(no subject)

[leatheredlion.livejournal.com]

Who: Squall, Balthier
When: Over a few hours
Where: The Strahl
What: Grooming and pampering
Rating: PG-13 (with naked bath time and flirting)



Squall was sat up in his bed. He was bored out of his mind. He hated just laying here feeling sorry for himself. There was so much he needed to do So many places he needed to be. He laid his book aside with a sigh and reached for a hairbrush, tugging it through knotted, greasy locks.

Balthier slipped into Squall's room, smiling at him as he sat on the bed, leaning to steal a kiss. "How are you feeling, sweetheart?"

Squall kissed back. "Truthfully? I'm fed up, grimy, greasy and I smell." He murmured, pouting a little. "I just want my legs to work again."

Balthier leaned in and kissed him again, tilting his head. "How about you and I take over the bathroom and I get you primped and polished, hm?"

Squall gave a soft laugh, wrapping an arm around Balthier's neck. "Now that, darlin', sounds like a plan!"

Balthier chuckled and scooped the teen up in his arms, carrying him through the Strahl and to his and Fran's bathroom, sitting him on the lid of the toilet. "Hold on tight, we don't want you slipping off~" he cooed, soon filling the tub with water.

Squall rolled his eyes. "I'm not going to 'slip' anywhere." He murmured. "Though, if my legs ever work again, and my... you know... I can think of one place I'd love to slip into."

Balthier chuckled and smirked at him. "I will keep myself in shape for you, princess," he teased, stopping the flow of water once it'd reached the right level and moving to Squall, kneeling in front of him and unbuttoning his shirt, his eyes on his hands.

"Oh? Who said anything about it being you?" Squall teased, even though they both knew that's exactly what Squall had meant.

"Darling, with a body like mine, it couldn't be anyone else." He smirked cockily, leaning in and kissing the teen's neck, sucking lightly before he pushed the shirt off his shoulders, smiling playfully up at him.

"When did you get such an inflamed ego?" Squall laughed, snaking an arm around Balthier's neck to pull him into a kiss.

"It was always like that. People just tend to look past it when I offer up my dick or my ass." He murmured, soon returning the kiss and purring a little.

Squall nudged his nose against Balthier's. "Idiot. You're so, so much more than just a hot body. People should look beyond the body and see what's in here..." He murmured, poking the man's chest, over his heart.

"Ah, now that would be letting people in~" he cooed, soon dropping his tone to a dry one as he continued with, "I don't do that." He slipped his hands down to unfasten the teen's pants.

"You let me in." Squall commented, running his hands along Balthier's sides.

"Correction, you let me in. Then... somehow, you weaselled your way behind my walls." He muttered, easily slipping Squall free of his pants and shirt.

Squall gave a soft laugh. "Do you regret it?" He asked, running a hand through his greasy hair.

"Yes. Every moment with you is a horrible, burning regret." He drawled, quirking an eyebrow at him sarcastically. Scooping the teen up, he lower him into the tub.

"Is that so? Mm. Sorry to be a burden." Squall purred, splashing the water a little with his hands. "Gods~ water feels so good!"

Balthier chuckled lightly. "You splash more than Krja when I bathe her..." he mumbled, folding his arms on the edge of the tub and looking at the teen with a smile.

"No one splashes more than that demon child!" Squall joked, reaching for a wash cloth and soap.

"Hey, that is my daughter you are calling a demon," he chuckled, flicking water at the teen before leaning in and kissing him. "I love you. You know that, right?"

Squall returned the kiss. "Yeah. I know. I love you too, and I always will, no matter what. Okay? I can't guarantee I won't ever hurt you, but I'll always love you."

"Hn, everyone I love hurts me. Why should you be different?" He gave a slightly sad smile before starting to unbutton his shirt. "Scoot forward, I'm joining you."

Squall gripped the edge of the bathtub, pulling himself forward. "No one means to hurt you intentionally. I think... I think hurting is just part of love..."

