T/W: Mild non-con (hair smelling, grabbing one's face, etc.) but all in a dream-like sequence
Some days, you're the only thing I know
Only thing that's burning when the nights grow cold
Can't look away, can't look away
Beg you to stay, beg you to stay, yeah
Sometimes, you're a stranger in my bed
Don't know if you love me or you want me dead
Push me away, push me away
Then beg me to stay, beg me to stay, yeah
Call me in the morning to apologize
Every little lie gives me butterflies
Something in the way you're looking through my eyes
Don't know if I'm gonna make it out alive
~Teeth, 5 Seconds of Summer (Though I prefer the Annapatsu version ^.^)
The memories of their daring infiltration of the goblin camp and the subsequent dismantling of the Absolute cult's leadership near the Emerald Grove felt as fresh as if they had occurred only yesterday. Each step they took towards Baldur's Gate seemed to carry the weight of their past victories and the lingering shadows of their adversaries.
Now, as Ruby and Astarion stood at the threshold of Cazador's Palace, the culmination of their journey lay before them. The grandeur of the palace did little to mask the sense of foreboding that hung thick in the air. Every intricate detail of the architecture seemed to whisper tales of dark dealings and hidden agendas.
Steeling themselves for what lay ahead, they entered the palace, their senses alert to the slightest hint of danger. The air within was heavy with anticipation, and the silence seemed to stretch endlessly as they made their way through the opulent halls.
And there he was, Cazador, the puppet master whose machinations had led them on this perilous path. His sickening smile greeted them like a viper coiled in the shadows, his eyes betraying a depth of malice that sent a shiver down their spines.
In a whirlwind of fury and desperation, Ruby's senses narrowed to a pinpoint focus on her target. Everything around her faded into a blur as she lunged forward, her movements fueled by a primal rage that consumed her rational thought.
But Cazador was no ordinary adversary. With a grace born of sinister experience, he effortlessly sidestepped her onslaught, his movements fluid and calculated. In the blink of an eye, he countered with a ferocity that matched, if not surpassed, her own. The impact of his strikes reverberated through her body, sending waves of pain coursing through every nerve.
With a sickening thud, Ruby collided with the unforgiving marble flooring, the breath knocked from her lungs in a sharp gasp of agony. She could taste the metallic tang of blood in her mouth. As she struggled to rise, her limbs heavy with exhaustion, she felt as though every inch of her body screamed in protest.
But before she could gather her bearings, Cazador seized her by her hair, yanking her head back with a cruel force that elicited a pained whimper. His grin, twisted and malevolent, hovered inches from her face like a specter of doom. The fear that gripped her heart was suffocating, her pulse thundering in her ears like a drumbeat of impending doom.
In that moment, Ruby's world narrowed to the chilling sound of Cazador's chuckle, a sound that echoed through the room like a harbinger of her darkest nightmares. Frozen in terror, she could feel the weight of his malevolent gaze bore into her soul, stripping away any semblance of defiance until all that remained was the paralyzing grip of fear.
"Well, well, well. If it isn't the half-blood," Cazador's voice oozed with a sickening mixture of amusement and malice. His words sent a shiver down her spine, and her hands trembled involuntarily.
As he chuckled, Cazador leaned in closer, his breath chilling against Ruby's skin as he brazenly sniffed her hair. The sensation made her skin crawl, and she fought back a surge of revulsion. Every fiber of her being screamed at her to flee, to escape the clutches of this malevolent presence.
The mention of her parents sent a pang of sorrow coursing through her veins, a reminder of the gaping wound in her heart that had never truly healed.
Her gaze flickered reluctantly towards Astarion's lifeless body, lying motionless on the ground nearby. The sight tore at her soul, igniting a fiery rage within her that threatened to consume her whole. With a guttural scream of anguish, she thrashed in Cazador's grasp, desperation lending strength to her limbs as she fought to reach her fallen friend.
