#BUT IT IS | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

imbuity · 15 days ago

Text

Wyll x Tav: Mizora fallout

A/N: I like the idea of Tav sleeping with Mizora as a part of a play to free Wyll, knowing that it will be the end of everything they are but sacrificing it anyway because she loves him. that's what this is (this is also taking place in a world where you failed the intimidation check so he in fact does not only have 6 months left under the contract, obvi).

WC: 3.4k

"Why? There is nothing at all that you gain from this," you repeated yet again, more confused than affronted, though still considerably affronted.

"Is a night of passion with the soon-to-be-hero of Faerun not enough?" Mizora replied, loud enough certainly to be heard should any of your companions still be awake in the camp below. She had ambushed you on your shift of the night watch which you were taking from the rooftops above your cliffside abode, and you reflexively glanced down to see if any candles had been lit in tents since you last checked.

Mizora laughed, a fast and cruel sound, at your caution. "Oh don't worry, I can assure you our little pet is sound asleep. No need to fear getting caught in the act." She took a step towards you and you perfectly mirrored a step back.

"It is not enough," you continued, ignoring the anger that always spiked in your ribs at likening him to nothing more than a cur. "He loves me, you know that, and you own him. I can't understand how you gain anything from causing him pain. If anything, rendering your best soldier ineffective due to his own grief runs counter to your own interests."

"My, quite the little diplomat we have here. I can see you as the Duchess already," she cooed. "And with the ego to match. You don't really think a dalliance in the night will shatter him beyond all repair?"

"He will never be beyond repair - he would refuse to let anything keep him from helping for too long, even his own heart. But if losing me feels anything to him like losing him would to me, then it would be near insurmountable... and is that what you want, in this? To drive him from our pack and have him back in your service alone?" You still failed to understand why she approached you with this offer at all. To trade Wyll's contract for one night with you was completely absurd, and while you would gladly do absolutely anything to free him, you couldn't see the undoubtedly sinister motivation. Wyll was a valuable asset, likely the most valuable any of the Devils had under their control, and so any move to part with him needed to yield a vast reward. You desperately tried to envision the lanceboard at play, but there was no avenue you could imagine in which Mizora ended up the winner - which was precisely why you knew it was bullshit.

"Of course not, darling - having Wyll leave the vicinity of that silly trinket you carry would only turn my perfect little killing machine into a mindless monster, and that does none of us any good. I merely wish to start fresh, so to speak." She took another step towards you, and you felt the heat radiating off her body grow even stronger.

"You wish to amend his contract," you whispered, even more deeply afraid of being seen now that you began to consider the offer. "You wish to free him from the limiting terms you've set and demand even more of him later, when he's more desperate."

Her eyes glowed a fierce red, patience wearing thin. "I can amend the terms when I like. There is no reason to claim you in the process."

“Then why, Mizora? You know I want Wyll’s freedom and will do anything for it. What is the gain for you, or Zariel, or any of the devils, to ruin a mortal love? For that is the only reason to have me sleep with you as a part of this - I know my prowess in bed is not a driving factor in literally anyone on any plane’s decision-making.”

“Well, it may be a factor for Wyll now, wouldn’t it?” She couldn’t resist a jab, even one that may sour her deal, but she sensed she’d almost got you and ceased to provide anything that would delay the exchange. “I am offering you the chance to free your beloved from my clutches, and yet you hesitate over details like who is gossiping about your cunt? You try my patience, duchess. Do not squander this chance out of modesty.”

You felt yourself blush despite yourself at her vulgarity, which only fuelled her superiority. Despite all her lies, she couldn’t hide all - and her dwindling interest in negotiating was as true as ever. You flailed about your memory, searching for any thread to make this make sense, to show you why this was a terrible idea that you shouldn’t take. But nothing came to you.

You cast your gaze out into the sea. No matter how many times you turned it over, you were certain of only three things: that this was a guaranteed opportunity to free Wyll from a pact that may never come again, that you could not possibly know what the motivation for this opportunity was, and that doing this would cost you the love of your life. You briefly swayed on this last point, entertaining the idea that maybe, if Wyll could know why you did it that he could one day forgive you, but you quickly shuttered that hope. To betray his trust in such a way, even if it was for his benefit, was irreparable. You were making a choice on his behalf that shouldn’t be made by you at all.

You briefly imagined the grief of your future but turn away from it as fast as you’d entered it. This was not the time to be maudlin, and in fact anything but pure objectivity would only serve to harm both you and him. You needed your mind clear to finely parse the deceitful contract details that were about to be received.

Because you knew you would take it; because whatever outcome she hoped would come of this you know Wyll to be smarter than; because he would be free and that was the only thing that mattered.

Mizora sensed the change in you and broke into a grin - the predation in which a less discerning eye than yours may have not seen. She extended a hand to you, encircled with glowing Infernal runes.

“Repeat after me: I, Tav… whatever your last name is…”

She waited for you to say the words, eyes narrowing when you do not. “I will hear the full terms first, Mizora,” you intoned.

