Disclaimer: I own neither Final Fantasy XII nor its characters.
A/N: Another bit of thanks to my beta...BlueTrillium!!!! I also want to thank all the readers and reviewers!
Chapter Six
Penelo stifled a yawn with her hand as Basch came striding back towards her.
"You are tired," he stated.
"Yeah, a little," she said.
"I will show you to the guest rooms and you can choose which one you prefer." Basch smiled. He was certainly smiling a great deal tonight.
"There's more than one?" Penelo asked, surprised.
"These particular quarters were meant to house the families of the sons of house Solidor," he explained, but noted the puzzled look still on her face so he elaborated. "These were once Larsa's personal quarters. Once he became emperor, he took all of his belongings to the quarters designated for the emperor. Had Larsa any younger brother the quarters would serve as a house of sorts for the brother and his family."
"Oh, I get it now. I could definitely see a whole family living here. Just this room alone has got to be at least twice as large as my entire place in Lowtown," she revealed sheepishly.
"Surely you are able to afford a place in the city itself?" He queried, puzzled, as he carefully picked up the dresses he had laid across the chair earlier.
"I'm sure I could, but I just wouldn't feel right," she declared. "There are still so many who are struggling."
"The Queen is doing nothing to help?" he asked, mildly outraged.
"Oh, no, she is doing everything she can, but some people just lost too much. Kind of like us orphans." Penelo explained sadly. "I just keep what I need and help others with the rest. It's my way of helping Ashe, a kind of thank you for saving our homeland."
"You helped save your homeland Penelo." Basch reminded her as he started to walk to the doorframe left of the desk.
"I know, I know," she admitted as she followed him. "But sometimes I feel like I was just sort of a tag-a-long."
"If it is any comfort, I never viewed you as such. I found most of my strength to continue in both Vaan and yourself," he confessed, pausing just past the doorframe.
"But why us? Why not Ashe?" she asked confused.
"Because you and Vaan were the heart blood of my oath, to defend Dalmasca. And defend her I did, with all of my being." He bowed his head briefly and then straightened and started down the hallway.
Penelo followed pondering his last statement. She had always thought that the people were the life blood of Dalmasca; she just never thought she would hear the same thoughts spoken aloud by someone who once served the royal family. It warmed her heart that someone as prominent in her mind as royalty himself would debase himself a commoner. But then again, Basch always told her that he was just a commoner.
"This is my room should you need me," Basch stated as he nodded towards a door to his left. "The door across the way is the bath."
"Wow, this place really is sort of self contained," she marveled.
They walked about fifteen more paces down to the next series of doors that were directly across from each other.
"Both of these are guest rooms," he said as he opened the door to his left first.
Penelo peered inside and the view was breathtaking through the drawn back curtains along the open terrace. The moon overhead bathed the city in a wash of pale light. She knew her mouth was hanging open and didn't care.
"I will assume this room is satisfactory," Basch said, pleased. "I had thought you would appreciate the view."
"It's beautiful," she whispered.
"Indeed," he replied softly, but she hadn't noticed he was not looking at the view.
He entered the room and walked towards an ebony wardrobe that was set against the wall. She looked around and found that the room was not very decorated but it was still certainly something to look at. The bed was a huge ebony four poster with a turquoise comforter. Penelo went over and ran her hand over the comforter to find that it was very soft. Basch had completed his task of placing the dresses in the wardrobe and was now watching her with curiosity. She wandered over to the large overstuffed armchair in the corner nearest the door and glanced at the little table that stood next to it. She plopped herself down unceremoniously and grinned.
"I could definitely get used to this," she said, still grinning.
"That would be too much to hope for," Basch said softly.
"Hey!" she said offended and pulled the pillow from behind her back and threw it at him. It made it barely halfway before it landed with a soft thud to the ground.
"I, I did not mean to offend," Basch stammered, realizing he had been speaking out loud.
"That's alright, you're probably right. But I will definitely enjoy the next two days," she said as the grin returned to her face.
Basch shook his head. "That is not what I meant Penelo. You of all people deserve this and far more."
"Thanks," she said, wondering if he would elaborate.
"Will you be in need of anything else?" he asked her as he walked towards the door.
"Nah, I should be okay." She got up from the chair and walked up to him.
Basch hand went to the knob on the door and she used the opportunity as leverage. She used his arm to push herself up on tiptoes and kissed him gently on the cheek. He smiled as he bowed his head and turned to face her.
"Goodnight Basch," she said quietly.
"Goodnight Penelo," he replied as he bent his head towards her and softly returned her kiss with one of his own to her cheek.
She sighed pleasantly as she lowered herself down and he made his way through the opened the door. She saw the smile that held his lips fast as he left and closed the door behind him. Making him smile seemed to not be as much fun as it was going to be to get him to kiss her. She was definitely going to enjoy these next two days.
She wandered over to the wardrobe and peered inside. The dresses were beautiful and she wasn't sure if she would feel comfortable in any of them but that wasn't what she was looking for. It was clear that the selection of attire did not include a nightshirt and Penelo sighed.
She wanted a nightshirt. She did not want to sleep in her clothes on this huge bed. Another option briefly entered her mind but her face flushed when she considered the predicament that could cause come morning. So reluctantly she opened her door and walked back up the hall.
She knocked softly on the door and heard the deep voice from the other side telling her to come in. She turned the handle slowly and pushed the door open as her eyes studied the ground at her feet.
"Did you need something?" Basch asked her mildly.
