"You clean up well."

Basch tilted his head into the light caress of Balthier's fingers over his close-clipped hair. "I am told that I bear a striking resemblance to the late Judge Gabranth; I fear that Judges spend perhaps too much time hiding within their helmets." His smile was wry, and just a bit sad. "It is good to see you again, Balthier."

"You are not going to express amazement at my not having managed to get myself killed?" Balthier's shock was contrived, masking what Basch was fairly certain was relief. "You are not where I expected to find you."

"I am where I was most needed." Basch slid his fingers along Balthier's jaw, resting at the curve of his chin. "I am where I can do the most good."

Balthier curled his fingers around Basch's wrist. "And where is it you wish to be?"

Basch chuckled, shaking his head. "It matters not; at the moment, I am where I wish to be, with whom I wish to be." His hand slid lower, fingers pressing against the center of Balthier's chest. "Whence go you, thence go I."

"Basch," Balthier chided with an exasperation as contrived as his earlier shock, "we really must work on your lines."