Chapter 2

Bumps In the Night

Balthier sighed loudly peering out of the airship with a gentleness to his face. It was morning and the sun had finally peaked creeping its way into peoples windows and tapping them on the shoulder to wake up and enjoy its presence. He always managed to beat the sun waking up early and waiting mockingly at the always trailing sun to catch up.

He wished he was on his airship but enjoyed staying over night with Vaan on his newly acquired vessel. It was comfortable and modest but no where near the luxury as his own. A swift clicking sound came from behind and he knew all to well that is was Fran coming to check up on him.

“Did you sleep well enough?” She asked coming beside him looking out into the sky as well.

“As good as any.” Balthier replied, “How are the two young ones? Are they awake yet?”

“It appears they prefer to let the sun do the honors of pulling them out of rest.” She commented. Turning her head slightly to give her pirating companion a glance Fran could tell something was producing in his mind. She didn't know as to what but it really was something genuinely knavish for even though his face was calm his eyes were bleeding a different color.

“Should we leave now or wait till they wake?” She asked returning her attention back to the outside

“Don't you think it would be more courteous of us to stay a while and catch up with old friends.” Balthier declared before leaving the Viera all alone.

Fran honestly could sense that something was stirring in this establishment and a lot of it was going to play in Balthier favor. She would have no other choice but to keep close to his tracks. If there is one thing she did for the man more than anything its watching his back and keeping him out of trouble. Even if that trouble was caused by his very own self.

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Crawling out of bed Penelo wobbled her way towards the washroom and leaned against the cleansing bowl, drawing some water she filled it, and took a handful of its icy weight splashing it onto her face. After drying her porcelain features she dressed and headed out towards the main deck. Opening the door a figure stood in front of her blocking her from going any further in her travels.

“Did you sleep soundly?” Balthier asked.

“You're still here?” Penelo sounded trying to conceal the excitement that filled her after seeing that they were still here and had settled on not disappearing before she and Vaan had awakened. . Disappointment had decided to skip her this morning.

“Oh, good to know I've made your day by sticking around longer. I can't imagine how you and Vaan manage along with just you two.” He proclaimed.

“We've manage just fine. Besides I don't see how we are any different from you and Fran.” She replied trying to maneuver around him.

Stepping slightly in the way she was heading he chuckled at how she was still like a child impulsive as ever. “I thought you looked to Vaan as a brother nothing else?”

Growing frustrated Penelo sighed loudly. “I do.”

“Oh, well I definitely don't look to Fran as a sister if that's what your aiming at.” He stated while raising his eyebrow.

It seems disappointment had found her today for it climbed up from her stomach and into her throat making it ache. She didn't know why but when Balthier made the indentation that he and Fran were a little more than just pirating companions it hurt her just a little. She never questioned their close relationship and she felt like an idiot for not doing so. Of course they were a couple. It wasn't like her and Vaan's relationship where they grew up together from the earliest of memories. They had to have met out of attraction for each other which furthered them along.

“Oh, I'm sorry I didn't know.” Penelo finally chirped.

Balthier had to bite his lip to refrain himself from laughing. He could tell the girl fell hindered by his words and it boosted his power of her just a little bit. Sparking such vexation not only brought her closer to him but it also left her delirious to it as well. He wondered how much longer he would have to keep this up before it turned to nothing but child's play, so to speak.

“Are you up for the next chapter of your bedtime story tonight?” He asked veering away from their latest subject.

Penelo scowled confusingly from the question. “You're going to stay another night?”

“Well, not here but the Strahl will be docked close enough.” He replied.

A small smile tugged at her lips and words could not leap from her tongue in fear of sounding too giddy. This was the highlight of their encounter. All she could do was stare into those hazelnut eyes and swallow their color like a melting piece of chocolate.

“And just how long are we planning on the stay?” Fran's voice echoed into the room.

Balthier tearing himself away from Penelo letting leave her departure from him. Making his way towards Fran he smile and gave a half assertive shrug. “I haven't really pieced it together yet.” He responded.

Looking at Penelo Fran felt obligated to ask the girl about her sleep. “How fare was your night?”

Penelo moved uncomfortable from the eyes of the Viera. She couldn't place if it was guilt or envy or a mix of both she was expressing towards Fran. Maybe guilt from feeling envious towards her. “Why would I feel envy towards Fran? Over what? Balthier?” She thought to herself. “Why would I have feeling for Balthier in the first place? Now I'm just being silly. He is taken and there is no way he is even interested in me. So just forget it Penelo, you're just making yourself all worked up for nothing.”

Taking a deep breath and rationalizing the situation she converted her smile towards the beautiful creature. “Great. How about you? Did you and-” She cut herself off before finishing the question. A jealous tone was rising in her throat and she had to stop it before it released its fury.

“I slept fine thank you.” Fran confirmed switching her lavender eyes to Balthier who was looking at the floor aimlessly before giving her his full attention. A fraction of the scheme was revealing and it angered her just a little.

