You built a giant castle
With walls so high I couldn't see
The way it all unraveled
And all the things you did to me
You lied, you lied, you lied, oh

~Logical, Olivia Rodrigo

It was supposed to be a fun night, just the two of them. A brief respite from the shadows surrounding them, yet it never lasted. They were laughing, sharing a bottle of wine, and reminiscing about their adventures when Astarion excused himself for a moment and left the room.

Ruby never meant to eavesdrop when she got up to grab another bottle of wine from the cellar, but Karlach's voice boomed through the inn, her words echoing down the narrow hallway.

"YOU DID WHAT?!"

"Karlach, keep it down," Astarion whispered urgently, glancing nervously around and gesturing with his hands in a vain attempt to calm her.

The tiefling's flames burned a little hotter, her horns almost glowing as anger flooded her veins. "So you're telling me you were just using poor Rubes for protection?"

Ruby froze at the top of the stairs, her heart pounding in her chest. She clutched the neck of the empty wine bottle tighter, her mind racing. Using her? What did Karlach mean? Her stomach churned as she strained to hear Astarion's response."Well, at first, but—"

That was the moment she made her presence known. Steeling herself, Ruby walked right into his field of vision, her steps deliberate and heavy with the weight of what she'd overheard. She watched as his crimson eyes grew wide with shock and a hint of fear. Her own eyes began to well up, a mixture of hurt and betrayal swirling within them.

"Ruby, I—" Astarion started, his voice cracking under the pressure of the moment, but Ruby cut him off with a sharp, pained look.

Karlach's flames died down, her intense anger giving way to a deep, gnawing guilt. She slowly backed away, feeling the heat of the confrontation that was about to unfold. Her heart ached for Ruby, knowing the pain her friend was experiencing, but she also knew that this was a moment they had to face head-on.

Ruby took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. "Is it true, Astarion?" she asked, her voice trembling. "Have you been using me this whole time? Was everything we shared a lie?"

"It started that way," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "But everything changed. You have to believe me, Ruby."

Ruby shook her head, tears now streaming down her cheeks. "How can I believe you now? How can I trust anything you say when you've been lying to me all along?"

Astarion took a step towards her, his hand reaching out as if to comfort her, but she recoiled, the hurt too fresh and raw.

"This whole time, I've been just a tool at your disposal?"

"No, darling." Astarion sighed, frustration lining his features as he pinched the bridge of his nose. "Why couldn't you have just stayed upstairs?" he muttered to himself, the words slipping out in his exasperation.

"Okay, explain to me what Karlach meant, then." Ruby's voice grew stronger, anger replacing her initial shock. "You were just using me for protection? After I promised you numerous times that I would never leave your side? After I TOLD you that my plan was to always go after Cazador?"

For once, Astarion was at a loss for words. His usual quick wit and silver tongue failed him. The silence stretched between them, heavy and suffocating. Ruby scoffed, a bitter sound escaping her lips as she began to turn away, feeling the sting of his betrayal deepen. But before she could take another step, he grabbed her arms, gently but firmly, and turned her back to face him.

"I don't feel that way anymore, if that's what you're thinking, my sweet."

"Were you ever planning to tell me?" Ruby's eyes shone with disbelief as she ripped her arms away from him, the physical distance reflecting the emotional chasm that had opened between them.

"Yes. No. I don't know, alright?" Astarion let out an exasperated sigh, his frustration evident as he ran a hand through his tousled hair. "I was going to ask Karlach for advice, but—"

"So, there's a chance you were never going to tell me?"

Astarion fell silent for a moment, the weight of her accusation hanging heavily in the air.

Ruby scoffed again, shaking her head in disbelief. "I can't believe this," she muttered, more to herself than to him. She took a step back, putting more distance between them. "All this time, I thought we were building something real. Whatever it was. I thought you trusted me, Astarion."

"Well, can you blame me? Everyone I've ever trusted has quite literally stabbed me in the back." Astarion's voice carried the weight of past betrayals, each syllable tinged with bitterness and pain.

"I don't care why you did it," Ruby continued, her gaze unwavering as she met his eyes. "I feel like I've been lied to. Why weren't you honest with me way before now? If you care about me like you say you do, why did you even consider the thought of never telling me?"

Astarion's shoulders slumped, his defenses crumbling under the weight of her words. "Because of this!" he snapped, his frustration boiling over as he gestured around them, encompassing the world of uncertainty and danger they inhabited. "I was worried that something like this would happen. That you would walk away and never look back. I need you, Ruby, but not just for protection."

He took a deep breath, his words faltering as he struggled to articulate the tangled mess of emotions inside him. "It's quite confusing actually. I don't really know—"

Before he could finish his sentence, Ruby's arms were wrapped around him, her embrace offering comfort and reassurance. "I would never do that to you, Astarion," she whispered, her voice filled with sincerity.

He hesitated for a moment, his mind still clouded with doubt and fear, but then he returned her embrace, clinging to her as if she were the lifeline keeping him from drowning in the darkness.