Title: The Protector
Summary: Vaan and the orphans of Rabanastre used to have a 'mother' but after the murder of the king she was taken. Who was she? What happened to her? What difference will she have on the story? Warning slash parirings OOC
Pairings: mostly undecided, Vaan/Balthier
Warnings: Slash, mildly OOC Characters
Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy XII all recognisable characters don't belong to me
Chapter 1 – Waking up in the dark
What happened? Dull light strikes his eyes as he stares up at the ceiling wondering where he was and how he got here. Blinking the surrounding area came into focus; he was in what looked like a dungeon underneath the sand. Watching sand fall through the ceiling Vaan shot up with a start as he remembered what happened, sneaking into the palace, finding the stone, Balthier and Fran chasing him, escaping though the sewers, meeting 'Amalia" and battling the Firemane before being captured by imperials. Quickly his hand flew up to check on the feathered earing he always wore in his left ear. Feeling its comforting weight he relaxed slightly.
"You're awake"
Vaan jumped and spun round to see Balthier sitting nonchalantly on a broken pillar behind him. Looking as if he was sitting in a bar rather than wherever they had been taken.
"Where are we and where is Fran?"
"Prison, where else? More like a dungeon really but it's really all the same."
Balthier ignored the second question, choosing instead to stare at Vaan or rather the earing he was wearing.
"It's interesting how the first thing you do is to check on that earing of yours. Doesn't look valuable but I've nether seem feathers like it. Where did you get it?"
"It's a gift from a friend."
Vaan replied defensively. Slowly he got to his feet gingerly holding his head trying to ascertain the damage done by those dratted imperials. Hearing a high pitched scream from the entrance to the room Vaan took an automatic step back wondering at what could make that kind of sound. Stumbling slightly he looked down to see a dead Bangaa, jumping slightly he started again at Balthier's voice.
"Relax, it's just a corpse. Jump at every little thing down here and you'll wear yourself out. It's not even a proper dungeon. They just sealed off the bottom level of the fortress."
Vaan wondered how he could look so unbothered and calm, normally Vaan wouldn't be worried but he had no idea if his goal for that evening had succeeded and he worried about the others especially Penelo. Rubbing his head again he could feel a dull throb where the imperial hit him. Balthier noticed this and sighed.
"Why did you provoke that imperial? You must have known that they would strike you. Either you are more idiotic than I thought or it must be something to do with that girl."
Vaan stiffened, weighing up his options as it didn't look like Balthier would not let him answer and he wasn't sure that he could trust him with the truth. Deciding to give him a short answer he relaxed slightly.
"The girl is called Penelo, she is an orphan like me however she has been sheltered and doesn't know about what the imperial soldiers do to people like us. Besides I knew I could take what they gave, she couldn't. Anyway like I asked before where's Fran?"
Balthier sighed knowing that there was more to what Vaan was saying but knew he wouldn't get anything more out of him yet. Despite the outward signs of Vaan just being a simple street rat he could sense that there was more lying beneath the façade.
"She's off to find us a way out."
Vaan waited to see if he would elaborate but after it became apparent that he wouldn't he went to look around. He trusted that Fran would find a way out, one thing he had learnt was that you could always trust a Viera's senses and given how infamous Balthier and how he was acting it is obvious that he had broken out of many places before.
"Remember what curiosity killed. Just a friendly word of advice."
Balthier's voice carried out to Vaan even as he continued out of the room. Looking back he saw Balthier pull out a wineskin from his belt and gesture to it.
"This is all the water we've got. I'd save your strength if I were you."
Vaan ignored his warning, he was used to not having enough water, one of the hazards of being a street rat in a desert city, there were often droughts and he had gotten used to them long ago. He continued out of the room and found himself in a large open area where other prisoners could walk around freely. He could tell from looking which ones where new to the prison as they still looked semi decent in body condition, talking to some of the prisoners that had been here for longer he found the schedule for the food and water delivery, who to watch out for and who t straight out avoid. Apparently there were a group of three Seeqs that attacked the other prisoners for no reason than for fun.
