AN: Now the fun begins… *evil laughter*
-Unsure-
Basch was quick with his errands, meeting with the Resistance, speaking with Vaan, and found
himself asking to find Balthier again, and though it was to find Amalia, some piece of him wanted to ask what the pirate had meant. Most of Basch wasn't sure if he wanted to ask though.
He doesn't get a chance to and it slips his mind for quite a while, at least until Ashe and Penelo have joined them and they are a bit out of harm's way. They're out on hunts at Vaan's insistence, earning money for various 'necessary' supplies. They're camped out trying to find some new ridiculous creature and Basch has elected for first watch.
He wants to see the stars. He hasn't had much chance to enjoy them, and it's nice to just mull in thought staring at the night sky. Fran passes with a nod that he takes to mean good night and remembers his question. As his 'companion' perhaps she'd know? On the other hand she could take offense since they seemed a couple. It was hard to tell with those two. Basch didn't really care if someone else was mad at him. He was never one to talk anyway.
"Fran?" She turns and tilts her head, waiting. "Does Balthier normally flirt?" Basch doesn't know if that's the way to put it. He almost wanted to add 'with men' but decided not to give it away too much.
"Yes." She says, never one to beat around the bush and begins to walk away again. He can see why Balthier never talks, with how much she says.
What she says does ring true, though he's only caught it with Ashe or Fran more than anyone else, and never anything as forthright as what Balthier had said to him. He lets her go to bed all the same, knowing that saying much more may give him away, make him seem too curious or interested. He's not sure he is…or isn't.
Basch hasn't really thought on it before. He never bothered with romance, so he never thought about attraction either. He thinks on the group; Vaan and Penelo are too young, and too much into one another anyway. Ashe hates him, no matter how hard he claims innocence, not that the Princess is his type, or would be interested in a soldier like him, traitor or not. Fran is too quiet, too blunt, and very uninterested in him, but Basch doesn't even find her attractive, even with the skimpy armor and bunny ears. Balthier…he's not sure on Balthier. His skin is smooth, and he's so animated in all he does, it's hard not to watch him. Though he's not as enthralled as Vaan can be in Balthier's pirate stories, he finds himself watching the pirate perhaps a bit too much. The clothes he wears are pristine and fit him much too well. Basch can't help but wonder what's underneath them all…
He shakes the thought from his head. Should he really be thinking about the pirate like this? He has Fran as his companion after all, what would make Balthier interested in him? Besides, he does flirt with everyone, it was probably nothing, and it seems silly to dwell on it.
When it's time to switch watch and Basch remembers it's Balthier for second watch and sighs. The man isn't up yet, but he's too tired to sit through another watch. He pads over to the man's tent and steps in. He's a bit surprised to find Fran is in her own tent, something he had neglected to notice before and wonders why. Basch only shrugs it off and moves to shake Balthier's shoulder instead.
A grumble and the man only turns the other way. He's serene in his sleep, almost too peaceful, all his jewelry taken off, his vest on the side, his shirt cuffs and collar unbuttoned. Basch doesn't realize he's staring until Balthier speaks, "Like what you see Captain?"
Basch spins around, facing the other way, feeling the color rise in his cheeks. "It's time for second watch."
"I see. I shall be right out."
Basch nods, though he's unsure Balthier can see it, and exits the tent to stand outside. He hopes the night chill will cool the flames in his cheeks, but when Balthier comes out and smirks at him he's unsure it's helped at all.
"You're relieved Captain. Though you don't have to use watch as an excuse to enter my tent."
Basch only grunts in response and heads to his tent. By morning all is forgotten, at least that's how it seems, though Basch continues to get lost in thought more and more, to the point where Penelo pulls him aside and inquires, "Are you alright?"
"Hmm? Yes, I am fine." He assures her, but she narrows her eyes in suspension.
"You keep zoning out on us." She accuses.
"My apologies. I shall try to stay focused." He bows his head a bit in response, and though Penelo doesn't look pleased she doesn't know what else to say. Instead, she watches him closely. As days pass during hunts and loot collecting she notices Basch tense anytime Balthier is near him, and then as she watches more, anytime Balthier flirts with someone Basch narrows his eyes at him, as if angry. She isn't sure what it means though. So instead she does the most sensible thing to her: She asks Fran.
That night, at camp, she makes her way to Fran's tent. "Knock, knock." Penelo calls out, not wanting to invade Fran's privacy.
"Yes, Penelo?"
"Can I ask you something?" Penelo asks, clambering into the tent. It's messier than she would have thought, there are bottles and items scattered about and Penelo can't make heads or tails out of half of them. How Fran finds anything in this mess, let alone packs it, is a mystery. Fran blinks at her, twitching her ears and Penelo knows she better hurry up and spit it out.
"Basch is acting funny." Penelo begins.
"How do you mean?"
