things you said under the stars and in the grass: BALTH/PEDRO :3 :3 :3
"I never meant for anything bad to happen," Pedro says, apropos of nothing. Balth's phone says it's one in the morning and their brain says they should go home, their mum will be worried sick, but their heart says they should stay. Both of them are lying on their backs, side by side, arms almost touching, staring into the glitter-strewn silk of the sky.
"I believe you," they say, because they do. It's not in Pedro's nature to actively try and hurt people, or at least, if it is he's rather good at hiding it. They don't consider most of what happened to be his fault anyways. Only the beginning.
"I just wanted Claud to be okay," he murmurs. Balth reaches out so the back of their hand brushes against Pedro's. It doesn't seem to have any effect. "I never thought about anything else, you know that, right?"
Balth props themself up on one elbow and look down. Pedro's eyes are fixed determinedly just beyond their head, just frustratingly far enough away that they can't make eye contact. "Pedro," they say, trying not to let any worry show.
"I'm always going to feel responsible," he says, and swallows. They watch the line of his throat as he does. When they look back up, he's watching them, face tender in a way that it never is any time that they're around other people. Balth likes to think that doesn't bother them.
"Maybe you are," they say, and they're surprised by how honest it feels. Pedro's expression shutters off into something more closed. "Maybe you're not. That's for you to decide."
He watches them for a few seconds longer before sighing, eyes closing as he does. Balth thinks they could kiss him, they think he would let them, but they don't. They can't, not while he's talking about this. They lie back down, closer now so their arm is pressed against Pedro's shoulder to fingertip, and look back up at the stars, and the stars look back down.
"I think," Pedro says quietly, a few minutes later, "you're the only good thing to come out of this."
Balth doesn't answer. They're not sure they really need to.