"How have you...?"

"Been?" Ashe offered as she strolled along.

Vaan walked with her, staying by her side as they made their way through the crowds of the city. He nodded at her suggestion, staying calm as he meandered. They really had nowhere to go, but walking seemed inevitable.

Ashe felt uncomfortable for a strange reason. This was Vaan, but she felt different somehow. She knew that it was him; she did see him there beside her. Still, that didn't explain the odd sensation she was getting by being with him. Maybe it was the fact that she had to look up to actually look him in the eye.

Whatever it meant, she still felt uneasy as she walked there with him. Her fingers twiddled together, and she played with them with nervousness. Then, she blinked and looked down to her hands. What was she doing, flustering like this? Never in all her years had she had a nervous habit before, so it was unfamiliar to suddenly have one. Why she suddenly did in the first place, she didn't know.

When Vaan nodded after she finished his sentence, she bit her lip and looked to the ground. "Well," she started. She felt him looking at her, and she almost shivered. "I'm alright, I suppose."

She didn't see his eyebrow go up with suspicion. "Really?" he asked. "You're sure."

Not seeing that he had meant something behind it, she nodded and let out a long breath. But then she smiled anyway. "I'm not unwell," she tried, looking up to face him. Then she saw his expression, and blinked. "What?"

He only chuckled as he closed his eyes and turned the other way. "It's nothing," he replied, shaking his head.

Her lips pursed and her eyes narrowed. "Oh, yes it is," she replied, coming up beside him. She grasped his arm and forced him to look at her, all awhile giving him a challenging look. They both stopped in their tracks, and she held her ground. "If you aren't going to tell me, at least answer some questions I have," she concluded, crossing her arms.

He seemed impressed, and pouted with thought before he spoke. "Seems reasonable."

"Well, first off, how did find me?" she asked out of pure curiosity.

As they began walking again, he shrugged. "Actually, I was looking for Kytes to be honest," he answered, not looking at her. "Migelo sent me to watch him."

"This... Migelo," she started, brow wrinkled. "He's a merchant?"

"Yeah, actually," he said, just as he paused in mid-step. Vaan held up a finger for her, and she waited there for him. He went over to a stand, and picked up two pieces of fruit. He signaled to the vendor, who nodded to him as Vaan threw over a coin.

Ashe felt her brow go up. He ... paid? It wasn't that she thought of him as a thief completely, but didn't sky-pirates steel? Seeing him do the opposite was a little surprise. Then again, this was Vaan. Why was she thinking badly of him?

He then came over and took her wrist, placing one of the two pieces of fruit in her hand. "Here, it's good," he commented as he began to walk again.

She blinked, looking down at the fruit in her hand. Then, she shook her head and placed it in a pocket in her pouch, and then began walking after him. Quickly catching up to him, she stood beside him again. "So, you work for him?" she asked, just as he took a bite out of his own.

When he had swallowed, he nodded to reply, shrugging more or less. "Kind of. I do some things, but I pay my own rent," he replied, almost if it were nothing.

"Really?" she asked, looking surprised.

"Yeah, all I do at his place is sleep. That's not much," he commented. "Besides, I keep track of his stuff, and keep fiends away so his packages arrive in time." Then, he gave her a knowing look. "Not to mention I keep an eye on his messengers."

She nodded with understanding. "Kytes and others?"

He nodded. "Yup," he said, finishing his small meal and throwing it away. "Since he usually gets side-tracked, I followed him." Then he turned his head to look at her. "That's when I found you defending him."

"You... recognized me?" she asked, brow raised. She was almost afraid to find out the answer to that. It would mean her efforts had done nothing.

Vaan didn' reply right away. He looked up in thought, crossing his arms. "Well, not at first," he stated. He nodded with his head tilted down. "Your skirt was a give-away."