Balthier stripped down entirely, leaving his jewellery in place as always, soon sliding in behind him and curling his arms around the boy's chest, kissing his neck and shoulder. "I'm tired of it. If hurting is necessary to love, I am tired of love."

Squall tilted his head to one side, purring a little. "Everyone needs love, Balth. No one can survive without it."

"I think it is a stupid emotion that only leads to pain and a slapped face." He muttered, biting and kissing that neck, his fingers toying with the teen's nipples. "Do you feel anything here?"

Squall trembled and gasped a little. "Ngh... sensitive..." He mewled, resting his hands on top of Balthier's.

Balthier sucked more at Squall's neck, trailing kisses to his ear before nudging his nose against his cheek. "Hey. You're still sexy, okay? Disability or not, I still think you are incredibly beautiful." He whispered.

Squall flushed a little. "I look a mess. Look at me, I'm all yuck and stuff." He murmured, reaching back to toy with Balthier's hair.

"Well, that is why we are bathing, hm? And once your hair is clean, we shall do something about removing... other hair." He teased, lifting Squall's arm and chuckling lightly at the underarm fuzz. "It is not becoming on you."

Squall squeaked and gave a laugh. Not that he would admit to being just a little ticklish. "And here I was thinking you loved the fuzz on me!"

"On your face and a little down there, nothing else, sweetheart. Why do you think I wax?" He laughed, admitting something to Squall that was rather embarrassing.

"Wax, hm? So now I know the secret to that beautiful body!" Squall laughed, though it wasn't a cruel laugh.

Balthier nipped his ear, laughing softly. "Indeed, I wax. Underarms and legs." He lifted his leg out of the water, droplets running down the perfectly smooth skin. "You shave, correct?"

Squall gave a nod, running a hand over that smooth leg. "Yeah. I shave. Though, I don't need to often, well... my legs at least."

Balthier purred a little as Squall touched his leg, soon nuzzling his ear. "I can tell you shave. I know when you've got slightly stubbly skin." He teased, getting the shampoo and lathering it up in Squall's hair.

Squall flushed a little. "Hey! No teasing!" He huffed. But as soon as Balthier began to wash his hair he started to purr like a kitten.

"Hn, you used to love it when I teased," he purred, massaging the younger Hume's scalp gently, his kisses coming to trail over pale flesh again.

Squall blushed more, running his finger through his hair to collect bubbles before placing them on Balthier's nose.

Balthier blinked before huffing the bubbles away. "Child." He muttered, flicking Squall's ear before scooping water and pouring it over the teen's head.

Squall squeaked and flailed a little, squeezing his eyes shut and tilting his head back. "Mm. You love me though."

"Sadly I do." He murmured, rinsing out the boy's hair before finding those nipples again, tweaking and pinching them as he sucked at the younger man's neck.

Squall panted and shivered in Balthier's arms, letting out a soft moan. It was strange. His nipples were never this sensitive before.

"Now you know how I feel when you touch mine," he whispered in Squall's ear, biting it gently before returning to his neck, bringing up red marks on his flesh.

Squall took hold of Balthier's hand, drawing those digits to his mouth, sucking on one in revenge.

A sudden, sharp gasp escaped and he buried his face against the teen's shoulder, panting lightly. "Nghh... I'll come, Squall. Then this water will be filthy..."

Squall continued to suck, drawing a second finger into his mouth, sucking on them as though they were a cock, purring as he did.

Balthier tugged his hand away, gripping Squall's waist and panting hard against his shoulder. "I do not... wish for this to happen..."

"I... I'm sorry..." Squall murmured, staring at the water's surface. "I just..."

"No, do not apologise." He cupped the teen's chin and tilted his head back, capturing those lips, kissing him hard and firm before pulling back only a fraction. "I am not willing to take advantage of your mouth every moment you arouse me." He murmured.

