Work Text:
Rhian flopped down onto the bedroll in Shadowheart’s tent, leaning back on one hand, her friend right behind her. They’d explored around Rivington for most of the day, getting the lay of the land and seeing what intel they could find before attempting to make it into the fortress, and then the city beyond. They had a few promising leads, but the day had gotten late and they’d decided to call it quits, heading back to where they’d made camp at the edge of town.
Now, she was content to spend the night with Shadowheart, especially when she waved a bottle at her. Rhian grinned up at her, “You would.”
“We cleared the Shadow-Curse, beat Myrkul’s Chosen, and have finally made it- almost made it- to the city,” she sat down next to Rhian, close enough for her leg to just brush against hers, “I say we can celebrate a bit.”
“Sounds good to me,” Rhian took the offered bottle, popping it open and taking a swig.
It was far from the best, but given their current circumstance, she wasn’t going to complain. She passed it back to Shadowheart, neither of them apparently inclined to find a glass, since she also sipped straight from the bottle.
“Is it odd? Being back so close to the city?” Shadowheart asked her.
“Eh, a bit,” Rhian said, “I didn’t tend to get out much, but I’m sure it’ll be even weirder once we actually get past the gate. Everything will probably feel so… normal. What about you?”
Shadowheart fell quiet. They’d found a Sharran lookout earlier, and he’d told them to find the House of Grief. With such a name, Rhian certainly wanted to turn and run the other way. But Shadowheart’s parents had to be there- and if she wanted to find them, to find her answers, they’d have to make their way there eventually. Being back so close to where she’d been raised, molded into a devout Sharran, Rhian knew she had to have mixed feelings with everything they’d discovered.
“We’re so close, I know it, to the end of this,” her cleric answered, “I don’t really have any memories of the city, just bits and pieces, but I suppose it feels something like home, despite how much I’ve changed...”
Rhian nodded, their celebration taking a quick turn into quiet contemplation instead.
After a moment, Shadowheart leaned sideways into her, resting her head on Rhian’s shoulder. “Though I suppose, this feels more like home now than the city does.”
Rhian hummed in amusement. “Ah yes, living in a tent, moving around every couple of days to wherever we can find a place to camp. Home indeed,” she took another gulp of wine.
Shadowheart turned to look at her, clearly unimpressed with that assessment. “What?” Rhian asked, “I’m not saying it’s a bad thing.”
Shadowheart rolled her eyes, “I meant sitting here with you, dummy.”
“Oh,” it took her a moment to fully process what she’d said, the realization hitting her and a grin spreading across her face, “I rather like that, then.”
She lifted the bottle in a toast, “To us, then. To home.”
Shadowheart’s hand wrapped around the bottle, and Rhian relinquished it. “To home,” she agreed, taking a drink and setting it aside.
They lapsed back in to silence, enjoying the quiet night and each other’s company. Rhian laid her head atop Shadowheart’s, her mind turning to other matters, especially when Shadowheart wrapped her arm around her, hand pressed against her side.
As much as Shadowheart had kept her at arm’s length in the shadow-curse lands— her focus on her mission and her now-forsaken goddess taking precedent above all else— Rhian knew she’d been doing the same, if only for different reasons. In the quiet moments, though, she could feel the walls she had carefully maintained come crumbling down, more and more. Surprising, given how guarded the former Sharran had been, to have caught her so unawares and to break down her resolve so quickly.
And now…
Shadowheart’s hand teased at the hem of her shirt, mindlessly brushing her fingers against her skin. Rhian jumped the littlest bit at the contact, pulling Shadowheart back to the present. “Sorry,” she moved to pull back.
Rhian stopped her, grabbing her hand and keeping it pressed to her side. “You’re fine,” Rhian reassured her, “Shads, I…”
“Yes, love?”
“I want you to touch me,” Rhian whispered.
Shadowheart moved to sit up, so she could turn to look at her, one eyebrow quirking up, and Rhian let her go. She could feel her face go hot, realizing how the request sounded, so she amended, “Not— not like that. Not yet. I just mean…”
Rhian swallowed, stuttering out, “Can I—?”
She reached for her, and Shadowheart shifted on the bedroll, so they were sitting face-to-face. “Show me,” she said.
Rhian lightly gripped her arm, gently guiding her hand to the side of her face. She kissed the inside of her wrist, and Shadowheart brushed her thumb along her cheek, her fingers curling against her jaw. Rhian leaned into the touch, silently asking for more.
Shadowheart’s hand moved to her ear, brushing along the back of it, tracing up to the tip. “I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t thought about doing this,” Shadowheart mumbled.
Rhian gave her a nervous laugh. It had been so long since she’d let anyone else this close, to be on the receiving end of physical contact like this.
