Ok first things first. Things, events, and especially places may be a little out of order in this story. I don't want to have to run and look up places on the map to make sure that the gang isn't leaving an area and coming into another area that is actually nowhere near the previous one. So if they leave somewhere and end up somewhere weird I apologize, just roll with it. Also, to make the story interesting people will (and have already) gotten hurt, and if they just healed themselves it would all be quiet boring, so ignore it when they don't heal themselves when they obviously could. Again, I don't own em', and if I did the game would have been nothing but Balthier and Vaan with a lot less clothes on. Enjoy chapter 7.

Chapter 7

Too late for the truth

Basch knew better than to follow Vaan when he trudged off into the desert after Balthier. For some reason, maybe it was the heat or his recent illness, he didn't even think about it before leaving the camp to follow the boy. When he finally caught up to the boy he found him rubbing the pirate's shoulders, both of their backs to him. He started to walk away, figuring that the two needed some alone time, but when the boy crawled into the pirate's lap and started to kiss him Basch found it hard to tear his eyes away. He stood there rooted to the spot, watching them undress each other, it wasn't until Vaan moaned the pirate's name that Basch realized that he had been about to watch them fuck. He turned around and quickly stomped back to the camp, disgusted with himself for even following the boy to begin with.

The girls were chatting aimlessly around the fire, but the captain did not much feel like conversation, so he picked a spot a bit away from them and sat down to brood. Within half an hour both pirate and thief returned, looking as if nothing had happened between them. Vaan immediately ran over to join the conversation with the others, while to Basch's horror the pirate came and sat next to him. Balthier didn't say anything to him, and he hoped that neither pirate nor thief had seen him out in the desert. "You missed the best part captain," Balthier chuckled quietly, making sure only Basch could hear him. He tried to mask his horror, to no avail. "It's alright," answered the pirate before Basch could answer, "The leading man doesn't mind having an audience. I'm not so sure about Vaan though," he chuckled at this, earning an embarrassed blush from the man next to him. Balthier didn't push the matter though, and Basch was grateful when the pirate rose and went over to the boy, urging him to turn in for the night with him.

Everyone was asleep but the captain now. He laid there on the ground and admired how the fire cast a yellow glow over everything in the camp. It was still strange to him to look over and see Balthier and Vaan curled up together, fast asleep, the pirate with a protective arm curled around the boy's waist, and the boy clutching desperately to the pirate's hand even in sleep. He would have never seen it coming, the two of them acting as they did now. A glint of white caught his attention out of the corner of his eye. Curious, he rose and walked over to what turned out to be some sort of note or letter sticking out of Balthier's pack. Now today must have just been Basch's day to be nosy, because just as he had known that he shouldn't have followed Vaan into the desert, he knew that he should not read the note before him. Once he read it he really wished that he hadn't.

Dear Ffamran,

I write this letter to implore you to stop this childish and unbecoming way of life that you have chosen. It took me quite some time to find you since you have found the name that I gave you to be displeasing to you and changed it. As your father, I demand that you return to Archades at once. As a judge, you have obligations here. This sky pirating nonsense has to stop; it is a disgrace to the Bunansa name. You are to accompany the messenger of this letter home at once.

Dr. Cidolfus Demen Bunansa

Basch stared at the piece of paper in his hand, then at Balthier's sleeping form, and the back to the paper. The letter had obviously been written several years before; it was old, worn, and dirty. Anger bubbled up in him. That lying son of a…but Balthier had never given him a reason not to trust him. He had battled next to the man a million times, and trusted him with his life. He owed it to him to confront him about this before giving the letter to Ashe. He stood up and, placing the note in his pocket, walked over to where the pirate and thief lay sound asleep. He gently laid a hand on Balthier's arm, poking him softly so as not to wake up Vaan. Chocolate eyes fluttered open finally, and Basch signaled for the other man to be quiet, and follow him away from the camp.

