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“I'm tired of the dirt and grit—
I want something soft.”
It’s not the first time Tav’s seen the tall, black-haired cleric walk into the establishment.
The first time Tav’s seen her, the woman had been with three other companions; a muscular tiefling woman whose chest glowed like a hot furnace, a stern-looking githyanki woman, and a smirk-wearing white-haired man with prominent fangs.
It was late into the night, and the group looked tired to their bones, but they bought multiple rounds of drinks and sat at one of the wooden tables until it was nearly closing time. Tav still remembers the laughter and lighthearted shoulder slaps the group exchanged with each other.
They seemed to have been celebrating something. Tav never tries to eavesdrop on her customers, but sometimes it’s hard to ignore loud chatter happening in front of you. Even so, she could barely pick up the group’s conversation. All she could hear were random compliments to the group from the tiefling—though the compliments seemed to mainly focus on the woman sitting rim-rod straight across from her.
“Best cleric in the land!” the tiefling had announced loudly, a slight slur to her excited words as she raised her cup in said cleric’s direction. She’d instantly been shushed by the cleric, her arm being shoved away—but the damage was done. All the other drunkards in the bar started to cheer along and raise their cups as well.
Tav had been smiling to herself at the spectacle, shaking her head amusedly.
Tav distinctly finds herself remembering the cleric because she’d seemed as if her mind was in another world. Even from across the room, Tav could see the small frown on her lips and, even when she was smiling, there seemed to be a permanent furrow in her brow.
Unknowingly, Tav’s eyes would habitually flicker over to the group all throughout the night and her gaze would immediately land on the woman with raven hair and straight bangs across the forehead.
But the second time the cleric walks in, she’s alone.
Even with the rush of customers in front of Tav, she clocks the woman immediately—mostly because her hair is now a stunning white color, even brighter than the vampirish man’s she’d come in with the other night, and her straight cut bangs are longer now and swept to the side.
She draws the attention of more than just Tav’s. Heads turn and quiet mumbles ripple through the crowd.
The cleric stands hesitantly by the entryway, sharp gaze running over the bar’s interior and its patrons. Tav’s sure she’d made eye contact with multiple people before she locks eyes with Tav and starts to head towards the bar.
Tav watches as the customers in front of her disperse to make way for the woman, who stops in front of the counter.
“Welcome back,” Tav greets with a smile, side-stepping to come face-to-face with the woman. “I like the new hairstyle.”
“You remember me?” the cleric asks.
“I try my best not to forget beautiful women.”
“ Charming ,” the cleric deadpans with narrowed eyes, though a small smile plays at the edges of her lips. She looks around. “I heard you were looking for help.”
Tav’s eyebrows shoot up to her forehead. “You did ?”
Emerald eyes land back onto Tav.
At Tav’s surprise, there’s confusion written all over the stranger’s face. “Yes. Gale spread the word.”
“ Gale ,” Tav mutters under her breath with a deep sigh. “ That incessant man —he told you I was looking for help?”
“He told Astarion, who told me,” the woman explains. “Is that not the case?”
Tav puffs up her cheeks. Gale always does try to help as much as he can, but the last time he tried to help Tav with the bar, he’d set fire to half of her liquor stock.
That man is meant more for the books and the battlefield than he is in anything pertaining to food service.
After putting the fire out and apologizing endlessly, Gale promised to find Tav actual help.
It seems like he stayed true to his word.
“My name is Shadowheart,” the white-haired woman says after seeing Tav’s internal battle. “I was hoping to find a job here.”
Tav stays silent for a moment. She looks around the bar and spots quite literally all eyes on her—well, on Shadowheart .
A thought clicks in her brain.
Perhaps Shadowheart could help attract more customers. It’s not everyday that a new (and gorgeous) face stays at the tavern for longer than a night. Having Shadowheart work there would make things more interesting for sure.
Tav hums and holds out a hand across the counter.
“I’m Tav,” she says as Shadowheart slips a hand into her own, giving a surprisingly firm handshake. “When can you start?”
“Now?” Shadowheart replies immediately, pulling her hand back down to her side.
“Perfect. Come around the counter.”
—
Tav puts Shadowheart to quick work.
Any time a table asks for another round, she prepares the drinks on a tray and has Shadowheart bring them over. It’s almost comical the efficient way Shadowheart places the drinks down in front of the patrons—she leaves no time for any one of them to strike a conversation up with her. Within seconds, she’s back behind the counter and next to Tav once again.
In between customers asking for more drinks, Shadowheart cleans vacant tables and abandoned glasses. Tav still finds her eyes finding Shadowheart’s silhouette whenever she’s not beside her, curiosity brimming.
Tav wonders what happened to Shadowheart’s group—wonders what happened for Shadowheart to be looking for a job. The group was a band of adventurers, no doubt—Tav has seen hundreds of them in her years of work. They’re always in town for less than a week, always in passing for a bounty or a job that they’d taken up.
So: why is Shadowheart still here two weeks later, alone?
There’s no room for small-talk between the two of them until hours later, when Tav has to gently wake the last patron—who’d been slumped over on the bar’s counter.
“Hey, Zevlor,” Tav gently shakes the tiefling’s shoulder. He rouses with a groan. Tav pats his back a couple times. “Time to head home, Zev.”
“Sorry ‘bout that, Tav,” Zevlor slurs. He stands hurriedly, which doesn’t do much except have him tumble straight to the ground.
Tav gives him a pitiful stare as she kneels down and helps him to his feet. “Come. I’ll walk you home.”
“I’m fine,” Zevlor tries to shake her off, but Tav throws his arm around her shoulders and lugs him towards the door. He keeps mumbling nonsense. “I used to be a leader! Did you know that, Tav?”
“Yes, yes,” Tav appeases calmly. She looks over to Shadowheart, who had been cleaning a table but stopped when Zevlor had fallen, green eyes worriedly staring at the pair. “I’ll be back soon. Do you mind waiting until I come back before leaving?”
“Of course,” Shadowheart gives a firm nod.
Zevlor’s mumbles grow louder. “A real leader! I was!”
“I know, Zev,” Tav grunts, shuffling towards the door with the grown tiefling man leaning his entire weight onto her. She lightly slaps the hand dangling next to her face. “Zevlor. At least try to walk.”
“Sorry—” Zevlor’s voice quiets. “Sorry. Thank you, Tav.”
The brief moment of sobriety passes quickly once they’re in the street.
“People looked up to me!” Zevlor cries.
Tav lets out a heavy breath.
It’s going to be a rough escort.
-
When Tav returns, Shadowheart’s sitting on one of the high stools in front of the bar counter. At the sound of the door opening, she turns.
“Thanks for waiting,” Tav says as she nears the counter. “I’ll grab some coins to pay you and then you can head home.”
When the word ‘home’ leaves her mouth, Shadowheart’s eyes blink rapidly and her forehead wrinkles. Tav immediately clocks the reaction, but doesn’t choose to speak on it.
Instead, she walks behind the bar and pulls her necklace from beneath her shirt. She uses a small silver key attached to the necklace—one of two—to unlock a safe that’s built into the floor just under the counter.
“That should be enough for your work tonight,” Tav says as she locks the safe and holds out the handful of gold coins to Shadowheart.
Though Shadowheart pockets the coins, she lingers and watches silently as Tav returns big carafes of wine and jugs of rum onto the shelves.
Tav, who knows her every move is being watched, continues her usual routine of closing and starts to put out the candles in the candelabras spread evenly through the tavern.
When that’s done, she walks to the windows, makes sure they’re closed and locked, and then shuts the blinds.
By the time the last window is checked, Shadowheart has stood from the stool she’d been sitting on.
“Heading out?” Tav asks with a small smile. “I can walk with you, if you want.”
“There’s no need,” Shadowheart shakes her head, heading to the door. “Thank you for letting me work tonight. I’ll see you tomorrow?”
“Sure,” Tav nods. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Shadowheart. Have a nice night.”
When the door clicks shut behind Shadowheart, Tav finds the silence deafening.
It always is after the last patron leaves, and she supposes it’ll feel this way when Shadowheart leaves now.
From a night of bustling chaos and nonstop service to be done, the late night and early morning consistently weighs heavy on Tav.
Tav locks the front door and heads behind the counter, into the back storage room. She unlocks a door at the very back of the room, practically hidden behind all the large shelves of alcohol and mugs, and reveals a staircase leading downwards.
Tav walks down the steps, shutting the door behind her and heading to what she considers to be her home. Her mind replays the reaction Shadowheart had to the word and she feels a small stab of bitterness in her chest, a feeling not unlike guilt spreading through her limbs.
Home.
Tav stares around the dark room, only able to see without light because of the elven blood in her veins. She has a bookshelf full of books, a small study table with an accompanying chair, a bedside drawer full of her clothes, and a small rickety bed.
Oh—and a rug that Gale had gifted her when she’d first thrown down a payment for the location.
Home?
Tav kicks off her boots and strips out of her beer-stained clothes, feeling the exhaustion catch up to her. She heads to the basin of water she has in the corner, soaking a cloth and giving her body a full cleanse. It’s a routine to her—just another thing to do before she can lay in her bed and let the fatigue of life knock her to a dead sleep.
In her undergarments, Tav crawls under her thin blanket and closes her eyes.
The last image flitting through her brain is of a white-haired cleric with soft hands and intense eyes.
—
Tav meets up with Gale for lunch the next day. He greets her with a wide smile.
“How’s my favorite bartender doing?”
Tav makes a face as she sits in the booth’s seat across from him. There’s already food on the table and she digs in. “Aren’t I the only bartender you know?”
“Yes, you are. What’s your point?”
Tav rolls her eyes, but she’s smiling. Gale lets out a laugh—he thinks he’s so damn funny, the bastard.
“So, did Astarion’s friend ever get around to working for you?” he asks before he starts eating as well.
“Yes, actually,” Tav answers. “She worked last night.”
“Did she?!” Gale asks. His eyes are wide with shock.
“Why do you seem surprised? You were the one who told her about me looking for help.”
Gale rolls his shoulders back and sits up straighter, clearing his throat. “I honestly didn’t think she would go for it. Astarion, the vampire man I bedded that one night, mentioned that his friend was thinking of settling down and wanted to know if there were any job offerings around town. Of course, I mentioned Tav’s Tavern.”
“Wait, what—?” Tav sputters. “The vampire man you bedded?”
“Oh, didn’t I tell you?”
“No! You didn’t!”
“ Technicalities ,” Gale waves off her disbelief. “Anyway, Astarion also mentioned that his friend was kind of losing her mind and just wanted a change of pace. It all seemed so complicated for a one night stand, so I hadn’t asked many questions. He was a lovely man, though. Real good with his—”
“Gale, please,” Tav holds up her hand in a ‘ please, stop ’ motion.
“Oops,” Gale coughs lightly. “Well, how was his friend?”
“Her name is Shadowheart,” Tav says.
