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The tavern was overflowing with laughter, music, and the clatter of mugs as Vox Machina celebrated the successful completion of another dangerous mission that had nearly ended with several of them seriously injured. Warm lanternlight bathed the crowded room in shades of gold and amber while servers hurried between tables carrying overflowing trays of food and drink.
Travelers, merchants, and adventurers packed every available seat, drawn by the promise of good company and strong ale after a long day. For once there were no looming threats hanging over their heads, allowing everyone present to enjoy a rare evening of peace.
Grog stood atop a chair despite repeated objections from Pike, enthusiastically reenacting portions of the battle while exaggerating every detail with increasing enthusiasm. Nearby, Scanlan had somehow convinced half the tavern to join him in a song that became more ridiculous with each passing verse, much to the delight of the increasingly intoxicated crowd. Keyleth was laughing so hard she could barely remain seated while Vex shook her head in fond exasperation at the chaos unfolding around them. The atmosphere was warm, familiar, and comfortable in a way that reminded all of them why they continued fighting to protect the world.
At the center of the table sat Percy and Vax, enjoying the celebration from a slightly quieter corner where they could observe their friends without being pulled directly into the madness.
Vax looked more relaxed than he had in weeks, the tension that usually lingered in his shoulders noticeably absent as he leaned comfortably back in his chair. Percy found himself paying less attention to the festivities and more attention to the half-elf sitting beside him, something he had been guilty of for years and had long since stopped trying to hide.
After everything they had survived together, evenings like this felt precious.
Vax noticed the attention almost immediately and raised an eyebrow as he turned toward his husband with unmistakable amusement shining in his eyes. "You have been staring at me for the better part of ten minutes, darling. I am beginning to wonder if there is something on my face that requires such dedicated observation. If there is, I would greatly appreciate being informed." His voice carried the familiar teasing affection that Percy knew by heart.
Percy smiled over the rim of his glass while making absolutely no effort to appear embarrassed about being caught. "I assure you there is nothing wrong whatsoever. The problem is simply that I continue to find you significantly more interesting than anything else in this room. Unfortunately I have yet to discover a cure for this particular affliction." His expression remained entirely sincere.
Vax rolled his eyes despite the faint blush beginning to color the tips of his ears, a reaction that never failed to delight Percy no matter how many times he witnessed it. "One would think that after all these years you would have learned at least a little subtlety. Instead you seem determined to become increasingly obvious with age. It is honestly rather impressive." The half-elf struggled unsuccessfully to suppress a smile.
Percy placed a hand dramatically against his chest as though deeply wounded by the accusation. "Subtlety has never accomplished anything worthwhile for me. Besides, I married you despite your endless sarcasm, so I believe I have earned the right to be a little obvious. That seems more than fair." His eyes sparkled with amusement.
Before Vax could answer, Scanlan's singing reached a volume that drew groans from several nearby patrons and laughter from everyone else in the room. The distraction caused Vax to shake his head fondly before pushing himself upright from his chair and stretching after remaining seated for so long. Percy watched him rise with the absent affection of someone who had memorized every movement of the person he loved. Neither of them noticed the stranger watching from across the tavern.
The man blended easily into the crowd, dressed plainly enough that nothing about him stood out among the dozens of patrons surrounding him. His expression remained calm and pleasant as he observed Vox Machina from a distance, patiently studying their movements and interactions. Most of his attention remained focused on Vax, following the rogue whenever he shifted position or moved through the room. He had clearly been waiting for an opportunity.
Vax glanced toward the bar before looking back at Percy with a small smile. "I am going to get another drink before Scanlan somehow convinces this entire establishment to join his performance. If that happens, I fear escape may become impossible. I trust you will survive until I return." He offered a playful salute.
Percy reached out and briefly squeezed his husband's hand before letting go. "I shall endure with all the courage and dignity expected of me. Please try not to disappear mysteriously while you are gone. It would create an enormous amount of paperwork." His tone remained completely serious despite the obvious joke.
Vax laughed softly as he turned away from the table and disappeared into the crowd, weaving effortlessly between patrons with the ease of someone accustomed to moving unnoticed whenever necessary. The celebration continued around him while he crossed the tavern toward the bar, entirely unaware that the stranger had risen from his seat and begun following at a discreet distance. Nothing about the situation appeared unusual from the perspective of anyone watching. That was precisely why it worked.
