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Out of Control	By : aeryia Category: Final Fantasy Games > Final Fantasy XII Views: 829 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy XII, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 1-Prologue
- 2-Chapter I
- 1
- 2
--------------------

CHAPTER
I

--------------------
Golden
streaks of the rising sun filtered in through the screen less window
and onto Basch's drowsy form. He was sprawled lazily on the lone bed
of a rented room in downtown Balfonheim, a series of sheets tangled
around his body. Balthier had left not long ago, leaving behind a
melancholy air and an acrid taste on Basch's tongue. The man hadn't
been very lenient, threatening in a serious tone to cast Silence on
Basch were he to utter a single word on what they'd done.
Upon
recalling the lascivious events of the night past that had his heart
--and his body-- pounding for more, a faint pink blush colored across
Basch's cheeks. Salacious thoughts involving a leather-clad Balthier
prostrating over the Strahl's master seat flooded through his head
and sent heated ripples straight between his thighs.
Groaning
at how utterly pubescent he was acting, Basch rolled his exhausted
body over towards the edge of the bed, managing to a sitting
position. A hand raced to grab his forehead when the scenery split
into two before Basch's eyes. Fingers pressed in deeply, massaging
into his skin in hopes to quell the rising nausea. Knowing that he
had not consumed any alcoholic drinks the day before, Basch could
only say that his present malady had derived because of last nights
actions--
--And
his continuing thoughts on it.
Basch
knew that Balthier had his own credible motivations for executing
such measures, and sympathized whole-heartedly with his affair with
his father, but what Basch didn't understand was why it was him
that
Balthier had bedded, and not another. What did he posses that, say,
Ashe didn't? Balthier had shown interest in her majesty since the
beginning, cracking sexual jokes from time-to-time, so why wasn't she
waking up next to him?
Sliding
barefoot onto the cool marble floor, the troubled blond strolled
lethargically in the direction of the connecting washroom, feeling an
ice, cold shower suitable punishment for deliberations that he had no
business butting into. Not bothering to switch on the lights, Basch
settled on removing what little clothing he had on, that being his
unbuttoned shorts. As soon as he turned on the water, Basch scrambled
into the shower.
Not
a single sound broke out from him when the chilling water thundered
down on his skin, sinking in deep that it seemed to freeze the
circulation in his veins down to the last blood cell. Nonetheless,
Basch stood motionless underneath the shower head, eyes closed and
head tilted back as the chilly liquid soaked him all over. His body
soon became numb, not able to feel a single strike of the striking
water but the tingling sensation of it striking his skin like a
thousand frozen needles.
Blue
eyes remained shut as Basch reached out and fumbled for the soap,
successfully grabbing it before it could fall and hit the wet floor.
The image of a provocative Balthier returned as he lathered up, the
pirate's mouth stretching into a grin as he stretched his nude form
teasingly.
�What
am I doing to myself? I do agree that Balthier is a very attractive
man, but I'll surely go mad if I can't go as much as a minute
without his naked bottom breaking through my thoughts. At this rate,
there won't be much of me left to accompany the other's on this
journey.�
Balthier
could do that to him: split Basch open and bare his soul to the world
with an ease that should scare any person away. The man could
manifest the deepest of emotions from him, ones Basch believed had
died long ago with his homeland and title. It's a frightening thought
for someone he hardly knew to have access to a place Basch had never
trusted anyone to be near. To know that someone is unconsciously
wielding the key to such a place was alarming.
Especially
if it's a certain man who could toy with ones emotions so
efficiently.
//FLASHBACK//
�You're
finally awake I see.�
�Only
after you've nudged me so for an immeasurable amount of time.�
�Well,
you were snoring, and I don't know about you, but I can only cope
with the monstrous sound for so long before losing my sanity.�
�Sounds
hardly reason enough for rousing me. You could not have gone
elsewhere?�
�I'm
quite comfortable lying here.�
�Hn.�
�Right...
Had fun last night, did you?�
�...
