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"It's almost sunrise." Tav said. "Get your butt in there."
Astarion rolled his eyes at his lover. "Yes, dear."
The vampire spawn slipped into the tent. He drew close the tent flap after Tav had followed him inside, and then he began tying up the second canvas. The druid sat down in the nest of pillows and blankets. Astarion laid down next to her. He smiled as she yawned.
Honestly, he had no idea what they were doing. After Cazador's death, Astarion had made a comment about getting used to the shadows once more. Tav had made what he thought was a one-off about finding a way about his infliction, but after the defeat of the Elder Brain, Tav made it clear that she was serious. They had no leads, other than a thought that Cazador might have looked into it. Since Astarion had used the last of the Felogyr's Firework's stock inside the palace, any information on walking in the daytime was either nonexistent or burnt to a crisp.
Tav, out of her element anywhere that a building was taller than a tree, had managed to convince Astarion to return to the wilderness for answers. To be honest, he found himself surprisingly open to the idea. Nighttime in Baldur's Gate had left him completely and utterly exhausted, and he was sick of spending his nights moping about in Elfsong Tavern. Still, he was mortified to find himself missing his old tent.
The suggestion turned out to be the right choice, as it led them to Halsin. Astarion's mind had glazed over as the two druids started discussing reforestation of Thaniel's realm, but his interest was piqued when Tav finally mentioned what they were trying to find.
This all led to the couple trekking to the doors of Grymforge. Halsin had remembered the orog in the mushroom colonies, and he remembered the orog had possession of the Sunwalker's Gift. Astarion used all his willpower not to scream at the former archdruid. He managed to ask through gritted teeth why Halsin hadn't told Astarion during their little tadpole adventure. Halsin pointed out that he didn't know Astarion was a vampire until he saw the moon elf drain an Absolute cultist at Moonrise Towers. Astarion spent the rest of the visit sulking.
He was less sulky and more giddy now that they had an actual lead. He missed the sun terribly, to the point that he had started attempting to trance once more, just to remember how it felt. He also found that he was getting even more clingy than usual to Tav during their cuddling. Like he had done in the early stages of their relationships, he claimed it was purely a warmth thing.
"Copper for your thoughts?" She asked. Astarion blinked.
"Something incredibly vulgar, I assure you."
"Yeah?" She smirked. Her hand trailed up his shoulder. The druid's finger flicked the tip of his ear. He faked a scandalized gasp. The vampire spawn rolled on top of her, pinning her wrists loosely as he bared his teeth at her. He attacked her neck with kisses, trailing down one side and then going up the other. She laughed. She jerked her head to capture his lips. Astarion's hands let go of her wrist to cup her face.
Her hands went back to his ears.
"You know, not every elf would be so willing to let a human do that."
"The amount of half elves running around says otherwise." Astarion snorted. She continued, "And you told me you preferred it, yeah?"
"I did say that, didn't I?" He said. He moved his hands down to her hips, gripping them firmly. She jolted. He grinned.
"That's cheating!"
"I'd say it's leveling the playing field." He said. His eyes almost rolled into the back of his head when she scratched behind his ear. "I'm not a cat."
"You look like you're about to start purring."
"I'll start doing something." He joked. Tav bit her bottom lip. He paused. Astarion and Tav were still trying to accept that they both had hangups about being intimate. They both had taken turns fighting with their brains and their libidos. In one moment, they'd be immensely enjoying the foreplay, getting lost further and further into each other. The next moment, a quick flash of memory or a quick thought of fear took them away from the present. The elf tried not to think about how Tav still showed signs of it, albeit it less intensely than himself, lest he wonder if he would still be struggling with this for the centuries to come. He at least found comfort that she also got insanely frustrated with her mind, just like he did with his own.
"What did you have in mind?" She asked, cradling his face in her hands. He sat back up, a nervousness filling his chest. He wanted the intimacy; he wanted it badly. That moment in the graveyard was absolutely perfect, and he craved it almost as much as he craved the sunlight. But despite his desires to recreate a moment without his past's commentary, he hadn't been able to have his thoughts not linger to those two centuries. He knew, logically, it didn't help that their arrangements in Baldur's Gate had patrons buzzing about below them. The noise made it all too easy to remember all those many times he spent hunting about random inns and taverns.
He really hoped the druid wasn't rubbing off on him. He'd hate to discover he could only have sex if he's rolling around in the dirt.