The bartender was busy serving several customers when Vax arrived, forcing him to wait while the older man finished filling a series of orders. While he stood there, the stranger casually approached and settled onto the neighboring stool with the ease of someone striking up a harmless conversation. Vax acknowledged him politely, exchanging a few brief words while keeping most of his attention on the celebration taking place behind him. The interaction seemed completely ordinary.
Several minutes later the bartender returned with Vax's drink and set it on the counter before moving away to assist someone else. During the brief distraction, the stranger slipped a small vial from his sleeve and emptied its contents into the glass with practiced precision. The liquid dissolved instantly, leaving no visible trace behind. Nobody noticed what had happened.
Vax thanked the bartender and took a drink while continuing the conversation without suspicion, unaware that his fate had already changed. The stranger remained calm and friendly, carefully avoiding anything that might attract unwanted attention while he waited for the substance to take effect. Around them the tavern remained loud and lively, completely oblivious to the danger unfolding in its midst. The celebration continued uninterrupted.
At first the effects were subtle enough that Vax barely noticed them, manifesting as nothing more than a brief wave of dizziness that passed through him unexpectedly. He frowned and rubbed at one temple, assuming the sensation was the result of exhaustion from their recent mission rather than anything more serious. Unfortunately the feeling continued growing stronger with every passing moment instead of fading away. A sense of unease settled in his stomach.
The music seemed strangely distant all of a sudden, as though someone had moved it much farther away despite the fact that nothing around him had changed. The lights overhead blurred together whenever he tried to focus on them, forcing him to blink repeatedly in an effort to clear his vision. His limbs felt heavier than they should have, making even simple movements require more effort than normal. Alarm began creeping into his chest.
The stranger immediately noticed the change and leaned slightly closer while maintaining an expression of concerned friendliness. "You do not look particularly well at the moment. I think you may have overdone it and should probably get some fresh air before things get worse. Trust me, I have seen this happen before." His voice remained smooth and reassuring.
Vax opened his mouth to answer but immediately realized something was wrong when the words emerged slurred and uneven despite his efforts to speak clearly. Panic surged through him as he attempted to push himself upright, only to discover that his balance was rapidly deteriorating. He had not consumed nearly enough alcohol to explain what was happening. Every instinct he possessed screamed that he needed to get back to Percy immediately.
The stranger stood and gently caught Vax before he could stumble, presenting the appearance of a helpful acquaintance assisting an intoxicated friend. To anyone watching, the interaction appeared completely innocent and unremarkable. Nobody paid attention as the stranger guided the increasingly disoriented rogue toward a side exit away from the celebration. The perfect crime depended upon appearing ordinary.
Vax fought desperately to remain conscious while they crossed the tavern, but the drug clouding his mind made coherent thought increasingly difficult to maintain. He knew something was wrong and understood that he was in danger, yet his body refused to cooperate no matter how hard he struggled. Every step felt heavier than the last. The doorway seemed impossibly far away.
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Back at the table, Percy suddenly looked up from his conversation with Vex as an inexplicable feeling of unease settled heavily in his chest. He could not explain the sensation or identify its source, but years of experience had taught him not to ignore his instincts when they warned him that something was wrong. His eyes immediately searched the room for Vax. The rogue was nowhere to be seen.
Percy waited several moments, expecting his husband to emerge from somewhere within the crowded tavern, but the longer he looked the more concerned he became. Vax rarely disappeared without explanation, especially during celebrations involving the rest of Vox Machina. More importantly, he never vanished without saying something to Percy first. The realization tightened his chest.
Vex noticed the shift in his expression and immediately frowned. "What is wrong with you all of a sudden. You look like someone just informed you the world is ending again. Did something happen?" Her concern was immediate.
Percy pushed himself out of his chair while continuing to scan the room. "I cannot find Vax anywhere and that is beginning to concern me. He should have returned by now and something feels wrong. I intend to investigate." His voice had become noticeably sharper.
Without waiting for further discussion, Percy crossed the tavern and headed directly toward the bar where he hoped someone might have seen where Vax had gone. His pulse quickened with every step as a growing sense of dread settled over him. Deep down he already knew this was more than a simple misunderstanding. Something had happened.
