kinkfest | A Stalk of Grass [Final Fantasy XII: OGC, Basch x Balthier, R] (Reply)

Title: A Stalk of Grass
Author/Artist: manic_intent
Rating: R
Warnings: Spoilers for whole game
Prompt: Final Fantasy XII, Basch/Balthier: establishing dominance - Basch knows Balthier's indulgence for what it is
Word count: 1,343
Summary: Six times Basch does not bend, and one where he falters.

Final Fantasy XII, Basch/Balthier: establishing dominance - Basch knows Balthier's indulgence for what it is

A stalk of grass

The first time Basch interrupts Balthier’s exposition on the best place to set up camp, the Giza is growing chill under the cloudless evening, and in the distance the wolves prowl, wary but curious. The animals keep their distance from the large shards of power, and it is there, Basch explains, if patiently, that the best location to sleep would be.

Balthier’s eyes widen, then he smiles, lazy and persuasively handsome, but Basch stands unmoving. The party balks, glancing between them, then hesitantly, Vaan agrees, followed by Penelo, but it is only when Fran inclines her head gracefully that Balthier arches an eyebrow. He concedes with ill grace masked by elegant wit, and Basch thinks nothing else of it.

The sky pirate is uncharacteristically silent during the rest of the night, but on a change of guard, when Basch approaches him with a stiff question, Balthier’s answering smirk is quick, unfeigned, pleased, and if Basch shows surprise the sky pirate is magnanimous enough to ignore it.

The second time occurs in hunt. Balthier expands on Vaan’s nascent grasp of tactics with an illogical formation that would place the children in unnecessary if flamboyant danger, and Basch disagrees, if as unassumingly and as politely as he could. He prefers conservative strategy because risk is not often an ally and, in Basch’s experience, is not often worth the reward.

Balthier does not accede easily. Argument follows patience by further argument, until finally, Ashelia, impatient with the mines and weary of the verbal fencing, judges in Basch’s favor. Balthier protests, as winningly as he can, and his Queen wavers, long enough for Basch to interject firmly. She bends to iron and Balthier, Balthier pouts, though the frown does not quite meet his eyes.

Later, obediently bringing up the tail of the group, Balthier jogs up to his side to mention something about the carrying sound of monsters to their sides, and his hips brush lightly against Basch’s flank.

III

The Cloudborne is a reputable inn, far more reputable than the Sky King, as extravagant as the name, that inn is a pirate’s haven and far more known for its nightly brawls than its quality of accommodation. This time, Balthier’s silver words have even the Lady Ashelia convinced, despite her own knowledge of Bhujerba and despite Basch’s.

Fran glances between them, impassive, then she raises her eyes to Basch, in clear challenge, in invitation, and Basch, in the face of logic and his sovereign’s will, digs in his heels and draws out all the stubbornness he long thought buried under good nature and chains and Archadian whips.

At the end, Balthier proclaims exhaustion in poor grace, wringing his hands, and sulks in loud protests all the way to the Cloudborne, to the point that Penelo giggles at him and Ashelia rolls her eyes. Balthier haggles price with the innkeeper, with all the shame and tenacity of a fishwife, as the rest settle at a table and peruse the menu. Basch keeps company, if only because he knows the Cloudborne ‘keeper well enough to also be in possession of certain knowledge of said ‘keeper’s lack of patience and the shotgun he keeps handy under the counter.

Behind them, Seeqs finish their dinner and rise in a chattering bunch, obscuring them from the party. Balthier’s hand rests lightly against Basch’s back, questioning, improper, and all uninvited, but Basch keeps his hands on the counter and his eyes firmly before him. He won’t ask.

Basch finds Archades near intolerable, and on one of their pit stops he stays in the Strahl, out of business but thankfully, out of sight of spires and richness and its memories, and once, Balthier stays, though adventure is restless in his eyes and his fingers.

Basch trounces Balthier with chess at the sky pirate’s request, and Balthier grins, so widely at the end that Basch isn’t sure if his victory was arranged. He’s definitely out of practice. It is, however, he has to agree, far more satisfying than sparring, and this makes Balthier laugh, silently, his shoulders shaking, and Basch is sure he hasn’t seen the sky pirate so; his usual laugh is hearty and infectious and cavalierly flamboyant.

A hand reaches out and lingers, when Basch overturns Balthier’s king, fingers pressed over worn knuckles. Basch allows himself a smile but nothing further.

Only with a remarkable amount of effort and persuasion would Balthier allow himself to be bedded, and were it not for the children having disappeared in Balfonheim to shop, his Queen gone to speak with Rikken, and Fran having left with friends, Basch would not have found time or place to bother.

It takes even more effort and all of Basch’s halting attempts to persuade Balthier to spread his thighs, the sky pirate’s lips thinned in something approaching displeasure and his eyes wild as though in growing panic, and were it not for the heat of his embrace and the teeth sunk into his lip Basch would have drawn away to his own bed and slaked inappropriate lust with an appropriate hand.

Balthier is silent, oddly silent, as they couple, his slender wrists pinned under Basch’s hand and his lips beneath the ex-Captain’s hungry mouth, yet his thighs pull Basch closer and harder and deeper and the wildness grows in Balthier’s eyes even as Basch marks his shoulder, his arm, his nipple, his flank, teeth and tongues and bruises. Tomorrow he will apologise.

Camp in the Pharos is strained, uncomfortable, and riddled with monstrous encounters. They set up a perimeter with what little rubble they can find, against a corner, barricade a room with supplies, and attempt to rest. Outside, monsters howl and feed upon each other. The children sleep quickly with the ease of street urchins, Fran looks uncomfortable and stressed from the perpetual Mist, and in the last corner, Ashelia and Reddas appear to be discussing matters of State in low tones.

That leaves Balthier, who, like Fran, appears stressed, though likely from the lack of sky above their heads, and, as Basch presses, from the lack of treasure at hand. His smile is too slow. Balthier’s, too quick. Then the pirate unravels, pressed against him, with Basch’s bulk between him and the rest of the party, what passes for privacy in necessity. Do you know why now? Balthier asks, in so low a whisper that Basch can barely hear him.

I believe so. It has been long enough that Basch can understand Balthier’s endless mannerisms and riddles. He supposes that this should scare him.

Oh yes? Balthier’s tone is as light as it is wild.

Has no one ever been immune to your will? Basch queries; this, he feels, is his best conclusion and the worst. You didst attend the Akademy.

No one, Balthier’s cheer is as bright as it is brittle, and it is wild, in this and all things as a hand curls lightly against his thigh, where the others cannot see; Basch pulls his back more closely to his other flank. But you, Balthier adds, his hands cold and his rings colder, Yet.

VII

We part, I hope, on the best of terms, Balthier is sprawled atop him as an uncomfortable blanket, hotter yet that the Archadian sun has risen. Basch does not look forward to donning his armor; he keeps his hand steady and firm on Balthier’s rump, another on the pirate’s shoulder.

He tries command, uncertain. Stay. He won’t say please, but the tremor in his voice is enough and the pirate sighs, his smile against Basch’s cheek, sharp. Stay, Basch manages, harder and raw, but it is late.

Balthier rises from him with a nip against his jaw and fingers curled tight into his elbow; he whispers, you are already too much your brother, and perhaps in his eyes there is something of pity.

-fin-

[I just realized how many prompts I took up for springkink. ;o oh noes!!]