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It happened in slow-motion.
These sort of things always do. The world stops around you and all can focus on is the sound of your heartbeat in your ears as you watch the one you love fall to the floor.
They were on opposite teams on Lambert’s insistence. Geralt was useless on the field whenever they were on the same side and seeing as Lambert had chosen Geralt to be in his team, he forced Eskel to take Jaskier. Otherwise Geralt would be too focused on protecting Jaskier and forget the task at hand. Jaskier was a terrible shot but he was good at getting through the trees without being hit. Geralt had no idea how he managed it. The musician had an energy that demanded to be the centre of attention. Normally he relied on Geralt to keep him safe until they reached the flag. Jaskier would make the final sprint whilst Geralt covered him…. if they both made it that far and they hadn’t been shot as Geralt tried desperately to keep them out of trouble.
They were on opposite teams so of course it was Jaskier’s cornflower blue eyes staring back at him as they both made a sprint for the flag. Jaskier had backup. Geralt did not. He didn’t see Aiden’s rifle pointed at his chest from the trees but Jaskier had known the bastard was there.
It happened in slow-motion.
Jaskier screamed his name, the dramatic fool, and lunged at Geralt. The air was punched from Geralt’s lungs as Jaskier shoved him to the floor. His boyfriend was deceptively strong beneath all those layers that he wore. Geralt cursed at he hit the ground. He’d probably have some lovely new scrapes and bruises to go with the round bullet bruises from the paintball pellets.
Jaskier fell on top of him, long limbs sprawling over his back. He growled and rolled onto his back so he could glare up at his boyfriend.
“The fuck, Jask?”
Jaskier winked and leant down to kiss him. “I saved your life, darling.” He murmured against Geralt’s lips.
Geralt wrapped his arms around Jaskier’s back to pull him closer but his hand hit something cold and wet. He grimaced and pulled his hand back. Jaskier was covered in blue paint, his own team’s colour.
“You took a bullet for me.” Geralt grumbled with an exasperated sigh but he couldn’t help but smile at Jaskier’s foolishness. “We’re on opposite sides, Jask.”
“Love has no sides, Geralt.” Jaskier bopped his nose and laughed as Geralt scrunched his face up. “I will always take a bullet for you, no matter what.”
Geralt’s brain short-circuited and he couldn’t stop his next words even if he’d wanted to. So lying on the cold hard ground, covered in blue paint and mud, Geralt made one of the biggest decisions of his life.
“Marry me.” He blurted out.
“What?!” Jaskier sat up with a start and stared down at him with those beautiful blue eyes that Geralt had learned to call home.
Geralt felt his cheeks heat up but he was no coward and he wasn’t backing out now. “I love you, so marry me.”
Jaskier laughed breathlessly as he cupped Geralt’s face in his hands and leant down to kiss him. “Yes! Always, yes.”
Geralt wrapped his arms around his now fiancé, not caring about the paint or the mud that covered them both. He rolled them over so Jaskier was below him and trailed kisses just below his lover’s jaw before capturing Jaskier’s lips in a passionate kiss.
Neither of them heard the gunfire until it was too late and Geralt was hit on the back. He cursed and buried his face in Jaskier’s neck. Jaskier let out a peal of laughter and his hands moved from Geralt’s arse up his back. Sure enough, Jaskier’s hand came away covered in blue paint.
“Oh look, dear heart. We match! You took a bullet for me too!”
Geralt groaned. Lambert was going to kill him. He’d had one job. Don’t let Jaskier distract him. He pulled back so he could see Jaskier’s dazzling smile and sparkling eyes.
His fiancé….
Geralt smiled and gently bumped his nose against Jaskier’s. “I love you.”
“As I love you, you bastard.”