The bartender listened carefully to Percy's questions before pointing toward the side exit near the back of the tavern. According to him, Vax had left only a few minutes earlier with another man after appearing unusually unsteady on his feet. The description immediately sent a wave of cold fear through Percy's entire body. Vax would never willingly leave with a stranger.
Percy turned toward the exit without another word. His heart pounded violently against his ribs while countless terrible possibilities raced through his mind. Every protective instinct he possessed screamed that his husband was in danger. Whoever had taken Vax had made a catastrophic mistake.
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The cool night air struck Percy's face the moment he stepped outside, but he barely noticed the sudden change in temperature as his attention focused entirely on finding any sign of where Vax had been taken. The streets surrounding the tavern remained busy despite the late hour, filled with merchants closing their shops, travelers making their way toward inns, and citizens enjoying the final hours of the evening. Under normal circumstances the crowd would have made tracking someone nearly impossible, but Percy knew Vax well enough to recognize the signs of a struggle if he looked carefully. Every second that passed felt unbearably important.
He forced himself to slow down despite the panic threatening to overwhelm him, because rushing blindly through the streets would accomplish nothing except waste valuable time. Years of investigation, invention, and monster hunting had taught him that careful observation often revealed details others overlooked. His eyes moved methodically across the ground, examining footprints, disturbed dirt, and anything else that appeared unusual. Eventually he spotted a faint scuff mark leading toward a narrow alley.
The mark by itself would have meant very little to most people, but Percy immediately noticed several more scattered farther ahead. The pattern suggested someone struggling to maintain their footing while being guided or dragged along a specific route. Combined with the bartender's description of Vax appearing unsteady, the evidence painted a disturbing picture. Percy's stomach twisted painfully.
He followed the trail deeper into the city while gripping Pepperbox tightly enough that his knuckles turned white beneath his gloves. The anger building inside him felt cold and focused rather than explosive, a dangerous sort of fury that sharpened his thoughts instead of clouding them. Someone had deliberately targeted Vax. Someone had drugged his husband and taken him away.
Back inside the tavern, Vex watched Percy disappear through the exit before immediately standing from her chair. Years of adventuring alongside her brother had taught her to recognize when something was genuinely wrong, and the expression on Percy's face had filled her with concern. She trusted his instincts almost as much as she trusted her own. The situation clearly demanded attention.
Vex turned toward the rest of Vox Machina, her posture becoming noticeably more serious. "Percy believes something has happened to Vax and I am inclined to agree with him. He went outside to investigate because the bartender claims Vax left with a stranger. I do not like any part of that sentence." Her voice cut cleanly through the surrounding noise.
The effect was immediate.
Grog stopped talking.
Scanlan stopped singing.
Pike's smile vanished.
Keyleth looked alarmed.
Grog pushed himself upright so quickly that his chair nearly toppled backward onto the floor behind him. "Vax would not leave with some random person unless something was wrong. Vax is sneaky and weird and suspicious about everything. This sounds bad." His expression darkened.
Pike nodded in agreement while gathering her equipment. "We should find Percy before he gets himself into trouble trying to handle this alone. If Vax really is in danger then every minute matters. We need to move now." Her voice remained calm despite the worry visible in her eyes.
The group wasted no time following Percy into the streets.
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Meanwhile, Vax drifted in and out of consciousness while the stranger guided him through a series of increasingly isolated alleys far removed from the busy portions of the city. His thoughts felt disconnected and sluggish, making it difficult to understand exactly where he was or how much time had passed since leaving the tavern. Every attempt to fight the effects of the drug ended in frustration as exhaustion pulled him back toward unconsciousness. The world seemed wrapped in fog.
He vaguely registered being led through a doorway.
Then down a flight of stairs.
Then into a room.
After that everything became unclear again.
The stranger finally released him once they reached their destination, allowing Vax to collapse onto the floor while another figure stepped forward from the shadows. The newcomer appeared older than the first man and carried himself with the confidence of someone accustomed to being obeyed. His gaze lingered on the half-elf with obvious satisfaction. Whatever plan they had in mind, it had clearly gone exactly as intended.