Ashe looked away, feeling her face growing red. She winced before looking back to him and asking him a question, "Is it that obvious?" she asked him, brow wrinkled

As they had been walking, she noticed that they made it to a bridge that connected two parts of the city. Vaan led her over to the side, where he turned and leaned back against the railing. He faced her, placing his hands beside him on the railing itself. "Well, I wouldn't have noticed if it weren't for the skirt," he said, looking her in the eye as she stepped up to stand beside him. Her hands held onto the railing as well. "Otherwise, it would have worked."

Her brow wrinkled as she turned to look at him. "What would have?" she asked.

"Your disguise," he replied, acting completely casual. He gestured to her outfit, looking her up and down. "You are wearing one, aren't you?" he asked hopefully.

She closed her eyes and nodded her head. "Yes," she replied. "Well, I have to change it now."

He raised an eyebrow. "Why?"

Turning to him, she gave him a look. "Because if you figured it out, then others will too," she replied, sounding a little annoyed. "I can't very well go around like I normally would."

For a moment, he paused. Then, with a coy smile, he stood up completely and crossed his arms over his chest. He leaned in towards her, and when she finally looked up, she jumped at how close he was to her. She placed a hand over her chest, and made a confused face at his devious one. "...What?" she asked, skeptically.

"You... escaped the palace, didn't you?"

Blinking, she just looked at him. Then, she laughed out and turned away. She had forgotten that he didn't know she had snuck out. He didn't know why either. And with that in mind, she knew he'd have questions.

Then, she played innocent and put on a smug smile. "Well," she started, as she turned to lean against the railing like he had been. "I could have."

Her smile gave away her answer. Vaan only continued to give her an unimpressed look. "Ah-uh," he stated out of pure sarcasm. Then turned and started to walk away. "Then I can go tell a guard you're not in the palace."

Ashe felt her eyes widen, and she ran over and pulled on his arm. "Now wait just a minute," she hissed, fearing the worst. If her guard knew she wasn't there, she'd be in serious trouble.

Vaan only stopped and turned to face her, laughing the entire time. "That was easy," he said, turning to look at her.

Her jaw dropped and she gapped at him. With a growl, she slapped his shoulder, with him laughing the entire time. "That wasn't funny!" she exclaimed.

Merrily, he nodded. "Yes it was."

At this, her eyes glared, but she couldn't help but smile as she playfully hit him once again. He lifted his arm up to shield himself. "Hey, hey!" he cried out. "A little mercy here?"

It was then that he finally got her to stop, by grasping her wrists and holding them together. Her brow wrinkled and gave him a dry look. "Why would you kid about something like that?" she asked him. She tried, but couldn't hide her smile.

He only shrugged. "Because it was funny to see you angry," he replied, a pure laughter in his brown eyes.

Ashe had been cross a moment ago, but seeing the laughter in his eyes made her calm. Vaan had that effect on people, bringing a kind of joy. Her expression slowly faded to one of rest, where it showed almost nothing but a little awe. It was then she noticed that he still grasped her hands. She looked up to him with a little shock, confusion, and fear mixed into one. He sensed it as well, seeing at that he let go as she pulled her hands away. Then, she faced the railing again, and looked downwards to hide her blush. He did odd things to her.

"I will admit I escaped," she answered over her shoulder. He came over to stand with her. "But, Vanira – my lady in waiting – did approve."

Seriously, he nodded. "Why did you come out here?" he asked, sounding more curious than anything else.

She merely shrugged, staring off into space. "I guess I was just a little frustrated," she explained, her words dull as she looked out into space. "I wanted time to myself, to be a real person, not a queen."

Vaan didn't say anything, but nodded just the same. Then, Ashe turned around with a smile. "So, why are you in Rabanastre?" she asked merrily. Then she waved her hand towards the heavens. "I thought you'd be out sky-pirating."

At this, he winced with thought. Scratching the back of his head, he looked away. "Well... I was."

She nodded with a wrinkled brow. That was an unexpected answer. "And?" she asked.

"But, without Penelo it seemed kinda pointless," he admitted, turning to her.

Hearing this, Ashe was automatically thinking the worst. Was she alright? Penelo had been a friend and ally of hers; she didn't want her to be in any danger. "Is she...?"

