Work Text:
The trip down the mountain is not fun, even with the dwarves' company and by the time Jaskier gets to the inn, he's exhausted. He slowly goes up the stairs, only to find Geralt sitting on the floor in front of the door to their room.
Geralt has only one leg folded, his knee against his chest, and rubbing his face with his hand. When he hears Jaskier he turns his head upward, looking at the bard. He looks tired, Jaskier notes.
"Why are you here?" Jaskier asks, a little annoyed but secretly relieved to see the Witcher.
There's so many things Geralt wants to answer but nothing feels right. So instead he only replies:
"You've got the key to our room."
They both know Geralt doesn't need any of the things he left there. If he did, then he wouldn't have left them in the room with Jaskier's stuff. The possibility that it would be stolen was too high, even with the room paid for the next couple of days. He doesn't need the book he's read six times already or the scarf Jaskier gifted him eight years ago that he insists he doesn't need but always somehow ends up wearing when the weather turns chilly. It's just an excuse and Jaskier sees right through it.
"Could have broken the door." Jaskier says, producing the key from his pocket. It feels hot in his hand, he's been fidgeting with it the entire trip back from the peak.
"It's a good door, doesn't seem fair."
Geralt gets up to take a step out of Jaskier's way. Jaskier pats the door slightly.
"Yeah well, sometimes good things still end up broken", he adds before turning the key and opening the door.
His eyes meet Geralt's. They both know they fucked up. Jaskier had poor timing and shouldn't have poked Geralt. He knew the Witcher's mood could be volatile, especially when it came to Yennefer and he knew he might have been a little insensitive. He shouldn't have spoken when he did. Sometimes his mouth runs faster than his brain. Or so he's been told.
Geralt knows he has been unfair to Jaskier too. The bard is often childish, manipulative and selfish, sometimes using his relationship to Geralt to better his own life. But Geralt also knows Jaskier has never done anything to hurt him on purpose. Jaskier might often end up in hot waters because of his own stupidity but Geralt is always ready to jump right after him. Jaskier isn't a bad friend, he genuinely loves Geralt. He just doesn't always think first. Geralt needed to take it out on someone and Jaskier just happened to be right there.
They both look at each other for a bit, both feeling uncomfortable and stupid for fighting because they have strong tempers. Not that Jaskier had said anything really. Jaskier knows Geralt panicked after losing Yennefer and needed to take back control of the situation by venting his frustration on him. Maybe not the best reaction ever but that's what they have to work with.
Jaskier sights and breaks first, as he often did when they were arguing.
"Come on, I need some sleep and that bed seems very inviting after the dirty uneven ground last night. Honestly, it was so steep I thought I was going to slip right off the mountain!" He says, taking off his dirty doublet as soon as he enters the room.
"Don't you want to eat before bed? I had all our rations." Geralt asks, taking his pack off the floor and following the bard inside.
"The dwarves gave me some bread but since you're buying, I'll take dessert too. Oh and since you'll be downstairs, order us a bath too, darling. I'm filthy!" Jaskier replies, back turned to Geralt, stretching lazily in front of the window.
Geralt smiles softly, relieved to see things going back to normal. They know each other well enough that an apology isn't necessary to say out loud but it still feels good to know Jaskier understands why he reacted the way he did. It would probably come up later but Jaskier being comfortable around him again tells Geralt that for now they are okay, he is forgiven.