“Shadowheart,” Gale repeats, like he was testing it out. “Peculiar name.”
“We’ve heard worse names, Gale,” Tav replies a bit snappily, and before she can question her own defensiveness over Shadowheart, she keeps talking. “She was fine; balanced trays full of absurd amounts of beer glasses like it was nothing to her and cleaned tables until they practically sparkled. Not to mention everyone in the bar seemed to be smitten with her.”
“Everyone?” Gale quirks an eyebrow, his tone accusing.
“The patrons,” Tav replies.
“ Right ,” Gale smiles widely now. “Is she coming back tonight?”
“She’s supposed to, yes,” Tav answers. She can already see his smile turning mischievous.
“I’ll drop by.”
“Please, don’t.”
—
“ Tav !”
Tav groans, loud and prolonged. She knows the owner of the voice without having to turn around. She spins on her heel and stares at Gale. “What? What do you want?”
“That’s no way to treat a customer!” Gale gasps, appalled.
“Quiet,” Tav narrows her eyes.
“A man can’t visit his dear classmate?”
“Stop calling me your classmate,” Tav chides lightheartedly. “That was years ago, Gale.”
“It adds to the ambiance of the friendship,” Gale smiles. He turns his head as his eyes wander the bar. “Where’s Shadowheart?”
Tav shrugs. “Hasn’t shown up yet.”
“Oh, man,” Gale slumps. “I was hoping to meet her.”
“She has enough fanboys, Gale,” Tav says teasingly as she slides a beer glass over to the man. “I also may or may not have forgotten to tell her what time the bar opens.”
Gale takes the offered alcohol. “So it’s all your fault? Figures!”
“Hush, or I’ll open a tab for you.”
Gale quickly takes a couple chugs of his beer.
Word around Shadowheart’s arrival must’ve spread, because tonight is busier than most other nights. Every person that walks into the bar immediately does a full sweep of the patrons with their eyes, clearly hoping to see a particularly glowing star-of-a-woman.
Too bad all they see is a drunk wizard bantering with the druid bartender.
-
It’s nearing three hours into the bar’s night when Shadowheart shows up. By now, the patrons are well drunk—and obviously so, as they erupt in cheers when they spot Shadowheart walking in.
Shadowheart, whose eyes widen at first, manages to relax her expression and continues heading to the counter. Tav thinks she spots pink-tipped ears, but the bar is scarcely lit with candelabras throughout so she can’t be too sure.
“Evening,” Tav says as a greeting to Shadowheart.
“Hello,” Shadowheart responds, falling into the space to Tav’s left. “I apologize for being late.”
“No apology needed,” Tav smiles. “Glad to see you back.”
Shadowheart’s mouth opens like she wants to reply, but then a table calls for another round.
Tav laughs and nods towards them before starting to prepare the drinks onto a tray.
“ Whew !” Gale says. “Tav, I can see why you’re so smitten with her!”
“You—” Tav bites back the curse she wants to send Gale’s way. She looks over at Shadowheart, who has an intrigued eyebrow quirked up at the comment. “Ignore him. He’s drunk.”
“And Gale!” Gale leans onto the counter, placing his chin on his palm as he stares across to Shadowheart. “I’m Gale.”
“Hello, Gale,” Shadowheart says shortly.
Tav returns to preparing the drinks.
“So you were the friend Astarion was talking about,” Gale proceeds to talk.
“Indeed,” Shadowheart hums.
Tav finishes up making the last drink before carefully holding the tray out to Shadowheart, who already has her hands outstretched to take it.
Her fingertips brush over the back of Tav’s hand to place a hand underneath the tray, her other hand holding the side to keep it steady.
Green eyes meet gray ones.
“Smitten, huh?” Shadowheart asks.
Tav’s glad Shadowheart has a sturdy grip on the tray, because she definitely would’ve dropped it.
Before she can even attempt stammering out a reply, Shadowheart’s off to deliver the drinks.
When she comes back, it’s like nothing happened—like Shadowheart’s eyes weren’t just twinkling when she teased Tav.
She’s back to cold and aloof—all intense eyes and focused movements.
Meanwhile Gale’s too far gone to even really have a conversation with Shadowheart, which Tav is extremely grateful for, but he’s also not going to be able to walk all the way back to his dormitory.
“Just stay at mine for the night, Gale,” Tav says with a sigh as Gale tries to get up. “I’m not trying to find you dead on the streets because you tripped and hit your head on something.”
“Are you sure?” Gale questions, standing and leaning heavily on the counter. “I’m a big guy. We’re not going to fit on your bed together, Tav. I’ve seen your bed!”
Shadowheart, who’s cleaning cups besides Tav, tilts her head slightly at the comment.
“You can take the bed for yourself,” Tav walks around the counter to gather her best friend. “Let’s go. When you’re asleep, you stop being a pain in my ass.”
“So rude,” Gale says before letting out a belch. He shuffles alongside Tav, towards the storage room.
“You’ll be alright here alone for a moment?” Tav asks, pausing besides Shadowheart. She has to tilt her chin up just slightly to look directly into Shadowheart’s eyes. There’s the barest of flutters in her stomach at the realization.
“I’ll be fine. Do you want help with Gale?”
“No, it’s alright,” Tav grins. “Be right back.”
-
After wrestling Gale into her bed and making sure he’s sleeping on his side, Tav climbs back up the steps.
She finds Shadowheart tending to the bar with utmost diligence, shuffling side to side to grab mugs, fill them, and place them in front of patrons. In between doing that, she’s grabbing coins and memorizing which patron already paid and which didn’t.
Tav smiles to herself and settles back next to Shadowheart’s side. “It’s extra busy tonight.”
Shadowheart barely flinches at her return. There’s the slightest hint of sweat on her brow. “It wasn’t this busy yesterday, was it?”
“Not until you showed up, no,” Tav answers honestly. She avoids Shadowheart’s eyes as she starts washing and drying some cups. “I wasn’t kidding when I called you a pretty woman.”
There’s no reply, because more patrons come in and it only gets busier and busier, but Tav swears she sees Shadowheart’s chin lift up in a sort of ‘I know I’m beautiful’ posture.
The thought is enough to put a smile on Tav’s face.
-
By the time the chaos has calmed, it’s well into the night.
Rather than calling for more rounds, customers are taking the final sips of their cups and leaving them at tables as they take their own leave.
With Shadowheart’s help, Tav finds it a lot easier and quicker to close the bar. Shadowheart cleans tables as soon as they’re vacated while Tav tends to the last of the patrons.
There are no stragglers left behind that Tav has to wake. Zevlor hadn’t shown up today—which was to be expected. Tav doesn’t know much about the man besides his drunken confessions, and those never make much sense to her, but after a bad night of too much drinking, he usually doesn’t come back to the tavern until a few days pass.
“How was your second day of working here?” Tav asks as she checks the windows. Shadowheart’s cleaning a table in the middle of the room. “Are you wanting to quit already?”
“ Funny ,” Shadowheart quips. “I don’t quit that easily.”
“Yeah, you don’t seem like the type to,” Tav hums. “I realized today that I forgot to tell you when we opened.”
Shadowheart lets out a small, embarrassed chuckle. “It wasn’t entirely your fault I was late. I may have gotten lost.”
“Oh,” Tav replies. She looks over to Shadowheart. “Were you exploring the city?”
“A bit,” Shadowheart nods. She throws the towel she was using to wipe the table over her shoulder. “Last night, the only inn I could find with a room vacancy was quite far away. I spent most of the day sleeping in before realizing I should probably find my way back here.”
Tav frowns. She shuts the last window’s blinds before turning to walk towards Shadowheart so they don’t have to speak across the bar. “I figured you would’ve had a place.”
“Well,” Shadowheart tilts her head and shrugs her shoulders. “I’m still… testing the waters here, so to speak. I have money to buy—or at least rent —a place, but I’m still figuring out if this is what I want.”
Her voice is quiet, hesitant even.
“Not used to settling down?” Tav questions carefully. She gives a small smile and hopes she’s not overstepping.
“Not in the slightest,” Shadowheart admits with a bashful laugh.
“Gale told me what Astarion said to him—about you,” Tav says.
Shadowheart’s face pales.
Tav’s quick to keep talking. “It wasn’t anything bad! He mentioned that a friend of his wanted to settle down, something about wanting a change of pace.”
She purposely leaves out the whole ‘losing her mind’ comment.
“I see,” Shadowheart mumbles. “That is what I’m doing, yes.”
“Then I hope you find this to be a fun experience, even if you don’t end up settling here,” Tav says earnestly. She turns to walk around the bar and blow out the candles, frowning at how low the wax had melted and making a mental note to go buy more candles tomorrow.
“Have you always wanted to open a bar?” Shadowheart asks into the following silence.
It takes Tav aback for a moment. She really hadn’t expected Shadowheart to continue the conversation, but Shadowheart’s clearly full of surprises. As Tav leaves one last candelabra on—the one next to the bar, she turns to look at Shadowheart through the darkness.
“No. I attended a couple years in wizardry school with Gale a handful of years ago—that’s how we met,” Tav explains as Shadowheart settles onto a stool in front of the counter. Tav stays standing behind the bar, a small melancholy smile on her lips as she recounts what had once been her dream. “I wanted to travel and explore the world.”
“What made you change your mind?”
“Nothing in particular,” Tav answers. She crosses her arms and leans them on the counter. “Fear, I guess.”
“Of leaving?” Shadowheart asks.
“Yes, and of knowing.”
At Shadowheart’s confused look, Tav lets out a small laugh.
“I was scared that if I went out and explored, I’d just want to do it more and more. I’d keep learning new things and wanting to experience them.”
“Is that a bad thing?” Shadowheart frowns. “That sounds exactly what an adventurer’s life is. Learning and experiencing.”
“I’d never be satisfied,” Tav shrugs. “I’d never feel satiated—sort of like an addiction. I knew that once I started, I’d never want to stop. How can you live a satisfying life if nothing ever feels like it’s enough? I didn’t want to risk that, so I gave up on being an adventurer and settled down.”
“Being an adventurer…” Shadowheart gives a small smile. Her eyes drift downwards, staring at the wooden bar counter solemnly. “It’s not quite what it’s chalked up to be, I’m afraid.”
There’s a barely-there sharp intake of breath from Shadowheart as she tenses, as if she’s preparing herself for any questions Tav’s going to ask her.
“Don’t worry,” Tav assures gently. “I won’t ask.”
Shadowheart’s eyes snap back up to her.
Tav starts to rearrange mugs on the shelf lining the back wall, just to give herself something to do as she keeps talking. “Whatever made you want to settle down and stop adventuring, I won’t pry unless you want me to know.”
There’s a long moment of silence—so long that Tav runs out of cups to move around.
She turns to look at Shadowheart, who’s staring straight at her.
