Note: I have a ton of free time at my desk. This is the result.
1. In which Ashe is caught staring...
They found the map in an urn half buried by sand, left by one sky pirate for another in aid of their quests. It was a surprising show of camaraderie that Ashe hadn't expected from the sky pirates but then, there were many things in this quest that had left her surprised.
Her eyes drifted to Basch, still newly shaven and malnourished and wondered at how quickly things changed. No longer her enemy, but a trusted ally once again.
And the mere fact that she was travelling with two sky pirates…
Fate surely liked to jest with her.
But...they were, all of them-Vaan, Penelo, Fran, and Balthier-good fighters, with the makings of becoming her most loyal allies and friends. She felt lighter with them, as if the weight of her country wasn't heaped upon her shoulders. The night before had been the first time she slept heavily through the night in years, comforted as she was by Vossler and Basch's presence.
Now, if only Balthier would allow her a glance at the God's forsaken map…
They had been wandering the maze of the Yensa Sea for two days now, seemingly trapped, going in circles the same way they had the day before. The map had been a blessing and a means of continuing on their way to Raithwall's tomb. Perhaps she could be comforted that her ancestor's tomb proved difficult to find, yet it did not help her cause to be wandering endlessly, nor did it ease her to not know where she was going.
Balthier had taken the lead, letting no one but him and Fran reference the map, claiming that it was, "sky pirate business." Vaan had almost made a convincing argument to allow him a glance as an apprentice sky pirate, winning Fran over, but Balthier would not be swayed.
It clearly had markings of other sky pirate conquests, other stolen treasures, that Balthier refused to let the others see.
Ashe was half convinced that the map would conveniently 'disappear' after this quest was over, perhaps so that the sky pirates may seek other treasure.
She narrowed her eyes at the heavy and yellowing parchment, tucked neatly in Balthier's back pocket. He was mere feet away, out of arm's reach, practically taunting her with the swagger of his hips. She grew to hate his leather pants for how tight they were; the map would surely not have an opportunity to fall out and into her grasp.
Unbidden, her eyes traveled slightly south and stayed, her lips pursing. It was truly unfair for such a perfect bottom to belong to someone as arrogant and stubborn as Balthier. Or perhaps it was entirely appropriate.
"Enjoying the view, Princess?"
Her head jerked up, her face blazing red as she took in Balthier's amused expression as he watched her watch him. Everyone else, by some blessing, was busy elsewhere but it still felt like the whole world watched Ashe in her embarrassment.
Balthier's brow was quirked up and he smirked, waiting for her answer.
It was with heroic effort that she pushed aside her embarrassment and said in as steady a voice she could muster, "just taking note of the ass that holds the map to my ancestor's treasure hostage. It would be a shame if something were to happen to it if this secrecy continued."
Balthier nodded, a wicked gleam in his eyes as he regarded her. "Would you lament the loss of something so perfect?"
Insufferable bastard.
"On the contrary. I would rejoice for I'd finally have the map."
"You wound me, Princess," Balthier clasped his slender though no doubt strong hands over his heart as if to demonstrate that very point.
"I will, if you continue to refuse to allow me look at the map."
"Either way, I'd be depriving you of this fantastic view and that's something I couldn't bear. So enjoy it while you can, Princess."
He walked away, seeming to take his time and exaggerate his swagger. She rolled her eyes and glared, unwilling to admit that she would lament the loss of this view. At least out loud.
That night, a sleeping spell was mysterious cast on Balthier and Fran. When the two were finally awoken by a confused Penelo hours after they were to have set out again, Balthier discovered all of the marked treasure points-with the exception of Raithwall's Tomb-had been burned off, leaving the map a fragile scrap filled with holes.
Balthier never hid a map from Ashe again.
