"Vaan, a word."

The blond blinked at the sound of his name, realizing it was Balthier who was calling him. He walked up to the sky pirate, cocking his head slightly in question as the others wandered on ahead. Fran's steps slowed a bit when she heard her partner call to Vaan, and her ears twitched in question before she started again with her normal pace.

Balthier stared off at the group, not quite looking at them or Vaan, but somewhere in between. "If something untoward should happen to me, you're taking the Strahl." He sauntered off without another word.

Vaan blinked in confusion and started following Balthier. "Untoward? What's this about?"

"I am the leading man. Might need to do something heroic." He still wasn't looking at the blond. "Don't worry, I'll show you how to fly her."

"What?" Vaan frowned. "Balthier, what are you talking about? What would we do if something happened to you?"

The sky pirate stopped in his tracks and sighed, a hand on his hip. "Just what are you going on about? You and your lot seemed to have done fine before I came along; with what you getting into the palace treasury and all. And just think, if something does happen to me, you won't even need to go parading around in sewers to find a way to pay for your own airship."

Vaan bit his lip. "Well, I didn't mean it like that..."

"Then what did you mean?"

"Just..." The blond sighed. "I've wanted an airship all my life. There's nothing more I'd like than to be a sky pirate." He glanced up at Balthier, who was staring at him now with an amused look on his face. Vaan ignored it and continued, "But now that I've met you, I've realized that there are more important things to think about, you know?"

"Like destroying the sun-cryst? Is that what you're thinking about?"

"No," Vaan hissed. "Even more important than that. I want us to stay together. Who knows what'll happen when we reach that sun-cryst stuff?"

Balthier seemed even more amused now. "You do want us to stay together, is that right?"

A flush crept up Vaan neck and spread over his face. "No!" he sputtered. "Well, I mean, yes, but you and me and Fran and...everyone."

The sky pirate continued smirking. "You'd best learn to think before you talk, Vaan, especially since you're looking to become a sky pirate."

"Oh, like you do."

"Ah, I always think before I speak. It's when I act that I never think. That's where Fran comes in." He glanced out into the distance again. "Ever wonder why there's such a large bounty for my head?"

"Because you're an awesome sky pirate?"

"Hmph." Balthier was trying – and failing – not to find that highly amusing. "If it so pleases you to think of me like that, by all means, go right ahead."

"Yeah? So what if it does please me?"

Balthier's smirk grew even wider. "As I said, go right on ahead." He patted Vaan on his bare shoulder, squeezing a bit before he let go, and then started to walk on to catch up with the others. "It may do you some good to think of pleasing thoughts while we're here. Who knows what we may run into?"

Vaan jogged after him. "I'll keep that in mind," he muttered, completely unaware that Balthier was still smirking at him.

Pleasing thoughts, indeed.

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Whoever thinks there should be more Vaan/Balthier in this fandom, leave a review!

Though I was gonna say 'raise your hand', did you? Hehehe. ;D

This is so totally for my dear Bouncy-chan, whom with I complain every night about the lack of good Vaan/Balthier. Here's to hoping I can write something longer soon. :D