BalVaan - Camping was just the beginning

Day One

The group of seven had been waiting months for this camping trip, and camping was just the beginning, their plans for the two weeks they were spending up in those mountains certainly grand. They loaded up their gear, three tents for the seven to share. Ashe, Penelo, and Fran in one, Basch and his twin Gabranth in another, and Vaan and Balthier in the last.

They decided it'd be best to take separate vehicles as well, in case something happened that left any of them unable to run. The girls were riding in Fran's '16 Toyota Camry, Basch and Gabranth in Basch's '03 GMC Sierra, and Balthier and Vaan in Balthier's '17 Pontiac GTO. The cars showed just how much their personalities differed. Practical, classical, and flashy.

"You sure it's okay to take this up the mountain, Balthier?" Vaan worried his lip, crossing his arms over his middle. Balthier sat his hand, palm up, on the center console, and Vaan's was almost immediately in his. Their fingers laced, and Balthier squeezed.

"Don't worry, darling," his boyfriend purred back. "I've taken this car up here plenty of times. Never wrecked it before."

"I've come with you on almost every trip we've taken up here, you're full of shit." Vaan rolled his eyes, but smiled. Fran and Balthier had known one another since middle school, meeting Basch and Gabranth in high school. Vaan and Penelo were a few years younger and met them later at a bar, where they all hit it off on Vaan's 21st birthday.

Now Vaan was 26 and he'd been dating Balthier for four years, quite happily. Their sex life was amazing and Balthier was constantly taking him out on dates, ranging from late night visits to the park to 5-star restaurants. No matter what it was, Vaan was simply happy to spend time with his love.

Their playful banter continued until they reached their campsite, which was large enough to fit all three vehicles and still leave more than enough space for activities. The clear area had a fire pit in the center and was surrounded by thick trees, a natural green canopy overhead to block out the worst of the sun's rays.

"I know exactly what you're thinking, Vaan, and you still need sunscreen," Penelo called out as they exited their vehicles, the blonde male cringing slightly. Penelo was his best friend and a mother hen, he'd never get away with not wearing sunscreen while she was around.

So after applying what Vaan would consider WAY too much sunscreen, they began the most grueling part of their trip; setting up their tents. Vaan was always useless as far as pitching a tent goes, so Balthier took over for them while Vaan began gathering sticks to kindle the fire they'd soon need.

Balthier joined him soon enough, their tent pitched perfectly between some low-branched trees, and more notably, across the campsite from the other tents. Balthier and Vaan had never hidden their relationship - Not that they needed to, their friends were all very supportive - so it was an unspoken rule to keep their tents as far from the couple's as possible.

Vaan laughed softly, nudging Balthier with his shoulder playfully as they brought their collected wood back to the fire pit. "What's on the agenda for today?"

"Given we got a bit of a late start in getting here, we're putting off the caves until tomorrow. We were thinking of taking a hike today instead," Balthier replied, dumping his sticks into the pit and moving toward the truck for their chairs. Vaan followed, because even he could set up a camping chair.

"Sounds good. We actually brought the headlamps this time, right?"

"Of course, dear. Not a mistake I'm inclined to make twice."

"I've known you to make the same mistake multiple times, Balthier," Fran chimed in, smirking about as much as the stoic woman was able. "Like how you kept trying the same pickup line on Vaan, even though he certainly wasn't buying it."

"That was two years ago, Fran." Uh oh. Balthier was sulking. Vaan snorted, turning the man's gorgeous face toward his and planting a chaste kiss on his lips, which was perfect for changing the man's mood instantly.

"Well obviously he did something right after all," Vaan murmured, flashing white teeth in a brilliant grin… And Balthier was sulking again. Vaan laughed, and the rest of their party joined in (Except for Basch, of course, because Basch doesn't even know how to smile let alone laugh).

Eventually they were all ready for their hike, the ladies and Vaan having changed into shorts and tanktops. Vaan had always dressed somewhat feminine, though he was by no means girly. He claimed they were more flattering to his body, and Balthier certainly agreed, especially when Vaan wore shorts. These ones were denim, coming to the middle of his thigh and showing off a lot of those long, tan legs.

