Asad Am Halloran (Relationship: Royal Flush)

Royal Flush

Royal Flush
Game	Fire Emblem: Three Houses
Height Difference	10", 25 cm
Nicknames	Big Guy | King Red | Jack

History

The waters of Sreng were plagued by piracy in Imperial Years 1174 - 1176. It is around this time that Balthus, on the run from debtors and bounty hunters, found himself shacking up in a small town in the Leicester territory of Edmund, and it is where he ran into Ruddock "Ruddy" Rackam. Balthus got drunk in a bar and revealed his tale of woe to Ruddy, the only man still sober enough to listen. The pirate offered to cheer him up with a card game. If Ruddy won, Balthus would come to play with him again the next night, and if Balthus won, Ruddy would teach him the secret to winning every game thereafter. Attracted by these prospects, a drunken Balthus fought valiantly but lost miserably. Ruddy bid the man a good night, looking forward to seeing him on the morrow.

This happened three nights in a row. On the third night, Balthus won. So overjoyed, in his excitement he punched Ruddy in the arm, causing a bunch of cards to spill out from the pirate's sleeve, and that's when Balthus realized what was going on. Ruddy was a no good rotten cheat! Already having prepared for this outcome however, Ruddy spun it a different way, turning it into a teaching moment. "This is how you win. Lemme steer the helm, and you'll never lose again."

They became a formidable pair, thick as thieves. They challenged bar-goers and raked in the cash, and when they weren't cleaning out patrons, they played each other. Though Balthus was quick on the uptake, he could never keep up with Ruddy's quick draws and slick hands. Against a drunken sailor he stood a chance, but against his master he was hopelessly outmatched. When Balthus ran out of money, Ruddy would help him win more the next night, and then steal it from right under his nose. When they weren't betting with money, they bet with their time. The bets would conclude with one spending the night with the other, where they'd tell stories about themselves and their lives, and fall asleep on the floor after staying up so late. One time they fell asleep in each other's arms, but they didn't talk about that in the morning. 

Balthus was a notorious loser, but when Ruddy really liked whatever Balthus was offering, he'd lose on purpose (and end up winning later, anyways). This happened a lot, to the point where Balthus started to believe he was outmatching Ruddy. In reality, Ruddy just liked to take every opportunity to spend time with Balthus. They grew closer, becoming quite comfortable with each other. They would help each other out in their work during the day (Balthus took up a job at the inn, Ruddy was a banker and insurance provider). Onlookers described them as two gloves in a pair, yearning for such a close bond. They way they touched each other and stared, the way their faces lit up when seeing the other, one had to wonder how deeply that bond ran. Once, they kissed, and that kissing led to Ruddy laying with Balthus until he fell asleep, after which Ruddy returned home. They don't talk about that, either. 

But this had to end. The Scarlet Sails needed to return to the Middle East because they couldn't sustain themselves like this, and they'd bled Sreng dry. Not good with goodbyes, Ruddy figures the best way to leave Balthus is by the same way they met. The game was poker, but with a twist, that is, they were playing strip poker. Ruddy wanted to leave Balthus with a sense of winning, so he lost on purpose. What he didn't expect was how handsy Balthus got with him, and he panicked at the idea that Balthus might want him to stay. He offered a drink to Balthus to celebrate him surpassing his master. Before he handed it over, Ruddy drugged it, so that within minutes of drinking it, Balthus was down for the count. Ruddy got dressed and stole the money Balthus had won, and left, never to be seen again.

Or so he thought.

Academy Phase

After being rescued by Byleth, Asad holes up in Abyss to hide from the holy knights and his foreign enemies, setting up shop there to bring in questionable goods and provide shady under-the-table services, all under the name Leon Morgan. He never imagined this would be where he meets Balthus again.

