Warning: The rating should be changed to something a little higher for this chapter. Nothing explicit, and not even citrus... just some fluff. Hence the word a 'little' higher rated.


Chapter 7: Boldness

Penelo bounded down the steps of the airship and into the streets of Rabinastre, where she was welcome in doing this. She waved her arms and twirled on the spot in the sunlight. She stopped just to smile at the people who took notice of her, and to her joy, the smiled back. Larsa was one of them. He stepped lightly from the ship carrying both their bags and grinning from ear to ear.

It had been a while since he had remembered looking upon the wonderful city of Rabinastre; full of its excited city streets and mixed culture. Not to mention the glory of Ashe's palace, which rested in the center and looked over it, territorially. Another reason Larsa enjoyed Rabinastre was for the lack of attention he attracted there. Though, he was dressed in traveling attire, not one of the Rabinastre citizens had even bothered to look his way. Larsa turned his gaze to the shining dancer before him.

"Let's go to Migelo's, Larsa. I'd like him to meet you," Penelo gasped as she came to a stop and wavered slightly on the spot. Larsa rushed forward and gripped her shoulder to sturdy her. "Not before you've regained you sense of balance," he mused.

"All your letters are mailed to his shop. I'm sure Migelo would be curious to know –,"

"Penelo? Larsa?" Vaan was running up to them excitedly. They were still standing outside the aerodrome and Penelo figured that Vaan had just got back from visiting Old Dalan. He came up to Penelo, and, to Larsa's frustration, gave her bear hug. By the time he had pulled away Larsa had changed his face to suit a well-humored grin. Vaan put his arms behind his head to observe him, grinning all the while. Larsa, who Penelo noticed with a smirk, was almost as tall as Vaan now. "So, Larsa," Vaan said, "I'm glad you can see eye-to-eye with me now."

Penelo frowned. "Vaan!" But Larsa was laughing with him.

"So, what're you guys doing in Rabinastre?" Vaan asked.

"Well, Larsa needed a break from his duties back in Arcadia and so I suggested we should visit. Hey!" Penelo suddenly realized that Vaan was standing before instead of rummaging through temple treasures of Nabradia, "You were with Balthier and Fran, weren't you? What are you doing here?"

"Uh, I was just –," Vaan started.

"I hope we're not ruining this little reunion, but the last time I checked, Fran and I were apart of this party too," Balthier's smooth voice lofted over from a nearby trade booth, where he had no doubt been bargaining with the trader. He came over to them and immediately set his gaze on Larsa.

"Balthier, it's been a long time," Penelo said, happily, "How are you?"

"Well, as always. Flying airships, avoiding bounty hunters… all comes with being popular, I suppose," Balthier replied, with a sly smile, "and now I find half the reunited company in my wake."

"I suppose that scavenging with the temple of Nabradia has taken no priority in your schedule then?" Larsa asked, curiously. Balthier raised an eyebrow and waved Larsa's question aside, saying, casually, "Scavenging is what I do, but a temple in the Deadlands is new news to me."

"Permit me to ask," Larsa persisted, just as casually, "but did you remember two pirates by the names of Leas and Tainean?"

At this, Balthier narrowed his eyes, thoughtfully and then suddenly said, "I don't remember permitting you," he mocked.

To Penelo's surprise, Larsa scowled out rightly and snapped, "Fine, I'm not interested in your word games." Vaan had even raised an eyebrow at observing that Larsa was actually reacting to something. Though, Larsa's expression had not change from his usually polite stare, Penelo could hear the feint tone of frustration starting to peek in his voice as he said, "Will you answer my question or not?"

Balthier shrugged, unaffected by Larsa's sudden frustration. "Why should it matter to you anyways?" he said, "Caught up in your little office in the tip top of the city of Arcadia leaning over who-knows-which documents, and you suddenly pose an interest in my lowly pirate affairs?"

"I beg your pardon!?"

