Work Text:
The rain came down in sheets, relentless and heavy, drumming against the patched canvas of the couple’s tent like a thousand tiny fists. Outside, the narrow alleys of the lower city were slick with runoff, cobblestones glistening beneath the flickering lanterns that hung from crooked iron posts. The scent of wet stone, soot, and distant hearth smoke mingled with the earthy musk of the soaked ground.
The camp was silent save for the sounds of the thundering water brutalising the stone. Everyone hidden away in their own private shelter, Halsin being the only one to sit outside and enjoy the hint of nature amongst the grimy city. The others preferring the warmth of their tents. The gutters above overflowed, spilling water in thick rivulets that splashed into puddles with hollow plunks. Somewhere nearby, Scratch barked once, then fell silent. Probably huddled up with the Owlbear and little Yenna by a small fire. Tav and Shadowheart more the eager to be part of the hidden population amongst the storm.
Inside, the world was smaller-warmer. The couple lay entwined on the bedroll layered with wool and furs. The fabric finally dry after being dampened at the edges from their original attempt to leave the tent. The rain was a lullaby now, steady and hypnotic. Each gust of wind made the tent shudder, but their bodies remained still, pressed close and breathing in sync. The city outside was grim and grey, but in their little pocket of warmth it was just sound. They were untouchable.
Normally the sounds of rain bothered Tav, she would always complain how often it poured in the lower city. However, this particular day it granted some reprieve from the hustling of the world around. Neither complained when the morning came and no one slunk from their shelter to start the day. Occasionally Tav poked her head out to see if any of the others were keen to try and attempt to brave the harsh weather's, only to be pulled seductively back into the warm shelter by a rather eager cleric. Tav would chuckle as she felt her body dragged back to the bedroll. Eager to remain Shadowheart’s captive prisoner. Never complaining or protesting. In fact, this day felt like the most normal their time together had been so far. No hurried embraces, rushing from the bed stiffened or a little sore from exploring one and other. For now the two could rest.
Cuddling did on occasion delve deeper, the two opting to utilise the sounds of the heavy thunder and rainfall to mask any sounds that may sneak out.
Tav lay on her back, an arm behind her head and a rather satisfied smirk hinting the corner of pink lips. Her eyes closed, eyelashes fluttering as she meditated a moment or two. Her other arm wrapped comfortably around a rather naked and candid Shadowheart. The cleric hummed peacefully to herself, a finger tracing the lines of Tav's tattoos aimlessly. Even though Tav's eyes were shut she could hear the smile in her humming, and feel eyes attentively watching her as she rested. She gave the woman a playful squeeze.
"You're starring again love." She smiled, the croak in her voice evident. "Those wandering fingers are quite distracting, you know. How is a woman ever to sleep under these conditions?"
"I've not heard you complain before." Shadowheart cheekily trailed a finger along cheekbone. "Especially about these wandering fingers."
Tav slowly opened an eye and caught the cheeky grin from the woman comfortably sprawled atop her chest. Shadowheart's eyes followed the delicate lines along Tav's face, following as they trailed along neckline and down to collarbone. Tav smiled, Shadowheart had always been drawn to the intricate patterns.
"They’re so very pretty." She thought allowed. "Were they painful?"
"Incredibly." Tav purred, running fingers along the clerics lower back. "Some areas more then most. Other spots, I barely noticed."
"It must've taken hours."
"It wasn't done all at once." Tav chuckled. "The artist became tired after a while. I could have kept going. The feeling of the dragging pin pricks was... Exhilarating..."
"Interesting." Shadowheart mused. "What made you desire them?"
"I remembered the vines my mother had, they were exactly like this." Tav smiled, closing her eyes a brief moment. "I can picture them, I don’t remember much else. Now I look in the mirror and it’s like I can remember her face... It probably sounds strange..."
"Not at all. It sounds beautiful." She smiled, remaining a gentle touch.
"Well I couldn't stop there. I was hooked." Tav chuckled. "What started as a sentimental thing I of course made a game out of. The pain was addictive, and each line made me enjoy my body more and more."
"What do you mean?" Shadowheart raised an eyebrow.
"Well, apart from the enjoyment of receiving the markings." Tav felt blush spreading at her honesty. "Once they healed, my skin felt more sensitive. Like freshly healed skin after a wound has closed, fragile and raw. Every touch feels intense, the good and the bad."
"Wow, I didn't realise that they could be so pretty and pleasurable." Shadowheart softly stroked a particular line. "I've never been with someone who has so many of them so I didn't know that."
"I'm not sure if it's like that for everyone..." Tav looked upwards a moment. "The way I was treated growing up... My body hadn't felt my own for such a long time. Pain and pleasure became both the same numbing feeling. Nothing hurt, but nothing felt good either. When I realised doing this to my body could create such euphoric feelings I guess I was hooked."
“So you’d want more?” Shadowheart eyed her curiously.
“I have some blank spaces, but never in a rush.” Tav smiled. “What about you?”
“I’d be curious, especially with your explanation.”
“Its an indescribable feeling,” Tav smiled. “For those who like a little pain. Or pleasure.”
