Chapter Text
Letho was annoyed with himself. He'd spend weeks trying to think of something he could do to help Arris, but every idea he had was shot down with some complication or just being generally creepy. He sighed loudly and rubbed a hand over his face as he rode into town, his attention drawn to a small group of people yelling over one another.
"I told you to bring her back alive!" Someone yelled.
"Why didn't you save her!?" Another screamed past tears.
"I already told you… She was dead when I arrived…" Arris. Letho's brow lifted slightly and steered his horse towards the crowd.
"Bull shit! You just didn't kill the thing fast enough!" A man yelled and Letho watched as irritation and sadness filled Arris' face before returning to neutral.
"Calm, my good man." Letho's brow lifted, it was that same Crane that was with Arris before. "You were told the possibility of the girl being dead before we left. You are right, though, we could have left sooner. Swan here insisted we gather more information." The witcher said and Letho watched as Arris' brow twitched and lips form a barely-there frown. Arris looked exhausted while his "brother" looked fresh as a fucking daisy.
"Why didn't you press him!?" The man asked and the other Crane sighed, completely fake and put upon.
"Swan is my superior, I can simply recommend our next move." Letho scowled. Witcher's don't work like that… If one of them is being stupid, then the one they partnered with would either ditch them or complete the contract alone. They didn't report to one another.
"You fucking monster!" Letho's attention snapped back. "If you just did what we hired you for, she would still be here!" Letho watched in horror as the angry grief-stricken man slapped Arris hard enough across the face that the witchers head snapped to the side. The group froze, staring in stunned silence as the man realized what he did and began stuttering out a piss poor apology. Arris took a long breath, closing his eyes, and collected himself before looking towards the human again.
"I apologize for not being able to save your daughter, truly, but there is more to being a witcher then just jumping into the first hole we are directed too." Arris said calmly, his cheek turning bright red from the hit.
"I'm not paying you." The man said sternly and Letho smirked as he waited for the argument, the fightback, the explanation of why he still deserves the pay.
"That's fine." Arris conceded and Letho's jaw went slack. Did he seriously… Arris spun on his heel and shouldered his way through the crowd, his "brother" following behind.
"You could have stood up to him, you know." The other Crane said. "We deserved that pay."
Letho could see the storm cross over Arris' face but quickly pass to resignation, his eyes dropping to the ground as they continued walking.
"I mean… We did do all the work to find that nest. I mean really, could it have been any harder?" The other Crane babbled, and Letho watched as the Crane reached over and picked Arris' coin purse from his pocket and shuffle through what was there.
"Don’t' have much left, do ya? Hmmm, ah well, should be enough for a drink or two." The other Crane grinned then walked off and Arris just sighed and kept walking. Letho frowned hard and dismounted his horse, quickly stepping in the way of the other witcher who grunted when he collided with Letho's chest.
"Ouf! My apolo-- Letho?" Arris stared up at Letho, the Viper glaring in the direction of the other Crane.
"You always let your brothers take your coin like that?" Letho asked, looking down at Arris. The Crane averted his gaze.
"Doesn't matter." Arris mumbled softly and Letho growled.
"The fuck it doesn't!" He hissed and Arris frowned hard.
"It doesn’t matter. They all treat me like that, only our mentors don't." Arris huffed. "I'm their best student, which makes the others jealous… While they return to the keep for winters with new scars, I have none." Arris said and Letho's brow lifted.
"None?" He asked and Arris nodded.
"None." Arris echoed and Letho whistled.
"You're gonna have to prove that one day." Letho said and Arris blushed slightly. "I'm definitely going to need to see you in action." Arris laughed at that and Letho smirked down at him, the Crane being little more than a head shorter than him, and wrapped an arm around his shoulders.
"What say you to traveling together for a bit, hmm?" Letho suggested and Arris' brow lifted as he smirked.
"A snake traveling with a Crane?" Arris asked and Letho shrugged.
"I happen to like our little interactions, Crane. I would like to experience more." Letho said rather smugly and Arris laughed again. "And traveling with me… You don't have to do all the work and get no pay." Letho added and Arris looked up at Letho in surprise. "What? Didn't think I'd notice?" Letho asked and Arris looked away.
"Why do you let them do that?" Letho asked gently and Arris sighed softly, closing his eyes.
"A story for another time." Arris said and Letho just nodded. He glanced back at his horse then back at Arris.
"Want to ride?" Letho asked and Arris let out a squawk.
"I don't do horses… Well, they don't do me, I should say." Arris said and Letho laughed.
"C'mon, Sky here is a rather tame beast." Letho said and Arris rolled his eyes.
"Bull shit." Arris said, making Letho laugh, but the Viper was determined and grabbed Arris' arm and pulled the Crane over to his mare and pushed his hand to her nose. Arris froze completely while Sky nudged his hand, snuffling at his palm before nibbling against it affectionately, and looking for treats, and Letho grinned as he looked at Arris.
"Shut up…" Arris' face warmed and Letho chuckled.
"C'mon, get up." Letho said and smiled at the hesitant look from the Crane then moved to help the witcher into the saddle. Arris fidgeted in the saddle, trying to get comfortable, and Letho just grinned at him and started to lead Sky away but stopped when a voice rang out.
"Hey! Where the hell you goin' with Swan there?" Letho looked over to see the other Crane walking over to them, empty coin purse in hand.
"I'm going to be traveling with Arris here for a bit." Letho said and the other Crane's eyes narrowed before a large smile broke out on his lips as he looked to Arris.
"Come now, Swan, you don't really want to travel with a Viper, do you? C'mon! We have such fun together!" He said and Arris frowned while Letho growled. "We can work together more! Have more fun, and I will even help you get the coin we ear----" The Crane didn't get to finish his sentence as Letho's fist suddenly connected with the smaller witchers throat and Arris started with wide eyes as the crumpled to the dirt coughing.
"You piece of shit. He does everything while you sit there and reap the reward!" Letho hissed and Arris could only stare in awe. "Do your own hunts, you little shit!" Letho sneered and pulled Sky along as he walked away from the still choking witcher and Arris watched over his shoulder as they walked away from him.
"Wow…" Arris breathed and Letho continued walking. "Why did you…?" His voice trailed off and he looked at Letho, the Viper grunted, looking up at him.
"You don't deserve what they do. I don't fucking care about your reasoning as to why you think you do, you fucking don't." Letho growled and Arris just nodded dumbly as Letho turned his eyes forward again. Arris smiled to himself, watching Letho walk along next to his horse while Arris rode.
Things could be worse, but maybe it was okay that they were getting better?