UnShaekable (FFXII)

XXXVI) Archades

The city is just as I remember it: people with powdered noses, districts of towering buildings, and rounded buses speeding through the sky. Vaan rushes ahead, breathless and awed by the hundreds of architectural wonders and thousands of people bustling through the streets paved with the same tawny bricks and blue-tinted glass.

"You're gaping like a fish out of water," Penelo teases, stepping up to his side. I shudder upon seeing the chillingly familiar sights around me, lost in the hammering of my heart.

"I'm just checking out the city," Vaan replies, obviously impressed. "Even if it is the Empire."

I turn to face Balthier, watching him murmur something to Fran as Ashe and Basch move to talk to the two young orphans ahead of us. Something he says makes them laugh and I fight a smile, listening to them tease the soldier. Ashe allows a small smile at their display of comradery, pleased that we're finally starting to get along.

Shaking my head, I take a deep breath and follow the group as they start to move further into the city. I take hold of Basch this time, still playing the part of a meek blind girl. Just as we start to enter the thicker crowds of the street, Balthier charges to the front of the group and faces us, halting our walk.

"We go our separate ways here. I've some business to attend to. We'll meet again later."

"Hey!" Vaan protests as the sky pirate starts to walk down a diverging alleyway. Basch grabs the boy to keep him from running after Balthier. Huffing, I hurry forward just enough to catch the pirate's arm and his attention.

"And where exactly are you off to?" I hiss, scowling.

"I've some personal business to attend to," Balthier replies smoothly, raising an eyebrow. "Aren't you supposed to be blind, Shae?"

"You're going to leave me alone with them?" I demand, nodding back toward the confused cluster of oddities behind me.

"You'll be just fine," he grumbles, though he's fighting the smile that tugs at the corner of his lips.

"No, I...!"

"I think if you do as I say now, you'll be quite satisfied with the reward later," he interrupts, a smug smile now stretching across his face. Just what are you hiding? He leans down closer toward my ear, keeping his voice low. "And remember, you can't see."

With that, he turns on his heels and heads down the street and out of sight. Sighing, I close my eyes and stumble my way back to the others who stand a few mere feet away, waiting. Why so sudden? Was it what Jules said? I swallow hard, feeling the blood drain from my face. He's holding it over our heads... Bunansa's son and the betrayed princess...

"Shae?"

"Hm?" I look up to see Penelo giving me a curious look. "I'm fine, just thinking."

"About where he could be going? As am I," Ashe replies coolly, frowning in the direction the sky pirate took off in. "Fran?"

"He will return of his own accord when his business is finished," the viera reassures us. With that, she turns on her heels and makes for a magick shop. Ashe sighs.

"I suppose we should meet up somewhere soon after we equip ourselves for Draklor."

"At the end of the road," I suggest, nodding toward the end of the shopping district. "It would be best to meet there."

"Sounds good to me," Vaan shrugs. "I'm gonna go check out the daggers."

"Where'd all his money come from?" I huff, eyeing Basch. He pats the coin purse at his side, opening his mouth to reassure me. Then his face falls into rare irate expression.