Shadowheart smiled and began placing delicate, attentive little kisses along the lines of the fragile skin that worked as the canvas to the art marked into her skin. Tav let out a shivering sigh, feeling the sensation rush all the way down her spine.
“Like that,” she breathed, eyes fluttering closed. “Your touch. It always feels... heavenly.”
"I'll keep that in mind." Shadowheart purred a hand guiding down to trail along collar of shirt and down. “Is it the same for the piercings?”
“Guessed it.” Tav breathed a chuckle, enjoying the touch. “Well, that and I thought they looked good.”
“Oh they really do.” Shadowheart beamed. “It certainly caught my attention when we first met. And this one....” her fingers lightly skimmed over the metal hidden under cloth. “is my favourite.”
Redness spread to Tav’s ears, she smirked as a shuddering sigh left her lips. Shadowheart smirked, flicking the hidden ring just under the surface knowing how much her lover enjoyed the contact. She chewed her bottom lip, watching the enjoyment spread on the woman beneath her. Tav swallowed hard, but her eyes slowly opened as her ears registered the easing sounds of the rain above. She sighed, but the sound was almost a growl.
“The rain,” she nodded towards the roof of the tent when Shadowheart shot a questioning look. “I think our time is almost up.”
Shadowheart huffed, rolling onto her back in annoyance. Tav chuckled and rolled onto her side to smile down at the pouting look the silver haired temptress was displaying. The cleric looked very disappointed her fun was coming to an end, it actually warmed Tav’s heart to see the almost childish display. The fighter of course loved the stern and serious nature of the woman, but it was touching to see as time went on the more light hearted she was becoming. The more free, she seemed. Tav couldn’t help but fall more and more love with her, struggling as well to keep her hands to herself. However Tav altered her touch, shifting from anything sensual and simply loving. Running her fingers along the nape of Shadowheart’s neck simply admiring how lucky she was to find such a captivating woman. She understood what the cleric was feeling- she too didn’t want this inherently selfish day to end. The intimacy of being simply two women alone and in love was not something the couple had been able to enjoy together.
But if Tav thought on it more, she doubted she’d ever had a moment to simply be normal like this in general. Not that she ever had anyone she felt safe enough to spend normality with.
The rain above softened its voice gradually, shifting from a hard drumming to a gentle uneven patter against the canvas above. Each drop landed with a muted thud, the fabric absorbing the sound until it became something almost soothing. The storm that had raged moments before now seemed to sigh, its energy draining away into the distance. Wind that once tugged at the tent walls eased into a mild wandering breeze, letting the canvas settle back into stillness. The last rolls of thunder were faint and far off, like a conversation the sky was no longer invested in. What remained was the quiet rhythm of rain—soft, steady, and comforting. Tapping overhead as though the sky itself were exhaling in relief.
“I suppose I can’t hide away from the world forever.” Shadowheart sighed. “Or hold you prisoner forever, either.”
“I’m always eager to be your prisoner.” Tav chuckled. “Perhaps once this is all over, we can hide away from the world as long as you like.”
Shadowheart grinned devilishly, her mind clearly planning a mixture of blissful moments blending with all the deliciously wicked ones. Tav was keen to ask, but she also knew if the conversation started they probably never would have left the tent. She was also certain at some stage the likes of Jaheria would walk in and demand they sat at separate ends of the camp if they didn’t learn to behave themselves. The image made her chuckle.
“What’s so funny?” Shadowheart raised an eyebrow.
“Just life.” Tav shook her head. “You know I never cared for the rain, until today. We’ll make sure to do this again sometime, just stay in bed all day.”
“As long as it is a bed.” Shadowheart sat upright, stretching her back out. “As intimate as this is, I have been dreaming of sprawling out on a big comfortable bed. With fresh linen. Oh and a bath! A hot one.”
Tav chewed her lip, despite her best efforts her mind did race as she enjoyed the view of Shadowheart’s naked back stretching. All of those suggestions sounded very appealing, and perhaps not all that hard to organise.
She smirked, she did have an old contact at the Elfsong that owed a favour or two.
“That could be arranged.” Tav grinned, preparing to stand and offering a helping hand to the sighing Shadowheart.
The last drops fell in slow, uneven taps, as if the storm were reluctant to let go. Just as the couple was. Then, almost imperceptibly, the sound thinned out entirely. One soft patter here, another there—until the canvas roof above them held only silence. The air felt washed clean, cool and still, carrying the faint scent of wet stone.
Tav planted a loving kiss atop Shadowheart’s head, a sweet promise of more normality to eventually come. The fighter more then keen to retire to a quiet life, if it meant her bed was kept warm by the loveable cleric.
For a moment, the world seemed to pause. Then a single bird called out tentative and bright, as though testing whether the storm had truly passed. Another answered from somewhere deeper in the trees. Soon a small chorus gathered, their chirping light and clear, threading through the quiet left behind by the rain. The shift was gentle but unmistakable: the wild drumming of the storm replaced by the soft, hopeful chatter of life returning.
The tent no longer trembled. The world no longer roared. Only birdsong rose in the calm, filling the space where the rain had been. Begrudgingly, the lovers needed to return to the world.