"LET ME GO! LET ME GO!" Ruby's cries echoed through the chamber, a desperate plea for freedom from the clutches of her tormentor. But Cazador's grip only tightened, his fingers digging into her flesh as he forced her to meet his gaze.
"It's no use, darling. He's not here," Cazador's words dripped with cruel satisfaction, his smile widening as Ruby's screams pierced the air once more. She writhed and struggled against him, her movements frantic and wild as she sought to break free from his grasp.
In a moment of pure desperation, Ruby squeezed her eyes shut and unleashed a primal scream of anguish and fury, a cry that echoed through the depths of her soul.
As Ruby's eyes fluttered open, still swimming with the remnants of her nightmare, she was greeted by a sight that both comforted and confused her. A pair of crimson eyes, familiar yet different from the chilling gaze of Cazador.
It was Astarion.
In that moment, as she blinked away the haze of sleep and fear, she noticed a softness in his gaze, a tenderness that seemed at odds with the cold exterior he often wore like armor. His hands cradled her face with a gentleness she rarely experienced from him, as if he sought to dispel the darkness that had taken root in her mind.
Ruby's breath hitched in her throat as tears welled up in her violet eyes. Without hesitation, she threw her arms around Astarion's neck, seeking solace in his embrace as if he were the anchor tethering her to reality amidst the chaos.
But as she clung to him, she felt a subtle tension in his muscles, a hesitance that spoke volumes of his own inner turmoil. His response was not what she had expected - he remained stiff and unresponsive, his silence a stark reminder of the walls he had erected around his own heart.
The realization hit her like a physical blow, and she recoiled from him as if burned by his touch. The apology that tumbled from her lips felt inadequate.
As the awkward silence settled between them, Astarion shifted back onto his heels, a tense stillness enveloping the small tent. As Astarion settled back onto his heels, a palpable tension hung heavy in the air, casting a veil of awkwardness over the small tent they found themselves in. Ruby's heart pounded in her chest like a drumbeat of uncertainty as she wrestled with the whirlwind of emotions swirling within her.
Drawing in a series of deep breaths, she struggled to steady her nerves, to anchor herself in the present moment amidst the storm of memories that threatened to engulf her. The events of that fateful night played out in her mind like a vivid tableau, each detail etched into her memory with startling clarity.
They had emerged victorious from the harrowing battle against the leaders of the Absolute cult. In the aftermath of their hard-won victory, the tieflings had gathered to revel in their success, their laughter mingling with the crackling of the campfire and the rustle of leaves in the gentle breeze. It was amidst the jubilant festivities that Astarion had made his ill-timed proposition, his words hanging in the air like a discordant note in an otherwise harmonious melody.
In that moment, she had felt the fragile threads of their friendship strain against the weight of unspoken desires and uncharted territories. But she had declined, her refusal borne not out of rejection, but out of a steadfast commitment to the bonds of camaraderie that bound them together. They were friends, nothing more, and to jeopardize that delicate balance with fleeting indulgences seemed a betrayal of everything they had fought for.
With a sense of finality, she had retired to her tent, seeking solace in the embrace of sleep and the sanctuary of her own thoughts. And now, here she was, panting and breathless, with Astarion kneeling beside her, a silent witness to her vulnerability.
As Astarion moved to depart, a surge of desperation gripped Ruby, driving her to speak before he slipped away into the night. The memory of his lifeless form lying before her haunted her thoughts, a specter of fear that refused to be ignored. She couldn't bear the thought of him wandering off alone, vulnerable to the dangers that lurked in the shadows.
"Wait," her voice pierced the silence, the word heavy with a plea she couldn't articulate. Astarion paused in his movements, caught off guard by the urgency in her tone. She could sense the subtle shift in his demeanor, the flicker of surprise that danced across his features as he turned his gaze towards her.
"Yes?" His response was barely more than a whisper, a fragile thread connecting them in the darkness of the tent.
The words tumbled from her lips before she could second-guess herself, each syllable heavy with a vulnerability she rarely allowed herself to show. "Can you...stay?" The request hung in the air, a fragile plea for solace in the face of her deepest fears. She felt a pang of embarrassment, the words tasting foreign on her tongue as she confessed her need for his presence.