Balthus thinks something fishy is going on, but Asad's appearance has changed from four years ago and he goes by a a different name. Still, he seems familiar enough that Balthus approaches him. As soon as he starts speaking, Balthus is almost sure this is Ruddock "Ruddy" Rackam, right down to the way he meets Balthus's gaze. He could never forget those eyes or the way they silently conversed with him. Well, apparently he'd forgotten everything else, because Leon Morgan quickly dispels the very notion, proving by lack of a distinct scar that he is not Ruddy. Feeling guilty over accusing an innocent man, Balthus offers to take Leon out to dinner, but something Leon says puts the suspicion right back in Balthus's head, so he concocts a scheme to prove it, and it goes exactly according to plan. After spending two years learning all the ins and outs of how Ruddock "Ruddy" Rackam cheats, there's no doubt in his mind, Leon Morgan cheats the exact same way, and if he had any funny ideas about weaselling his way out of it, Balthus puts a stop to that. Leon confesses as soon as Balthus threatens to rearrange his face, and they strike up a deal where Balthus doesn't report his true identity to the proper authorities as long as Asad pays him a monthly protection fee.

Balthus tries not to get attached again. All he could think about was when he woke up that fateful morning and was alone, and heard through the grape vine that Ruddy had skipped town. To say his heart was broken was an understatement. Sure he was mad about losing his money and weapons, but it's the betrayal that truly hurt him. He'd never felt so humiliated and used, and swore that if he ever met Ruddy again, he'd make him pay for all that wasted time. Yet, every time Balthus comes to collect, he finds a reason to linger. Once they get over that initial hurdle, where Balthus isn't so sour and can hold back on making his underhanded comments, he and Leon begin to fall back into their routine. They find it so easy to laugh with each other, exchange knowing looks, cheat the Abyssians out of their money. Once again, when they gamble, it stops being about money and starts involving other kinds of favours, such as dinner and drinks, or a truthful answer about questions they have for one another. Eventually, Balthus can be seen hanging out around Leon's shop on the daily. 

Balthus never realized just how easy it was to read Leon, but he kept coming to one wall, one that Leon purposely put up. Balthus had his guesses as to what was behind it, though he was unsuccessful whenever he pried. The more he tried to push, the more Leon pulled away, until Balthus reached an unfavourable conclusion. Whatever feelings he thought he had, Balthus had to keep them under wraps, because it didn't seem like Leon felt the same.

War Phase

Notes: 
- Leon stays in the monastery to protect the Abyssians and that really surprises Balthus.
- No really, it's like, what? But didn't you want to go home?
- Leon said that it's because the war makes the borders dangerous, but.... Leon's partners know that a small part of him wanted to stay because Balthus is there...
- With some liquid courage, Balthus makes a move, and well, let's just say he stays the night.
- The morning after, Leon confesses that the prospect of staying in the monastery was more attractive because Balthus is there. Then he more quietly says that he's happy Balthus stayed with him.
- Balthus pretends like he didn't quite catch it, so that he can force Leon to say it much louder.
- Leon thinks he's in love with Balthus, but he's not sure because he's never been in love before.
- Balthus laughs. This is it, bud.

Azure Moon / Silver Snow / Verdant Wind

Balthus disappears shortly after the war, but rumours of his involvement with a notorious underworld figure swirl for a long time thereafter. The pair are relegated to folk tales that spread all over the world, stories telling of their stealing from the rich and giving to the poor, of course not without taking a slice for themselves to pay off their insurmountable debts. The only evidence that they exist comes in the form of witness testimony, though even that is doubtful. The pair become not only the protectors of Kupala, but of all the poor.

Crimson Flower

After the war for Fódlan, Balthus asks Leon Morgan to join him as his other half in the fight against Those Who Slither in the Dark. With The Scarlet Sails at their backs, the pair became a force of devastation, and their exploits attain legend status. Stories of their battles were immortalized in tapestries and holy books for generations. Afterward, it is said they returned to Kupala, where Balthus became a protector of the mountain folk, and where Leon found a place and a people to call home.

Relationship

Complements

Life ain't cheap, but the saying "nothing good in life comes for free" is a sack of horse dung. Nothing good in life can be bought, either. For men who have debt hanging over their heads like guillotines, they'd like it if a good thing could come their way period, doesn't matter how. And while they will repay all debts and favours if, at the time of promising them, they truly intended to pay them back, they'd have to be idiots to turn down a free favour or the erasure of debt. In fact, do them a solid and you'll earn their friendship and their loyalty, because they'll never forget someone's good will. They may even spend their whole lives trying to repay you for a single kindness. Just don't expect either of them to pay it forward. Good things come to those who do good first, and that's only if they're not stupid enough to do those good things for a crook.

