Work Text:
Geralt was pacing around the campfire. He was like a lion trapped in a cage. He would reach the end of the trees, growl under his breath and then turn tail and repeat. He’d been on edge ever since Cintra and it was driving Jaskier mad. He should have just stayed behind. He would have had a warm bed and good company for the night but the way Geralt had fled from the hall with barbed words in Jaskier’s direction had rung warning bells in the bard’s mind.
So with a heavy sigh and a final kiss to his lady’s hand, he ran after Geralt.
He always ran after Geralt.
But now he was very much regretting it. Geralt had barely said a word to him, just grunting in acknowledgement to Jaskier falling in line with him as they walked away from the city. Jaskier had tried gently asking whether Geralt was alright. He’d tried forcibly asking if Geralt was alright, sometimes the witcher needed a firm kick up the arse to get him to stop brooding all the fucking time. He’d tried singing ballads, lullabies and raunchy ditties that would usually make Geralt groaned with a faint smile tugging at his lips, but nothing was working!
“Geralt!” He snapped and grabbed the witcher’s hand as he stomped past where Jaskier was sitting on a log. “Stay still, for Lilit’s sake!”
“Fuck Destiny.” Geralt growled, he was finally using words which was an improvement! Jaskier could work with this. “It’s fucking bullshit.”
Jaskier pulled Geralt down to sit next to him. He knew Geralt could resist him if he wanted but the witcher grumbled and slunk down on the other log. “Bullshit or not, you chose to play the game Geralt.”
“Thought it would be funny.” Geralt sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Thought I might get a new horse or maybe some armour.”
“But fate gifted you with a child.”
“It’s no gift. The path is no place for a child. I’m fucking trapped Jaskier!” Geralt snarled and went to stand up again but Jaskier placed a hand on his knee. Geralt froze and stared at him, yellow eyes like fire in the light of the flames.
“You are not trapped, my dear.” He said, his voice soft as though he was trying to tame a real wolf instead of his witcher. “There’s still plenty of time before you’ll have to go back for them and until then we’ll carry on as always, you and me on the path.”
“Hmm….” Geralt scowled as he gazed into the fire turning away from Jaskier.
The words came to Jaskier on a breeze, like they so often did, dancing on his tongue like the flames that licked into the cool night air. It wasn’t a whole song, not even a rhyme, but an idea, a whisper in his ear. The music would follow as he dreamt that night. He had faith in that.
But the words, gods, the words fell from his lips as if they were always meant to be spoken. Here. Then. In that moment.
“Send me your soul and you’ll know what it is to be free.” He murmured as he rested his head on Geralt’s shoulder, joining his witcher in gazing at the campfire. They would have to put it out soon but for now he was enjoying the warmth and the company it brought.
“What?” Geralt hummed.
“Nothing, dear.” He chuckled under his breath. “Just a wisp of inspiration.”
“Hmm.”
They fell silent after that. There was no need for words. It was the time for quiet contemplation as they sat together side by side until restless sleep captured both bard and witcher for the night.