Squall flushed, purring against Balthier's lips, looking into his eyes a moment later. "I'd never get a word in if you did." He teased.

"Exactly! And you say such pretty things, sometimes." He teased, nudging their noses together. "Now, I believe there is a razor around somewhere. Let us see to removing that unsightly monstrosity you call underarm hair."

Squall laughed and purred at Balthier. "Maybe we can let it grow and plait it!" He joked, lifting his arms up above his head.

Balthier grimaced at the thought, soon squirming out from behind the teen and moving to the sink, retrieving a straightedge razor and shaving cream. "Right, hold still. I only ever use this on my face, I've no skill at underarms," he joked, trying to unnerve the boy.

Squall blinked, lowering his arms a little, letting out a squeak. "M-maybe we should let Fran do it?"

Balthier laughed and pushed Squall's elbow up. "Shut up and let me concentrate. I heard there was an artery under the arm..." he grinned as he applied the cream, carefully dragging the blade down in one swoop and shaving it all clean off. "Hn, and you doubted me."

Squall's breath hitched in his throat as he waited to be cut and bleed to death. He blinked when Balthier was done, and instantly touched the skin. "You've done it?"

"Mmhm." He rinsed the blade off in the water before rinsing Squall's skin. "Smooth as the day you came in, sweetheart. Now, let me do the other side."

Squall raised his arm, feeling a little bit more confident. He smiled soft at Balthier. "If you ever give up pirating... you can open a barber shop."

"Hn, I'd cut throats and steal wallets," he chuckled, smoothing the cream on before swiping away the hair. "I am a dab hand with a straight edge, mind. Now, how're those legs looking, princess?"

Squall slid his hand under his knee, lifting his leg out of the water.

Balthier slid a hand along the entire limb, laughing slightly. "Smooth as a baby's backside. You pre-pubescent little prick," he joked, leaning down and kissing Squall's knee before kissing his lips.

Squall kissed back. "I do believe you thoroughly love it when my prick is inside you, however." He teased, nudging Balthier with his nose.

"When did you become such a raging, horny top, hm?" He teased back, nudging in reply. A soft smile came and he kissed him again, curling a hand at the back of his head, keeping their kiss held.

"Oh, you totally made me into that topping sex fiend." Squall purred against Balthier's lips, curling his arms around the man's neck.

Balthier chuckled against the kiss. "You make such a pretty bottom though, Squall," he cooed, soon flicking his tongue at the teen's lips.

Squall parted his lips accepting that tongue into his mouth, kissing Balthier firmer.

Balthier made a slight sound, curling and sliding his tongue over the younger man's, his hand curled in chocolate coloured locks.

Squall curled and danced his tongue around Balthier's, purring into the kiss as he held on tighter.

Balthier kept the kiss going as he climbed back into that cooled off water, kneeling either side of the teen and guiding him back in the water, kissing him deep and desperate.

Squall panted soft against Balthier's mouth, sliding his arms along the man's back as he returned the kiss.

Balthier could feel his cock twitching to life but managed to restrain himself, for the most part, sliding a hand over Squall's chest, teasing a nipple, kissing him so passionately, almost as if he were making up for lost time somewhere.

Squall gasped and mewled into the kiss, his skin feeling like it was on fire - his upper body at least. "Ngh~ Balth." He purred, kissing back harder.

Balthier straddled the teen's lap, curling his arms around his neck, beginning to make slow, gentle breaths into the kiss, trying to coax Squall to breath with him.

Squall furrowed his brow a little, but soon followed Balthier's lead, letting his hands explore Balthier's chest.

Balthier took his hands, lacing fingers with him and holding them out the way. "No touching." He exhaled, keeping with the kiss. "Just focus."

Squall opened his eyes to look at Balthier, looking a little worried but breathing with him as they kissed.

Balthier partly wished he could've rocked against Squall, just to make it easier to stimulate him, but he knew they teen would feel nothing so, instead, he locked eyes on his, breathing slow into their kiss, his tongue slowing the pace to something more sensual and intense, rather than fast and raw.

