Here's the sequel you asked for. Different format, more confusing, but I think you all will like it. Spelling mistakes in the names of places, I'm sure. Couldn't remember, and I couldn't successfully find it. Sorry!

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It took them three days to get to Archadia, only to find that neither Vaan nor Cid had returned to the city. This only made them worry more; if someone had seen them, they could alter the doctor to the fact that they were searching, endangering them all.

Another month passed, full of non-stop searches, before word finally reached them: The Lhusu Mines in Bhujerba. When the two had arrived there, no one knew, but Cid had been seen multiple times going in and out of the Mines the last few weeks.

So they hunted the Mines mercilessly, going as far back as possible… And almost wishing they hadn't. Oh, they'd found him, though Cid was no-where in sight. If he had been… After looking at the desert boy, he was sure he'd have killed his father then and there.

He was sleeping, so far as they could tell. They were so far back that no monster (except Cid) would have ever found they boy. So they wouldn't have smelled the fresh blood oozing from still-bleeding wounds, they wouldn't have known of the fresh meat (that wasn't really fresh) waiting for them should they have chosen to take it.

He was bruised badly, most of them still black, purple, and blue, very few of them beginning to yellow. His arms where pulled tight above his head, held there by shackles. Slices adorned his scratched and bruised skin, blood still gushing despite the crusted remains that should have turned to scabs. Taking in a view of his entire body, they saw the littered gashes carelessly healed, leaving swelting red scars that would stay with him for the rest of his life. The light given off by the nethicite had drained the color from his face, leaving him paler then the bitter cold snow atop Mt. Omnisase. He'd grown thin, dirt dug into his wounds, covering his body and rags that at one time might have been clothes. He looked more vulnerable then Balthier had ever thought possible.

They where gentle as they took him out, avoiding monsters and having no choice but to flee when they couldn't. Vaan slept the whole way, and if wasn't for the light breathing that blew on his neck (he refused to think it was the wind, Vaan was breathing, dammit!), they'd have thought the boy dead.

No one noticed Penelo's quiet despair, nor her thankfulness that it hadn't been worse than the last time.

They waited 'til night set on the floating city before taking their leave, flying towards the Ozmone Plane, faster than the waking dawn could ever hope to rise on its shattered, grassy floors.

(-)(-)(-)

Vaan didn't wake for another two days, and the multiple Cure spells had healed some of the more serious wounds.

When he woke, Vaan knew immediately that he was no longer in captivity, though his eyes remained closed. There was no absolute silence, just the gentle buzz of an engine, and the comforting feel of blankest and a bed. He supposed he ought to open his eyes now…

He did open them, but the sight before him wasn't one he'd been expecting. He'd thought it would be Barbahk who rescued him, as the note had never mentioned him, but instead…

Balthier.

This wasn't good. Not at all. If Balthier was the one who broke him out… Cid wouldn't be far behind.

He was lucky the other was sleeping. The bags under his eyes told him the sky pirate was probably as tired as he felt. He quietly sat up in bed, taking a look around. It was early in the morning, the sun had only just risen. Not even Basch would be up yet.

He quietly lifted himself from the bed, careful not to make a sound as the door slid open, closing with a small 'click' as he entered the hall. Yet just as he was headed towards the main control room, the sliding door across the hall opened to him, and Penelo stepped out, blocking his path.

"Pen." He frowned, eyeing her warily.

"Vaan." She crossed her arms over her chest, narrowing her eyes lightly at her long time friend.

"You should be in bed."

"So should you."

This wasn't good. He didn't need to drag his problems to them. "Pen, I can't stay. You know that. If Cid finds me—"

"Yeah, yeah, I know. We all die. Too bad for you, none of us really care." Her eyes softened. "You can't leave, Vaan. We won't let you. I'm not going to let you. And Balthier… Would you really do that to him? He took it harder than any of us did."

"… I know he did." Vaan couldn't meet her eyes, he stared at the ground. "I know more about why he did then you ever could. But Penelo… My staying here puts you all in danger, even more so now. I don't want to be a weapon used against him. I don't want to be a danger to him."

"Well that's all well and good, but I don't see how leaving will help you reach that end."

Vaan shot to attention, turning to look at the sky pirate of conversation, who stared back at him coolly. Balthier looked pointedly at Penelo, who smiled knowingly and mock saluted him, going back to her room.

Vaan gulped lightly, glancing over at his one-time lover out of the corner of his eye. Balthier raised an eyebrow, motioning for the other to follow him towards the helm. Vaan did as he was bid to, leaning back on the sliding door as it closed behind him. "What is it?"

"Tell me, what were you thinking when you left the room? What would drive you to…"

"To leave?"

"Yes." He turned to the younger, reaching a hand up to stroke his cheek with the back of his fingers. He smiled lightly as Vaan tilted his head to the touch, but it soon faded. "I did not know you to be cruel, Vaan. You hold my heart with you, and yet you would leave, tearing it from me."

"No, Balthier…" He bit his lip, closing his eyes. "I could never be cruel to you..."

"Then don't leave me." His hands cupped his young lovers face, pressing their foreheads together, closing his eyes. "We can avoid Cid. We'll have to meet up with him eventually, but we can avoid him until then."

Vaan's hands came up, his fingertips gently tracing over the others jaw, resting on his wrists. "If I stay, we'll be hunted even more than before."

"Your point?" He opened his eyes, waiting for the other to open his own so his gaze could bore into them. "What more can they do, Vaan? We'll lay low for a while, wait until you're just a memory to them. Then we'll continue on our quest."

Vaan knew very well what they could do, but he wouldn't share it with him. "All right. But only if we stay in Rabanstre."

Balthier smiled. "Done. Now get back in bed, you're still healing."

Vaan rolled his eyes. "Yes sir." He grinned lightly, leaning up to give the man a quick, sound kiss before turning to go back to the room.

Something occurred to Balthier then, something he didn't want to ask, but knew he had to, or he'd only end up thinking it was worse than it actually was.

"Vaan?"

The desert boy stopped, turning to look back at him. "Yeah?"

"Why… You where just…" He couldn't describe what he'd seen. But by Vaan's understanding silence, he was sure the other knew what he meant. "How can you act like…"

"Like nothing happened…" He sighed, not really wanting to answer, but… It was Balthier asking, so… "Because this isn't the worst condition I've been in after something like this."

He couldn't breathe, he couldn't speak, it didn't make sense— what could be worse than—

… Desert Flower.

No…

"Penelo would remember it better than I would. If you want to know more, you'll have to ask her." When he got no response, he got worried. "Balthier?"

"I'm fine, Vaan… Get some sleep. I'll wake the others."

With a worried frown, he nodded. "Right." He left the other alone, going back to the room.

Balthier listened for the sound of the door to close. When it shut with that soft 'click', he fell back into his chair, burying his face in his hands. Worse… He'd been through worse… It made him sick.

He wouldn't, couldn't, ask Penelo what happened. And he wouldn't. Because he wasn't sure he'd be able to handle it. He could barely deal with this…

Worse...

Worse.

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And there is your sequel. There MIGHT be more. Not sure. Depends on the response I get.

Review!