Hello! Welcome to my Baldur's Gate fanfic. This is a Astarion x OC story - I'm not doing 'Tav', I'm doing a full on OC. So not a 'reader' stand in etc. to be clear! I will be playing with canon elements, but things will differ a bit here and there. If you've read my stuff before, you'll know that well enough. If you're new here, welcome! I hope you enjoy. I write primarily for myself, but enjoy sharing with other folks on here and AO3. Please comment/review if you have the time, I love to have folks chime in with theories/feedback all that jazz. It's all appreciated.

I plan to update this weekly, so expect new chapters each Friday ^-^

I should have been running. I should have been pelting into the dark, with the city of Baldur's Gate getting smaller over my shoulder with every panicked stride. And yet, I was still there, sat in that little Tavern at a table with my unexpected friend. I say unexpected due to the aforementioned fact I should have been running. Initially it seemed like a good idea to hide out within the city, to be right under their noses while I considered my next move. Orin would be on the hunt. I knew that. I felt that in my bones; her sneering laughter as I fled, her clawed hand grasping that warped blade.

I'll find you, Slaughter Kin, you will be so pretty when I'm done painting you red!

Her screeches scraped the inside of my skull even now, three months later, but I just took another sip of wine and waved a dismissive hand to my friend. And he was that, wasn't he? More than that, I suppose, as dangerous a prospect as that sounded. Astarion, a man I had met by chance my first night in my new life, my uncertain life. My free life? I hadn't told him much beyond my name, then again he hadn't told me much of his comings and goings either. A ladies man, or anything man really, he had a rather eager date on his arm the night we met, but since he had been coming to my table, gracing me with his smiles or smirks, landing those deep ruby eyes on me and me alone. Why? I couldn't be sure. Not initially at least. But now, three months into this dance, and another bottle of wine deep, I knew that warmth in my chest had more to do with him, than the drink.

I should tell him. Shouldn't I? Be honest with him about what my bloodied past might bring to this little haven of ours. If I'm discovered before he knows what's happening, I might simply disappear on him. And from what little he had shared of himself, beyond likes, dislikes and such like, I could sense he wasn't sure of people sticking around. Not for anything beyond his beauty anyway. And he had plenty of that, don't get me wrong, but he also had sincerity. And something in me, perhaps foolish, perhaps simply bolder than I realised, felt it could trust that. He would hear me out if I confessed the truth; yes, I'm Bhaalspawn, but I wished for more. I wished for life, not constant death. He would listen, wouldn't he? I hoped…

But I was getting ahead of myself.

Focus.

I should be there in the moment, in the afterglow of another wonderful dance between the sheets. I'd never thought of myself as a greedy person before, but when it came to him, I found myself ravenous. Downright ridiculous really. What can I say, his smooth voice, those knowing smirks, that lingering stare, he had me. And that was before the connection. Before he looked into my eyes and made me feel seen. Damn. It didn't hurt he also knew how to play my body like a finely tuned instrument. What was a girl to do?

His pale hands, so soft but strong, skimmed along my bare thighs as we perched on the small balcony of our room. Those deep burgundy eyes watched me with such affection. Colour rose in my cheeks, despite knowing that look so many times now. His lips, rouged by the wine and bruising force of what came before, pulled into a smirk. Damn it. What did he think when he looked at me? If it was half as endearing as my thoughts on him, I'd be alright. Shit. I really was getting ahead of myself, wasn't I? Astarion, please be what I believe you to be. Not only a warm friend, not only an excellent lover, but a good man – beneath the sass, the grins and the ability to mask almost any true feeling, I know I saw it. You've shown me it in those smaller touches, those flickers of concern when I've diverted a conversation suddenly, those lingering looks when you think I haven't noticed. That night you found me oh-so-pathetic under the floorboards, in the basement of this tavern after I was nearly caught out by Orin on patrol. You stayed. You helped. Please… This is more than sex, right? Right?

The wine choice was perfect as always, I clinked our glasses and sipped. "You're getting me far too used to these fancy vintages."

"My darling you deserve nothing less. Though admittedly sometimes a bit of plonk can do the trick too," he chuckled and ran a hand through his silver curls. "So often it comes down to the company, rather than the grape."

"Smooth talker." I took another sip, glancing over the city before us.

