A.N- This was an anonymous request on my blog a while back. I actually really enjoy the story I created to go with this idea so don't be surprised if this becomes a multi-chapter thing. Also, the reason I haven't posted much lately is because Google Docs pretty much ate all my fics. They're all gone minus the few I had shared with others, so I'm trying to rewrite all the ones I lost.

"All right, highness. Get up!" Ashe shot the prince a cheeky grin and gave his arm a tug to get him to stand. "I need to get into that crate you're sitting on."

The man shot her a scowl, though his eyes shone slightly. "You almost made me spill my tea, pirate." He stood and gave a little mock bow, moving so the woman could access the crate.

Ashe chuckled, grabbing a wrench and screwdriver. She stood and shot the man a look, tugging on the waist of her tight leather pants to readjust the holster hooked on there. Her trusty gun at her side, the sky pirate oozed confidence. "Oh come now, Prince. What's a little spilt tea between friends?"

"Friends, are we?" The man cocked his brow as he sat back down, taking a small sip from his teacup. "Because last I checked, I'm your employer and little else."

Ashe humphed at that, crossing her arms where the edge of her cropped top ended. She turned away from the man and looked toward the engine room of the ship. "Fran, how's she looking?"

The viera woman responded shortly, her ears coming into sight first as she stuck her head out of the engine room. "Not well. The repair is going to take longer than we thought."

"Wonderful." Ashe strode over look at the damage. "Damn, that last hit really got us good. We're lucky this didn't shattered, or we'd be in a million little pieces right now."

The prince did not miss the look she shot at him, almost as if she were blaming the damage on his actions. Sure, he had perhaps kept them a few moments longer than was necessary, but he needed answers, needed to know just what that man had known about his family, and his fiancée. There was no way a pirate could understand his woes, understand the loss of love and the weight of a family name that carried through dynasties.

Fran seemed to sense the tension between the two of them and decided not to remain in the middle of it, quickly excusing herself. "I'll go and see if Basch, Vaan, and Penelo have returned."

Making her exit, she shot a look to her partner, warning the woman to keep her tongue in check and not anger their future source of income, which earned her a look right back from said woman.

Ashe waited until Fran had left the ship before turning to the prince. "Ffamran, can you hand me that apron?"

He had expected a snide remark, not a request. Silently, he set down his tea and tossed the grease covered apron to the woman and watched as she tied it on, covering the exposed flesh on her stomach.

"And those gloves? I need to reach into the center and loosen a valve in there, and I would rather not get burned." The woman seemed completely over the bitterness she held towards Ffamran causing damage to her ship, instead focused solely on her task, which confused the man. Had her remarks simply been in jest then? And that look she sent him...

Ffamran tossed them to her quickly, watching as she prepared to get to work on the ship's engine.

Ashe slipped them over her hands, ones that showed traces of the hard work she did to maintain her ship. Yet, they still looked soft, well taken care of. Ffamran pondered that for a moment, wondering if that was simply due to the woman's vanity. However, the minute the gloves covered her hands, Ashe slipped into the narrow engine room, letting his mind wander off in thoughts of her.

There was little he knew about this woman, other than the passing rumors he heard as they continued on their travels. Apparently, she was much more well known than he had originally thought and lived up to her self-proclaimed title of "Leading Lady." The bounty on her head was tempting even for a man of his means, though she was an asset that he could not afford to lose at the moment. He knew this woman could be stubborn, had seen her stand her ground against three bounty hunters and refuse to give them what they wanted. He had seen her pride as her eyes lit up while speaking of her ship, or telling Vaan and Penelo tales of her past crimes. He had even seen her loyalty, having defended him with each breath while men at a tavern spoke badly of their presumably dead prince and then taken blows in a fight to stick up for him in a battle she had need not involve herself with.

Yet, there was something about her, like she hid a secret that was dark and haunting her every move and footstep. He could not tell what about her was truth and what façade, and when he had asked what she wanted in life, the woman had only replied with "to be free," which left him with more questions than the answers he had been trying to draw from her.

"Damn it!" Ashe growled, slamming her hand against the doorway as she left the engine room. Ffamran startled out of his thoughts and glanced towards the woman, her face dirty from the polluted steam that left the out the value she had opened. "Ffamran, I need you to run to the market with me and pick up some parts."

"Why must I come with you?"

Ashe was tugging off her gloves and had tossed aside her apron by the time he finished speaking. "Since you have all the gil on you, and since I know you won't trust me with it."

The woman quickly grabbed a clean shirt she had stashed in the room and stepped behind a crate to change.

Ffamran was going to argue with her, explain why it was best he kept the gil on him, but decided against it. "Okay, I'll go along with you."

"Excellent." Ashe stepped back into sight, a wide smile lighting up her face. "Now, we will just have to make you look a little less regal, and you'll fit right in where we are headed."

