Chapter Text
"Hey, handsome, how much for a night with you?" Someone called out. Golden cat eyes slipped shut, ten seconds, five to breath in, five to breath out, then turn around. It was always easy to see who called out to him, their faces immediately paling once seeing the colour of his eyes and the medallion that lay against his breast.
"You can't handle it." He said sickenly sweet then started on his way again, walking up to another dressed in similarly designed clothing but a darker shade of green instead of the neutral blue he wore.
"Again, Arris?" His companion asked and Arris scowled at him. "You know, for a witcher, you attract a lot of attention. This is what I get for traveling with you I suppose." Arris rolled his eyes at his traveling companion, a fellow witcher of his school, and started walking down the road without him. Matching swords adorning his companions back as well as a couple extra pouches and holsters, though most of his were empty. Stupid prick probably broke what ever was supposed to rest there.
Arris, witcher from the school of the Crane, blonde hair that touched his shoulders and not a single scar marked his sun-kissed skin. His body perfectly shaped for any woman to swoon over, if he were human, broad-shouldered with a handsome jawline, his torso 'v' shaped, muscled legs with the amount of climbing the witcher did in his spare time. His school had another nickname for him, the swan even though that wasn't his actual title, it wasn't for praise but insult as Arris was by far the "prettiest" witcher to ever walk the path and he was under contact mockery for it. One of his mentors explained it was because he didn't yet receive any scars from his hunts but Arris knew It was just some excuse that was pulled from someone's ass to try and keep Arris from getting into his head too much.
"C'mon, Swan! It was a joke!" His companion called out and Arris' lip pulled back in a snarl as he quickly whirled around and growled at his companion who's hands immediately went up in defense. They believed him stupid, that he didn't know that "swan" was a mockery in his regard.
"Jeeze, lighten up will you?" Arris' companion spoke with annoyance and Arris deflated, his shoulder slumping forward and head dipping, he turned and continued walking down the road. It's always the same thing. His companion started babbling away about the next town, hoping that there were contracts to fulfill, Arris knew that his "brother" only trailed along so he could make Arris do all the work and collect the pay all for himself, he knew it but he didn't say anything. What was the point? He would some how coming out as the one at fault anyways.
He ignored his companion for as long as possible, the two of them wandering about the coastal line as the headed towards the next village in search of contracts, Arris always let his mind wander at these times reminding himself why things are as they are, how they got there. His companion was younger than him much younger, fresh out of the trials, and still showed no respect to his higher-ranking brother, not that Arris expected much.
Years ago, when he himself was fresh out of the mutations, someone mocked him for the colour of his hair. The wiry sandy strands changing into vibrant healthy strands of gold that almost matched his new eyes, he was told he was too pretty to be a Witcher, that he should throw himself off a cliff now cause there was no way he'd survive on the path fighting monsters. Arris retaliated, physically, and ended up costing the other boy his life. Arris was trained for two weeks straight after that, no food, only water, and he broke on the last day. The fight to defend himself against his brother's insults vanishing, his only fight back was to the monsters they faced. That's okay, he deserves it, and if a monster one day kills him, well… he deserves that too.
It took an hour to get to the next town and of course, Arris was the one searching for a contract. When he finally found one he had to haggle for the best price, had to ask the details, ask what witnesses what they saw. His companion not doing anything save for spending his coin on drink. Arris breathed calmly through his nose, it's fine… he can just make more later when he finally ditches the other Crane. It's fine.
~~~~
It was not fucking fine!
The contract, as it turned out, was already completed unknowingly by another witcher and Arris groaned loud enough to draw the large mans attention and watch as the Crane push both hands on his head and lean back in an exasperated move before bending at the knee and squatting there, hands still pressed to his hair, and cursing under his breath. What could possibly go wrong…?
"Oi! It's not safe here, move along." The gruff voice of the other witcher called out and Arris wanted to scream. Of course, he was mistaken for a human. Arris growled and stood up, marching over to the witcher and took in his appearance. Shaven head, strong jaw, muscle-bound like a bear, a snake medallion hanging around his neck. Of fucking course it was a Viper.
