he rockets back to Nolan. It's safer, and that lets the AI dig it's claws another tick deeper.
II, probably III
And then there's someone he recognizes. A friend of his father's? An uncle? The details are blurry.
"Thunderclap!" he calls.
Thunderclap turns to him at least. Says Starstruck has to be stopped.
"I know," he says. He licks his lips. He always does that when he's nervous. His costume pulls weirdly. It's only the second time he's worn it. It doesn't feel like it's his so much as he feels like a kid playing dress up. "I just need to talk to him. I can -- I can fix this."
Another conversation, pleading with his father. Cid? Harry? Their faces blur together.
Let me talk to him. Let me give him a chance to leave.
You know I can't do that, Ffamran.
He's my friend.
Power comes with responsibility. Harden your heart. Do what you must. And don't you dare make me look weak for giving you this position.
Balthier squeezes his eyes shut. When was that? When is now? That happened a long time ago, didn't it?
For a moment, he flickers from the 16-year-old kid to himself. But at the thought of what he had to do that day, he rockets back to Nolan. It's safer, and that lets the AI dig it's claws another tick deeper.