Work Text:
They had come from nowhere, this group of brigands. They looked no different from the other bandits Beau had encountered in her travels and perhaps that was why she, and the rest of the Nein, had underestimated them.
The battle had started as a typical bandit raid. This group came rushing from the trees, weapons drawn and were on them instantly. But the Nein had risen quickly to the challenge, drawing their weapons and even magic to defend themselves.
Beau watched as Yasha raged, taking on the bandits’ own barbarian. Yasha took many hits, not just from him, but also archers hidden in the trees. By the time Yasha had felled their barbarian, she was sporting not just gashes and bruises, but several arrows as well. Breathing heavily and eyes flashing white Yasha had turned towards Jester, who was slowly being surrounded. She roared, there was no other word for it, and charged.
That’s when the wizard made herself known.
She stepped out from the trees and Beau watched as she brought her hand to her mouth and, eyes locked on Yasha, blew the rose petals from her hand. As the petals scattered in wind, Beau watched as Yasha simply collapsed to the ground, unmoving.
Beau screamed, she’s sure of it. She cracked her bo staff across the face of the bandit in front of her. As he fell she ran towards her wife’s prone body. Their enemy was surrounding her already, hoping to deliver a final blow. Beau jumped, kicking one bandit in the jaw and leaping from him to another, and punching him square between the eyes. She landed, twirled her staff, and took a defensive position even as more still approached her.
One bandit made a lunge towards them and Beau turned, her staff flying around and catching him in the face. He sprawled to the ground as Beau took up her stance once more.
“Fuck off if you know what’s good for you,” Beau growled, her eyes flitting around the group surrounding her and Yasha.
One bandit laughed and charged. Beau dropped her staff, punched her fists together and lightning crackled up and down her arms. She swung and, pop pop, connected with his jaw and nose. He fell to the ground as several others charged her. With lightning-fast reflexes, Beau easily dodged the attacks thrown her way, feeling all the bandits surround her and Yasha.
But then the wizard stepped up towards her and Beau felt her blood run cold. The woman, who looked no older than Beau herself was, had blackened eyes and was devastatingly beautiful. She extended one delicate hand that gracefully turned so her palm was up like she expected Beau to take her hand.
“Give her to me, Beauregard,” came the wizard’s voice, soft and gentle. “And I promise no more harm will come to you or yours.”
Beau felt herself sway. Her head felt foggy and her body heavy. She wanted to give Yasha to this woman; surely she would be better off than she currently was, bleeding on the ground.
What are you thinking, Lionett? Yasha is yours. Why would you freely give her up?
Beau groaned, her hand coming to clutch at her head. She felt nauseated as the conflicting emotions swirled inside her mind. She took a deep breath and imagined herself on the beaches of Nicodranas. The sound and scent and salt of the ocean grounded her and Beau’s eyes snapped open as she snarled.
“You can cut me, bruise me and skin me alive,” Beau growled out as the wizard looked at her with a surprise for having broken her spell, “but you will never take her from me.”
The wizard snarled herself, sharp teeth seemingly reflecting the dappled sunlight. “Why you fucking bi-“
Her sentence was abruptly cut short when a giant pink lollipop slapped her across the open clearing and into a tree. The woman crumpled to the ground, unmoving.
“Rude ass,” Beau heard Jester exclaim.
Beau laughed but the humor was short-lived as she quickly surveyed the area. The bandits and their witch were down and unmoving. But so was Yasha.
Beau quickly turned and fell to her knees at Yasha’s side. Her hands quickly sought Yasha’s neck, fingers searching for a pulse and not finding one. Panic welled up in Beau. “Caduceus!” she yelled.
The firbolg and Jester both were quickly at her side. Jester quickly helped Beau pull the arrows from Yasha’s still body as Caduceus pulled a diamond from his pouch of cleric supplies. Beau heard him mutter something in Giant that sounded like a prayer. The next instant the diamond he held over Yashas body dissolved, her wounds closing over and the aasimar’s eyes twitched then, slowly, fluttered open.
Beau smiled, her throat and eyes both burning as she leaned down and pressed her head against Yasha’s, her hands tangling in the leather straps that crisscrossed Yasha’s chest. She felt Yasha’s hand come up and splay across her back, warm and heavy and alive.
“What happened,” Yasha asked, her voice wrecked.
“They wanted you,” Beau whispered. She pulled away and looked down at her wife. “I’m unsure why.”
Caduceus and Jester both smiled at Yasha and Beau before standing and walking away, going to check in and tend to the rest of the party. Beau helped Yasha sit up and helped steady her as they sat in the bloody dirt.
Yasha looked around them, her body heavy and tired, before her eyes found Beau again. She slid her arms around the human’s waist and laid her head against Beau’s shoulder. “Thank you for keeping me safe,” Yasha whispered.
Beau hugged Yasha tightly around the shoulders, dropping a kiss to her dirt-encrusted hair. “Always.”