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If one were to run off with another in the middle of the night for some privacy, the rest of the group may only chuckle.
Make light of the situation and jest about it in good faith around the campfire. Roll their eyes and tease the pair about it when the morrow comes. Create some inside joke that will make the two blush but never take offence from it.
But with Halsin, it is different.
The entire camp has such wide eyes for the man. Tall and broad, there is not a soul that is not curious as to how he may be as a lover.
Like a bunch of teenagers, they giggle in glee, asking for even a morsel of gossip. How does it feel to share skin with the great druid Halsin. Tav has seen all their eyes before, lingering on the size of his arms, looking up in awe as he towers over them.
It’s a feeling they too shared not long along, when they were all merely strangers that somehow ended up with a similar goal.
“My heart.”
Halsin appears from the closed curtains of his tent. Walking towards the campfire where some of the others are gathered, eating their night’s meal and enjoying conversation with one another.
His voice booms throughout the camp, flowing against their skin like the water that runs nearby, smooth like the honey the druid seems to always have on hand. It begs everyone to open their ears and listen in, even when they don’t mean it.
They all swoon at the sound of it.
Astarion always has something to say, giggling with Shadowheart as they mock the hearts that have formed in Tav’s eyes. Wyll and Karlach audibly laugh, though they try their worst to hide it.
“Will you join me to bathe in the river tonight?”
He has no shame.
There is no need for a man so secure in his own skin. A man that has lived so long that he no longer has the need for emotions such as bashfulness.
But Tav can’t help letting the blood rush to their cheeks, their ears, their neck. Bright red, even in the pale of the moonlight. The sight of their other companions in their periphery, some attempting to pretend not to have heard the words so heavy in the air, while others instantly start making a commotion about it. An eye roll from Lae’zel, a hint of self-consciousness from Gale.
How they picked up such an array of friends along the way, Tav will never understand.
“Of course.” is all they can say. Squeaking through the awkwardness that only they seem to feel. Their eyes cannot even meet the wood elf, only merely offering courtesy glances before finding the eye contact too scalding for comfort.
But as a kind man does, he makes nothing of it. Only returning with a heartfelt smile and words that he always means. “Good. I’ll wait for you in my tent.”
There’s a few moments of only the sound of the crackling fire between them all, before Halsin nods and turns back into his humble temporary abode.
“My heart.” Astarion and Shadowheart say in unison mockery. Poking fun at their de-facto leader while leaning against them in jest. The camp bursts into laughter, as they all enjoy the sweet moments of unadulterated delight.
Tav can’t help but bury their face in their hands. Feeling just how hot their skin has become, not wanting to know just how red their cheeks have burned.
“Truly, we are just jealous, darling.” Astarion whines as they all pour each other another glass of wine. “Who wouldn’t want to have a taste of such a man.”
“He is a fine man, I will admit. A great man, even.” It is Wyll that raises his glass in agreement. Though there is no need for alcohol to loosen their tongue when it comes to discussions of Halsin.
“I would not mind hearing the details after your tryst.” Shadowheart confesses, “Though, we might hear them first hand if you’re loud enough.”
No dye could ever match the shade of scarlet colouring Tav’s skin.
He is not swayed too easily.
Not by the opinions of others. Not by the beauty of a soul. Not even by the call of the wind.
And yet, he found himself here. Words that tease at the tip of his tongue. Not quite giving away what he is insinuating, and yet he offers his implications so readily. A riddle so easily undone that it might as well be a straight line.
There is no harm in being a flirt.
Not when it has always gotten him what he has wanted from another body. One that moves in tandem with his. The way nature always intends.
But Tav played along so naturally, asking him so plainly that he would no longer need to hide behind innuendoes and slick suggestions. Asking about his intentions, about his goals, about his lovers.
The druid can’t help but wonder if they were so instantly taken by him, the way he was taken by them.
From the very beginning he could not help but stare. At a leader. A warrior. But Tav was more than Halsin ever expected. More than he could have ever foretold. Someone that buried themselves so deeply into their mind that they could not help but stay close by. Watching to see if a hint of desire would take shape in their eyes.
And now they share a bedroll. The warmth of their skin. The taste of their saliva.
The details of how they got here now a blur, with only his own feelings to revel in. So easy it was to call them his lover. Like they had never gone by any other name before.
“Is it morning already?” Their voice still hoarse with the morning air. Slowly peeling their eyes open, not wanting the daybreak to seep into their skin just yet. In the comforts of Halsin’s tent, they share a quilt, just thin enough for Tav to still beg Halsin’s body for extra warmth.
Their body wraps around him until their limbs are entangled. No way out of it without foregoing the comforts of each other. Something they both wish they would never have to do.
