Sorry It took so long to update. My computer broke I had TAFE and I was sick for a good month. But enough excuses heres chapter 9 in all its glory haha.

….

Fran was suspicious of her new party members. Balthier and her had spent a good two months planning this assault on the treasury, the probability of something going wrong was so miniscule that everything not going according to plan and two street rats just happening to be there struck Fran as to coincidental. Fran had watched the two teenagers but they seemed like normal ignorant children no sign of being spies. This had not calmed her in the slightest.

The guards opened the door to the prison airship and a wave of sweaty and bloody air washed over Fran. Wrinkling her nose in disgust she walked into the tiny space and sat down on one of the benches. Balthier had followed taking the spot right next to her. Fran winced as she watched the young boy thrown with malice into the ship and hear the familiar crack of a broken nose as blood poured down his face.

"Goddamnit." The girl yelled at the guard

She turned and wacked the guard in the face with her huge cuffs leading him to yell out in pain then fall to the ground when she kicked him in the genitals.

"Asshole!" she screamed then she kicked him in the head

The noise had attracted the guard's attention and they were coming towards her swords drawn. Balthier reached out grabbed her shirt and pulled her into the airship then slammed the doors shut.

She stood there heaving, Balthier looked at her "You seem to have a way to make sure you cause us more distress, leave your childish antics somewhere else we don't need it.

She turned on her heel and looked directly into his eyes and spat "You would do anything to protect Fran from those empire dogs, don't even try to deny it!"

Her voice broke as she looked at her partner. She went and sat down cradling his head, her tone got softer and she continued wobbly, "I am sorry but he is my best friend, I– I had to protect him.

Balthier opened his mouth to argue but thought better of it and simply nodded. The girl lit up with a white glow emanating from her person and then a snap as the boys' nose snapped back into place.

Fran turned to Balthier

"Balthier I do not trust these children." She said softly

"Fran you do not trust anyone who isn't me." He replied

Looking at him her face was as stoic as ever but Balthiers' trained eye could notice slight muscle changes that equalled intense displeasure at his last statement.

"Do not mistake me, I am cautious too my love." he said, looking over at her he stretched his arm out inviting her to lie against him.

Fran suddenly felt very tired and fell back into his arms. Fran buried her head into Balthier and inhaled his scent, the soft perfume of his expensive Arcadian soap with a mixture of bullet powder and sweat. His fingers wrapped around her ears softly stroking and rubbing them just the way she loved. As Fran listened to Balthier humming a soft tune she could feel her eyes getting heavy when a loud "thunk" woke her and brought her attention down to the blond teenagers on the ground.

Staring down she watched as the girl pulled the boys head back onto her lap, obviously the noise had been his head hitting the ground.

"Damn it Vaan, don't hit your head, you can't afford to get more stupid!" She sighed sounding frustrated

Fran felt Balthiers body shake from snickering while she was clearing her throat to stop laughter.

"Vaan thick in the skull then is he?" Balthier asked playfully

The girls head snapped up ready to defend her companion loyally but her face settled into a grin when she saw the playful almost puppy like expression in Balthiers face.

She giggled a sweet light laugh as she held Vaans head in her arms. Looking down at Vaan she brushed hair out of his eyes and cuddled his head in a surprisingly loving way, considering Fran had gotten the distinct impression they weren't an item.

"He's a boy of course he's dumb," She told them, "Don't tell him I said that though."

Balthier made a motion of zipping his lips and then leant against the wall.

Fran decided that she would sleep on the bench across from him she would deal with this later. Watching Balthier clean his gun in the slow methodical way he did eventually let sleep come to Fran

…..

An abrupt stop threw me forward into the door. Before I knew it the door was open and a young guard was looking down at me with a sarcastic smile on his face.

"Welcome to Nalbina." He said before grabbing me and forcing me up onto my feet.

In single file, with Vaan being dragged, we made our way into the depths of the prison. I looked down, the steps lead into complete darkness and their where strange crying and screaming noises rising up. Forcing my heels into the ground I skidded along making being lead very difficult but ultimately I had to walk down them.

There was a long passage leading to the room where we would be dropped off. I looked out at the faces of so many, banga, hume, seeq, it didn't matter the race or gender they all had that sad deranged look in their eye. It angered me knowing that all were wrongly accused by the empires harsh rules.

"Hey there pretty lady, I can't wait to eat that out." One ragged male screamed out before him and his groupies laughed

Ok so maybe not all of them are wrongly accused.

Fran looked over at them in disgust and Balthier shot them a look which I'm interpreting meant "come near this woman and I will end you all in a flash of pain". He kept them in his sights until we turned into the dungeon.

Un-cuffing Balthier and Fran the prison guard took all their weapons, potions and left us with nothing but a pouch of water and our food.

Walking over to me one of the guards stopped him and looked at me.

"This one 'ere bites and fights, better wear gloves." He said before laughing and hitting me in the head

I fell to the ground and felt his dirty hands feeling up my body for concealed weapons. I struggled under his grasp as I felt his hands move into my bra. His disgusting breath washed over me before getting up.

"This bitch is clean." He snickered, before walking out with the rest of his group.

"Are you alright?"

I turned; I was surprised to see that Fran had asked me that of all people. I nodded and scooted over towards Vaan and ran my fingers through his hair hoping to wake him.

Fran stood up stretching, "I will find an exit, do not expect me back soon."

Balthier and I watched her as she left the room. She was so beautiful in every movement she made, graceful like a swan. Balthier sat and leant against the wall.

I watched his breathing and his slight eye movements that let me know he was still awake, his mouth pouty and big, I let myself imagine what it would be like to kiss him and have him touch me.

"So Ella," he stated, his voice startling me back into reality, "You never did tell me how you knew me."

….