-Unknown-
"Don't say that. I'm right here. You won't die alone." He promises, hoisting the Captain and carrying him all the way back to the Strahl. He deposits him in his own cabin, the more spacious of the bunch, and rummages through the backup storage for whatever he can find.
Balthier takes to pacing, and the group finds him this way when they catch up. Penelo and Ashe inquire about Basch, but Balthier only shrugs them off with not much more than a grunt or a wave of his hand.
At first Balthier won't let anyone else near him but when he pushes Fran and she hisses at him he snaps out of it a little and relents.
He doesn't leave the bedside, and frequently sleeps, curled uncomfortably in the chair beside the bed. Each little rest is fitful and he wakes sweating, nightmares of Basch's death fresh in his mind, and he has to rush to the bedside to check that the Captain's heart still beats.
What may only be a few days to everyone else feels like eternity to Balthier, and when Basch finally awakes he shouts so loud that the whole ship can hear. They're all there when Basch manages to sit up, pushing Balthier back when he tries to help.
He looks to Fran and Penelo, "Thank you, for saving me." He manages.
Fran shakes her head and Penelo only gives a half smile, "Fran only helped a little, Balthier was the one who did most of the work." She nods to Balthier.
Basch looks to him, brows furrowed in confusion.
"Yah he was worried sick about you, pacing the whole ship. I think he might have worn a spot in the floor." Vaan jokes, but quickly loses his confidence when Balthier glares his way.
"Perhaps we should leave you to rest." Ashe offers and Basch nods, and the group leaves until it's just Balthier and he.
"I can go too, if you wish." He offers, and it's so quiet Basch has to strain to hear. He can't believe that the man who has done nothing but push him away is the one to nurse him back to help. Let alone can he comprehend that he's been worried. He can see the dark circles under the pirate's eyes, the crumpled clothes, and the uncoiffed hair. Something in his stomach feels like it churns.
"Why?" He croaks.
Balthier looks up, "You said you didn't want to die alone."
He can remember it, even if barely, but mostly he can remember the worry he heard laced in the pirate's voice as he lay in his arms. The thing in his stomach isn't churning, no, it's like something fluttering again, ever so slightly, but he elects to ignore it.
He wants to accuse the pirate, but he is still honor bound. "I suppose I owe you."
Balthier blinks, shock crossing his face for a moment.
"You saved my life." Basch explains.
Balthier bites his lip and almost begins to pace again before he stops himself and goes to Basch's bedside, grabbing his hand. The fluttering is stronger, crawling up, but he only tamps it down.
"Let me try again." He manages and Basch scowls and snatches his hand away.
"Why should I?" He snaps and Balthier visibly flinches and something in his chest pangs, but he doesn't care.
"Just once more, that's all I'm asking. If it doesn't work, I'll drop it and we'll never speak of it again. Just let me start over." He pleads, looking into Basch's eyes, and there's the pang again, but he'd be damned if he cared.
"So you can hurt me again?" He accuses and there's a wince and another flinch so unlike the pirate that it almost hurts.
He drops to his knees next to him and Basch swears the man might cry, but he swears he won't unharden his heart, at least until Balthier breathes the one word he'd never thought he'd hear pass from his lips.
"Please."
The fluttering is stronger, so hard to ignore, especially with that slight whisper from the man next to his bedside. He doesn't want to do it, but he does owe the man, doesn't he? He manages a sigh and relents, "Very well."
Balthier jerks to look at him and smiles, taking his hand again. "Thank you. I won't mess it up this time, I swear." He sounds so genuine Basch's stomach fills with that feeling again, but he can't let it be so easy.
He removes his hand, much gentler this time, "Give me time to rest. Three days."
Balthier nods and stands, leaving Basch to rest, staring at the ceiling, wondering how the Fates will see fit to treat him now.
When the three days have passed he goes back out with the group, despite a few protests from Penelo, and takes back his own room. He says nothing about staying in the pirate's quarters, though a little of him misses the softer bed. He won't dare to go there though, not that easily and instead acts as if the pirate and he have just met.
When he wakes in the morning and Balthier breaks his fast he ignores him, and the group exchange worried glances once more.
Balthier clears his throat, "Welcome aboard the Strahl Captain. I hope you are comfortable."
Basch nods in recognition, but not much more.
Balthier spends the whole night pacing his quarters once more, much to Fran's annoyance, who at one point opens his door and hisses at him. He sits, forgetting her delicate ears, and stares at the ceiling until a thought strikes him.