"Astarion."
"Hm?" He snapped out of his thoughts.
"We can just go to sleep." She said. Astarion grimaced, a stubbornness fighting to beat his wandering mind. He sighed in frustration.
"I want to try something." Astarion said, then quieter, "Let me try?"
He leaned back, unlacing his trousers. He paused. When the elf remembered that he could no longer project what he wanted into her mind, he looked up expectantly at his partner. His plan was barely audible, this newfound shyness he got when he asked for something he wanted. Tav quickly showed her approval of the plan, pushing her trousers down and off her legs. He gave a soft laugh at her eagerness before letting his gaze roam the newly exposed skin. His eyes landed on the glimpse of hair and the quick flash of pink. Astarion could practically taste her. The vampire spawn urged the druid closer, helping her get her feet on either side of his hips. He pulled out his cock, a bit surprised to see himself already stiffening in his hand. Tav's pupils widened at the sight. Astarion's thumb drew a circle on the head almost absentmindedly. He leaned back, free arm reaching out to his pack. After rummaging, he pulled out a vial of oil. She gave him a look.
"What?"
"Is this where all the olive oil has been going?"
"Not all of it. Besides," He hissed quietly as his oil-coated hand stroked downward, "you don't seem to mind."
Tav's throat went dry as she stared at him. He glanced downward, watching as she visibly pulsed. Astarion sank back into the pillows.
"Don't let me be the only one." He sighed. Tav blushed. Her hand grazed over her vulva, hesitantly, before fingers moved between her inner folds. Astarion hummed as she gathered her slick, drawing over her entrance. A small exhale left her. Her face flushed, and her fingertips dipped in.
"Pent up, darling?" He asked, breath hitched at a particularly sensitive stroke of his cock. Astarion let his hand trail down, lower and lower. He grinned at the sudden increase in interest. "Kinky."
"Not." She huffed.
"Oh?"
"I like seeing you indulging yourself. Like seeing you liking this."
"Sweetheart." Astarion groaned, smiling as he watched her fingers curl and the heel of her hand rub her clit. A spark of desire ran through him. It sent a shudder down his spine. The vampire spawn watched her. Her head was tilted, facing to the side, with her eyes closed. Her bottom lip was bitten. Her legs tensed and relaxed around him. His ears perked up, focusing in on the noise of slick and heavy breathing. Hearing it from her, the feelings of disgust were almost completely gone, leaving him in a slight haze of confused arousal. With two oiled fingers, he entered himself. His fist worked his cock faster. The elf gave a soft moan. He sunk back into the pillows.
"Gods." He panted, "Gods."
Astarion couldn't remember the last time he touched himself like this, at least because he wanted to do so. Touch himself and not make a show of it, pretend to like it. Not feel rushed because he wanted to do anything else. Astarion made a small noise when he grazed his prostate. Tav gasped. His eyes opened, staring at her frantic fingers and circling hips.
Tav looked up for a moment, and then she immediately whined. She flung an arm over her eyes. Astarion's eyes moved to the fingers circling her clit. He shuddered at the whispered chanting of his name. His fingers worked faster, curling, much to his forearm's discomfort. His eyes never left the sight before him.
He imagined his hands, how much more he could give to her than her own fingers. He imagined the heat radiating off her body, the wetness soaking down to his palms. He imagined being able to make the murmurs louder, stronger, coherent. He tried to imagine his hands as her own, but the fantasy was interrupted by blurry faces and muffled voices. Those thoughts threatened to make him remember the last time he touched himself for an audience, the absolute disgust at the act and the shame of finding some solace from the glimpse of her bloodless corpse. He squeezed Tav's ankle. Her soft voice jolted him back to the tent. He smelled crackling wood of their campfire outside. He heard the sound of crickets beyond their tent. He saw his Tav, his wonderful, beautiful, safe druid. He really looked at her then. She almost seemed experimental, like himself, curious to see if she could do it. Astarion gave a shuddering exhale.
He remembered the utter adoration she held in her eyes whenever she was near him. He remembered the brief moments with their old companions, where she would sneakily hold his hand. Or the times she'd squeeze it when near something that potentially could upset either of them. He remembered how she'd rubbed his palms absentmindedly, and he remembered how embarrassed she was remembering that the palms of an elf were sensitive. He remembered the rare nights he had almost drifted into a trance due to her gentle touches on his ears. He remembered how good it felt to stir near someone else, how good it felt the first time he realized he had actually achieved that meditative state. He remembered the funny little one-offs she gave under her breath, the more confident she got saying them as time went on.
