Author's Note: The platonic relationship between Vossler/Basch. Also includes VosslerxAshe and slight BaschxAshe (my current fav).

For this chapter, please recall the first chapter, where I described pre-FFXII Ashe as being the perfect picture of an obedient, virgin princess.

P.S. I officially changed the rating of this story to Mature. I figure there will be more sex scenes, so, yay!

M A S Q U E R A D E

Chapter Five: The Hierarchy

The Ogir-Yensa Sandsea

Vossler Rejoins the Party

Five Months Before Vayne's Defeat

The shame he felt when he looked at Ashe was like nothing he had ever felt. His whole scalp felt like it was on fire, and he prayed not a single one of his companions could see the scarlet that traveled the length of his face. He kept his expression hard, however; his eyes remained narrowed, his lips pressed together tightly, to help disguise his inner turmoil. Yet his gaze never left her or her dark haired protector. He couldn't quite place it, but there was something amiss about them. Then again, he wasn't sure if he was trying to simply find a scapegoat for his ill feelings toward himself. The sand that whipped about in the air from the Ogir-Yensa Sandsea did little to comfort the angst he was experiencing.

He had taken up Vossler's stead by once again becoming her protector and helping her travel to the Tomb of Raithwall. Ashe barely looked in his direction, but when she did he could clearly see the venom in her glare. Her sharp words to him earlier, "you're supposed to be dead", continued to haunt him, and he sincerely doubted they would ever leave his memory. The words had pained him more than anyone could have guessed, and he found himself surprised by her strong show of emotions. After all, her whole life she had been obedient, quiet, and innocent. Now, she reminded him of a war-bent valkyrie, ready to slay those who stood between her and her quest for vengeance. He would be lying if he said that her new attitude didn't fascinate him.

Basch glanced to the other people that he traveled with. None of them knew Ashe before she experienced great loss. Basch could see what they thought of her in the way they looked at her. Vaan saw her as an edgy bitch, Penelo was indifferent, and Balthier and Fran saw her as a way to make more money. But Vossler was someone he couldn't quite place in his feelings toward the Princess. As was mentioned before, Basch felt something greatly amiss about him and Ashe.

When the group opted for a short break in order to rest from the blistering sun and stinging sands, Basch took the opportunity to confront his old war comrade about his intentions towards Ashe and Dalmasca. Vossler and Ashe sat together against one of the towering rusting silos, hunched down in hushed conversation. Basch had to pull up every ounce of courage he had inside him in order to brave another one of Ashe's hostile glares. He approached slowly, keeping his distance but making sure his presence was known. And there it was, just as he expected:

Her cold eyes were like knives into his heart. Once again he felt intense shame for having failed everything he held dear.

"Majesty," he explained with a clearing of his throat. "If I may speak to Vossler alone for a moment, I would be greatly appreciative."

He knew that she wanted to curse him in that moment, but she held her ground. Instead, she accepted his plea, and he was briefly reminded of the younger, obedient Ashe who seemed long dead. "Of course."

Vossler stood and left his Princess' side, following Basch to the next silo over. There they leaned against the metal railing, both staring out in front of them at the seemingly endless amounts of gold sand.

"Forgive my inquisitiveness," Basch began, keeping his eyes on the horizon. "But I must ask of any progress you have made in securing Dalmasca's freedom."

Vossler raised a gloved hand to his chin, stroking at the dark hair that protruded from his flesh. The action was slight but Basch noticed the significance in Vossler's gesture. As former captains of the Order of the Knights of Dalmasca, they were trained to never show any sign of weakness or contemplation. Even a gesture such as the one Vossler made would give valuable information to an enemy. Placing a hand to the chin was said to mean that the person was hiding something.

"Little progress," Vossler spoke as he continued to stroke his beard. "I will continue my efforts."

Lies, Basch knew, based solely yet correctly on the gesture Vossler had made. He is hiding something.

"You have made no progress at all over two years," inquired Basch, allowing his suspicion to fully enter his heavy voice. "It seems difficult to imagine that barely anything has happened in our favor."

