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I was buzzing with energy. I had absently nibbled from the basic breakfast one of the tiefling refugees had cooked up, but I already felt sated. The others were bantering around the table. I felt someone's gaze on me.
Shadowheart was chewing on some oats and peering at me thoughtfully.
"Good morning. I trust you slept well? We'll need all the energy we can get." She murmured at me with a cryptic expression. I frowned, trying to interpret her statement. My mind was filled with ruby red skin stretched tight over flexing muscles.
"Huh?" I muttered, fidgeting with my spoon. She chuckled.
"Well I mean... Not to put too fine a point on it, but my room was right next to yours." She gave me an evaluating look, like she was taking stock of me for the first time. I could feel heat rising to my face and ears, all too aware about the noises Karlach and I had been making through the night in that small room. "Seriously, how do you have that kind of stamina?" She hissed at me in a low tone, her face neutral.
"O-oh. That." I coughed, trying to pretend like my grub had suddenly become extremely interesting. She hmmed at me smugly.
"You and her huh? I suppose it should have been obvious to me after that incident in the camp. Still..." I could feel her dark eyes boring into me inquisitively. Across the table Karlach was excitedly describing in explicit detail how she had dismantled a frosty demon with only her hands and a machete. "How was it?" Shadowheart asked me in a quiet tone.
Images flashed through my mind. A map of painful-looking scars unfolded before my mind's eye. The feeling of her strong body under the tips of my fingers. Her fiery eyes peering into my soul. The sound of her soft whimpers beneath my tongue. Grasping her one whole horn tightly, desparate to be closer to her. Soft, fiery, feverish, lips on mine. Absently I touched my lips, a small smile on my face.
"... Incredible..." I muttered. She nodded at me with interest, leaning back in the wooden chair.
"Hells. You do feel meant for each other. Which is somewhat odd considering how different you seem."
I couldn't exactly disagree with her on that point, but in my heart I felt like Karlach and I were two pieces of the same whole. Like our spirits had split at some point and only together were we whole. She felt the same way, I was certain, and I briefly caught her eyes across the table. She smiled a smokey grin at me before continuing to entertain Astarion and Lae'zel with her soldier tales. My eyes lingered on her for long moments, with equal measures of satisfaction and desire. Gods she was beautiful.
Shadowheart chewed on gruel, her eyes on me, noticing the way I looked at Karlach. She smiled a smug smile.
"Gods look at you," She whispered, "You're completely smitten." I felt heat rising to the tips of my ears and tried to focus on the food.
"Am not," I protested weakly, poking at the contents of the bowl with my spoon.
"Totally lost," She continued with a brief chuckle. "It's nice to see. Even in these dark times there's room for a little light." She pondered, looking a little lost in thought.
"... I'm sorry if we kept you up," I muttered after a few quiet moments, embarrassed at the thought. I was realizing we had been going at it like desperate animals, no thoughts for anything else.
"Oh! Oh no don't mind me. I'm just a fiend for a little gossip," She said with a conspiratorial grin. "Though I'm not sure if the others are aware yet." Her tone assured me that anyone who didn't already know would know before sunset.
"... And then I clawed out his spine," Karlach laughed heartily, having fascinated Wyll, Astarion, and Lae'zel with another bloody tale. Her fangs flashed in the light of a nearby torch, and I was briefly treated to a combination of sensual memories; those fangs on my neck, her eyes burning holes in me. I chuckled nervously and pulled at my robes, feeling like people could see the bite marks on my shoulders and torso through my clothes. Shadowheart sipped from her mug with an interested expression.
"Treat her well, alright?" She muttered after a few moments. "If you break her heart, I will not forgive you." I choked on my oatmeal.
"Of course!" I sputtered, drawing attention from everyone.
"Whatya talking about soldier?" Karlach asked with genuine interest.
"Oh, nothing," Shadowheart smirked at me.