~Sunflower and Sweet Wolf~
They sat together near the uppermost peaks of a mountain, watching the sunset. It had originally been Lyn's idea, and the White Wolf had begrudgingly tagged along. Though despite his grumbling and silent treatment, it was clear he had followed her of his own accord. It was the woman's birthday after all. And it was a simple enough wish to grant her companionship.
After hiking the mountain for the better part of the day, they now took a breather. Lyn's chest rose and fell heavily from the extended exertion, while Geralt watched her somewhat amused. When she caught him looking, Lyn returned his stare pointedly.
"What are you smirking about?"
"Nothing in particular." His voice resounded as deep and raspy as the earth, though the humor in his tone was prevalent. "Just figured you were regretting your decision to scale the mountain."
"Regretting the excessive exercise perhaps," the healer joked. "But the view is well worth the strain." She gestured to the lush green valley that lay sprawled beneath them for miles. "Is it not breathtaking?"
"Mmm. Breathtaking."
Geralt observed the well-worn plains of Lyn's face. Her dark skin was flushed from the hike, and her chocolate brown eyes shone with delight as she looked out toward the horizon. The wind rippled her corkscrew black curls to and fro, making her laugh and try to hold them out of her eyes. She was a pretty sort, in her own way, though far from a magnificent beauty. But in that moment, Geralt had to admit that she was quite lovely.
For several more moments, the Witcher watched his companion struggle with her hair, before he sighed and began to undo his own hair tie. Then, before she could turn around, he'd scooted closer to her and began to bunch and collect her wild hair.
"What are you doing-?"
Geralt shushed her, as he pulled her collected hair into a sloppy mini ponytail and used his hair-tie. He studied his handiwork before shrugging. "You know that wouldn't have been such an ordeal, if you actually took the time to grow out your hair."
Lyn arched an eyebrow, though no ill-humor marred her expression. "Apologies, my dear Witcher. But not all of us can have gloriously long hair like some blessed individuals!" Then, she eyed his long white hair, as it blew freely in the breeze. "You sure you don't need this thing yourself? Since yours is longer than mine?"
Geralt made a deep noncommittal noise in the back of his throat. "Keep it. Looks better on you."
The Healer blushed, before she looked back towards the setting sun. "Thank you, Geralt… and not just for the compliment and the help with my hair… I'm really glad you decided to join me today. You've made my birthday better than it would have been..."
The Witcher found himself at a loss. It was true that he and Lyn were good friends. They'd been so for several years now, since that fateful day when she'd saved him from the verge of death. But Geralt hadn't known she cared quite so much for his company. . . If her expression and body language were anything to go by, she was relieved by his presence. . . And something else. Some other emotion that lay just beyond the surface….
"Surely you could have found another willing soul to take this jaunt with you?" He had tried levity, but immediately found himself frowning when she refused to meet his golden gaze. He hadn't meant to tease her. Fuck. . . And now she was upset.
Words failed him again. And he found himself wondering why he cared. . . But one more glance at her slumped shoulders gave him an answer. . . He didn't want to care, but he did. She was a good friend, and there were few that he trusted as much as the Sunflower Healer.
"Lynara…" when she finally looked at him, his forehead furrowed with sincerity. "I didn't mean to make light of your request... You know I am content spending the day with you."
"I know, Geralt." She tried her best to smile, but it didn't reach her eyes. "I just feel bad for bringing you all this way. But I really couldn't be alone today. . . . You probably wonder why I wanted you to come along so badly?"
He nodded. The question had crossed his mind, more than once during their nearly day long hike.
For a moment, Lyn seemed to consider her words, before tears began to trickle past her lashes. Geralt watched her, frozen in place.
"Dammit! I didn't want to do this," she murmured to herself, trying to wipe her face clear. "I didn't want to have you see me like this! I thought if you were here with me, that it'd be okay! That I'd be able to… to-" she cut off as a wistful sob broke past her lips. She buried her face in her hands and wept, unable to say more.
Geralt didn't move for sometime, but eventually he reached out and pulled the sobbing woman into his side. He embraced her with one arm slung over her shoulder, and his cheek resting atop her head. And when he noticed that she was shivering with emotion and cold, he wrapped his cloak around them both. Lyn buried her face in his chest as she wept, and gripped the front of his tunic in her shaking hands.
For sometime, this continued before Lyn's tears turned into sniffles and she grew silent once more.
