A/N: Okay folks, this is a gift for my friend who's a huge Balthier/ Penelo fan. I'm not in the least bit, so I hope that I'm able to fool everyone! Enjoy!
Disclaimer: Characters and setting of FFXII belong to Square-Enix.
Crumble
i.
She was worried.
He couldn't blame the poor girl; her best friend was being taken away. It was only natural for her to be nervous.
So worried that she'd accepted the promise of a known sky pirate, eyes as hopeful as if she'd accepted the vow from someone actually trustworthy.
ii.
She was cute.
Neither regal like Ashe, nor exotic like Fran, but she had something. She didn't make him feel the pangs of desire, did not intrigue him to the point of pursuance.
And as she shared a quiet laugh with Basch, he could not help but be annoyed at how the slow sway of her hips both pushed and pulled at him.
iii.
She was loyal.
No matter what ignorant comment Vaan could conjure up, she remained faithfully at his side: the honey to his vinegar. He valued such loyalty: he had, after all been partnered with Fran for so long that he had trained himself to understand even the smallest twitch of her left ear.
But Vaan's arms would wind themselves carelessly, childishly around her shoulders and the gleam of a hopeful woman's eyes made him want to punch the boy in the face.
iv.
She was brave.
She only went with shield, determined to watch over the party's health as opposed to arming herself appropriately. Patches of mud and grass clung and there was blood on her cheek and in her hair and she just kept going.
v.
She understood.
After the battle with his father, everyone had left him to his thoughts. There were pats on the shoulder, offerings of condolences, and the big night sky for him to wrap himself in. Fran had been injured, so she lay in a stupor of potions and antidotes, unable to sit with him in the big openness as he would have wanted.
But she had hugged him and sat through the night by his side, watching the cooking fire eat up the night sky.
vi.
She was drunk.
Her hair had wriggled itself out of her pigtails and they framed her face delightfully as she hiccupped from the alcohol. Everyone had already headed up to bed, everyone but them. She could not tear herself away from the drink that made Vaan a forgettable figure and he could not tear himself away from the bar light that set her catlike features on fire.
So when she kissed him, he shuddered. He enjoyed the fingers that pulled him into her room, found themselves in his hair, at his buttons. She kissed him hard and fast with teeth that nipped at shoulders and neck, teeth that chattered at pleasure like waves; teeth that boiled his blood.
vii.
She was awake.
Sighing softly and stretching with slight pain, he watched her silently. Expecting a scream, she only blinked in surprise. She offered him a small smile and greeting, sipping the water and medicine he offered her gratefully.
He sat awkwardly, watching her rise; both relieved and pleased when she nibbled slightly, shyly on his ear.
viii.
She was too excited.Dragging him by his hand, they meandered through the bazaar with the gusto of a female who was accompanied by a male who was accompanied by a loaded purse.
He couldn't help but groan when she picked out the most expensive necklace from the most expensive stall, but when he really thought about it, she was worth it.
-End-
A/N: As always, review!