His eyes widened and he held up his hands in defense. "Oh no, she's okay," he assured. "Really, she told me in her last letter she was doing just fine."

Ashe nodded. "But..." she prodded. There had to be a reason the two were separated.

He strained to think, moving around a bit. It was as though the question was making him uncomfortable. "Well, she, uh—."

Ashe was growing impatient. He knew the answer, and this diversion was a little irritating. "She...?" she started.

"—Got married," he gasped out. As he said it, he let out a sigh of relief. "There, I said it."

At this news, she simply looked at him. Penelo? Married? That didn't seem like her. She was still rather young. Then, Ashe recalled her own wedding. With that aside, she looked back to Vaan. "Really?" she asked, brow almost to her hairline. "She has?"

He nodded, looking the other way. Vaan scratched the back of his head, still looking uncomfortable. "Yeah, for almost two years now..." he stated. "She's uh, having a baby too."

Ashe placed a hand over her chest. "Wow," she said, tone quiet. "I had no idea. Is she well? How far is she along?"

Vaan shrugged. "Actually, she should be having it any day now," he said, wincing in thought once more. "She's going to be visiting in a few days—she wants to have it here."

"Oh." Ashe was clearly still surprised. Then, another thought occurred to her and she looked over with curiousity. "Who did she marry?" At this, Vaan winced again. Ashe feared the worst and her brow wrinkled with sympathy. "Don't tell me she doesn't like her husband."

He looked surprised, and held up his hands in defense again. "No, no, she likes him alright," he replied with a nervous chuckle, but then sighed. "Most definitely," he whispered to himself. Then he looked up to her again, looking assuring. "And you know him, so don't worry."

For a moment she thought about it. A person that she knew married Penelo? Who could it possibly be? She didn't remember that anyone had given her that much attention when she was around the girl. Her mind had drawn a complete blank.

She finally clasped her hands to the side and shrugged. "I give up. Who is it?"

Vaan didn't answer. He simply stood there while he drummed his fingers on the railing, looking awfully nervous. Her brow wrinkled as she put on a maternal voice. "Vaan."

He looked up innocently. "Yeah?"

Ashe sighed and then put on a determined face. She shook her head with wonder, throwing her hands up in the air with surrender. "Who is it?"

He licked his lips and cleared his throat, muttering something beneath his breath, and coughing almost to disguise the word. "Balthier."

She felt her jaw drop, and an almost horror appeared on her face. "B-Balthier?" she muttered out.

Nodding, he confirmed what she didn't really want to believe. "Yep."

Making a sound of disbelief, she put a hand to her heart. No wonder Vaan didn't want to tell her right away. Balthier had been her ally, but that didn't mean he was no lady's man. He had quite the reputation before they had all crossed paths two years ago. To imagine the man settling down, and with one woman, that was definitely strange. And with Penelo of all of women? She didn't think that she was his type. Although, clearly every woman was his type if she remembered correctly. That still didn't explain Penelo, and why she agreed to it all.

Looking completely and totally bewildered, she spoke. "Are you serious?"

He nodded, looking her in the eye. "I was there at the wedding." Then he looked up in thought. "But of course, only Fran and I were there, seeing as they eloped and all that."

"Really?" Again, Vaan nodded. She let out a sigh. "Well, this day is filled with excitement isn't it?"

He shrugged and shook his head. "Maybe a little." But then he smiled and turned to her. "So, you did sneak out of the palace, right?" he asked.

Ashe gave him a look of question. Didn't she just answer that? "...Yes."

"Well, we certainly shouldn't be wasting your day off, should we?" he asked, with a little bit of excitement. He stood up straight and looked out to the city, before back to her. "Shall we have a little fun?"

She blinked, and stood up as well. "But what about people recognizing me?" she asked, looking concerned. "I'm sure if you figured it out that it was me, then others will too."

For a moment, he though about it, face hardening with a blank stare. "Hm," he said, putting a hand to his chin. Then, looking up again, he came over to her and looked at her closely. She leaned back slightly, feeling uneasy with him that close. It looked as though he was examining her.

