Disclaimer: Square Enix. For the love of god I'm still trying to beat this game! So NO SPOILERS in comments please!
Lowtown was dirty.
Not that Balthier was used to the finest or anything. He was a sky pirate! They didn't need anything but a bed and water. But standing there in shackles, watching people in tattered clothes and covered with what looked like sewer slime, made him realize that…well…at least his ship was clean.
Funny, the things he thought about when tied down with chains. Not that he needed to worry. Fran probably already had three possible escape routes planned out just by using her nose, and that paranoid boy seemed to know his way around the dump.
That's why Balthier hadn't expected anything nice down there. Nothing shiny that caught his pirate's eye.
But there was something.
It was her.
Hearing shouts to the side, Balthier glanced lethargically to the left like he didn't care. In fact, he was very curious. A petite girl, maybe around the boy's age or even younger, was trying to barrel through a wall of Imperial guards, yelling and screaming for Vaan. Balthier had to smile his infamous smirk. It had been awhile since he'd seen that sort of spunk in someone.
He saw the boy and the mysterious girl catch each other eyes and exchange meaningful glances. With that she shoved the guards out of her and came running closer, worry and anger written all over her face.
Balthier didn't know why he did it. Maybe because he heard Vaan curse quietly under his breath behind him, or maybe because the guards were all so shocked he felt the need to enter in this little show. Either way, before she could corner Vaan, Balthier stepped in front of her, handkerchief conveniently in chained hands.
For her tears, he told himself. He couldn't even remember what he had informed the girl of, just remembered the expression of great remorse—and maybe even a little shy appreciation—on her face.
Vaan didn't know how lucky he was.
Being dragged away by the guards moments later, Balthier saw Fran glance at him questioningly, an elegant eyebrow quirked up in Viera amusement. Balthier only tightened his lips at her, feeling cross. Was it so bad he wanted to help Vaan's girlfriend dry her tears?
Or…maybe he just wanted to make an impression on the girl…Penelo, he thought her name was. He might have recalled the boy mentioning it once or something.
Remembering those bright blue eyes that looked like crystals with unshed tears, the rosy cheeks from running and the stray hair poking out from her braids, he smiled softly to himself.
It wasn't everyday a sky pirate saw something so precious.