It was a different spin on how I had originally wished to spend it,
but I've no real complaints.�
�I
do admit that it was a rather sudden decision from my part, but I've
been a bit deprived, and as I recall, you weren't exactly pushing me
away.�
�Did
you not hear me when I��
�--Yes,
yes, I did. Don't need to be a grouch about it now.�
�I'm
not.�
�Well
you certainly are being testy on the matter.�
�...�
�Fine,
don't answer me. Just listen: I don't want you to get the wrong idea
about what happened between us.�
�...
I won't.�
�Good.
I believe we've developed a unique friendship, and I'd hate to see it
rot over such childish matters.�
�The
way you approached the 'resolution' to your quandary was childish in
itself.�
�And
I repeat myself once again: I don't recall your resistance when I
initiated it all.�
�Did
we not just go over this?�
�Only
needed to clear it out since the wax in your ears seems to be
hindering your hearing.�
�Is
this why you woke me, Balthier? To instigate an argument over last
night? Need I remind you that it was not I��
�--who
harbored the interest. I know that already.�
�I'm
certain we could have decided upon an alternate remedy for our
dilemma.�
�We
could have, although it's a tad too late to suggest that now. Basch,
what I wish to say is that while I thoroughly enjoyed myself last
night, it meant nothing.�
//END
FLASHBACK//
Any
will left to continue to Giruvegan vanished from Basch's mind. It was
hard enough keeping his attention away from perversion long enough to
concentrate on his tasks, but having Balthier so close as hand,
especially after last night, was going to be more than he could
handle. Far more.
Basch
dried himself quickly after showering, throwing on his usual attire
before heading out the door. As he inhaled the crisp air, Basch
wondered why he'd never ventured to a harbor city such as Balfonheim.
It was a peaceful place, far from the bothers of war or the Empire.
There
were but a few clouds in the sky, allowing the beams of the sun to
wash down on the town. The cool breeze swept in from the surrounding
ocean, creating a tranquil air to thrive in.
Perhaps
he could return here once his duty with guiding the Lady Ashe back to
her throne was done.
A
distant bell chimed, indicating that the hour was now nine o'clock.
Basch had to meet with the rest of his team in the entrance to the
Cerobi Steppes at a quarter past twelve. That gave him ample time to
have breakfast and walk around the town to stock up on any needed
supplies, and see the sights.
With
morning plans in mind, Basch made his way to the Whitecap.
---
There
wasn't a sound that kept to itself inside Balfonheim's bustling
tavern: pouring drinks, clinking glasses, overlapping voices. It
seemed that all who woke in the morning had trekked from their place
to the pub, one of them being a moody sky pirate.
A
half-empty bottle of the port's finest liquor sat inches away from
Balthier on the table, close at hand in the event his chalice should
empty out, which it had already done so. His head felt light at his
sustained consumption of the vile liquid, but he couldn't bring
himself to stop, or more specifically, he refused to.
Even
though Basch could not find the nerve to, Balthier blamed himself for
what had occurred between them. He had only been thinking of himself
the whole time and of his own problems with no heed towards how Basch
would have felt from the event.
�I
must admit that I was a tad hasty with the man, even if he didn't do
a thing to stop it. If I didn't know any better, I'd say he had
enjoyed our time together a bit too much. I know I did.�
In
truth, Balthier had been scheming of ways to get Basch alone in a
locked room since the moment he had witnessed the older man's
wardrobe change at the Sandsea in
Rabanastre. While he was more sexually interested in women, the fact
that some men could look just as good did not escape him. It didn't
even matter that his current target was far much older than him-- age
was just a number, after all.
It
had felt absolutely perfect to finally have the scarred blond's hands
on his body, to have him put aside his own troubles and surrender.
Balthier had nearly lost his mind the instant Basch had begun to tug
their clothes off with an indescribable urge, flipping their
positions over, and kissing him dizzy.
No
matter how satisfying the sex had been, it was the morning after that
had Balthier regretting his deleterious tongue. He had sought the
Whitecap for a place where he could go over the words that they had
exchanged earlier that morning in bed. There was a challenging edge
in Basch's words whenever he spoke up to answer, and his disturbed
appearance did not escape Balthier's eyes.