Squall couldn't help but moan into the kiss, squeezing Balthier's hands softly, panting oh so soft.

His stormy, lust-filled eyes remained focused on Squall's as he kissed him, his fingers twitching in Squall's grasp.

Soft mewls escaped Squall, his hold of Balthier's hands tightening as he panted into the kiss.

Balthier gradually picked up the pace, almost as if he were fucking the teen, moaning against his mouth as he did.

Squall pulled his hands free to wrap them around Balthier's neck, clinging to him as he kissed him harder, moaning the whole time.

Balthier moaned against the kiss, his eyes threatening to slip shut but he kept them open and fixed on Squall's, a gaze filled with lust.

Squall mewled, his skin damp with sweat. He panted and moaned, clinging tighter.

Balthier's moans grew and he tried to stifle them, seeing as they were on the Strahl, in the bathtub, naked and kissing.

Squall suddenly broke the kiss, burying his head against Balthier's neck as a louder sound escaped him, his upper body shuddering.

Balthier groaned against the teen's neck, panting as a shudder shot down his spine. Feeling totally released, he laughed gently. "How was it?"

Squall panted, burying his face more. "It... It was amazing..." He laughed breathless against Balthier's neck.

"See? I told you, sex is all in the mind. Just then, I gave you a most thorough fucking." He smirked before nipping the teen's ear.

Squall laughed again, leaning in to steal a kiss. "And I most thoroughly enjoyed it."

Balthier smiled against his skin, nuzzling him gently. "Now, if that is what I can do to you with just a kiss, do you understand why I am... legendary?"

"Mm. Once again that ego swells." Squall teased, splashing water at Balthier. "Mn... Now we're dirty again."

Balthier laughed softly. "You have no sense of fun anymore, brat," he teased, using the soap to clean the teen up.

"Oh, I never said it wasn't fun." Squall purred, splashing Balthier again.

The older man laughed and nipped Squall's lower lip. "Well, learn to trust me more. I could sense your discomfort to begin with."

"I do trust you, Bal. I just... didn't know what you were trying to do..." Squall scrunched up his nose. "Hey... didn't you promise me primping and polishing?"

"What? Shaving you and washing your hair is not enough? Well! I suppose I should do something about those eyebrows of yours." He teased, reaching to a small bag and retrieving some tweezers.

"Hell no! You'll give me girly brows!" Squall mewled, sticking out his tongue at Balthier.

Balthier gripped Squall's jaw, half tempted to slap him for that comment. "Excuse you, I happen to be very good at this. Mine are always perfect."

"I don't doubt you are good... But you are wicked and like to make me into a princess." Squall purred, clicking his jaw.

"Shut up or I will give you odd ones." He murmured, reaching the tweezers in and plucking away the unnecessary hair.

Squall flinched, scrunching up his nose as Balthier plucked his brows. "Shall I do yours after?"

"No, thank you. I have no one touch my eyebrows. They're crucial to my charm, hm?" He quirked one and gave a smirk as he worked.

Squall chuckled a little. "Lift me out of the water soon? I imagine my toes look like prunes." He murmured, his right big toe giving a involuntary twitch.

Balthier heard a splash behind him and turned his head, frowning. "Did... you move your foot?" He scrunched his nose up and finished the second eyebrow before getting out of the water.

Squall shook his head, yet his toe twitched again. He squeaked, covering his mouth with his hands. "It moved!"

"It did!!" He knelt at the edge of the tub, reaching in and pinching the toe. "Do you feel anything? At all?" He asked.

Squall winced a little. "Nh... Feels like pins and needles..." He murmured, wiggling his toe more.

"It still feels like something!!" He swiftly grabbed a towel and wrapped it around his waist. "I'll be two minutes." He kissed his head before swiftly leaving the bathroom. "Fran!!"