And crooks they are. The underworld is not a friendly place. It's full of ruffians and thieves, barbarians and cold-blooded killers who would trade a man's soul for a piece of silver. A man's worth isn't in his word or his honour, but in how sharp his blade is and how quickly he can cut a deal. They've seen the worst that humanity has to offer, and might've done worse than that for a meal or a place to stay. Always on the run, home is wherever you can lay your head and not wake up with a blade at your throat. It's not a good place to be, which is why their hearts have hardened and they've learned to expect the worst of people. Their trust is hard-earned. They know how to spot a liar, and pick up on scams quickly. Sure, they might join in on those scams, but they're equally as likely to turn it back on their scammer. The law has never been on their side. Justice is nice in theory. The good guys don't always win. In fact, they frequently lose. So they rely on a constant, and that constant is money.

Money talks, it talks real loud, and can get you just about anywhere with these two. While a man can lie through his teeth while handing you a poisoned drink, or take your eye and expect you to pay for it, money retains its value no matter the hand that holds it. Money can't buy happiness, but it sure can buy freedom, and that's what these two value most. They'll do anything to keep it, use underhanded tactics, lie, cheat, steal, betray, so that they maintain the illusion of being able to do whatever they want, all the while remaining in blissful denial on how their lives are ruled by their vices. It's not that they don't have any responsibilities chaining them down, it's that those responsibilities aren't societally approved, but a chain is a chain.

Yet their lives are not the worse for it. They're unmarried with no inheritances or children, they have no obligations and no strict moral code. They can drink and dance and sleep where they want! What a life! They're on top of the world, arrogant, convinced they're invincible. They've gone this long with nary a scratch, fate cannot touch them! Their vanity rubs off on others too. Whoever stands by them sees what they see, a vast, untouched horizon, and they too become joyful and make merry. Their company is attractive, so long as the good times are rolling. When the bad times come however, a wise man would invest his money elsewhere.

Contrasts

One comes from a noble background while the other has never known status. For a time, Balthus enjoyed a life of luxury, though all his problems stemmed from his nobility and his Crest, and thus, he ran away from them, only to find that having little money brings its own set of problems, but he might argue that he prefers those ones. At least being poor means your stepmother isn't trying to kill you, and what you do won't affect your half-brother's chances at becoming heir. Asad doesn't care for the nobility and responsibility that comes with being rich and powerful. If he married into a noble family, it certainly wouldn't be to make the world a better place, and he'd probably run away from it anyways. Gaming the system is more fun than being a part of it. He wants money and power so he can do whatever he wants, and what he wants is freedom without consequence. 

Ironically, despite clearly being the more responsible one, Balthus feels he is not fit to lead anyone or be the head of anything, and doesn't see himself as setting a standard. He doesn't want to inherit his estate or title, he is more suited to a life without chains. The political world is too complicated for him. Meanwhile, Asad readily takes up the helm and is arguably the only one who was fit to be Captain of the Scarlet Sails. His charisma and winning smile steal the interest of others, and his crew trusts him to always have a plan. Though Balthus is the more reliable of the two and is willing to sacrifice himself to protect those he cares for, Asad instilled such a strong sense of loyalty in his crew that one has to wonder if he's actually as heartless as he seems. 

That isn't to say Asad is good. From childhood he lived in a dog-eat-dog world, where concepts of justice and generosity don't exist. Compassion was quickly killed, as were hope and trust. You had to keep a hand on your blade, a foot through the door, your wits sharp, and your eye on your closest ally, because they could turncoat at the drop of a hat. Because of this, Asad doesn't care about right and wrong. The one who wins gets to decide who's right, and if you're dead and rotting at the bottom of the sea, then what has righteousness gotten you? Why get incensed when you can get even? 

Meanwhile, Balthus is a religious man who believes in the concepts of right and wrong, even if he doesn't enact them all the time. If he can help it, he prefers to do good rather than evil, and despite his underhanded tactics, he doesn't set out to hurt and lie to people, and he always repays good will no matter how long it takes. Balthus cannot stand lies and betrayal, and he doesn't believe in taking advantage of people who don't deserve it, and he gets angry for the sake of others, and wants to help them. As shady as he appears, it is only appearances.

