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"We need to finish a few things here," Tav had said as they led them all back towards the Sharess' Caress.
Astarion frowned; he wasn't completely fond of the place, not that he had spent a lot of time there before, of course. Taking customers from a reputable business would have exposed him quickly. Instead, he had always stuck to flop houses and back alleys, preying on those who either couldn't afford to pay for sex or believed they were entitled to it.
So... Perhaps he was a little bitter towards the workers who had soft silk beds and chose their trade rather than being forced into it.
At the very least, he wasn't the only one who seemed uncomfortable. Gale tensed up more than a hooked line whenever they passed the place. It was a bit funny.
Nonetheless, all three followed Tav inside, with Halsin being the most at ease with the establishment, aside from Tav. As they crossed the threshold, the Mamzell greeted them warmly. Gale paused to pet the cat, Kira, who purred happily under his touch. A faint smile finally returned to the wizard's face. Astarion had noticed his recent moodiness, suspecting an unspoken tension between him and Tav. A lover's quarrel, perhaps? Such a shame there was trouble in paradise.
"Sorn and Nym were hoping you would return." Mamzell Amira directed her words towards Tav, clearly speaking to the leader of their little troupe.
"Great! They're exactly who I'm here to see," Tav replied, exchanging a look with Halsin that made Astarion raise an eyebrow. Were they trying to set their beefy druid up with a couple of whores? Astarion was fairly certain Halsin would have no trouble getting sex if he wanted it or simply coming here himself if the mood struck him.
As Gale rose the faint smile replaced by a flicker of concern as he turned towards Tav. His voice, soft yet laced with underlying worry, barely reached Astarion's ears. "Are they in trouble?" he inquired. Astarion blinked and shifted. He supposed that could be it, too, but something told him it wasn't.
Tav placed a hand on Gale's back and pushed him forward. "Don't worry about it," they said, their tone breezy yet dismissive.
Before Astarion could follow the two, he was stopped by Halsin speaking up. "Astarion," The druid called out, his hand raised but not reaching out for him.
He turned to look at the bear of a man and raised a brow. "Hardly the time for a heart-to-heart, don't you think?" Astarion said, his eyes darting to where Gale was being ushered through the curtain toward the backroom.
Halsin's warm smile followed his look. "No need to fret about our companions; they're safe. I'm merely offering you a choice to leave if you wish."
Astarion crossed his arms over his chest. "Excuse me? Last time I checked, you weren't the one who dismissed people from this party." He snapped, resisting the urge to snarl and bare his own fangs against Halsin's. He had nothing against the druid, liked him even, but he wasn't going to walk away for no reason.
"I'm not dismissing you," Halsin clarified, his hands raised in a placating gesture. "Just know that leaving is an option, should you choose."
Skeptical, Astarion scoffed, "I can handle whatever comes our way, darling," He spun on his heel and hurried after Tav and Gale. Concerned for the wizard if a fight broke out, he was absolutely terrible at watching his own back.
Astarion pushed through the velvet curtains that draped the entrance to the back room, the subtle scent of incense making his nose twitch. Tav's eyes were on the dancing Tiefling, a pretty young thing that Astarion barely spared a glance at. His eyes found Gale, who seemed as if he didn't know where to place his own. They lit up when Gale spotted him, a soft smile playing on his lips, some measure of tension leaving his shoulders. Something unexpectedly tender stirred within Astarion at the sight.
"Is everything...alright?" Gale asked, his eyes briefly flitting past Astarion as Halsin followed suit through the curtain.
"Perfectly fine, darling," Astarion answered. His conversation with Halsin was hardly anything to stay worked up over. Some part of him even knew he was being a little...abrasive. Halsin could handle it, and it was over anyway.
If Gale didn't believe him, he didn't show it. Usually, the wizard wore his heart on his sleeve, but that didn't mean he couldn't hide things. Or that he wouldn't try. Astarion smiled, a perfected fake thing meant to reassure.
Tav finally took their eyes off the dancer and nodded for them all to follow as they approached the drow twins. Astarion stood off to the side. Perhaps they would be killing a nasty customer of theirs? Someone who skipped off without paying, maybe? Astarion wouldn't have a problem with that.
The male drow, Sorn, greeted Tav with a flirtatious smile. "Ah, we knew you'd be back."
Tav smiled back, and something in Astarion felt...wrong as he watched the greetings play out. He glanced over to Gale, trying to gauge his reaction.
"And is that your partner with you? What a gorgeous couple... Perhaps we could come to an agreement." Nym purred.
The pair of drow eyes landed on Gale, who straightened up at the attention and coughed lightly into his hand as his cheeks began to turn a lovely shade of red. "Ah, that's..." Gale's eyes met Tav's, looking for help.
Tav was grinning now, and they looked at the drow twins while nodding. "Oh, absolutely, beautiful. The four of us, it would be wonderous, wouldn't it?" Their eyes flicked to Gale before wandering to Halsin.
