Work Text:
"What are you doing up here so late?"
Tavares startled at the voice, reluctantly tearing their attention away from the stars. It was a beautiful night in Baldur's Gate. Far too beautiful of a night for what was to come. As if the Astral Plane did not care what havoc might lay in store for the city come morning.
"I couldn't sleep," they shrugged, patting the spot next to them on the ground. Tinessi plopped down beside them and leaned against her brother's shoulder.
"Could be down stairs at the bar drinking instead of sulking on the roof," she yawned. Her hair was messy and Tav wondered if she'd just woken up. It was late, late enough that all their companions were asleep.
"You should be in bed," the sorcerer scolded. "We've got a lot to do tomorrow."
"I could say the same thing to you, oh fearless leader," the warlock rebutted. Tav just shook their head, unable to argue with her. They sat there in silence for a few minutes enjoying the small reprieve they found on the roof of the Elfsong Tavern.
Tavares eyed their sister between star gazing. When they first met her, they couldn't believe she existed. Finally, they'd found family that actually cared for them despite what they were. They didn't care that they weren't a man or woman, only cared that they were family.
It was an odd feeling. To be loved without expectations. Before Tinessi or Astarion, the sorcerer couldn't remember a time when it was even a possibility. And yet here among what could very well be the last days for Faerûn, they'd found just that.
More than that, Tav had made their own family. Brothers and sisters in the form of Wyll, Gale, Karlach, Lae’zel, and Shadowheart. Parents in Halsin and Jaheira. A weird uncle with Minsc. Even a daughter now that Yenna had found her way to them.
Just like any family, they had their issues. Granted, most families didn't have tadpoles in their brains or knives at each other's throats sometimes but that didn't change the fact that they'd all began to care for each other immensely over the past six months. Tavares smiled to themself at the thought.
Astarion had hit the nail on the head when he'd told the Dryad their greatest desire was family. Growing up with parents who only cared about gold and magic, the only thing they wanted was a decent family. A desire shared by the warlock beside them.
"What are you smiling about?" Tinessi lifted her head from it's resting place on their shoulder.
"This is just nice," they answered, waving their hand in vague motions. "It's nice to know I finally have people who would care if I were gone. It makes facing down the impossible a little less daunting."
"It's honestly a little weird," Tinessi giggled, earning a skeptical look from her brother. "I mean, I don't know about you but mum and dad basically ignored me until it was time to put me on display. If we weren't at some gala or business meeting, they just pretended I didn't exist," she paused, eyebrows knitting together. "That's not entirely true. I existed when dad was upset."
"I'm sorry you didn't get to experience mother like I did," Tav said quietly. "Father has always been a bitter bastard but she was good to me. She taught me to play the violin and how to draw. She was kind so long as father wasn't around and he was only really around to lecture me on the Weave."
"Jealous of that," Tin snorted, bumping her shoulder against theirs. "He stopped talking to me about the Weave really early on but there were plenty of other lectures to be heard. Mum just sort of existed."
"I'm sorry," they mumbled but Tinessi just shrugged.
"S'alright. Don't blame you or anything for running when you did. Hells, I should have done it long before I did," she paused and Tavares watched her smile grow. "But I'm glad I didn't. Things worked out wonderfully."
"It certainly did," they commented, thinking about everything that had lead to them sitting on that rooftop. The sorcerer chewed at their cheek a moment before continuing, "So… Rolan?"
"What about Rolan?" Tinessi asked, clearly defensive.
"Nothing," they raised their hands to wave away her concerns. "Just seems like an odd choice. He's… well, he's kind of an arse."
"Rich coming from you with your two hundred and fifty year old vampire boyfriend," she laughed. Tav bristled slightly, unable to argue. "I like that he's an arse. I like that there's finally someone who matches my energy."
Tavares stilled at her words. The young warlock had described her childhood in Baldur’s Gate. The years spent alone in a gilded cage surrounded by nobility who seemed to detest her crude humor and argumentative nature.
