Author's Note: Spoilers up to Leviathan part two.
-

The first chance they had since Bhujerba to get a proper rest and the only thing Balthier was concerned with at that moment, besides taking a proper bath, was the fact that while Basch's mouth had managed to find a rather sensitive spot on his neck that had him biting his lip to keep from making too much noise, they were both wearing far too many clothes. Balthier moved his hands from the wall to the various buckles on Basch's shirt. Basch pulled back slightly to allow him the room to remove the vest and shirt, shucking them to the floor.

Balthier took a moment to run his hands over Basch's still too thin chest and stomach, feeling the ribs carefully before he went to work on removing the rest of the captain's clothing. A hard bite on his neck and he cried out, cracking his head on the stone wall that Basch had him pressed up again.

"Are you all right?" Basch breathed, pulling back.

Blinking a few times and reaching up carefully to feel for blood, Balthier nodded, still feeling a bit dazed from the rather hard hit. He'd taken worse in a fight, but this could hardly be considered a fight.

"Fine," he said, leaning forward and kissing Basch playfully. "Perhaps the bed would be safest."

A knock on the door startled them both this time and Balthier arched an eyebrow at the rather colorful curses that came from the former captain's mouth.

"Balthier?"

"What do you want, Vaan?" Balthier asked, letting his own irritation show through.

"Ashe told me to find Basch and," here Vaan paused, "well, Fran said I ought to ask you."

Balthier laughed.

"And what pray tell does the Lady Ashe need with the captain?"

"She wants to talk about the shard thing," Balthier had the distinct realization that the boy knew exactly where Basch was and probably had a good idea as to what was, or rather should, be going on behind the door.

Balthier's turn to curse as Basch pulled away from him and began to put on his shirt and vest and he straightened up rather quickly, did a quick check to make certain he was at least somewhat reasonable looking, and opened the door.

"Am I interrupting?" Vaan asked with a smirk.

"Yes and tell the Lady Ashe that she may speak to Basch tomorrow after we've had a day to rest," Balthier said and he shut the door with a snap, twisting the key in the lock, satisfied when it clicked into place.

"You do realize that she will be next at the door?" Basch asked, sitting down the edge of the bed.

"Good," Balthier said. "I plan on making it quite clear that you aren't leaving this room until tomorrow."