Let me present: Al-Cid! I kinda wanted a bit of interaction between Al-Cid and Balthier, but I didn't manage to do so without the prince leaving with a bruise or two, so I kept it civil (you're welcome, Al-Cid. Wouldn't want to damage that pretty face). Instead it became all about someone observing the Pirate and the Princess's relationship. Meaning there's a bit of fluff for those of you who like that stuff ^^

Aaaaanyways! Leave a review and let me know if you have any ideas for characters in future chapters. Next up is Basch!

Disclaimer: I don't own anything! SquareEnix does!

Part 3: Al-Cid

He was the perfect man. That much he knew.

Wealth, charms, good looks. He was never cruel, though at time slightly deceitful, and a considerate lover, who never left his partner unsatisfied. Even a prince of Rozarria, the powerful and beautiful kingdom of the west.

Perfect.

Al-Cid Margrace could not think for a better match for any princess but himself, and that was why the blow was so much harder, and seemingly lower, when Ashelia B'nargin Dalmasca -only true heir to the throne of Dalmasca, only daughter of the late King Raminas- seemed not at all impressed with his entrance and his less than subtle proposal of a joining between the two kingdoms. Only when he had places a kiss on her hand the princess looked a bit out of balance, but only slightly and only for a second.

What he had noticed though, was the way her eyes had darted towards her companions. He had for a split second followed her gaze and seen nothing of interest, but that was until he laid his eyes on a dashing man clad in leather. The man seemed to look anywhere but at Ashelia and himself, and the set of his jaw was stern, somewhat angry.

Up until then Al-Cid had though himself the single-most handsome man alive in Ivalice. He would never diminish the truth of a good-looking man, as he was not exactly picky when it came to bed-fellows, but never had he lusted so badly.

Ashelia said something or another, and his attention was back to her. With a grin he added the signs and numbers in his head, and figured it would not take a mastermind to realize that the princess and the pirate -who he learned later that the handsome devil was- were somewhat, if not entirely, involved. Maybe even in love.

What a cliche...

It did not bother him, not as much as he would at first believe anyway, because, in all honesty, he completely understood Ashelia and why she had lain her eyes on this particular specimen of a man. He would himself rather enjoy a private meeting with the sky-pirate, especially taken into consideration the things he had heard about their kind and their stamina and, well, let's say overall performance.

So that was why, when he later announced his departure with all the drama, glam and poise of a prince of his stature, he actually did not leave at all. Rather found the best room at the temple, swore everyone to secrecy and locked himself in until the sun set.

As the lazy and spoiled -he would never dream of not being completely honest when it came to himself- prince he was, he sent some random servant he had brought with him to see what was going on outside the four walls he had surrounded himself by. By the time the servant came back he had fallen asleep on the bed which was much more comfortable than he had originally thought.

Rather grumpy at being woken up, though that was the order he had given, he backhanded the servant, before asking for something to drink. After the formalities were taken care of, he demanded a report of the little outing, which lead to some interesting facts; all six members had rented separate rooms, probably worried about someone having to sleep on the floor, which Al-Cid could completely agree with. Sleeping on the floor was for dogs, pigs, and other animals he did not like; which was all of them.

Although, one of the princess' companions, the young, blond, stupid-looking one, had reminded him a lot of a brain-damaged chihuahua...

The sky pirate though, was currently outside, alone, enjoying the night sky. And as far as the servant knew, everyone else were fast asleep, fed and clean after a meal and a bath.

Without much further due, Al-Cid got up, put on his best, most sexy outfit and all but swaggered out the door.

It did not take him long to spot the sky pirate, sitting on the very edge of the plateau, leaning back on his hands and staring into the sky.

He was just about to approach and say something incredibly charming and witty, when someone else beat him to it. From his hiding spot behind a stone-decoration of some sort, he could see the princess walking casually up to the pirate.

"Oh, are you still here?" The pirate asked in a bored manner, though his shoulders looked tense, even Al-Cid could see that. "I figured you had run of with that slime-bag." That was uncalled for, the prince thought to himself, though to be honest, he had been called so much worse.

Ashe huffed, a very un-princessly thing to do, and Al-Cid could feel himself instantly less attracted to her. The opposite was probably true for the pirate though, as he turned to look at her, his face instantly a bit softer. "I prefer my men a bit less fabulous, thank you very much." She sat down next to him.

Again, Al-Cid felt a bit offended, whatever their problem was, there was absolutely no reason for dragging him into it! Petty children!

Balthier put on a pretend offended face. "Are you saying that he is more fabulous than me, Princess? If you are, you have truly hurt my feelings, and I must ask that you apologies imitatively!"

Shacking her head, Ashe sat down and gently places her head on his shoulder. "You know what I mean."

"Yes, that I do, Princess."

They sat like that in silence for a minute, unconcerned that anyone could see them, and the romantic notion and sweetness of it made Al-Cid want to throw up. How could one so boring and, he would say plain, but could not really make himself go that far, as the princess, get someone as dashing as the sky pirate. The only explanation had to be that he was a gold-digger, after all he was a pirate. That, or she was quite the wildcat in...

His thoughts got distracted as Balthier got up and stretched, before reaching a hand down to the Princess, dragging her to her feet. Circling his arms around her waist, he whispered something in her ear, something only meant for the two of them. Ashe looked into the pirate's face with an adoring look on her face, which, frankly, made her look like a silly teenager, before saying: "I love you, too."

Al-Cid would later never admit to it, but at that instant he felt a slight pang of jealousy -no one save his mother had ever spoken those worst to him. Not to mention the fact that his gagging reflexes really kicked into action as the couple started kissing, the starlit night illuminating the world around them.

For the first, and last, time ever, Al-Cid admitted defeat, and as the love birds made their way inside, he decided that it was time to leave. Besides, who knew, maybe next time he came across the sky pirate, he was single and no longer bound to the princess.

Little did he know, that the next time he would see Balthier would be at the Pirate and Princess' wedding...