AN: From here on out the tenses and points of view get a little wonky. The past is in italic and just to be clear are not them remembering. It's more like two stories spliced together. Also of note is that the past is not in chronological order, so if your memory of the game is a little fuzzy but you're sure that such and such event took place at a different point, that's because it did.
If you find that I've slipped up and started telling the story from another perspective then what I had been doing with in that time line, please let me know. I will be using different POV's within chapters, but the past and the present should be clearly told from one person's perspective. Hopefully you will understand as the story goes on.
There is a brief mention of events in RW. I have not played the game at all, but there was a small mention of this in the Wikipedia entry.
Much loves goes out to sapereaude13 who gave this a look over. The idea of Balthier taking back his title is ganked from her and Katmillia and used with permission.
Their entire party had objected to the lodgings that they were given when so many had suffered on Mt Bur-Omisace that day, but after they all had spent so much time and their potions on healing who they could, some of the refugees who still had a home had insisted.
He heard a knock on the door of the small room he currently lodged in. It was probably Vaan, wanting Balthier to tell him all about his adventures as a Sky Pirate as he had done the last several nights. He was not in the mood to tell the boy a bedtime story.
"Vaan, it is la…" Balthier started as he opened the door. He stopped mid-sentence when he realized it was the princess instead. "Why hello," he said.
Ashe stood in front of him looking distinctly uncomfortable and without her battle gear on. She was only in her white top and that skirt that left very little to imagine, which usually didn't stop him from trying to imagine it anyway. When they camped she only took off what was metal and without the layers she seemed nearly naked. He certainly wasn't complaining but she seemed to realize his train of thought and squirmed a little more under his appreciative gaze.
After a moment, Ashe still had yet to say anything so Balthier continued, "Is there anything I can help you with?"
She seemed to take a moment to gather her thoughts. Balthier found it rather endearing that he had this affect on her. He had been noticing it more and more since the night he spent with her at Jahara. "Why are you doing this?" She finally managed to breathe out quickly.
"Do what? I believe it was you who came to me, late at night, half naked," Balthier responded walking away from her but leaving the door open so if she chose to enter she was welcomed to do so.
"I am not half naked!" She exclaimed.
"Your highness, that skirt is all but non-existent. Here," Balthier tossed her one of his fresh shirts. "If you are going to sleep half naked, you may as well do it comfortably when we have the lodgings."
"Balthier, I can't acc…" he silenced her with a look. She continued the original conversation. "I mean, why are you continuing on with us? The deal was to take us to the Garif yet you continued on to the Stilshrine with us and are taking us to Archades."
"So desirous are you to be rid of me?" he asked.
"I wish to have my ring back."
"And I wish to have all that treasure that you promised me. And I do recall the deal was your ring in exchange for something more valuable."
"Is that your only concern? Treasure?" she balked stepping into the room.
"I'm just simply a man of my word."
She pressed her mouth together, as if to keep from shouting at him in frustration. Finally she decided to continue. "There is something more, Balthier. I am sure of it! You seemed to leap upon the chance to take us; no questioned asked. What investment do you have in this ordeal? I need to know for I cannot have another traitor among us."
Balthier felt his face scrunch up as if he were recalling a particular nasty taste. He tried to mask it from her but he was certain she noticed.
"That's not it, I promise you. While I cannot be entirely forthcoming, my reasons are entirely honorable. And despite my personal interest in this, I have been apart of this journey for some time now and I wish to see its resolution. I would like to be sure that no harm befalls you," Balthier said, but mentally added, 'because if Cid caused it and I did nothing to stop it, I'm not sure I would forgive myself.'
There was a thick silence in the room. Balthier was deep in his thoughts but he watched Ashe out of the corner of his eyes. It seemed Ashe was just realizing what she was wearing, who she was with and where she was and was immensely uncomfortable with the situation. He decided to give her an easy out.
"Was there anything else I can help you with?" he asked.
"Yes," she paused then walked toward him. "Despite my hostile attitude toward your choice in professions, your help with all of this has been invaluable. For your concern, your shirt and for your comforting the other night." She leaned in and kissed him on the check. The act itself was sweet and chaste, a scene that would not have been out of place at court.
But they were not at court and he certainly was not chaste. The small gesture sparked something very powerful between them and never had the urge to kiss someone been so strong. Balthier didn't think he was the only one feeling it. The way she stared back into his eyes revealed that she could tell what that simple act had started, but if she like where it had taken them, he couldn't tell. Well, he wasn't one who was afraid of a slapped face; he leaned in and kissed her.