Continuing to explore the area he stumbled upon a hidden doorway to another part of the prison, going through he wasn't prepared for the sight of a massive gladiator style arena sunken in the middle of the room making it easy for people to get in but not out. Hearing a loud thump he looked to see a dead Bangaa that had just fallen from the roof before one that looked close to death fell down after it. As soon as the injured one landed he (for the Bangaa appeared to be male) started to try to get away, shortly after two large Seeqs jumped down after it and continued to assault the unfortunate victim, before he could even think what he was doing Vaan called out to the Seeqs. Hearing his insult they turned and before he could really react he was hit from behind by a third Seeq that had been hiding in the shadows.
Coming round from darkness for the second time in a few hours Vaan found himself being dragged over the sand, suddenly he felt himself being drooped and he looked up to see himself in the arena he had seen earlier. Scrambling up he glanced around to see the three Seeqs circling him. Internally berating himself for his stupidity he got ready to fight.
"Something stinks in here alright. I've changed my mind. This is no dungeon, it's a sty."
Hearing Balthier's voice Vaan let out a small sigh, with Balthier here it evened up the odds, he was confident that he may be able to take the Seeqs by himself but he was worried about what injuries he would get. Looking at the Seeqs Vaan could see that they didn't understand the insult.
"I said you're the one that stinks, ham-shanks. Hear me now?"
Balthier looked annoyed at the stupidity of the Seeqs; he was probably used to a better class of criminal. He vaulted over the railing and landed next to Vaan looking ready to fight. Standing back to back they got ready as the Seeq circled them, suddenly as one the three attacked, Vaan was in his element, before he got his dagger form her he used to defend himself and the other orphans using only his body as a weapon, he was fast, agile and preferred precise hits in the right places over raw strength. In no time at all the three Seeqs had been beaten unconscious they were no match for Vaan and Balthier's fast and agile style. Hearing the fight prisoners had gathered at the rails and when the Seeqs fell more and more turned up, seems these where the Seeq group that Vaan had heard about. Hearing marching from above Vaan and Balthier looked up to see the doors on the higher level opening and heavy armoured soldier marched in with a Bangaa. Hearing Balthier curse they hid at the side of the arena.
"Great. They just don't give up, do they? Now is looking like a good time for us to leave."
Vaan didn't fully understand Balthier's words but he could guess that the Bangaa must be a head-hunter seeing as Balthier was quite infamous although it sounded more personal than just a regular head-hunter. Hearing a noise to the side Vaan looked to see Fran by a partially raised gate, the space was just enough for them to roll out, being cautious they sneaked over and rolled out before Fran shut the gate. Straitening up Balthier motioned for Fran to report her findings confident that she had found something.
"Through the Oubliette, there's a way out. Only…"
Fran paused looking apprehensive.
"Only you sense the Mist"
Balthier finished, this seemed to be a common problem judging by his tone. Fran nodded feeling that no elaboration was needed. Dusting himself off Balthier thought for a second.
"Then we'll need weapons."
Balthier went to continue talking but was interrupted by shouting from above.
"What did you call me? Say that again!"
Looking up it appeared that the imperial soldiers accompanying the Bangaa had taken offense to what he was saying.
"What, couldn't you hear? I merely said that the lot of you are incompetent fools. If you've a sky pirate in your hands, where is he?"
The Bangaa looked as angry as the imperial he was addressing. The imperial seemed to have had enough verbal abuse and snapped back at the head-hunter.
"You'd have done better, Ba'Gamnan? By your own words, it was the imperial army who caught this sky pirate of yours. We've done your job for you! We don't require the assistance of filthy head-hunters. The Empire will restore order here."
Apparently this just enraged the Bangaa even more. This was proving to be quite entertaining to Vaan.
"Eh? What's that you say now? Maybe I'll wet my blade on you… before I kill Balthier."
Before a fight could break out between the two a voice rang out from behind them.
"That's enough Ba'Gamnan!"
The voice was accompanied by the sound of chain mail and shortly after the speaker came into view. It was a man in full heavy armour which was a dark colour with an ornate helmet and cape which had the crest of the empire printed on the back, the helmet obscured his face from view. Vaan heard an sharp intake of breath from behind him and Fran whispered, voice tinged with dread.
"A Judge."
Vaan was confused at the term he had never come across the term before, from the look of him he was high ranking in the army and only the lowly foot solders interacted with the citizens.
"Hmph. The self-proclaimed guardians of law and order in Archadia. They're the elite guard of House Solidor. Which effectively makes them the commanders of the imperial army. If you ask me, they're more executioners than judges."
