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Tara was the first one to notice it.
Well, of course she was. She knew her dear Gale since he was a little kid. Accompanied every centimeter of his growth, watched him practice and improve his magic, and then get into trouble because of it. There was no one in that camp — and perhaps the entire world — who knew him as well as she did.
For that reason, it wasn't hard for her to notice the small, gradual changes in his behavior: he had been in quite the gloomy mood for a long while, but now she could, once again, see the traces of that brilliant and determined boy in him. She recognized that spark in his eyes… The same one from when he tried a new spell, or learned about something incredibly specific to his interests. A spark that he no longer showed when saying Mystra's name, but Astarion's.
Oh, Astarion… Such a lovely little rascal. Tara had her doubts at first, but it didn't take long for her to realize how much he cared for Gale, even if he tried his hardest not to show it. And it was a relief to know someone would keep her boy out of trouble when she wasn't around.
So, she was happy for them. She had looked at Gale's depressed face for far too long, and was more than glad to see it slowly brighten up once again.
-
Karlach was the second one to notice it.
Not that it was difficult… Those two were stealing glances at each other all the time. Sometimes it was so obvious she had to make an effort to control a wave of amused giggles. It was really sweet… Especially because she was pretty sure neither of them was aware of it yet.
Alright, alright… Maybe — and unfortunately — she wasn't an expert when it came to being head over heels for someone, and all that. But she certainly wasn't blind, and whatever it was those two had going on between them, had long stopped being "fucking for fun".
Part of her wanted to tease them so badly… But she wasn't that mean, and watching it all develop from afar could be pretty amusing too. A nice distraction from all the bullshit they had to face on a daily basis.
And, of course, they were happy. At the end of the day, that was the thing that mattered the most: those two had found happiness while the world fell apart around them. And, you know what? Good for them!
Karlach sighed, and a bittersweet feeling that wasn't her engine overheating took her chest. Aw, damn that old rusty… She wanted to get all cozy with someone too.
-
Shadowheart was the third one to notice it.
And maybe she should have noticed it earlier, now that she thought about it. But her mind had been too full with her mission to pay proper attention to those details surrounding her.
It happened that day, when they followed Gale's instructions to resurrect him after an incident. They were all shocked, of course, but Astarion… He was clearly the one who had it worse. He usually seemed so composed and indifferent that his reaction took her completely off-guard. The way he clung to Gale while desperately calling his name… As concerned as she and Karlach had been at the time, there was something different about his reaction.
If it hadn't been for the shock of seeing Gale die, and then immediately come back to life, she would have realized it at that very moment. However, it took her tired mind a few hours, some food, and a long night of rest to fully understand what was happening. Not that she wasn't aware that there was something between them, of course. She still remembered Astarion's face during that party with the refugees… He complained about the wine, but didn't refuse some liquid courage before making his move.
But she wasn't expecting it to become anything more than that: one night of fun while everyone celebrated their victory. And while she had no idea when things started to change, now that she had noticed it, there was no way she could ignore it.
An unexpected development, sure, but she couldn't deny that part of her was curious to see where it would go from there.
-
Wyll was the fourth one to notice it.
It came more like a slow realization than a sudden one. At first, a fond gaze, then a lingering touch, then an expression that probably wasn't meant for anyone to see. He couldn't help but notice that Gale seemed a bit more cheerful lately, and Astarion seemed a little different as well. Still sharp-tongued and full of sass, but… softer, maybe. Softer gaze, softer smile, softer voice when he said Gale's name…
Oh, right… He was completely smitten.
It felt like intruding in their romantic lives sometimes, but what could he do? There wasn't much you could hide when traveling together, and even less when surrounded by friends who care about your well-being.
To be honest, Wyll had his reservations about Astarion at first, especially after that entire biting incident with Gale. But he didn't regret giving him a chance: despite their differences, Astarion had proved to be an invaluable ally, and surprisingly caring when it came to those close to him. And Gale was a good man with a big heart… Hopefully, they would be good for each other.
As he thought about it, however, he couldn't help but glance toward Karlach's tent. Maybe he should follow Astarion and Gale's example and find himself a dance partner as well…
-
Lae'zel was the fifth one to notice it.
She was aware of the physical relationship Astarion and Gale shared from the beginning, but didn't fully understand the meaning of their bond until the day when the wizard named Elminster came to their camp. As he told Gale of Mystra's plans for him, the ferocity she saw in Astarion's face was unlike anything he had expressed before. For a moment, she thought he would attack that wizard, but no… His rage was directed at something beyond that man: the one who sent that message through him. Mystra.
She clicked her tongue, still angry at that goddess's foolishness for underestimating Gale and his allies. Yet, she knew her anger didn't burn as brightly as Astarion's. Lae'zel doubted she would ever fully understand a feeling like "love", but fierce, unwavering loyalty? Yes, that was something she knew very well.
