Chapter 2 is also rated M, although I doubt it will be as bad as chapter one. Still don't own anything, hope you enjoy! Review Please!

Scar Tissue

Chapter 2

Things were heavenly aboard the Strahl right up until the moment the others returned nearly three days later. Since both Balthier and Basch were determined not to let their relationship be known to the others they went to great lengths to stay away from each other. In fact, as the pirate lay wide awake in his bed that night he realized sadly that the older man had not so much as smiled at him in several days. He rolled over onto his side, staring at the empty space that days ago had contained the sleeping form of Basch every night between the time the two discovered their mutual attraction to each other to when the others returned to the ship. He flipped back over onto his back and sighed, there was no way he was getting to sleep. What time was it anyway? It had to be at least four in the morning. He glanced over at the clock on his desk…1:27…Jesus, it was that early? He rubbed his eyes and sighed again. Hearing his bedroom door slowly creak open he bolted upright and grabbed for his gun (which he kept under his pillow), aiming it into the darkness. "Balthier?" came a whispered voice, "Are you awake?" The pirate smiled, "Basch? Yeah I'm up, Jesus I nearly shot you you know!" He reached for the lamp on his bedside table and switched it on. A shirtless Basch stood several feet away, shielding his eyes from the sudden burst of light. "What are you doing here?" asked the brunette, unable to wipe the grin from his face. Basch smiled back and climbed into bed with the younger man, "I missed you," he said as he planted a kiss on the pirate's lips, "It's hard to sleep alone now." "I've been having the same problem," said Balthier wrapping his arms around his lover. "I'll wake up early and go back to my room before everyone else gets up," said the blonde as he guided Balthier's head back down to the pillow. They lay there facing each other, smiling and talking for a while, their fingers entwined together playfully. Finally they fell asleep, Basch's left arm wrapped protectively around the sleeping sky pirate, whose head was cradled to the older man's chest.

"I'll go get Vaan up," offered Penelo to Ashe as they sat in the kitchen waiting for Fran to finish cooking breakfast, "and I'm sure Basch is up but I'll tell him to hurry it up since I have to pass his room anyway. They should have been here by now." "I guess that leaves the pirate," muttered Ashe, "That means he's my duty to wake up then huh?" "I would appreciate it if you got them all to hurry," said Fran, "The food is getting cold." They men were often late getting up, and so the girls did not think much about it when they had to go and urge them to hurry it up every now and again. Penelo made her way down the hall and gave a quick knock on Basch's door, "Basch? Hey Fran says breakfast is ready!" she yelled, but got no answer. Shrugging to herself she went on down the hall to drag Vaan out of bed. Ashe took her time making her way to Balthier's room. She and the pirate did not see eye to eye, and she hated having the task of waking him up on his own ship. She reached the door, and after giving a quick knock, entered the room, "Balthier! Wake up, Fran says…OH MY GOD!" She stood there rooted to the spot for a moment staring at the two sleeping men before her. The pirate had his back to Basch, but was resting his head on the older man's right arm, which was buried beneath him, and clutching desperately to the man's other arm, which was draped across him protectively. Basch's head was buried in the crook of the sleeping pirate's neck. She didn't know whether to wake them or just turn and leave, but the option was soon taken away from her when Basch's eyes snapped open. It took him a minute for his surroundings to set in, "Oh, shit," he muttered and bolted upright, causing the blanket to fall down, revealing to the princess that both men were totally naked. "Oh my god!," Ashe cried again, and turned to leave as quickly as she could. "Ashe! Wait! Let me explain!" he called after her, "Balthier! Damnit wake up!" He roused the sky pirate and quickly explained the situation before both men, cursing under their breath, threw on some pants and headed after the startled princess, knowing their secret was out of the bag.

Ashe, shocked as she'd never been before in her life, made her way back to the kitchen. She had barely entered the room when the two men, half dressed, burst in behind her. "Ashe," began Basch, "It's not what it looks like…" He was immediately interrupted, "What else could it possibly be?" she demanded, causing both men to fall silent. "What's going on?" asked Vaan, who was still half asleep after having been dragged out of bed by Penelo only moments before. "Oh, not much!" said Ashe sarcastically, "Just the fact that these two were sleeping together naked!" Vaan's mouth fell open, Penelo choked a little, and Fran raised an eyebrow in Balthier's direction. "Um…what did you say?" asked Vaan finally; sure that he had heard her wrong. "These two…" said Ashe, raising her voice again and pointing at Balthier and Basch, "in bed…holding each other…NAKED!" The two men said nothing as their four comrades stared at them unbelieving. "Ok," said Balthier finally, breaking the awkward silence, "Maybe it is what it looks like." Small gasps came from the others, and Basch put his head in his hands and cursed, "Just calm down everyone," he said, "it's not that big of a deal." "It's not a big deal that you guys are fucking?" asked Ashe in shock. "You guys had sex?" shouted Vaan, as if the thought was just now occurring to him. Balthier sighed and looked over at Basch, not sure whether it would bother the older man if he put his arm around him to calm him. Suddenly he was angry, this was his ship after all…and he could fuck whoever he wanted on it. "Yes," he said angrily after a moment's contemplation, "We have fucked…several times at this point if you must know." He looked straight at Ashe when he said this, letting her know the comment was directed to her. No one said anything for a long time. Finally Ashe sat down, and everyone ate in silence. Every few minutes one of them would look up at Balthier or Basch curiously, as if they were a life form they'd never seen before. It was going to be a long trip.

Balthier was finishing dressing in his room after their awkward meal when he heard a soft knock on his door. Basch looked at him sheepishly when he entered, "I'm sorry" he said, looking at the floor, "It's my fault…I…I overslept. I did not mean for you to be embarrassed." Balthier couldn't help but smile at the blonde, "I'm not mad, Basch," he said, straightening his cuffs, "In fact I'm kind of glad it happened. This is my ship we shouldn't have to hide. In fact…" he said turning towards his lover and taking the other's hands in his own, "I want you to move into my room with me." Basch's eyes widened at this and he pulled the other man closer, "Really? You want to share a room with me?" "We both said we preferred sleeping next to each other," said the pirate, "It makes sense to me." The older man smiled and kissed his lover gently, "I agree," he said, "I'll move my stuff later tonight."

To be continued…

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