New fic! (Crowd cheers) Ok so let's get a few things out of the way. I don't own FFXII or its characters, which is a shame. Don't expect these guys to be perfectly in character, cause I'm not even attempting to go for that with this one. This story is rated M for cursing, MalexMale content, and basic fanfiction smut. Reviewing earns updates! (And it's just polite) Balthier/Vaan pairing…and lots of it. Plus lots of unnecessary drama, love spats, and injuries.

Leaves of Green, Sand and Stone

Chapter One: The Salikawood

"Are these hunts really necessary?" asked Balthier, twirling his ivory pole and taking out a sprinter with one hit, "It seems like we're wasting time."

"I agree," muttered Ashe, who had been sulking ever since Vaan had accepted this last hunt, "We are going miles out of our way to find this…this…what did you say it was again?"

"Rageclaw."

The princess sighed and crossed her arms, and Balthier couldn't help but share a secret chuckle with Basch at the sight of her obvious pouting. Not that any of them, besides the boy that is, where thrilled at trekking miles and miles through the Salikawood to find the damn beast.

Could be worse, the pirate thought, we could be in that ridiculously hot fucking desert.

Their pace was slow; there seemed no point in rushing along when they were already wasting so much time anyway. Vaan was leading the way a short distance ahead, he'd accepted the hunt, so it was his job to find the damn thing. The pirate eyed the boy warily, unsure as to whether he found his energy and innocence adorable or whether he hated him for it. He decided quickly on hate, even though a smile tugged at the corner of his lips as he watched the boy skip off ahead into the distance.

"Your face betrays your thoughts."

Balthier jumped a little at Fran's voice, whom he'd had no idea was anywhere near him.

"I've no idea what you mean dear Fran," he smirked, placing his pole on his back and crossing his arms.

"You are attracted to the boy, are you not?" she asked, eyeing him expectantly.

"Did it ever occur to you that I'm the leading man," he asked, a little shocked by her question, "and that I am only attracted to leading ladies?"

Fran's left ear twitched slightly, "The heart wants what it wants Balthier, even you cannot change that."

She took her leave of him then, catching up with Ashe quickly and leaving him alone with his thoughts. The conversation had instantly fouled his mood, how dare she insinuate such a thing! He could have any woman in all of Ivalice…it was preposterous to think that he would be attracted to a little desert brat…a male desert brat at that. He was aroused from his thoughts by that feeling one gets when you know someone is staring at you. He looked up to find Basch looking at him with raised eyebrows, and Balthier cursed inwardly at the realization that he had heard everything Fran had said.

"It's not true, you know?"

Basch said nothing.

"Seriously. It's ridiculous."

Basch still said nothing.

"You don't believe me do you?"

The older man shrugged, "No, not really."

Balthier couldn't believe what he was hearing, "When have I ever given the impression that I am interested in that boy? Huh? When?"

Basch chuckled, "Everybody knows. You don't hide it very well."

The pirate stopped in his tracks and grabbed the ex-captain's wrist, "What the hell do you mean everybody knows?"

"Listen," said Basch, "It's not a big deal, nobody's judging."

"Judging what? I am NOT attracted to him!"

Balthier's mouth hung open, and he was for once lost for words.

"He has not realized it himself yet," Fran said, turning slightly to look at Basch, "He is in denial."

Basch nodded and mouthed an "ok", trying to suppress a grin. Ashe and Penelo however, giggled freely.

"You two think this too?" asked the pirate, still quite stunned, and grateful to the gods that Vaan had run off ahead of the others and was nowhere in sight.

Penelo grinned, "It's obvious," she said, giggling again as Basch failed miserably to suppress his own laughter, "Like Basch said, everybody knows."

"There's nothing to know," grumbled Balthier, speeding up to leave the others behind him, laughing as he went.

It was several minutes before he caught sight of Vaan ahead of him, lazily walking along with his hands behind his head. The sight of the boy's white blonde hair against the green backdrop of leaves was striking, and the pirate watched him for a few moments before making his presence known to him.

"Bout time you caught up," joked the boy, coming to a standstill to wait for the older man to reach him, "Where are the others?"

"Still a ways back."

"What's wrong with you?"

"Nothing. Why?"

The boy shrugged, "You look mad."

Balthier shook his head, "Not mad, just…confused."

"What about?"

"Hmm? Oh, nothing," the pirate said, shrugging off the whole conversation.

The walked in silence for a while before Vaan spoke again, "What would you be doing if you were back home right now? You know, if you hadn't joined the quest."

"The sky is my home," replied the pirate, "I suppose Fran and I would be off somewhere looking for something to steal."

The boy pondered this a moment, "I mean if you were home, not aboard the Strahl…you know…home."

"Like I said Vaan, the sky is my home."

"You mean you never go back to where you came from. See your family?"

"No…never."

"So um…where would home be…you know…if you went there?"

The pirate risked a glance at the boy's expectant face, and upon seeing the honest look of interest in the boy's eyes his heart melted just a little, "Archades," he muttered, not missing the momentary look of shock that crossed Vaan's face.

"You're…you're Archadian?"

"Does that bother you?"

"Well…no I don't guess it matters. I mean you're helping Ashe so you aren't like the rest."

"I would appreciate if you didn't tell the others," said Balthier, "I'm not sure they would understand."

"Ok, I won't say anything, but I think they'd understand. I mean your family isn't like Vayne."

"I never said anything about my family," the pirate muttered through clenched teeth.

The boy thought a moment, but didn't say anything.

Fuck it, thought the pirate. He might as well go ahead and tell the boy.

"My father is Dr. Cidolfus Bunansa," he said, not at all surprised when the Vaan stopped in his tracks.

He turned to face the boy, crossing his arms over his chest, "Change your mind about not being bothered?"

Vaan didn't say anything for a long time, "No, you're not like him. I know that."

Balthier was a little surprised that the boy took it so well, "Now you see why I'd rather the others not know."

"Even Fran? Doesn't she know?"

"No, it never seemed important to tell her. Especially now."

Vaan nodded, "its ok. I can keep a secret."

Balthier didn't know why, but he was relieved that Vaan knew who he was. Somehow it mattered to him that the boy knew the truth, and didn't hate him for it.

To be continued…

Hope you enjoyed. Review if you want to see chapter 2: The Westersand.