Take The Lead

Title: Take The Lead
Rating: NC-17
Pairings: Balthier/Ashe
Warnings: Not work safe! It's lemon-y fresh! Spoilers up to the end. Some threatened bondage. Also it gets a little angsty toward the end which isn't where I planned it to go, but that's where end ended up.
Summary: The night before the group goes to take on the Bahamut, Balthier and Ashe find some alone time.
AN: Written a while ago for the Balthier_Ashe LJCommunity Smut Feast. Cleaned up some since it was my first BA fic, my first lemon and my first venture into writing fanfic in over 5 years.

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Something had changed between them. They could feel it in the air, snapping and popping like a fire. Ashe had managed to give up the memory of her husband; Balthier had stopped running from his past and his father. If that was not enough, there was a hint of an ending in the air. Reddas' death had cemented it and the Bahamut hanging over Rabanastre reminding them constantly. Balthier knew that they would have to part ways soon.

What had begun as utter contempt had evolved into something else entirely. They sat across from each other in the Sandsea; both trying to think of a way to either quietly sneak out with each other or get rid of their companions. They had a quick moment to themselves, trying to restrain themselves from ripping their clothes off right there in front of the Moogling Moogle, before the others joined them.

“I wish we could find away to be alone,” Ashe wished aloud when she had first spotted the rest of their group.

With a wag of the eyebrows he said, “You want me alone, do you?” Before she could reply, Balthier silenced her with a quick kiss and told her, “Don't worry. I'll figure something out.” Ashe was very interested in find out what he was going to think of. She just hoped that whatever it was would not be tasteless and at least show some restraint.

Ashe watched with an almost morbid curiosity as she saw Balthier lean over to speak to his Viera partner, look over to her, and look back at Fran. Fran looked over to Ashe while Balthier was talking to her with a mysterious smile in place, looked back at Balthier, nodded, said something in reply and then stood up and walked away. Ashe could feel the heat rising to her checks and she could swear she was red as a tomato. She was not surprised that Balthier would be crass enough to involve Fran but Ashe still could not help but be embarrassed that their intentions were known to someone other than themselves. But she was thankful that Balthier didn’t just stand up and ask everyone in the whole pub to leave so he could have his way with her.

Several moments later, Fran came back to the table and at that precise moment Penelo announced that she was going to see Migelo to catch up, earn some Gil, and restock some.

“Yeah,” Vaan said suddenly standing up. “I have more than a few hunts that I've put off that I think I'll take care before we leave for the Bahamut tomorrow. Anyone wanna help?”

“I am restless,” Basch stated simply. “I will assist you.”

“You will need a good Archer. I, too, will come,” Fran chimed in.

“I have quite a few marks, so we might be a bit. Don’t wait up,” Vaan called out behind him and the group walk out the door. Ashe didn't know what it was Fran and Balthier did, but it worked. After watching the rest leave, Ashe realizes her and Balthier were all alone.

“I’m going to go get another round. Would you like another drink?” Balthier asked standing up walking toward the bar.

“This would be my third drink today, Balthier. I do believe you are trying to get me drunk, Pirate,” Ashe said coyly.

“And why would I ever want or even need you drunk, Princess? I believe I was the one who was helplessly thrown against a walk and accosted just outside this very establishment. I wouldn’t be surprised if this was just a clever way of getting me drunk,” Balthier stated with mock indignation in his voice and an amused and arrogant look in his eye.

“Go get your drink, Balthier,” Ashe said exasperated.

Ashe sat there for several moments wondering how the rest of the evening was going to go. She knew how she wanted it to go, but it had been so long since she was last with a man. Balthier came back after a much longer time than it should have to get a round of drink and found Ashe deep in thought.

“What’s on your mind, Ashe?” he said startling Ashe out of her thoughts. He sat back down sliding his chair next to hers and placed her ale in front of her.

She bit her lower lip in hesitation. An action she saw that Balthier watched in fascination. “I...um...” Ashe started. 'Oh stop it!' She thought to herself. 'Soon you will be Queen! You will need to take command! So just...take command!' She leaned into him and kissed him.

