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You loved travelling with Geralt and nowadays he even let you ride Roach when you got tired and you valued his trust deeply. You were currently on your way to Oxenfurt to see how Shani was getting on in her new clinic and you spent most of the walk gathering herbs in the nearby meadows. You had run into some nasty harpies earlier today and your stash of healing salves was getting low. Geralt watched you crouch in the grass with a smile. Whenever his gaze fell on you he felt warm and content and the world seemed a little less terrible.
You reached the city and you quickly put your hood up to hide your sharp ears. Since Nilfgaard had taken over they weren’t burning nonhumans at the stake anymore but people’s prejudices ran deep and you wanted to avoid a scene. You checked in at the clinic but one of the doctors told you that Shani was out of town for a few days. You decided to go to the Three Little Bells inn for a well-deserved bath and a hot meal before considering your next step. “We could stay here until Shani returns,” you suggested and led Roach to the stable adjacent to the tavern.
He looked at you with a surprised expression, knowing that you didn’t appreciate the business of the city and constantly being surrounded by humans. “I could use some peace and quiet to restock our potions,” you explained and he nodded. On the road there was always something or someone keeping you on your toes and he thought you deserved a proper rest. He asked the innkeep for a room and paid for three nights in advance and you gave him your brightest smile. He returned it with a soft grunt and you hooked your arm under his to lead him upstairs. When you came back down, both of you freshly bathed and with clean clothes on, you were greeted by a familiar cheerful face.
“Geralt, old man, good to see you!” Jaskier exclaimed loudly and quite a few heads turned in your direction. You gave him a stern look and he greeted you much quieter and with an embarrassed smile on his face. You leaned in to give him a hug and he reciprocated it enthusiastically. “It’s good to see you,” you grinned at him and noticed with relief that the other patrons had stopped staring at you. Geralt made a noncommittal noise but you knew that he was pleased to see the bard as well.
You had met Jaskier several times before and you had noticed instantly that he belonged to the small circle of people the Witcher would protect with his life. The three of you sat down and you ordered a round of lager for everyone. Jaskier started telling you of his latest adventures with the ladies - and gents - of the realm and you lay your head on Geralt’s shoulder as you listened. You felt exhausted from the journey and you found it nice to just let the bard’s voice and the noises of the tavern wash over you.
Food was served and it looked like the bread that came with the stew was actually fresh. You looked up at the barmaid that had set down the bowls and when you smiled at her she blushed brightly before averting her eyes. “She’s certainly pretty,” Jaskier pointed out and when you frowned at him he cocked his head towards the woman that was just returning to the kitchen. Next to you Geralt huffed and you felt like doing the same. “Contrary to a certain bard’s belief, not everyone is always out to hook up with people,” you said in a mock serious tone and he laughed.
The inn was filling up and you were starting to feel nervous when you watched the crowd, pulling your hood down further. Geralt leaned in and whispered in your ear “I’ve got you.” and you instantly felt calmer. You smiled up at him and he wondered if your eyes had always been so bright and mesmerising. Jaskier stood up with a flourish and grabbed his lute to entertain the evening patrons. “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do,” he winked at you and you playfully punched him in the arm.
After Jaskier finished his performance he returned to the table with a wide grin and you clapped your hands with excitement. “That was fabulous,” you praised him and his chest swelled up as if he were a peacock. The barmaid appeared and enquired if you needed anything else and you asked if there was any of the cake left that had been advertised on the board outside. She brought you a piece with a shy smile and Geralt grumbled at the sight. He didn’t appreciate people paying this kind of attention to you and he was glad to see that you didn’t seem interested.
You had a dreamy look on your face as you enjoyed the dessert and he felt like his chest was too tight for his lungs. He decided that he needed distraction of the carnal nature if he wanted to stop himself from falling all over you. He got up and grunted “I’ll be at the Rosebud. Jaskier, make sure these drunkards behave themselves.” You waved at him and a moment later he was gone. The bard opposite you was staring at you with an open mouth and you almost laughed at his stunned expression.
“Something on my face?” you asked and this seemed to have broken the trance he was in. “Why is Geralt going to a brothel?” He looked as if that was the most preposterous idea and now it was your turn to be surprised. You took a long swig from your mug and replied “Because he wants to, I guess? It’s not exactly unusual for him.” Jasker appeared to be downright offended at your words and you were wondering exactly what conversation you were having.
“But…you and him. Your relationship!” he gasped and you laughed at his appalled expression. “What relationship? We’re travelling companions,” you responded with a raised eyebrow and he sighed deeply. He opened his mouth a few times but nothing came out. He genuinely wondered if obliviousness was a disease and both you and Geralt had caught it bad. “You’ll get there” were the words he eventually settled on and you simply shrugged and finished your food. The noise of the tavern was starting to get overwhelming and you excused yourself to retreat back to your room.
You promised Jaskier to meet him at the academy the next day to meet some of his artist friends and quickly went upstairs. You felt hyper from all the noises and smells you had experienced this evening and you decided to do something useful. You got out your daggers and Geralt’s swords and sat down near the fireplace to properly clean the weapons. You were quietly humming to yourself when you heard heavy footsteps in the hallway and a moment later your Witcher entered the room.