Penelo could visually see Larsa tense up and his little white gloved hands ball into fists. She had seen before how angry Larsa Solidor could get when confronted with arrogance, and she knew that he and Balthier had never really gotten along well, even when they were running around under Vayne's nose those years ago. She decided that it would be best to step in before things got a little too out of hand. Stepping in, she threw them both a glare. "Stop it, both of you! You're acting like children!" she snapped. Vaan smiled. He always did find it entertaining when Penelo tried to control people, usually males, who were taller and much stronger than her…. And see them cower in comparison to her intimidating scowl. This time it looked a little more interesting given that this time the two men, she was fearlessly calling 'children' were none except the Emperor of Arcadia and the infamous Sky Pirate.

They looked at her with a bemused expression. Yet, both did evidently… shut up.

Penelo sighed. "Now, should we take this matter to the Estersand? Or can you manage to sort it out like," here she gave Larsa a narrowed glare, "sophisticated gentlemen?" Larsa dropped his gaze to the ground and shuffled his feet.

Serves me for loosing my temper oncehe thought, rather irritably.

"Balthier," Penelo turned rounded on the sky pirate now, who gave her a wide grin in reply, "Please, just ask the question?" she pleaded.

Balthier folded his arms and looked over Penelo at Larsa, grudgingly, but said, "Leas and Tainean are old friends of mine. They've helped Fran and I out a few times so I decided to pay them back with a little information –,"

"So, you do know about the temple?" Larsa cut in, enthusiastically. Balthier did a beautiful impersonation of Fran and rolled his eyes, "Yes," he replied, reluctantly, "I've only heard of it."

"But Vaan, you told me…" Penelo started.

"Yeah, I was going with Balthier and Fran to check it out, but," Vaan paused though he was remembering a wonderful memory, "We ran into a wild wrym on our way there and… it served us some nice loot to sell at the bizarre. We called it a day before we even crossed the boarder."

Penelo sighed, well at least that's settled. Now, maybe Larsa can keep his mind off it. Larsa, who was sadly being the target of Vaan's story telling of how they fell the wild wrym, did not seem to notice her staring at him. Instead, all he was doing at the moment was nodding and inputting a 'hm' every now and again, just to keep Vaan satisfied in thinking he was actually listening to him ramble on about how large the teeth were. Penelo admired how polite Larsa could be for him to actually stand to torture himself like that instead of ignorantly cutting Vaan off or walking away, like most people usually did.

Larsa blinked in confusion as Vaan reenacted the last dying breaths of the wrym before they took it's scales apart for selling. The teeth were how big? Larsa thought in amusement as Vaan stretched his arms apart as far as they would go to visually show him. Though, all Larsa said on the matter was, "Oh,". That must have been one old wrym you killed, Vaan, for it's teeth to be that long, Larsa though absently as Vaan finished describing how much the loot had brought in for him.

"That's wonderful, Vaan," Penelo cut in, sarcastically, though Vaan didn't catch her tone. He smiled widely and scratched the back of his head modestly. "Well, I want to show Larsa around the city before the day ends. Do you want to come with us?" She asked him.

Vaan looked bored, "Nah, no offence," he added to Larsa, who looked almost gleeful at his departure, "but I have some business to see to in the Sandsea. Maybe, next time."

Balthier waited for Vaan to part with Penelo and Larsa before saying, "I'll give Fran word from you, Penelo. I don't think we'll be staying long before we leave Rabinastre once more." Penelo waved, "Thanks!" she said, "I'll see ya around!"

Penelo looked to Larsa, who seemed to be lost in thought. "Uh… you want to go anywhere specific first?" she asked, uncertain of the expression he was giving her. It was almost a look she had expected to see on Vaan; amused and confused at the same time, which was a stretch for Larsa's gentle features. Penelo did everything in her power to not laugh at him.

All he said in reply was, "How big do wryms get?"

It was all Penelo could do to not laugh in the face of the cute-looking Arcadian Emperor, who, at the moment, looked most adorably confused. She doubled over with silent giggles. "What?" she gasped thought fits of laughter, "Please, don't tell me… you were… actually listening to… Vaan's story?"