She scoffed but continued the pact, hand remaining extended. “I, Tav, do enter freely into this infernal agreement with Mizora, appointed of Zariel, Archdevil of Avernus. In exchange for the dissolution of the infernal pact of one Wyll Ravenguard, I hereby allow the free and liberal use of my body in coital exchange with the claimant. Should these terms be forfeit, I authorize the claiming of my soul in vicem as indemnity.”

You recoiled at the words, but sensed no double play. Your soul was not in danger as the terms would be met, and Wyll would in no uncertain terms be released. You unclenched and unwound your fists from your crossed arms and repeated the contract back to her, slipping your hand into hers inbetween the weaving figure-eight of runes. A heat like reaching across the fire for a rabbit off the spit emanated from them - painful to stay too long, but not enough to truly burn. When you finished the rite, Mizora shook your hand once, twice, three times, and you felt the runes burn hotter as they descended down into your hand. You hissed slightly, more out of alarm than pain, and once the runes vanished into your skin she released you to grab your waistband.

“Now that all the business talk is over, let’s have some fun, shall we?” She slithered a hand up to the laces at the back of your blouse, and it was really then that the knowledge that the terms actually must be experienced hit you. You stood completely still, neither aiding nor hindering her unlacing of you. “Come now, duchess, don’t look so sullen! I promise you this is a night you will never forget.”

“The terms say nothing about pillowtalk, so expect none. Do what you must and I will do as I am oathbound - to take it. You will not see enthusiasm this night, I promise you that.”

“Oh I do love a good challenge,” she whispered directly into your ear, and it was somehow both wet with salivation and brittle as a desert heat. Once done with your blouse she moved on to the buttons down your trousers, and it is only when you heard the sizzle of your tear hitting her hand did you realize you were weeping.

You hadn’t even realized you’d been asleep until you awoke again. The last thing you remembered was the horrific intermixing of pain and pleasure, feeling both your nerve endings and orgasms being ripped from you against your will in something resembling the astral plane. You rubbed phantom ash off of your shoulder and hoped that soon it would be a distant memory, another horror to add to the litany you’d experienced these last few weeks.

Mizora stood looking down at you, her face more stoic than you’d ever seen. She did not offer you any aid as you rose to your knees, slipping your blouse back on over your bruised ribcage. You felt the tense pull of your skin against them as you lifted your arms, but nothing else - you supposed the regret would only come when the consequences did.

"Shit," you heard faintly from behind you, and you gasped against your battered lungs. The consequences had indeed come. You hadn't expected it to be so soon, and rose to your feet as steadily as you could manage. You could not yet face him. “Why?" he asked, voice low and strangely empty.

“Why not?” she replied, as if he had been addressing her. “Last I checked, you were the only one of us tied to a leash.” It wounded you because it wounded him, but it was the least of your hurts and thus slipped away over the edge, the cup filled with much more vast injury.

You turned and were met with more anger than you had expected, which was somehow a relief. You saw the tears beginning to swim in his eyes, yes, but the fact that it would be fury you must contend with makes it easier. Anger is unpredictable, and maybe even a danger to you, which gave you something to think about rather than trying to claim the shattered pieces of your own heart when there were two identical sets lying on the ground. You moved to take a step towards him but stopped yourself at the last moment, and as a result merely wobbled unsteadily, perhaps as if you were about to pass out. You saw, or at least imagine you saw, Wyll’s hand flex to catch you, and then still at his side.

“I think I’ll nip out for a bit, let you two lovebirds chirp. Who would I be to mettle in personal affairs?” She melted into a puddle of wet ash and smoke, saying nothing about the pact you two had made the night before, nothing to Wyll about his new freedom. Your heart clenched around a dread you never knew you could feel. You reached out after her to stop her, which was the final straw for Wyll to unleash the deluge he’d been holding in.

“I was such a godsdamned fool. I believed in you - I believed in us. And out of every soul walking the planes you chose her?!”

You found your voice already breaking, knowing this was the inevitable result but no less distraught over having to live it. “It was - no - she was supposed to free you. You feel it, don’t you? Your pact? It’s gone, isn’t it?” Gods, the desperation in your voice was insufferable, you could hear it yourself, but - you needed to hear him say that you didn’t just give up the only thing that mattered to you for nothing.

His face darkened in understanding, and you couldn’t tell if his rage was directed at you or her. “My pact remains.”

You hands were shaking as furiously as your head. “No, the terms were- I fulfilled the contract, you are to be freed! I never would have-“

“What were the terms? What did it say on that sheet you signed - I, Tav, give you my soul and body in exchange for his?” It was the most derision you’ve ever heard in his voice, and it would have sent you reeling if you weren’t consumed with an ice cold realization.

You did not sign. There were no terms. She held out her hand, encased in runes, a spell - an illusory spell - and you shook her hand, like this was a merchants’ meeting for imported goods. You brought your hands to your face, attempting to hide your shame and anger and regret.

“It’s not what you think, I swear - she manipulated me into it-“

“What did you expect? You layed a half-devil. She does not give without taking.” He was shaking now, too, and all you wanted was to hold him to steady him, to just explain- “I saw a future for us. A kingdom, even. And you shattered it for a single bite of the Hells!”

