Chapter Text
“You seem to be in a good mood.” Shadowheart remarks.
To say that Astarion is merry and bright might just be a huge understatement. The spawn practically glows with all his pride and edges, a mischievous smile curling around his lips as two crimson eyes chase behind Scratch up and down the camp.
“But how could I not be，darling? ” says the pale elf almost innocently, “I’m not hungry，nor am I having an unhealthy amount of sex-oof I can assure you that is tiresome. I’m no longer subject to Cazador’s perverted pleasure, and I don’t even have to worry my perfect arse off over it！”
Except he does, and you probably know him better than anyone else to point it out. So you bend your knees to give Scratch one last pet，the shepherd’s tail wagging ferociously，easily satisfied by a routine play of fetch. “I’m afraid we’ll have to go now.” You tell him apologetically, “We’ve got a whole continent to save. ”
There’s few to hunt across the shadow-cursed land，most enemies being undead. To everyone’s surprise，Astarion doesn’t seem to mind as much. He’s become pickier since his “coming out of the casket”, even more so after the experiment, in which you all agree to let him take one bite of each and everybody in the camp, just because he was curious, or because it was an especially boring day, hardly any blood had been shed，and that simply couldn’t do. Gale disapproved. But the fact that the experiment ended up with Astarion biting into Karlach and caught fire in his mouth made up for everything.
“Fuck you!” He'd sweared, and somehow the f-word sounded just like Tasha’s Hedious Laughter, which was precisely the moment when you lost it all. Shadowheart couldn’t stop giggling. Halsin roared. Karlach almost choked on her own breath. Wyll had to come to her rescue.
“Come on, quit sulking. You asked for it.” Said Lae'zel, amused. “Even I have to admit it’s rather funny.” She was right. It didn’t take long for Astarion to give up his temper.
“You’re hopeless. I don’t even know how I could ever put up with you.”
“Is that coagulated blood?” Gale observes during short rest, when Astarion produces a small bottle out of his pocket. Cheese and wine have been passed around. “So that’s why you wanted to learn the cold spell, to preserve your snacks.”
“I still plan to go back to Baldur’s Gate, mind you, preferably not starved to unconsciousness half way.” Astarion says, moving closer to the camp fire to heat up the bottle of blood.
“Thoughtful. ”Gale nods. “You must have been preparing for this since we made plans for Moonrise.”
“Well it’s not like I have another choice，do I?” You catch a glimpse over the fire，ruby eyes lit up by warm light. They blink at you once, then turn back to Gale. “Blood of wild life, so plain, tasteless as water. Not as bad as yours I suppose.”
“And I’m definitely not offended.” Gale replies good-naturedly.
“If I were you，I’d keep an eye on him.” Beside you Shadowheart says. She sounds different ，not so aggressive as the way she talks about Lae'zel，but concerned. Knowing Shadowheart，this may boil down to anything，from private feelings to fatal death.
“Should I be worried?”
“No.” She tilts her head in that exact adorable way, curious, intrigued. She's into this sort of things. Sentiments. “It’s just，we don’t want to see your body lying there in the morning again， do we？”
You share a little laugh, remembering how your blood-thirsty friend went a bit too far the first time he drank from your neck. Luckily you've got just enough reviving scrolls in camp, so the others didn’t have to bother Wither because a travelling companion had literally sucked the life out of you，oops.
After that, everyone knew about the vampirism.
“Stay vigilant, but don’t overthink about it, alright?” She says, “ I think he’s grown quite fond of you.”
“I don’t know. I just wish for him to be happy.” You wonder if anyone can be happy though, truly happy.
“So it’s a challenge then.” Says Shadowheart,“Just like the one Lady Shar bestowed upon myself.”
And you know better than to argue with her about that.