By now, the sun was beyond their view and only several slivers of pink and orange light could be seen in the sky. Darkness was falling and the world prepared for slumber. But the Witcher didn't move. He could see well enough in the dark, and could make them a fire in time. But his companion's despair… well, that was far more pressing.
From her place bundled into his side, Lyn sighed, drawing Geralt's attention.
"I'm sorry, Geralt. . . I've ruined everything."
His raspy reply was immediate. "You've ruined nothing."
"You say that because you're unaware." When he stared down at her blankly, she added, "You don't know the true reason I asked you to accompany me today, Geralt."
"Mmmm." He didn't speak for several minutes, before his golden eyes returned to the healer's face. "Then why don't you tell me? You've already wept your fill. What else have you got to lose?"
Lyn laughed without humor, and her dark eyes showed such an acute pain that Geralt unwittingly held her tighter. He'd seen sparks of sorrow from her before, but never anything so deep. . . Or perhaps, it'd always been there, and he'd just never been close enough to see it. . .
"I was selfish to bring you here, sweet wolf. And I am sorry." Lyn's voice quivered as she fought down the urge to cry again.
Geralt's brow rose at the pet name she'd chosen. Sweet wolf? He'd been called many different names in his lifetime (mainly profanity or variants of 'Witcher scum'), but never that. . . No one had ever believed him to be sweet. Not even his own mother. . .
When she spoke again a moment later, Geralt gave his full attention to her words. Her heart beat increased in tempo as she explained, and it didn't escape his notice…
"I asked you to come with me because I couldn't stand to spend today alone! And it wasn't simply because it was my birthday! . . . It's so much more than that. I've felt terrible, dragging you along with such pretense. You mean so much to me, Geralt. . . And I don't want to lose our friendship."
Lyn hesitated for a time and closed her eyes. Geralt had no intention of rushing her and instead tried to exude a calm aura. He made his breathing deep and peaceful, and noticed that Lyn unknowingly mimicked him. He smiled to himself, as he once more drew her closer in his arms and wrapped the cloak about them more securely. She was still shivering, but his naturally high body heat had already begun to warm her.
"How much do you know of my past, Geralt?" The question was so sudden that it took him by surprise.
"Enough."
She looked out towards the appearing canopy of stars, as a bittersweet expression rose to capture her features. "You know... I was married once… He was my everything. The love of my life. He made me feel like I could do anything. That my inner darkness didn't matter; that I could overcome it all. But I was wrong, Geralt. I'm walking proof that his love wasn't enough."
Her voice grew weak as she whispered, "I had a son too, once upon a time. . . A beautiful little boy. Freckles for days and eyes as blue as his father's. . . He was my world."
Geralt's eyes closed as understanding hit him. His sympathy for her in that moment was overpowering. "...How did they die?"
"They died because of my darkness, Geralt. I was too weak to keep them with me. Too broken to save them from the depths of creation and magic…" A sharp bark of laughter shattered the heartbroken silence, as Lyn's eyes glowed with more tears. "I miss them so much! Every day I am reminded of what I've lost! But I thought! . . . I thought-" She stopped.
Finally Geralt spoke. "You thought that the pain might not be as unbearable, if you weren't alone."
"Yes." Came the watery reply. "And it had to be you. Because you're the only one…" She couldn't meet his gaze. "You're the only person I've met who made me feel happy again… The only one who made me feel true hope. I thought my heart had been shattered permanently… But when I'm with you, I don't feel so broken or lonely. I feel like maybe… I can have peace."
Lyn pulled away from Geralt and out of the cloak. She stared at him, laying all of her emotions bare for him to see. Even in the growing darkness, the Witcher saw them clearly.
The tenderness. The sorrow. The confusion. The uncertainty.
The love.
Geralt studied Lyn's face, before he shook his head. "And you thought this knowledge would anger me?"
"Yes! You don't deserve to be a pawn, Geralt. No one should be a second choice!" She sounded angry enough for both of them. "You are a talented, handsome, and intelligent man! You are my friend and I care about you! I don't want to drag you down, and I know that eventually I will. . . But I still brought you here with me!" She pointed a finger behind them, further up the mountain they'd scaled. "Vlad and Holiday, my husband and son, are laid to rest here! Lost to me forever! This mountain is their memorial! And it's nothing but memories and regret! And I brought you here! I-I..."
Lyn seemed like she would continue to rant if allowed, but the Witcher stopped her cold as he grabbed her jaw. His hand was strong enough to hold her in place, though not enough to bruise. His golden eyes gleamed resolutely in the dark, taking the healer's breath away as they stared at one another.