You looked up at him with a puzzled look and he threw you a smile that looked almost embarrassed. “Back so soon?” you enquired and he couldn’t help but flinch at your innocent question. He had turned back halfway to the brothel because he couldn’t stop thinking about your soft touches and the way you blushed when he kissed your forehead. He knew that no one could fill the ache in his heart that he felt whenever he wasn’t near you so he came back. Now that he was here he didn’t know what to do or say so he simply stared at you with a tender expression.
You stood up and carefully put his swords back in their scabbards to ensure you wouldn’t accidentally hurt yourself. You noticed that one of the cuts on his hands from the harpy attack had reopened and you moved towards him to gently hold it in yours. He gazed at you as you carefully healed the wound and he felt the rush of your magic flow up his arm. “There, that’s better,” you stated quietly and smiled up at him with soft eyes. His other hand came up to caress your cheek and you expected him to lean in for a forehead kiss.
Instead his face moved steadily closer to you and you gasped when his lips pressed against yours. He moved his mouth and you reciprocated eagerly, pulling on his hair to deepen the kiss. He made a desperate noise in the back of his throat and you thought it was the most attractive thing in the world. You pushed up against him and the warmth of his lips and the feeling of his rough hand against your neck made you feel weak in the knees. You moved your mouth against his more insistently and his tongue darted out to find yours.
He tasted of the ale you had earlier and something smokey that was entirely Geralt. His hand came up into your hair to caress the back of your head and you let out a content sigh against his mouth. You pulled back to gulp a few breaths of air before capturing his lips again. He responded instantly and you heard him growl as his tongue intertwined with yours. You reminded him of sunshine and peaceful meadows and he wanted nothing more than to drown in the flavour and smell of you. You were starting to feel lightheaded as he intensified the kisses, moving against you with a determined pace that made your heart skip a beat.
Eventually your movements slowed and with a final nibble on his lower lip you leaned back for air without removing your arms from around his neck. “Hello there,” you whispered and the look in your eyes was so adoring and tender that he felt his chest tighten again. When he didn’t respond and only caressed your cheek with his thumb you added “Is this why you came back?” He nodded and your smile was so blinding it was as if he had stared into the sun for too long. You moved closer to lean your head against his chest and you could hear that his heart was beating faster than normal.
“I’m yours if you’ll have me,” you said quietly without meeting his eyes and he let out an involuntary sigh. Geralt wondered if it was possible to spontaneously combust from happiness because he would most certainly qualify. He led you to the edge of the bed so you could sit down and this way you wouldn’t have to bend your head up too much. You looked at him with wide eyes and such vulnerability that it took his breath away. “Please. Be mine,” he said quickly, not wanting to leave you hanging a moment longer. The worry bled from your face and made space for unadulterated bliss and he couldn’t believe his luck.
“I need to go to sleep. Will you hold me?” As if he could deny you anything. You quickly changed and he came to lie down behind you, holding you with his arm over your hip. You could feel his warm breath on your neck and it made you giggle. You turned in his embrace to press your mouths together for a moment before lying back down. Your lips tingled and you couldn’t help the satisfied smile that appeared on your face. Geralt inhaled deeply, taking in your delightful scent and committing it to memory.
The next morning was the same as usual mornings but also completely different. You kept stealing kisses from each other while you got washed and dressed and the atmosphere was content and easygoing. “Jaskier told me that a nearby windmill needs support with the kind of pest problem that requires a Witcher,” you mentioned to him over breakfast and he grunted in response. You assumed this meant he was willing to take Roach and check it out and you left it at that. He kept gazing at you with a fond smile and you noticed there was a glow around him. Happiness suited your Witcher.
You were getting Roach ready for the ride when you were suddenly crowded against the stable walls by your favourite person. He didn’t give you time to speak and instead his lips descended on yours. Your hands came up to caress his face and he sighed into your mouth at the touch. You moved against each other in a slow and unhurried manner and the tenderness of it made you melt into his arms even further. “Finally!” exclaimed a loud voice near the entrance and you turned to laugh at Jaskier who was standing in the doorway. Geralt didn’t bother untangling himself from you and instead stepped closer so that your head could nuzzle into his chest.
“Go away, Jaskier,” he grumbled and the bard threw him a wide grin. “I’m just happy for you. I’m glad my best friend managed to get that stick out of his arse and notice what’s right in front of his nose.” At Geralt’s murderous glare he lifted his hands in a sign of surrender and quickly left the stables. You smiled at your Witcher and his expression instantly softened as he returned your gaze. “I’m happy, too,” you said quietly and instead of a reply he simply leaned in to kiss you again.
Geralt knew deep down that Jaskier had been right and he did indeed figure out that the road to happiness lay right before him but he was not about to indulge the bard’s already inflated ego. As he moved against you and listened to your satisfied noises he couldn’t think of a better place to be. Roach neighed softly behind you and you smiled into the kiss before deepening it again. You couldn’t get enough of his hot mouth and that incredibly skilled tongue that was driving you crazy. Finally you had to come up for air and he thought that with flushed cheeks and swollen lips this was the best you’d ever looked.