"Perhaps you'd care for a little...extra company?" Halsin offered, a sly smile on his face that betrayed something Astarion couldn't put his finger on. He frowned, seemingly just as confused as Gale.
"The more the merrier!"
"I'd prefer you didn't do this." Gale's eyes flickered with a deep sorrow. "If I'm not enough for you, I could always conjure us some kind of non-sentient companion." He was bargaining. Astarion didn't know if he found it infuriating or pathetic.
Tav placed their hand on their hip. "Come on, Gale, you might like it." They urged.
Gale shifted nervously. "...This is all a bit much for me." He said, his voice having lost all of the familiar confidence that Astarion was used to. "Back home in Waterdeep, I prefer to have Tara leave the room before I undress." It was a sweet sentiment, one that might have had the pale elf chuckling if Gale didn't look so positively uncomfortable. Even he wasn't that cruel.
"Gale, you need to learn to strut your stuff; you look amazing." Tav purred as their eyes ran over Gale's body lecherously. A look that Astarion would think Gale might have appreciated if it weren't for the circumstances. "Don't overthink it, and you'll have a good time," Tav said.
Astarion watched the scene play out, his stomach churning in an odd way. Tav didn't always understand that no meant no. His tongue ran over his fangs as he remembered the taste of the drow woman's vile blood. A sacrifice that Tav had decided was necessary and worth it, despite his own protests. To Tav, a no was a maybe they needed to try harder to turn into a yes.
"I'm sorry... But I must decline."
Sorry? Astarion wanted to scoff. What in the Hells did Gale have to be sorry for? He crossed his arms and shifted his weight. At least they would be rid of this place soon.
Tav's light smile turned into a sneer. They weren't used to not getting what they wanted. "Fine. Be that way." They turned to the twins. "Just the two of us then," The smile was back, and Astarion wasn't sure who was more shocked, him or Gale.
"Wait... You're-"
Tav looked back at him with a frown. "What, Gale? Are you joining or not?"
"I'm not-"
"Then what's the problem? I'll be back soon enough; just wait with Astarion." They brushed off the wizard.
Astarion clenched his fist. He looked to Gale and silently urged him to say something, anything, but he stood there with that kicked puppy look, and he couldn't take it.
"Aha," Astarion laughed. "I'm sorry. What in the Hells is going on?" he asked, a seething rage inside him. Tav didn't always understand that they were quick to push people, but Astarion could have assumed it would be different for their lover.
"Hm?" Tav's attention pivoted to him. Suddenly, their eyes sparkled. "Oh! You wanted to sleep with me pretty badly, right? Yeah, okay, you can take Gale's place."
"What?" "What!?" He and Gale exclaimed at the same time. The wizard's eyes shot over to him, and Astarion met them, seeing the hurt and the desperation inside them. Gods, he couldn't be so cruel.
"Absolutely not," Astarion said, his lips curling back in an ugly sneer.
"Come on-"
"I said no." Astarion didn't even let them finish. He wouldn't give them the chance to try and sway him. He would be told he owed them or it was what he really wanted. No. He knew he didn't want this. He knew Gale didn't want this, and it seemed like even though Gale was clear, Tav would do anything not to hear the word no, not to notice his discomfort. If they wouldn't, then he would. Astarion wasn't going to let Gale cave in and regret it.
Halsin placed his hand on Tav's shoulder, a deep frown on his face. "Tav-"
Astarion shoved past Halsin and snatched Gale's wrist. "We're leaving," he said, his eyes on Gale as he made the declaration. "We're leaving," he repeated softer.
"What? Astarion-"
He ignored Tav's protests as he began to pull Gale out of the Sharess' Caress. Whatever Gale may have felt or wanted, he didn't try to stay; his feet matched Astarion's pace quickly, leaving with him. Astarion could hear the sound of his rapid and unsteady heartbeat, and he squeezed his hand.
They pushed past the velvet curtain and out of the Sharess' Caress. Astarion tugged Gale along even once their feet hit the cobblestone. He had no idea where he was dragging the man to, just...away. Away from that place that smelt like sex and sweat and cloves. Away from Tav and Halsin and whatever they were planning. Away from everything.
Before either of them knew it, when Astarion finally stopped to turn to look at Gale, they were standing in the graveyard. He didn't know why his feet had taken him here. He hadn't been here in two centuries. Gale was looking down, likely trying to hide his face, but Astarion could still catch it. He looked as if he was going to cry. Astarion blinked slowly and realized he was going to cry. The wetness in Gale's eyes was only getting worse, and it was clear that the wizard wasn't going to be able to hold back the tears for much longer.
"I should...go," Gale said. "Please..." He pleaded, but he didn't tug or try to pull from his grip. Astarion knew Gale could make him let go if he truly wanted to.