Fran had been settling Krja down for a nap, and was currently in the process of reading her a story. She blinked when she heard Balthier call her and leaned over to kiss Krja's head. "Off to sleep, little one." She moved to find him. "Hm?"

"Fran! Squall's toe twitched and he feels pins and needles in it!" He explained, grinning like a little kid as he headed back to the bathroom, grabbing another towel and scooping Squall out of the water, leaning to pull the plug.

Fran squeaked. "Oh! That is wonderful!!" She smiled brightly, moving to the bathroom, flushing a little at the naked Squall, but seemingly at ease. "Oh, Squall! I'm so happy for you."

Squall smiled and leaned into Balthier, clinging to him. "Heh. It tingles."

"Good!" He wrapped the boy up in the towel then smiled up at Fran. "Also, notice how very pretty and perfect he looks~ My handiwork~" He chuckled.

Fran gave a laugh. "Most handsome. Though, I admit I was expecting to walk in and see face mask and hair curlers everywhere." She teased.

Squall smiled and laughed a little. "There's still time, Fran."

"Face masks, certainly. I've not the hair for curlers." He chuckled, kissing Squall's head. "I'm so happy for you, sweetheart. You're getting feeling back. This is the first step to your recovery, my dear."

Fran ruffled Squall's hair, kissing Balthier's cheek. "As long as you clean up after yourselves, loves. Now I am heading back to finish reading about the sky pirate's adventures in cloudland..."

Squall smiled brighter, nuzzling into that hand. "Let us know how it ends!"

"I believe I know how it ends. The sky pirate finds ultimate riches!" He chuckled and kissed Squall softly on the lips, kneeling in front of him. "I'm proud of you." He whispered.

Squall returned the kiss softly, wrapping his arms around Balthier's neck. "Heh. I didn't really do anything..."

"Oh, hush up and be happy, you little rat of a boy." He murmured, chuckling softly and stroking Squall's arms.

"I am happy." Squall mewled, leaning in to kiss Balthier again. "So... face masks, hm?"

Balthier quirked an eyebrow. "Well... would you like a face mask, darling? I am sure I've some around." He chuckled, resting his chin on Squall's thigh.

Squall threaded his fingers through Balthier's hair. "Mm. As long as you do not mock my manliness."

"Fuh, what manliness?" He teased, standing and moving to a cabinet. "We shall do this in your room and I'll get us something to eat. Just like when we were little girls, Squall~" he joked, laughing a little.

"Ha! You might've been a little girl. I have always been a man!" Squall laughed, throwing the scrunched up washcloth at Balthier.

"I find that terribly hard to believe." He chuckled and found the facemasks. "You... are not allergic to any fruit are you?"

"Nope... and you have a stock of face masks? Are they yours?! Or Frans?!"

Balthier grinned at him. "Mine. Fran can use whatever she wishes, but darling, before Fran, I was a flaming homosexual. Face masks, pampering, I did it all." He chuckled, soon deciding upon them and tossing Squall over his shoulder.

Squall laughed, huffing as he was tossed over Balthier's shoulder. "Jeeze... real romantic here... Not a sack of potatoes, ya know..."

"Eh, you're just some kid living on my airship. I can treat you how I wish." He joked, carrying the teen to his bedroom and laying the boy gently on the bed.

Squall wriggled as best as he could to get comfy, looking up at Balthier. "A kid you just sexed..."

"Not physically~" he cooed, laughing a little before straddling Squall's lap. "Now, would you like peaches or strawberries?" He asked in a mock camp accent.

"Oh~ Strawberries, girlfriend." Squall cooed, as camp as he could possibly manage.

Balthier laughed and kissed Squall softly. "You are such a fag," he teased, brushing back that brown hair and beginning to apply the strawberry scented face mask.

"I'm not a fag." Squall huffed, wrinkling his nose up as Balthier added the mask. "Mm. Smells nice."