They stop into town and as Basch heads to the local inn for a room and food as usual, instead of staying in the ship, Balthier follows. He takes the seat opposite the Captain once more, and though he isn't lost in thought this time, he only gives him the slightest of glances.
"I don't believe we've been properly introduced, I'm Balthier." He flourishes his hand again and he can swear he can see the slightest quirk of a smile on Basch's face before he speaks.
"You seem to already know me." He remarks, staring into his ale.
"Yes well, one does tend to hear the stories."
"Do you believe them all?"
"I believe in what I can see Captain."
Basch glances up at him for a moment before returning his gaze back into his drink.
Balthier only smiles that mischievous smile once more and begins his plan, "Though I do see a quite lonely and attractive Captain sitting alone."
Basch blinks up at him, still wary as ever, but Balthier only blinks at him, unwavering.
"Perhaps a bit of company isn't so bad?" But Basch only sits there, "Or perhaps so. I shall try to change your mind dear Captain." Balthier smiles and gives the slightest of bows before leaving Basch to wonder what in the world the pirate could be up to.
He finds Balthier flirting again, ever so slightly. But somehow, it's different. Each time he does, it comes off genuine, and he's always looking right at him, so there's no mistaking who he means. He never flirts with anyone else, not even his typical casual flirting; instead it's all for Basch and he isn't sure what to make of it.
Then the helpful things return as well. He finds himself hurt in battle, being tended to all over again by Balthier, but each touch is never too pushy, never skirting elsewhere. He fixes each wound with care, even the slightest of scratches and Basch can only continue to tamp shut the knot trying to unwind in him.
Next thing Basch knows, Balthier is asking all sorts of questions that seem to have no meaning, until later. First its foods, prepared for him, procured just because he's never had them, even things that must be expensive or particularly hard to find. A few group members roll their eyes at the treatment, but Basch has to admit that he'd never thought to try them on his own.
He finds them on new courses in the Strahl to places he's never seen, guided on tours by the pirate, finding his hand being tugged along before he can argue. Each is more breathtaking than the last, and each only sets the warmth in him to grow a little more.
He wakes one morning to find a gleaming sword in the stead of his old, dull blade, with a hastily scrawled note attached. 'It brings out your eyes' is all it says and Basch can't help but chuckle a little at the silliness of it all. Naturally Balthier only shrugs it off, but not before a, "Anything for you my Captain."
Basch doesn't realize it until Balthier is walking ahead of him that it was different. It wasn't just 'Captain', but instead 'my Captain' and then he can't help but notice that Balthier only ever says 'my Captain' now instead.
On watch Balthier brings him water again, but instead of lagging behind, simply says a 'good night'.
Basch has to cut him some slack. He's trying isn't he? He still won't let himself be fooled, so what's the harm?
He grabs the other's hand, making Balthier look back, surprise etched across his face. The pirate had been so sure that he'd have to keep this up, or worse give it up, that his chest had felt in tangles for ages. The relief he feels when Basch says, "Stay, I think I may like that company after all." is unimaginable.
He stands beside him, weight shifting feet as Basch stares up into the stars. There are so many words on his tongue but he is so unsure of which are the right ones. The feeling in his chest hurts so much, but he knows that he can't ignore it, can't push it away. It didn't do anything good in the first place, but he's so lost, so bewildered, and all he knows is that the mere thought of losing…whatever this is… is so much worse.
He's never had anyone treat him the way Basch has. He's never had sweet niceties, or gentle touches, understanding looks. Everyone has only wanted a quick fling with the wanted sky pirate, and when they do want more and he pushes him away, they give up. But Basch hadn't understood, had never known companionship, and had only understood that if he was going to give himself, he would give his all.
But Balthier hadn't known what to do with that, with the feeling that the companionship had brought. Something that wasn't quick and meaningless, and instead something the other wanted to continue, even with Balthier pushing so hard away. He just hadn't realized what it had meant to him.
In the cool of the night he wondered if he'd have the chance to figure out what this knot in his chest was, and what real companionship could be.
AN: Look I didn't kill Basch readers, just put down the pitchforks and torches, okay? Will the favor work out? Will Basch just push him away, too afraid to be hurt? Will Balthier screw it up? Or will he manage it, and for the Gods sakes SAY SOMETHING to the man? Read on to find out!