"Just until I fall asleep." The admission felt like a confession, a whispered prayer to stave off the nightmares that haunted her sleep.
As Ruby watched, a torrent of emotions played across Astarion's features, his internal struggle evident in the furrow of his brow and the uncertainty in his eyes. She held her breath, waiting for his response, her heart pounding in her chest like a drumbeat of anticipation.
Finally, he shifted uneasily, conceding to her request as he moved to her bedroll, taking a seat beside her. Ruby's exhaustion weighed heavily upon her, her limbs heavy with fatigue as she sat up, allowing her head to lull against his shoulder. She felt the tension in his body, his initial discomfort at their proximity palpable in the air between them. But gradually, his muscles relaxed beneath her touch, a silent acceptance of the solace she sought in his presence.
"He... he killed you," Ruby's admission hung in the air, a heavy weight that threatened to crush the fragile peace they had found. Astarion's breath caught in his throat, a sharp intake of air betraying the turmoil within him.
For a moment, silence reigned, broken only by the ragged rhythm of their breathing. Then, with a shuddering sigh, Astarion spoke. "It's reassuring to know you care so much."
Ruby's heart clenched at his words. "Of course I do, you idiot," she retorted. Without hesitation, she reached out, her hand trembling as she gently cupped his cheek, guiding his gaze to meet hers.
"How many times do I have to tell you we're friends?" Her words were a whispered reassurance, a plea for understanding in the midst of their turmoil.
Astarion remained silent, his expression reflecting a myriad of emotions too complex to name. In the depths of his crimson eyes, Ruby glimpsed a sadness that mirrored her own.
"I don't think I've ever had a friend before...at least, not since I've been turned," his voice was barely more than a whisper, heavy with the weight of centuries-old loneliness.
Ruby's gentle smile illuminated the dim confines of the tent, a beacon of warmth amidst the shadows that threatened to engulf them. With a soft exhale, she nestled her head against Astarion's shoulder once more, finding solace in his presence.
"Well, now you do," she murmured, her voice a soft caress that echoed in the quiet space between them. It was a simple statement, but in those words lay the promise of companionship, a lifeline tethering them to each other amidst the chaos that surrounded them.
As Ruby closed her eyes, allowing the weariness of their journey to wash over her like a gentle tide, she posed a question that lingered on the edge of her consciousness.
"Astarion, when all this is over... when we get rid of these tadpoles and kill Cazador... what will you do?"
His response was a thoughtful hum, a testament to the uncertainty that plagued his own future. "Hmm," he mused, his gaze drifting down to meet hers with an intensity that sent a shiver down her spine. "I honestly don't know."
Ruby's heart fluttered in her chest as she met his gaze, her own uncertainty mirrored in the depths of his crimson eyes. "What about you, darling?" he inquired.
The question lingered between them, a silent invitation to explore the possibilities that lay ahead. Ruby took a moment to gather her thoughts.
"I don't know either," she admitted, her voice tinged with a vulnerability that she couldn't conceal. But then, with a flicker of determination in her eyes, she added, "But maybe we can figure it out together?"
The corners of Astarion's lips lifted in a ghost of a smile. It was a silent affirmation, a tacit agreement to face the unknown hand in hand, bound together by the unbreakable bond they had forged amidst the trials and tribulations of their journey.
Contentment washed over Ruby as she leaned back against his shoulder, the rhythmic rise and fall of his chest lulling her into a peaceful slumber. And as she drifted off to sleep, she couldn't help but feel a glimmer of hope stirring within her heart, a whispered promise of a future yet to unfold.
"I think I'd like that," came Astarion's soft reply at last, his words lost in the hushed tranquility of the night.
As Ruby stirred from her slumber, the chill of the morning air enveloped her like a comforting embrace, coaxing her back to consciousness. Blinking groggily, she found herself curled up within the confines of her bedroll.