Balthier spoke voice tinged with bitterness and Vaan sensed that he knew more than he said. There was something personal about the way he spoke. After the argument was abruptly stopped the Judge stalked off with the others scrambling to follow him.
"Where is the Captain?"
"We have him in solitary, Your Honour. We're ready to begin our interrogation."
Vaan was confused what type of captain did they have to warrant solitary, maybe a captain of the resistance? But the way they were talking made it seem like the prisoner had been there for a long time. Vaan turned to see Balthier watching the imperials.
"Time for the hare to follow the fox."
With those words Balthier and Fran began to follow the Judge and his entourage with Vaan scrambling to initially keep up. As they stalked the Judge Fran whispered to Vaan whose confusion must have shown.
"The magicks binding the door to the Oubliette are quite strong. Too strong even for my talents."
"That's why we'll get them to open it for us"
Balthier continued where Fran left on. Vaan felt somewhat envious at their obvious close bond but continued to follow them deeper into the dungeon. Fran, who was leading suddenly skidded to a stop and backtracked with Balthier and Vaan scrambling to do the same.
"Look"
Looking into the room which Fran was interested in, they saw a large pile of various things including armour, weapons and other things. Balthier seemed to brighten up at the sight of the pile.
"Ah! The prison repository of wrested relics and raiments."
Taking that the mean that this is where their and the prisoner's stuff went. Vaan cheerfully joined Balthier and Fran in finding and equipping their lost equipment, he was relieved to find it all undamaged and in the same condition that it was taken in. Having gathered all of their missing stuff they made to leave and catch up with the Judge when Vaan caught sight of a familiar pair of daggers and flute. With a cry of joy he dived at them, snatching them up oblivious to the looks Balthier and Fran where giving him. Lifting the objects from the pile he confirmed that they were the real things and not copies or fakes. The daggers were beautiful with one made of deep obsidian and the other bright silver, they had various runes carved onto the blades and the sheaves where supple dark leather. The flute fit in the sheave next to the daggers and was made from silver as well but with different runes carved onto it. Fastening them onto his waist, keeping it from interfering with his dagger her turned back to see Balthier giving him a look that demanded an explanation.
"They aren't mine, they belong to a friend, she was taken by imperials about 2 years ago shortly after the king was killed. I don't know where she is or even if she is alive but I'll keep these until I know."
With that they started after the Judge, almost running to try and catch up before the opportunity is gone. They caught up just in time to make it through a closing door which locked behind them as soon as they got through. Hiding by the door they looked around to spot several guards patrolling the area. They also saw the back of the Judge as he passed round the corner and into another room.
"There are more turkeys and cutpurses down here. I've had my fill of chains. Let's tread lightly, shall we?"
Balthier voiced what they were all thinking. Keeping quiet they snuck passed the guards, knocking out those that they couldn't go past undetected. Following the Judge they were eventually lead to a small room where they watched as the Judge opened an ornate magical lock, letting the Judge go through they raced into the room before the door could shut. Entering into the Oubliette they looked around the room, it was a large cavernous room with a huge pit in the centre, the Judge and his entourage were gathered close to the edge of the pit and were pulling a cage above the edge of the pit. As the cage came into full view Vaan drew in a furious and shocked breath as the prisoner was none other than the dead Basch fon Ronsenburg, the kingslayer. He watched in shock as the Judge pulled off his helmet to reveal a person who looked disturbingly similar to Basch. They waited for the imperials to finish and leave as they couldn't hear what they were saying.
As soon as the imperials left Vaan took the opportunity and rushed as Basch's cage and leapt on it.
"You! It's your fault! He trusted you! She trusted you…."
Vaan's shouting ceased abruptly as he spotted feathers in Basch's hair. They were identical to the ones in his earing. Staring at them in shock he made to start shouting at Basch again when he heard Balthier telling him to shut up before Fran saying that she is going to drop the cage. Before he could process what she meant he felt an abrupt feeling of weightlessness before they plunged into the darkness below. The last thing he heard was the sound of metal footprints rushing towards the room before all he could see was the darkness and he could only feel the rush of air as they fell before they hit to bottom.
Hi Phoenix here, this is a story that has stuck in my head for a while, updates may be a bit slow as I have uni work but I will try to update regularly. If you read my other story Stolen Magic I am still writing it but have hit writers block and uni is occupying my time.
Thanks for reading. Please review but no flames please although I accept constructive criticism