Chapter Text
Dinner had ended as it often did for the members of Vox Machina. A chorus of goodnights and a giant mess of empty plates, bowls, and tankards scattered across the table. In Scanlan's mansion, this was not an issue. However tonight's meal was eaten at Greyskull Keep, which currently had no servants. Pike and Keyleth shared a look and got to work.
Once the dishes were in the kitchen and Pike had brought water and soap, the Ashari Druid started to wash while the Gnome cleric dried. The two friends worked in the comparative silence of clinking dishes and splashing water for a time. Eventually, however, Keyleth turned toward her diminutive friend and let out a sigh.
"What do you think is coming for us next, Pike? After the Briarwoods and the Dragons, what new danger is going to start almost killing my friends?"
Pike blinked and tossed the rag she'd been using to dry plates with over her shoulder. She put her hands on her hips and looked up at her much taller friend with a bit of a scowl, "You stop that right now, Keyleth! We have finally defeated the Conclave and everyone is safe and we should be happy about that." She wagged a finger up at the redhead, "So put a smile on that face of yours right now. Do you hear me?"
Keyleth blinked her eyes, and ducked her head in a small nod. She started to reach for a bowl, unable to bring a smile to her lips or meet her friend's gaze.
"I said 'Did you hear me', Keyleth." The Gnome crossed her arms.
In the smallest voice Pike had ever heard the Half-Elf use, Keyleth murmured, "Yes, Mistress." The words were spoken so softly, that the cleric wasn't at all certain she had heard correctly. The Druid had never addressed her in such a manner before.
"What did you just say?" Keyleth froze, about to pass the dripping bowl to Pike. A bright red blush colored the Ashari's cheeks, and she stammered for a moment. Finally, after collecting herself, Keyleth shook her head, "Nothing. It was a slip of the tongue."
Leaving the bowl in Keyleth's hand, Pike frowned in thought for a while. The Gnome eventually licked her lips, and turned to fully face her friend, "Keyleth," she asked, "are you submissive?"
The cleric would not previously have thought that the Druid's blush could get any deeper, but in that moment it certainly did. But Keyleth managed to stammer, "N-no. Of-of course I'm not s-sub...that thing you said." Water dripped from the bowl into the sink.
"Put the bowl down." Keyleth's fingers opened and the wooden bowl dropped into the sink, the splash nearly covering the sound of Keyleth once more murmuring, "Yes, Mistress."
Pike closed her eyes for a moment, then her expression softened as she looked up at her friend, "It's okay, Keyleth. I'm not very...familiar with this sort of thing, but..." She chewed on her lower lip in thought, "Does anyone else know? Vax?"
Keyleth shook her head quickly, "No, not Vax. He's too gentle, he treats me like I'd break in a stiff breeze. Besides, I wouldn't be submi...that thing you said...with a man."
"Oh, Keyleth. Have you thought about this? About me this way? Or Vex?"
It took a moment or two for the Druid to answer. After taking a shuddering breath, she nodded, "Both of you. But I think if I talked to Vex about it, she'd tease me. Or worse, assume just awful things about her brother. So I think of you sometimes." Keyleth's eyes watered and she looked away, "You must think I'm more of a fool than everyone always thinks I am anyway."
A small hand closed around the Half-Elf's elbow. Pike's voice was steady as she turned her friend back to face her, "I would certainly hope you'd know by now that I don't think you're foolish. Tell me, would being submissive to me make you happy?"
Keyleth let out another shuddering breath and she nodded quickly. She reached a slender hand up to wipe at her eyes.
Pike slipped her hand into Keyleth's and the Gnome's lips curled into a smile, "I want you to be happy. So we will figure this out. Come with me. The dishes can wait until morning."
Keyleth grinned and uttered much more audibly, "Yes, Mistress."