Realizing the sudden drop of silence Penelo announced, “I guess I should go see what Vaan is up to.” And hurried towards the deck.

Balthier and Fran remained silent for what seemed like minutes. She was the first to speak breaking the silent hold. “I would hate to see what your hiding.” She stated.

Balthier sighed heavily dropping into a casual pose. “Come on Fran when have I ever kept secrets from you.” He commented.

“Your secrets are easily obtainable but your lies can keep a person running for miles and for some odd reason your lies this time have managed to out pace me even.” Fran inserted, “But don't think I will not catch up sooner or later.”

With that said she left for the deck as well. Balthier looked fixedly at the door she exited. He could almost swear she was a small portion of a medium and it drove him absolutely crazy from time to time. She was the dragon preventing him from his most valuable pillage to date and he would have to be extra careful not to wake her.

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Night was approaching and Penelo had found herself getting cozy for bed. It had been a long awkward day and all she wanted to do was sleep it away. Fran and Balthier had spent most of the day in their own airship as she and Vaan followed them to various places of interest, which were mostly on Balthier's list, but it still lifted Vaan's spirits to be plundering with an old friend. She honestly didn't get it at first. She always thought pirates were in always in competition with one another and not forming alliances.

Stretching out on her bed she yawned loudly. “I could pass out right here right now.” She said to herself.

“And miss out on your bedtime story?” A voice sounded causing her to jump off the bed and onto the floor.

“Balthier!” She gulped surprised to see him leaning against the door frame, arms crossed, and looking effortlessly dashing.

“Hm, its a little early to begin jumping out of bed with me when you haven't even had a sample yet.” He mused advancing towards her.

Penelo's face crimsoned and she slowly crawled back onto the bed her eyes forcefully keeping away from him. She felt his weight at the edge of the bed and a hand reach out and touch her shoulder. Too terrified to move or even look up at the face who was touching her. It was like he casted stop on her, unable to move from the spot she was in and also unable to function. Whatever he was planning he had her exactly where he wanted her like a butterfly in a conniving spiders web. She could feel the heat from his body getting closer causing hers to tingle.

“Are you ready?” She heard him say causing her to finally acknowledge his presence.

“For what?” She frightfully asked.

“To carry on with rest of story or should I continue some other time?” He queried getting up from the bed.

“Oh, um no. I mean, I want to hear the rest of the story.” She found herself telling him while slipping under the covers.

Balthier smiled charmingly and sat back down on the bed. “Now where were we?” He pondered, “Ah, yes, the young sly boy who was the only one who could obtain her special treasure. Well, the young boy knew that the beautiful girl with the precious gift didn't care for him with any amount of her life and had the notion he would have to get that gift in the only way he knew how.”

“How?” Penelo questioned.

“Through gaining her trust.” He countered, “You see through gaining her trust he would be able to gain her treasure. So the young sly boy started off slowly with asking the prized girl for the smallest of her treasures.”

“What did he ask for?” She sat straight up eyes wide waiting to hear what it was. She still didn't know what the treasure she possessed was or why it was so special and it wrecked her senseless.

Picking up her hand Balthier brought it to his cheek. “The slightest touch of her skin on his lips.” He said before placing a small kiss a top of her hand.

Penelo just stared at the hand that was being adorned with his small but manful kisses. Her hand was shaking under his grasp and all he could do was chuckle insidiously in his mind. One kiss after another. Her hand was like a delicious treat that he couldn't stop sampling. The feeling that was trailing from just her hand had encompassed the rest of her body and it was both of a stimulus and a trance. Was this pleasure she was immersed in? The story of the treasured girl and the sly boy, was pleasure the small gift that she had given to the boy, or was it vice versa. Such an action from the fabler didn't need words to justify what was the meaning behind this chapter of the story.

Removing his lips from her soft skin Balthier rested her hand by Penelo's side, who blinked warily from what had perspired. He smiled to himself and got up from the bed. “I think we shall follow up on the rest of the story tomorrow night then.” He commented.

Not wanting to let him go just yet Penelo chriped, “Wait.”

Turning around Balthier waltzed over to the bed again. “Yes.” He said resting on the bedpost.

“I-I I was just wondering who received the gift.” She fumbled trying not to show the sudden flustered rush she was emitting. “Was the gift intended for the girl or the boy?”

“That's for you to decipher. Good night.” He stated leaving with a smirk.

Penelo watched the door staggered over the reply. Another night, another chapter revealed in this tantalizing story and for some odd reason she felt that it wasn't just a common bedtime fable that was shared amongst households. That it was especially made for her hears alone and thus the reason why she continued to let Balthier go on. Looking down at her hand that was blushing pink from the kisses he laid upon it she rubbed it softly. She could only hope it returned to its normal color by morning then an explanation won't be necessary as to why it was blushing.

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