But
the pirate's rash decision went not without proper defense. On top of
his desire to sleep with Basch, the situation with his father madness
had sent his world spiraling. He did not want to worry Fran further
with his distress, and without her, there was no one he could turn to
who could lend him an ear and encouraging words. Dr.Cid's
indifference to everything that wasn't nethicite had culminated,
piercing Balthier's heart.
So
then, he couldn't blame Basch for feeling regret when Balthier
himself was begging his conscience for forgiveness on the events
past.
Well,
if Basch could so easily overlook what they'd done, then so could he.
Right?
Wrong.
�Bah.
What would you know anyway. You're the reason I've gotten myself into
this untamable mess.�
The
clearing of a rough throat sliced through Balthier's busy thoughts,
forcing his eyes to switch from his cool drink to the rugged blond
standing on the other end of the table. Cocking his head to the side,
Balthier raised his eyebrows, hoping that Basch had not noticed the
minor flinch that passed through his body at encountering the man
after their heavy discussion.
Amber
eyes cautiously wandered over Basch�s frame, waiting for the man to
announce the purpose for his arrival.
Swallowing
back the lump forming in his throat, Basch reminded himself that all
the other tables were full, and Balthier's just so happened to be the
only one with a vacant seat. How convenient. The Gods were surely
toying with him today.
Basch
ignored the examination those eyes seemed to be giving him, and
instead he mentally struggled for an excuse to sit here beside the
young man. An unreadable expression descended over Balthier�s
features as he did so, and for the first time since they�ve met,
the reality of the situation dawned on him: Basch was attracted to a
man who paled in comparison to his age. How can he fight against that
barrier? Simple. He can�t, and he won�t try.
:: 'It
meant nothing.' ::

Those
painful words came from nowhere, giving Basch the same discomfort he
had felt when back in the hotel room, but he couldn't let them bother
him now. After all, Balthier was a much needed and helpful ally, as
well as a friend; Basch was not going to lose all that because he
couldn't keep his emotions intact.
Determined
to do as his partner and throw the past aside, Basch motioned towards
the empty chair. "Do you mind if I take this seat?"
Shifting
his gaze between the older blond and the furniture in question,
Balthier responded, "No, go ahead."
Propping
an elbow on the wooden table, he placed a cheek in hand, making sure
that his eyes steered clear of Basch as he sat himself down. Those
piercing blue eyes were on him again, but Balthier wouldn't dare let
the man know how uncomfortable he can get underneath an intense stare
such as his.
They
couldn�t go on like this for the rest of their trip, could they?
Ignoring each other over a little misunderstanding that ironically
held its own graceful pleasures would not gift them both with a
pleasant outcome in the end. As hard as it was to forget, Balthier
had to try. Now.
"Is
it any good?" When regarded with a puzzled look, Basch indicated
with a finger to the draining bottle. "Your drink. How is it?"
"Alright,
I guess. No real defining flavor for being the �ports best.��
After a moment, Balthier asked, �Care for a taste?�
The
heat in Basch�s body rose several degrees at the innocent inquiry.
�If it�s no trouble.�
�No
trouble at all, Captain,� he drawled playfully, aiming to play his
part right, even if it meant reverting back to his old demeanor.
Basch�s
eyebrows scrunched at the tone as Balthier reached for an empty glass
on the table, filling it to the brim before passing it down.
Dismissing the thought, he accepted the chalice with a thankful nod,
drawing it to his lips for a small sample. The liquor left a burning
sensation on his tongue
hardly
anything he�d miss were he never to encounter it again.
�Like
I said,� Balthier started upon seeing Basch�s face twist
distastefully, �Not the finest.�
�Then
why order such a thing?� Basch persisted as he forced another
mouthful down his throat.
�To
see if I can hold it in,� the witty brunet answered
matter-of-factly, taking another swig without demonstrating any
similar repulsion to the dreadful taste. As an afterthought from his
weighted conscience, he added, �To discipline my tongue so it knows
the consequences of its actions.�
Placing
the drink down, Basch quelled his rampant thoughts to keep from
saying something he�d regret. �You need not bring up what you do
not wish to dwell on.�
The
slight shake of his Balthier�s head silenced his partner going any
further. �I think I�ll go mad just as my old man if I don�t.
