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“There they are- oh fuck”
Fjord felt the brief moment of relief at Beau’s words replaced with a clench of fear in his stomach. Molly was making his way towards them with Caleb’s arm thrown over his shoulder and Yasha on guard beside them. Molly looked uncharacteristically stressed, and Yasha's brow was furrowed. As soon as they were close enough for Caleb to see them, his face contorted in relief and fear, and he threw himself at Fjord, who exhaled sharply as Caleb crashed into him. Caleb’s hands twisted into his shirt as he buried his face against Fjord's chest, making a desperate little noise and shivering. Fjord instinctively wrapped an arm around him in what he hoped was a comforting way.
“C-Cay?”
Concern welled up fiercely as Caleb just clung tighter, and Fjord noticed the deep red stain spreading across his side.
“Caleb, what- Molly what the fuck happened?”
He looked up sharply, trying not to let his fear take over, the instinct to take Caleb and hide away was strong.
“Ikithon” Mollys breathing was heavy “he showed up, tried to talk Caleb into rejoining him, started a fight” he took a deep breath “he hit Caleb with some spell and he sort of... froze up, then he tried to hit him with something else but Yash grabbed him and Icky disappeared” he waved a hand at the shaking wizard “he’s been like this the whole way back, no idea what- what spell”
“Are you two okay?”
“We’re fine,” Yasha said simply “but his side…”
“Yeah” Fjord nodded “yeah… Caddy?”
“Oh, yes, of course, we should…get that dealt with”
He looked down at the top of Caleb’s head and spoke softly, whatever Ikithon had done… Caleb wasn’t acting like himself.
“Cay? C’mon now, we’re gonna see what we can do about your side”
Caleb looked up, but his usually sharp blue eyes were wide and hazy, lacking the familiar clever glint. It was obvious enough that he had no idea what Fjord was saying. Fjord tried again, speaking in his softest tones as he gently tugged him towards the cabins. Caleb seemed to have no problem following him, as long as he kept talking. The walk to his cabin was short but trying to get Caleb to let go long enough to get him settled sitting on the bed was another story. Fjord was sure his heart would break at the noise Caleb made when he tried to remove the hands that clutched his shirt so fiercely.
“Caleb, sweetheart, I need to get your shirt off so we can look at your side” he explained gently “I can’t do that with you holding on”
Caleb whimpered again, resisting the light tug of Fjords' hands. Fjord sighed, reaching out to cup his jaw
“Darlin’, I promise I’m not going anywhere; I just need that shirt off”
“Do you think he would be overly upset if I just… Cut the shirt?” Caduceus asked thoughtfully looking from Caleb to Fjord “he’s not himself, but maybe if you keep him calm, he’ll let me?”
Fjord shrugged but moved to sit next to Caleb on the bed, on the opposite side from his injury. To his surprise, Caleb only flinched once when Cad started cutting the side of his shirt, calming as soon as Fjord hushed him. It took a few minutes, but eventually, Cad hummed in concern.
“Looks like acid damage… He has a spell like that I think”
“You can fix him up right?”
“The cut certainly, the… Strange behaviour is more difficult, I don’t think they’re connected”
Fjord sighed, he had figured as much, but that was something at least.
“Let’s stop him from bleeding out, then we can work on the rest”
Caduceus set his hand on Calebs' side and Fjord could just barely see the moss growing across the wound. He kept his eyes on Caleb’s, his stomach twisting at the look of open trust he was giving him, eyes wide and bright. He forced a small smile onto his face, sighing when Caleb returned it tentatively. Caleb winced once as the skin of his side knit itself back together under Caduceus’s moss, breaking eye contact with Fjord briefly to watch with open curiosity as the moss dried and fell to the bed. The skin underneath was pink and smooth, and Caleb prodded at it lightly with the tips of his fingers, brow furrowing with a confused tilt to his head. It would have been endearing in another circumstance, but as it was it made Fjords stomach turn. To think of Caleb, brilliant, magical Caleb, being confused by something as run of the mill as a healing spell was... it was just wrong.
Caduceus stood, eyes searching Calebs' face with a small frown.
“I think I will go and check-in with the Wildmother about... all of this”
“Yeah, yeah good call” he stood, stretching his arms above his head with a groan, “I think I’ll--”
Calebs hand whipped out, tangling in the hem of his shirt and pulling his attention back down to his face. Fjords heart constricted in his chest as Caleb looked up at him, eyes wide and fearful, and he dropped to his knee automatically. He took Caleb’s free hand in both of his, giving it a squeeze and smiling apologetically.
“I think maybe... well, maybe you ought to stick with him”
Fjord caught Cad’s eye, saw the knowing expression on his face, and felt his cheeks heat up. Of course, Caduceus had figured them out, even if the others hadn’t yet, the firbolg was far too observant for anybody's good.