“Thank you,” Shadowheart says once their eyes meet, her voice barely above a whisper. There’s a shimmer of glossiness in her eyes, but she blinks it away and gives a faint smile. “The wounds are still fresh, but perhaps one day I’ll share it with you.”
“I’ll be here,” Tav smiles comfortingly. She looks around the empty tavern and takes a deep breath. “Do you have a place to stay tonight?”
“Why?” Shadowheart tilts her head and her smile grows as she kinks an eyebrow up. “Are you going to offer me your bed, too?”
“After I shove Gale off of it, sure.”
Shadowheart lets out a light laugh. Music to Tav’s ears .
“I managed to reserve a few nights at an inn closer to here than the one I slept at yesterday,” Shadowheart explains. “No need to shove Gale off of your bed.”
“Aw, man. I was kind of looking forward to doing it.”
Shadowheart rolls her eyes and stands from the stool.
“Oh, wait—your payment,” Tav hurries to the safe and pulls out the same amount of coins she’d given Shadowheart yesterday. She holds them out to Shadowheart, who takes it carefully. “If you think of staying for a longer period of time, we can work out some sort of weekly payment—but I figured nightly payments will do for now.”
“This is just fine, thank you,” Shadowheart has been smiling for a longer period of time than Tav’s ever seen.
She walks Shadowheart to the front door, holding it open for her. “I open the bar at sundown, by the way.”
“Noted,” Shadowheart replies with a small nod. “Goodnight, Tav.”
“Goodnight, Shadowheart.”
—
After rudely awakening Gale from his slumber, Tav sets off in the busy morning rush to go shopping for things that the tavern’s running low on.
Tav heads to the back of the tavern and unlocks the chains keeping her large wooden cart attached to the building. It’s a low four-wheel cart, a rope stretched across the two protruding wooden handles at the front of it.
In a split second, Tav casts Wild Shape and her humanoid body fizzles and flashes into the body of a wolf. She ducks under the rope and turns, positioning herself so she can take the rope in her mouth.
She heads down the street like this, off to another area she knows has various merchants lining the stone paths.
Most people out and about right now pay no mind to Tav’s wolf-form. She’s done this enough times for regulars to know it’s her, but there are a few startled flinches or curious looks thrown her way. She is, after all, currently a very large canine pulling a cart behind her.
Whenever she stops at a vendor she’s interested in, Tav changes into her human form just long enough to ask for wares and to pay before turning back into a wolf.
Once her cart is full of new bundles of wax candles to fit onto her candelabras, a bundle of new towels, and countless varieties of alcohol, Tav walks back to the tavern in a much slower pace than she’d walked before buying everything.
She finds her paws slowing to a stop when she spots a familiar woman with white hair done up in its usual high plait ponytail.
Shadowheart is down the street from her, at a vendor selling clothes. She’s standing with one hand on her hip and one under her chin, clearly in the middle of very seriously examining the vendor’s merchandise.
Tav finds herself smiling, but quickly wipes the expression from her face. As a wolf, she knows it just looks like she’s snarling.
She walks closer, paws padding along the stones beneath her.
When Shadowheart notices her, her eyes widen and she takes an almost instinctive step backwards.
“Ah, Tav,” the vendor greets her.
Shadowheart’s flicker between the vendor and the beast in front of her. “ Tav ?”
Tav transforms back. She gives both Shadowheart and the vendor a smile. “Good morning. Doing some shopping?”
“Yes,” Shadowheart answers, though she’s clearly trying to recover from her initial shock. “I figured I shouldn’t be wearing full armor while working at the tavern, but I don’t own many clothes that aren’t meant for battle.”
“She’s been eyeing these leather pants and this red shirt for a few minutes now,” the vendor says, gesturing to the items.
“A woman with taste,” Tav says, impressed.
Shadowheart looks away, slightly embarrassed. “Astarion once told me that the look would suit me—had made me try on his leather pants for laughs.”
Tav lets her eyes do a once-over on Shadowheart. She nods once. “I’ve yet to meet the man properly, but I think he has a point.”
“I’m sure he’ll grace us with his presence soon enough,” Shadowheart mutters before turning to the vendor. “I’ll take those two, then. Thank you.”
The exchange is done within a few moments, and then Shadowheart turns to Tav, the two of them shuffling off to the side so they’re not preventing business to the vendor.
“Do you normally like to turn into a mutt in your free time?” she asks once they’re standing next to the cart.
Tav laughs. “I turn into my wolf form whenever I go shopping. Makes it easier to haul the cart around when I’m a direwolf.”
“I’m surprised to see that your clothes are still intact,” Shadowheart notes.
“Oh, interested in seeing me naked, Shadowheart?” Tav teases.
“ Please . I know I don’t need you to expend energy on a spell for me to see that.”
Shadowheart says these words so casually, so confidently , that Tav finds herself freezing.
A smirk grows on Shadowheart’s pink lips. A predator with its prey in a trap. “For someone who dishes it out, you really can’t take it.”
As a response, Tav turns back into a wolf.
Shadowheart’s laugh is loud and joyous. She shakes her head and holds the bundle of freshly-bought clothes to her chest.
“I’ll see you later, Tav.”
—
This time, Shadowheart shows up before Tav has even unlocked the front door of the bar. There’s a light knock on the door and Tav looks up from the list she’d been making within a tattered old notebook.
She hurries to unlock the door and holds it open for Shadowheart. “You’re early.”
Tav’s eyes quickly take in Shadowheart’s new attire. The casual clothes suit her well and while her hair is still in a high ponytail, there's no plaiting.
“Figured I’d make up for being late yesterday,” Shadowheart says as they both head behind the counter. “What were you so focused on?”
“I was doing inventory,” Tav answers, sliding the book in front of Shadowheart. “The boring part of being a tavern-keeper.”
Shadowheart lets out a breath of amusement, her eyes scanning the page. She uses her finger to point to something, tapping twice onto the paper. “You spelled ‘candelabra’ wrong.”
“Of course I did,” Tav snorts, leaning in close to see her error: candlebra . How embarrassing . “The bloody word has never stuck for me.”
“I’m not sure how well a candle-bra would work in practice, but in theory it sounds quite interesting,” Shadowheart says in a faux-serious tone.
“What? Want to test it out with me?” Tav asks jokingly.
“Give me a time and place,” Shadowheart responds with ease.
Tav rolls her eyes, trying to play off her increasingly-red cheeks. “Alright, alright. Besides, my mistakes don’t matter—it’s not like anybody looks in that book except me.”
Shadowheart giggles and heads over to the tables, taking the upside down stools off of them and placing them onto the ground. “Good thing you’re a bartender and not a poet.”
“Every poet I’ve met has only ever given me a headache,” Tav says as she closes the notebook and starts arranging mugs.
“Fair point,” Shadowheart recedes.
There’s comfortable silence between the two as they prepare the tavern for customers; wiping down tables, sweeping, opening the window blinds.
When Tav finally unlocks the front door, it only takes a few minutes until people are coming in.
Tav and Shadowheart work like a well-oiled machine, and it’s hard for Tav to believe she’d only been working with the mysterious cleric for three days.
Even with minimal communication, Shadowheart knows when Tav’s needing a clean mug to prepare a drink in, or when Tav needs to go into the back storage to grab more jugs of alcohol, Shadowheart steps up to the center of the counter to take orders.
Some time into the night, Shadowheart’s ponytail transforms into a messily done-up bun. Tav’s brain has to work in overdrive to keep focused when she notices it. Every now and then, Shadowheart will fix her parted bangs and tuck loose strands fallen from her bun behind her pointed ear, and every little action will cause a little skip in Tav’s heartbeat.
As Shadowheart brings trays of drinks to tables, Tav notices that she gives slightly more attention to the patrons than she did the first night she’d worked. She gives small smiles now, and offers a sentence or two in short conversation.
Tav’s nearly as happy as the customers who receive the attention.
Little by little, even in less than three days, Shadowheart is starting to open up.
“What are you grinning about over here?” Shadowheart asks defensively as she settles back behind the counter. She stands close enough for Tav to feel the warmth radiating off of her body, green eyes narrowed playfully.
“Nothing,” Tav answers with a chuckle. “It’s just nice to see you letting people in.”
“All I said to them was that I like night orchids.”
Tav lets out another chuckle, louder this time as she slides a beer glass over to a customer. She glances over to Shadowheart. “Be prepared for just about every customer to come in tomorrow night with bundles of ‘em.”
“Then I’d scold them,” Shadowheart replies matter-of-factly. “Just because they’re pretty doesn’t mean they should be plucked and left to die. They’re called night orchids for a reason, they need darkness to survive.”
“Stick them in a vase of water and shove them in a dark corner,” Tav suggests. “I’m sure they’re more resilient than you give them credit for.”
“Perhaps,” Shadowheart says.
She stares at Tav for a beat too long, and then looks away when her name is called by a different table.
Tav finds herself releasing a breath she doesn’t know she’d been holding.
–
“Is the tavern ever closed?” Shadowheart questions as she settles into the stool across where Tav is standing behind the counter.
If this post-shift talk between the two of them is going to become a regular thing, Tav isn’t afraid to admit that she’s more than okay with the idea—excited about it, even.
“No, I always keep it open, unless I get sick or have other appointments to attend—and I don’t usually have either of those,” Tav answers. She looks over from the candle she was putting out. “Did you want days off? That’s fine by me.”
“No,” Shadowheart shakes her head. “I was just curious.”
“Any other curiosities you’re eager to sate?” Tav asks with a crooked smile. “I’m here to please.”
“Will you tell me the next time you go shopping?”
Of all things to ask, Tav’s surprised that Shadowheart asks that . “Sure. Mind if I ask why?”
“I want to help,” Shadowheart shrugs. “And… I’ve only recently gotten over my fear of wolves, but my brain is still hardwired to be cautious—hence my reaction when I first saw you today. I figured being around a wolf I trust would help smoothen that process.”
Tav winces. “If I’d known about your fear, I wouldn’t have walked up to you so confidently in that form. I’m—”
“Oh, it’s not your fault,” Shadowheart cuts off the apology at the tip of Tav’s tongue. “There’s no way you could’ve known.”
“Right,” Tav mumbles. She clears her throat. “I’ll be sure to let you know the night before I go shopping again. I try to go early in the morning, before everyone wakes up and gets all the good merchandise.”
“Thank you,” Shadowheart smiles. “I apologize for randomly dumping that on you. I’m sure it’s an odd request.”
“It’s a welcome dump,” Tav grins. “Friendships usually only grow if we learn about each other.”
“Do you consider us that?” Shadowheart asks with a tilt of her head. “Friends?”
“Is that not what we are?” Tav responds. “Would you like me to lessen the title to co-workers? Or worse— boss and employee ?”
“No, no,” Shadowheart refuses. “Friend works.”
Tav laughs. “Then friends it is.”
“Friends,” Shadowheart repeats. The grin on her face is so endearingly gentle, and Tav knows she’s mirroring the same expression.
