AN: hi again everyone!
And like always, thank-yous are in order: Qwi-xux and Difficile, you guys both rock!
*wipes back the steam* er..this one is rather heated. I've been talking to Qwi-Xux and I've decided to tackle a 10 chapter prompt following the course of Penelo's pregnancy. And before anyone starts, I know a pregnancy is 9 months but the baby has to be made (duh) so this is techically the pilot chapter. Ta dA.
And no worries. Its not a lemon- the most I'd say it was is a T. or maybe T+ for all those prudes. Its also my first time writing such a fic, so if the flow is awkward...um. that's why. Feedback as always is greatly appreciated. :D :D
Pilot: First Time for Everthing
"There it is," Vaan whispered loudly as he peered into the drawer of Chancellor Dhris' ornate mahogany china cabinet. "Just where Orme said it would be."
Penelo gently shut the door behind them and crept into the Chancellor's darkened sitting room. Her footsteps were masked by the thick, flowered carpet. "Well he ought to know, he's the one who polishes the collection. According to the rumors, the Chancellor's even banned the access to this room from all other staff members - nobody but Orme is allowed to touch them."
Vaan's toothy grin was evident in the moonlight streaming in from the open picture window. "I can just see it now," he announced, lowering his voice dramatically. "Foul marauders sneak into hapless Lord Chancellor's home during the dead of night , stealing prized collection of rare Rozarrian rubies." He replaced Dhris' beloved jewels with the similar sized red crystals he'd bartered off some vendor in Balfonheim. "It'll be a real riot the next time the old fart walks in to admire his jewels; he'll never know what hit him.!"
Penelo laughed as she carefully wrapped the real rubies up in a faded old yellow cloth then shoved it into their rucksack. "Especially since it's his own butler who's betraying him; Dhris should have never threatened to send him and his family back to Old Archades."
"Can't say I blame the poor fellow, he was bound to crack some day. A man can only stand so much yelling and nagging in a lifetime." Vaan said, looking pointedly at Penelo.
"Oh give it a rest, Vaan," snapped Penelo, glaring half heartedly at Vaan, who flashed her a charming smile. "If I'm not there to keep you on your toes, who knows what trouble you'd get yourself in. Don't you remember that time - Oh wait, let me see- when you decided to raid the Royal Treasury? All by yourself. What'd happened then, Vaan? Oh that's right, you landed yourself in jail!"
Vaan scowled. "That was a one-time thing. Believe me, Penelo, it'd never happen again."
"I know," she replied quickly. The exasperation in her eyes was gone, replaced by a brightness and warmth that made him want to throw his arms around her and crush her to him. "I'm glad."
He grunted then returned to arranging the substitute stones, mollified.
"I still can't see how you managed to convince Orme to give you the key for the lock though," Penelo continued. " If I were him, I'd demand for more than a 15% share in profits; it practically feels like a double robbery. "
"Ingenious, eh? This is definitely one of my better ideas." Vaan made a production of wiping his hands on his pants and Penelo bit back her retort. He was preening. "All in a day's work for the Fearsome Sky-Pirate Vaan. And don't worry, Pen. We'll give back Orme his fair share too. Now, what do you say to going home? All this talk of money and figures is making me hungry."
That was where their brilliant plan hit a snag.
"Uh oh." Penelo frantically rattled the glass doorknob. "Vaan, the door's not opening!"
"What!?" Vaan shouldered Penelo out of the way and tried for himself. "Hmm. You're right. Looks like the door's locked."
"Oh, this is just great. Now what, genius?" Penelo whispered furiously.
Vaan slung an arm around the girl's neck and pressed a wet, noisy smack onto Penelo's cheek. "I like you when you're sarcastic," he decided, beaming.
Penelo blushed slightly but pulled away, albeit somewhat reluctantly. "No, Vaan, not right now. We left our weapons on the airship, remember? Because someone was whining about them being too much of a hassle to carry. I mean it, Vaan, if the guards finds us lurking around and alerts Lord Dhris then we'll really be in trouble. As if the bounty on our heads aren't high enough…" Penelo trailed off, shuddering.
"Awww Penelo. We've faced worse before, haven't we?" Vaan stated airily. "Anyways, we can take them on I'd bet. They're probably all brawns and no brains – we'll run circles around them! "
Penelo sighed heavily. She was, as usual, utterly unequipped to deal with Vaan's brand of logic. "And since when are we ever that lucky?"
