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"What can I do for you?" Gale had always asked Tav, because what is he without this question? Who is he without being useful, without his magic?
The answer is worthless.
And the most interesting thing is that he got used to it.It was like this since his childhood. He was a prodigy, a young talent, but never just Gale. When he got older, before his relationship with Mystra, people were interested in him. He thought they were listening when he shared something he learned recently, thought that they laughed at his jokes.
They listened, but never heard. They laughed, but never sincerely.
With time he learned that people were interested in Gale of Waterdeep, not Gale Dekarios. And he obligated, put the second one aside, because it's clearly not their fault, right? He is needed, wanted only if he has something others want, it being power, authority or something else. Not when he's constantly talking about some obscure magic facts or his favorite recipes.
And when she took interest in him, made him her lover, Gale gave her everything he had. Every last bit of his being, if we're being dramatic. Because he was chosen, because she chose. Sometimes she gave him this look he saw so many times before on people he'd been with. You can call it generous pity. Like her eyes were saying "I will tolerate you for a bit, but my patience is not eternal". When Gale noticed this look, he abruptly stopped talking and gave Mystra a weak smile. "We are done for today, Gale. You can go" she would usually say and suddenly the Astral Plane was gone, all the stars and beauty he loved so much, and he was again in his tower. So painfully human.
His believe in the fact that his worth without his magic is close to nothing only increased after the mistake. He thought that he was able to find a missing piece of a goddess, of magic itself. What a fool. Of course he couldn't handle it properly, and then, to make sure that other people are safe, locked himself in his tower for a year. That year was painfully silent. While being with Mystra he sometimes thought of other humans as something smaller, weaker than him, because who they are to the one the goddess of magic chose to be hers?
That damn year in the tower he wanted nothing more than to hear a voice of another human being.
Tara, dear Tara, help him, of course. He didn't know where he would be without her. He spoke to her sometimes when she would bring another magical artifact to consume, she answered, but on really painful days, when the orb hurt worse than usual, she just looked through him with such anger and sorrow, as like she was looking at someone, something that lead this little boy she met all those years ago to where, how he is now.
So yes, for the most part of his life Gale thought that he is worth something if he is useful. And then he met Tav.
Why, for God’s sake, Tav always asks him what they can do for him?
Why do they always listen to him, even though they are only vaguely familiar with magic, why do they ask meaningful questions about something he likes?
Why do they laugh with him at his (sometimes) awful jokes? Why do they allow him to be sarcastic and playful with them?
Why do they let him stay, knowing he may possess real danger to others? Why do they smile in relief and look at him with said relief when finding another magical artifact, even if they've already given him one not so long ago?
Why do their eyes light up when they're looking at him? It could've been just their general attitude, Gale could see clearly that Tav loved every single member of their strange team dearly, but when they're approaching his tent to ask something he can swear that Tav's glowing.
Why do they look so angry, so full of rage when they hear what message Mystra sent through Elminster? After that, every time he even mentions the possibility of using the orb, they look him right in the eyes and say just one word–no.
All of these questions are partially answered when, sitting beneath the beautiful sky he made an illusion of (later he swears that if he had more time it would've been better), looking at him with this familiar light in their eyes they say that his affection is not one-sided. Before in his heart was grief for the life he could have if he had more time, hadn't made an ass of himself with the orb situation, and it was still there but gods he is relieved that they feel the same way. Actually, the questions should be answered fully, but there's this ever-present tiny voice in his head that whispers "You are not worth of them, Gale. How dare you believe otherwise?"
And oh Gods, does Tav ever tries to assure him otherwise.
In every look, every little (or not) gesture, every action, they let him know that he can just be. Be "old plain" Gale Dekarios, and it'll be enough and more for them. That they're here, with him, they're his as much as he's theirs, and world be damned if someone will ever doubt that.
After the battle with the Netherbrain everyone tries to help the other–quickly saying their goodbyes to Karlach and Wyll, only because it's needed to be done quick, tracking down where Astarion had run off to help him recover from his burns, saying now more proper goodbyes to Lae'zel before she goes to fight for her people, to Halsin who will, maybe, forgive himself for his mistake in the not anymore cursed lands in the presence of children who'll need help, to Shadowheart who'll finally live her life and remember it.
When they're done with all the helping and farewells, neither of them can believe that now they can live... normally? Without thinking where to get supplies for the day, without threats behind every corner. They're finally alone in their room at the Elfsong tavern and it's strangely quiet. But this quietness is...comforting. For a long time, they just sleep in each other's embrace, tired from the (literally)battle of their lives.
Even after Tav eagerly agrees to his proposal the next morning Gale just cannot believe how he deserved someone like them in his life, the life he'll be able to live freely with them after delivering the crown. But, for once, that voice in his head is silent. It will come back sometimes, sure, but now there's someone who'll make it more quiet with every passing day.
And after some time, when he's sitting on his favorite balcony with Tav in their home in Waterdeep, enjoying the view, Gale thinks that maybe, it is really true that he's enough.