A/N: It has been awhile since I've actually written a legitimate romantic fic and decided to start one within the Final Fantasy series again! Yay! So please enjoy and tell me what you think.

Disclaimer: I do NOT own FFXII or any of its beautiful characters, they are under the ownership of SquareEnix.

Platinum Pantomime

Chapter 1

A Bedtime Story

Penelo didn't know exactly how to feel about spending another tiresome and struggling night within the bowels of a ship any longer. Sure, sky pirating was fun and all but, it also caused more trouble that she sincerely cared about. Well, it was Vaan's dream and now that it was a reality she guessed she better stick by her best friend's side no matter what, she knew he would.

A trembling sensation rocked her off the bed she was sitting on sending her to the ground. “Ewe, now what?” She muttered coming to her feet.

A clunking sound echoed beyond the room she was in growing louder and louder. The sound quited for a moment as Penelo shrank back as a certain someone or something entered. Strutting in with a certain confidence that only one with a kind of arrogance would carry was the famed sky pirate himself, Balthier.

“So there you are. I was afraid that you had abandoned ship and left Vaan all to his lonesome.” He declared with a crooked smile.

A scowl accompanied by a sweet pinch of red casted onto Penelo's face. “I would never leave Vaan's side.” She replied.

“Ah, I see it'd be like leaving your better half.” Balthier announced placing a hand over his heart.

Her face glowed redder from the comment. “If you must know I look up to Vaan as a brother nothing else.”

“Thats good to hear.” He sounded picking up a trinket on a near table examining it lazily.

A shutter collided with Penelo and she counted to three backwards to calm her nerves that were escalating quickly from their conversation. She had to direct it away from where it was heading or she would soon start looking like a tepid moogle after making a misplay.

“So Balthier what brings you here to our airship?” Penelo questioned.

Making a slick smile he took in the small girl standing before him in her white tank top and shorts, clearly getting ready for bed. She was admirably cute and had those rare features that only an angel birthed. Innocent and naive to the bone, but strong willed and devilishly stubborn, she surely was a rare find.

Clearing his throat Balthier replied, “Justing checking up on you two. Fran and I were wondering how you two were getting along and decided to pay you a little visit. So how is your sky pirating days going? Managed to make a name for yourselves yet?”

“Not like yours Balthier.” She chirped sitting down on the bed with a yawn.

It was clearly dark outside as the moon hung high and the velvety sky shimmered with glistening silver sprinkles. Tonight was a beautiful night above all but there was still something very off about it, it just wasn't as calm as it usually was. Maybe it was the wind that made the airship groan from time to time, or maybe it was the clouds and how they ominously floated about separately, or maybe it was the contracting aura that filled the room. Penelo shivered again and looked longingly at her pillow.

Balthier taking the hint that the young girl was tired sounded, “You must be tired. I guess it would be in my best interests to tuck you tightly into bed.”

Penelo quickly stowed away under her covers flustered by his aim of action. That was either a sweet gesture or a crude misconception, she didn't want to wait around to see which one he had intentionally implied. “I'm fine thanks.” She replied trying to look comfortable.

“Oh, but you forgot about your bedtime story.” He commented strutting on over to her bedside.

“I think I'm a little old for a bedtime story Balthier.” She stated mockingly.

“Are you?” He questioned taking a seat right next to her. “I would think you're actually at the proper age for it.”

Another scowl blanketed her face. “I'm seventeen not seven.”

Balthier smiled at the sudden taken to defense. She truly was a rare find but there was only one flaw though, she wore her heart on her sleeve which would be easily obtainable. What an unlucky girl. “I think you'll like this story though.” He announced.

“Really what is it about? I bet I've heard it.” Penelo declared scooting as far away from the sky pirate as possible.

“I highly doubt it.” He jeered smiling fiendishly, “Its about a little girl, a little girl who had the most prized treasure in all the land deep inside her. A treasure that everyone wanted but could not obtain without killing her.”

Penelo looked away in thought thinking over the introduction. “It sounds like a sad story.” She muttered.

Balthier chuckled, “On the contrary. In this land that she lived in murder was a crime and if that person had been able to kill her they would in turn never enjoy the splendors of her treasure behind bars. So you see she was quite a safely guarded girl.”

“So how would they be able to get the treasure from her then?” She asked curiously placing her caramel eyes back on him.

Balthier loved her eyes and how they sometimes showed hints of green in them, like a delicious caramel apple that he could sink his teeth into. Everything about her reminded him of childhood pleasures. Her skin as creamy as a bowl of vanilla ice cream, hair as shiny as the hard pieces of candy you unwrapped with a delicate twist at each end, and lips like cherries you picked in the summer. He wished he could profit back those memories and enjoy them from time to time. No, he could only be reminded of them from the little doll who laid in bed and looked peculiarly up at him.

“Well, she would just have to give it up to the person who wanted it.” He responded.

“Yeah, but wouldn't she then be killing herself if she did that?” Penelo cross-examined.

“No, for she was the only one who could remove it without hurting herself.”

“What was the treasure that everyone desired so badly?”

“We have yet to reach that part in the story.”

Penelo threw her head back harshly on her pillow and whined, “Then move on with it then?”

Even though she wasn't bent on the whole idea of a bed time story she had to admit this story did catch her attention. Balthier wasn't one for story telling but for some strange reason the way he spoke and the way his words played around with her she wanted to continue playing with them right back. She didn't know why but curiosity had sank its ferocious fangs deep within her and wasn't letting go.

“You truly are persistent aren't you?” Balthier snickered, “Moving on. This little girl did however have someone to give her treasure to, it's just that she didn't know it yet. That certain someone that was obligated to getting her treasure was a mischievous little boy whose trickery and sly tactics made him an unreliable carrier.”

“Then why would she give it to him?” She yawned trying to stay awake.

Balthier shook his head and placed a hand on the curve of her side. The sudden placement of his hand caused Penelo to freeze and squeeze her eyes tightly before opening them again. He was leaning slighlty over her and it frightened the hell out her. She didn't want him touching her for his touch was not that of being serene like Larsa's or Vaan's but that of being adulterated. It wasn't just his touch that frightened her it was the whole fact he was a grown man too. Grown men were in a world of their own she had decided and had needs that she could not and would not understand or supply. That is why she preferred the company of people around her own age, there was a certain comfort there.

“Good night Penelo. We will finish the rest of the story tomorrow.” He said before getting up and heading out the door.

Chuckling to himself he had to stop and regain his composure before setting foot in front of Vaan and his Viera companion Fran. It wasn't Vaan he was necessarily worried about but Fran who could catch onto anything in an instant just by looking at someone's actions. He didn't want any of them to know what he was doing or plotting with the little blond girl in the cabin probably fast asleep by now.

Penelo took a deep breathe pulling the covers close to her nose. She didn't understand why she just sat there and let him begin to tell her a story. Usually she was good at holding her ground but not tonight. Not with the sky pirate. She felt heavy but also exhilarated and had wished she wasn't as tired as she appeared to be. She wanted to hear more from the him and would just have to wait impatiently for the tomorrow night where she would awkwardly let him come inside, sit next to her, place his hand on her side, and tell her more of the little girl with the precious treasure deep inside.

A/N: Please do tell me if this worth updating and then I'll update ASAP !(v)! Thanks.