Author's Notes: Enjoy! I'm certainly enjoying writing it :]
As they walked up into the village, they went their separate ways in unspoken agreement. Penelo reached the tent before he did, pushing aside the heavy animal skins that covered the entranceway. Large though the tent was, there were four people already asleep in there with little room left for anyone else. Penelo snuggled down in the pile of furs the Garif had provided them, her eyes fixed on the tent door. A few minutes later, Basch stepped into the tent, the animal skins falling back into place behind him and cutting off any light.
"Basch!" She whispered, reaching out and tapping his leg to get his attention.
"They've left us precious little room." He muttered, crouching beside her. "Perhaps I should sleep outside the tent."
"Don't be silly." She whispered back, grabbing hold of his wrist. "No one will think anything of you sleeping near me, if that's what you're afraid of. There's no space anywhere else, after all." She heard him sigh, and hesitate for a moment before settling himself on the tent floor close by.
She stretched her arm out under a fur and smiled to herself in the dark as he did the same, their fingers entwined and hidden from view under the soft furs.
Basch's eyes sprung open, his heart beating fast. His hand was caught in something and he pulled away hard; in his semi-conscious state he was convinced he was still in Nalbina, his arm restrained. It was only when Penelo sleepily mumbled his name that he remembered where he was. He slid his hand back under the furs and found her hand again, clutching it tight. He was not sure what time it was, but the pale grey light creeping into the tent suggested that dawn was on its way. He moved slightly, partly to make himself more comfortable, partly to look at Penelo, her face just visible in the dim light.
Was he doing the right thing, he wondered as he watched her. He felt as though he was taking advantage of her in some way by refusing to acknowledge his feelings for her save for when they were alone. He gently stroked her thumb with his own, watching as she smiled in her sleep.
She opened her eyes drowsily and smiled shyly when she noticed him looking at her.
"Hi." She mouthed, still smiling contentedly at him. Her smile was so innocent and sweet it almost hurt him. As he held her gaze, he wondered, not for the first time, why she wanted him, what it was that attracted her to him. Whatever it was, he could not see it and sceptically wondered if she would have been attracted to him if they had not been thrown together in these circumstances.
The sound of movement came from the other side of the circular tent; with great reluctance, he pulled his hand from hers and rolled onto his back.
"No screaming in your sleep, Captain?" Propping himself up on his elbows he could see Balthier sitting on the other side of the tent, carefully combing back his hair. "That's a first."
"You ought hold your tongue, Balthier, lest I remove it for you." Basch snapped, getting to his feet and walking from the tent, grabbing his axe as he passed. He was certain he heard Balthier snigger as he left the tent.
The village outside was bathed in mist and Basch shivered slightly in the damp air. He was angry with himself for rising to Balthier's taunts once more. He was certain that Balthier suspected that there was more between he and Penelo than they wished the others to know and knew it was unwise to provoke the pirate further if he wished their secret to remain just that.