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coffeeanddonutscafe · 8 months ago

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Cold Comfort

Astarion has a nightmare and fluff unfolds.

Summary:

The camp lay in nocturnal stillness. Astarion stood before his tent, the weight of his own existence pressing heavily upon him. And then, he saw her—a half-asleep Tav, her chestnut hair in disarray as she groggily stirred. Unable to resist, he approached her, a half-whispered endearment on his lips, crouching beside her. "What is it, my sweet treat?"

Notes:

I plan to make this a fluff fic, with a mix of introspections, pondering and some deep self-reflection from Astarion's point of view. I do want to envelop him into the gentle world of fluff, like a warm hug he deserves so much.

Chapter 3: Midnight Snacks

Tav's gaze remained filled with curiosity, but she held back from probing further, sensitive to the delicate boundaries Astarion had been constructing. She recognized that perhaps giving him the space to decide whether to share what troubled him was the best course of action.

Despite the brutal hardships he'd endured, he'd managed to persevere in his own way. In Tav's eyes, he'd shown incredible strength, often more than he gave himself credit for. With a fierce determination, he had managed to safeguard the tiniest fragments of his true self, slowly stitching together the pieces of his shattered mind and soul to the best of his abilities.

She thought to herself, "The same way he so meticulously mended all of his garments - embellishing them with embroidery, with exquisite mastery." Tav marvelled at the fact that some of his clothes, worn for years, retained an impeccable condition. However, that thought made her utterly sad and she made a mental note to make sure he bought himself new garments next time they stumbled upon a trader. Well, at least they are done with the task at hand.

Tav offered Astarion a warm smile, sensing that he was still lost in his thoughts. She decided not to disturb him further, content in knowing that he felt comfortable and safe in her presence. Well, comfortable enough to get lost in the labyrinth of his own mind.

His company was always welcome, and now, as he seemed lost in thought, she moved to her stack of bags. Among them, she recalled a bag of dried fruit and berries lovingly prepared by Halsin for the group. "Damn, what a sweetheart," she mused to herself, the affection for their companion evident in her expression.

Tav began to munch on the dried fruits, savouring the familiar taste of one of her favourite snacks. She decided to share a childhood memory with Astarion, seeking to connect with him in a more casual manner.

"You know what, Astarion?" she began, and suddenly Astarion perked his elf ears like a curious little cat. Tav’s voice content as she savoured another dried fruit. "When I was little and had a nightmare, my mom would give me a sweet fruit or a spoonful of honey."

Astarion opened his mouth, likely intending to deflect and try to change the topic, but Tav continued, "The taste of something I loved so much—which is sweet things—would distract me enough to calm my nerves down."

Astarion’s eyes sparkled with a suggestion he noted was in Tav’s voice. He met her gaze and smiled mischievously.

Finishing her bag of snacks, Tav made a mental note to ask Halsin to prepare another bag of dried fruits and berries for her in the future. "How about you have a snack?" Tav suggested playfully, winking at him. "Then you can go back to your meditative sleep." Her hand gently caressed Astarion's cheek, her thumb tracing soothing patterns. Scooting a bit closer to Astarion, she spoke in a soft, almost conspiratorial tone. "You deserve as much rest as I do."

"Does that sound like a good plan?" Tav said, her fingers deftly working at the buttons of her shirt's collar.

Astarion felt a rush of emotion. He understood that Tav's gesture was born of genuine kindness, but it was still an unfamiliar sensation for him. He wasn't accustomed to people being kind solely out of the goodness of their hearts, without any ulterior motives.

In a moment of panic, he reached out and gently clasped her hands. His voice quivered slightly as he spoke, "Darling, you don't have to..." He cleared his throat, trying to infuse his words with a touch of reassurance. "I'm fully capable of sustaining myself."

"Of course you are," Tav reassured him gently, her hands still resting in his. She wanted to convey that this was her way of showing care, not a gesture of charity.

"But you can also take a little sip of your favorite travel companion," Tav added with a playful wiggle of her eyebrows. Astarion couldn't help but laugh in response.

"I mean, you are free to do whatever you want," Tav continued, her tone light. "You were eyeing that gilt that was strolling around our camp. Looks like she won over me." Tav shooed Astarion away in a theatrical manner. "Go and cater to your new lady."

Astarion played along with Tav's playful banter, his eyes twinkling mischievously. "Why, dearest," he chimed in, "How could I help myself? That gilt looked exceptionally scrumptious." He added a cheeky wiggle of his own eyebrows, and they both burst out laughing.

After a few minutes of shared laughter, Tav let out a contented yawn. She then looked at Astarion with genuine sincerity. "But for real, Astarion. I'm offering, and you know you don't have to do anything 'in return'." Her words carried a warmth and openness that put Astarion at ease.

He sighed softly, deciding on his following actions. He reached out to Tav and his fingers started deftly unbuttoning the first two buttons of Tav's nightshirt. "Alright then," Astarion murmured in a playful tone, "scoot onto your bedroll, darling. I want you relaxed and ready." Tav rolled her eyes but couldn't hide the smile that tugged at her lips. She complied with the request, settling onto her bedroll.

Astarion positioned himself above her, crouching so that his face was nestled into the crook of her neck. The closeness sent a shiver down Tav's spine, a mixture of anticipation and the comforting presence of someone she trusted deeply.

Tav's fingers gently threaded through Astarion's hair, their touch sending a comforting sensation through him. As he inhaled her familiar scent, he felt a sense of calm wash over him. In that moment, the world outside seemed to fade away, leaving only the two of them in their shared intimacy.

Her fragrance was intoxicating, a heady mixture of earthy warmth and a hint of something uniquely Tav. Astarion couldn't help but surrender to the allure of it, reveling in the closeness they shared. He nuzzled against her neck, his breath mingling with her skin. The sensation was both grounding and electrifying, a connection that transcended words.

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CHAPTERS

Chapter 1 Chapter 2

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