—
Shadowheart walks into Tav’s Tavern the following day and spots two glass vases on the bar counter, one already full with water and the other completely empty.
“Figured we could keep some of those night orchids here at the tavern as decoration,” Tav tells her. “The other vase is for you to take with you when you leave.”
-
By the end of the night, the empty vase had to be filled with water to hold night orchids because the other vase had gotten filled to capacity with the dark-colored flower.
Shadowheart watches as Tav finds a small corner on the backshelf where no candle-light hits, placing both vases of flowers there. Tav takes a step back to look at her work, tilting her head to see if it’s a good spot.
When Tav turns around, Shadowheart’s eyes widen as she’s caught in a moment of staring, and she looks away.
The days pass by quickly.
Soon enough, Shadowheart’s been working with Tav for nearly two months.
The first time Shadowheart goes shopping with Tav, Tav has her hold a list of things they need to get. It’s a lot easier on Tav energy-wise to not have to switch between Wild Shape forms, seeing as Shadowheart does all of the talking (ahem— bargaining ).
Tav learns that Shadowheart is not one to test when it comes to shitty prices.
Initially, Shadowheart keeps a big space between herself and Tav when they walk down the street, but after the first couple of visits to vendors, Shadowheart’s legs practically brush against the fur of Tav’s wolf-form for the remainder of their shopping. Even while talking to the vendors, Shadowheart’s palm absentmindedly finds the spot between Tav’s ears.
In the two months of them working together, Shadowheart joins Tav’s shopping endeavors every week.
The two of them continue their conversations in the quietness of the tavern once all patrons have left. They learn little bits and pieces of each other, like how Shadowheart can’t swim and how Tav’s favorite Wild Shape form is a cat.
It feels like friendship, even if the little conniving voice in Tav’s head tells her that’s not all she wants.
It is friendship, and Tav’s fine with that.
Tav knows that Shadowheart’s sweeter than she lets on. She’s seen it in the way Shadowheart handles the particularly emotional drunkards—never too harsh on those who shed lonely tears, always giving them a smile more gentle than the ones she gives to other patrons. Tav sees it in the way Shadowheart ghosts her fingers underneath the petals of the night orchids, checking on the flowers’ wellbeing and frowning when they’d begin to wilt.
Still, Shadowheart can be as sharp as lightning if anybody steps out of line. On more than one occasion, Shadowheart has to deal with rowdy, too-forward adventurers who flirt with her.
Tav always grins to herself when she hears Shadowheart’s snappy replies to them, each word always laced with venom.
“You’re prettier than the moon,” a drow woman says to her one night.
“Beauty is subjective,” Shadowheart responds before walking away.
“I think I could find myself getting lost in your eyes,” a human man leans on the counter to stare at Shadowheart.
“I’ll get you a map,” Shadowheart replies with a sickly sweet smile.
“You’re beautiful,” is something that most people default to.
“ I know ,” is always Shadowheart’s answer.
And the only time a patron has crossed boundaries, Tav doesn’t notice it until Shadowheart’s breaking the man’s wrist.
-
Tav sees a blur of movement, only registering the blur as Shadowheart’s hand gripping a touchy patron’s wrist when she hears the man yelping out in pain as she twists it.
It’s obvious what had occurred seconds before—with the way Shadowheart’s eyes are narrowed with anger and the man’s hand hovers in the air besides Shadowheart’s bottom, held in place by Shadowheart herself.
Tav spots a couple other patrons standing to confront the man, and Tav hurries over before he can get beaten to a bloody pulp.
(Even if Tav wants that to happen, she’s the one who would have to clean up the blood—and that shit seeps between the cracks of wooden planks, okay?)
“Hey, hey !” Tav calls out over the rising shouts.
Upon noticing Tav, Shadowheart lets go of the man immediately, as if she’s the one Tav’s yelling at.
But Tav doesn’t let him get far. She grabs him by the collar of his shirt and pulls , sending the man out of his seat and to the ground roughly. He lands violently and cradles his twisted—no, broken wrist to his chest.
“Get out,” Tav orders through gritted teeth. She commits his face to her memory.
“Wait, he’s just a little too drunk—”
Tav’s eyes snap up to the man speaking. It’s one of the asshole’s friends. “You can leave, too.”
“Seriously—?”
“Get the fuck out.”
Tav doesn’t have to repeat herself. The entire group sitting at the table leaves with the man.
The tense atmosphere of the tavern slowly fades away as the patrons who’d stood up to help Shadowheart return to their seats. The scrapes of their chairs on the wooden floor eases the rest of the patrons within to continue their previous conversations.
Tav takes a deep breath.
“I’m sorry,” Shadowheart mutters from behind Tav.
Tav spins around so fast she gets dizzy. “You have nothing to apologize for,” she reassures Shadowheart, eyes quickly scanning her from her head to her toes. The rage in Tav’s demeanor disappears within seconds, her eyebrows furrowing with concern. “Are you alright?”
“Yes, I’m fine,” Shadowheart answers, though her voice is still quieter than usual. She’s shaken, but Tav thinks she’s more shaken because of her own actions than she is because of the man’s.
“Do you want to take a moment in the back room?” Tav offers carefully. “I’m sure I can hold the fort down.”
The only reply Shadowheart gives is a nod.
Tav walks with her back to the counter and watches as Shadowheart disappears into the storage room.
Tav returns to serving customers at the bar and carrying trays of drinks to tables that call for them, though her mind is occupied with thoughts of Shadowheart.
A concerning amount of time passes before Shadowheart emerges from the backroom.
She seems like First-Day-Shadowheart for the rest of the shift—too efficient at her job and never smiling or making conversation. Tav’s worried, but she pushes the feeling away.
If Shadowheart wants to talk to her after they close, she’ll let herself worry then.
-
As Tav closes the door behind the last leaving group of patrons, she finds Shadowheart already moving to clean the tables.
“If you want to head out early, that’s fine by me,” Tav says, walking closer and holding out her hand to take the towel from Shadowheart.
“I’m alright, really,” Shadowheart replies with a frown. “It’s just—”
She stops short in her sentence, cutting herself off. Tav waits patiently, wondering if Shadowheart will open up to her or if she’ll retreat into her shell.
Either way, Tav waits.
Tav lowers her outstretched hand. She plops down onto one of the chairs suddenly and laughs a little when she sees how surprised Shadowheart looks.
“Sit,” Tav says, though it sounds more like a question than a command.
Shadowheart does sit in the chair next to Tav, but she’s much more graceful in her descent. She places the towel on the table and folds her hands in her lap.
“So: you broke that guy’s wrist.”
Shadowheart bristles at the bluntness. Her spine straightens as she opens her mouth to reply, except her lips close and she knits her eyebrows together. She avoids Tav’s gaze, looking somewhere behind Tav and not focusing on anything in particular.
Tav waits, her eyes wandering all over Shadowheart’s face. She absentmindedly counts the freckles spread across her cheeks, barely keeping score as she gets distracted by the scar going across Shadowheart’s right cheek—knows that it’s from a wolf attack after Shadowheart had shared that part of her past when they’d first gone shopping together.
Tav thinks that the woman sitting next to her is so, so stunning.
Eventually, Shadowheart lets out a deep sigh, pulling Tav out of her revere.
She makes eye contact with Tav. “When I did that, I felt like…” she hesitates. “I felt like I was reverting back to old ways, like I’ll never be anything more than what I had been. Like I’ll always go back to violence as an answer to my problems.”
The genuine regret and sadness in Shadowheart’s tone tugs at Tav’s heart.
Tav leans closer, sitting sideways in her chair, and reaches to take Shadowheart’s clasped hands into her own, but she pauses.
Her hands hover Shadowheart’s folded hands, silently asking for permission.
Shakily, Shadowheart unfolds her hands and turns them over, facing them palm-up for Tav’s hand to fall into place.
Tav slips her hand in between Shadowheart’s and Shadowheart clasps her hands together once more, but this time with Tav’s hand sandwiched within.
“The asshole deserved more than a broken wrist,” is the first thing Tav says.
Shadowheart squeezes Tav’s hand as a wet laugh leaves her lips. “ Tav ,” she scolds softly.
Tav smiles, glad to have made her laugh even a little bit.
She settles in her seat, making sure to look Shadowheart in her eyes as she continues to speak. “I won’t pretend to know how you’re feeling, but I think who you are now is more important than the concept of who you’ve been in the past or who you will be in the future.”
Shadowheart’s hold on Tav’s hand tightens. She lets Tav’s words sink in for a moment, before she’s shaking her head.
“What if all of those things are the same?” Shadowheart questions fearfully, eyes starting to shine with fresh tears. Her eyes flicker between Tav’s, almost panickedly. “What if I know nothing about any of those versions of me?”
“You have your entire life to learn yourself, Shadowheart,” Tav comforts.
“What if I never know who I am?” she whispers. A tear falls from Shadowheart’s right eye.
Hypotheticals: the downfall of even the greatest being.
Tav wonders what happened to Shadowheart to have her mind so sown with seeds of doubt.
She resists the urge to wipe away Shadowheart’s tear and tightens her hold on Shadowheart’s hand.
“Your name is Shadowheart. You like night orchids, you like reading, and you like animals.”
Shadowheart sputters. “I’ve never mentioned reading or liking animals to you before.”
“If there’s ever a customer in here with a book, I always see you taking a peek at what they’re reading—always looking over to them and angling your head just-so to look at the front cover,” Tav explains with a small smile. “And I know you’ve been feeding the stray cats in the back alleyway down the street because they’ve been telling me all about a tall angel with white hair who delivers fresh fish to them.”
Shadowheart’s cheeks turn pink.
Tav continues. “These things might not be entirely who you are, but it’s a start, isn’t it?”
Shadowheart nods weakly. She brings one hand up to wipe at her cheek.
Tav stands from the chair, still holding onto Shadowheart’s other hand. “Go to bed a little early tonight, Shadowheart. I can close up here by myself.”
“No,” Shadowheart firmly denies the suggestion. She stands, too. “I can help. It’s the least I can do after you’ve comforted me.”
Tav hums, absentmindedly running the pad of her thumb across Shadowheart’s knuckles. She pulls away when she realizes what she’s doing, her own face warming up. “If you want to start counting the coins we made tonight, I can wipe down the tables.”
-
As if the night hasn’t been eventful enough, the door swings open just as Tav’s started to put out the candles.
“We’re closed—” she starts to call out, freezing when she notices the familiar face.
Wyll walks into the bar, a small frown on his lips. He looks exhausted, but his eyes light up when he spots Tav.
Tav pauses.
Shadowheart, who’s just finished counting their income for the night, also stops to look at the newcomer.
“Hello, Tav.”
“Wyll,” Tav says in greeting. She walks closer in disbelief. “Holy shit. How are you?”
“I’ve seen better days, I’ll admit,” Wyll replies with a dry laugh, but he pulls Tav in for a tight hug. Tav hugs back, arms wrapping around his midsection as her face becomes buried in his chest.