Good. They needed all of their strength to overcome their enemies until they got to the crèche. If fighting for each other's sake was the push they needed, there would be no judgment on her part.
Besides, as unforeseen as it could be, Lae'zel had grown fond of those two — and the others as well. Even Shadowheart… Perhaps especially Shadowheart.
She grunted to herself, annoyed at her own thoughts.
-
Astarion was the sixth one to notice it — or at least that was how long it took for him to face the inevitable truth.
Watching as Gale so easily accepted the fate Mystra forced upon him had permanently shifted something inside Astarion, to the point he could no longer look away from how he felt. So, that same night, as he lay there with Gale in his arms, he realized just how much he didn't want to let him go. Not only did he want to free himself for good from his former master, but he also wanted to free Gale from everything that still connected him to that cruel goddess.
Freedom for the two of them. And then what? Was he really hoping for a happy future when they were already too fortunate to be alive and with no tentacles sprouting from their faces? And he wasn't even considering how, as things were, defeating the absolute would just mean a different and equally dreadful end for both of them.
Those scars in infernal returned to Astarion's mind. He knew Cazador was looking for him… And the one thing keeping Astarion safe from his will was also the one that could end everything at any moment. That, and the orb in Gale's chest weren't the kind of obstacles you could just brush past and ignore.
But there had to be something they could do… They had come that far, so there had to be a way out of it. Hells, he would kill Cazador with his bare hands if he had the chance. As for Gale… They would think of something. It was just a silly orb of magic… They had faced things much worse, hadn't they? There had to be a way to take that thing out of him.
His fears kept him from resting. How ridiculous… He thought he had planned everything so well, that he was one step ahead like usual. But then that wizard ruined everything with his eccentricities and willingness to help everyone in his way — even the ones who, like Astarion, didn't quite deserve it.
Astarion never thought he would fall for someone like him, but… Being with him felt nice. Sometimes frustrating, anxiety-inducing, and more painful than Astarion ever imagined having feelings for someone could be. And still, sweet like nothing else… Something he still struggled to admit he no longer wanted to live without.
That wasn't good. Things were bad enough without him having to worry about someone other than himself. And yet, despite everything, he still didn't want to let go.
-
Gale was the last one to notice it — and only when Astarion told him the truth about his initial intentions with that relationship.
He already knew Astarion had his personal reasons to approach him, and Gale hadn't necessarily been honest with him either. But it still stung to hear him say those words out loud. To his surprise, he wished he had been wrong about it all, and that what they shared had a meaning, even if it wasn't something so deep.
"So…" Astarion let out a small, slightly nervous laugh. "Imagine how stupid I felt when I started to have feelings for you."
His words made Gale stare at him, at a loss. "You do…?"
Astarion stared at him, seeming amused. "You really didn't realize it?"
"I…"
Maybe "not realizing it" wasn't the right way to put it. More than once, he had wondered if there was something more between the two of them, but he never allowed himself to get too lost in those thoughts. Both because of his lingering feelings for Mystra, and the hesitation to offer himself to someone else, only to have his heart broken again.
But that was… good, wasn't it? Actually, it was great… Really great. Amazing, even. So, why did he have no idea what to say?
Aware that Astarion was expecting some kind of reaction, Gale made an effort to respond. "I'm glad to know it's not a one-sided thing on my part." He stopped talking, taking a deep breath to try to calm himself a little. "What I mean is… I care about you too, Astarion. Much more than I thought I would."
Astarion seemed pleased. "Is that so?"
"You don't sound surprised."
"Oh, but I am…" He leaned in Gale's direction, lightly touching his arm. "I was sure you would change your mind after I told you all this."
Gale shook his head. "I knew it from the beginning." He lowered his voice. "It's the last part that caught me by surprise."
"I didn't know it was this easy to surprise you. Maybe I should do it more often." Astarion's confident smile faltered for a second. "So… Will things change between us now?"
Gale considered it, despite the answer being clear in his mind. "I want to stay with you, if this is what you are asking."
"Oh, yes." Astarion's posture relaxed as he offered him a smile. "I would like that too."
Astarion seemed hesitant, but this time Gale didn't wait for him to act, taking a step in his direction, hugging him closely. Astarion slowly melted into that embrace, and so did Gale, welcoming the now familiar feeling. Somehow, that closeness that was growing between them was different from what he once shared with Mystra: no unconditional adoration or constant need to prove himself worthy of his partner, just being with someone who felt like an equal to him — and perhaps that was a good thing. He liked it… Enough to wish for it to not come to an end. To live for it.
Gods… They had to find a way to survive it all. Now that he finally had something like that, he didn't want to let it end.