"You had the balls to share your most valued treasure with me. I don't think that's something that should cause offense." He smiled and it reached up to touch his eyes. "Why should I hate you for loving your dear ones? When I would do the exact same, put in your shoes."
Lyn's face crumpled as she reached up to try and pull his hand away from her jaw. But he wouldn't budge.
"I shouldn't ask you for anything, Geralt. You deserve to be loved first and foremost. As a friend and . . . and otherwise."
"Lynara, you love fully and with complete intent. That isn't the issue." He said firmly, making her mouth drop open in surprise. "The quandary lies with your attempts to judge any relationship by the same standards as your last."
When she looked confused, he sighed deeply. Damn it. Why did speaking have to be so troublesome?
"You loved your husband?" he grumbled, to which she nodded. "And you love others now. You are free to love without it being defined as the same type of love. You shouldn't judge yourself so harshly. Your man and little boy wouldn't want you to shut yourself away and deny yourself another chance at happiness."
Lyn's face had gone slack, and Geralt's expression softened, as did his tone. "Start anew. Keep your past close…. But don't punish yourself for wanting a future."
In the dark of the newly fallen night, the Healer and Witcher were silent. Until, the smaller of the two asked a question. "And what of you, Geralt?"
"Mmm?"
"Are you willing… to be a part of my future? Even if I can't love like I loved before?"
The Witcher's lips quirked up, as he shifted closer to the healer. "You are already a part of my future, Lynara. You're like Roach. Couldn't shake you if I tried."
"...And you don't care what role you play?"
Geralt's golden eyes twinkled with sincerity, as he shrugged. "Friend or lover, it makes no difference. As long as we are true to ourselves."
A small smile grew on Lyn's lips and she embraced him. He could feel her breath puffing out over his neck, as she murmured, "You will always be my friend, Geralt of Rivia. And in time… perhaps…. my- my..."
"Your lover?" he rasped deeply, finishing her sentence.
She answered by planting a tender kiss to the side of his mouth, catching him by surprise. If the blush that crept up her dark skin was any indication, she'd clearly acted on impulse and without thinking.
Geralt chuckled humorously. "Mmmm. Who'd have thought the sunflower healer would be brave enough to kiss a Witcher."
"Is it bravery to kiss a Witcher? I thought it was just a natural progression?" Geralt hummed appreciatively at her show of humor. It was good to see her smiling and teasing again.
"Tell that to the good townsfolk, next time they run me out of a tavern," Geralt scoffed.
"I doubt you'd enjoy all the townsfolk if they kissed you instead of cursed you, Geralt." Lyn smiled at his immediately stricken expression, which turned into a gentle laugh when he groaned at the imagery.
"Mmmm."
"Mmm, right back at you," she said affectionately, as Geralt took off his cloak and wrapped it securely around her.
When he was sure she was settled, he went about setting up the tent they'd brought and lighting a fire. Lyn tried to return the cloak to him, but he refused with a smirk. "No. We'll be sharing it soon enough."
When she blushed, he 'hmmed' and went back to his tasks. And when the fire roared with life and the small tent was pitched, the Witcher made good on his promise. Once he had his cloak back on and was in the tent, he pulled the healer into his lap and wrapped them both in the warm cloth. At first Lyn was embarrassed and flustered by her new seat, but as time passed she melted against the massive man who held her.
When the moon rose, Geralt placed a kiss to her hair. "Lyn?"
"Yes, Geralt?"
"... Will you sing?"
"Would you like me to?"
"...Mmmmm."
When she laughed, he could feel it all the way through his spine.
She obliged him willingly, as she began to hum and then sing a song of healing. Her voice was gentle and fairy-like on the breeze, and Geralt found himself dozing off. But before he fell asleep, he murmured in the healer's ear, "Happy birthday, Sunflower."
"Thank you," Lyn whispered back, even as he drifted off. "Sweet wolf."
A/N: Since I'm having to spend my birthday in quarantine, I decided to write myself something fluffy for the occasion. This is shameless AU fluff and fanservice with my Healer OC and Geralt, but I hope that anyone who reads this might be able to enjoy it as well. Thank you for reading and commenting in advance!
I think I might write more parts to this, but I don't know what. Perhaps just more slice of life moments with Geralt and Lyn as buddies. . . Would any of ya'll be interested in that? Let me know if so.
~Lyn