He frowned. "Do you really want to be alone?" Astarion asked. "To run off to lick your wounds in private?" Perhaps he was being too harsh. With the way Gale shrunk in on himself, Astarion knew he was being too harsh. He sighed and stepped closer to the wizard. "Gale-"
"Astarion, please, just- Just let me leave with some dignity left." Gale snapped, thought it was barely even that. He still didn't tug his wrist from where Astarion held it.
"Dignity?" Astarion raised an eyebrow before schooling his expression. Now wasn't the time to banter with the wizard. "Aha… Dear, what's the point?" he asked, letting go of Gale and watching how, even then, he didn't move, didn't make his getaway. Gale didn't want to be alone, but Astarion needed him to realize that himself. "You've seen me cry," he whispered, his voice raw.
Then Gale was crying. Astarion didn't know if it was just too much to hold back or if the reminder of his own breakdown had been that inspiring.
Gale's chest heaved with ragged breaths, each exhale more tortured than the last. Tears streamed down his cheeks, unchecked and unabashed, as he fought to stifle the sobs that shook his frame. Each sob seemed to claw its way out, raw and resonant.
In a desperate bid for composure, Gale clamped a hand over his mouth, his shoulders trembling. He ducked his head and half-turned as if to finally flee.
But Astarion was quicker, stepping forward to lay a firm hand on Gale’s shoulder. "Gale," he said, his voice softer than he ever remembered it being, "it's okay." He whispered, pulling Gale a little closer.
It was awkward at first, but Gale soon leaned into the embrace, pressing his face against the hollow of Astarion's throat. Astarion wrapped his arms around him, his hands pressing firmly against Gale's back.
No one had held him as he cried over Cazador's corpse. Not as he lamented everything he had given up, everything he would lose, and everything he had already lost. Astarion knew he wouldn't have wanted anyone to touch him then.
But Gale... Gale curled into his embrace as if he could protect him from everything. Like he could make his pain disappear.
And at that moment, Astarion found himself wishing, more than anything, that he could.
He reached up and cradled Gale's face gently in his hands, feeling as if he were holding the entire world in his palms. Tears clung to Gale's eyelashes. Astarion's thumb swiped tenderly beneath Gale's eye, catching the tears before they could fall. Astarion marvelled at how beautiful he looked. Leaning in, Astarion pressed his lips softly just below Gale's other eye, where more tears had gathered.
As he pulled away, he observed Gale's expression—stunned and blinking with a slight flush colouring his cheeks. Though, that may have been from the sobbing.
Gale turned his head away, lifting up his arm to rub at his face with his sleeve. "Astarion, I'm sorry, I shouldn't... I can't..." He stammered, tripping over his words.
Astarion's lips curled into a smile; their usually verbose wizard was all tongues today. "Really, darling?" His hand moved to rest gently on Gale's shoulder, steadying him.
"Your lover is about to partake in two strangers with Halsin yet a little kiss to your cheek has you flustered?" The words slipped out a bit harsher than he intended, but Astarion's confusion was genuine. He couldn't fathom where Gale's loyalty sprang from after what had unfolded. "You are far too noble, my dear."
"Besides, that wasn't my intention." He added on quickly.
If anything, Gale seemed to fluster more. "Ah- oh. I didn't mean..."
Astarion wore a knowing smirk, his fingers gently tracing the lines on Gale’s neck, feeling the shiver his touch elicited. "Oh, don’t get me wrong," he teased, his voice lowering into a murmur that mingled warmth with mischief. "If you were willing, I would eat you right up."
He pulled his fingers away, the air suddenly thick with unspoken words. Astarion’s gaze softened, and he took a moment to study Gale’s expression.
"But," Astarion continued. "That's not what you need right now. And I'm trying to be a good...friend." He shifted a little awkwardly. "I just don't happen to have the best reference for what that entails. I suppose."
He reached his hand out, palm upwards. "Come with me." Astarion felt his throat tighten. "I want to show you something."
A slight nod and Gale's hand was wrapping around his, warm and large. Astarion gave it a squeeze and was pleased to see it earned him a tiny smile from Gale.
"You are my friend, Astarion. A good one." Gale squeezed his hand back and if it were possible, if his heart had a beat, it would have skipped.
Gale followed him as he led him deeper into the graveyard, weaving through the new and open graves until the dates marked on the stones got older and older. Then they reached one covered in ivy; anything written on it was covered with vines and moss. No one had been to this grave in decades, perhaps not even in two hundred years.
"Astarion..." Gale whispered from beside him.
He wasn't ready to look under the foliage. Astarion tugged Gale towards a stone bench, leaving the grave as untouched as it was.
"Sit with me." He said, and Gale did.
Silence stretched over them. Neither of them said anything more. It wasn't until a weight hit Astarion's shoulder that he noticed Gale had fallen asleep.
He deserved better. Astarion thought as he looked at the soft, tear-stained face of the wizard. Better than Mystra, better than Tav, better than anyone who would disregard him so.
It took Astarion two hundred years to be able to say no. He wasn't going to let it take that long for Gale.