The choked laugh Balthier gives is entirely genuine. He gives the customer a wink, shrugging as he pulls Aerith to his side. "When she's right, she's right."

And he takes advantage of a passing group of noisy teens to duck them into an alley, disentangling from Aerith except to keep hold of her hand, pulling her into an alcove for a moment while he checks to see if they were followed.

"You're getting better at lying," he says approvingly. "About time."