"A little less regal? And what do you mean by that?" Ffamran crossed his arms.

Ashe chuckled. "I mean, you have to look less like a prince. See, you'll need to get used to how things work around here, Highness."

The woman grabbed his shirt collar and quickly undid the first two buttons before he could even react. She then reached up to ruffle his slicked back hair.

"Take off the jacket." She ordered, and then continued her earlier thought. "If you act like a noble, no one here will take you seriously. Or, they'll figure out you're actually someone important and kidnap you for ransom. Either way, the mission will be delayed and we can't have that."

Ffamran had removed his jacket, and Ashe gave him a once over. "Well, at least you don't look like as royal as you normally do… perhaps slouch a bit? Smudge some grease on your shirt?"

"How do you know all this will help? Have you dealt with nobility before that you would know how to disguise my upbringing?" Ffamran asked as he attempted to make himself look more slovenly.

Ashe did not answer, instead switching her boots out for sandals. "We'll need to change out your name… hmmm… Ah ha! You are now Balthier!"

"Balthier? Like the rogue in those old children's books?" Ffamran asked.

"Exactly!" Ashe stood quickly. "Now, we had best be off."

Once 'Balthier' was beside her, she linked her arm through his. "Fran!" She called, knowing the viera would hear her. "I need to get some parts from the dealers in the market. If Basch and the others make it back before we do, tell them to start on supper."

With that, she set off at a quick pace, making the prince keep up.

"Balthier. Balthier. Balthier." Ffamran repeated the name until it felt natural.

Ashe laughed. "You'll get used to it quickly. You'll have to."

"Ashe… about earlier." Ffamran started suddenly. "You looked at me when you mentioned the ship and I-"

"Forget about that." Ashe spoke quickly and sharply, though it came out quietly. "It was nothing. It doesn't matter."

Ffamran recoiled slightly. "I apologize, but I-"

"I lost someone important to me once too, okay. I tarried a minute too long trying to get some intel and he was lost. So just please drop it."

Ffamran grew silent, and a feeling of guilt weighed about his chest. "I had no idea-"

"I know. So drop it, Balthier." Her eyes flashed, though her countenance changed once they entered the market. "Anyways, the dealer we need to see is in one of the less reputable areas so stay close."

Still feeling guilt but trying to lighten the air, the prince did what she asked and shifted back into their regular banter. "I doubt we can be much closer." Ashe's arm was still tightly wrapped around his.

Ashe managed to chuckle. "We could be, but I doubt that would be something we'd do in public."

Ffamran stuttered, face flushing. This in turn caused the pirate to laugh for real.

"You look so cute all flustered."

"I-"

Before Ffamran could speak, another voice chimed in.

"Ah, Lady Ashe…" A man entered, his hair dark and face gaunt. "It has been a while."

"Jules." Ashe's voice was curt, and Ffamran could feel her tense. "Is there something you need?"

The man chuckled. "No need to worry, Ashe. I simply came to see your friend here… I would seem birds of a feather flock together, eh Amali-I mean, Ashe? You do realize the market is being swept for his highness, no?"

"How do you-" Ffamran started, though Ashe cut him off. He sent her a look, but her eyes were locked on Jules.

"My friend Balthier and I are simply two people shopping for parts for an airship. No more. No less. Now, I suggest you keep quiet and be on your merry way, lest you want a reminder of the last time you crossed me."

Jules threw his hands up. "I'll go, I'll go. Just keep your friend out of the public eye, alright?" He began to walk away but stopped. "I suppose I shall have to tell your father I ran into you. He does still ask after you-"

"You would not dare." Ashe's hand went to where her gun normally rested, and it was only then that Ffamran realized how deep the hatred between these two ran.

Jules turned around, a sly look on his face. "For some gil I may keep quiet."

Ffamran still had no idea exactly what was going on, but he did know Ashe had stuck up for him in the past. "How much to shut you up and get you out of our hair?"

"5000."

Ffamran cursed, but pulled the money out quickly.

"Balthier, you don't have to-" The woman tried to stop him, shooting a hate filled glare at the smirking man extorting money from them.

"Let me do this for you, Ashe." The prince handed the gil over to the dark haired man, who grinned and hurried off.

"Farewell, my lady. My lord."

As soon as he was out of sight, Ashe sighed in relief though her face was troubled. "We should get the parts and go quickly. He won't keep quiet for long even with that much gil in his hands."

"You are well acquainted with him?" Ffamran asked as they set off quickly.

"Much too well. He works for my father…" Ashe froze then. "There are some things I should tell you… yet that must wait. This is not the time." She shook her head and let her mask of ease cover her face. "So come on, Balthier, let's head out."

As the two made their purchases and headed back to the ship in a rush, Ffamran's mind was only filled with more and more questions.

Just who was Ashe exactly?