Work Text:
Astarion loathed Gale from the moment they crossed paths. It wasn't merely dislike; but a feeling that seemed to claw at his insides whenever the wizard was nearby. Perhaps it was the way Gale carried himself with an air of unshakeable confidence, or maybe it was his irritatingly optimistic outlook on life, contrasting sharply with Astarion's own worldview. Gale was everything he was not.
At first, Astarion tried to rationalize his dislike towards Gale. He convinced himself that it was because the wizard was a threat due to the Netherese Orb, or because his endless prattle was an annoyance he could do without.
It was infuriating, to say the least. Astarion prided himself on his ability to control his emotions, to manipulate others to his advantage without ever letting them get too close. But with Gale, it was different. No matter how hard he tried to keep his distance, Astarion found it near impossible.
And then, somewhere along the line, his hatred began to transform into something else entirely. It started with respect, and admiration even, for Gale's unwavering ambition. For crying out loud, the Goddess of magic told Gale that he would die, but he stayed loyal to her.
Love was a concept Astarion had dismissed long ago. It didn't seem special after Cazador had him charm his way through victims. He had convinced himself that he was better off without the burden of emotions like love, that they only served to weaken and distract him from his goals. He fought against it, clinging to the belief that love was nothing more than a weakness.
Yet, despite his efforts to resist, love refused to be denied. It crept into Astarion's thoughts like a persistent whisper, tempting him with the possibility of something more than the empty existence he had grown accustomed to. He couldn't shake the memory of all those who had been drawn to him, lured in by his charm only to meet their untimely end at Cazador's hands. It was a burden he carried with him like a scar, a reminder of the darkness that lurked within his soul.
But as he watched Gale from afar, Astarion couldn't help but wonder if perhaps there was another side to love, one that he had yet to explore. Gale was different from anyone he had ever known, his heart seemingly untouched by the shadows that haunted Astarion's own.
He tried to hide the feelings, to bury his feelings beneath layers of indifference, but it was no use. Love had a way of breaking down even the strongest of defenses, and Astarion was powerless against it.
»——•——«
Curiosity stirred within Astarion as he realized Gale was absent from the campsite. He had grown accustomed to the wizard's constant presence. Gale usually sat in front of his tent before he went to bed. He would read about magic, even though Astarion thought he was a master of it already. But now, with Gale nowhere to be found, an uneasy feeling settled in the pit of Astarion's stomach.
Unable to shake the nagging sense of concern, Astarion slipped away from the campsite, his footsteps silent as he made his way into the woods. The night air was cool against his skin, the sounds of the forest alive with a vibrancy.
Astarion's senses sharpened, every rustle of leaves and snap of twigs alerting him to potential danger. But despite how out-of-character he felt, he pressed on.
And then, Astarion stumbled upon a clearing bathed in moonlight. There, amidst a carpet of lush grass and swaying trees, sat Gale, his figure illuminated by a soft, ethereal glow.
For a moment, Astarion simply watched, captivated by the sight before him. Gale moved with fluid grace, his hands weaving intricate patterns in the air as he conjured bursts of color that danced across the sky like shimmering ribbons.
It was a sight, unlike anything Astarion had ever seen.
Then, his thoughts were interrupted. “I know you’re there, Astarion.” Gale chimed and turned around.
Shit.
Astarion played it off. “Really? I thought I was being sneaky.”
Gale chuckled. "You're not as stealthy as you think, my friend," he said with a playful glint in his eyes.
Astarion couldn't help but feel a surge of irritation at Gale's easygoing demeanor, however, he weirdly enjoyed it as well.
"What brings you out here, Astarion?" Gale asked.
Astarion hesitated, unsure of how to respond. Part of him wanted to lash out, to push Gale away again. But another part of him longed to open up, to share the thoughts and feelings that had been swirling inside him ever since they first met.
"I could ask you the same thing," Astarion replied, his tone guarded despite his best efforts to keep it neutral.
