Disclaimer: Square Enix owns FFXII and all of the characters. I only wish I owned Balthier.
Chapter 2
Balthier leaned against the stone wall of the Aerodome, trying to hide himself as best he could in the shadows. The hood of the cloak he wore partially covered his face, and he hoped that it would provide some disguise. This was the third night this week that he had come to do reconnaissance. He knew that in fifteen minutes Vaan and Penelo would leave bay number three to go get something to eat. Only, this night, they would come back to an empty hangar. Part of him wanted to speak with the apprentice sky pirates, but he knew that would lead to trouble. They would want him to stay in Rabanastre, especially for the coronation, and he could not. "Queen Ashelia B'nargin Dalmasca," he muttered to himself. He would never admit to it, but she had been in his thoughts constantly over the past few weeks. The last he heard her voice, she was screaming his name across the radio. He had noticed something in her tone that fateful day, something that he had not expected. Some time ago, he realized that he had grown fond of the Princess, and he made the decision to tell her of his past. He had hoped, that if nothing else, his story would keep her from becoming like his father. But, that day on the Bahamut, Balthier had heard the unspoken emotion in her voice, and it frightened him more than any mark he had ever hunted.
"Her life is one of royalty and mine is one of thievery," he thought to himself, "and sadly, never the twain shall meet." He took a cursory glance around the area—he had another ten or so minutes. He shifted his weight from one foot to the other, and felt his muscles throb in response. He had been under the care of healers for a good two weeks after the Bahamut, and he still had quite a few bruises from the whole ordeal. Somehow, that day, he had managed to get out of the wreckage with Fran. They limped across the Estersand, and luckily right into the path of a group of traveling merchants, who were on their way to Nalbina. While riding to the village, he had "accidentally" overheard one of his saviors mention a rumor involving the legendary treasure of Bervenia, the Cache of Glabados. Balthier knew that he had to investigate this rumor; any sky pirate worth his ilk would. Once he had healed enough to move around, he decided that he would fetch the Strahl, so they could make their way to Bervenia. Fran was still recuperating from her injuries, and he left her resting with promises to return with the ship.
He glanced again at the bay door, and sure enough, it began to open. Vaan walked out first, rubbing his stomach. "Let's get something to eat, Pen, I'm starving." Penelo followed him out laughing, "Starving? Yeah, right." He watched the two of them stroll away together and wished again that he could talk with them, but this way of doing things was for the best. Besides, there would be plenty of time to chat when and if they arrived in Bervenia. "If they really want to be sky pirates," he grinned as he spoke quietly to himself, "they will follow." He waited until they were long gone, and punched in the code to open bay door number three. "Vaan always uses the same passcode," he thought with a chuckle. Sure enough, the door opened and he sauntered over to his ship. "I am glad to see you," he said to the metallic beast in front of him, running his hands over the gray, unpolished hull. Before he could board, there was one last chore to be done. He walked over and placed two items on one of the control panels: a note and a small brown satchel. He knew that his friends would search every inch of this hangar once the ship was missing, so he was sure that they would find them.
As the ship slowly exited the Aerodome and came out into the night sky, he steered the Strahl due north, flying it over the castle. "Sweet dreams, Princess," he whispered sadly, as the city of Rabanastre disappeared behind him.