Night was well underway. We always met just after dusk, as sunset bled from the sky. Now, the sunshine was long gone, with candle light appearing in the windows, and street lanterns down below. Baldur's Gate. How long could I linger here without being found? How long could I avoid telling him the truth of what I am, and risk him being repulsed? Would he turn away? Cast me aside? I didn't know. It wasn't like I had much experience telling people about it, until escaping I hadn't really known the world beyond that bloodied pen. Beyond the madness. The red. So much red.

"Little one, you seem distracted."

I came back to the moment, pushing darker thoughts aside. "Pretty Boy, how many times do I need to tell you I'm plenty tall?"

"For a halfling maybe, but you're an Elf, so no, not so much." And as he chuckled, I saw something flutter across his expression. He looked to the side, towards the town clock. Then he sighed, adjusted his weight and attempted that smirk again. It didn't quite fit this time. "My dear, there is something I wanted to ask of you…"

"Ask away." I smiled.

Hesitation passed across his expression, again the smallest of flickers, which I may not have noticed at one time, but I knew the smooth planes of his face now and the slightest variation of those lines too. Something was worrying him.

I set down my drink and put my hand atop his. "Astarion?"

He swallowed a gulp of wine and gave an uneasy smile as he shook his head. "Sorry, no need to be nervous. I'm overthinking as usual. I simply wondered if you would accompany me back to my home tonight?"

I blinked and looked back out across the city. How could I ask where that was without sounding suspicious? Too close to one of the ways back to the temple and I'd be spotted. Then he'd be involved. He'd be in danger. Damn.

"Why uh… Why all of a sudden?" I laughed, trying to keep it light despite the weight lodging in my chest. "You tired of the tavern way of life?"

"Not at all, I just… Well I think it's time you saw something more than the inside of one of these rooms." He leaned forward, caressing along my cheek with the back of his long fingers. "Please?"

If I was going to trust him with my truth, perhaps doing so after giving him this would help.

I took his hand and turned it over so I could kiss the palm. "If it's that important to you, of course. Shall I shimmy back into my clothes?"

"Mm, as much of a crime as it is to request such a thing, perhaps that would be best." He grinned, his free hand threading his fingers into my hair, pulling me into a tender kiss.

Soft, silken, and just as intoxicating as any of the others that came before. It was tempting to push for more. To angle my head and lick along his pale lips, seek entrance and dance back towards the bed where he would clasp me close and we'd chase bliss once again. But he had been sincere. He wanted me to go back with him to his home. It was important to him. So I didn't push, I simply kissed chastely and leaned back when he did. His smile was so tender it made me ache.

He tucked my hair back. "Can't have the peasants out there seeing this beautiful sight, can we? All mine, after all."

And so I got dressed, mainly. I slung on my dark shirt and dark leather trousers. My boots took some persuading, but after that I was fine to go. I didn't bother putting on my jacket or anything, it being such a mild evening, instead slinging it over my arm as we began walking along the dark but bustling streets. It was something I loved about the city. The temple had been plenty noisy when there were victims to be dealing with, screams bounced well against stone. But out here, amongst actual people, there was chattering, laughter, and life. Every step brought new sights, sounds and examples of the world continuing to turn. I loved it.

We walked along, Astarion's hand resting on my hip, his arm wound around me gently. Moonlight lit whatever the lanterns failed to reach and I breathed in the fresh air. We didn't seem to be heading in the direction of the temple for now. No, we were headed to the fancy part of town. Where the hells did he actually stay? Gods, was I about to find out he was some lord this whole time? Some noble. But could that be true? Could he really be a lord or–

Red.

It caught my eye at the next alleyway, and I stumbled a little. Red in itself wasn't an issue, but there was a very specific kind of red that pooled cold dread in my gut. Orin. Her red. And she would have only revealed herself so openly in order to catch my attention.

"Little one?" Astarion looked back, having carried on a couple of steps when I so suddenly stalled. He looked concerned, eying me as I tried to think of what to do. How could I get him away from the danger? "My dear, what is it? Did you forget something back in the room?"

"Yes!" I clasped the excuse tight. "You go on ahead, I'll go back and get it."

He huffed a laugh, frowning. "You don't know where you're going, remember?"

"Oh right." I backed away. "Alright, just wait for me in an inn near here, okay? I'll be right back!"

I turned. I ran.