Conflicts

Their biggest conflict arises from their different walks of life. Balthus was a noble while Asad never knew money. Though they lived similar experiences and had to do similar things to survive, children who are born with money have inherently different values than ones born into poverty.

Asad's priority is survival. He places himself above others, is cowardly, and won't fight and die for other people or for a cause. Asad has no qualms about hurting people, including killing innocents or taking actions that results in the death of innocents. Though he doesn't go out of his way to do harm, he doesn't think human life is inherently sacred or worth protecting. Balthus may be shady, but he is courageous, and he fights for the weak. He stands as a pillar of strength for those who cannot defend themselves, but that means he often clashes with Asad when it comes to good deeds and when and how they should be committed. He tries to push Asad into being a little less selfish and sacrificing for others a bit more. All it ever results in is Asad harbouring feelings of resentment, like he's not good enough. He once told Balthus, "You're overcompensatin' for all the bad you've done. Y'might as well throw me out too."

And those are the times when Asad is honest about the way he's feeling. His first instinct is to lie about everything. Supposedly they trust each other, but this isn't a hard and fast rule, as Asad rarely tells the truth because he's so deep in denial, and often does things without saying what he's thinking first, and without consulting Balthus. He is prone to assuming the worst even out of people who care for him. He rarely reflects on himself, in opposition to Balthus, who is mature and quite in-tune with his own emotions. This creates frustration on Balthus's end, who wishes Asad could meet him in the middle. Even though he knows it isn't true, Balthus feels that Asad doesn't take him seriously. Really though, what's the point of lying when Balthus always sees right through him?

So he keeps pushing Asad to tell the truth, and this backfires severely. He doesn't know how to back off and stop pressing buttons that he shouldn't be pressing, and because of Asad's bad habit of running away from his problems, there are times when he runs from Balthus, forcing Balthus to chase after him. Asad quite purposely leaves Balthus in the dark, because he has severe abandonment issues, and fears that Balthus will reject him should he know all of Asad's selfish thoughts — wanting to run away from the monastery and letting the silly westerns fight their stupid wars while they're off in paradise, leave their debtors choking on their dust, and more embarrassing thoughts, like wanting Balthus all to himself, wanting all his attention, wanting to sail all the seas and make legends out of them. He's prepared to be thrown away at the drop of the hat yet plays around like it doesn't bother him. Running away is not easy, but it's easier than rejection from a loved one. If he's not around to face it, then it won't hurt, right? It's always worked for him before, that's why he doesn't stay in one place too long. Avoids attachments and opportunities to be hurt yet again.

But Balthus isn't like that. He can't be like Asad, who has no attachments to people and to the place he was born. Balthus cares so strongly about his roots, he wants to eventually return to Kupala to protect his mother's people. He's looking for stability, maybe marriage and kids, even. The kind of life they wish to lead and the future they see for themselves is quite different, and because Asad gets too antsy when he's rooted in one place too long, Balthus worries he is making Asad unhappy by asking him to stay. If only Asad knew how to express his happiness at the notion.

Playlist

Trivia

• In poker, a royal flush includes an ace, king, queen, jack, and ten all in the same suit, which is the hand of the highest possible value when wild cards are not in use.
• The nicknames of "King" and "Jack" are in reference to the playing cards of the same name. The King of Clubs was Balthus's lucky card, and the Jack of Diamonds was Asad's lucky card. Whenever they started a round with these cards in their respective hands, they'd win every trick in the game.
• Their Disney AU is The Emperor's New Groove. Asad is Kuzco, and Balthus is Pacha. In this AU, Balthus wouldn't be married like Pacha is. Instead, he'd be living with his mother (who I've named Nitocris). His stepmother (Naqia) takes the role of Yzma, and his younger half-brother (Emil) takes the role of Kronk.
• Their primary colours are blue and red, representing loyalty and trust, and strength and passion. Their secondary colours are purple and black, representing nobility, ambition, and mystery. Though blue and red contrast, their combination, purple, evokes a sense of completion. That is, they are more alike than not.