When they pull away, Wyll keeps his hands on Tav’s shoulders, holding her at arms-length. “I never thought I’d see you again.”
“You’re telling me,” Tav smiles before playfully punching his stomach. He still lets out a groan, perhaps still sore from battle, but Tav doesn’t feel the slightest bit guilty. “You left to fight in a war you had no business fighting in, you shithead.”
Wyll retracts his hands to protect himself. “You know it’s my duty.”
Tav rolls her eyes. “ Please don’t give me a speech on duty and loyalty right now.”
“I won’t,” Wyll laughs. His eyes trail over to Shadowheart, who’s still staring at the pair from afar. “Hi there. I’m Wyll Ravengard. I don’t think we’ve met.”
“We haven’t,” Shadowheart states. “I’m Shadowheart.”
“Pleasure,” Wyll gives a stage-bow, ever the polite man. He turns his attention back to Tav. “I’ve missed you, little one.”
“ Don’t start— ” Tav groans.
“We have to catch up!” Wyll smiles.
“Tomorrow afternoon,” Tav swats him away. “Come by here and we can catch up.”
“It’s a date,” Wyll replies happily.
“Get out so I can close my tavern and go to sleep,” Tav orders monotonously.
Wyll doesn’t seem deterred in the slightest. He smiles widely and hugs Tav once more before taking his leave.
As the front door shuts, Tav shakes her head to herself, unable to keep a smile from her lips as she goes back to putting out the candles.
From across the room, Shadowheart speaks up. “Is he your lover?”
“What?” Tav nearly chokes on air. She looks up at Shadowheart, whose face is devoid of any emotion. “Oh, absolutely not.”
Shadowheart doesn’t reply.
Tav oddly feels like she’s in trouble.
She clears her throat, continuing to talk as she walks to a different candelabra. “Wyll’s father helped me when I was growing up. The other kids at the orphanage were a rowdy bunch, and we’d always cause trouble on the streets. His father caught me one night, graffiti tagging a church.”
When she looks up, Shadowheart’s staring intently at her. Tav walks back to the counter and sits on one of the stools.
“Instead of throwing me into a jail cell or reporting me to the orphanage, he gave me various tasks to do around the community, usually sending Wyll to do them with me. They let me keep the money I made, even let me keep it in their house so I wouldn’t get it stolen by anybody. That continued until I was old enough to move out of the orphanage. Which is when I met Gale. Him and Wyll are basically my brothers.”
“It must be nice,” Shadowheart says with a little smile, “to have people you are close to.”
“Your previous group seemed pretty close to me,” Tav comments before thinking better of it.
Shadowheart’s smile drops, but only for a second. A bittersweet smile replaces the previous one. “I suppose they were closer to me than everybody else in my life. They were there when I found out—”
Again, Shadowheart cuts herself off, like she’s said too much and doesn’t want to expose all of her cards at once (or at all).
Tav offers an understanding hum and a nod. “What were their names? I know Astarion, but I don’t know the githyanki and the tiefling women’s names.”
“Lae’zel and Karlach,” Shadowheart answers easily. Her smile grows. “Personality-wise, those two were complete opposites. Lae’zel has always been a bit thorny with everyone, but Karlach just wants to make friends.”
“You know, I can totally see that,” Tav laughs. “Karlach’s the one who told everyone in the tavern that you were the best cleric around, and then—”
“And then everyone cheered,” Shadowheart groans embarrassedly at the memory. “Yes, that was Karlach.”
“She and Astarion were the life of the party that night,” Tav states. “I had a few regulars ask about your group the next night, hoping you’d all come back.”
“They’re a unique bunch, alright,” Shadowheart nods in agreement. “I’d traveled with them for just over three years before leaving.”
“Do you miss them?” Tav asks quietly.
Shadowheart’s jaw tightens. She hums. “I do. Nights are quieter when you don’t share a room with three other people. I always woke up when Astarion would sneak out to hunt an animal to feed on, and then would stay up until he came back safely. Karlach slept like the dead, so she had no idea about any of it, and Lae’zel…”
Her slight frown turns into a fond smile.
“Lae’zel tried to pretend like she didn’t care about us, but I know for sure that she also used to stay up until Astarion returned.”
“Sounds like a good group of people,” Tav comments.
“We were–or at least, we tried to be. Astarion and Lae’zel’s lack of morality at times was always counteracted by Karlach’s supreme moral compass,” Shadowheart says with a little laugh. Her voice becomes smaller. “Before we accepted the bounty, I told them that it would be my last. I spent several months thinking about it, and decided I wanted to try settling down somewhere.”
She lets out a sigh. “I knew they’d be upset, but I wasn’t expecting just how crestfallen they looked. Hell, even Lae’zel looked like I’d torn her heart right out—and that woman used to talk about killing her cousins for fun.”
Tav makes a face at the last comment, which in turn makes Shadowheart laugh before she keeps talking.
“Eventually, we made it into the city to find the man we were supposed to track down. A couple of days into our hunt, Astarion suggested we go to a place called Tav’s Tavern.”
Tav recounts the story Gale had told her and quickly finds herself connecting the dots. “Astarion slept with Gale the night before that,” she says.
“What?” Shadowheart gives a slow blink.
Tav giggles. “Gale told me that he mentioned my tavern to the vampire he’d bedded.”
“He…” Shadowheart chuckles. “I can’t believe Astarion slept with someone and then asked them for advice on my behalf.”
“Two birds, one stone.”
“Oh, goodness .”
The two share a moment of laughter together.
It’s a nice reprieve from the emotional night that they’d had.
“Would you like to go shopping with me tomorrow?” Tav asks when their chuckles die down. “I’ve been meaning to find more decorations for the tavern, but I’ve never been one for decorating. I was hoping you’d have a more creative eye than me.”
“I’d love to,” Shadowheart smiles. She hesitates for a moment. “I’d have to find an inn nearby, but I can always wake up extra early to meet you here.”
“I thought you’d been staying at that one inn a few streets down?”
“It’s prime adventurer season, so they booted me to make more room for bigger groups,” Shadowheart answers bitterly. “I stuffed my bag of belongings behind the tavern.”
“Well, why don’t you stay here?” Tav suggests. At Shadowheart’s raised eyebrows, she keeps talking. “At least for the night. It’d make it easier to go shopping together in the early morning.”
“Is that alright?” Shadowheart asks. “I hope you’re not offering out of pity. I’m more than fine with walking to find another inn.”
“You don’t seem like somebody to be pitied,” Tav says honestly. “The offer still stands.”
After a moment of contemplation, Shadowheart nods. “I’ll just grab my things and come back in.”
-
As the pair descend the stairs, Tav feels herself getting anxious. She’s suddenly thinking of what Shadowheart’s opinion on her room would be, and wonders if she’d cleaned up any messes she’d made—not that she spends enough time in her room for there to be a mess.
When they make it to the bottom, Shadowheart looks around, setting her bag down by the staircase and resting her staff against the wall.
Tav busies herself with lighting the one candelabra she has in the corner of her room. She doesn’t even remember the last time she’d lit it.
“I didn’t realize you lived in an actual cave,” Shadowheart says lightheartedly. She’s staring at the stone walls and floor.
Tav lets out a nervous chuckle. “When I bought the place, the old owner told me I could make this into a wine cellar—to make my own alcohol.”
“Not interested in homemade brews?” Shadowheart asks, heading towards the bookshelf. She runs her fingers along the spines of the books on it. They’re mostly all old textbooks from wizardry school.
Her hands find the two night orchid flowers in a vase that Tav’s been trying incredibly hard to keep alive.
Tav shakes her head. “Not exactly. Besides, I needed a place to sleep and my plan was always to stay with the tavern. I’m just glad I didn’t need to build an extra room.”
Shadowheart hums, fingers ghosting across the flower petals before turning. “Don’t you want to feel the sun on your skin as you wake up? Or at least see the moonlight through windows?”
Tav shrugs. “I’m only down here when I need to sleep. I see plenty of sunlight and moonlight when I’m working in the tavern.”
Shadowheart nods, and then spots the basin in the corner and raises an eyebrow, looking over to Tav.
“Is that your bathtub?”
“Yes…?”
“We have running water faucets upstairs, Tav,” Shadowheart says in a light chide.
We .
The implication of a ‘we’ makes Tav’s heart flutter.
“I know, but it would’ve cost me a limb and an organ at the time if I wanted to connect the water pipes down here, too,” Tav explains. “Besides, I’m not exactly getting ridiculously dirty when I work. My clothes get more dirty than I do—and there’s a bathhouse down the road.”
“Fair,” Shadowheart hums. She trails her eyes over to the bed. “So, will we be sharing?”
“What?” Tav blinks, then realizes where Shadowheart’s gaze is focused on. “Oh. No, I was going to sleep on the floor.”
“Nonsense,” Shadowheart shakes her head. “Gale was overreacting when he said your bed was small. We can fit together just fine. Unless, you’re uncomfortable with the idea? In that case, I’d much prefer taking the floor. I’ve had my fair share of sleeping on forest ground.”
“Which gives me even more reason to let you take the bed,” Tav laughs. She starts to take off her boots, smiling to herself when she spots Shadowheart following to do the same. “We can share the bed, but if I kick you off in the middle of the night, don’t get mad at me.”
“I’d like to see you try,” Shadowheart jokes as she goes to lift her shirt over her head. She pauses when the material is above her belly-button and Tav turns around to give her some privacy when she realizes what’s happening. Shadowheart lets out a huff. “Not going to take a peek?”
“No. Only because I know you want me to,” Tav says as she goes to stare up at the ceiling, her smile widening when Shadowheart lets out a giggle.
When Tav hears the ruffling of blankets, she turns around to find Shadowheart already in bed with her hair down and a loose tank top on.
Shadowheart sits up against the headboard, the blanket pooling in her lap.
“Are you going to watch me undress, then?” Tav asks teasingly.
Shadowheart shrugs. “Do you want me to?”
Tav rolls her eyes.
She turns back around as she undresses to her undergarments before walking to put out the candles.
When Tav heads to the bed, she spots Shadowheart’s eyes focused on down at her lap. It makes a smile grow on Tav’s face.
She settles in the spot next to Shadowheart, turning her head to look at her.
“Are you feeling alright after tonight? It was a bit hectic, wasn’t it?”
“I think I’m okay,” Shadowheart answers. “I am quite glad you were there, though.”
“I didn’t do much,” Tav hums.
“You did lots,” Shadowheart argues. “I’m surprised you didn’t fire me.”
“For what? For dealing with that asshole?” Tav frowns. “I would never fire you for something that wasn’t your fault.”
“No, but I disappeared for practically the rest of the night,” Shadowheart laughs, the noise empty. “And yet, you still offered me your bed.”
“How many nights have you been a good worker, Shadowheart?” Tav asks in return.