The older man folded his arms while studying his captive. "I must admit that this was significantly easier than expected. Everyone talks about Vox Machina as though they are invincible heroes beyond the reach of ordinary people. It turns out they can be caught off guard just like anyone else." His smile never reached his eyes.
The first man nodded proudly.
"We managed to separate him from the group without attracting attention. None of them seemed to notice until we were already gone. The drug worked perfectly."
The older man appeared pleased by the report.
Vax forced himself to focus despite the haze clouding his thoughts, desperately trying to gather enough information to understand what was happening. He recognized neither voice and could not identify their motives from the limited conversation he had overheard. The only thing he knew for certain was that these men were dangerous. He needed to escape.
Unfortunately his body remained frustratingly uncooperative.
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Back in the city streets, Percy continued following the trail while Vox Machina spread out behind him to search for additional clues. The signs became easier to follow once they left the crowded districts and entered quieter sections of the city where fewer people traveled at night. Every new piece of evidence confirmed his growing suspicion that Vax had been taken against his will. The realization made his chest ache.
Eventually the trail led them toward an older warehouse district near the edge of the city.
Many of the buildings had been abandoned years ago.
The streets were nearly empty.
The silence felt wrong.
Percy slowed his pace as they approached a row of aging warehouses whose windows had long since been boarded shut. Most appeared completely deserted, but one showed subtle signs of recent activity that immediately caught his attention. Fresh footprints marked the dirt outside the entrance. A faint light glowed beneath the door.
Someone was inside.
Percy raised a hand to stop the others.
His eyes never left the building.
His heart pounded.
He knew.
Vex moved quietly beside him while studying the warehouse. "You think he is in there. I can see it on your face. Tell me what you are thinking." Her voice remained low.
Percy swallowed hard before answering. "The trail ends here and everything about this place feels wrong. I would stake my life on Vax being inside that building. The question is what condition he is in." His voice sounded strained.
The thought twisted like a knife in his chest.
Every terrible possibility he had imagined since leaving the tavern returned with renewed force. He pictured Vax frightened, injured, alone, and wondering why nobody had come for him yet. The images made him feel physically sick. More than anything else, he wanted to reach his husband.
Grog cracked his knuckles loudly while staring at the warehouse door. "Then we should stop standing around and go get him back. I am very good at opening doors. Sometimes the door survives." His grin looked positively dangerous.
A faint smile briefly appeared on Percy's face despite everything.
The expression vanished almost immediately.
He checked Pepperbox one final time.
Tonight was not ending without Vax.
And anyone standing between them was about to learn exactly how far Percy de Rolo was willing to go for the person he loved.
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The warehouse seemed to groan around them as the battle continued on the lower floors, old beams rattling beneath the force of Grog's enthusiasm and the various explosions of magic unleashed by the rest of Vox Machina. Percy barely noticed any of it as he raced through the dimly lit corridors, his attention focused entirely on finding the person he had come here to save. Every room he checked and every hallway he cleared without finding Vax only made the fear in his chest grow heavier. He needed to find him before something went wrong.
A faint voice drifted through the chaos, so quiet that Percy almost thought he had imagined it at first. He froze in place and listened carefully while the sounds of fighting echoed through the building around him. The voice came again, weak but unmistakably familiar. Relief crashed into him so hard that it nearly stole the breath from his lungs.
Vax struggled to lift his head from where he sat restrained to a chair, the lingering effects of the drug making every movement feel frustratingly difficult and slow. "Percy, if that is actually you making all this noise downstairs, I would appreciate being rescued sometime soon. I understand that dramatic entrances are important to your image. However, I feel this situation may require slightly less theatrics and slightly more urgency." His voice was tired but carried a familiar note of amusement.
The sound gave Percy a direction and he immediately sprinted toward it, following the voice through a maze of narrow hallways and poorly maintained staircases. His pulse hammered against his ribs while a dozen terrible possibilities continued racing through his mind despite knowing Vax was alive. The fear had not disappeared simply because he had heard his husband speak. It would not disappear until he saw him with his own eyes.
A guard standing outside the room straightened abruptly when he noticed someone approaching at alarming speed through the corridor. The man's confidence vanished almost immediately when he recognized the armed nobleman charging toward him with murder in his eyes. Panic flashed across his face as he reached for the weapon hanging from his belt. It was a mistake he would regret almost instantly.