Larsa raised an eyebrow and he suddenly looked a little more like the serious Emperor she had known for so long. "I have to give him credit. It's not everyday you cross paths with a wrym of that size," he replied in defense to Vaan, which shocked Penelo so much she stopped laughing. Okay, first I think he doesn't like Vaan because Vaan's always close to me, and now he's defending him? Oh, Larsa, you are too confusing, Penelo found herself grinning at him. "Well, okay you got a point," she said, hastily.

"Let's proceed to the city, shall we?" Larsa suddenly said, in reply to Penelo's last question, "You said you wanted me to make acquaintance with Migelo?"

"You mean, meet him? Yes," Penelo mocked. Larsa pretended to take offence and mumbled something that she did not catch. "What was that?" she asked, suspiciously.

"Uh… nothing," Larsa said. Penelo raised an eyebrow and put her hands on her shoulders. For a diplomat, she thought, Larsa was terrible at lying. She thought smugly of this and silently adored his flaw.

"Larsa," she warned, "I know you said someth –,"

"And we meet yet again," drawled a voice from the center of a crowd. Penelo could only slightly recognize it as the pirate Leas' cold voice. Both Larsa and Penelo's gaze snapped in that direction. Of course, they saw shortly after the phase had been uttered, Leas coming casually towards them followed shortly by Tainean, who looked rather bored. It was the first time Penelo or Larsa had seen them in a proper light compared to the cold, white light of the interrogation room. Leas' bright copper hair was stunningly brilliant orange-copper in the desert sun, and besides their eye color, cold grey, they bore little resemblance to each other.

Leas had a sharper look to her with her copper curls and grey eyes, while Tainean had a gentler look with her chocolate brown hair and soft, fair complexion. They were now wearing their travel gear and were allowed (opposed to the imperial guards in Nabradia) to carry their weapons with them. Larsa followed the line of Tainean's long blade and narrowed his eyes suspiciously at the hilt as the glimmer of a symbol similar to that of House Solidor lay carved into the metal.

"I'm surprised to meet you here, Emperor," Leas smirked, "abandoning your country for a…" she observed Penelo rather shamelessly, "little trip into the country."

Penelo narrowed her eyes at Leas, just as shamelessly, but Larsa intervened, "My business here does not concern you," he said, sharply, "Now, if you will excuse us."

Just as Larsa was about to lead Penelo away from them, they were blocked by Tainean's drawn blade, which she drew gracefully across their path. Larsa stopped, reaching for his blade, but Penelo jumped in quickly, "We want no trouble," she begged, "Please, just leave us be!"

Of course, if they had been in Arcadia, this type of scandal with blades and shouting would have been the center of attention, but not in the low streets of Rabinastre, where everyone just continued on with their daily business. Larsa was staring at Tainean's sword once more. House Solidor symbol, indeed. "May I ask where you procured that sword?" he asked, curiously.

Tainean, seeing Larsa's gaze on the symbol, quickly sheathed her sword and drew herself up, hoping to meet his height. "I procured it from that imperial ship in Nabradia," she snapped.

Penelo was in absolute confusion. Larsa, now is not the time to compliment her on her weaponry! She thought frustrated. Maybe Larsa was more like Vaan than she originally thought. She shook her head, "Larsa…" she began, but he continued to Tainean. "That sword is one of a Noble's sword, a member of House Solidor itself," Larsa said, studiously, "There are no others like it beside mine and my fallen brothers."

Now, Penelo understood. She looked to the two pirates before her and raised an eyebrow. Tainean was glaring at Larsa coldly, but Leas cut in. "You asked us to stay out of your business, so I expect you do the same for ours," she snapped. With that she waved her hand in Larsa's direction as though he was not the Emperor of Arcadia but a lowly peasant bothering her. "Come, Taih," she said to Tainean, "they want no trouble here." Penelo fumed silently as they turned away from her and Larsa, mocking her words.

Larsa visually relaxed now that all threats, including Balthier and the pirates had left them. Penelo, out of habit, wrapped her arms around him for comfort, and he immediately stiffened again. However, the warmth of her body was calming him and the soft skin of her arms was touching his cheek, he slowly relaxed again. She was so close to him, he couldn't think straight. All he could think to do was put his arms around her waist and bring her in closer to him.