“It is unfortunate,” Halsin places a kiss onto their bare shoulder, hoping it will help them get the sleep out of their eyes. “but morning has caught up with us, my love.”
Their hand reaches his face, thumb petting his cheek as a smile grows on their lips. Lips upon lips like they have nowhere else to be but on each other. Halsin’s hair falls into their face, a smile in return as he begins to bury his face into their neck. Leaving tracks on their body to mark his presence, to make sure nature knows that he has been there. Memorising every crease and crevice of their body, burning it into his mind until he knows not a world without it.
“What if we just stay at camp today?” A suggestion they don’t really mean. Not with the tadpole in their brain and time constantly ticking down to a deadline no one knows when will occur.
“I will not be the one to deny you of that.” He replies with a soft laugh, one they feel through their chest. He kisses their skin still, wanting every waking moment together to be put to good use.
“So you approve of my leadership?”
“Only because I too benefit from it.” Their eyes have gone lazy as Halsin’s body becomes a comfort they can no longer deny themselves, his words pouring into their ears only convincing them further. “And I will never deny myself more of you, you are a thirst that I fear will never be fully quenched.”
They can only hope that the other’s won’t be too mad at them.
“Then take your spoils, it’s all for you.”
With the arm that’s wrapped around Tav’s torso, Halsin’s fingers subtly slip past the gap between their shirt and trousers. Always so desperate to be skin to skin. Rubbing gentle circles at their waist, as his lips find their shoulder to place the most chaste of kisses. Even over clothes they feel it burning into their skin.
The contact is innocent. Loving. Gentle. And yet, something about his fingers on the sliver of skin that peeks between their clothes makes a shiver go up their spine. Like a clandestine message from a lover to another. Tickling more than it should. Tav’s eyes close in reaction.
“Do you want me to stop?” He’s teasing them, but his whisper has a tone of seriousness laced upon it. He is nothing if not kind and caring, always wanting to make sure that Tav is comfortable with everything.
They shake their head, leaning into them further to let him continue.
In front of them, Gale is trying to explain something. Plans, tactics, strategies. Things they should know before they continue on their quest. And yes, the words are going over Tav’s head. They are more than aware that it is a rude practice, and they yet can’t help themselves. Not when Halsin’s large hands have snuck past their clothes. A handprint on their waist should be innocent enough, and yet they feel it blaring against their body, wanting more than just a touch.
Normally they try their best to keep it professional.
Keep hands at bay and eye contact to a minimum in front of the others. While words might be thrown easily here and there, physical contact usually meant that it would be hard to keep their clothes on around each other for much longer.
But the day had been long. Separated to find different things in the city, splitting the team to cover more ground. It’s desperation that seeps through their skin and clogs the air from flowing into their brain.
The sound of Gale clearing his throat brings them out of their bubble.
The quick “Sorry!” comes out of their mouth before anything else. Red quickly pricking their cheeks, as they jump away as far away from the druid as their feet possibly can.
They do not trust themselves around him. Not when he captures their attention in any room they stand in. Not when his eyes lingers on them and his gentle smile holds them captive, like they are all he has ever looked for in his life.
Even as Tav tries to keep a respectable distance, Halsin moves closer to them. His height consumes them as he steps into their vicinity. Taking Tav’s breath away like there is no need for it any longer, taking space in exactly where he wants to.
They can help but shake their head ever so slightly as they accept him into their space, as if telling themselves that they shouldn’t give into his presence. Laughing at themselves for falling so easily. Looking up into eyes that they swoon over, biting their lip just a little as if stopping themselves from indulging.
“My apologies Gale,” Halsin coughs an apologetic yet polite smile, pointed towards the camp’s Wizard. A hand over his heart and a small nod, “we will come back to your plans later.”
Tav looks over their shoulder to quickly offer a mouthed apology before they are whisked away towards Halsin’s tent. Not that they’re complaining. Not that they’re doing anything that would actually suggest that they are sorry.
“Perfect.” Gale nods slowly in surrender, watching as the rest of the group begins to dissipate themselves. “I will just stand here and talk to the wall, that seems to have the same effect.”
Tav has never felt such peace.
The realisation comes to them as they pass one strand of Halsin’s hair into another, messily creating a small plait to match the one they had already finished on the other side of the druid’s head. They are no master of art, and yet still they wanted to try after seeing the man’s hair free from its usual tied form as they awoke in the morning. The unruly hair is a sight to see on a man that always seems so poised and put together.
They naturally hum something, not even noticing their own tune until they’ve almost reached the end of the melody just to loop it back around. Under and over, they follow the flow they’ve created as they braid their partner’s hair. They can’t recall the last time they’ve felt so happy in the present.
After sloppily finishing the now uneven braids, Tav takes the rest of his hair in their hands. Flowing like water between their fingers, they can’t help but wonder how he gets his hair so soft. Gathering what remains and tying it up neatly out of his face, letting it sit in its usual style. Albeit, a rather uneven version.