“I--we... uh...”
“No need to worry Captain, I can keep a secret”
“Thank you, Duces” he sighed “we just... we’re still figuring it out is all”
“I understand” he moved towards the door “I best get to meditating if we want Mister Caleb sorted out by nightfall”
Fjord hummed his assent as the door closed quietly behind Caduceus, letting his shoulders slump as soon as it did. Caleb’s hand shifted, untangling from his shirt to press lightly against the side of his neck instead and Fjord leaned into the touch.
“Oh sweetheart...” he sighed “what have they done to you, hm?”
Caleb only blinked at him, expression soft and much calmer than it had been since this had started. It was almost nice, seeing his face so relaxed. Caleb in his right mind was very rarely what Fjord would call “relaxed”, too busy thinking and planning and worrying about everything going on. With good reason, he supposed, considering their line of work and his terrifying upbringing. But... it was almost nice. Caleb had been so quiet when they’d met, when Ikithon had shown up on their doorstep with his “gift” and his greasy snake smile. It hurt now, seeing Caleb like this... so silent again, so very clearly lost to his own mind. What wouldn’t he give to hear him laugh? Or make some snarky little comment in that dry, deadpan tone he found so funny? He would give anything, he was certain.
He stood slowly, bringing Caleb up with him and leading him over to the dresser. He kept a grip on his hand as he shifted through the drawer looking for a clean shirt. It was one of his and too large for Caleb, but he always seemed to find comfort being wrapped in Fjord’s clothes. It took some time to get Caleb out of the ruined shirt and into the new one, the flash of panic when Fjord tried to let him go causing a bit of a scuffle as Caleb tried desperately to keep their hands linked together. Finally though, he was settled with the new shirt hanging loose on his slim frame. He lifted the neckline, taking a deep breath and smiling warmly at Fjord, which only made his heart stutter again. He had no right looking this sweet, it really just wasn’t fair, especially when Fjord had no way to tell him how unfair it was. Taking a steadying breath, Fjord led him out of the room and down into the galley where he figured the others would be.
Sure enough, all but Caduceus were sitting around a table, nibbling half-heartedly at food and nursing mugs of the ship's ale. Jester perked up when she saw them, tail swishing happily behind her.
“Fjord! Caleb! How are you feeling ?”
Caleb only smiled at her; head tilted in such a feline way that Fjord couldn’t help but think of Frumpkin.
“He can’t understand you Jes” Beau sighed, eyes going to Caleb’s side and narrowing “looks like Duces got him cleaned up though?”
“Yeah” Fjord tugged Caleb lightly into the seat next to him, his neck heating when Caleb shifted his chair closer and leaned into Fjord’s side “y-yeah, his side is fine now”
“Uh-huh...” she glared between them, and Fjord could practically see the gears whirring in her head “that’s good then”
“Yup!” he coughed, grabbing the mug that Yasha pushed towards him “Yep, real good.”
To his surprise and relief, no one questioned them openly about Calebs... attachment to him, despite the fact that he refused to move all through dinner. One cool hand rested distractingly on Fjord's thigh under the table, while he picked at his food with the other, eyeing things uncertainly the whole time. Finally, as Jester was bringing out pastries she had picked up in town, Caduceus came wandering down the stairs. Fjord searched his face, feeling hope begin to bubble in his chest at the calm smile he found there.
“Good news?” he asked as the firbolg approached
“Oh yes, very good news” he reached into his pouch and held out a handful of sparkling dust “I can get Mister Caleb all fixed up, no problem”
Fjord felt relief wash over him as the sparkling dust settled on Caleb’s skin, drawing the wizard's curious attention. Caduceus reached out, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder, and with a flash, the dust disappeared. Caleb jumped in his seat; his hand gripping Fjords thigh tighter as he gasped in shock. When he turned his face to Fjords, the familiar clever light was back, even though the look of confusion lingered there.
“W-what?” he cleared his throat “what happened?”
There was a cheer around the table, and Caleb jumped again, short nails digging into the meat of Fjord’s thigh.
“Welcome back Mister Widogast” he teased, unable to resist the smile that crept across his face “good to hear from you again”
“I--” Caleb paused, understanding, followed by horror, and then embarrassment settling on his face “Ah... I... it is good to be back?”
Fjord shifted his hand under the table, settling it over Caleb’s as the others started talking, grabbing his attention. His hand twitched, before releasing Fjord’s thigh and flipping over to intertwine with his. Caleb accepted the loud, excited welcome with an indulgent smile despite the rosy blush that had found a home on his cheek and neck.
