And another long one!

...Don't get used to this. Seriously.

Disclaimer: I don't own FFXII

Basch stood just outside the caved-in tunnel of the Barheim Passage and simply looked. The sand, the rocks, the sky, the sun. "To think Dalmascan air could taste so sweet."

Vaan walked up to the rest of the party. He'd had a quick look around. "Where are we?"

It was Balthier that answered. "The Estersand, by the look of it. Let's back to Rabanastre before we shrivel up. By your leave, Captain."

Basch approached them. "Yes, the hour of my return is already over late. The people may hate me, but that does not free me of my charge." The man turned in the direction of the Royal City and started walking.

The trek through the Estersand was long and hot for the sky pirate and the Vierra who were unused to such temperatures. Basch was simply glad to be out of that cage. Vaan flourished. He was truly a desert rat.

R followed him with a fond look on his face. The duo led the party gleefully; killing Hyenas and Slavens and talking quietly.

After a lengthy absence, the party walked back into Rabanastre's welcoming embrace.

Basch looked at them. "I thank you."

Balthier smirked. "I'd avoid crowds if I were you. In this town you're still a traitor, you know."

Basch said nothing for a moment. "The resistance will surely find me soon." He turned to Vaan.

R sensed what was coming. He draped himself over Vaan's shoulders and pressed against his back in a hug.

"Fates will we meet again. I would pay my respects to your brother." He did not wait for a response but walked away.

Balthier levelled his young charge with a look. "You're a fugitive now, too. Stay low for a while."

Vaan watched their backs as they walked away but just couldn't help himself. "What about the stone?"

Balthier didn't turn around. His tone was light. "Do as you like. That stone's ill-favoured."

Fran looked to the side; toward Vaan, not at him. "We feel regret. We sought that stone and found ourselves only worry."

Balthier glanced back at him. "You offering it?"

"It's mine!"

He turned away and continued on. "Then why do you ask? Our regards to your girl."

Fran lingered a moment. "We stay in Rabanastre a while."

When they were gone, Vaan took the stone out of his pocket and looked at it. "What do you think? Can I trust Basch?"

R hadn't moved from his supportive hug. "You know my opinion on Basch. All I can tell you is to look within yourself. Look at what you know of your country, yourself, your brother, the Empire, and Basch himself. You will find the answers you seek."

Vaan's eyes were wide. As soon as he'd taken out the stone, he could feel R. Sure, normally he could feel R's chill and it was almost like touching. But this was something else. R was solid. Vaan could just barely feel the man's legs on the outside of his thighs, his pelvis pressed against his ass, his chest on his back, R's arms wrapped around his shoulders, his breath brushing his ear, the slight pressure of R's temple resting against his hair. This was different. It was comfortable and he could have stayed there with R forever. He relaxed and leaned into the ghost that he had come to trust and care for.

R felt Vaan settle back into the hug. He sighed contentedly.

...Wait, settle. Before, R had been able to float through Vaan but now he was solid. As Vaan settled, he felt the boys hair tickle his nose. They boy's limp left hand brushed high on the back of his thigh. The strong shoulders and pecs encased in his arms. The firm ass pressed against his groin.

Both sets of eyes widened.

R liked this hug entirely too much.

It would be best if Vaan moved. He unwound his arms until only his hands were left on Vaan's shoulders. He leaned down until his lips almost touched Vaan's ear. He whispered, "Vaan, staring at the stone won't give you the answers."

Vaan stiffened then shifted away, the movements caused R's eyes to flutter closed from the delicious friction.

Vaan let out a shaky sigh. "I gotta get rid of this thing." He put it away.

R chuckled nervously. "I wouldn't say that." Maybe it was selfish, but that was the first time he'd felt anything in over two years.

Vaan seemed to agree. "Maybe I should show it to Penelo first." His hand threaded through his hair in thought. "So she knows I got something."

"Good idea. I'm sure she'll be happy to see you."

Vaan nodded. "She'd be at Migelo's place this time of day."

They headed toward the Shopping District but Vaan couldn't get his mind around the embrace he'd shared with the ghost. 'Why could I feel him?'

"Vaan is it really you? I heard you got took off to Nalbina!"

R chuckled at the little ball of energy.

Vaan crossed his arms and reassured the excited child. "The Imperials'll need more than a dungeon to stop me."

Kytes pranced in awe. "You broke out of a dungeon? Whoa!"

The older thief hushed him. "Hey, try and keep it down, wouldya?" He glanced around. "Penelo isn't around, is she? Out on a delivery, maybe?"

Kytes shook his head. "Nope, haven't seen her all day. Not like her to up and skip out on work like that. Migelo's not here either. He went running off somewhere a little while ago."