Gale smiled, unfazed by Astarion's defensiveness. "I come out here to clear my mind, to connect with the magic of the forest," he explained, gesturing to the swirling colors above them. "It helps me to recharge, to find peace amidst the chaos of our journey."
"Peace?" he scoffed. "I didn't realize you were a poet as well as a wizard."
Gale laughed again, the sound carrying a warmth that seemed to thaw some of the tension between them. "I suppose I have my moments," he said with a shrug, his eyes twinkling with amusement. “Care to join me?” He patted the grass next to him.
Against his better judgment, Astarion found himself nodding, his movements betraying the uncertainty that still lingered in his heart. He crossed the clearing and settled himself onto the grass beside Gale.
For a moment, neither of them spoke, the only sound was the gentle rustle of leaves and the distant hum of nocturnal creatures. Astarion found himself studying Gale's features, the way the light played across his face, casting shadows that danced in time with the flickering colors above them.
"What do you see when you look at the sky, Astarion?" Gale's voice broke through the stillness, his eyes fixed on the horizon as if searching for answers in the depths of the night.
Astarion frowned, caught off guard by the question. "I see... stars," he replied. "And darkness. Always darkness."
Gale nodded slowly, his gaze thoughtful as if he understood the weight behind Astarion's words. "Stars and darkness," he repeated softly as if contemplating the deeper meaning behind those simple words. "Yet, even in the darkness, there is beauty to be found. Sometimes, it just takes a different perspective to see it."
Astarion arched an eyebrow, with skepticism evident in his expression. "You make it sound so simple," he remarked, a hint of bitterness creeping into his voice. "As if beauty can erase the pain of the past." Astarion can no longer tell if his own words are referring to the stars or himself.
"No, it can't erase the pain," Gale nodded, his voice gentle and reassuring. "But perhaps it can offer solace, even if just for a moment. And sometimes, that's enough to keep us going."
"You speak as if you know," Astarion chuckled as if Gale couldn't know pain.
Gale met his gaze. "I've known darkness, Astarion," he confessed, his voice barely above a whisper. "But I've also known beauty.”
Astarion found himself drawn to Gale's vulnerability, a trait he had always viewed as a weakness in others but now saw as a strength.
Astarion’s mouth moves before he can think. "Tell me about the beauty you've known.”
Gale smiled softly, a bittersweet expression that spoke volumes. "There have been moments," he began, his voice tinged with nostalgia. "Moments of pure joy and wonder, of laughter and love.”
Astarion listened intently, captivated by the warmth in Gale's voice, and the way he painted a picture of a world filled with light and possibility. It was a world Astarion had long believed was beyond his reach, a world he had convinced himself he didn't deserve.
"And what about you, Astarion?" Gale asked, turning the question back on him. "Have you ever known beauty?"
Astarion hesitated, the memories of his past flashing before his eyes like shards of broken glass. There had been moments, fleeting glimpses of happiness amidst the chaos and bloodshed. But they had always been overshadowed by the darkness that consumed him, the emptiness that had become his constant companion.
"I... I'm not sure," Astarion admitted, his voice barely audible above the rustle of leaves. "I've known moments of pleasure, of... of satisfaction. But beauty? I'm not sure I would know it if it stared me in the face."
He was laying himself raw. He knows he shouldn’t. Gale could use it against him. But, something about this also felt so right.
Gale reached out, his hand resting gently on Astarion's shoulder. The elf flushed and prayed that a red tint wasn’t covering his pale cheeks.
"You may not see it, Astarion," Gale said softly, his gaze holding a depth of understanding that took Astarion by surprise. "But I believe you have known beauty. Perhaps it's been hidden beneath layers of darkness, but it's there, waiting to be discovered."
Astarion swallowed hard, the lump in his throat making it difficult to speak. "And what if it's too late?"