Shadowheart’s touch was light, and when she grazed her fingers back down along her ear, she shivered, feeling more of the weight of her loneliness start to lift. It had gotten better, since after the nautiloid, finding unexpected friends and allies. This, however… Rhian’s eyes slid closed, and she ducked her head, sliding her hand up to cover Shadowheart’s.
Shadowheart’s other hand was playing along the hem of her shirt in silent question. Rhian nodded, and she slid her hand up, fingers dancing across her skin, over her ribs, causing Rhian to squirm. “Heh, ticklish, are we? Good to know,” Shadowheart mused, running her hand back down her side to her hip and then to rest against her lower back.
Rhian practically fell into her lap, resting against her shoulder, finally giving in to her desire for closeness. Shadowheart laughed lightly under her, “I didn’t realize the slightest touch would have you falling all over me.”
Rhian wrapped an arm around her, grasping lightly at the back of Shadowheart’s shirt, seeking something to ground her. “I haven’t let anyone touch me like this since—“ she stopped herself with a sharp intake of breath, shaking her head to clear those particular thoughts, “It’s been a long time.”
Shadowheart threaded her fingers into her hair, lightly scratching against the back of her head, while rubbing circles against her spine.
“You were going to say since Zorah.”
Rhian nearly pushed her away, wanting to distance herself again. When she tensed at the words, Shadowheart held her tighter, fingers pressing against her neck, her back, a silent plea to stay.
Instead, Rhian shifted so she could see Shadowheart’s face to gauge her reaction. She was met with only gentle understanding, no annoyance or anger at the mention of her late-wife. “I’m sorry,” she still said, “I hope you don’t feel like you’re competing with a dead woman…”
Shadowheart shook her head. “Never,” she promised, “I’m glad you trust me enough, for this.”
Rhian sighed, gaze darting across her face. “Can I kiss you?”
Shadowheart pulled her in, both hands moving to frame her face, thumbs brushing along the tops of her ears. Her lips met hers, soft and tentative at first. Rhian smiled against her, lightly flicking her tongue against her bottom lip.
And it was like a dam broke, and they couldn’t get close enough. Shadowheart’s hands found her hips, pulling her fully into her lap. Rhian met her eagerly, kissing her like her life depended on it. Her hands gripped at the back of her shirt, fingers twisting into the fabric. She couldn’t get enough of her, the taste of the wine on her lips, the warmth of her body pressed against her, the pressure at her hips, wanting Rhian as much as she wanted her.
Rhian pulled away, breathless, leaning her forehead against Shadowheart’s before sitting back. Her partner’s face was flush, her breathing heavy, but she looked… Rhian could only stare at her, taking in every detail of her face. The brightness to her eyes, the slight blush across her cheeks— flushed from more than just the alcohol— the smallest smile on her lips.
She looked happy.
Love blossomed in Rhian’s chest, seeing her like this. Especially after the time they’d spent in the shadow-cursed lands. The realization that they were here, they were together, after everything… Rhian kissed her again, slow and sweet, taking her time.
“One of these days,” Rhian said, in between kisses, “we’ll have to find somewhere quiet, away from everyone else.”
Shadowheart laughed, tilting her head to the side as Rhian continued leaving a trail of kisses along her jaw, to the side of her neck. “Keen to have me all to yourself?”
Rhian chuckled against her skin. “Are you not already all mine? But yes,” she pressed her lips against the bare skin of her shoulder, “I will not have an audience when I have you moaning my name.”
Her words were met with a sharp intake of breath, Shadowheart digging her nails into her shoulders. “Rhian,” she groaned.
“What did I say?” Rhian laughed, capturing her lips again, lest any of their companions hear her, then heaved a sigh, “Too bad we’re stuck in camp for the night then, hm?”
“A shame indeed,” Shadowheart grumbled and let her go, and Rhian reluctantly moved off of her, but remained close.
“But I’ll stay with you tonight, if you’ll have me,” Rhian offered, the second half a joke as she already knew the answer— they’d rarely spent a night apart in weeks, tonight would be no different.
“Oh? I have a choice?” Shadowheart coyly cocked her head.
“Sure,” Rhian flopped back on the bedroll, pillowing her head on her arm, “Choice of if you want to lay nearest the door or not. Anything gets in, who’s it getting first?”
Shadowheart shook her head, mumbling something about her being ridiculous, reaching to pull the tie at the front of the tent, dropping them into darkness. Rhian blinked, waiting for her vision to adjust to the sudden change.
Shadowheart settled in next to her, throwing one leg over Rhian’s and dropping her head against her shoulder. Rhian nestled in closer, wrapping her arm around her shoulders. They’d slept together like this plenty, but after tonight… it felt different, more intimate. Especially when Shadowheart slipped her hand under her shirt, lightly resting her hand against her chest, over her heart. Rhian pressed a kiss to her forehead, closing her eyes and letting herself fall into her meditation, aware of her partner’s breathing going deep and steady, a comforting presence at her side.