Work Text:
it was their first night back on the path after everything went down at kaer morhen. geralt had taken on a simple contract for a kikimore infestation, so he’d be leaving in the early morning to take care of it—but for now, they sat around the fire together.
“it’s been a while since we got to do this,” jaskier said thoughtfully, gazing across the fire at geralt.
geralt hummed in agreement, making jaskier frown slightly.
“words, darling,” he said, “we discussed this.”
geralt sighed, gesturing for jaskier to come sit next to him. “it has been. this is…nice.”
“well i’m glad you think so,” jaskier replied, settling down by his witcher’s side. “as much as i enjoy kaer morhen, i’ve been itching to get back out on the path.”
their conversation felt stilted and awkward, both of them wanting to say things they just. couldn’t. silence lulled between them as the minutes stretched on.
gently, geralt placed a hand over jaskier’s, softly holding it in his. he could feel jaskier’s heartbeat pick up, the bard not being used to their casual touches anymore. soon, though, he turned his palm to more properly hold geralt’s, humming in content.
after what felt like eons of quiet contemplation, geralt broke.
“c’mere,” he said softly, beckoning jaskier even closer, and moving to pull him onto his lap.
he put his hand on jaskier’s trim waist as he buried his face in the crook of his neck. geralt inhaled deeply, the bard’s natural scent inundating his senses.
“i missed you so much,” geralt murmured against jaskier’s throat. “i never want to leave your side again.”
“then don’t,” jaskier replied, tangling his fingers into geralt’s long hair. he pulled his witcher’s head up to meet his in a kiss, sighing against his lips.
“jaskier i—“ geralt cut himself off with a grunt.
jaskier pulled back to look at him, eyes full of concern. “what is it, love?”
“i want to tell you…i—“ geralt made a frustrated noise in the back of his throat, “i just want to…”
jaskier paused, understanding what his witcher was trying to say. “i know you do, dear heart, you don’t need to say it if you’re not ready.”
“you deserve to hear it,” geralt grumbled, looking away.
“i don’t want to hear it until you’re comfortable,” jaskier replied softly, “i’m not gonna rush this.”
geralt was quiet for a moment. “thank you,” he said gently, pressing his forehead to jaskier’s collarbone.
jaskier rubbed his back, cooing quietly, placating. “of course, anything for you.”
“i’m yours.” geralt didn’t move from his spot tucked into his bard’s neck, his voice quiet.
jaskier’s eyes went wide, and he curled his arms tighter around geralt. “and i’m yours, always.”
jaskier yawned, nuzzling into the top of geralt’s head. “we should head to bed, love, you have quite the job in the morning.”
“i wouldn’t consider kikimores to be ‘quite the job’ at all,” geralt grumbled back, not wanting to move from his position with jaskier on his lap.
“nonsense,” jaskier insisted, “this is your first contract in how long? you need your rest.”
“is this your way of telling me you’re tired?” geralt teased, pulling back to look at his bard.
stifling another yawn, jaskier mumbled, “perhaps,” and pressed a kiss to geralt’s cheek. “either way, let’s go to bed”
“never thought i’d be wanting to sleep on a cramped bedroll,” geralt mumbled, letting jaskier get up.
jaskier slipped his boots off, and started unbuttoning his vest. “i’d sleep anywhere, as long as it was with you.”
“we both know that’s not true,” geralt replied, “we run into one understuffed mattress and you’re complaining the whole next day.”
“well i’m—“ jaskier cut himself off, knowing he had no room to argue that claim. “oh geralt, don’t torment me like this. let me be romantic with you.”
“fine, fine,” geralt chuckled, pushing their bedrolls together and settling down. “come to bed, julek.”
jaskier smiled at the nickname, crawling down next to his witcher. he tangled a hand into the front of geralt’s tunic, something to hold onto.
geralt smoothed a hand down jaskier’s back, resting his palm on the swell of the bard’s ass.
“copping a feel while we’re having a tender moment, you great big brute?” jaskier chuckled, admonishing lightly, “for shame.”
geralt laughed, grabbing a handful of jaskier’s ass and squeezing gently. “i can’t help it,” he said, “i missed getting to touch you like this, little bird.”
jaskier glanced up at geralt’s face. “i suppose you’re right. it’s nice to be together again.”
“agreed,” geralt said, nosing through his bard’s hair. “sleep now, i’ll be here when you wake up.”
as if on cue, jaskier yawned, cuddling deeper into his witcher’s chest. “thank you, dear heart, for everything.”
before geralt could even respond, jaskier had nodded off, a small smile left on his lips.
geralt sighed, adjusting so jaskier could be the most comfortable. “i love you, little bird, so much…” he whispered now that the bard was asleep.
soon drifting off too, the pair fell asleep wrapped up in each other’s arms under a sky full of stars.