"I know something you don't know."

Balthier glanced over at Penelo as they walked together at the back of the group, an eyebrow quirked and a smile coming to his mouth at the childish phrase. They were heading through the Ozmone Plains, back to Rabanastre after their experience in Girvegan. They had been through this place so many times now, the fiends barely troubled them, and so the pair were moving at much more leisurely pace to the rest of their companions, and had fallen far out of earshot to them.

Penelo wasn't looking directly at him, but was smirking as she gave him a sideways glance, gripping onto the straps of the pack she was carrying. Balthier just shook his head at the young girl, fondly.

"Penelo, my dear, I'm sure there are a great many things that you know and I don't. The real question is, do I want to know them myself." Penelo continued to smirk at him.

"Oh, I think you'll want to know this." She said, breezily. Balthier sighed, loudly.

"Well, you're clearly desperate to tell me, whether I wish to know or not, so…" He trailed off and gestured to her to divulge her information. Penelo was now grinning broadly.

"Well, you know how I was sharing a tent with Ashe last night…" She drew out. Balthier didn't make any physical changes but Penelo knew she immediately had his attention at the mention of the Princess, who was currently way ahead of them, leading with Fran. She continued.

"…Well, it turns out you're not the only one who talks in their sleep."

"I do not talk in my sleep." Balthier protested, as he did every time this subject came up. Penelo fixed him with a stare.

"Balthier, last time I shared with you, you spent ten minutes muttering 'don't let the Seeq steal my shoes'!" Balthier said nothing, but felt a touch of colour come to his face as he recalled the dream she was referring to. He quickly replayed what she had been talking about over in his head and stopped walking, curious.

"Why would I be interested in Ashe talking her in sleep?" He asked with a sly smile. Penelo matched it as she answered.

"Well, let's just say your name was mentioned a few times and she seemed to be enjoying it." Balthier's eyes grew wider and he stepped closer to Penelo, as if not to be overheard.

"Penelo, are telling me that Ashe was having a sex dream about me?" He was unable to contain his grin. Penelo just gave a casual shrug.

"You'd have to ask her that." She smiled. "But like I said, she seemed to be enjoying it and I think, had she been sharing with Basch, you would have been in trouble this morning."

Balthier searched for the Princess ahead of them, looking like the gauntlet had just been thrown down.

"Why that saucy little minx." He said to himself. That would explain why Ashe wouldn't look directly at him this morning, and why she had turned bright red when Vaan asked her if she had slept well. He turned towards Penelo, but then quickly pulled her behind him as he shot at the Viper that had leapt up from where she had been standing. It went down instantly, but the gunshot had drawn the attention of their companions, who were now heading back to them.

"Everything alright?" Asked Basch, and Penelo answered in affirmation. Balthier meanwhile, had his eyes locked firmly on the Princess and was looking immensely pleased with himself.

"How goes it at the front?" He called to her, giving her a wide smile. Ashe was already clearly annoyed at him for falling so far behind, and his cheery cry irked her just enough for her to grab his arm when she reached him and pull him to the side.

"Careful, Ashe!" He started, ever so slightly put out by the disrespectful way she was treating his shirt, before returning to his flirtatious ways. "If you're in the mood to manhandle me, all you had to do was say. Come on, there's a bush over there. The others will wait." He said with a playful grin and a wink.

Ashe looked away from him in embarrassment, making him grin wider, knowing the cause stemmed from his comments mixed with her dream last night. When she did turn back to him, she had pursed her lips and was looking up at him under her brows. It was a look that only encouraged Balthier, as he knew it meant she was torn between wanting to scream at him and wanting to play along with his joke. Unfortunately for the Pirate, she chose the former.

"Balthier, I did not pull your sorry ass over here to listen to your lewd comments!" She started but Balthier had to interrupt.

"Have you been thinking about my arse again, Princess?" He asked, wearing a highly entertained smile. Ashe studied him for a quick second, the smallest touch of suspicion in her eyes, before continuing.

"I'm just interested to know why you insist in dallying so and slowing our progression to a crawl!" She fumed. Balthier was very close to pointing out that he wasn't alone at the back, but he didn't wish for Penelo to suffer any of Ashe fury. Not when he was enjoying it far too much.

Ashe was still talking, but her voice had lost it's angry edge.

"I mean, I thought you, of all of us, would want to get back to Rabanastre quickly. After all, The Strahl is docked there. I thought you would want to get back to her and be free again as soon as possible." Even knowing the others were watching, Balthier dared to reach over and touch her shoulder.

"The Strahl isn't the only thing I care about, Ashe." He said, quietly. Ashe glanced up at him quickly and saw his sincerity, and felt the corner of her mouth twitch so subtly. She then remembered they had an audience, and returned to the reason she was annoyed with him.

"Then why, Balthier, do you insist in frustrating me in every single manner possible!" She demanded, shrugging off his hand. Balthier leapt upon her choice of phrasing with joy.

"Me, Princess?" He purred. "Frustrate you? Oh, Ashe." He shook his head and lent in close. "I wouldn't dream of it!" And he pulled back, giving her a devilish grin and flick of his eyebrows, leaving Ashe confused and just a tad worried.

Balthier, chuckling to himself, sauntered back to the group, ignoring the curious and suspicious looks he was receiving from Fran, Basch and Vaan, and took a sniggering Penelo's hand, leading her off with a spring in his step.

"Come on, slowpokes! Rabanastre isn't getting any closer with us just standing here!" He called behind him. Penelo nearly lost it.

After a minute, and still feeling very cocky, Balthier addressed his young friend.

"I say, Penelo, you don't happen to know who the Princess is sharing with tonight, would you?" He smirked. "I can't help but think it might be interesting to see if I could swap with them."

Penelo had to bite her lip to stop her laughter. He was right, it would be interesting, but as she knew the answer tonight was Basch, it might not be interesting for the reasons Balthier wanted.

Still, it would be fun to watch him try.