Shadowheart blinks at her, opening her mouth to reply, but Tav keeps talking.
“You having one bad day because of some douchebag doesn’t negate every other good day,” she says, hoping the slight irritation in her tone drives her point home to Shadowheart. “You’re still a good worker. You’re still a good person.”
…
Tav only registers the softness of Shadowheart’s lips on her cheek when Shadowheart pulls away.
“Thank you,” Shadowheart whispers.
And then she goes to lay down, her back facing Tav.
Tav’s still in the middle of processing what the hell just happened when Shadowheart speaks up.
“I swear, you better not let me fall off of this bed.”
“How am I supposed to prevent that in my sleep?”
“You’re smart. I’m sure you can come up with something.”
The smugness seeping through Shadowheart’s words makes Tav’s heart flutter.
She lets out a chuckle and lays down to face Shadowheart’s body.
She scoots closer, wrapping her left arm around Shadowheart’s waist and tugging her back so their bodies press against each other’s.
“Is this smart enough for you?” Tav asks gently.
“I suppose,” the queen of sass replies.
But when Shadowheart lets out a little sigh and buries herself further back into Tav’s embrace, Tav knows she made a good decision.
—
Waking up in the morning is a task for Tav.
She’s so warm and cozy, she doesn’t think her bed has ever felt quite so comfortable before—and she knows it’s all due to the woman who’s still in her arms.
Shadowheart senses Tav waking up, and also starts to stretch and groan.
“Good morning,” Tav chuckles.
Shadowheart replies with a hum. She lifts the blanket over her head and places a hand on top of the arm Tav has wrapped around her waist, keeping it in place.
Tav wrinkles up her nose as Shadowheart’s hair tickles her nostrils.
“We have to get up soon to go to the vendors.”
“Cancel it.”
“What?” Tav laughs. “Cancel the vendors?”
“Just cuddle me, will you?” Shadowheart grumbles.
“Didn’t realize you were much of a cuddler, Shadowheart.”
“Me neither,” Shadowheart mumbles. “Don’t make me regret admitting that.”
“I’ll try not to,” Tav chuckles, pulling Shadowheart closer and letting her eyelids fall shut.
Shopping can wait.
—
Tav forgets that Wyll was coming to meet up with her.
She and Shadowheart had finished their late breakfast for nearly two hours before there’s a knock on the pub’s door. Tav’s eyes widen and she stands to open it.
“Wyll,” she greets.
“Hello, Tav, and hello , Shadowheart,” Wyll turns to Shadowheart with a smile. He looks back towards Tav, and then back towards Shadowheart, his smile turning into a smirk. “I didn’t realize you worked here at all hours.”
“She stayed the night,” Tav explains with a cough. She keeps talking as Wyll’s eyes grow in surprise and amusement. “Her usual place stopped letting her stay there to make room for adventurer groups.”
“Right,” Wyll nods once, still with that little smirk on his lips. “Father wants us to have lunch with him. Shadowheart, you’re more than welcome to join.”
“That’s alright, thank you,” Shadowheart declines politely. “I can explore the city before the tavern opens so you two can have some family time.”
“Are you sure?” Tav asks, suddenly feeling ill at the thought of leaving Shadowheart after spending the entire night and morning by her side. She misses the look of surprise on Wyll’s face at the mention of ‘family time’.
“Of course,” Shadowheart replies easily.
“Here,” Tav goes around the counter to unlock the safe. She pulls out an extra key to the tavern, walking back to the table Shadowheart’s sitting at to hand it to her. “In case you return before I do. It’s about time I’ve given you a key, anyway.”
Shadowheart takes it with a little smile. “I’ll see you later, Tav.”
After helping Shadowheart clean the remnants of their breakfast, Tav walks out of the pub with Wyll by her side.
He’s still grinning even when they get to the end of the street.
“ Don’t ,” Tav groans.
“Where did she come from?!” Wyll asks with a boisterous laugh.
“She was an adventurer who wanted to leave the adventuring life behind and settle down,” Tav answers with a shrug. She then points an accusing finger at Wyll. “Don’t think you’re getting away from answering questions by using Shadowheart as a distraction! I’ve noticed three new scars on you, Wyll Ravengard!”
—
Tav returns back with three sacks of various goodies that Ulder, Wyll’s father, filled to the brim for her. She reaches the tavern just before sundown with the bags held in the large jaw of her wolf-form as she’s soaked to the bone by the pouring rain outside.
When she gets to the front of the tavern, she spots a familiar group of people.
Shadowheart notices her first, and she opens the door for Tav, who paws her way inside. She leaves a trail of wet pawprints on the wooden floorboards.
“Tav, I hope it’s alright I invited these three in before opening time. I just figured—“
Tav sets the gifts down and morphs back into her human form. She gives Shadowheart a smile as she runs a hand through her hair, ruffling it to get rid of some wetness. “It’s fine, Shadowheart.”
“A druid,” an impressed voice calls out.
Astarion.
“I never thought I’d see the day where you’d willingly open the door for a wolf, Shaddy.”
Karlach.
“You smell awful.”
Lae’zel.
Tav clears her throat and nods to the group sitting at the table. “Hello. I’m Tav.”
“Don’t we know it?” Astarion says with a wolfish grin.
Shadowheart steps in front of Tav and hurries to talk, her eyes flashing a not-so-subtle glare towards Astarion. “They’re stopping by the city for another bounty and decided to come see how I was doing.”
“Clearly, you’ve been doing very well,” Astarion comments.
“Shaddy here was telling us how nice it’s been working for you!”
“Karlach, please stop calling me ‘Shaddy’—“
“It’s my place as much as hers at this point,” Tav interrupts. “Shadowheart’s taken over doing inventory and shopping for the place. I just prepare the drinks and do all the heavy lifting.”
Everyone’s quiet for a moment, letting Tav’s words sink in. Lots of glances are exchanged, silent conversations spoken.
Tav clears her throat. She’s previously thought it impossible to feel out-of-place in her own tavern, but this group is something different. “Are you all hungry? I was sent back with a bunch of pastries.”
“Oooh, sounds yummy!” Karlach rises to her feet and walks towards Tav, who’s bending down to dig through the bags to find the one with the baked goods. When she finds the right one, she picks it up and hands it to Karlach, who takes it with a bright smile. “Thanks, boss!”
“Karlach, you're not the one that works here,” Shadowheart sighs.
Karlach shrugs and places the bag onto the table.
“Dig in,” Tav gestures to the group. “I’m just going to freshen up before I open the tavern.”
“I can help—” Shadowheart starts, but Tav cuts her off and raises a hand.
“Enjoy time with your friends, Shadowheart,” she says.
Lae’zel sucks her teeth and looks away, a roll of bread in her hands. “Who says we’re friends?”
Shadowheart ignores the side-comment and stares down at Tav.
“I’ll be right back,” Tav hums before gathering the leftover bags on the ground. She doesn’t expect Shadowheart to take one of the bags from her, accompanying her downstairs.
“I saw them when I was visiting the vendors,” Shadowheart explains once they’re in Tav’s room. She puts the bag down onto the ground and Tav blinks at her. “I figured it’d be fine if I brought them back here, but I should’ve asked you first. I’m sorry.”
“I’m not upset at you, Shadowheart,” Tav replies with a small laugh. She sets her bag down and takes a step closer, placing a comforting arm on Shadowheart’s forearm. “It’s really okay that you brought them. Honestly, I’m glad you even considered the tavern as a place to return to.”
“You are?”
“Yes,” Tav answers honestly. “I should just rename the place to ‘Tav & Shadowheart’s Tavern’ at this point.”
Shadowheart makes a face. “That doesn’t have the same ring as Tav’s Tavern.”
“No, I know it doesn't—but you get what I mean,” Tav laughs, squeezing Shadowheart’s arm before letting go. “Feel free to take the night easy and spend time with your friends. If they’re not going to be in the city for much longer, I’d want you to spend as much time as you can with them.”
“Are you sure?”
“Shadowheart, yes,” Tav nods firmly. “I can handle the bar. Besides, it’s all a bit of a coincidence, isn’t it? You just told me about your friends last night and now they’re here. It’s like a sign.”
“I know, right?” Shadowheart replies. “It’s been one thing after another since last night.”
“And it’s only going to get more hectic,” Tav scrunches up her nose as she walks to her clothes drawer to change. “Wyll’s going to come by tonight with Gale.”
“Dynamic duo,” Shadowheart comments under her breath as Tav undresses.
Tav doesn’t see it, but Shadowheart averts her eyes—though they linger on Tav’s bare back for a couple of seconds before she realizes she’s staring.
Once Tav’s changed, she starts to walk towards the staircase but stops when Shadowheart steps in front of her.
“Wait,” Shadowheart says before leaning down and pressing soft lips against Tav’s left cheek. She pulls away with a tiny smile. “Thank you for being so kind to me.”
“You deserve kindness,” Tav finds herself answering despite the static feeling spreading through her body. Shadowheart’s eyes widen at her words, and her gaze flickers down to Tav’s lips.
Tav gulps down her nervousness. “Be honest, do I look like a wet dog?”
Shadowheart laughs. The tension dissipates as Shadowheart brings up her hand to examine a strand of Tav’s hair, letting it run through her fingers. “Technically, you are a wet dog.”
“Great,” Tav deadpans. “The rain came out of nowhere, really. It was so sunny earlier today.”
Shadowheart absentmindedly tucks the strand of hair she’d been holding behind Tav’s ear. “You look fine, Tav.”
Tav’s breath hitches in her throat. She nods. “Thanks, Shadowheart.”
Friends , Tav thinks to herself, even as her heart thumps harder and faster than ever before.
–
Shadowheart spends most of the evening sitting at the table with her friends, letting them recount stories of adventures they’ve been on since her departure from the group. Wyll and Gale keep Tav company at the bar, making conversation with each other and including Tav when she’s not busy with other patrons.
As per usual, Tav’s gaze always finds its way over to where Shadowheart’s seated, but tonight, Shadowheart’s eyes stare back every time. Tav almost instinctively looks away out of embarrassment, but then Shadowheart’s sending a soft smile her way and Tav can’t help but stare and smile back.
“Look at her,” Wyll nudges Gale, nodding his head towards Tav.
Gale laughs. He takes a swig of his beer. “I’ve never seen her like this. It’s kind of gross.”
“I’m literally right in front of you guys,” Tav grumbles as she averts her attention from Shadowheart to look at the two men sitting across the counter. She focuses on Gale and narrows her eyes. “Besides, I can see Astarion sending you heart-eyes from over there.”
Gale shrugs. “And what about it? At least I can admit my attraction to him—you’ve been pining over Miss Shadowheart since she’s arrived and still try to deny it.”
“ Will you shut the fuck— ” Tav hisses. She glances nervously around to the other customers at the bar, thankful that they all seem to be minding their own business. She leans over the counter to whisper harshly at Gale and nearly punches Wyll in the face when he, being the nosy brother that he is, also leans in close to hear the conversation. “I don’t need everybody in here to know about that.”
