#btw if ur wondering what else yennefer smells like

[jaskierswolf]

hi i saw ur prompts were open and btw i love ur writing so much. i was wondering if u could write geraskier post mountain fic based on dodie’s arms unfolding? u don’t have to but thank u if u do 😊

Geralt sighed as he heard Jaskier’s footsteps fade away. The scent of his bitter disappointment and heartbreak burnt Geralt’s nose. He was so used to the sweet scent of the bard’s never-ending supply of love that his heartbreak seemed a hundred times worse. He closed his eyes and gritted his teeth. It was for the best. Jaskier would be safer this way. Unlike Yennefer, Jaskier couldn’t protect himself. Not from the monsters that would be coming after Geralt. If Nilfgaard was on the move towards Cintra then he needed to protect his child surprise from their wrath. Nilfgaard would not be happy if he succeeded and the battlefield was no place for a bard.

But Jaskier’s heartbreak was too much.

He’d always suspected that Jaskier was in love with him, no one else smelled that strongly of love all the time, no matter how easily they fell, and it had been Geralt’s biting words that had finally broken the spell. It had been Geralt who had broken his heart.

It had been Geralt that had hurt him.

He sighed and spun around on his heels, running after Jaskier down the mountain. “Jaskier, wait!”

Jaskier stopped but didn’t turn around. “What is it, Geralt?”

Geralt frowned as he tried to find the words. How could explain to Jaskier that he was only trying to keep him safe without admitting the true depths of his feelings? If Jaskier knew the truth he would never leave him and leaving him was the safest option.

“No words?” Jaskier asked with a sigh, still not facing him. “Of course not. Don’t know why expected anything different.”

Geralt let out a low growl. The bitterness in Jaskier’s voice cut deeper than any blade. He had to fix this. He couldn’t let Jaskier go like this. It was too much. “You know I could live without or with you…”

“Oh wow. Wow. Really?” Jaskier spun round in a fury, his cornflower blue eyes were ablaze and his cheeks were red and tearstained. “Some apology, witcher.”

Geralt slowly put his hand on Jaskier’s shoulder, worried that he might scare his friend away if he moved to fast. “I could live without or with you,” he repeated. “but i might like having you about.”

Jaskier’s face softened almost immediately at Geralt’s words. “But you said… Not two minutes ago. You. You… Geralt?”

“It’s too dangerous, Jaskier. I already lost Yen. I can’t lose you too. I said what I had to to get you to leave.”

Jaskier laughed. It wasn’t his usual joyful laugh, no, it had a hint of hysteria as if he couldn’t believe Geralt’s words. “What and then you immediately changed your mind?”

Geralt rolled his eyes. “No. You’re still leaving.”

“I most certainly am not!” Jaskier cried haughtily and put his hands on his hips. The whole effect was ruined by the tears staining his cheeks but Geralt couldn’t help but laugh.

“I need you to stay safe. Head to Kaedwen. My brother Eskel will be passing through soon for winter. Tell him I sent you. I’ll join you once I’ve finished in Cintra.”

Jaskier’s eyes widened. “Cintra? You’re going for the child.”

Geralt grunted. “If Calanthe will let me, I want to protect him.”

Jaskier nodded. “And you really didn’t mean it?”

Geralt gripped Jaskier’s shoulder tightly and shook his head. “No. I didn’t mean it.”

Jaskier frowned and his tongue flicked out across his bottom lip. “So… Kaedwen, Eskel… anything else I should know.”

Geralt smirked and tilted his head. “Yeah. Don’t trust Lambert. He’s a prick."