"Head out of the gutter, Balthier, we're wasting daylight," Basch gruffed out, his brother nudging him with a disapproving stare. The man in question only shrugged with a smirk, taking Vaan's hand in his own, their cue to start walking.

"You're just jealous the only person who you're close enough to for a romantic relationship is your brother," Balthier snarked, and everyone rolled their eyes. This was the typical, first-day bickering that always happened between the two men.

"A damn handsome man he is, no reason to be jealous."

"Basch, he looks like you if you'd clean up a little."

"Shut up," Ashe groaned, Penelo humming her agreement as they continued up the side of the mountain.

Their hike had lasted for a good four hours, up and back down. By the time they got back, they were all thoroughly exhausted. Ashe flopped down in her chair, her head tipped back as he hair slipped further from the semblance of a ponytail she'd managed to wrangle the short strands into. Ashe was referred to as their "resident princess", and for a damn good reason. Nobody really held it against her though.

Basch and Gabranth disappeared to go find some suitable firewood while Fran got the sticks kindling. Vaan and Balthier dragged their coolers out of the back of the truck, both of them huge and filled with enough ice to last a month in the expensive, insulated coolers.

One was stocked with drinks, soda, beer, vodka, you name it. The other contained their food. Nobody could really tell you which one they couldn't survive without. Lack of food lead to starvation, sure, but what was camping without any booze?

By the time the fire was going and everyone was settled, the sun was sinking below the horizon steadily. The fire was crackling, warm and bright and pleasant against their skin. Each person had a cup filled with some sort of alcohol as they chatted animatedly about the things they'd seen on their hike.

"I can't believe that squirrel attacked Ashe," Vaan laughed out, covering his mouth in a sad attempt to hide his snickers. All eyes fell on Ashe, who grimaced deeply at the unwanted attention.

"Maybe if somebody had not put nuts in my backpack, I wouldn't have been attacked by squirrels!" This only made Vaan laugh harder, doubling over in his chair and trying desperately to keep his cup upright as his laughter shook his whole frame.

Balthier snorted, biting his lip to keep his smirk to a minimum. It took all of two seconds before everyone lost their composure, varying from twitching lips (Basch) to snorting laughter (Penelo). Even Ashe managed to put aside her bent feelings and smile a little, taking a sip and trying so hard to put the glare back on her face.

"You're all assholes," she snapped, though her voice held no venom now.

"But we're your assholes," Gabranth pitched in, a man of few and meaningful words. Ashe smiled at him, cheeks dimpling with the force of it. Gabranth blushed and looked away, coughing and taking a drink.

"Aww, he's blushing," Penelo squealed, a wicked smirk on her face as his blush deepened. The woman was a sadist, Vaan swore.

"Alright, alright. It's pretty late, we should finish up and turn in," Balthier cut in, downing the contents of his cup. "We've gotta get a head start tomorrow on getting the gear to the caves. Make sure we have time to make sure brought all the gear-"

"Like the headlamps-"

"Yes, Vaan, like the headlamps," Balthier growled playfully, rolling his eyes dramatically. New laughter arose, but died down much quicker. They sat in comfortable silence from that point, until everybody was finished with their own drinks.

Fran turned on the portable stereo they always brought when camping, turning it up so it was able to clearly reach each tent, but no louder. There was a purpose once, as Penelo had a hard time sleeping in silence years ago, but now it was more of a tradition than anything.

It also made it much easier for everyone to ignore when Balthier and Vaan went at it like rabbits, since the two fucked like newlyweds. As though everybody thought the same things as the music started, their eyes turned toward the couple. Vaan blushed, Balthier smirked.

Challenge accepted, he thought smugly, which must have shown on his face as Fran rolled her eyes, Penelo and Ashe groaned, and the twins turned away without another word. As if to show he was serious, Balthier stuck his hand right into the back of Vaan's pants and steered him toward their tent, the blonde's protests reaching the rest of their friends all the way there.

"We're in for a long night," Penelo muttered.

Okay. Day one, finita! It's probably absolute shit but I don't even care anymore x'D