Wyll barks out a laugh and leans back. “Oh, trust me. Everyone already knows.”
“What?” Tav’s face goes white.
Gale grins, merely taking another sip of his drink instead of offering a reply.
“You’ve never been very good at hiding your emotions, Tav,” Wyll states. He raises an eyebrow. “Why do you look like you’re on the verge of fainting?”
“Because I am,” Tav squeaks out.
“If it’s any comfort, Shadowheart looks at you the same way,” Gale says before letting out a burp. “I’m sure her friends are giving her shit over there, too.”
The three of them, like idiots, all look over to Shadowheart’s table at the same time. Three heads turning in your direction at the same time is very obvious, even in peripheral vision, so the group at the table ends up looking towards the bar.
Karlach is the one who waves them over with a big smile. She stands and grabs three empty chairs from other tables, dragging it over to her table.
“Looks like we’ve been summoned,” Wyll lifts his cup from the bar and stands, waiting for Gale to do the same.
“I’m going to prepare more drinks, I’ll join you guys in a second,” Tav says when she realizes the two are also waiting for her.
Wyll nods and heads over to the table with Gale. Tav can’t quite hear the conversation from the bar, but with the way everyone at the table is smiling—minus Lae’zel, but Tav doesn’t think it’s anything personal—she knows merging the two groups was a good idea.
After setting six various drinks onto the tray, Tav makes her way over to the table.
Shadowheart’s smile is the first one Tav notices.
Tav carefully places the drinks down, giving Gale and Wyll more beer, Astarion and Shadowheart wine, and Lae’zel and Karlach rum.
“Not having a drink yourself, Tav?” Karlach asks.
“No, I don’t drink,” Tav smiles. “But you all should enjoy yourselves! I have to hurry back to the counter.”
“Sit for a little,” Shadowheart stands. She seems sober enough, but there is the slightest tinge of pink resting high on her cheeks from having sipped at her wine. A light-weight, huh? “I can handle the bar for a little while you rest.”
“It’s really okay, Shadowheart—” Tav starts, but then Shadowheart’s hands are on her shoulders and she’s being pushed down into a seat.
Shadowheart lingers for a second, eyes firm as she leans over Tav. “Let me let you rest, Tav.”
“Okay,” Tav manages to whisper. “Thank you, Shadowheart.”
Shadowheart hums and stands back up, walking to the bar.
When Tav drags her eyes away from Shadowheart, she sees everyone staring at her.
“That was… arousing,” Astarion states plainly. “Didn’t think of Shadowheart as the assertive one.”
“Did you not?” Karlach asks. “If Shaddy knows what she wants, she’ll stop at no cost to get it.”
Tav clears her throat and sits up straighter, hoping she doesn’t look as flustered as she feels.
Her composure immediately gets crushed to rubble again when Lae’zel, who’s sitting across the table from her, slams her palm onto the table and leans across to speak to Tav.
Wyll and Gale also startle at the noise, but Karlach and Astarion seem not to be perturbed at all.
“If you hurt her,” Lae’zel starts, her words coming out slow and venomous, “I will rip out every single one of your nails and feed them to the local wildlife.”
“ Oh ,” Tav replies dumbly.
Lae’zel’s not done. “ Then , I will gather their feces and use it to—“
“ Okay !” Karlach claps her hands. “How about we save the threats for later, Lae?”
Surprisingly, Lae’zel listens.
She backs down with a curse under her breath and then takes a large gulp of her drink.
Tav really wants to run away, but luckily Karlach is very good at changing the subject—and everyone else at the table is very good at keeping a conversation going. Tav looks over to the bar and spots Shadowheart holding a night orchid in her hand as she talks to the tiefling man who’d given it to her. They’re both smiling, with Shadowheart’s fingers fiddling with the flower’s stem as they converse.
It’s the first time all night that Tav’s looked at Shadowheart and not found green eyes looking back at her.
There’s a dull ache in her heart that she desperately tries to ignore as she turns back to the conversation at the table. They’re talking about Karlach’s heart—or lack-thereof—and how she’s dating the one man who might be able to fix her predicament. The topic jumps from Karlach to Gale, and then to Astarion and then to Wyll. Lae’zel is the only one who doesn’t bother offering up her own story—opting to just make little comments during everybody else’s.
Tav listens along idly, waiting until the cups in front of her new friends are empty before she stands and decides it’s time to get back to work. To her dismay, the tiefling man is still sitting at the bar.
Shadowheart spots Tav walking up as she’s busy cleaning a mug. The night orchid is now tucked behind Shadowheart’s ear.
“I like your accessory,” Tav comments with a smile, ignoring the pang of pain in her chest.
“Thanks,” Shadowheart grins. “That was a short break for you.”
“Being the only sober one isn’t the most fun,” Tav replies as she takes the clean mug from Shadowheart’s hand, wiping it dry with a clean cloth.
“Yeah. I didn’t know that you didn’t drink,” Shadowheart turns the faucet off and goes to pour someone a cup of beer.
Tav shrugs. “I told you that I was scared of becoming addicted to adventuring. It’s the same concept here.”
“Scared of becoming an alcoholic?” Shadowheart asks, sliding the drink over to a dwarf woman and taking her coins.
“Yup.”
“So, you open a tavern ?”
Tav lets out a laugh. “ Yup .”
Shadowheart is about to reply when a third voice enters.
“ Shadowheart ,” the tiefling man calls out.
The laugh coming out of Tav’s lips cuts itself short.
Shadowheart looks over to the man, though her eyes flicker back to Tav for a split second, a mix of confusion and worry on her face. “Yes?”
“If you’re free tomorrow, I was hoping we could get to know each other a little more.”
Tav busies herself by preparing more drinks for her and Shadowheart’s friends, turning her back to the rest of the tavern.
Tav doesn’t see the face Shadowheart makes, but she hears the slightly-higher pitched, polite tone that she gives to the man as she declines the offer. Tav feels a rush of relief run through her, but it’s quickly replaced by guilt.
As Tav’s finishing pouring the last drink, Shadowheart comes up from behind her, slipping the night orchid she had behind her ear into the pocket of Tav’s trousers. She keeps her hand slipped inside the pocket, her palm pressed against Tav’s upper-thigh as her body presses against Tav’s, and then she whispers into Tav’s ear.
“Jealousy is unbecoming of you, my dear.”
Shadowheart slips her hand out, presses the ghost of a kiss—so faint that Tav thinks she might’ve hallucinated it—to the tip of Tav’s pointed-ear, and takes the tray Tav had just finished preparing. She walks away to the table as Tav stares at her, feeling the hairs on the back of her neck still raised and a steady thrum of desire running through her veins.
She snaps out of it eventually when she hears someone calling out for another drink.
—
“It was wonderful to meet you all,” Wyll says as everyone stands from the table.
It’s far past closing time, but Tav’s found the ongoing conversation to be good background noise as she cleaned up the rest of the tavern. Her mind is still reeling from earlier, and it nearly seems like Shadowheart’s just as frazzled.
She seems a little too calm, and Tav’s come to learn that when Shadowheart’s acting like that, she’s trying to keep herself from spiraling.
“Hopefully we’ll find more jobs in this city,” Karlach grins as she pulls Wyll in for a hug.
Astarion and Gale slipped out together a while ago.
“I suppose familiar faces in a world full of strangers isn’t so bad,” Lae’zel says as she stands off to the side. Wyll has the common sense not to try and hug her.
He hugs Shadowheart, though—which Tav finds a bit odd considering they’re still going to be seeing each other. What Tav doesn’t hear is the small whispered words of comfort Wyll gives to Shadowheart, telling her to be patient because Tav’s a clueless bastard.
Tav only hears Shadowheart laughing a real laugh, one that makes Tav’s heart skip a beat even if she doesn’t know the context behind the noise. Wyll’s grinning at her as he pulls away from the hug.
The group clears off after also saying goodbye to Tav, leaving just Shadowheart and Tav alone.
Tav still has the damn night orchid in her pocket as she goes around closing the windows. The tension in the air is palpable, and Tav’s too much of a coward to poke the beast. She stays silent while the two of them dance around each other as they close up the tavern.
Once the last candle is put out, Shadowheart lingers by the counter.
“I was going to try my luck down at that inn,” Shadowheart says, her voice meek. “Is it alright if I grab my stuff from your room?”
“Did you not want to stay the night again?” Tav asks.
They both freeze.
Shadowheart’s mouth opens and closes as she thinks of what to say. “I–I just… I didn’t want to assume that was an option.”
“I mean,” Tav’s voice cracks nervously. The voice-crack, and Shadowheart’s eyebrow raising in amusement, seems to split the tension in the air right in half, fizzling it out. “Is it alright if I said that it is an option?”
“More than alright,” Shadowheart replies with a little smile. “I was planning on going to the bathhouse, though, so I’ll come back in a bit. Unless you want to come with me?”
Tav nearly passes out at the idea. Before she can even think of declining, Shadowheart keeps talking.
“You do smell like a wet dog, after all,” Shadowheart states. Her smile has curved into a smirk.
Fuck .
“Sure,” Tav breathes out. “Bathhouse it is.”
—
The dragonborn at the front desk is asleep when Shadowheart and Tav arrive. Shadowheart goes to wake them, but Tav grabs her arm and holds up a finger to her lips, signaling her to be quiet.
Although confused, Shadowheart obeys. She lets Tav drag her past the front desk, the two of them on their tippy-toes to sneak by. When they’re in the hallway that connects to the public bathhouse, Tav continues dragging Shadowheart further into the room.
Even though there’d been nobody in the public bathhouse, Tav leads Shadowheart towards the private rooms because she knows they’re cleaner.
The two of them enter one of the private rooms, locking it behind them. Inside the sauna-like room is a pool of water that’s large enough for at least four people, a shelf of various soaps and essential oils, and a long table with towels and bathrobes stacked on top.
Tav lights the candles sitting on the table as Shadowheart examines the shelf.
“I wasn’t expecting to break the law to take a bath,” Shadowheart hums, picking up a lavender-scented soap bar.
Tav smiles. “I know Darius—the dragonborn at the front. They’re always lacking sleep because they work several jobs to make money for their son. I leave coins on my way out, if that’s what you’re worried about.”
Shadowheart looks over her shoulder to Tav. “Of course you do,” she says, her voice soft.
Tav finds herself blushing. She joins Shadowheart in front of the shelf. “Find one you like?”
“Yes,” Shadowheart answers. “Let’s get you smelling good again.”
“ Again ?”
Shadowheart doesn’t reply.
She sets the soap on the side of the pool, puts her hair from a ponytail to a bun, and then starts to take her clothes off. Instead of standing idly, Tav follows and starts to discard her own clothing.
