A/N - I guess the last chapter wasn't very well received. I hope this one brings more enjoyment! It's a bit silly...

Act One

They are all sitting together, relaxing in the raucous surrounds of the lively tavern. Perhaps relaxing is not the best word, for they are also plotting their course on the next stage of their journey, hair still gritty from sandstorms endured. Nevertheless, Balthier has bought them all a round of drinks, and even the stern countenance of the Captain is somewhat less hard-edged.

"I suggest," says Balthier, "that we skirt around the border here and enter from the west." He traces the route with his finger and stabs their destination triumphantly.

Ashe clears her throat. "Always in favour of creeping about, aren't you Balthier?" she notes.

Balthier folds his arms. "Not creeping m'dear. Stealth."

Ashe laughs, and Balthier's eyebrow twitches ever so slightly upwards. He can barely see for the fog of superiority coming from the Princess. 'How annoying.' Thankfully, Vaan dispels the tension by attempting to switch Fran's ale with his own, Balthier-imposed fruit juice.

"Vaan," warns Balthier, "Never steal a lady's drink, especially when she could kill you with her bare hands."

Vaan backs away guiltily. "But she's not even here."

"True enough, but it is common courtesy for a gentleman to mind a lady's drink when she is engaged elsewhere. Since Basch is halfway to a spectacular headache come morning and you...being so endearingly Vaan-like and boyish, the responsibility falls to me," Balthier explains.

"You say so much, and yet so little," Ashe says cuttingly.

Balthier would normally have replied to this little jibe, likely in the most infernally loquacious manner possible, but he is momentarily distracted by Fran's reappearance. She is standing by the noticeboard, presumably scanning the flyers for good marks, but she has taken off her helmet. So rarely does Balthier see her without it that he stares a good few seconds too long.

"Balthier...?" calls Vaan, snapping his fingers in the sky pirate's face.

Penelo nudges Vaan. "Don't be rude. You can't do that!"

Balthier comes to his senses. He always seems to lose his wits at the sight of Fran. It happens more and more frequently these days when it should be the other way around. This disturbs him, because his profession relies heavily on the possession of wits. But just the sight of that flowing, cascading hair...

A harsh voice can be heard from the bar. "Oi Rardas, check 'er out!"

"Nice," comes the rough reply. "Wonder if she's interested...?"

Balthier's tilts his head towards the pair. He wonders whether these men are simply dreaming, or planning on taking action. Either way, he has completely lost the thread of his own conversation and might as well have come to the tavern on his own.

The other man makes his choice. "Ey love! Git over 'ere and share a drink wit' us!" He calls out.

Balthier chuckles to himself. Next will come the cool but polite refusal, and the downing of a sorrowful drink or three. He feels a little angry as well, because he is the only one who can call Fran 'love'.

"Not today," Fran says firmly, turning back to the board.

Then Balthier hears the scraping of chairs. Not good. The bloody idiots are standing up, yes, they are heading over to Fran. Idiots. She'll floor them if they come too close.

"C'mon sweetheart," Rardas cajoles. "Just a coupla drinks, then after..."

"I said no."

The other man appears to get angry. "YER'LL DO AS YER TOLD!" he roars, and in an instant, Balthier has crossed the room.

"The lady said no, so clear off," he says forcefully.

The drunk shakes his head. "Nah. If me an' my mate 'ere see a single woman standin' 'round, then we best give 'er somethin' fun to do." The pair leer at the uncomfortable viera.

"I am not single," says Fran suddenly.

"Oh?" drawl the men, and almost Balthier as well.

Fran slips her arm around Balthier's and leans into him, and instantly they have the appearance of a couple. He is suddenly very aware of their proximity, but maintains his decorum admirably. After all, the leading man is, if anything, a great actor.

"Shall I spirit you away from these unseemly fellows?" Balthier asks, murmuring intimately into Fran's ear.

"Quickly," advises Fran.

He steers them both back to their other companions, and if the others wonder why they are so entwined, they make no comment. The two drunks have still not returned to their stools. They stare wistfully after the lady on his arm, making Balthier feel mightily pleased with himself.

"Still they watch," comments Fran, looking disgusted.

"Well then, it seems as though we must act a little longer," he replies, not at all adverse to the idea.

He gently takes her by the waist, waiting to see what she would do. Fran places a tentative arm across his shoulder, relaxing as she does so. He looks into her eyes, seeing frustration, amusement and...pleasure? Funny thing, the exact same things he is feeling. This will be by far the easiest acting job for the leading man to date.