“It is perfect.” He says without even peering through a looking glass or catching his reflection in the nearby lake. Their hands still holding onto strands of his hair, not wanting to let go of the intimacy just yet.
“Do not patronise me.” they jest, rolling their eyes at the ever present praise he weaves into his every word. In truth they want nothing more than his words and his touch and his presence and his love.
“I would never even think of it, my heart.”
A hand comes up to theirs, holding it in place and offering it a light kiss as he turns to face them. With their hand in his, he places it onto his cheek. The warmth of which heats up their palm. Their hand does not even cover his cheek. A face so wide and strong, they feel as though the weight of the world smiles at them. So loving and sweet, thoughts of a fearsome man almost seem impossible.
They are greedy for him. And never would they hide it.
He turns his head to plant another kiss, this time in the centre of their palm. Letting the outline of it fester and tickle their skin, Tav is unaware if he knows the power that he has against them. With a softness they have never experienced in their life, they would do anything he asked.
“I almost cannot believe that you are here. That you are real. Wanting to be with me as much as I have always wanted you.”
“You make it seem like people don’t stare at you when you walk by.”
“Do they?” he says, but his tone tells them that he is fully aware of the fact. Teasing them just a little bit with the smirk that hangs from his lips.
Tav leans down, with both their hands cupping his face, pulling themselves towards his lips. So warm and welcoming. The shape of his smile coalescing with their lips, perfectly moving in tandem with each other.
“Do not pretend that you haven’t caught the others gawking over you.” their lips connected by a string of saliva and a joke that they both know holds true.
“I think you are mistaken. They are looking at you, and taking in the limitless beauty that nature has gifted you."He looks at them like they hold the key to his heart. Like they are a gift from the Gods that he is not worthy of. “And they are most welcome to revel in the joys of you, for you are not mine to hoard.”
A laugh decorates their face, “I’ll bring it up at the next camp meeting.”
Sometimes Tav feels as if their words are not enough.
Around the soliloquies Halsin writes with his tongue, they find their own words fall flat.
“I love you.” they say, though their chest begs for more. A poem. A sonnet. But they are not made for words the way Halsin is. A frustration they can’t seem to overcome as they beg that Halsin feels the weight of their words.
But he is more than kind. As if the Gods bestowed all the kindness the heavens could offer into one body.
The druid replies with a kiss to the back of their hand. Lips upon skin, he holds their fingers like they are the most delicate flower that nature has to bloom. They feel so dainty, even though their skin has become so worn and callous from all the battles they have had to fight.
He marks their arm with kisses, moving up every time he is forced to leave their skin. Making his way to their shoulder, the crook of their neck, the apples of their cheek. Arms snaking around their body to pull them in closer, chests against each other and their clothes already begging to be taken off. Tav can’t help but close their eyes as the proximity causes a sensation to rush through their body, a breath escapes their lips as the sound of pleasure reaches Halsin’s ears.
“You remind me what love can be, and how I did not realise that I longed for it.”
Even with his simple reply does Tav feel like their words do not compare. But with lips upon their neck, their mind has no time to be vexed at such thoughts.
“Halsin.” His name manages to solidify on their tongue before their brain can no longer function.
“What is it, my heart?” The elf does not stop his hands from roaming while in the middle of his words.
“I love you.” They need to make sure he has heard them. Repeat the words until they believe they are strong enough. Enough to express their emotions. Enough to hold the weight of their feelings. Enough for Halsin to believe them.
The druid releases a guttural chuckle, one that reverberates through his skin into Tav’s. “I know. And I am grateful for the love you bestow upon me.”
In the moment he takes their face in his hands. Large, warm hands cradling their cheeks, looking upon them as though the world now lies between his palms. “For I must have done something good in the eyes of the Oak Father to have been gifted even just your attention.”
A kiss finally planted onto their lips, so sweet and soft they almost do not expect the tenderness between the tension that currently flows between them.
“I love you.” they repeat once more. But this time it is the elixir of lust that has left their mind in a drunken state, a tongue so loose it can not keep words, let alone desire at bay. Their eyes close in trust, letting the druid consume their lips, and anything else they can offer.
They can feel a smile play against their lips. Happily lapping up the words like they’re nectar to his ears. His approval coming in the form of his tongue slipping past their lips.
“If you say it again I might not be able to restrain myself any longer.”
They were not aware that he was doing such a thing. Restraint does seem to visibly appear on the man, as he picks them up to hook their legs around him. He’s desperate for them, no longer letting them use their mouth for anything other than to press against his own.
But as he lets go of their lips and travels down their body, Tav gasps their words once again. And again. And again. As many times as Halsin will take them.