Penelo grinned up at him, innocently. She could not believe that this was any more special than the hundreds of hugs they had shared years ago, yet there was something in his eyes that she could swear had not been there when he was barely thirteen. When he wrapped his arms around her in reply and brought her closer, she couldn't help but look into his eyes again to see if those beautiful grey eyes were radiating the same warmth they had done earlier that day.

However, those beautiful grey eyes were not looking in her direction at all. Larsa was staring blankly over her head at the empty street before them. Damn you, was all Penelo was able to think. Of course, she would never verbally insult him like that. It was her way of saying: I know you want to! Why are you avoiding it? Are you scared or something?

Yet, Larsa was otherwise… distracted by other thoughts. Penelo's presence was making his mind scream at him saying: You idiot! You missed the moment… again Larsa was unaware that Penelo was staring up at him through all this. His mind replayed the vision of the symbol of his family on the blade of a pirate's sword. He had only just relapsed into an old memory.

His father and brother accompanied him in the imperial palace in Arcadia more than a decade ago. The bright winter sunshine flooded into the room through the tall windows of the throne room, where his father, Emporer Gramis, sat proudly behind his desk before the grand draping symbol of House Solidor.

Vayne stood before his father talking to him about something important, for Larsa could note that his father's voice was grave, but gave little away to the fact that he was suffering a great deal from illness. Larsa, sat in the center of the room cross-legged, picking at the carpet with his fingers.

Judge Gabranth (the real one) stood protectively over the five-year-old emperor-to-be with a bemused look. "Larsa," he said, with amusement, "you're going to destroy those gloves if you don't stop that."

Larsa shrugged. He cared little for the suave fabric that always rested over his hands. All he cared about was making sure Vayne did not forget about the melee lesson he had promised him. Larsa was bored stiff waiting for Vayne to stop talking with his father, and if picking at the carpet was the only thing that would pass the time, then he would pick at the carpet for as long as it took for Vayne to remember him.

Tiny tid-bits of his brothers conversation were absorbed between pulling the carpet fabrics and Judge Gabranth's steady breathing.

"The Solidor line of men has not been broken and proudly stands as a name of honor," his father was saying. Larsa then decided he needed another color of fluff to add to his pile of pulled carpet fabric and lost interest in the conversation.

Another few minutes later… "She is lost to us now," Vayne said, "I will to it that she does not return to disgrace us."

"Do not draw blood, Vayne," Emperor Gramis warned, "Solidor blood is thick and you will only disgrace yourself to spill it. No…" Something else was said but Judge Gabranth drew his attention to Larsa.

"My lord," he said to the Emperor Gramis, interrupting their conversation politely, "I apologize, but it is time, I shall bring Larsa downstairs for his first sparring lesson?"

Emperor Gramis waved them away in reply, saying, "Be sure the trainer is not an imposter like the last, Gabranth," he said, "Too many times have I had to punish those whom seek to murder my sons."

"Larsa, you okay?" Penelo's soft voice drew Larsa back to his present mind, where he was still in an embrace with a woman of soft sunshine hair and willowy frame.

"Uh… yes, I'm sorry. I'm afraid I let my mind wander," he replied rather poorly. Penelo raised her eyebrow, and, to Larsa's disappointment, pulled out of his arms. There was a strange glimmer in her eyes and Larsa suddenly thought she was beginning to cry. "I –I'm really sorry," he stuttered, uncertain of what had made her so upset in the first place. But Penelo looked back at him and gave him a confused look. "It's okay, Larsa," she said, "I don't really know what you're apologizing for, actually."

Larsa swallowed, while a voice in his mind ranted over and over again that he was a complete idiot.

"You seem distracted with something," Penelo added before he could speak. They continued their walk of the trade street, watching people zig-zag in and out of shops and merchants trying to cut deals by the second.

"I…" Larsa began, "It's nothing, really."

"Nothing?" Penelo smirked, unconvinced, "Larsa, I know 'nothing' when Vaan tells me that he was not just staring at a girl's ass, even when I catch him in the act."