A pang of disappointment fluttered in her chest as she glanced to her side and realized that Astarion was no longer there. A small part of her had hoped he would still be by her side when she woke.
Pushing aside the twinge of longing that tugged at her heartstrings, Ruby slowly rose from her bedroll, her muscles protesting with a symphony of aches and pains. An audible yawn escaped her lips, echoing in the quiet solitude of the tent as she arched her back and stretched her arms towards the sky.
With a sense of determination, Ruby reached for the flap of her tent, her movements guided by the promise of a new day dawning beyond its confines. As she pulled back the fabric barrier, she was greeted by the soft glow of the morning sun, its golden rays painting the landscape in hues of warmth and vitality.
The world outside seemed to stir with life, the gentle rustle of leaves and the distant chirping of birdsong a symphony of nature's awakening. Ruby took a deep breath, the crisp scent of morning dew mingling with the earthy fragrance of the forest, filling her lungs.
As Ruby approached Astarion, she couldn't help but notice the familiar sight of him standing outside his tent, engrossed in a book as he often was. The pages seemed to whisper secrets to him, holding his attention captive in their silent embrace. With each step closer, her heart fluttered nervously in her chest.
"Hi," she greeted him softly.
"Why, hello there! What can I do for you?" Astarion's response was cordial, his eyes briefly lifting from the pages of his book to meet her gaze. There was a glimmer of curiosity in his crimson eyes.
A shy smile graced Ruby's lips as she gathered her courage, the words tumbling from her lips in a hesitant rush. "Can we talk about last night?"
In the span of a heartbeat, Astarion's expression shifted, a flicker of apprehension clouding his features like a passing shadow. "What about it?" His voice, though carefully neutral, betrayed a hint of guardedness.
Ruby took a deep breath. "I just wanted to thank you for staying with me until I fell asleep." Her words were soft but sincere, a simple expression of gratitude for the comfort he had offered her in her time of need.
Astarion's eyes darted around the campsite, searching for prying ears, before he gently guided her to the side, away from the curious gazes of their companions.
"Why are you thanking me?" His question hung in the air, laden with a hint of confusion that furrowed Ruby's brow. She had assumed her gratitude was self-evident.
"Because... I'm grateful you were there?" Ruby's words held a note of uncertainty, her own confusion mirrored in the quizzical tilt of her head. "Why are you being so weird?"
Astarion's response was guarded, his tone laced with a hint of defensiveness as he leaned in closer, as if afraid that their conversation might be overheard. "Listen, darling. Don't think that'll be a regular occurrence. I only stayed with you because you needed to rest before we went into the Underdark."
Despite the casual dismissal in his words, Ruby couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to his actions than he was letting on. The tension in his posture, the nervous glances he cast around the campsite, all betrayed a vulnerability that contradicted the cool facade he so often wore.
The corners of Ruby's lips twitched into a smirk as she met Astarion's gaze, her violet eyes sparkling with mischief. "You liked it," she teased, her voice tinged with amusement at the realization that perhaps her companion's aloof exterior was not as impenetrable as he liked to believe.
Astarion's panic was palpable, his usually composed demeanor crumbling in the face of Ruby's words. "No, that's not—"
"Mhmm," she hummed in faux innocence, her playful tone unwavering as she continued to tease him. "Well, Astarion AncunĂn, if you ever feel lonely at night, my tent's always open."
For a moment, their roles seemed to reverse as Astarion's lips curled into a playful smirk, a glimmer of mischief dancing in his crimson eyes. Meanwhile, Ruby's cheeks flushed with embarrassment, her heart racing at the realization of the suggestive nature of her words.
"As friends!" she blurted out hastily as she attempted to backtrack. "Just platonic cuddles, that's all." Her cheeks burned with heat as she stumbled over her words.
With a soft chuckle, Astarion watched as Ruby hurriedly stormed off, her self-consciousness evident in her quickened steps and burning cheeks. As she disappeared from view, he couldn't help but feel a sense of warmth blossoming within his chest.