Her mouth hesitated for a moment and then opened eagerly to him. That was enough of a cue for Balthier to be more forward. He gently led her against a wall where his kiss grew surer. While he was no stranger to getting slapped, he rather enjoyed it when he didn't.
Balthier's face stung from where her palm struck across his cheek. 'That I deserved,' he thought to himself.
"You are an arrogant cad!" she shouted at him.
"About the note," Balthier started. "It wasn't my choice. And if you promise not to yell or to slap me, I can explain myself." Ashe stilled. "Very good. Let us sit."
They walked over to her dais and sat.
"I did want to contact you, Ashe but when the Bahamut started to fall, Fran and I were still in it. She had some debris fall on her earlier and I had been burned slightly. I had to get her out of there. Took me a day to get us to a place I knew was safe and any potions I had, they went to Fran. I got her stable and got us set up and by the time Fran was in a position to start bossing me around, it was too late. My burn had become infected and I spent the better part of three months in bed, some of that delirious."
"Why didn't you find us? Why didn't you come here instead of somewhere it took you a day to travel?"
"With all of the mayhem, wasn't quite sure where safe within the city was. I know you are not ignorant of the looting that took place that night. The city was madness itself. I knew of a place that while farther, infinitely calmer and somewhere I needed to be anyway."
"And where was this place? And you have only explained three months Balthier! I believed you were dead for a whole year!"
He sighed. "I know. Gods, Ashe it killed me but things needed to get taken care of. My father had no formal will, so naturally things fell to me. Our estate is rather large and while I don't care for it, it provides a livelihood for several families. The Archadian market nearly crumbled when they thought Draklor Laboratories were going under, until Larsa stepped in. When I came to finally, it was abundantly clear that I had to stay there to sort things out. I was in no condition to fly and couldn't and will not ever use the money that will have to support my family's estate for who knows how long. I wish I didn't care enough and could just burn down the whole damn thing."
Ashe was quiet for a bit. "What's this Lord Bunansa nonsense?"
Balthier pretended to be hurt. "It's not nonsense! I've inherited the family title. The old man just preferred to be remembered as a doctor than a comte."
"Yes, but when have you ever used your family connections to your advantage?" Ashe asked skeptically yet comfortably. To Balthier they seemed to be falling into their old rhythm.
"Well, I am supposed to be dead," Balthier stated.
"Yes, I know. We even had a parade," Ashe said. Balthier quirked an eyebrow and she turned bright red realizing what she had implied. "In your honor! You are not dead in Dalmasca. I never allowed it to be declared. Instead you and Fran have full pardons."
He smiled warmly and genuine, something she rarely saw. "And that has made a world of difference." Before he could elaborate he slightly changed topics. "Well, it just doesn't work when a dead man visits royalty. Those records are public. And being dead makes pirating far easier."
"Still up to your old game," Ashe mused.
"Of course. I'm willing to use the family money to pay for things concerning the estate but not a single penny of that goes to The Strahl. And since the Cache of Glabados was just Vaan's stupid airship, I have to find something to pay the bill."
"I will have you know that if you get caught, Pirate, I will not come to your rescue. You will have to find your own way out of prison," Ashe told him firmly.
"I wouldn't dream of asking," Balthier replied. "The princess saving the leading man… it simply isn't done."
"I am not a Princess anymore."
"Ah, yes," he sighed.
After a moment of comfortable silence, "That explains everything but your clothes Balthier," Ashe said.
He winced. A habit he had when he thought of something unpleasant. "While I would love to tell you it was simply because a pirate doesn't show up at court saying he's nobility, I can't. Truth of the matter is, my old nanny is also he Estate's housekeeper and she forced it upon me, insisting I couldn't leave the house like some 'hoodlum.' Yes, she actually used those words. Oh be quiet."
Ashe was trying to discreetly hide her giggling and failing. "You still take orders from your nanny?"
"You would too!" Balthier proclaimed. "There are two people I do not disobey; Fran and Nanny Lilè."
She smiled. "I missed you Balthier."
He returned her smile. "I rather missed you too Princess." He leaned in and kissed her rather thoroughly.
She pulled back. "We can't continue this here. Meet me in my bedroom tonight. You should be able to find it easily. It's in the east wing and there will be no other lights on in that part of the palace. I'll make sure there are no guards around. Do you think you can handle a simple break in?"
He smiled. "Encouraging a crime, Princess? I think my reappearance has been a bad influence on you. Yes, I think I can manage that." He stood up and brought her with him. He then made a deep bow over her hand and kissed her knuckles feeling her soft, warm skin under his lips. "Until tonight, my lady." And with that Balthier left the room.