Chapter Text
He couldn't fucking write. He couldn't fucking draw. Last thing he couldn't fucking do was sing. Was just so hard, sometimes, for a gobbo like Crusher. All he really wanted was to become a True Soul, that, and finally have a brick home instead of slaving away in hobgoblin war camps. But nooo. Nothing was ever easy for Crusher.
Except for having a crush. Crushing on Tav was easy. Stupid human thought herself queen of the world, and of course she looks the part. Long flowy silken hair, and pretty eyes like the gems he once nicked off a dwarven corpse. Price of those gems fed him and his boys for a few weeks.
So how does he end up having a crush on a stupid human like her? Easy. She smiled at him prettily and asked him for directions to Priestess Gut. Gave it to her like a pup, he did. Should've asked for coin, should've told her she could fuck right off, but he didn't. When she was done asking, Crusher figured he had been standing on his toes a moment too long, trying to look tall.
Ended up sitting near her during supper, behind her really, but near enough that he could sniff out her musk. Don't take ol’ Crusher for a pervert though, that's just the way gobbo's figure out if you're wanting a mate. Some gobbo's like to perfume their wrist using crushed flowers and herbs or the like, others who feel a little more fancy, decide to nab some luxurious oil.
Now, he took a whiff of the air and Tav damn near smelled like she wanted a mate, cause she smelled sweet-like. Deciding to test the waters, Crusher tapped her shoulder, as gentle as a gobbo could be, and she turned to him, her lips covered with a light film of grease. He decided then and there that the cook's lumpy broth had never looked better, than on her lips. Crusher had seconds that evening, for the first time.
No one can say Crusher didn't have a knack for romance, not after he picked some wild flowers for Tav. Presenting the bunch was a whole other story. She was always surrounded by others: a damn elf, another damn elf, a damn human, and another red fucking elf with horns. Wasn't that Crusher was nervous or anything, but he needed a moment alone with the lady before he could use his charms on her. Perhaps he was a little shy, but who could blame him? He's been a hunter all his life, not spending time romancing makes your skills a bit rusty with the ladies; he’s a self-proclaimed expert in pleasing them though.
“Oi, need to talk to you,” he said to Tav, keeping himself all stoic and such. It was a fine evening, the fires burnt hot, and there was plenty of booze and meat around. Crusher had taken a bath specifically for Tav, knowing how humans liked their mates prim and proper. He did find out that not brushing his mane for a few months has its draw-backs; probably broke two combs already. In all his frustration he had pulled it back in a tail. Perhaps showing off his missing ear would impress her, show her he is a real fighter, not a gobbo from the mines or kitchen's, that is, if his scarred face didn't already convince her.
“About what?” She'd asked him, her voice as sweet as nectar, her eyes shining in the firelight. She didn't scowl nor curse at him, she talked to him with respect, something he never got from other races other than his own. Made him stand a little taller and caused his heart to pound faster. Usually that only occurred when there was a hobgoblin warchief or drow around to be scared of.
“Jus’... Follow me alright? Nothing to be scared of girly, just need to speak with you between uh, us four eyes,” he said slowly, trying to keep his voice light, which wasn’t very light. He tried to smile, but his smile could only invite unease with his needle-like teeth, she didn’t seem scared of him though. The bunch of wild flowers he had plucked earlier that day were hidden behind his back. The other gobbo's were too drunk or didn't care enough to see how Crusher's hands were shaking. He was nervous alright.
Tav had followed him, her, in her light dress with gold straps, and he, in his worn leather armour, heading to the back of one of the ruined chapels, for some privacy.
“Got you eh…these flowers, found them, rather. Thought you might like ‘em.” He didn't look at her, the tip of his remaining ear as red as a beet, he handed the small bouquet over. Tav blinked a few times in surprise, accepting the gift, their fingers touching for a moment.
“Thank you, Crusher, that is very sweet of you,” she smiled at him, warmly . Crusher could be decapitated by boss Ragzlin right now and he wouldn't give a fig. He didn't remember what he said back. He probably acted like an idiot and mumbled something about feeling sick. At the time he was sure he was, the way his face felt hot. He stopped by Priestess Gut for a quick potion or some other kind of fix, but she promptly kicked his arse out. Was being stupid, she said, threatening to turn him into a toad.
His heart felt like it could stop at any moment, anytime she was around. Perhaps she was a hag of some kind, but he never saw a hag as beautiful as she; he started not minding that she might be one.
That night he often looked at the spaces between his fingers, hers would fit perfectly between them.