"Well lately he keeps zoning out and not paying attention. Not in battles or anything dangerous, but it had me worried. So I watched him and I noticed that anytime him and Balthier get close Basch gets all tense."
"Perhaps he does not like Balthier."
"I thought that too, but any time Balthier flirts with somebody Basch gets all angry faced. I don't want them to hate each other or have a fight."
"Hmmm." Fran thinks, "Basch asked about Balthier flirting before, perhaps he's jealous?"
"Like maybe he likes someone Balthier is flirting with? But then he'd only glare when he flirts with them…" Penelo isn't getting it and Fran sighs.
"Jealous of Balthier."
Penelo blinks a few times before her eyes widen.
"Oh." Is all she can manage.
"I will speak to Balthier about it." Fran says and stands. Before Penelo can argue Fran's already opening Balthier's tent and going in.
"Balthier?"
"Fran I just laid down, what could you possibly want?" Balthier mumbles.
"Have you been flirting with Basch?"
Balthier opens one eye to look at her, "And if I have, what business is it of yours? Are you jealous my dear Fran?"
Fran's ears twitch and she frowns. "Then what is the problem?" Balthier asks, sitting up.
"He has been distracted and Penelo is worried."
"Distracted, hmm?" Balthier grins. "No worries, I shall take care of it." Balthier rises and dresses, and though Fran doesn't like that tone she knows that nothing she says will make Balthier deter from his current path, she instead only heads back into her tent and sleeps.
When Basch wakes he is not alone. He scurries back a bit before he realizes it's not a foe.
"Good morning Captain." Balthier smirks.
Basch is lost; he has no idea if he missed something or not. He knows nothing happened last night, and besides Balthier is dressed. "What are you doing in my tent?"
"Why, watching you sleep of course." Balthier answers, nonchalant.
Basch is glad he sleeps clothed, and makes a mental note to keep it that way. Instead he gathers his sword and exits the tent, ignoring the event altogether. All through the next days Balthier sticks near him no matter how hard he tries to stay away. A brush of shoulders here, a slight bump of hips in battle, it's like he can't escape it. If it wasn't bad enough, there are the casual flirts and jokes now, as if he's been doing it all along. Basch gets covered in oil and instead of Fran or Penelo throwing him a handkerchief, Balthier is there, brushing it off his face and being way too close. Basch's clothes get a bit singed from a wild Fira and when he tries to fix them Balthier pouts about 'hiding your beautiful skin'. The others cast strange looks but it starts to become so frequent, it's got to the point where Balthier isn't even flirting with anyone else.
Basch is out again in between adventures, taking first watch, staring at the stars. He can only think of the pirate and his cursed suave words and brushes of fiery skin. Perhaps it's the desert heat, but every time the man brushes against him he'd swear that someone had cast Firaga at him, the heat that man puts off, even with clothes. It was worse when Balthier brushed hands or touched his face for whatever new reason. It was irritating him to no end.
Basch stretches and decides some cool water will help clear his head. He makes his way to the pool nearby, careful to check for monsters in the area before leaving the camp a bit. He sips some water and begins to head back when he's pushed against the cliff side; he's about ready to pull his sword and fight the beast when a pair of twinkling brown eyes and mocking smile greet him instead.
Basch doesn't know what to say, or do for that matter. He's trapped with the cliff behind him and the pirate's arms at either side. He's sure he has the strength to move them, but he can swear it's all left him at this moment. Balthier seems to be moving closer until Basch can swear he can feel breath on his face, warm in the cool night air. Basch doesn't remember how to breathe.
"Good night Captain." Balthier smirks and walks away leaving Basch against a cliff side, too stunned to move.
In what must have been a few minutes he shakes his head and blinks. What the hell just happened? What was that? Basch doesn't know, but he's about to find out.
He makes his way to Balthier's tent and barges in. He cares not about asking to come in after that nonsense. "Balthier I don't know what you think you're doing, but I am going to ask you to cease it immediately." He growls, indignant, stepping close to the man.
"Why Captain, whatever do you imply?" Balthier smiles coyly.
"This flirting or whatever you want to call it."
"Why? You seem to be enjoying it."
Basch blinks at him, aghast. "I don't know what you mean."
Balthier steps forward and Basch moves back again, right into a tent pole and finds himself trapped again. He looks back up to find Balthier right in his face, barely an inch away, and the ability to breathe has deserted him again.
"Then why do you find it so hard to breathe Captain?" Balthier smirks.
"I don't…" Basch begins, but Balthier places a finger over his lips, stopping all speech.
"Shhh Captain. No worries." Balthier moves again, impossibly closer, taking the finger away and Basch swears his heart is going to beat out of his chest. What in the world is happening?
AN: What in the world is happening dear readers? Will Basch get caught up in the devilish pirate's ways? Will he ever figure out what this feeling is in his chest? Will Balthier ever stop flirting (and being so damn attractive)? Read on to find out!