A sleepy Balthier, assuming that this was all about what had happened earlier, rolled his eyes before getting up and following Basch out a ways from the others. When Basch was sure that they were out of hearing range he turned to the other man. "Well, Captain?" snorted the pirate, aggravated that he had been woken up in the middle of the night. Basch's face was stern with anger, "Does the boy know?" he asked wondering if Vaan knew of Balthier's secret. The pirate sighed, "I already told you, I didn't tell him. Maybe he wouldn't care that you were spying but…" "I'm not talking about that…Ffamran," Balthier jerked his head back to Basch, narrowing his eyes. "I've no idea what you're talking about, Basch." The older man said nothing in response, but held out the letter that he had found earlier. The pirate's expression told Basch that he recognized it. "It's true isn't it?" he asked the pirate whose head now hung in defeat. Balthier nodded and turned away from the other man. "I suppose now you're going to run to Ashe with what you've found out…and no, Vaan does not know." The other man's response surprised Balthier so much that he turned to face him. "It is not my place to tell the others," he replied quietly, handing Balthier the letter, "But you should tell Vaan, he deserves to know." Balthier sighed and ran a hand through his hair, "He'll hate me if he finds out. You know that." "He might," said Basch, "but I doubt it. And you know that he will find out sooner or later, we are headed straight toward your past, Balthier. There is no avoiding the matter once we reach Archades. It would be better for him to find out from you." "It's too late for the truth now," answered the pirate, "I've lied to him for too long. Not only is my past everything he hates about the world, but for him to find out that he let the son of Dr. Cid bed him…he would never forgive me." Basch patted Balthier on the back, "He'll understand, "his love for you is not based on your name. And I think you have proven to all of us that you are on our side…I…I heard the captain's log from the Paramina Rift, Balthier…we all did." The pirate frowned, he couldn't remember what he had said in the recording, but he had thought that they were all going to die…and his fever had been so high he could have said anything. Gods he hoped he hadn't done anything foolish…like cry. "I suppose it would be better if he found out from me…" said the pirate, obviously irritated with the turn of events and uncomfortable with the little heart to heart Basch was giving him, "I'll tell him tomorrow morning." "It is morning," said Basch, and Balthier looked around, noticing that it was getting lighter and lighter by the minute. "I will send him to you, and make sure you are left alone until you have had time to explain," said the captain. Balthier nodded and refused to meet the others eyes before Basch turned to go and get Vaan.

The boy came skipping up to him moments later, and Balthier watched him intently, afraid that this would be the last time he would ever see Vaan look at him with love in his eyes. Vaan kissed him, and the pirate tried to make the kiss as passionate as he could…just in case it was the last. The bronzed teen quickly realized that something was wrong. "Balthier?" he asked questioningly, "Is everything ok?" The pirate couldn't meet the boy's eyes, so instead of speaking he just handed Vaan the letter. He slowly raised his head to study the other's expression as he read what Balthier assumed was his worst nightmare, written in plain ink. He could see the boy tense, the meaning sinking in. He didn't say anything, neither of them did. His thief looked up at him, their eyes met, Balthier's brown and afraid…and sorry, Vaan's blue and hurt…full of tears. Vaan turned to walk away without saying a word, but was stopped when his lover grabbed his wrist. Balthier pulled the boy back around to face him, not caring if the boy saw the hot tears spilling down his face. "Why didn't you tell me?" asked the boy in a voice that was so cold it cut the pirate to his very core. "In the beginning it was none of your business," retorted the brunette, "and then by the time I thought I should tell you…it was too late for the truth…I…I…thought you'd hate me." "I can't handle this right now," answered the boy, and with that he turned and started walking back to camp.

Upon seeing the boy return to the camp alone, Basch regretted advising Balthier to tell him the truth. The boy had been crying, but no one asked any questions. Packing up the camp was slow going, and Basch wondered if subconsciously they weren't all waiting for the pirate to return, but he didn't. When everyone was ready to go, he went back to where he had left the other man earlier before, Balthier was nowhere to be seen, only the letter remained, abandoned on the ground. Basch picked it up, and stuffed it into his pocket. He looked around for any sign of the pirate, but all he could see was sand. When he returned to the camp alone no one said anything about Balthier's lack of presence. A look from Fran told him that she already knew that her partner was gone. She was already carrying the pirate's pack and weapon, dear gods...he hadn't taken any protection with him, and the desert was far from safe. Vaan refused to meet his eyes, and showed no indication that he realized the pirate was gone.

A week passed, and then two…three. There was no sign of Balthier, and every time they ran into people Basch inquired as to whether or not they'd seen him, no one had. Then one day while buying potions and whatnot from a traveling merchant they got a surprise. "Look at this bargain!" the old seeq excitedly urged them, "I found it in the desert some weeks back." To their horror he held up a black and gold vest. It was torn, but not bloody, and it was filthy, filthier than the pirate would have ever let it get. To Basch's surprise Vaan tossed the seeq some gil and clutched the vest to his chest. Basch knew that Vaan wished more than anything that the pirate would come back. They had made camp near the Tchita Uplands, and Vaan had gone off by himself. Basch followed him, and found him sitting by a rock clutching the lost pirate's vest as if he thought it was about to vanish before his eyes. "Vaan?" asked the older man quietly. The boy turned to him, and began to cry, "I didn't mean for him to leave," he sobbed, "I never even told him that I still loved him." Basch's heart went out to the boy, but he didn't know what to say. Time passed.

Next chapter will probably be the last, or I may just keep rambling on and on. Reviews please!