"You are almost as gay as I am, honey," he chuckled and smoothed it out on Squall's skin, smiling lightly. "This might do something about those rings under your eyes. Sleeping might help, too."

"I sleep... I feel like all I do is sleep... Yet, I admit the sleep isn't particularly good quality..." Squall murmured.

"How about I massage your shoulders? It might relieve some tension and let you sleep properly." He murmured, wiping his hands on his own towel.

"Only if you let me apply a face mask to you afterwards." Squall mewled, giving a nod.

"Well, how about you do that now and I massage you afterwards, hm?" He smiled at him, unable to deny how adorable he looked.

Squall face a nod and reached for one of the face masks, starting to apply it to Balthier's face, fingertips smoothing the goo tenderly.

Balthier stuck his tongue out at the teen before puckering his lips and making kissy sounds at him, laughing a moment later. "How gorgeous do I look, darling?"

Squall laughed and kissed Balthier softly, despite the face masks.

Balthier smiled and returned the kiss before flicking his ear. "I'll go get some massage oil for your shoulders. Get yourself laid on your front."

Squall gave a nod and began the time consuming task of rolling over. It was amazing how hard things were without the use of your legs.

Balthier headed off to his own bathroom and retrieved some lavender scented oil and a pair of boxers, returning to the spare room and removing his towel, laying it over Squall's backside and slipping into his boxers before straddling Squall.

Squall purred a little. A ghost of a feeling of Balthier's weight on him.

Balthier poured some oil on Squall's back before rubbing his hands up his back and massaging his shoulders.

"Mm. That feels nice." Squall purred, trying not to bury that face mask smothered face in the pillow.

Balthier chuckled softly, working his hands into the teen's shoulders and upper back. "You know, there was a time we'd have been using this oil inappropriately." He chuckled.

"Heh. You still can if you wish to, Balth. I don't mind." Squall murmured.

"No, it is not the same without you feeling it too, angel." He murmured back, working on a particularly hard knot.

Squall purred and shivered. "Mm... feels so good." He murmured, closing his eyes. "Magic hands."

Balthier scooted down a little, massaging his lower back harder than the top. "Feel anything?"

"I..." Squall scrunched up his nose, trying to find the words to explain. "It's there... but it's not..."

"I understand." He squirmed around to face the opposite way, massaging the back of one of Squall's thighs.

Squall rested a face mask smothered cheek on his arm, closing his eyes, purring soft.

Balthier worked all the way down that leg then swapped to the other, using more oil. After a few more minutes, he straddled Squall's thighs and moved the towel away from the teen's rear, massaging his backside.

That ghost of sensation remained. It was so strange. "It's... I... It's weird..."

Balthier kissed the base of his spine gently before looking up at his face. "Would you rather I did not?"

"N-no... It's nice. Just strange..." Squall purred, that toe twitching frantically.

"Heh, your toe is enjoying it." He teased, wriggling down to massage the teen's feet.

Squall flushed, letting out a squeal of laughter and pain as his foot was touched.

Balthier released his foot, blinking up at him. "Well... what a mixture of reactions..." he murmured, taking a towel and wiping away his own face mask.

Squall flushed bright. "It... really tickled and hurt all at the same time..." The teen murmured.

Balthier smiled and kissed the teen's ankle. "We shall try again soon, hm? Now, get that mask off before it goes solid."

Squall wriggled and shifted until he was laid on his back, taking the towel from Balthier to wipe his face clean.

Balthier shifted to lay back beside the teen, folding an arm under his head and draping the other over his stomach.

Squall reached over to touch Balthier's cheek. "Soft." He purred, giving a soft laugh. "Thanks. It’s been nice, just having fun like this."

Balthier purred into Squall's touch, smiling lightly. "It has been nice to just be with you and help you relax." He murmured, taking Squall's hand and kissing the palm.

Squall cuddled into Balthier, smiling contently. He really was so happy to be about the man, and Fran too. He loved them both dearly.

