Thanks to the few who have actually read this, and the even fewer (1) who actually commented! I know a lot of people don't like to admit this seriously, but reviews really let me know that you like it and help me to continue writing. Whether it's good or bad, any feedback is welcome! Also more Franelo shipping here. Oops.
Without further adieu, The Beginning - Day 2
"Alright, is everybody ready?" Nods from all around answered Ashe's question. Each person adorned a backpack, headlamp, and rappelling gear for their first trip into new caves. "Let's get goin' then. Who wants to go first and test how well the ropes are anchored?"
Vaan was over the side before anyone had a word in, feet braced on the side as he pulled cautiously on the rope. Deciding there was no give, he gave a thumbs up to the others and began his descent down into the cave, too deep to see the bottom when at the top.
They followed him in one by one until all seven were in the first branch of caves. Vaan shrugged off his backpack, pulling out a flare. He lit it, dropping it on the ground by where the caves split off. "Balthier and I will take this cave. Fran and Penelo, the far right cave, and you three go to the second to last. We'll meet back here and take the middle together. Sound good?"
"Yes. Penelo, let us go."
"Yep! Watch your step everyone," Penelo shouted over her shoulder as everyone split into their respective directions.
"You think Penelo will ever admit she has a crush on Fran," Vaan asked when he was positive they were out of earshot of the other.
"I don't know, darling. Took me two whole years just to get you by my side, we ought to let them take their time," Balthier replied, taking Vaan's hand into his own and placing a soft kiss on the back of a tanned hand, the sensation all too pleasant for the blonde.
"It's been six years, Balthier… She's liked Fran since the day they met, yet I can't read Fran at all. I can't tell how she feels about Penelo. Can you?"
"I know Fran well. I've known her for most of my life after all. She can be hard to read if you don't know what to look for, but I assure you she likes Penelo just as much as Penelo likes her. What are you planning, my little Desert Thief?"
Vaan cringed at the nickname. He'd been caught stealing when he was ten, and his boyfriend had not dropped that nickname since the day Vaan told him the story of how he walked out with a lollipop as a child. "I'm not planning anything, I just think maybe we should find a subtle way to… Give them a little push. Six years of pining after each other without a single word has to feel awful."
"We certainly wouldn't know," Balthier murmured as he stopped, pulling Vaan into his arms and kissing him slowly. In mere seconds, Vaan was up against the wall of the cave, Balthier's tongue dominating his mouth and their hips grinding together.
"Balthier, stop," Vaan whined breathlessly. "They'll be expecting us back, we don't have time!"
"They don't know how far this branch goes," Balthier said suggestively, squeezing Vaan's ass in his hands, moving to nibble his jaw and neck.
"Well we do, since ours loops into yours," a snide voice interrupted them. Vaan tried to pry out of Balthier's arms, but the man had none of it, only turning a lazy smirk on Basch, Gabranth, and Ashe.
"Seems it does," came Balthier's cool reply, pressing himself fully against Vaan to further trap him. "If you don't mind…?"
"We do," Basch gruffed, crossing his arms. Seeing that they were definitely not going to leave well enough alone, Balthier released Vaan with his usual over-dramatic sigh.
"Fine, let's go find the ladies, then."
After regrouping with the women at the entrance of the cave, they all made their way down the last tunnel.
"Say, wouldn't this just come back around to the first one like yours did," Vaan asked, looking skeptically forward into the darkness.
"Yes, if you hook a left just up ahead. There's a path straight though, so we should be alright," Ashe replied from the front of their little formation. They carried on until it hit a dead end, nothing but a narrow crevice that would take them further.
"I don't think Basch or Gabranth will be able to fit through here," Penelo said, frowning. "Gosh, Balthier might not even be able to make it. Only Fran, Ashe, Vaan, and I are small enough to get through there."
"Well let's go check it out then." Ashe didn't wait for a response before she started squeezing, sideways, through the crevice. Vaan shrugged, always the adventurous type, and went in right after her, followed closely by Penelo and Fran.