Vaan pouted and R laughed at him. "So much for my big welcome. Guess everybody's busy."

"I got my hands full watching the shop... and Old Dalan had something for me to do, but I can't get away."

"Old Dalan, huh?" Vaan thought on it. "Tell you what, I'll go see him for you."

"Really?"

He ran his hand through his hair.

R smiled at the nervous habit.

"Well, nothing better to do."

"So who's Old Dalan?"

"Old Dalan is the employer of Rabanastre's street rats. He's an old man and he's full of information. If you want to know something, you ask Dalan. If he doesn't know everything about it, then he knows the important stuff or somebody who does. The catch is that he usually doesn't share his information with anyone. If it's freely given, it's his gift to you. If you ask a question and he tells you something, that's completely different. For instance, he told me how to sneak into the treasury so there will be a price to pay sooner or later. Information, material objects, gil, whatever he wants. Anyway, Old Dalan lives in the South Sprawl of Lowtown, a ways away from my usual haunts."

R followed Vaan with great interest. He'd never been to Lowtown.

They headed out of the shopping district into the northern part of the city. Vaan then led them into an alley. At the end of the alley was a door with a magical torch glowing with a faint magenta light. Vaan opened the door and they descended down the dark stairs.

It was not what R expected.

He expected something similar to Rabanastre proper.

Lowtown was dark, there was sand all over the tiles, people were squatting in alleys, some of the buildings looked condemned. Still, he could tell that the place was once as beautiful as the upper city.

Vaan saw his face. "This is what happens when half a city is forced underground. This used to be the warehouse district. Now it's the black market and a hideout. It's a sanctuary for the poor. It's home." He quietly continued as they navigated the streets of the North Sprawl. "I grew up down here on the streets of Lowtown. My parents died when I was twelve. My father was a Hunter and my mother was a White Mage. My father died on a hunt. His partner said that he'd suddenly collapsed, one of the first victims of the plague. My mother tried to revive him but she didn't have the reserves; her magic had been fighting off the plague too. The magick killed her from the inside out. Reks and I were kicked out of our home down here and forced to fend for ourselves. I stayed with Penelo for a little while, but then her parents died too. Reks immediately went to work in the Sandsea, while I became a runner. I spent a lot of time at the Magick and the Tecnick shops learning before I took to the streets as a pickpocket. When Reks enlisted, his salary allowed us to move into an apartment. Eight months later, he was dead and I was back on the streets of Lowtown. Where I belong."

By this point they were in the South Sprawl. Vaan continued past the small market area and essentially kept going straight. Not too far beyond that, Old Dalan's place was on his right.

They headed inside. The old man sat in his chair across from the door in front of his tapestries. A woman stood off to Dalan's right while a couple of children sat on the floor to his left. Obviously they had been giving Dalan some information.

Vaan walked up to the man. R noticed that the boy's stance was not his usual carefree but still catlike gait, he approached this man quietly, respectful. R wondered how this man had helped Vaan beyond sneaking into the treasury. He prepared himself to stand back and listen closely.

Dalan looked up at the young thief, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "Well, well. Look who we have here! Heard you were sent off to Nalbina?"

"And I got out of there as fast as I could. But it was all worth it, Dalan. Here, look at this!" Vaan took the stone from wherever he was hiding it and showed the old man.

"My, my, my. Quite a treasure you've got there."

R swore the man's eyes flicked over Vaan's left shoulder, where he was.

Vaan didn't notice. "Well, you know, I couldn't have done it without your help."

"So, there is more to this gutter-churl than first meets the eye. Vaan, Ive an errand: a simple favour to beg of you." He paused a moment. "I was going to ask that Kytes to go, but I should think that you ought to do. No - no I think you're just the one." He bent over the right side of his chair, presumably to get something. "There's a fellow by the name of Azelas, and I need you to bring this sword to him." Dalan held out the sword.

Vaan was speechless. He looked at Dalan with wide eyes. "That's - that's a sword of the old Order."

Dalan ignored Vaan's breathless statement. "Speak my name when you arrive. That should be enough to get you in to see him." Vaan accepted the sword. Dalan deftly reached out and snatched Vaan's map from a fold in his pants with nimble fingers. The old man marked on it and then replaced it immediately. "Ive made a mark on your map showing you where he can be found. Mind you, you are to deliver the sword to him personally."

Vaan nodded obediently. "I will. Hey Dalan? Could I get you to do something for me? I need to find out where Penelo is. I wanted to show her what I got from the palace, but I haven't been able to find her anywhere. Can you let me know if you hear anything?"

"You can just leave that to me."