"What?" she asked skeptically.

He looked at her for another moment before he answered her question. "I think you should take off your scarf," he stated bluntly.

Her brow wrinkled. "Pardon?" she asked, as though he'd gone mad. "That's the only thing hiding my appearance."

Vaan only smiled. "Trust me, I have an idea."

She still made a face of confusion. "I don't follow," she stated.

He sighed, and took her hand. "Come with me."


"Where are we?" Ashe asked, bewildered as she was being led through the streets. She was in a section of the city that she didn't think she had ever been that often before. It was darker than the rest of the city, inside instead of out in the streets. There were still venders and whatnot, but it seemed very secretive to her.

"Lowtown," was his only reply. She nodded. Now she remembered this place. "You just need to stay hidden while I try something."

She didn't exactly know what to say to this. Only, she continued to follow him, letting him pull her towards whatever destination that he had in store. It took a while, but finally they were led to a dead-end in one alley way. Vaan stopped, and then turned to face her.

He reached for her head slowly, but she stopped him. "I have it," she stated, putting her hands up.

Ashe reached behind her head and untied the knot that secured the scarf. Once it was loosened, it slid off her head to let her dirty blond bangs loose, some coming down to cover her eyes. Then, she took out the two pins that held the rest of her hair. The rest of her shoulder length locks came down, framing her face nicely. She had kept her hair the same the last couple years, seeing as that she had no reason to change it.

Even in the dim light, she saw Vaan smile. "Well, there's the Ashe I know," he said, offering his hand. "May I?"

She nodded and gave him the scarf. He then approached her and draped it around her neck, and under her hair. She moved her neck with his movements, making it easier for him to do what he wanted. Then, he brought it up to the top of her head, tying it securely above her bangs in a knot. He smiled at his work, before he rotated the thing so that the knot itself was at the back of her head. Then, he put his hands down and gave her a once over. "That should do it."

Her brow wrinkled, and she reached up to touch what he had done. "That didn't do anything," she stated.

Vaan raised his pointer finger. "Exactly."

She still seemed skeptical. "Now definitely people will stare."

He blinked. "Huh?"

She shrugged and let out a deep breath. "Well, to be honest, I felt rather odd when I was walking through the streets today," she answered. Crossing her arms, she looked away, rather flustered. "Before I ran into you."

He seemed to be thinking of a reason for this, but then shook his head, "Why?"

Ashe shrugged. "They knew it was me? What else?"

Still making a face, he responded, "I don't think that was it."

She placed her hands on her hips, and pursed her lips together with annoyance. "Okay, then, what was it?"

Vaan paused and bit his lip, but then inhaled deeply and spoke. "You looked too suspicious," he said. At her confusion to this comment, he continued. "Well, normally, someone your age wouldn't have covered her head entirely. I think that's what made them wonder."

Realization came to her, and she finally saw the logic in what he had just did. "So... you're saying, that I have to change what I look like, but not too drastically to stand out?" she offered.

He nodded. "Exactly."

She shrugged. "I guess that makes a little sense."

Once she was done, he inhaled deeply with content, and turned to face the street, hands boldly on his hips as he looked around. Then, he turned halfway to face her, a definite smile on his face. "So, now that you have that, want to test it out?" he offered.

Ashe felt her brow wrinkle, and came over even as she twiddled with the loose pieces of her hair. "...How?" she asked suspiciously. She didn't entirely understand what he was getting at.

He chuckled only once. "Well, how much time until you have to get back to the palace?"

She blinked and then thought about it. "Well," she started, her brow still wrinkled, with thought as she looked up. "I think Vanira said something about only a little after dark," she answered as she bit her lip. Then, she looked at him with curiousity. "Why do you ask?"

Vaan gave her a look almost as though he thought she was joking with him. "Well, in that amount of time, what did you plan on doing?" he went on, crossing his arms confidently over his chest.

Her brow touched her hairline. "I'm not sure... Again, why?"

He gave her a devious smile. "Want something to remind you of the old days?"

At this, she just looked at him.