Gale's expression softened, a look of compassion that made Astarion's heart ache with longing. "It's never too late, my friend.”
Astarion felt his heart pounding in his chest, each beat echoing in his ears like a drum. He could feel Gale's hand on his shoulder, warm and comforting, and he wanted nothing more than to lean into the touch, to lose himself in the safety of Gale's embrace.
But then the doubts crept in, the fear of rejection and humiliation threatening to drown out the fragile hope that had begun to bloom within him. And yet, here he was, on the brink of confessing his deepest secrets to someone. It was madness, sheer madness, and yet Astarion couldn't deny the pull he felt towards Gale, the magnetic force that seemed to draw them together like moths to a flame.
"I..." Astarion began, his voice barely above a whisper. But then he faltered, the words catching in his throat like a fish caught on a hook. What was he thinking, baring his soul like this? What could he possibly hope to gain from such foolishness?
"You don't have to say anything," Gale responded softly, his voice a gentle caress against the elf's ears.
Gale's words washed over Astarion like a soothing balm, calming the storm of doubt and uncertainty that raged within him. And at that moment, Astarion realized that maybe, just maybe, he didn't have to hold back anymore.
"I..." Astarion tried again, his voice steadier this time. But then he hesitated, the weight of his confession pressing down on him like a leaden weight. How could he put into words the emotions that swirled within him, the longing and desire that threatened to consume him whole?
But then he looked into Gale's eyes, those deep pools of warmth and understanding, and he knew that he couldn't keep it bottled up any longer. Not when Gale was sitting right there in front of him, offering him a lifeline in a sea of darkness.
And then, before he could stop himself, the words spilled out in a rush, tumbling from his lips like a waterfall.
"I think... I think I love you, Gale," Astarion confessed, his voice trembling with emotion. "I know it's foolish and reckless, and I shouldn't be feeling this way, but... but I can't help it. You've shown me a side of myself I didn't know existed, a side that yearns for something more than the darkness that's consumed me for so long. And I don't know what to do with it, Gale. I'm scared and confused, and I don't know if I'm worthy of your love, but I had to tell you. I had to let you know how I feel."
Silence fell upon them. Astarion held his breath, his heart pounding in his chest as he waited for Gale's response. He prepared himself for the worst, just like he used to with Cazador.
And then, slowly Gale reached out, his hand cupping Astarion's cheek with a tenderness that took his breath away.
"I..." Gale began, it was his turn for his voice to give out.
Gale's gaze bore into Astarion's, piercing through the layers of doubt and fear that had shrouded his heart for so long. And in those depths, Astarion saw something that stole his breath away: love.
Without another word, without hesitation, Gale leaned forward, his lips meeting Astarion's in a tender kiss that ignited a fire within his soul. It was a kiss filled with longing.
For a moment, Astarion forgot about the darkness that had plagued him for centuries, forgot about the doubts and insecurities that had held him back. In that moment, all that mattered was Gale, and the overwhelming rush of emotion that surged between them like a tidal wave.
Their lips parted, but the connection remained, almost as if an invisible thread bound them. And as they gazed into each other's eyes, Astarion knew that he had found something worth fighting for, something worth risking everything for.
"I love you, Astarion," Gale whispered. "I love you more than words can express, more than I ever thought possible. With you, I forget my goddess.”
Astarion felt tears prickling at the corners of his eyes, tears of joy and relief, and a thousand other emotions he couldn't name. He reached out, his hand finding Gale's and intertwining their fingers together.
"I love you too, Gale," Astarion murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. "More than I could’ve thought.”
Gale's smile was radiant, illuminating the darkness around them like a beacon of hope. And as they sat there, bathed in the glow of their newfound love, Astarion knew that he had finally found the beauty he had been searching for all his life.
And as they leaned into each other, their lips meeting in another tender kiss, Astarion made a silent vow to cherish every moment they shared, to hold onto this newfound love with all his heart.