Percy raised Pepperbox without slowing his stride, his expression frighteningly calm despite the fury burning beneath the surface. "Step away from that door immediately. Put your weapon on the ground and keep your hands where I can see them. This is the only warning you are going to receive." His voice was low and deadly.
The guard hesitated for a fraction of a second before choosing the wrong option, his hand continuing toward the weapon despite the warning he had just received. The gunshot echoed through the hallway like thunder, causing dust to drift from the ceiling overhead. The weapon was knocked from the man's hand before he ever had a chance to draw it properly. He collapsed to the floor moments later, more frightened than injured.
Percy barely spared the guard another glance before reaching the door and shoving it open with enough force to slam it against the wall. The room beyond was small and poorly furnished, containing little more than a table, a chair, and a few crates stacked along one side. None of those things mattered once his eyes found Vax sitting near the center of the room. For a moment the rest of the world ceased to exist.
Vax looked exhausted, pale, and more than a little unsteady, but he was alive and conscious despite everything that had happened. "Hello, darling. I must admit that this evening has been considerably less enjoyable than I originally expected. I would very much like to leave now if that can be arranged." Despite his condition, warmth lingered in his eyes.
The sight nearly brought Percy to his knees as relief and anger collided violently inside his chest, leaving him unsure which emotion was stronger. He crossed the room in seconds and immediately knelt beside Vax while pulling a knife from his belt. His hands shook as he began cutting through the restraints, a detail he desperately hoped Vax would not notice. Unfortunately, Vax noticed everything.
Vax watched him work in silence for a moment, his expression softening as he took in the strain visible beneath Percy's composure. "You were worried. You look like you have not taken a proper breath since I disappeared. Please tell me you did not spend the entire evening panicking." His voice was gentle.
Percy focused on the ropes rather than meeting Vax's gaze, though the effort was largely pointless because his emotions were already written across his face. "I spent the last hour imagining every terrible thing that could have happened to you. I considered at least forty different possibilities and hated every single one of them. The panic was unfortunately unavoidable." His confession came quietly.
The final restraint fell away and Vax immediately surged forward, wrapping his arms around Percy before the inventor could retreat behind sarcasm or practicality. Percy returned the embrace without hesitation, holding him so tightly that it almost bordered on painful. Neither of them seemed particularly concerned about that detail. After everything that had happened, simply being together again mattered far more.
The sounds of combat elsewhere in the warehouse continued in the background, but they felt strangely distant now compared to the quiet moment unfolding inside the room. Vax rested his forehead against Percy's shoulder and allowed himself to relax for the first time since the stranger had approached him in the tavern. The fear and uncertainty that had haunted him throughout the ordeal finally began to fade. Percy was here now.
Eventually Vax pulled back just enough to study his husband's face properly, taking in the exhaustion and lingering terror still visible there. "You found me. I knew you would find me. There was never any doubt in my mind about that." His voice carried absolute certainty.
Percy's eyes closed briefly as the words settled over him, breaking through the last of the tension he had been carrying since the nightmare began. The possibility of arriving too late had followed him every step of the way, growing more horrifying each time it crossed his mind. Even now he struggled to completely let go of it. The thought alone made him feel sick.
Percy lifted one hand and gently cupped Vax's cheek, as though reassuring himself that his husband was truly there and not some illusion created by desperation. "I was terrified. When I realized you were gone, I thought I had already failed you. I do not think I have ever been that afraid before." The admission was barely louder than a whisper.
Before Vax could answer, hurried footsteps echoed through the hallway outside followed by several familiar voices arguing about directions. The noise grew steadily louder until a familiar figure appeared in the doorway and immediately froze at the sight before her. Relief washed across Vex's face so quickly that it was almost painful to witness. The emotion lasted only a moment before irritation took its place.
Vex crossed the room with purpose while glaring directly at her twin brother, clearly struggling to decide whether she wanted to hug him or yell at him first. "You had better have an excellent explanation for this entire situation. We have been searching the city for you while Grog has been destroying large sections of a warehouse downstairs. Do you have any idea how stressful that was for the rest of us?" Her voice trembled despite the scolding.