His screaming attracted the attention of the others, and you saw Karlach begin to run for the ladder up to your post, thinking something was wrong. Well, thinking there was danger. Something was horribly, irrevocably wrong, and you could only watch it unfold before you.

“I am a fool,” you whispered, a stark contrast to his eruption. “I am a fool and I do not ever expect your forgiveness - I knew it then just as I know it now, that you are lost to me forever - but please, I need you to know it was not for me. I bartered for your freedom, and I know that given the choice between… this and the end of your pact you would never have chosen yourself, and so I did it for you, and I know that is unforgivable. But please, please, if you ever loved me, do not think that I strayed from you for anything but that.” You rubbed the heel of your hand against the tears running off of your jaw, cleaning away some of the ash still lingering on your skin.

“Spare me wallowing in your own pity, at least,” he scoffed. “You’re so willing to throw yourself on the pyre that you won’t even consider what else may burn - you had your chance and unleashed a wildfire. Nothing left but dust.”

You think you might have physically flinched at the words, but your mind was too hazy with grief to really tell. You had never heard such cruelty from him - no, such honesty from him. It could not be cruel if it was true. Suddenly a series of choices came unbidden into your mind - the times you had gone down in battle, thinking you could hold on just a little longer without wasting a potion, stepping in front of a loaded crossbow to spare the life of a goblin, suffering under the lash of Loviator’s priest so that you might better protect your allies - and you understood that Wyll had been living in a constant fear that you would give your life for anyone and anything that demanded it. Neither you nor he had expected that what you would sacrifice would be him, in the end, but it was exactly the same outcome either way. He must now live without you, because of your desire to give yourself away and away and away.

You could barely bring yourself to whisper, your throat so choked with heartbreak, but you managed out of necessity. “I cannot ask anything of you and yet I will - do not leave us. I will of course eat my meals apart, we shall not speak unless necessary, but our allies need you alive and unillithid. They do not deserve to lose you as I have.” Karlach reached the top of the ladder and searched for the danger that surely must have been present, and seeing none, stilled, unsure but sensing something of what has just transpired.

“You have my might, I owe you that much - but I do not owe you more.” He did not look at you nor Karlach as he reached for the ladder, and the moment his head dipped below the platform you let go of any semblance of control you’d been holding onto. You began to sob, the shuddering half-breaths both urging you on and holding you hostage.

Karlach handed your trousers to you, and even through your tears your saw her hesitation - the confusion of hearing enough to piece most of it together, the rage at seeing Wyll heartbroken, but the loyalty to you and your friendship to at least gain a more complete understanding before passing judgement. Through your weeping, you did your best to explain.

“She offered me his freedom in exchange for this night. I thought it was a contract, but she never made me sign, and I’m such a godsdamned idiot-" You dove through every detail, trying to understand, and you only sobbed harder. “It must have been - Zariel wouldn’t care, was it Raphael? I - I’ve ruined everything, I’m sorry-"

You didn’t know who you’re apologizing to, or most of what you were even trying to explain. Karlach pulled you into a silent hug, the only pardon she was willing to give just yet, and you cried harder still at the kindness.

“Please go to him. It’s my mistake and I will live with the consequences, but I don’t want him to be alone.” You were filled with the image of him at the edge of the lake at the tiefling party, trying to hide his sorrows so no one else would be burdened with him. You would give anything to return to that night, the thrill of finally knowing your suspicions were correct - and the elation of your reciprocated longing. He was so stoic and selfless then, wanting nothing more than your and the other refugees’ happiness, and it was maybe that night that you first realized it was love and not a passing attraction. One that you had now senselessly destroyed.

“I will. But after this I want to talk to you as well, alright? I need answers and you’ll need a drink.” Karlach dipped down to meet your eyes, ensuring you understood. You nodded, holding your breath to try and slow your sobs.

She clapped you on the shoulder and descended down the ladder after him, and you collapsed. No longer sobbing, but too empty even for tears. You attempted to imagine revenge against Mizora, freeing him of his pact in other ways, but each imagining of the future brought you back to the life you would never have, that you’d begun to see as inevitable. The wedding to Wyll, maybe extravagant if he regained his place at court, or maybe nestled in the woods somewhere with your companions - you now knew it would never transpire. Each thought of where next to go was haunted by him; you could not think through the haze of what you lost.

Later, maybe hours later, you rose, buttoning the last of your clothing at last. You saw your companions huddled together in the centre of camp, desperately working out what next to do. They could not help either one of you in your heartbreak, and yet so too could they not move forward without you both at your fullest potential. You did not see Wyll among them, and so you prepared to join them. This would be your life, you decided. Each choice you made, every thought you had, would be dedicated first and foremost to making life easier for him, and secondly to curing your friends of their infections. There could be no room in a heart for agony that way.

A/N: Damn, tenses are hard. I also do have the semblance of an idea why this deal was set up, but it's so loose and untenable that it doesn't make sense to have it explained in-story, yknow?

#wyll x tav #i guess this could be #wyll x durge #its not specific at all really #but it is #wyll angst #its been so long since i tried to write! it was a fun challenge and I dont think its high art or anything #but im happy enough to post

1 note · View note