And, correct me if I�m wrong, but I believe an apology is in
order.�
That
statement alone left Basch baffled. �For what?� He couldn�t
recognize why the younger man felt the need to apologize when it was
Basch who held most of the load, for not putting a stop to it when he
could have.
��For
what?� he says.� The mocking tone in Balthier�s voice did
nothing to quell Basch�s fret on the delicate matter. �You really
do have the mind of an old man despite that fantastic physique of
yours.�
Not
knowing whether to feel embarrassed or flattered at the comment that
sounded much like a criticism coming from the pirate�s mouth, Basch
settled on keeping his gaze low to avoid the brown ones attempting to
probe his own. In a small corner of his brain ignited, though; the
fact that Balthier acknowledged the state of his physical being and
has approved to it made Basch�s cheeks heat up in spite of the
already searing weather inside the crowded tavern.
Seeing
that his opposite was too busy staring at his drink and diverting
from mulling too much on what he had heard, Balthier resumed, �No
offense, but I didn�t think you would be able to keep up with me
last night.�
That
alone incited Basch�s curiosity, and the ends of Balthier�s lips
curved in a grin when he looked up. �Then why seek me out?�
�Not
entirely sure if I should tell you�� Balthier trailed off, his
vision glued on the older man for his reaction. It was never his
intention for the conversation to hail in this direction, but now
that it has, he was keen on how his prying might be received.
The
pirate was purposefully luring Basch into a trap that was once
unforeseen for the elder blond. He didn�t think it appropriate to
joke around a topic such as this, but if it could put a lighter mood
on them, then he was more than willing to play along.
For
his sake.
Leaning
the stretch of the round table, Basch set to remove the bottle out of
Balthier�s hand. �Why is that?� he asked while prying it out of
the steady grip, keeping eye contact with the other man.
Long
fingers remained still from the heated contact; not even a blink gave
away Balthier�s pulsating thoughts of touching Basch whilst outside
of the bedroom.
�I
do not wish to be responsible for any possible from your part.
I�ve already enough attention from headhunters over all of Ivalice.
Adding you to the list would only cause my headache to grow in
strength.�
He
distinctly hears Basch hum, either in agreement or amusement, he
can�t tell. Through dubiously narrowed eyes, Balthier watches as
the rest of the bottle�s contents were poured into the once bare
glass, not daring to question the scarred blond�s prior testimony
of the putrid liquid for fear of wrecking the silence between them.
�Still
want to know?�
Basch�s
eyes changed from yellowish fluid to his counterpart. His expression
had hardened somewhat, just a tinge of distinction were one to have
been formally acquainted with him.
Keeping
his blue eyes locked with the golden brown boring questionably into
his, Basch forcefully swallowed bit by bit of the smoldering liquor,
already detesting the horrid after-taste it would leave behind.
�If
it does not bother you to tell,� came the answer from behind
flaming liquor and crystal glass.
Caramel-colored
eyes looked about the room, not entirely wanting to focus on the
person before them. Just what was he thinking, spilling his most
darkest desire, the consuming sin that wouldn�t let him sleep at
night, to the one who�s the cause of it?
�I�m
not thinking at all. That�s the problem.�
Even
so, Balthier drew in some air, refocusing his eyes on Basch. The man
was watching him carefully, allowing Balthier to take his time.
�There
was no other I could think of that would not push me away.�
Well,
he said it, didn�t he? It wasn�t what he had planned to say, but
it completely entirely false. Basch�s was the only name that rang
through his delirious state; if he had accomplished anything at all
the day before, it was killing off two couerls with one strike, so to
speak.
�And
what of Fran? I believed you two to be��
Balthier
interrupted him with a shake of his head. �A friend who has had her
share of misfortunes for one lifetime.�
A
slight frown crossed over Basch at that. �Then what would you call
what I have gone through?�
�Touche.
Next time I will have thought of a much better response.�
�And
thus you shall,� Basch murmured, lifting his drink to his lips for
another go at the blazing liquor. Balthier had his reason for
engaging in last night�s activities, but what of him? So far, his
only two excuses consisted of his wanting to escape reality
and the
urges to sleep with Balthier. Now that he thought about them, they
were meager justifications compared to the brunet�s.
