#my comissions are still open jsyk

[kote-the-inn-keeper]

Taangus Fic

COMMISSION [I don’t own s h i t of TAZ, lmao please go listen to the dnd podcast it’s god damn good guys. It’s so, so good and worth your time support the McElroys they are amazing.]

Fic Type: Fluff / Angst

Fandom: Taz / The Adventure Zone 

Pairing: Taako Taaco + Magnus Burnsides [Taangus]

Word count: 1,595

The last mission had been exhausting, and an experience the trio really would have preferred not to have. Or ever have again. Ever. Time warped, repeated death, chased my a giant worm thing through broken down mines, and then spit out to watch a town catch up to the current time was, oddly, normal. Not wanted, but normal-ish. As normal as it could be for working with the Bureau of Balance, that was. Dealing with tracking and collecting relics was all in a days work, along with the strange happenings and events that followed such items. 

Finally back in their private rooms, Merle had left to go and wind down, leaving Taako and Magnus alone. It was no secret the two of them were on and off flirting with one another; giving jokes at the worst of times and feeding off one another’s antics. It was painfully obvious, but took a long while to ever take off ‘officially’, let alone for them to be open about actually start to date one another. There was just something holding Magnus about talking about it, which in turn, made Taako keep it on the down low as well. 

“Hey, uhhh, Magnus? Mango? Magnaroonie?” Taako said, pulling his large wizard hat off and setting it on the table lightly. The braid he had been wearing was a mess, yet to be fixed from their completed mission. But somehow, the elf managed to pull off the messy look flawlessly. “Do you wanna talk for un momento? Just a small thing, nothin too big. Just a little chit-chat.”

Magnus paused pulling his armor off, looking to Taako in confusion. “Uh, sure? Can it maaaaybe wait until I get into something more comfortable though? We’re all a mess and I wanted to start working on something for Candlenights. It’s a while off, but I wanted to make Killian somethin.” 

Taako waved a hand lightly, “Yeah, yeah.” He finger gunned lightly to Magnus more half hearted than normal, “That’s a good idea.” Letting Magnus run off to get whatever it was he wanted to work on, the elf undid his long, blond braid and worked his fingers through his hair. Even for being tossed around and in the dirt, his hair was rather pristine. He moved to the couch, dropping down and kicking his feet up onto the coffee table with a silent sigh, resting his head back and trying to relax. 

Magnus came rushing back in, as he did everywhere he went. The burly man dropped onto the couch next to Taako happily with a block of wood and a knife in his hands. Slouching forward, he set to work carving whatever he was planning. “Soooo... What did you want to talk about?” He asked, taking a huge chunk of wood off the block and letting it hit the floor. “Is it bad news or...?”

“No, no. I just wanted to have a chat.” Taako replied, lifting his head and tossing an arm behind the couch. Giving a short sniff as he tried to think of his words, he glanced away from Magnus and pulled a leg up onto the couch and under himself.. “Ya know, uh, about us.”

“...Oh.” Magnus sighed, pausing his work. Setting the block and knife on the table, he sighed again and ran a hand through his short brown hair. “Taako--”

Taako held up a hand lightly, “Uh bup bup. Me first. I just wanted to say that I knoooow... I know that somethin is bothering you. I don’t know what that is, but, I understand. We all have things, so I don’t blame you for being quiet about it. I might just be slightly confused. Mostly confused.”

“Taako, it’s not you. It’s me.”

The blond elf’s ears pointed downward slightly, “Boy, have I heard that one.”

“I didn’t mean it like that.” Magnus corrected quickly, turning to face him more. “I’m not saying I don’t like you, or that I don’t want to be with you anymore. I literally mean it’s me. The reason I’m so quiet about this and everything is because of me.”

“Why though? What’s got you so cagey and suddenly hush hush bout being with me that even the banter we’ve got stops?” Taako asked, trying not to be offended or take it personally. He bit his tongue to not say anything too impulsive, trying to keep rational.