"You need this if you want to be paid." Arris growled and shoved the notice he ripped off the board earlier that day and the large man grunted, looking at the pamphlet.
"Huh. Interesting." The Viper growled out and Arris rolled his eyes. "Why give this to me, why not just run off and collect the pay?" He asked Arris and the Crane rolled his eyes.
"I need proof?" Arris mocked. "Besides… You did all the work, not fair if you don't get the pay." The Crane said and looked at the pile of siren bodies littering the beach. "Mind if I take some ingredients though?" Arris looked at the Viper, whose eyes were wide once he actually realized that Arris was a witcher, and he nodded stupidly. Arris nodded his thanks and pulled out his dagger and went to work, he threw a couple of things over at the Viper who was still standing there watching him, figuring the Viper could use some of the stuff too.
When he was finally done, divvying up everything he harvested and giving the Viper more than half, Arris packed up and headed back to the town and huffed when he looked over his shoulder and saw the Viper looking around for the contractor. So he whistled, caught the Viper's attention, and waved off to his left toward a man talking with a couple of other humans. The Viper gave him an odd look but nodded his thanks and walked to the contract holder while Arris continued on and did everything he could to not be noticed by his companion, but of course shit wasn't that easy.
"Swan!" Arris growled and stopped in his step, looking toward the Witcher running towards him. "I didn't think you'd be back so soon! How'd it go?" He asked happily and Arris started at him for a long time before scowling hard.
"Didn't. Another beat me to it." Arris said with a scowl and his companion frowned.
"Why didn't you just take the pay? We did the work for tracking the monster down." He said and Arris' brow twitched. We?... WE?!.. Arris took a long breath, held it, then let it out.
"He did the hard work. Leave it." Arris growled and his companion scoffed loudly.
"I don't know why I followed you, Swan. You're as fucking useless as they say you are!" The other witcher yelled loud enough for everyone to hear him and Arris frowned hard. He didn't ask the man to come, he didn't bully him, no, he was just walking along and minding his own god damn business when this little shit came along and… No, stop. It doesn't matter.
"Then leave. Find someone else to travel with." Arris said and the other Witcher gaped at Arris for a good second before scoffing loudly and storming off. Taking Arris' coin pouch with him. Arris groaned and rubbed his hands over his face, taking a moment to just stand there, before continuing on. At least this way he didn't have to worry about people using his coin.
Arris was fifteen minutes down the road when he paused and looked behind him when he heard horse hooves and Arris lifted his brow when he saw that same Viper riding up behind him. He paused and stepped off the road, expecting the Viper to just ride on by but blinked when the witcher stopped and held out his hand.
"Here." The Viper grumped and Arris' brow lifted slightly as he looked from the hand to the witcher it was attached too. "Just take it, will you? Your brother was raving about how you gave him all your coin. Noble, but stupid." The Viper said and Arris' eyes narrowed on the Viper before his eyes dropped to the witchers hand.
"Not freely." Arris growled softly and the Viper blinked in surprise as Arris raised his hand and held it open underneath the extended Vipers. He opened his hand and a small pouch of coin fell into his palm and Arris' brow shot up when he felt the weight, it must have been everything he haggled the contract holder for. Arris looked back at the Viper.
"Dealing with humans is the worst part of this work. You earned that." He said, dipping his head to the coin purse in Arris' hand. The Crane felt himself smile and he quickly wiped it off, giving a nod and looking away.
"Letho." The Viper said and Arris looked back at him with a lifted brow. "My name. Seeing as I know yours from your brother, you may as well know mine." Letho said and Arris snorted.
"My name isn't Swan." Arris grunted and Letho's brow lifted.
"No? What is it then?" Letho asked and Arris sighed heavily.
"Arris." Arris said and Letho nodded some.
"So what, Swan is your nickname?" Letho asked and Arris scowled.
"Peregrine. My other name is Peregrine." Arris said and with that, he thanked Letho for the coin and walked off the path. He clutched the coin purse to his chest, holding his breath, his cheeks finally turning a shade of red without permission.
That was the first time another witcher had ever done anything for him that he hadn't asked for. Arris looked at the purse in his hand then looked over his shoulder at the road, the viper, Letho, no longer there, but Arris still smiled.