Vax offered her a tired smile while Percy helped him stand, his legs still slightly unsteady beneath him. "In my defense, being drugged and kidnapped was not part of my original plans for the evening. Had I known it would cause so much trouble, I would have attempted to schedule it more conveniently. I apologize for the inconvenience." His expression was entirely innocent.
Vex groaned and immediately pulled him into a fierce hug despite her complaints, making Vax laugh softly as he returned the embrace. Percy watched the interaction with quiet gratitude, thankful beyond words that they had reached this outcome instead of one of the countless darker alternatives he had imagined. Outside the room, the sounds of battle were beginning to fade as Vox Machina secured the building. For the first time since Vax disappeared, everything finally felt like it was going to be alright.
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The journey back through the city felt strangely quiet after the chaos of the rescue, with the members of Vox Machina surrounding Vax closely enough that anyone observing from a distance would immediately understand that approaching him would be a terrible idea. The effects of the drug had not fully worn off, leaving him tired and occasionally unsteady despite his best efforts to hide it from everyone around him. Percy remained at his side throughout the entire walk, his attention fixed so completely on his husband that he barely seemed aware of anything else happening around them. Every few moments his gaze drifted back toward Vax as though reassuring himself that he was still there.
Vax noticed every single glance despite feeling exhausted, because after years together he had become exceptionally skilled at reading Percy even when the inventor believed he was concealing his emotions. The fear from earlier had not completely disappeared, lingering beneath the surface despite the successful rescue and safe return. Part of Vax wanted to tease him about it simply because that was what they did, but another part understood that tonight had genuinely shaken him. Some wounds took longer to heal than others.
The streets gradually grew quieter as they approached the inn where Vox Machina was staying, the sounds of late-night activity fading into the distance behind them. Most businesses had already closed for the evening, leaving only scattered lanterns illuminating the roads ahead. The peaceful atmosphere felt almost surreal after everything that had happened. It was difficult to believe that only a few hours earlier they had all been celebrating without a care in the world.
Grog glanced over his shoulder at Vax while carrying a piece of broken furniture he had somehow acquired during the rescue and apparently decided to keep. "You know, I was really worried when we could not find you. Then I got angry because somebody took my friend. Then I got to smash things, so it all worked out pretty well." He sounded surprisingly sincere despite the unusual summary.
Vax laughed softly and shook his head. "I appreciate the concern, even if your priorities remain somewhat confusing. It is comforting to know that my well-being ranks slightly above property destruction. I will treasure that knowledge forever." His amusement was genuine.
Grog grinned proudly at the response while Pike buried her face in her hands, clearly deciding that correcting him would require far more energy than she currently possessed. The familiar interaction helped ease some of the lingering tension hanging over the group, reminding everyone that they were together and safe again. Small moments like these had always helped them recover after difficult experiences. Tonight was no exception.
Once they reached the inn, Vex immediately took control of the situation in the manner she often did whenever one of her loved ones was injured or upset. She directed everyone toward the common room and informed them that Vax was not to be left alone until the effects of the drug had fully passed. Nobody argued with her decision because they all secretly agreed with it. Even Percy looked relieved by the suggestion.
Vex crossed her arms and fixed her brother with a stern look that reminded him uncomfortably of their childhood. "You are going to sit down, drink some water, and allow Pike to examine you properly. You are not allowed to disappear again tonight under any circumstances. If you attempt to do so, I will personally tie you to a chair." Her tone suggested she was entirely serious.
Vax immediately raised both hands in surrender despite the faint smile tugging at his lips. "That seems unnecessarily dramatic considering I was the one who got kidnapped. I feel like I deserve slightly more sympathy than threats at the moment. Surely we can reach a compromise." His eyes sparkled with amusement.
Pike guided Vax toward a chair before he could continue provoking his sister, settling him comfortably near the fireplace while she checked for any lingering effects from the drug. Fortunately the kidnappers had not physically harmed him beyond the restraints and whatever substance had been slipped into his drink. Even so, Pike remained thorough in her examination because none of them were willing to take chances. The evening had already provided enough unpleasant surprises.
Percy stood nearby throughout the entire process while pretending not to hover, a task he was failing so spectacularly that even Scanlan eventually noticed. Every time Pike asked Vax a question, Percy looked as though he wanted to answer on his behalf despite obviously not knowing the answer. The inventor's usual composure seemed noticeably frayed around the edges. Scanlan found the whole thing strangely endearing.