That
did not matter now, though. Basch knew it had taken a great deal of
guilt and other powerful sentiments to bring him this far; perhaps he
should follow suit; it couldn�t hurt. At least Balthier doesn�t
look hurt.
�It�s
alright�,� he started, his tongue caught painfully between the
words that were struggling for release, ��what you did in
searching for me.�
�How
sure are you on that presumption?� Balthier asked vigilantly,
looking warily at the blond knight.
Feeling
uneasy beneath the cautious stare, Basch centered his attention to
the half-empty glass in his hands. �Very,� he assured, �I was
in need of it, in a way I cannot begin to explain.�
�Chasing
away our fiendish reality for a more desirable fantasy� something
of the like?�
The
blond gave the barest of nods. �For lack of better terms.�
�That
would make two of us, then,� Balthier confessed in a relieved tone,
the weight on his shoulders slowly dissolving. �I�m not what you
would say, fond, of the current circumstances laid our before
us, or the ones that we have encountered for that matter.�
�As
such, it would be deemed wise to have a set of distractions at our
disposal.�
A
wolfish grin unfurled on pink lips. �Did a good job then, did I
not?�
Basch
had to chuckle at that; music to Balthier�s ears. �What would be
a suitable answer for you?�
Without
missing a beat, Balthier purred shamelessly, �Telling me that my
performance was exceptional.� It�s funny how he can easily laugh
if off now. What had he been so worried about before?
Those
nearly whispered words wasted no time in making the blond man react;
he only hoped that the coloring on his face was not rising as quickly
as the heat in his body was. �I would stray away from unnecessary
pronouncements. The Gods know you need no more of it.�
�They
do, actually,� the brunet agreed, if only to humor the other man.
Silence
shrouded them shortly after, leaving the men to finish their drinks
and to ponder on what had occurred. Their was a joint understanding
between them both, though it had been left unsaid.
So
now that the worst has been settled, what then?
�We
will inevitably have to digress, but, �tis better that way.�
Neither
could, or would, forget their accidental one-night stand, nor the
chain of events that had led up to that point. It was as inevitable
as stealing the sky from a pirate. It just couldn�t be done.
Having
downed the last drop of his ale, which Balthier began to reconsider
whether he should have touched the thing in the first place since his
headache only sprouted with every gulp, the brunet thought this
present time appropriate enough to bring up a new subject; one he
hoped Basch wouldn�t pummel him for later. Not that he would have
reason to.
�There
is one thing I have been meaning to ask,� he started suddenly,
startling the elder man somewhat, �though I�m not sure how well
you�ll take it.�
�Ask
me,� Basch responded after a few seconds.
�Have
you ever been involved with
anyone?� Balthier could literally see Basch still at the inquiry,
his blue eyes not quite meeting his.
Several
heartbeats later, and knowing that Balthier was waiting for him to
say something first, Basch asks, �What do you want to know of it?�
�Whatever
you can tell me. Or want to, it�s all up to you, I suppose.�
�Why
the sudden interest? You never cared for much of my past by the
clearance of my name.�
Balthier
could do nothing more than shrug his shoulders. �As I said, all up
to you whether you want to spill your guts to me or not.�
�The
fact that we slept together does not entitle you to be informed over
every aspect of my life.� Basch was purposely dodging the original
inquiry in hopes that Balthier would back down.
�Not
every aspect,
just the parts that matter.�
Another
pause. A discomforting ache spread over Basch�s forehead. His past
relationships were something he took great care in preserving to no
one but himself. There were only a handful of lovers he had, but only
one of them had snagged him for most of his life. It�s not that he
didn�t trust the brunet, but he would rather keep his pain to
himself, and not get any other involved.
�What
is done cannot be undone� I should know more than many.�
There
was nothing he could do to prevent his lover�s imminent end, thus
the origination of his never-ending torment. The feelings were still
there, not as strongly as what he felt for the young pirate, but they
made themselves known.
It
was now or never. He knew there would be times where he had to let
his past go, like it or not. Now seemed like good a time as any.
Balthier
had actually backed down, thinking that the other man had shut down
on him. He had been so absorbed in his thoughts, internally begging
Basch to forgive his curious tongue, that his ears hardly picked up a
soft sound that came from the ex-captain.
