-Unexpected-

The Captain only picks up his feet and begins to walk again. Balthier jumps to his feet, grabs the Captain by his shoulders and spins him around.

"Basch, are you listening to me?" He shouts, shaking the man, "I love you, I love you, I love you." He says it again and again, still shaking away, about to break when he sees the smile on the Captain's face.

He blinks at him, aghast, "You knew, didn't you?" He accuses and Basch only smiles wider, "How long have you known?"

"The moment you said please." Basch replies.

"But…how…?"

"Balthier the sky pirate would never say please."

He wants to be mad, he really does, but he just can't manage even the smallest wisp of it. He just starts to shake, then chuckle, until it's an all out laugh, with Basch grinning before him, and he's never felt better.

When he regains his composure he speaks again, "I suppose that's true. Doesn't seem like me does it?" He adopts his typical haughty demeanor, but there's no seriousness in it.

"No it doesn't. But it is the magic word, isn't it?" Basch retorts, ever so sly and Balthier remembers what he means and manages to color, something that has to be a rare sight indeed.

"Captain, you tease." He mocks.

"I would never." Basch replies, somehow sounding more calm and cool than Balthier ever could. Balthier can't imagine it will last, it just doesn't fit the Captain, but for now, it will do.

He nearly knocks Basch out when he pulls him in for a kiss, an almost head butt, but when Basch winces he only places kisses across the offended area. "My apologies C…" Balthier begins, only to be silenced by another kiss, all the more slow and sweet.

It's his turn to be pushed back, and though it's not on a bed, he buckles easily under the soldier's strength and in movements quicker than he can remember the Captain pulling off, his vest and shirt are discarded, his shoes kicked off, and he's started to unclasp Balthier's own vest. The pirate sits up and assists, shrugging off his shirt with it, and pulling off his shoes.

Basch stares down at him, running hands over his chest and stomach. Balthier returns the favor, heart pounding, "Still stunning." He remarks and Basch scoffs.

Balthier only tuts at him and sits up to place little kisses across his scars, each one a soft little comfort and Basch just closes his eyes and lets it be. The pirate works his way up to his neck, nips on his collarbone and Basch just grabs him for a kiss that is no longer slow, but instead needy. It's the Captain's turn to flick his tongue out and Balthier relents, battling together, tasting one another like there is no tomorrow. His hands fly to the other's pants, untying them and pulling them down and Basch only helps to kick them off, and it seems a bit unfair, so he kicks off his own and they both lay there, parting the kiss to pant together, a bit chilled in the night air.

Basch begins to move off, but Balthier steadies him, shaking his head. "You know what to do Captain."

Basch blinks at him a bit, then nods, placing fingers to Balthier's lips, who obliges and sucks on them ever so seductively. Basch takes his fingers back and Balthier moves his legs, bucking his hips up and Basch pushes in one. Balthier hisses, and Basch glances at him, worried. Balthier only dismisses it with a wave of his hand.

Basch inserts another, scissoring them for a few, until he thinks it's time. He pulls back, steadies himself over the pirate, staring down at him, and pushes against his entrance. He's careful to be slow, and Balthier doesn't say a word, though it's hard to focus on him with how this feels. He can understand Balthier nearly falling apart in him before, if this is anything to go by.

He's fully sheathed, panting over the other when he manages to focus again and look back at Balthier. The man has such a look of discomfort on his face Basch nearly stops right there, but Balthier stays him when he goes to move.

"Just a moment Captain." He manages with a pant. He glances up at Basch, sees the worry and gives a small chuckle, "No worries Captain, just a bit new to this." He says, motioning to them, together.

Basch is taken aback, "This is your…first time? But I thought…" He begins, at a loss.

"Thought I'd done this before? That is where you are mistaken, I may have bedded a few others, but I've never been bedded like this myself." Balthier admits, sounding much more debonair than he feels.

Basch can only stare in wonder at the pirate below him, marveling at how much this must mean to the other. He smiles down at him, and strokes his cheek, "Take your time Balthier. I can wait."

Balthier smiles at him and simply breathes for a bit. Eventually he opens his eyes and nods and Basch begins to move.

Balthier's beginning to pant, but he's also tracing hands across skin, a flurry of uncoordinated motion, lost in the moment. "Captain…" He breathes.

Basch pauses, looking at him, and Balthier has to open his eyes to look curiously back.

"My name, pirate." He says, sounding serious and Balthier swallows loudly.

"Basch." He replies, but Basch only smiles at him, still and silent.

He curses the man above him silently, but relents, "Basch, please." And the movement picks back up, the soldier's forehead pressed against his, the movements becoming erratic. Balthier nearly begins to wrap a hand around himself, but Basch notices and swipes the hand away, taking hold of him instead, moving it in time with each thrust.

Balthier can't think clearly anymore, and when Basch pushes his hips harder, deeper, he hits that spot, the spot that sends pleasure shooting through him and he barely holds it together.

"Basch!" He shouts and Basch growls, pushing harder, quicker, into that spot and Balthier can't hold on much longer, and then he's gone, shouting once more, "Basch!" A long, loud call and he's joined not much later by the Captain.

"Balthier…" He growls, with a few more cants of his hips, hands clutching at the bed roll, until he lays atop the pirate, exhausted. Balthier makes a small complaint about the mess, and Basch only reaches, grabs a rag, wipes him off, and then lies back down, still embedded in him.

When Basch finally sits back up and stares at Balthier he smiles, "Come Basch, let's get some rest."

Basch nods, withdrawals, dabbing up the mess from the both of them before discarding the rag and lying next to him. Balthier curls up next to him, lying on his chest without Basch's customary help, and is nearly relaxed when the tent flap opens.

Fran is standing there, ears twitching and if looks could kill, they would be dead as doornails. Balthier and Basch both color, and Fran just hisses at them and stalks off.

"Perhaps next time, some privacy?" Balthier suggests and they both fall into a fit of laughter.

Balthier regains himself and curls back up when Basch whispers, barely audible.

"Balthier?"

"Hmm?" He peers up at Basch, almost dozing.

"I love you."

Balthier just gives a small smile and pecks him on the lips, "I love you too Basch." With that they both fall asleep, curled into one another, for once at true peace.

AN: Aaaaand it's done! It's all worked out, with no questions to ask! (Besides, maybe, will there be more, to which readers, I am sad to say, I think that's it for this happy couple. You got some fluff, you got some drama, and you got smut…twice! That's a lot for little ol' me) Here's hoping you stayed through the twists and turns, the soaring hearts, the gut-wrenching, the near-death and the magic words (besides 'please' you dirty minded readers, as to me those three little words 'I love you' are more magic than any) And here's hoping you loved it as much as I do. Cheers, readers, until next time that block bothers me…or the plot bunnies team up and devour me whole. Whichever comes first.