“Caleeeeb” Jester sang at him, a cheeky look on her face, “I think you have a crush on Fjord, you were totally all over him while your brain was all mushy you know”
Caleb coughed, taking a long drink from his mug before answering her.
“I defer to authority, you know that Jester” he cleared his throat “Feeblemind, the spell that was used on me, removes one's intelligence... makes one stick to their instincts alone. Of course, I gravitated to Fjord; it is only natural”
“Uh-huuuuh” she winked, looked between them “sure sure, if that’s how you want to play it Caleb, whatever you say”
Caleb rolled his eyes fondly, but Jester dropped the subject, returning instead to rather vicious plans for getting Ikithon back. The rest of the team latched onto the topic, all but Caduceus and himself adding into the fairly ridiculous, immensely violent, and very impossible plan. It would never work, but they were having fun pretending and if that helped them feel better then Fjord wasn’t going to stop them. Eventually, several drinks later, they began splitting off towards bed or the top decks. Fjord stood with a stretch, smiling when he heard the very familiar sound of Caleb clearing his throat behind him.
“Cay?”
“I wondered if... would you mind if we had a word before you retire for the evening?”
His tone was light and professional, but Fjord could see something rolling like turbulent waves in those too blue eyes. Fjord’s eyes flicked to where Beau and Veth were watching him, eyes narrowed suspiciously, and he fought back a sigh.
“Sure thing, I was headed for the navigation room anyway”
“ Wunderbar”
He pushed open the door, bowing Caleb out with a smirk and earning a huff of laughter for his efforts. They walked at a respectable distance up to the deck, past the helm, and into the small cabin that made up the navigation room. Fjord shut the door with a solid click, turning to ask Caleb what was going on, only to very suddenly have a chest-full of wizard. For the second time that day, the air was knocked from his lungs in a huff as Caleb’s arms wound around his chest, gripping his shirt tight. He returned the embrace, wrapping his arms around Caleb’s shoulders snuggly and burying his nose in soft ginger hair. They stood for a moment, until Fjord heard Caleb’s pulse slow to a more normal rate, and then he pressed a kiss to the top of his head.
“Cay?”
“I... that was... Fjord”
“Oh sweetheart...” he rumbled, rubbing his hand in gentle circles over Caleb’s spine “I’m sorry, I don’t know what... I’m so sorry”
“I have never felt like that before Fjord, I... I do not even know how to describe it. Everything that is me was gone, all of it, my understanding... my mind —I...”
He shivered, and Fjord tightened his hold, bending slightly to nuzzle at Caleb’s temple, trying to think of something to say. Anything that might help. He came up short, instead brushing a kiss across the warm skin of his hairline and humming softly, deep in his chest. It was very nearly a purr, and he knew it had been a comfort to Caleb before, so he tried.
How long they stood that way he didn’t know, but eventually the tremors in Caleb’s shoulders stopped, and his hands relaxed where they were rested against Fjords back. His breathing slowed, his heartbeat calmed again, and Fjord felt him take one long, deep breath before pulling away just enough to look up into his face. Fjord couldn’t help but search his expression, trying to find any trace of the panic he had heard there, the fear from that morning. Instead, he saw calm, Caleb looked tired yes, but calm, and Fjord offered him a small smile. Warmth bloomed in his chest when Caleb smiled back, tentative and maybe a little embarrassed, but a smile nonetheless.
“Hey there”
“Hallo”
“Missed hearin’ you talk today” he admitted, leaning in to brush a chaste kiss over Caleb’s cheek “it was odd, I’m so used to it now”
“Is that you saying I talk too much normally?” Caleb teased, returning the kiss with a little smirk “because I assure you, I can stop if you like”
“Don’t you dare” he grumbled, unable to keep a straight face “it took me this long to get you talkin’ to me at all, you can’t go stopping now”
“Hmm...” Caleb mused, pushing up onto his toes to bump their noses together “well if it means so much to you Kapitän ”
“Damn right it does, in fact” he nipped at Caleb’s bottom lip, grinning at the shiver it elicited “I’d like to hear a bit more, if you don’t mind”
“Join me for a nightcap?”
“You been hiding booze in your quarters sailor?”
“Maybe, come find out”
Fjord chuckled, sealing them together in a slow, languid kiss and feeling that familiar thrill when Caleb all but melted into it. It had been a hard road, getting Caleb comfortable with him as a friend and party member... but falling in love had been easy. Easy as breathing. And he did breathe now, inhaling the comforting scent of old parchment and ash that clung to Caleb like a second skin, breathing in the feeling of home that came with it. They would have to keep a distance once they were on deck again, but he knew it wouldn’t last long. And they would tell the others eventually, once they were back home at the keep, once things were settled again. They would tell, and then they wouldn’t have to be apart again.