"Thanks Dalan." Vaan left the house with a sword and a smile.

R however, heard the old man mutter to himself. "And so it is done. But will it be enough to remind him of what the Order once meant?"

He floated after Vaan.

Vaan was just outside the man's house with his map out. He looked up. "R, there you are. According to this, we have to go to the east side of the North Sprawl."

R nodded. "Okay, Vaan listen. After you left, Dalan muttered to himself about giving you that sword and asking himself if it will be enough to remind him of what the Order once meant. He didn't say who him was but I have a feeling that it could be important. I think you should keep it in mind."

"Okay, if you think so. You haven't been wrong yet."

R smiled at the thief, proud and a little bit embarrassed.

The duo ventured across Lowtown, heading first into the North Sprawl, and then east. The map lead them into a side alley where a lone man sat on a pile of crates.

Vaan approached the man, who he knew to be Balzac. He'd delivered things to him before. "I'm supposed to deliver something to a man, name of Azelas. This is the place, right?"

"And who was it told you that?"

"Old Dalan. He said I have to give this to him personally."

Balzac sighed with a rueful grin. "Does nothing get past that Dalan? He has ears in every wall. All right, get inside. But not a word of what you see or hear in there, you got that?"

They headed in but R urged Vaan to stay just out of sight so they could eavesdrop on the ongoing discussion inside.

"Then what of Ondore's proclamation? Dis they fool even the Marquis?"

"What if a Judge killed the King, not the Captain? That would explain everything wouldn't it?"

"Then the Captain would be brother to a Judge! How are we to trust such a man?"

It was at this point that the Captain himself entered the room. He looked better. His hair was trimmed, he'd washed, he wore a red armoured vest over a linen shirt, fingerless gloves, arm guards, boots, and armoured pants.

A man in a suit of plate armour stepped forward. "No there is the Basch that I remember."

"Then will you fight again at my side?"

A man from the earlier discussion yelled, "His word alone convinces me of nothing!"

Another replied, "I'd take his word over that of a mouthpiece marquis!"

Yet another spoke up, "Then you name Reks liar with him."

R knew as soon as Reks was mentioned that Vaan was done listening. Sure enough, Vaan surged into the group of men.

"My brother was no liar!" He looked around, daring anyone to argue.

Basch did not argue. "Just the opposite. Reks was the witness they needed. They had to make it appear as if I'd killed the King - Reks bears no blame." He glanced at Vaan. "The Fates have willed it."

The armoured man approached Vaan and looked him over. "So this is Reks's brother." He grabbed the sword and wrenched it from Vaan's hands. "Your words may convince this child, but they weigh too lightly on the scales for my taste." He turned to Basch. "Our paths will remain separate."

Basch frowned. "Do you not think Amalia worth saving?"

The man sucked in a breath between his teeth and looked away for a moment. "I hold men's lives in my hands. I must see foes in every shadow." He paced toward the front of the room. "The night we moved against Vayne, he knew. I will not chance such disadvantage again. I must treat you as I would Ondore - as I would any abettor of the Empire."

"Then what will you do? Hold me here in chains?"

Then men glared at each other in a tense silence before the man tossed Basch the sheathed sword.

Basch caught it. "Some things never change, do they."

"Listen to me, Basch. Your cage may have no bars, but it is a cage. The eyes of the Resistance watch unblinking."

Basch just glared at the man, unfazed. "Let them watch. I know something of cages." The Captain stalked out and Vaan was quick to follow.

Basch stopped not far outside. Vaan came up behind him. "That's right…" Basch looked up at him but Vaan was looking at the ground. "Amalia's in the Resistance."

"Then you know her."

Vaan walked a few steps ahead. "Sort of. We met just before we got sent to Nalbina." He snorted. "I've known nicer people."

R rolled his eyes and muttered to himself, "You don't even know the half of it."

Now it was Basch's turn to approach Vaan. "Our paths keep crossing, yours and mine. Its more than coincidence."

Vaan looked over his shoulder at the man. "It's annoying."

Basch smiled sadly. "I'm sorry." He looked away. "Allow me one last annoyance: a favour to ask." He suddenly looked Vaan straight in the eye. "I want you to take me to Balthier. Even caged birds need wings."

Vaan nodded. "This makes us even." He walked off.

Basch followed. "Even?"

Vaan lead the way with his arms crossed behind his head. "For Nalbina. We couldn't have done it without you."

R leaned toward Vaan's ear and spoke in a heartfelt whisper. "Thank you. For believing him. For forgiving him."

Vaan's reply was barely audible to the ghost. "For you. I kept an open mind like you said. You were right, again."

R smiled.