"Well I," she started as her eyes rose to look at him and the breath caught in her throat and found she couldn't speak anymore.
He was standing there bare-chested and Penelo couldn't remember a time when she had ever seen anything more perfect. The muscles rippled from his chest to his abdomen and his arms were still as powerful as she remembered. Yeah, she had seen him with his shirt off many times, but that was four years ago and it just seemed different this time. Gods she hoped she didn't look like an idiot, but she couldn't help it. She watched his hand reach behind his neck as he looked at her expectantly. She began to wonder if all men did this, but he definitely did not look foolish.
"Penelo?" he questioned and she shook herself from her trance.
"Oh, sorry," she said stupidly and then explained. "I don't have a nightshirt and there wasn't one in the wardrobe."
"Ah, I thought perhaps you had needed help again with your laces." He grinned without a trace of embarrassment as his hand dropped from his neck.
"Oh, no, it's really easy to take off." And she silently kicked herself for not choosing better words.
He chuckled and said, "Well I believe I can assist you."
And she wondered assist her with what, her top? The mental image of Basch helping her with her top brought the familiar heat to her face and she forcefully shoved the thought from her mind. She really needed to get her wits about her. She forgave herself her crude thoughts by telling herself it was because she was tired.
She watched him walk over to his own wardrobe and open it. He pulled out a white linen long sleeved shirt and brought it to her.
"I fear it may be big for you, but I hope you will find it suitable," he said.
"Thank you, it's perfect." She smiled and thanked him. "Well this should be all, thanks again."
"Are you certain there is nothing else I can assist you with?" he said with a grin.
"Well, since you keep insisting," she teased and she didn't know why she did what she did, but she found herself turning around so her back faced him and stood waiting.
She heard him gasp slightly but moments later his hands were gently untying the knot that held the top in place. She held his shirt in her hands to her chest as she felt the top loosen. She felt the rough skin on his fingers as he unthreaded the cords from the fabric and though she knew this wasn't necessary to get the top off, she didn't want him to stop. Her heart raced in her chest as his arm slowly swung around to offer the laces to her. She accepted as she felt the fabric hang loosely on her shoulder blades. She had thought she meant to step forward after his hand dropped but she blamed it on not thinking clearly again. Her exposed back touched the hard flesh of his abdomen and her body felt as though it was engulfed in flames. Her eyelids closed as she thought to herself that if this didn't get him to kiss her, nothing would. But she felt his body tense as she leaned against him. He wasn't moving and she was suddenly aware she just made a very big mistake.
"Penelo, no," he said through jagged breaths.
She stepped forward; didn't bother to look back. She walked to the door and turned the handle letting herself out. The door closed behind her and she ran towards her own door. She had thought he liked her, wanted her even. Wasn't that what he was trying to say? Wasn't that what he was implying?
Embarrassment gave way to anger as her hand tore open the door to her room. She stormed in and didn't care that the door behind her slammed. She pulled her vest off and undid the laces on her pants at her waist and calves. She was crying by the time she unbuckled her shoes and kicked them off. She pulled on the linen shirt which came down to her knees. She had briefly thought about not wearing it, but that would be even more childish than her current behavior. She pulled her pants off and placed them along with her vest and laces on the floor near the chair.
She just didn't understand men and she hated their games. She unbraided her hair and swore that when she returned home to Rabanastre she was just going to be content to live a peaceful life all alone. This only made her cry harder as she grabbed the pillow off the floor and threw herself into the arm chair. She curled herself up and buried her face in the velvet fabric of the pillow as she cried herself to sleep.
As her tears soaked the pillow, the man down the hall sat himself on his bed. His bare feet touched the floor and he placed his head in his hands resting his elbows on his knees.
Basch was now cursing himself. He hadn't meant to upset her, but he would be damned before he would dishonor her. He would be lying if he thought for even a second he had not wanted her because he had. He had wanted her ever since the morning he awoke with her embraced in his arms four years ago and if he was being truthful he might as well admit that it had to have started before that moment to awake thus. But now he had effectively hurt her in ways he dared not imagine and he only hoped she would be willing to forgive him.
He stood and made his way to his door about an hour later. Carefully he opened it and padded down the hall to Penelo's room. He stood there a moment listening for any sound within and could not hear any. His hand went to the knob and twisted it slowly. He opened the door as quietly as he could and looked to the bed to find she wasn't there. His breath caught in a slight panic that she had left, but he would have heard. He entered the room and looked around and found her curled up in the armchair.
He felt his heart tighten in his chest as he noticed the dark stains on the pillow. She had been crying. He wanted nothing more than to give her what she wanted, but he felt certain she would never be happy here and he would never be at liberty to leave. His vow to his brother and oath to his lord meant more to him than he could express. He knew he loved her, but his duty would always come first.
Basch went to the bed and pulled the comforter down and then made his way back to Penelo. He gently gathered her into his arms and held her close to him. He slowly walked to the bed and gently laid her down. His hands brushed the stray pieces of hair from her face and he sighed.
"Forgive me Penelo, but I am unable to give you what you wish," he whispered sadly.
He leaned over and brushed his lips tenderly to her forehead before rising and quietly exiting the room.
A/N: I know, another one...but I feel this is necessary. I want to personally thank AshmandaLC, Gembird22, koalababay, and Plushietiger. Your constant encouragement really goes beyond a simple thank you, but it is all I really have to give you! I also would like to say thank you to SaoirseSpeir for such a happy review! Thank you, thank you, and once again thank you!