"Rolan’s complicated. He's insecure. He's mean and often vain but," the warlock paused, closing her eyes. "He's a good brother. And he's thoughtful. He's seen me at my worst and still wants to be around me. I've given him so many reason to tuck tail and run and he hasn't."
She opened her eyes again, staring up at the stars and Tavares felt his heart soar. Though they didn't understand their sister's choice, they knew what it was like to find someone who saw the best in you despite all the ugliness that came with it.
"The first time I saw him, he was surrounded by ghouls. He was terrified," she nearly whispered. "But he didn't back down for a second. He stood right there like an idiot between a Death Shepard and his siblings. He protected them and the kids with them. And I just… knew. Knew I wanted to be his friend."
"He definitely has more courage than brains sometimes but I think I get it," Tav responded, chuckling to themself. Their sister returned the laugh with one of her own before eyeing them closely.
"I bet you do get it," she hummed.
"And what exactly is that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing at all," she gave them a wicked grin. "Just seems like you've got your own idiot these days. Glad to see you two have patched things up."
"There wasn't anything to patch up," Tavares stated, laying back to get a better view of the night sky. "Astarion needed time to work on himself. He needed a friend who would be there without wanting anything from him. I would have been content if that was all we remained."
"So if you two had never gotten back together, you would have been okay with that?" She asked, her tone doubtful.
"I've loved him longer than I've had any right to. So no, I would not have been okay with it," they admitted, a sliver of shame overtaking them at the selfish thought. "But I would have been happy for him. Star has spent so long not being able to make his own decisions. I wanted to be someone he chose, not someone he thought he had to be with."
"That's so sweet it's almost gross," the warlock laughed. "Alright, so tell me about it."
"About what?" Tav asked, propping themself up on their elbows.
"The first time you met him. Was it love at first sight? Destined soulmates finally finding each other?" She asked with all the drama Tavares would normally expect from a bard.
"He held a dagger to my throat and then I headbutted him," they replied flatly. Tinessi blinked several times before letting out a thunderous laugh.
"That's so incredibly fitting for him," she bellowed, wiping away a tear from her eye.
"I don't think you understand how odd our relationship has been," they laughed with her, sitting up. "For the longest time I was convinced Astarion was just manipulating me. And then after we finally made it to Moonrise Towers, he confirmed that he had, in fact, been manipulating me the entire time."
"That motherfucker," Tinessi hissed. "Why in the Hells would you still-"
"Because I understood," Tavares cut her off. "Astarion spent two hundred years as a slave. As a survivor. He didn't know how to live any other way. You know what it's like when you don't have anyone. I just wanted him to know he wasn't alone."
"You're a better person than me. I'm not sure I could get over something like that," she said but her gaze softened. "So what? Now his feelings are genuine?"
"Yes. I don't doubt his sincerity," they answered. "I've heard him say that he loves me and not mean it. When I hear him say it now, I know it's not just another way of getting close to me. He's got nothing to gain anymore."
Tinessi mulled over his words for a moment, and for once, the sorcerer didn't feel any panic at the thought they might be wrong. They were secure in the fact that the vampire loved them for who they were and not what they could provide.
"It's so weird how things worked out," she finally said, laughing to herself.
"How so?"
"Well, think about it," she replied. "I ran away to get away from a vile wizard I didn't love and ended up falling for grumpy wizard and you ran away because you didn't want to be with some high elf with no magic. Here you are with a high elf who couldn't cast a spell to save his life."
"It's more complicated than that," they shook their head but knew their sister was correct. "Besides, Star can cast a few spells. His invisibility spell is impressive."
"Yeah but that's not him. That's thanks to a amulet you gave him," she countered. Again, Tav couldn't argue. "I'm just saying, it's kinda wild where we ended up."
"It is," they replied quietly. "I never expected to find any semblance of love before the end of the world."
They saw the warlock stiffen beside them, all traces of mirth vanishing as soon as the words were out.
