Sorry it took so long for this chapter to get here! I've been very busy getting ready for school (I'm going to be a veterinarian! ahhh! :) well in a few years anyway) Thanks for the reviews, too! I actually think I may change the order of the chapters, just to give it a bit more pickup (like alternating vaan/penelo chapters with balthier/fran until they meet up).

ENJOY!

The difference in atmosphere was immediately noticeable upon entering the mainstay of the Cloudborne; the cacophony of the restaurant and bar was almost overwhelming compared to the open air of the patio overlooking the water.

"When did it get this busy? Nevermind," Balthier answered his own question when he saw who was causing the raucous: the hunters that he had seen dragging the coerl were celebrating their kill at other end of the bar.

"You would think they've never caught so much as a vorpal bunny before," he commented as he watched the hunters clink glasses and throw back their mugs of beer.

"Do not be jealous," Fran spoke in his ear as she lead him by the arm towards the moogle of interest.

"Jealous? What makes you think I'm jealous of a bunch of Neandertha--"

"Balthier Bunansa ," squeeked a voice.

Baltheir looked down to see the moogle that was once seated at the bar now bent in a full bow at his feet.

"I am Tika! It is an honor to have the time of both yourself and your viera partner!" he jumped up excitedly.

"Well, I'm afraid time is not something that Fran and I come by often, you see." Which was a complete lie since they had been out of any interesting jobs since the war ended. It was a year later and Balthier was constantly craving some excitement.

"Of course! Of course! I will only take a minute of your time and it will be well worth your while!" piped Tika. "But may I ask that we speak elsewhere? This was a great spot until just recently," Tika said as he peered around Balthier's legs at the celebrators.

Balthier looked to Fran. Before Fran came along Baltheir had gotten caught up in a few sticky business deals with some not-so-forgiving bangaa (ahem. Ba'Gamnan). Now that he had Fran he could look to her for her innate ability to smell trouble.

"If you wish, Tika," she said.

As they made their way to the entrance they could not help but pass the, now very drunk, hunters. Tika managed to slip through the sea of legs. For the sky pirates, passing was not as easy. One particularly large hunter stumbled backwards into Fran, almost knocking her over.

"OH excuse m--well HELLO THERE BUNNY GODDESS!" the hunter bellowed, his shirt partially soaked with sweat and beer, eyeing her as though she would make a great addition to their rejoicing.

Fran sneered back while Balthier placed himself between them.

"I hate to break this to you, but despite the viera's extraordinary ability to hear, it would seem that the frequency of fat, witless drunkard falls on deaf ears," Balthier shot back, loud enough to be heard over the other hunters trying to get Fran's attention.

The exit was now blocked by the hunters and most of the patrons stopped mid-conversation to see the confrontation unfold. The Cloundborne was no stranger to drunken scuffles, perhaps the customers would be lucky enough to get a show.

"YOU GOTA PROBLEM PRETTY BOY?" the hunter stepped over to Balthier and looked down at him. Balthier was on the taller side for a hume and this hunter was nearly a head taller.

"No, but your gene pool obviously does."

The hunter looked back angry and confused and began cracking his knuckles, readying for a fight.

"Tell me," Balthier began, removing his gun from its holster, "which one of your parents was a seeq? Or perhaps both? Because you are either the fattest, ugliest hume, or the best looking seeq I've ever seen."

The hunter finally understood the insult and lunged after Baltheir. Before long , the entire restaurant was the location of one huge fight.

Hunters were fighting pirates at the bar, customers were either getting pinned against the wall or getting in the middle of the fight because at this time there weren't any tables to sit, at for they had all been turned over, barkeeps were trying in vain to break things up, and a few moogles began pouring beer over the fighters just for fun.

Amidst the chaos, Fran managed find Balthier's arm and dragged him outside. Their escape went unnoticed.

Fran spotted Tika sitting by the water away from the restaurant looking frazzled. Her walk was determined as she continued to pull an out-of-breath Balthier with her.

Once he had finished dusting himself off with his free hand he realized who was pulling him along and began walking at Fran's pace. Her face was stern and unyielding and focused on Tika, who was now much happier seeing the duo leave the Cloudborne unscathed.

"Well, I've never seen someone so upset by chivalry before," Balthier said as he casually fixed the cuff of his sleeve and looked sideways to Fran to gage her reaction.

Fran stopped dead in her tracks and turned to him. Tika, who was now only a few feet away, looked on nervously. Balthier already knew what was coming and braced himself.

"You almost ruined it. It has been a year, no prospects. We finally get work and you almost ruin it," Fran spoke in her usual calm voice, and anyone that did not know her would find it difficult to pick up on her anger, but Balthier knew.

"I was merely looking out for my partne--"

"Bar fights are for angry humes. No more. Fool me, do not, I know a bored sky pirate when I see one.," she paused then asked: " Maybe Tika would like to hear how we met?"

A coy smile spread across Fran's face and Balthier rolled his eyes. They walked closer to the water towards Tika, who could see that at least one fight was avoided today.

"Yes, yes, you rescued me. But that is an awfully boring story, I'm sure Tika wouldn't want to be bothered with it. Besides, his mission is much more important."

"Kupo, glad you made it out! Please! Follow me so that we can talk! Again, only a minute of your time!"

Tika waved them on and Fran and Balthier followed him around a corner. Just in time, too, for the angry hunter finally realized Balthier was no longer at the bar and had proceeded outside to scope the area for him. All it took was for someone inside the bar to yell "ONE MORE ROUND!" and the hunter perked up immediately and forgot all about his fight, and why he was even outside.