Larsa smiled at the image. "True," he said, "But I assure you, I will not be staring at a girl's… backside," he said rather awkwardly, and Penelo had to hide a snicker.

"Then, tell me what's on your mind," Penelo persisted. She jumped a head of him on a whim, happy to be home under the sun of Dalmasca again, and spun gracefully on one foot. Unfortunately for her, the ground which she spun was not leveled properly and she ended up falling sideways.

She would have crashed to the ground unceremoniously if it hadn't have been for Larsa's quick reflexes. He caught her in his arms, and instead of simply standing her back up, he grinned warmly. Time to make up for lost 'moments', he thought, as he gracefully and easily slipped an arm under her knees and lifted her. She was quite light, which was to be expected for a dancer, and Larsa smiled at the questioning looks they were getting from the people passing by. Just as he had lifted her, he turned his head and whispered in her ear, "You."

Penelo was quite shocked. All she remembered was falling sideways and thinking she was going to be left sprawled out on the floor of Rabinastre's city streets. However, she felt Larsa's arms catch her and in one swift movement, he had picked her up and literally swept her off her feet as easily as if she were made of air.

The last thing she remembered was the tickle of his breath in her ear as he whispered, almost seductively, "You." It was all that was needed to put her in a state of shock. She had never actually been in this particular situation with anyone let alone Larsa Solidor, who, years ago, was much too short to do this properly anyways.

She finally regained herself and mocked, rather nervously, (she wasn't quite sure if this was really Larsa or not) "I didn't realize you were an opportunist, Larsa."

Larsa grinned and at that point, let her feet down so that she was standing again. Penelo felt kind of downcast about this simple action. It seemed that she was further from him now, physically at least. "I can't honestly say that I consider that assumption of myself," he replied, his voice back to it's normal tone, "but I felt I should keep you from falling… seeing that you would have not let live afterward if I have simply let you fall."

"Larsa, you picked me up!" Penelo smirked, and then she turned bright red as she realized the alternative for that phrase. Larsa did not seem to notice this however, and she sighed in relief.

"Yes, I'm sorry," Larsa said, innocently as though he had not meant to at all, "That was completely inappropriate of me. I should have asked you, while you were in the midst of falling onto the hard cement, if I would be able to extend my hand."

Penelo frowned and put her hands on her hips. "Sometimes I wish I could ban you from using words, Larsa," she sighed. He grinned at her, that warmth was returning to his gaze again and Penelo found herself avoiding his eyes.

"That's unfortunate," he said, "then, I would not be able to – pardon me – I would not be allowed to inform you that you look absolutely radiant in this light… perhaps, on most occasions."

Larsa had not meant to say it, but it he had needed a good retort for her stubborn response to his wit and that was all he could come up with. Indeed, it had had a well lasting affect and Larsa grinned at her expression as she realized that Larsa Solidor had just told her she was beautiful in an indirect, wordy sort of way. Something in the back of his mind was telling him to back away slowly and run! While the other half was telling him to stop staring at her and continue the conversation in order to break the silence that had settled upon them.

However, before Larsa could even respond to either of his annoying little voices, Penelo had taken hold of his jacket with both hands and roughly dragged him forward towards her. Their lips met, somewhat roughly, but neither seemed to care. Penelo was kissing him softly, (which surprised him given the introduction to her lips) and he found, to his surprise, that he ended up returning the favor.

They broke apart a few moments later, but Larsa did not want her to draw back any further from him than needed. So, he kept his arms around her, holding her there for a moment longer. His mind could not register what had just happened and he assumed that it was a good thing, because Penelo was smiling at him.

"You know we're in the middle of a crowded street, right?" she said, almost as a

diversion. Larsa gave her a half smile, one she had only seen him wear when she was up to mischief (which was not very often). Only once she remembered him giving her that half grin after he had taken her from Judge Ghis as the mines and led her up the stairs to Ondore's estate.
"Yes," he said, almost sighing in attempt to hide his embarrassment, "I'm quite aware of that."