Balthier curled an arm around Squall's shoulders, leaning in to kiss him slowly and sensually, never once using his tongue.

Squall returned the kiss, purring softly and nudging his nose against Balthier's. "You and Fran have been so good to me."

Balthier smiled and kissed his nose. "We love you. That is why." He smiled softly, stroking Squall's cheek. "So, do you feel better for all this preening?"

"Mm. I feel pretty and clean and I have a wriggly toe." Squall laughed, nuzzling Balthier. "I love you and Fran too, you know. You're my favourite Sky Pirates ever."

"We are the only Sky Pirates you know. Vaan and Penelo do not count. They're amateurs." He murmured, snuggling Squall up in his arms.

Squall laughed more, kissing Balthier's jaw. "Mm. Well... even if I knew lots... you guys would still be my favourites."

"Because we're both pretty, no doubt." He teased, closing his eyes and nuzzling at the teen's neck with a soft smile.

"Oh, of course. I picture the threesomes we could be having all day long." Squall joked.

"Maybe when you're better," he purred, nipping the teen's neck, leaving yet another mark on that pale skin.

"I do so hope I get to be in the middle." Squall laughed, purring a little. Even though he was joking, it had been the center of many masturbation fantasies before the accident.

"Oh, darling, we'll swap and change. Each of us shall get their chance to be doted upon in the middle." He murmured, sucking at the man's throat.

"Mm. Sounds like Heaven." Squall whispered, threading his fingers though Balthier's hair. "Though, I am not sure Fran would agree."

"I bet she would. She has a lust for you that I can sense. Of course she cages it as best she can, but anyone with eyes can see how attractive you are." He murmured.

Squall scrunched his nose up. "Fran? Lust over me? No way. I'm kinda like a son, friend and agony aunt all rolled into one for her. And master of snuggles, I might add."

"Hn, I bet." He muttered, shifting to look up at the ceiling, his arm tucked under his head as his other hand drummed on his own stomach.

Squall rolled his head to the side to look at Balthier, smiling a little. "Are you jealous?"

"Why should I be?" He murmured, looking up at the ceiling a moment more before closing his eyes.

"Just asking." Squall replied, giving Balthier a playful nudge.

Balthier scrunched his nose up before curling into Squall's side and nuzzling his neck with a yawn. "Shut up." He joked.

"So you are jealous?" Squall questioned, toying with Balthier's hair.

"I said shut up." He muttered, closing his eyes tighter and refusing to speak anymore.

Squall sighed and leaned over to kiss Balthier lightly. "You've no reason to be. Nothing like that has happened between us."

Balthier grunted at him before pulling the blanket over them, curling an arm around the teen and petting his back.

Squall kissed Balthier's nose lightly. "You believe me, right?"

"I suppose." He muttered, sighing softly as he held the teen close against him. "Sleep now."

"You don't believe me, do you?" Squall mewled, not prepared to let it drop until he knew the truth.

"I do, okay. I am just a grumpy bastard, you know this." He murmured, petting Squall's hair affectionately.

"Mm. A grumpy bastard that I adore and love." Squall murmured, plopping his head down on Balthier's chest.

Balthier kissed the top of Squall's head, sliding his hand up and down the boy's back soothingly. Vaguely, he did wish he could take advantage of Squall's naked body under the covers...

Squall purred and cooed softly, drawing on Balthier's stomach with his fingertip, flicking at his bellybar.

"Leave that alone, it is not fair I cannot abuse yours." He murmured, keeping his eyes closed as he held the teen close.

Squall laughed and toyed with it more, letting his eyes flutter shut.

Balthier took that hand and kissed it, keeping it rested over his head. "Here. Keep it safe." He murmured softly.

Squall purred softy. "Always." He murmured, not opening his eyes.

Balthier smiled gently before he just gave into the drowsy feeling, letting his eyes relax as they stayed closed, soon slipping to sleep.

Squall drifted to sleep moments later, nuzzled against his lover.