Balthier was startled but he quickly recovered. He cupped her face as he eagerly returned her advances. She parted her mouth for him and he quickly took advantage of her offer, gently sliding his tongue into her mouth. She felt him taking his time, gentle and slow. She was usually in a rush and he was trying to show her he was going to take his time. In frustration, she gently bit his lip to give him encouragement, but he did not take the bait, he just slowly massaged her tongue with his. “Balthier…” she moaned out frustrated. She wrapped her arms around his neck and slid her fingers through his hair.

Balthier pulled away from her lips and started to kiss his way along her jawbone. He lightly grazed his teeth along her earlobe and she her him softly whisper into her ear, “What do you want me to do, Princess?”

Hearing him use her title startled Ashe out of her lustful trance. Could she really do this? Was this the person her father raised? Was this the person Rasler had married? She was feeling up a sky pirate, preparing herself to do who knows what. Then she remembered her revelation earlier that day. Rasler was a kind man, who had wanted the best for her. He would want her to move on and be happy which, to Ashe’s great surprise, Balthier did make her happy.

Balthier seemed to sensed her hesitation. He pulled back and looked at her concerned. “Ashe…?”

She smiled to assure him she was all right. “I want you… I want you to take the lead Balthier. If you don’t, I might not go through with this.”

“Ashe if you don’t want to, I won’t…”

“No,” Ashe corrected him. “I want to. I want to do something for once that isn’t dictated by decorum or duty. I am just not sure that my mind will not start over thinking this. Just… keep me from thinking.”

Balthier stood up, threw money down on their table to cover the tab, grabbed her wrist and left their barely drunk alcohol behind.

“Where are we going?” she sputtered out.

“To our room, of course,” was the reply.

“Our room?”

“Why yes. When I got up for our refill, I rented out five rooms from the adjacent inn. The rest will know that I’ve taken out rooms for the whole group, since I have some Gil to spare and since no one is sharing rooms, no one will wonder where we are.” He directed them down a narrow hallway, which led from the main part of the Sandsea to a slightly wider hallway that had a bunch of doors numbered ascending. Balthier found their room, took out a key and dragged her inside. The second the door shut, he besieged her mouth, pushing her up the newly closed door both trying to take off their footwear in the process.

“Mightily assured of yourself to have only taken out five rooms for the six of us,” Ashe muttered against his mouth as she worked to divest herself of her complex collar.

“Worst case scenario, I would have to take out a 6th room,” he replied as he dragged his hands up her shirt.

He replaced her neckwear with his mouth once it was free and Ashe proceeded to make quick work of his fastenings of his vest, which soon joined the collar and the shoes on the floor. She moaned and he hit the place just below where her jawbone and neck met and the feeling nearly undid her. He took one hand and kneaded her thigh just underneath her short skirt. She threw a leg around him and picked her up, forcing her to wrap herself around him fully. His mouth found hers again as her led them to the bed, placing her on her back when the reached it.

He made quick work of the rest of her top and found her bared just for him. When she envisioned how she looked, gasping for breath, lips red and swollen, topless on the edge of the bed made her self conscious, but from the way his gaze traveled across her, it appeared that he enjoyed the sight exceedingly. His mouth descended on to her right breast using a mixture of his teeth and tongue causing her to moan out again. She grabbed his white shirt and pulled it out from his pant and she ran her hands along his well-muscled torso causing a slight gasp from him. He moved away from her briefly to remove the garment, and then returned to give the left breast the same attention he was giving to the right. He then proceeded to kiss and nibble down her stomach until he got to the upper black skirt, which served what function he did not know but it soon was on the floor as well.

He continued down stopping once he got to the pink skirt. He removed the piece of cloth and then got to his knees. The bed was the perfect height and he lowered his mouth on to her and he found her already slick. The sensation overwhelmed Ashe, who cried out while one hand grabbed on to Balthier’s head. With a grunt, he grabbed her hand and pinned it to the bed. Ashe’s other hand, in a daze, went for his head again, which he also pinned down. He released her hands after and second. He rubbed her hipbone with one hand and the other slid across her entrance causing her to moan out again. Ashe rubbed one hand down her body and she massaged her self just above her mound where Balthier’s mouth was. He yet again grabbed her hand and pin it to the bed.