Shadowheart enters the water first. She lets out a content hum, pleasantly surprised at how warm the water is. She sits down on the underwater bench built into the side of the pool, waiting expectantly for Tav to come in.
When Tav gets in, she settles down next to Shadowheart, who reaches over to grab the bar of soap.
“We should talk about it,” Shadowheart says before moving closer and running the bar of soap over Tav’s shoulders and arms.
Tav blinks, brain malfunctioning as she tries to process Shadowheart’s surprisingly calloused fingertips running over her bare skin. “Talk about what?”
“Don’t play stupid now, Tav,” Shadowheart scolds lightly, though her words tremble slightly in their syllables. “You know what I’m talking about.”
Tav reaches her hands out of the water to gently grab at Shadowheart’s wrists, keeping them in place and thus not distracting Tav from forming coherent thoughts.
“I know I have no right to be jealous,” Tav says as shame fills her. She lets go of Shadowheart and averts her eyes to the side. “I’m sorry about that. It wasn’t professional of me.”
“ Professional ?” Shadowheart repeats the word with such betrayal in her voice that Tav’s eyes snap back onto her. “Since when have you ever cared about being professional with me?”
Tav’s eyebrows furrow. “I’m confused. Are you upset that I was never professional with you?”
“ No , Tav. I’m upset that—” Shadowheart cuts herself off with a groan. “ Gods ! You are so dense.”
“ Hey ,” Tav frowns.
“I’m sorry,” Shadowheart scoots back and takes a deep breath. She looks down at her own arms as she begins to run the bar of soap over it.
Tav sits uncomfortably, blinking back unexpected tears.
Shadowherat’s next words come out in a mumble. “Maybe it’s best we don’t talk about it.”
“That’s not fair,” Tav whispers harshly. She tightens her jaw as Shadowheart looks up at her. “I’m not a mindreader, Shadowheart. I mean—I thought you were angry because I was jealous, but now you’re angry because I mentioned being professional? Or are you angry because I’m dense ?”
“Anger isn’t the right emotion,” Shadowheart says quietly. She sets the soap aside and turns to face Tav. “I’m sorry for calling you dense. You’re right, it’s not fair and I shouldn’t expect you to know what I feel and why I feel that way.”
Tav nods weakly. “I forgive you.”
“Thank you,” Shadowheart whispers. She nibbles nervously on her lower-lip before speaking again. “Tav, can you tell me why you felt jealous?”
Tav’s ears burn. “What reason would somebody feel jealous over somebody else, Shadowheart?”
“Please,” Shadowheart whispers, “I need you to say it outloud.”
Tav stares into Shadowheart’s eyes, surprised to see so much desperation and longing in them. Or maybe she’s just so close to Shadowheart that she sees the reflection of her own pupils.
“I…” Tav starts, her voice quiet, “I have feelings for you, Shadowheart.”
A shaky breath leaves Shadowheart’s pink lips. “I like you, too…”
“I can sense a ‘but’ coming,” Tav tries to joke through her nervousness.
Shadowheart lets out a small scoff of amusement, but she quickly turns solemn. “But I need you to know that I’ve done horrible things in my past, Tav—under a goddess who disguised her darkness as light.”
Tav listens attentively as Shadowheart keeps talking.
“I was stolen from my family, raised to be someone totally different, and then I was stolen from myself,” Shadowheart explains. It’s vague, but Tav gets the jist of it. She can understand why Shadowheart had been so concerned about self-identity yesterday. “I’ve not always been the Shadowheart you know today.”
“And I’ve not always been the owner of Tav’s Tavern,” Tav replies.
Shadowheart frowns. “That’s not—”
“It’s the same concept,” Tav shrugs. “Who you are now, Shadowheart, that’s the person I fell for. And while you might want to erase your past, it’s still part of who you are. It molded you into the person you are today, for better or for worse. And, in this case, it’s for the better.”
“You’re too good to me,” Shadowheart whispers, eyebrows furrowed.
“You deserve good in your life,” Tav replies back just as quietly, mirroring her words from earlier.
You deserve kindness .
Shadowheart moves forward to straddle Tav, sitting in her lap as slender fingers trail up the sides of Tav’s nape. Tav catches onto Shadowheart’s movements easily, her own hands resting on Shadowheart’s waist as she leans her head back to stare eye-to-eye with Shadowheart.
“I’m really, really glad I met you, Tav.”
Tav leans up to capture Shadowheart’s lips, swallowing the small gasp she lets out. After a short moment of freezing, Shadowheart starts to respond. Her lips move against Tav’s eagerly, her body lowering until she’s fully pressed against Tav.
Tav’s hands run up and down the sides of Shadowheart’s body, making her let out a hum of approval. She leans out of the kiss so she can press her lips down the column of Shadowheart’s throat.
Shadowheart’s breaths come out short and airy.
“You’re so beautiful,” Tav whispers as she licks and kisses the sensitive skin. She fully expects Shadowheart’s reply to be ‘I know’, but feeling Shadowheart’s hips roll down and hearing a moan leave her lips is a pleasant surprise.
“I believe you when you say it,” Shadowheart whispers breathlessly. She presses a hand to the back of Tav’s head and runs her fingers through Tav’s hair, keeping her in place. “I only believe you.”
Tav squeezes at Shadowheart’s waist and kisses further down as one hand trails between Shadowheart’s legs.
“Is this alright?” Tav asks, pausing at Shadowheart’s inner thigh.
“Tav, if you stop now, I’m quitting my job.”
Tav lets out a loud laugh and leans up to kiss Shadowheart, feeling Shadowheart’s smiling lips against her own.
“I won’t stop, then.”
The next time Zevlor enters the tavern, he looks like a new man—so much so that Shadowheart doesn’t realize they’d met previously.
“Ah, you’re the man Tav had to walk home on my first day of work,” Shadowheart states as she holds the front door open.
Zevlor’s eyes flicker away in embarrassment for a moment. “Yes, yes. That was me, Zevlor. I never did get to apologize properly to Tav for everything she’s done for me, but I’d like to talk to her. Is she here?”
“I think she’s in the back room. I can go grab her.”
“That would be much appreciated, thank you,” Zevlor smiles. He adjusts the across-the-shoulder strap of his leather bag.
“Here, come in and sit. I’ll find her.”
As Zevlor settles at one of the tables, Shadowheart goes into the storage room to find her girlfriend. She spots Tav kneeling down and counting bottles on one of the lower shelves, the inventory notebook balanced precariously on her thigh.
“Love, a man named Zevlor is here to talk to you.”
Tav stands immediately, ignoring the notebook that falls to the ground. “Zev’s here?”
“Yes, he’s sitting at one of the tables. I can finish up inventory for you— I don’t know why you didn’t let me do it in the first place —“
Tav gives Shadowheart a quick peck on the lips as she hurries past, effectively shutting her up.
“Be right back,” Tav grins.
-
“Zev, I haven’t seen you in forever!” Tav greets him. He stands from his seat as Tav’s outstretched arms circle around his waist.
“I decided it was about time for me to get back on my feet,” Zevlor replies with a small chuckle. After hugging each other, they both sit down at the table.
“What’s up? What have you been up to in the past year?” Tav asks excitedly.
Zevlor takes off his bag and places it on the table. He pulls out a few notebooks and rolled-up scrolls of paper. “I started a construction business, actually.”
“No way,” Tav gasps as she lets her eyes run over the various architectural sketches and then goes to look back at Zevlor. “That’s amazing, Zevlor. I was honestly a little worried when you hadn’t shown up after the last time.”
Zevlor scratches at the back of his neck guiltily. “Right, right. I’ve come to make it all up to you, though.”
“Make it up to me?” Tav questions with a small frown. “What do you mean?”
“For dealing with me for all these years—for being my friend,” Zevlor explains. He leans forward and opens one of his notebooks, an excitement in his eyes. “I’ve been thinking of ways you could possibly want to expand your tavern. I know you mentioned wanting running water down in your bedroom and some more storage space.”
Tav blinks at Zevlor. “I swear you were in another universe when I’d told you those things, Zev.”
Zevlor laughs. “I may have been a drunk bastard, but I’ve always had a good memory, Tav! Here, come look at the sketches.”
He slides the open notebook over to Tav, who stares at it and delicately runs her the pad of her pointer finger over the drawings and notes. Zevlor sketched out expansions to her basement, expansions to her storage, and has even drawn a sketch for building a second floor.
Tav’s gaze lingers on the second-floor sketch, looking at the two rooms sketched out. One is labeled ‘ROOM 1’ and the other is labeled ‘ROOM 2’. She stares at the penned drawing and finds her heart skipping a beat at the idea of Shadowheart’s excitement in having an above-ground room.
“Zevlor, I don’t know what to say,” Tav whispers. She looks up from the notebook. “I don’t really have the funds for any of this.”
“It’s a gift,” Zevlor smiles. “From me, to you.”
“Really?” Tav replies in disbelief.
Zevlor gives a firm nod. “It’s about time I gave you something besides a burden.”
Tav lets out a small breath of amusement. She looks back down at the sketches with a small hum. “Can I… Can I go and grab Shadowheart? I’d like her opinion on this.”
“Of course,” Zevlor replies. “I’d assume the missus would want a say.”
Tav’s smile widens and she gets up to jog to the backroom. Shadowheart’s counting items on a different shelf when Tav opens the door.
“Shadowheart, can you come out here, please? Zev wants to show us something.”
As Tav lays on her back with Shadowheart’s head resting on her chest that night, she feels Shadowheart’s fingers run up and down the length of her arm, raising the hairs there and putting a small smile on Tav’s lips.
“Are you excited for the construction?” Tav asks. “You seemed a little out-of-it when Zevlor was explaining the logistics to us.”
Shadowheart hums and leans up to press a gentle kiss to Tav’s jaw. “I was just thinking about how we’d decorate the second floor. There are two rooms, after all.”
“I was thinking we’d make one room extra storage space,” Tav says. She pauses before saying the next bit. “And then we could make the other room our new bedroom.”
Shadowheart freezes. And then she sits up, lifting her head to stare at Tav. “Really?” she asks, eyes wide.
“Yes,” Tav laughs. “The room that’s pointing east is the one I want to make our bedroom. We’d be able to see the sun rise.”
Shadowheart’s pupils shake before she leans down and presses a chaste kiss to Tav’s lips. She pulls away before kissing Tav—again and again. Tav laughs through it and hums contently when Shadowheart’s short pecks turn into longer kisses.
Tav pulls back to stare at Shadowheart. “I’m guessing you like my idea?”
Shadowheart smiles. “I love it. As I love you.”
Tav’s stomach does multiple somersaults and flips. She presses another kiss to Shadowheart’s lips, and then presses one to her cheek. “I can’t wait until we can wake up together and feel the sun on our skin.”
Shadowheart lays her head back down, nuzzling her nose against Tav’s neck.
“Me, too,” she whispers. “I’ve had enough of the darkness.”