A slightly shorter chapter than the lfirst one. I kind of don't have any opinion of Penelo what-so-ever, she's just kind of there. I really like her in the end scene though, where she's a bit more grown up and super cute! In advance, I apologize for the last part of this chapter (yes, I do think Vaan is that stupid!).

Leave a small review, people! It keeps the writers block at bay. The next few chapters will contain; Al-Cid, Basch and Fran. Any other characters you want? Tell me and I'll do my best.

Disclaimer: SquareEnix owns everything, I'm just borrowing the characters for a while :3

Part 2: Penelo

The sun was glaring down at them from a cloudless sky. The desert stretched in each direction for what seemed like an eternity. A few palm-trees decorated the landscape, even a few sturdy desert flowers, but other than that the only thing in sight was sand, sand and even more sand.

Penelo was used to heat, the Royal City of Rabanstre was after all smack in the middle of a desert, but this was something else entirely.

They had been walking for hours, nearly the entire day, and had just now sat down to take a short rest, after fighting of a particularly nasty fiend, a few of them having received cuts and bruises.

Balthier had been the worst of. Just as the fiend attacked, aiming for Vaan, the blonde had jumped aside, his sword flailing around in his desperate escape. What he had failed to see, was that he was heading directly for Balthier, who had no escape, as Ashe had crashed into him from behind, and it had nearly ended in the sky pirate being impaled by Vaan's sword.

Luck had been on his side though, and he had only been cut on the right side of his ribcage, after which he had been knocked down and hit his head on a rock, and then Ashe had landed on top of him, elbowed him in the back with a pointy arm guard. The whole thing ended with Vaan dropping his shield on Balthier's head.

The sky pirate had lain there, refusing to move until he bleed out. Which he of course didn't as Penelo had healed him as soon as the panic had settled. The fiend had been killed, mostly thanks to Basch and Fran, but Balthier had still refused to move, muttering something or the other under his breath down into the sand. Penelo had no idea what it was he was saying, but knew that it wasn't anything nice or suitable for her, Vaan or Larsa's ears, not to mention their princess.

"Maybe we should set up camp here." Basch breathed, wiping his brow.

"That would be a good idea." To Penelo's surprise, it was Fran who spoke. "We are tired and weary after a long day. At least there is some shadow here."

The group spread out, trying to find something they could use for a camp-fire. Penelo stayed behind, walking tentatively over to Balthier's spot on the ground. Just as she approached, he suddenly got up and dusted himself off.

"Are you OK?"

He huffed. "OK?" He grunted. "I thought my biggest worry would be the lack of change, bath and the occasional enemy, but no! The most dangerous aspect of our little quest is that idiot Vaan and the least elegant princess of all time." He pulled at the cuffs of his shirt, and looked himself over. "Another shirt ruined then..."

"I can fix it, you know." Penelo walked over and looked at the damage. Somehow Vann had managed to get his sword underneath Balthier's leather vest, so only the shirt was damaged, and bloody.

"Are you good with a needle and tread then?" He raised an eyebrow and smirked at her. "Aren't you the perfect little wife?"

She tried, she really tried not to blush, but Balthier was really charming, and his voice was extremely sexy. Sure, she had been in love with Vaan for a year or two, and she and Larsa was getting along really well, but Balthier was something else entirely.

"I wouldn't go that far." She stuttered, trying to get her face under control. "I just had to learn how to do these things. So, do you want me to fix it, or not?"

"I would appreciate it."

Without much more talk, Balthier started to work on the bindings of his vest with quick fingers. It was hard not to stare, and as the vest was removed, and the shirt quickly followed, Penelo barely managed to take a hold of the ruined fabric as he gave to her.

Dragging her feet, and cursing her weakness under her breath, she stalked back to the shadows and got to work. Balthier studied the angry red mark on his chest, before letting out a loud yawn as he stretched.

Of course, he noticed how the young girl kept casting her glance in his direction, and a grin spread across his face. Even though he had managed to get her royal highness "to bed", didn't mean he didn't enjoy a little attention. Penelo was way to young of course, but still, it was fun.

The rest of their party returned shortly after, and Balthier noticed how Ashe let her stare linger a little longer than it should. Luckily Basch was busy lighting the camp-fire.

After they were all seated and properly fed, all due respect to Fran who had gone hunting, Penelo finally finished with the shirt. She had sown it, washed it and let it dry, and it was as good as new, almost.

"I do hope you know that I'm still waiting for an apology." Balthier pointed out with a look in Vaan's direction. "After all, your little stunt nearly cost me my life, or worse; my precious vest! Have you any idea how much this thing cost me? Or how far I would have to travel to get a new one?"

Vaan gave a blank stare.

"Of course you don't. Now, luckily for you, only the shirt was ruined, and so I expect you to buy me a new one the next time we're in an actual city."

No one said anything, and Vaan nodded, still embarrassed about what had happened earlier.

Penelo figured Balthier just like messing with the blonde, and she was very much right. After all, Vaan was easy to mess with, and he rarely protested the logic of the sky pirate, though he probably should. She did have to admire their self-proclaimed leading man though, he seemed to take it all in stride, dealing with things as they came along, and the little whine-fest he had had earlier, laying in the sand aside, he was usually the most optimistic of the group, always a sarcastic remark at the ready.

He really was worthy of being a leading man.

The rest of the evening was spent in quiet, at least until Vaan turned to Fran and asked: "Since we just ate rabbits... does that make you a cannibal?"

Penelo face-palmed. This was going to be a long journey...