Initially I headed back in the direction of the Inn to fool him, turning the corner and then immediately changing trajectory, the world a blur around me, my ears ringing with terror. Run. Get away. Get away from her and get her away from him. In all honesty, I didn't know how far it would take, and in the end it didn't bloody matter. All these nights sitting, laughing, drinking and basking in the freedom I had claimed for myself, had made me sloppy. I drew too close to a dark alleyway. I should have known better. And the grabbing hand hauling me into the darkness confirmed such suspicions.

Shit!

I cried out as the darkness smothered me, and a cold wall was pressed to my back. Her arm pressed into my throat, her pale eyes glaring down, her warped blade raised high, glowing with some new sickening spell no doubt. What would it be this time? Flaying? Peeling back my hands? Plucking out my eyes only to use healing salve to bring them back? I wriggled. I tried to grab for my shortsword. I failed.

She sneered with bloodied teeth. "You are nothing but a thorn, Slaughter Kin. Nothing! And I shall prune you." She breathed heavily, breath rancid with the stench of decay.

The light from her blade blazed. A spell descended on my mind, and the street beyond began to fall away, just as I heard the voice I'd so desperately been trying to run away from, trying to protect…

"Amaya? Where are you? What's going on? Amaya!"

Run… Astarion.

…Run…

Darkness, empty loneliness filled me to the brim and I knew only a coldness that settled against my flesh, like the stone at my back. Laughter. Sickening giggles as a point of pain lingered at my temple. What was going on? Where am I? My voice. It was ripping out me, tearing from my lungs in great desperate screams of agony. What?

Crackle.

Boom.

Other screams joined mine.

What?

The arm left my throat. Where am I? The ground quaked with a thunderous noise overhead and the sounds of running feet were everywhere.

"Damn. Well I suppose if you get picked up, all the better, Slaughter Kin. You can be their toy too!"

Who's voice was that? How did I know it? Who was it? Ow. My head… What's going on–

Something hit me, something strong yet fleeting. Air rushed past me. Darkness. So much darkness and the screams of others alongside my own. What's that noise? Where… Who… W-Why?

Where the hells was I? What was this pod thing? I couldn't move. Shit. This was bad. Every instinct screamed at me to run, but there was nowhere to go. I'm bound. Completely. It wasn't shackles per say, but there was also no escape. Wait… That… That Creature. What is it? Those eyes were so empty, a burning orange and yet no life at all. No, no, no, you stay away from me. Don't come any closer! What's that thing it's holding? Why was it wriggling so much? No. GET AWAY!

Where the hells was I?

Everything was spinning out of control before, and now it was still again. Finally. But where... Avernus? No. No that was before. Then something shifted, the whole ship seemed to jolt through the planes. So many times. Like we were running from something. Wait, ship? What ship? I'd been on a street, hadn't I? Right. Yes. Maybe? Somewhere dark, moonlight had been nearby though… I think. Shit. Focus. It was a jolting sensation, then it was the night sky. A familiar night sky of studded stars. But we were crashing. Right? Yes. The screech of a dying nautiloid rung in my mind, the rush of cold air as I was flung from the ship, the intimate knowledge that I was plummeting to my death.

Yet there I was.

Seemingly not dead.

The sun was warm on my face, the ground hard beneath me, but not apparently having splintered my body to pieces. Pain was sprinkled around, of course, my head would no doubt ache for a very long time to come, but nothing sharp enough to indicate a real injury. I tried opening my eyes.

Blue sky.

A bird skirted overhead.

I think I could hear the sea.

Alright, so apparently not dead, but lying in the middle of nowhere, flat on my back. Great. My mind quivered and I gritted my teeth against a want to scream as memories flickered into place. The pods. Those creatures. Illithid, right? I'd read about them, had plenty nightmares since a kid, but to actually see one? And that thing. That worm thing… I shivered, nausea creeping up from my belly. It was in me now, wasn't it? Through my eye. Shit. Shit. Alright, so I was lying in the middle of nowhere, flat on my back, with a parasitic little shit in my skull, and a lot to do.

But firstly, I suppose it would be best to sit up. I did so. Hauling my body upright, leaning on my knees, trying to take stock of what had happened. The area wasn't familiar, but it did look like Faerun at least. That was a start. The coast was right there, and all around me was little bits of nautiloid, still smoking from the wreckage. But I was a little ways away from the main husk. It was a couple hillocks over, away from the coastline. How had I survived? It was a good thing, but bloody confusing. Had anyone else made it? And worst thing of all… Who the hells am I?

So many questions, so little–

"Stay right there, Little One, you hear me?"

Little one?

I hope you enjoyed! More to follow!