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The imposing outer wall of the prison towered over them. Fjord stared at it, trying to figure out the best course of action. It was too tall for him to climb over and using thunder step seemed like an incredibly risky option since they didn’t know how many guards were there. Jester had messaged from where she and Veth were stationed at the door, letting him know that they had a visual on Beau, but they needed a distraction before Veth could go and break her out. He hummed, rubbing his jaw thoughtfully and turning when Caleb echoed the sound next to him. Caleb’s clever blue eyes were narrowed, the corners of his lips downturned in concentration.
“What are you thinking?”
“We need a visual” he muttered, fingers going for the component pouch on his waist “if we had Frumpkin it would be easy enough to do... but as we don’t...”
Fjord hummed sympathetically; the guard that had taken Beau in had also knocked poor Frumpkin back into the Fey space he occupied when Caleb couldn’t call him. Caleb had been frustrated about it, but they hadn’t had the time to go and find supplies to bring him back yet.
“ Ja, alright” he nodded, turning to catch Fjord's eye “I have an idea”
“Shoot” he grunted, trying to ignore the little thrill that look always gave him “I’m all ears”
“Lift me up, and I will look, then we can assess”
“Oh” it was simple, why hadn’t he thought of that “yeah, okay good call”
Caleb turned to face him fully now, looking him up and down thoughtfully and Fjord found himself standing just a little straighter, shoulders back. Showing off his build, just a little bit. Caleb stepped forward, bottom lip tugged between his teeth, and Fjord was sure his eyes lingered just a moment too long.
“How do you want to do this?” Caleb asked simply “what would be easiest?”
“I--uh...” he paused, looking from the wall to Caleb and back “you need as much height as we can get so that seems best”
“I won’t be too heavy up there?” his tone turned teasing, a little smirk playing around his mouth “I would not want to hurt you schatz”
“A skinny thing like you?” he teased right back, rolling his eyes “not a chance”
Caleb chuckled low and warm, and Fjord turned around, dropping to one knee and waiting. It took some maneuvering, but after a moment Caleb was settled with his thighs bracketing Fjords ears. Fjord gripped his calves, holding him steady as one hand landed gently on his head.
“Just a moment, let me just...”
He felt Caleb shuffle slightly and tried to ignore the comfortable warmth against his neck. Maybe this hadn’t been a great idea after all. Caleb muttered something under his breath, and suddenly the thighs he was resolutely ignoring next to his cheeks were gone. He blinked, confused for a moment as he squeezed Caleb’s calf experimentally.
“Invisibility, that way I can get a good look” Caleb sounded amused above him, and he felt his cheek warm.
“Right, right. Bit strange is all”
“I am sure it must be”
“You uh, you ready?”
“Yes, go ahead”
He stood, feeling a tug at his scalp when the hand Caleb had rested there gripped nervously. Once he had his balance back, he turned to the wall, stepping up and feeling the hand leave his hair. He waited, staring at the aged stone as Caleb hummed.
“Okay, there are five guards that I can see... the rest much be patrolling” he paused, and Fjord felt his legs flex “I can see Beauregard, she is on the far side of the yard in the stocks”
“Veth can get her out no problem, we just need a way to distract the guards... anything look promising?”
“Hmm...let go of my legs for a moment?”
“Why?”
“I want a better view; I’m going to stand on your shoulders”
“Careful” he warned as he let go, feeling Caleb shift against him again.
Fjord thought he must have found a grip on the wall, because he was able to pull himself into a standing position, feet surprisingly steady on Fjords shoulders. It was definitely less comfortable for Fjord to have all his weight balanced in two small sections rather than spread out, but it was manageable. Caleb was muttering to himself above him, shifting slightly as he worked out a plan.
“Okay, I have an idea, but I do not think you will like it much”
“Okay...” he trailed off, letting uncertainty colour his tone “What—”
“You have one chance to stop me from doing what I am about to do before... ah, never mind Jester is on the move”
“Wait—Caleb what?”
Very suddenly the weight on Fjord’s shoulders was gone and Fjord cursed, head whipping up just in time to see Caleb appear, standing on top of the wall with his arms outstretched. He shouted something in Zemnian, raising his hands and throwing fire into the sky. The distraction had clearly worked as Fjord heard sudden shouting, and the pounding of boots before an arrow zipped over Caleb’s shoulder.
“Shit!” he shouted, “Caleb what the fuck ?”
Blue eyes, bright in the afternoon sun and dancing with mischief looked back at him as Caleb grinned.
“Time to go!”
Fjord watched in horror as Caleb turned on the spot and stepped out and off the ledge. He cursed as he jumped back, arms out to catch the falling ginger. Caleb wasn’t a particularly large man, but the impact still knocked the breath out of him as he landed against his chest. Caleb gasped; arms thrown around his neck for balance as Fjord lowered him to his feet.
“ Danke Fjord” he said breathlessly, grinning up at him
“That was fucking stupid Cay” he tried to sound annoyed, but it was hard with barely any space between them “they could have shot you, or you could have fallen!”
“I knew you would catch me” Caleb leaned in, brushing a chaste kiss over his lips that sent sparks through his skin “berate me later, we should run”
“Fuck—I—you...”
Caleb only grinned at him, that mischief still in his eyes as he grabbed Fjord's hand and laced their fingers together.
“ Run Fjord, now”