“Keep your hands still, Ashelia, or I will tie them down,” Balthier said lifting his head for a second. “I plan on taking my time with you and you did tell me to take control.”

The urge to put her hands anywhere, everywhere and the yearning to squirm and yet unable to do either was driving Ashe wild but was at the same time freeing. Having someone else in control was a luxury she knew she would loose quickly when she regained her crown. She pulled the sheets on the mattress as he continued to run his tongue across her clit and his fingers just teasing her without actually entering her. Her moans and whimpers trying to encouraging him until her whole body leaned off the bed as she orgasmed.

When Ashe was through, Balthier pulled back and removed his belts and his pants. Ashe leaned up and wrapped her hot mouth around him. He let out a moan and paused for a moment, but he eventually stopped her. “Don’t wanna let this get out of my control, do we Princess?”

While he still stood, he gently pushed her back down on to the bed and slowly entered her eliciting a groan unbidden from his own mouth and a load moan from hers. He moved in her slowly and purposeful, both noticeably relishing in the feeling.

“Oh, God, Balthier,” Ashe panted. “Harder.” While still inside of her, he grabbed he ankles and placed the both on his shoulders, causing Ashe to be tighter than she already was and giving them a new angle that rubbed her clit as well. He placed his arms on either side of her head. He then firmly and quickly moved in her. Ashe grabbed a hold of the arms near her head and held on, giving her the leverage to match each of his thrusts until she tumbled over the edge of her second orgasm. Her orgasm triggered Balthier’s own release as he poured himself into her.

Unable to hold himself up, Balthier collapsed next to Ashe, in a mess that was nearly all limbs since her feet still around his shoulders. Balthier was still inside of her and though odd, their current position enabled them to hold each other without him having to withdraw. Their eyes met. Because their activities had made them bereft of cognitive thought and the events of the day and the day to come hung over their heads, they smiled at each other because it seemed what was appropriate for the moment.

Balthier eventually withdrew from her and moved to her other side to hold her.

“How did you and Fran do it, by the way,” Ashe asked suddenly and she nuzzled into his embrace.

The question had obviously caught Balthier completely off guard. “Pardon me?” he sputtered.

“Running everyone off so we could be left alone… I didn’t see you or her talk to anyone so I wonder how you did it.”

“Oh, that,” Balthier replied smugly. “Actually all I told her was that I was teasing you and asked if she would look at you and then back to me and nod as if we were planning something. She then got up to stretch her legs. Everyone left on their own will.”

“You were taking me in?” she accused trying to use some of the pirating terms she heard them use. It felt foreign on her tongue.

Balthier kissed her bare shoulder. “Pretty much.”

“Cad,” she said as she drifted off to sleep.

*~*~*~*

Ashe woke up the next morning when Balthier moved to get up out of bed.

“Wuttimeizet?” she asked groggily.

“Just a little before dawn. You have a little while before we have to get up and save your country.”

The bed felt cold without him. Ashe had not voiced a question that had plagued her, afraid of the answer.

“After all this, The Bahamut and everything that might happen today, what’s going to happen to us?”

Balthier’s back was to her but she heard him sigh. He turned to face her. “You will be Queen and I will still be a sky pirate.” There was a hint of bitterness in his voice.

“That can’t be all!” she suddenly cried out sitting up.

“Ashe, you know that it is. We can‘t change that and if we did, neither of us would be happy.”

“How do you know I wouldn’t be happy? I wasn’t even supposed to rule,” she countered.

“Princess,” Balthier sighed. “This isn’t you. You love Dalmasca and if you walked away from your path now, you would forever regret it.”

“Why do you always call me that? So rarely do you ever use my actual name.”

“I’ll call you that to remind you of what it is you are fighting for.”

“How do I even know I will be fit to rule?” she asked nervously. She rarely showed this kind of weakness to anyone.

“You will be a great queen,” Balthier said taking her face into his hands. “And no matter what happens today, I will do everything in my power to make sure you become that queen.” He held her close to him and kissed the top of her head. He got dressed then in silence and left the room.

Ashe stayed in bed for a little bit longer, unwilling to face the rest of the day, and the rest of her life, quite yet.