�What
was that?�
Irritated
at having to repeat himself over a troublesome subject but showing no
sign of it, Basch reiterated: �I have been with only one other.�
Obviously
surprised, Balthier let the amazement take over his face. �Only
one?�
A
hint of a strained smile. �Not everyone can go around all of
Ivalice trampling over their modesty.�
�Trying
to imply something, are you?�
�However
you wish to take it.�
�Perhaps
that contemptible mouth of yours is reason for your lack in
companionship,� Balthier supplied with no reserve. �Are you certain there were no more?�
�Yes,
Balthier, I�m certain,� Basch said in a bored tone. As if he
wouldn�t know who he�s been intimate with in his life.
�How
bizarre�� Basch regarded him with a bewildered expression.
Heaving an audible huff, Balthier just shook his head. �You are as
blind as a bat. How have you managed so far?�
�By
living,� came the answer through clenched teeth, their owner not
even aware of what the brunet had meant. There�s not telling how
much Balthier would try to dwell on a portion of Basch�s life that
the blond man would rather leave be.
�What
are you guy�s talking about?�
The
two men�s heads turned in the direction of the curious voice
(Balthier�s mouth was still opened from when he had gone to say
something), both resisting a groan when their eyes fell upon Vaan�s
confused face.
�Don�t
go answering all at once, okay?�
�I
think it�s a little too early for any pestilences, don�t you
Vaan?� Balthier said dryly, not even holding an inch of his
irritation back.
Vaan
was visibly taken aback. �Alright, I guess��
Sighing,
Basch set on intervening, if only to prevent an outbreak from the
two. �He means for you to have a seat and relax. We�ve a long day
ahead of us, after all.�
Patience
fully mustered to keep from jumping down the young blond�s throat,
he said carefully, �That�s right. No use exhausting all that
energy when it can put to better use.�
�Such
as?� Vaan asked without thinking, seating himself on the chair
Basch had offered, who in turn sat beside Balthier.
�Well,�
he glanced at Basch, who also had an amused look on, �We will no
doubt reach a point when lifting our weapons will prove the better of
us. What better than a clever distraction from a comrade?�
Vaan
looked puzzled until he witnessed the two share another look, a grin
breaking from them both. He frowned at the insinuation. �Funny.
You�re a riot, Balthier.�
�Am
I not?� the pirate answered in amusement.
Mumbling
under his breath that his comment wasn�t meant as a compliment,
Vaan reached for a clear bottle containing a liquid that was green in
color, only to have his hand slapped away.
�Hey!
What gives?�
�That
is not meant for the under-aged, especially of your kind,� he
stated matter-of-factly, grabbing the bottle and setting it a far way
from Vaan�s reach.
Opening
his mouth to ask what he meant, Vaan stopped when he caught Basch
signaling to him with a single finger crossing in a slicing motion
across his throat. Rolling his eyes, the young blond thinking it best
to heed Basch�s unarticulated request. Although, as his hand was
once again pushed away when he went for another bottle that differed
in size from the last, he couldn�t help but rethink he decision.
Exasperated,
he blurted out, �Is there anything here
I can have without you having a heart attack over it?�
�No,
I�m afraid not.�
And
that�s all Balthier cared to supply.
�How
rude. If Ashe wasn�t so fond of him and if his airship wasn�t the
best thing I�ve ever set foot in, I could care less about that
guy.�
His
eyes soon fell on a small basket of bread situated in the center of
the table. He reached out for it tentatively in case that too was
banned from him.
�Oh,
you can have that.�
With
his fingers finally wrapped around the stick of bread, Vaan muttered,
�Gee, thanks.� Opening wide, he took an over-sized bite, making
the two older men wince slightly. "Where did you two go
yesterday?� Vaan asked curiously around a mouthful of bread, �After
meeting with Reddas?"
"We
went on a moonlight stroll, of course,� Balthier answered almost
instantly with such considerable seriousness that had Vaan choking on
his food and Basch gaping at him in astonishment, �The scenery's
most beautiful when watching it with a loved one. Wouldn't you agree,
Basch?�
Mouth
threatening to open wide in spite of tightening jaw muscles, Basch
found that he could only glare at the man for his unseemly remark. He
was rewarded with a flirty wink for his efforts, which in turn
prompted a disapproving groan from his part.