Penelo raised an eyebrow, wrapping her arms about his shoulders, "And you, Emperor Solidor, don't care?" she grinned as she mocked his name, knowing full well that he was the boy she remembered eight years ago, who strutted around with perfect hair. And when… oh, yes, she thought maliciously, 'bright green was an awesome color' for your leg warmers.

Larsa was about to answer her question by leaning in and kissing her once more, but a voice called out to them over the crowd of traders and clan hunters, "Penelo! It's good to see you made it back from Arcadia safely," Larsa and Penelo broke apart immediately, before the hunched form of Migelo parted the crowd momentarily.

Migelo's beady, yet keen eyes observed Larsa with great interest, though he had not witnessed the scene earlier, they hoped. "Oh?" he said, with awe, "I can tell by the way you carry yourself with pride, and the resemblance to your brother that you must be the Lord Larsa Solidor – well, ah, pardon my stutter – Emperor."

He bowed low just as he had done once to Vayne Solidor, and Larsa smiled. "And you must be the famous Migelo I've heard so much about," he said, kindly, "I remember my brother, Vayne, commenting on your wonderful Dalmasca wine. Not to mention, Penelo has mentioned you more than once in her letters to me over the years. It's a pleasure to finally make the acquaintance." To Penelo's amusement, Larsa bowed to Migelo, causing the bangaa to stutter violently.

"Migelo," Penelo cut in, "this is Larsa. He helped Vaan and I eight years ago, remember?"

Migelo nodded. Larsa was standing again. "I'm honored, truly I am. You must come and have dinner with me tonight, your majesty," he offered, "You and Penelo both. I will be sure to provide the finest of Dalmasca's wines?"

Larsa looked to Penelo, who had known Migelo far too long to know that he would go all out in his attempt to please Larsa. She found it even more amusing when Larsa suddenly looked to her for… permission? She had to do everything in her power not to burst out in laughter.

Seeing her smile brightly, Larsa assumed it was appropriate to accept Migelo's offer. "That would be lovely," he replied, "And you may call me Larsa."

"Oh, well… I could not, sire –,"

"Migelo, he's my friend. And he's in Rabinastre now, not Arcadia," she smiled at Larsa, who grinned in reply, "Outside the 'royal' boundaries, royalty does not count. Not to me anyways."

Larsa narrowed his eyes playfully at Penelo, who replied by sticking her tongue out at him. Migelo, however, found this absolutely inappropriate but agreed all the same. He then parted with them saying that the preparations needed to be made early.

"He's a fine gentleman if I even knew a bangaa besides the ones we met in the Lhusu Mines," Larsa said, as they continued down the street to nowhere in particular.

Penelo shivered at the memory, but said, "He is… well, did your brother really say those things about him?"

"Yes," Larsa said, honestly, remembering the day his brother had come back from Rabinastre and when he had bombarded him with a thousand questions about it, "My brother was taken by his charity."

"I didn't think he would have," Penelo began but stopped short when she realized that she was dipping into deep waters. Larsa glanced at her quickly, a little disappointed in the thought that she never really knew Vayne as the honorable man he really was. He had to admit that if he had not known him before he went power-hungry, he would have had the same feelings. Instead of explaining all this to her, he merely said, "My brother was a remarkable man."

To this, Penelo noticed sadness in Larsa's grey eyes and though painfully of how lonely he must be.


Author's Note: I really do apologize to all my wonderful readers and reviewers for the long delay, but I hope this chapter made up for it.

I certainly did like this chapter, though it did take me a while. Sorry, sickness cannot be helped...niether can work or school be avoided. (pouts). Oh well! It's done and a new chapter should be coming up!

Please let me know if you don't mind my OC's being in the story. My last fic I posted (a different one altogether) had some OC's and ppl did not like it because of that. However, I've been getting a few inquiries about them and the plot, so I decided to make this story a little broader and bring in more plot (which I would have left out). But I'm really happy, cause I've now realized that I can do a wonderful Larsa/Penelo romance without the need to eject plot completely. Not that I didn't have a good one to begin with but... it was less complex.

Anyways, love the reviews so far! (blows kisses)