"I'm sorry," they rushed to say. "I didn't mean to bring that up."
"No, it's fine. I was actually just thinking the same thing," Tinessi laid her head back on the sorcerer’s shoulder. "Six months ago, if you'd told me that I would possibly die fighting a giant brain I would have probably been excited. It sounds wicked. Now though, the thought terrifies me."
"We have more to lose now than we did six months ago," Tavares said as they wrapped an arm around their sister. "I'm glad we found each other before the end."
"I am too," she yawned. "Can't believe I was wondering around Mosstone six months ago and now I'm here."
"You were in Mosstone?" They balked at the warlock. She nodded, eyeing them closely. "Tin, I was in Mosstone six months ago. I played violin at Drover's Last Drink."
"I got banned from Drover's!" She groaned and the half-elf couldn't stop themself from laughing. Soon enough, Tinessi joined them, the absurdity of the situation drowning out her frustration.
The two eventually settled down and slipped back into a comfortable silence. There was tension there, the threat of the Netherbrain never escaping their attention, but for the moment they were able to just enjoy each other's company. Indulging in a familial comfort neither had ever really known.
"What do you think the others will do?" Tinessi broke the silence. Tav turned to look at her, slightly startled by the noise. "When this is all over, I mean."
"I imagine Wyll might take over as Duke now that his pact is dealt with," they mused. "If we can manage to free Orpheus, Lae’zel will go off to help her people."
"You don't think they'll stay together?" Tinessi asked. Tav raised an eyebrow. "Don't play dumb. Those two have been making lovey eyes at each other since I first met them."
"You're not wrong but I think Lae’zel cares too much about her people to stay in Faerûn," they stated firmly. "And Wyll is selfless enough to not stand in her way."
"Maybe the Blade of Frontiers will surprise us and go fight a god-queen with his love," the warlock replied, just as firm. "What about the others?"
"Haslin might return to the grove or perhaps stay with Thaniel for a while. Jaheira and Minsc have never known peace a day in their lives so there's no telling with those two," they paused, thinking about their companions. "Gale will most likely return to Waterdeep and Shadow is going to have to learn how to live her life without the guidance of Shar."
"What about Karlach?" She asked but Tavares couldn't bring themself to answer. They both knew what was in store of the tiefling if she didn't return to Avernus.
"Yenna can stay with me," they replied instead. "I'm going to remain in Baldur’s Gate for a while longer. At least until Astarion and I can figure out our next move. After that, I'll set her up with a proper tutor and governess."
"She can just stay with auntie Tinessi while you and your boyfriend galavant across the world in search of a cure," she hummed, looking out over the city. When Tav didn't respond, she continued, "Rolan and I will have the tower to look after. I've always dreamed of running a proper business and he's going to need help. Yenna can stay with us."
"Thank you," they replied quietly. A deep sense of gratitude spread through the sorcerer. Gratitude for their sister and for the little family they'd made.
They were both quiet again, each lost in their own thoughts. Tavares tried to reconcile the gratitude they were feeling with the fear that plagued them. No matter what, they would do everything in their power to save their loved ones. They'd give up their life if they needed to. Anything so long as it meant there was still a world left for the others.
"Do you think we can beat it?" Tinessi's voice shook when she finally spoke again.
"I don't know," her brother answered honestly. They studied her for a moment, guilt gripping them suddenly. "I'm sorry for dragging you into this."
"Don't be daft," she huffed. "I wouldn't have it any other way. I mean, what says family bonding more than saving the world together?"
Tavares laughed, ruffling her already disheveled hair. She was right, though, and the sorcerer couldn't agree more.
Tomorrow, they would venture under the city to face down the Netherbrain. Tomorrow, they would gather their allies and fight an impossible fight. Tomorrow, they might all be dead.
But tonight, under the stars of Baldur’s Gate, they were just Tavares and Tinessi. Two siblings lost to each other their entire lives and reunited just in time to save the world.