He remembered her sensitive responses to his touch at the tiefling party. He remembered her insistence on asking what he wanted in the Underdark, and then the gasps as his fingers took her apart. He remembered the quiet curses and hushed moans at Last Light Inn. He remembered the playful tilts of her neck, the trust in letting him bite down. He remembered the look in her eye at his grave. Not of lust, of greed, of viewing him as nothing but a pretty face. But something else. Something different. Love.
Astarion ground his heel to the ground, fingers pressing hard upwards and his fist becoming a blur. Her eyes opened as he swore, staring as he came with a cry. He rode his fingers, pressing mercilessly onto his prostate. Tav shut her eyes, made a wretched noise, and came. Her fingers followed a similar idea, curling and pumping even as her trembling body became oversensitive. He gave a ragged breath at the sight of her entrance clenching around her fingers greedily. A quick thought of pressing inside passed through. Astarion placed his hands behind him for support, watching as he panted. She stopped soon after, blinking tears away. He reminded himself that it was purely from sensitivity. He exhaled a breath he didn't need.
"Come here." He said hoarsely. He pushed off his hands and moved until he was near crawling onto her. She fell back in the pillows, his hands now braced at either side of her. Astarion kissed Tav. The druid's hands moved up, then one hand went back down. He gave a muffled laugh as the cleaner hand caressed his face, then his shoulder. A leg hooked over his hip, foot rubbing down the inside of his knee. Astarion rolled his hips. Tav jumped.
"Astarion!"
Astarion hummed. He kissed her neck, grazing his fangs over the skin. He went back up to her lips. The elf pressed their foreheads together, smiling. "Yes, my love?"
Tav smiled, caressing his cheek. "I just like saying your name."
"I like that you do." He kissed her cheek before sitting up. "Now, I don't know about you, but I prefer not to go to bed covered in grease and whatever else."
He stood up to grab something to clean up with. Tav watched him for a bit (he did not sway his hips when he noticed her looking) before following suit. She made a comment as she washed her hands.
"They never mention this part in those nasty books you read."
"Is that where they've all ran off to?" He teased.
"Hush, we have nothing else." She said, fighting a smile.
"You aren't denying it." He leaned closer. "Isn't that the majority of painters' commissions, anyways? I won't judge, darling. I might have more requests of my own."
"Paints are too expensive for that." She said. "Charcoal, on the other hand."
"Ooh, do tell." He said as they returned to the makeshift bed. He curled them up together without a thought. He grinned. "Was it completely and utterly degenerate? How much? Who bought it?"
"You're going to be disappointed. I had a longer list of stuff I didn't do than stuff I did."
"Did you ever do vampire erotica?"
She thought for a moment. "I've probably done a portrait for a vampire without knowing it. But no naked vampires, I'm sad to say."
"We'll have to rectify that." He said. "Maybe add the artist to piece? I'd be interested to see how steady you can keep the brush."
She laughed. "You do realize a painting can take days to make."
"Don't threaten me with a good time, dear." He smiled. He looked down at their tangled legs, the hands intertwined with each other. He looked back up. "This is nice."
"Cuddling me or tormenting me?"
"Both. But mostly the cuddling." He said. "I know you love sweet and cuddly Astarion, but you also think I'm hilarious."
"I do." She said. She paused before kissing him. "I like that sweet and cuddly is showing up a lot more."
"Well, sweet and cuddly Astarion needs to get under the covers, or else the seductive and enticing parts of him are going to freeze off."
"Such a way with words." She begrudgingly let him go. Astarion reached to grab a blanket, pulling it over the both of them. He pulled her back to him again, chest to chest and legs resuming to tangle together. He ran a hand through her short hair. He smiled, resting his head on the pillow. His ear flickered.
"What?"
"Nothing." He said. He pulled her even closer. He looked towards the hand in her hair, his eyes drifting to his ring finger. He stared at the spiraling wood and flowers around the digit. The vampire spawn smiled. The druid nuzzled into his chest.
"Astarion."
"Mm?"
"I love you."
The vampire spawn tilted her chin up before leaning down to kiss her. "I love you too."