Magnus sighed heavily, hanging his head. “I used to be married... and... something bad happened. I lost my wife... I loved her so much, but I love you too, Taako. Do-Don’t think I love you any less, but, I feel... guilty? Yeah, I think I feel guilty dating again after loosing her. It was years ago, and I should move on by now because she wouldn’t want me to be like this either. But, it’s hard and I-I just really have mixed feelings about us -- you and me -- because I was married and I don’t think I’ve moved on fully.”

That was surprising to hear, leaving Taako silent. He blinked a few times, opening his mouth to say one thing, but thinking twice about it. 

“I know, I know.” Magnus continued, “I should have told you before. But I didn’t, and I’m sorry, Taako. I should have told you about all of this sooner. That I--”

“I don’t care.” Taako interrupted, pressing his hands together and taking a deep breath. “I. Don’t. Care. Look,” He parted his hands and looked to Magnus lightly. “you do you, my man. I don’t care that you were married before, and it wasn’t my business to know. You didn’t tell me for one reason or another, and I get that. It’s fine. We all have somethin we don’t talk about. Yours is your wife, and I have my own things. Everything isn’t just piled up on a table for grabs, trust me, I know that better than anyone else. People get married and shit happens, yours is just not one of the typical kinds of splits.”

Magnus looked surprised, trying to understand if Taako was really upset or not. He could be hard to read and understand sometimes, always taking him a moment or two to discern a situation through Taako’s tone. “You don’t care? At all?”

Taako shook his head. “Nope. Not at all.”

“It’s...It-This information really doesn’t bother you?”

“Nu-uh.” Taako crossed his arms, giving a tight nod. 

Magnus scratched as one of his bushy sideburns lightly, frowning and looking away nervously. “Oh...”

Taako noticed his actions and sighed, taking Magnus’ other hand with both of his, “Magnus, what I care about is you. I just... want you to be happy, whatever that could be. Alright? If being married in the past is really screwin with our flow and whatever, then it’s fine. I understand and I get it. Sometimes shit just doesn’t work. I’m not gonna cast Magic Missile at you or fuckin use any of my higher level spell slots just cause you call things off. I need that shit!” 

Magnus gave a lopsided grin, chuckling. “Yeah, ya do.”

“So, if you really need to take a break or whatever, I swear not to be petty.” Taako said, holding up one hand like he was reciting some oath. “I, Taako Taaco, the Wizard from t.v., won’t be petty as shit to Magnus Burnsides if he breaks up with me.” He said dramatically. 

“You mean it?”

Taako rolled his eyes as Magnus took his hands in his one huge one. “Uh, duh. I don’t just say shit to say it. You know this by now, big man.” 

Magnus smiled warmly, “Well, I don’t want to break up with you or anything like that. I do like you, a lot. And you make me happy, so like, I wanna keep you around as more than a friend. I just... ya know... sometimes struggle with moving on still. So, there might be a time where I might just-- maybe I might-- you know...”

“Yeah, ya said that before. And I get you. Just know I’m not gonna flip my lid or whatever if ya decide you can’t handle it. Alright? I was more worried about messing up our flow or losin ya completely.” Taako smiled and tilted his head lightly. “As long as neither of those goes down, I’m fine with whatever.”

Magnus pulled the elf into a tight hug, “Thank you, Taako.” He said lightly, holding Taako close.

Taako took a moment to decide if he wanted to play aloof and cool, or to accept the hug without complaint. Closing his eyes, he sighed and put his hands on Magnus’ back softly. “Just try and talk to me sometimes. Or else Merle might ‘Zone Of Truth’ us to death.”

“I’ll do what now?” The dwarf cleric’s voice came from the entryway.

Magnus and Taako paused, realizing how weird it must have looked for the two to be hugging so tightly on the couch as they were. “UHHHHH!” They both looked to him quickly.

Merle wiggled his eyebrows, hands on his hips. “Oh hooo... Sorry, was I interrupting something here?”

“Ew, ew, ew, ew. Moment’s gone. It’s dead. I’m dead. I am now fucking deceased. I’m claiming dead right now.” Taako gagged, throwing his hands up and moving away from Magnus, before hiding his disgust in his hands.

“Merle what the-- No!” Magnus groaned.

“Whaaat? Come on! I can just go if you two really need the time. I get y--” Merle pestered, smirking and knowing just what he was doing.

“Nooooo!” They both shouted.