A/N: ...surgery is not fun. But I'm alive, albeit in pain.

Not feeling my best with yet another damn HOLE in my side...but I've been watching Hazbin Hotel while recovering. Still in a lot of pain.

Long story short, I had to get a massive swathe of skin on my side cut off the other day because my doctors are concerned and checking for cancer. And when I say cut, I mean CUT as in with several scalpels at once, leaving me in horrendous pain. Now I may need to go back to the hospital and get yet more "pieces" removed which has me stressed out even more. Don't get me started about the bleeding and the bandages. Painkillers aren't helping and I'm concerned it might be spreading while trying not to panic over here.

I've since had more pieces carved away on my chest and neck besides. In other words. I. Am. Suffering. Writing distracts me from the pain, if only just.

So here we go. The fate of this fragment depends on you, the reader. Your feedback determines the fate of this tale, and many others.

I'm just a humble author trying to make his way in this wild, wicked world, one word at a time.

Once more, I own no quotes, references, or memes. Not a wit or a one. NOT! A! THING!

They're all tributes to legends far greater than little 'ol me. Disclaimer over.

"That's the beauty of Faerun. Just about anything can happen here."

"Really, now? Anything, you say? Tell me more."

"Uh-oh. What's that look in your eye?"

~?

A Bloody Embrace

"You are wounded."

Naruto rolled his eyes. "Its just a scratch."

...your arm is hanging on by a thread. That is not a scratch. Sit."

"C'mon now, Lae'zel, I'm fine, you know it'll heal. We need to keep moving-

She placed both hands on his shoulders and shoved him with a snarl. Down they went.

It all happened so fast; Gale nearly didn't see it. But he certainly saw what followed. Credit where it was due, Naruto didn't fight back, though he certainly could have. He'd seen the man boot boulders across the horizon and crush skulls in his hands. That he was letting Lae'zel manhandle him now so soon after slaughtering the creche spoke well to his temper. Then again, if he hadn't taken that wound, Lae'zel might've been shortened by a head. Fair was fair, he supposed.

One did not simply wrangle with an angry Githyanki.

Well, not unless one had a Naruto.

And a very powerful fox.

And oh dear, he could see Shadowheart scowling their way. That was a bomb more volatile than the orb contained in his chest.

Perhaps he ought to say something, mend bridges before they began to burn.

A pained yelp cut through his thoughts. "Ow!"

.

..

...or perhaps not. He'd rather ruined his relationship with Mystra.

These three would do well not to heed the advice of a man too ambitious for his own good.

He looked across the fire and found Karlach leaning against Wyll, reveling in her regained ability to touch. Good on her. Now where oh where had Astarion and Halsin wandered off to...?

"Tsk'va! Must you be so infuriating?!" Lae'zel snapped at something Naruto had said and pressed her forehead to his. "No more! I want to protect you, too! Not just for you to protect me! Now let me tend your wound!"

...this was becoming far too intimate for his liking. It rather reminded him of his arguments with Mystra.

Smiling softly to himself, he turned in for the night.

A/N: Gale really is best storyteller.

There we go.

Well? Should this remain a story? Yay or nay, what say you? Not much else to say this time 'round. Reviews keep me writing, and without them, my inspiration falls flat. Ever bit of feedback helps. Pain hurts. Pain hurts a loooot. But silence from readers and reviewers? That hurts even more. As ever, reviews keep this old man alive during these dark and crazy times. I ain't joking.

Seriously, we're all locked away anyways these days, feedback is all that sustains me.

So in the Immortal Words of Atlas... Review...Would You Kindly?

May the make you smile~!

SPOILERS! SPOILERS! SPOILERS!

PLOT DETAILS AHOY!

YE BE WARNED!

Read at your own risk!

(Previews)

"The two of you are getting rather...close.

"Yeah, she's been a bit brood lately. I wonder why."

Shadowheart blinked. She blinked hard. "You cannot be that dense.

"You kept the egg from the creche?!"

Lae'zel firmed her upper lip and glared his way.

"Ah, young love...

EDIT: Hope these made you smile~!

k

EDIT: Hey, you made it! Thanks for reading!