Vossler was smart and quickly understood that he had faulted in his movements. He placed his hands on the rail, narrowing his eyes in a fever to get the attention off of the topic. "You must understand, I worked hard to keep her Majesty hidden; that alone was my primary goal: the safety of her Majesty."

Basch allowed Vossler to change the subject. He figured that should Vossler indeed be hiding something, he would allow him to reveal his plot in good time. Scaring him into confession now could only cause harm- perhaps to Ashe herself. "I do hope you did not allow any vagrants to approach her whilst in hiding," Basch muttered, tilting his head slightly to the side. It was difficult for him to imagine the chaste, innocent princess wondering around in the company of lowlifes for a near two years.

Despite his overly stern face, Basch could tell that Vossler was still nervous of Basch's suspicion. "No reason to worry, I was with her Highness constantly."

"Constantly?" Basch quipped, feeling surprised. He thought, No Knight of Dalmasca should ever be by her side constantly.

Suddenly, Vossler seemed to become very calm; proud, even. From the corner of his eye, Basch saw the satisfaction on his face. "You still doubt my loyalties toward her Majesty? Fine, Basch, I will admit something that will convince you of my allegiance: Lady Ashe and I hold a bond much deeper than a knight to his Princess."

"Deeper, how?" Basch questioned, still looking towards the horizon.

"Trust me on this, old friend. Let us leave it at that."

"If you expect my trust, then you had better explain your actions," Basch spoke, his eyes narrowing.

"She came to me one night, wrought with hopelessness and sorrow," Vossler explained, the pride in his voice nearly causing Basch to wince. "She wanted to bed me, and I obliged."

As soon as Basch heard these words, he snapped his head to the right. His eyes widened as he comprehended what Vossler had just informed him, and Basch stared at him as if he was seeing him in a whole new light.

Bedded? Vossler bedded Ashe?

Vossler turned his head as well, meeting Basch's eyes. The look on Vossler's face was that of emotionless, as any trained knight's face appeared. To the outside eye, Vossler was just stating a fact. But to Basch, Vossler was once again enforcing the age-old pissing contest between them. They had always tried to best each other, and now Vossler thought he had finally won. Basch could see Vossler's thoughts and arrogance as he stared him square in the eye, and it was as if Vossler was saying, 'You thought you were the better man, but I got to fuck royalty. Now who is the better man?'

"We have been laying together- near nightly- for over a year," Vossler concluded, keeping his dark eyes locked on Basch's.

Having Ashe does not make you better than me, Basch thought, feeling his blood boil at the idea. It only makes you weak, Vossler, to take advantage of a woman in her darkest hour. Especially since you try to exploit it now.

Basch inhaled sharply, feeling almost sick as a mental image of Vossler having sex Ashe filled his mind. "Vossler, do you not understand the importance of the structure of hierarchy?"

Vossler, his face still expressionless, turned to face the horizon once again. "Make no mistake, Basch. I did not go to her; she came to me. Would you have done any differently, had you been in my stead? Had she offered herself to you, had she ordered you to take her, would you have left her alone instead?"

Basch contemplated this thought for a long time. He turned his body to look across the mountains of metal towards Ashe. She had moved from where she and Vossler had sat, and was now making small talk with Vaan and Penelo. Vaan laughed at something Ashe said, and a confused look crossed over Ashe's beautiful face. She looked as she had always looked her entire life: dazed and naive. But Basch now knew that the personality she had always shown him and countless others had been false; a fictitious but nonetheless cunning ploy. Basch wondered why she had worn a mask her entire life, and why she had decided to remove it now.

He had not forgotten Vossler's question. He turned back to his old ally, shaking his head slightly. "I would respect the hierarchy."

"Then you are a fool," Vossler told him sternly. "I performed my necessary duties for her Majesty; anything else would be treason."

Basch winced at Vossler's choice of words, suddenly wondering once again what Vossler was hiding. One thing was for sure: Basch did not trust Vossler's intentions towards Ashe, whether the somewhat younger man was her lover or not.

Author's Note: On the next episode of Masquerade: Vaan x Penelo, Ashe x Vossler and slight Ashe x Basch. Yaaay for Vaanelo!!