Vaan went on, as though Penelo hadn't spoken. "In fact you can even say there's absolutely nothing for us to do except wait until they barge in and let us free." Vaan lazily fingered one of Penelo's braids and reeled her in. "So you wanna make-out, Pen?"
"What, here? Vaan are you…mmph!"
Vaan had always been super at running his mouth – during the first few years after his parents' death, Vaan used to earn quite a bit of gil standing around the Rabanastre's plaza, badgering the occasional tourist into listening to his rendition of the city's great histories; of course they were all lies – so naturally kissing bore no sort of challenge for him . It was funny, she mused, despite how it had been three long years since Ashe was restored to her throne and they've announced their status as a couple, Vaan's kisses always managed to take her by surprise. This one was no exception – it only took mere seconds for Penelo to fully melt against her best friend. She opened her mouth eagerly, her hands fisting the back of Vaan's shirt and pulling him closer. Sure, it wasn't a great time to be kissing Vaan but Penelo had long since given up resisting the lure of Vaan's mouth. From stirring speeches and incontestable – sometimes even bordering insanity – reasoning to heart-stopping kissing…somehow it seemed to be a natural evolution of their relationship.
Vaan tugged Penelo down on the thick, plush carpet, still kissing her in that enthusiastic, messy Vaan way that had become so familiar over the past few years. He ended up with Penelo sprawled over top of him, her eyes were glazed and her hands tangled in his messy hair as she deepened their kiss. With a smirk, he flipped her over, broad hands sweeping down to caress her cheek. Her eyes were closed in relish. Moaning, she hooked a leg around Vaan's waist so that there wasn't even one centimeter of space between them and kissed him back as passionately as she could.
Much to her dismay, Vaan broke the kiss, his breathing ragged and uneven.
"Admit it," Vaan murmured against Penelo's temple, the skin there burning hotly with a soft lick of his tongue. "I have the best ideas ever."
"Don't spoil this by talking," Penelo gasped back and set about tracing the curve of the inside of Vaan's mouth with her tongue. Vaan groaned her name and squirmed against her, his hips grinding roughly against her thighs as if in a rhythmic trance.
The passing of time ceased and seemed to lose all meaning; seconds became hours and minutes became seconds. When the two finally came up for air, neither of them thought– nor cared enough, really – to check the ornate grandfather clock, before tumbling back down into each other's arms again. Their next kiss was tentative, lighter and more sweet, like liquid honey. Eyes fluttering open, Vaan tilted his head a little, trying to find the perfect angle. His eyes snapped open when Penelo cupped his right cheek, repositioning his head.
"I love you." She met his gaze directly, warmly and for the second time that night, Vaan lost himself in an overwhelming world of brilliant blue. His heart hammered furiously in his chest, so hard it was almost painful but he couldn't bear to look away from her. Vaan caught her fingers as they trailed delicately over his shoulders then down the smooth curve of his bicep, and on impulse he took her hand and raised it to his lips.
"I know."
Penelo shivered at his touch and the accompanying sigh made him flush. Vaan could feel his pulse beating through his body, the sensation concentrated in his groin.
Except this was as far as they'd ever went. They had come close, once or twice before this yet they'd always managed to get themselves under control. Suddenly, the thought of stopping now tore maddeningly at him but he accepts it as Penelo's choice and pulled away from her, eyes hidden beneath shaggy bangs as he stared at their hands, still intertwined.
"We," Vaan hated himself for even starting to say it, "shouldn't."
Penelo didn't waste any time with arguing. She too knew this was where they'd always stopped but one look into his eyes and she understood he'd never willingly hurt her. She kissed him again, delightedly savoring the way his lips responded immediately to hers. That was enough; her mind was made up. She leaned into him, gently nipping his ears, as her hands worked swiftly underneath to undo his belt buckle. Vaan swallowed a gasp.
Even in the dark, Penelo's eyes were luminous. "It's alright. I'm ready."
***
The next morning, the whole mansion was rudely jarred awake by the horrified shouts of several of Dhris' early morning patrol guards. And though the thieves themselves were never caught apparently just the sight of them was so traumatizing, one of the younger guards officially resigned within the following hour.
***
"…! That guy did not quit because he saw my butt, Penelo! Hey! No! Stop giggling!..It's because they're Archadians- they'll faint over anything that isn't covered from head to toe in frills and buttons or..or a ton of heavy metal. Hey! Are you still listening? Wait. No, come back here! Peneloooo!"