Scanlan leaned back in his chair and glanced toward Percy with a grin. "You know, if you stare any harder you might actually burn a hole through him. I realize the tragic romance is very compelling, but Vax appears to still be alive. You can blink occasionally." His voice carried its usual teasing warmth.
Percy sighed heavily while refusing to look away from his husband. "I am aware that he is alive because I have checked approximately every thirty seconds since finding him. Unfortunately my brain has not yet received the message that the crisis is over. I would appreciate it if everyone stopped noticing." His expression remained stubborn.
The room filled with soft laughter as several members of Vox Machina exchanged knowing looks, because nobody present was remotely surprised by Percy's behavior. If anything, most of them had expected him to be worse after spending an hour convinced something terrible had happened to Vax. The fact that he was functioning at all felt like a minor miracle. Love had a way of making even the strongest people vulnerable.
Eventually Pike finished her examination and stepped back with an encouraging smile. The news immediately lifted a weight from everyone's shoulders, especially Percy's. Vax was exhausted and would likely feel awful for the next day or two, but otherwise he was going to be fine. That was all anyone needed to hear.
Pike brushed her hands together and looked around the room reassuringly. "The drug is already leaving his system and I do not see any signs of lasting damage. He needs rest, food, and probably several days without being kidnapped again. Beyond that, he should recover completely." Her smile widened slightly.
A collective sigh of relief moved through the room.
The tension eased.
The danger was over.
For the first time that night, everyone relaxed.
Hours later the common room had finally emptied as the members of Vox Machina retired to their respective rooms, leaving only Percy and Vax sitting quietly beside the dying fire. The exhaustion that had been held at bay through adrenaline and concern was beginning to catch up with both of them. Outside, the city had settled into near silence. The peaceful atmosphere felt comforting after everything they had endured.
Vax sat curled beneath a blanket while staring thoughtfully into the flames, his earlier humor fading into something quieter now that they were finally alone. The events of the evening replayed in his mind more clearly now that the drug was wearing off. He remembered the stranger at the bar, the growing dizziness, and the fear that followed once he realized something was wrong. It left an unpleasant feeling in his stomach.
Percy remained seated beside him, close enough that their shoulders touched whenever either of them shifted. Neither man spoke for several minutes because words felt unnecessary after everything that had happened. The silence between them was comfortable rather than awkward.
Years of marriage had taught them how to share moments like this.
Eventually Vax turned toward him and studied his face carefully, noticing the lingering exhaustion and worry that Percy still had not entirely managed to hide. "You are still thinking about it, aren't you. You are replaying everything that happened and imagining all the ways it could have ended differently. I know that look." His voice was gentle.
Percy stared into the fire for a moment before answering. "I keep thinking about how close it was. If I had looked away for a little longer or ignored the feeling that something was wrong, I might not have found you in time. That thought is difficult to let go of." His honesty came quietly.
Vax listened without interrupting because he understood exactly how dangerous Percy's thoughts could become when left unchecked after a traumatic experience. The inventor had always carried guilt more easily than most people, accepting responsibility for things that were never his fault. Tonight was simply the latest example. It broke Vax's heart every time.
Vax reached over and intertwined their fingers, refusing to let Percy retreat into his own thoughts. "You found me because you know me better than anyone else in the world. The moment you realized something was wrong, you came after me without hesitation. That is what matters." His grip tightened slightly.
Percy looked down at their joined hands and felt some of the tension inside him begin to ease. Hearing the words from Vax carried far more weight than hearing them from anyone else. Deep down he knew his husband was right. Accepting that fact would simply take time.
The fire crackled softly as the two of them sat together in comfortable silence once more, neither willing to end the moment by heading upstairs just yet. Tomorrow would bring questions, investigations, and whatever consequences awaited the people responsible for the kidnapping. Tonight, however, was about something much simpler. Tonight was about being together.
Eventually Percy leaned his head gently against Vax's shoulder and closed his eyes for the first time in what felt like hours. The steady warmth beside him served as proof that the nightmare was truly over.
Vax smiled softly and rested his head against Percy's in return.
Neither of them moved for a very long time.