Seeing
that the boy was wholly convinced by the brunet's remark, Basch
jumped in and addressed him frankly, �He jests, Vaan.� This was
the last thing he needed: for the teen to go around spreading rumors
that were so close to an actual fact he knew not of, nor could ever
know.
Not
one to let a grumpy man like Basch deprive him of entertainment
because he couldn�t face the actual facts head-on, Balthier spoke
up, for the sake of having something to laugh on later in the day.
�Why
are you confusing the boy? Do you not remember insisting on us
holding hands and all that romantic nonsense? Which had me gagging,
I�ll tell you.�
Basch
had seen this coming, but he knew not what to say in his defense;
anything that could top that, anyway.
�A
funny one you are when you want to be.�
Vaan�s
head turned between the two older men as the conversation passed
between them, not quite sure which of the them was telling the truth
although he knew from experience that Balthier�s tongue didn�t
always swing in the right direction. Then again, neither did Basch�s
on those very rare
occasions�
�Wait
a minute, I thought Balthier was only joking?�
Crossing
his arms, Basch sat back in his seat. �I can assure you that he
is.�
When
Balthier perked up to add onto his fictitious tale, Basch sent him a
warning glare, giving his words no chance to leave his lips. Vaan, of
course, observed this exchange.
�But
then why�never mind. Forget I said anything.�
That
made Basch glad that the thief was not one to irritate the pirate�s
tongue for fear of unwanted involvement. ��Tis already
forgotten.�
�Likewise,
I suppose,� Balthier conceded rather reluctantly, however, he
relayed to Basch in a hushed whisper, �You do know how to drag a
man down, don�t you?� It wasn�t a question and the overall
innuendo made Balthier want to give the pirate a good one across his
face to keep him from making unnecessary jabs at inappropriate times.
Basch's
body froze over when he felt a leg rub over the exposed parts of his.
Setting the mug down because he couldn't trust his fingers to keep
from trembling, he scanned the faces at the table for any who looked
suspicious. His search was over when his cobalt orbs landed on
Balthier's lopsided grin. Staring back in confusion when the young
man winked, a blond eyebrow raised for an explanation.
Now
that he had the other�s attention, Balthier signaled for the exit
with his chin, ensuring that Vaan was too preoccupied to notice. Upon
receiving consent from Basch, the brunet pirate turned to Vaan,
stretching out for the blue vial beside the boy.
�How
unfortunate. To think it was the last one I had��
�Why
don�t you just say you want me to get you another?� Vaan said in
exasperation, �You know, to save yourself the time?�
The
sky pirate clasped his hands together in a gratuitous manner, and the
fakest smile Basch had ever seen spread on his face. �Could you do
me that favor, Vaan? I would forever be in your debt.�
Letting
out a heavy sigh, the young blond got up, his mind reeling over why
precisely
he was servicing the pirate. �Yeah, yeah, I�m on it.�
Watching
as Vaan disappeared into the wave of people flooding into the tavern,
Balthier noted with a hint of amusement in his rich baritone, �Well
that was almost too easy.�
�Aye,�
Basch agreed, pushing back his seat. �If we are to depart, we best
leave now. It should not take him much to find another.�
And
with non too eager Vaan in search of a replacement drink for
Balthier, two men slipped out of their seats, walking hurriedly for
the door.
.

.

.
To
Be Continued�
��
Author's Notes: I'm sorry for making everyone wait so long, especially for such a short chapter, but real life got in the way these past few weeks. On top of that, my original document got deleted and my back-up had only half the work I had done.
I had no real direction for this story, so I did take some time to think of where this was going. Chapters from here on will be much longer since I want to try my hand at getting in-depth with the guys' characters, and how they would develop feelings towards one another (which is also something I feel I need to work on heavily).
Hope this chapter made up for that little teaser of a prologue, even if it is a bit short. I do like to take my time as well to flush things out, and look over what I've done. And as always, I love to know what my readers are thinking, so if you have the time, leave me a little review so I can see how I'm doing. :)
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