"Make sure you take pictures," Gabranth called after them, leaning against the wall to wait for the others. Balthier mimicked him, while Basch aimed his headlamp into the crevice to give them more light to work with.
It was a solid sixty seconds of silence, then an ear-piercing scream. All three men tensed, running to the crevice to try and see the other side. "What's going on!?"
"It's Ashe! The crevice ends right into a fucking hole! She fell," Came Vaan's panicked voice. Balthier's blood went cold, thinking of Vaan falling in. He cared about Ashe, though not enough to overshadow his protective instincts for his lover.
"Ashe, are you okay," Vaan called, voice jittery and tense.
"I'm fine," came the reply. "It's not too far down, if you guys get a rope, I might be able to climb out."
"I'll go," Balthier offered immediately. "I can run the fastest, I'll be back soon." When the twins agreed, he took off running the way they came. He ran and ran, concerned when the flare never appeared. He huffed in irritation, turning around and doubling back.
It took maybe thirty seconds to reach his friends once more. "What the fuck," he hissed, wiping his sweaty hair from his forehead.
"What happened? You've been gone for ten minutes. Did you get the rope?"
"No! I never reached the entrance. I was at a dead sprint the whole way, when I turned back it took me no time to get here. Like I was on a treadmill," said the visibly frustrated brunette.
"Impossible," Basch said, eyeing him skeptically.
"Don't believe me, eh? Fine, go ahead and try for yourself. You'll get nowhere." The blonde took his invitation, pushing past him aggressively. Soon the light from his lamp was no longer visible, and Balthier honestly hoped he was just going crazy and it was further than he thought.
"Balthier," Vaan called out, and said man pressed himself against the crevice. "Balthier, I don't see Ashe anymore. She hasn't been replying to me either since you left. I took my eyes off her for a second and she's gone. I think I'm gonna go down there."
"Don't you dare! She might not have gotten hurt, but you might! We shouldn't split up," Balthier reasoned, panic creeping into his voice. His idiot blonde was going to get himself in trouble.
"I have to, what if she's in trouble!?"
"God dammit! I'll come with you. I'll strip if that's what it takes to get through there," Balthier growled. "Penelo, I'd like you to stay here with Basch and Gabranth. I need Fran with me, but I don't want it to be just those two in case something happens."
"'Kay, I can do that." Penelo's voice trembled almost unnoticeably, and Balthier felt bad for her. Of course she'd be scared. He watched as Fran shimmied out, followed by Penelo. Fran let Balthier go in first. It was a tight fit, but he was still able to move, albeit slowly.
"Okay, Vaan. I'm going to hold your hand and try to lower you as much as possible before you have to drop. You don't get to argue about this." Vaan nodded slightly, the motion only distinguishable by the light of his headlamp shaking.
Balthier grabbed a tight hold of Vaan's wrist, the blonde's own hand wrapping around his wrist. They stepped sideways until Vaan was out of the crevice, feet propped against the wall and using Balthier to keep up. Balthier started to slowly lean out of the crevice, bending sideways and lowering Vaan as much as he could.
"It's about… About a six foot drop from here. I should be fine, let go." Balthier was reluctant, that was absolute, but he released his grip nonetheless. He heard Vaan grunt as he hit the ground. "I'm fine," Vaan said before Balthier could spew his worry.
"Alright. Me next I suppose. If he said it's a six foot drop from where his feet were, it's probably about eleven or twelve feet altogether… Alright. Fran, let me know when you're coming down so I can catch you."
Maneuvering so his feet were on the ledge, hands gripping the wall for support, he slowly lowered himself down until he was able to grab the ledge with his hands. Once he was positive he had a secure handhold, he dropped his weight to dangle, then let go.
The fall was hard, and he cursed. He pulled Vaan in for a brief kiss, brushed himself off, and held his arms open for Fran. In the light of his headlamp, he was able to see a petite brow arch, unimpressed.
"C'mon old girl, let's get this over with." Rolling her eyes, she hopped down, Balthier catching her and setting her down immediately. "Alright. Let's find Ashe."
And that's chapter two, everybody! Please let me know what you thought of it. Thank you!
