Northern Star.

9.

~Few weeks later~

It had been about a month since they'd started to live with the Witchers. It wasn't that bad. Quite fun at times, Geralt was slowly starting to crack out of his shell which made Max beam with happiness.

Simon and Eskel had been getting quite close as friends. Lambert and Tatiana as sparring partners and partners of sass.

It quite amused Max.

Now, he laid curled in his bed. Eyes half closed and watching the fire that was across the room. He was about to doze off before a knock at the door sounded and Max yawned before sitting up slightly,

"Come in!"

Geralt pushed open the door, Max smiling when he saw the silver haired Witcher.

"Geralt!"

"...Max" he rumbled and gestured to the bed, "can I sit?"

Max nodded and shifted aside so that Geralt could sit down. Max sitting a little closer due to the body heat that seemed to radiate off of him.

The two sat in silence for a while before Max leaned his head against Geralt's shoulder, the Witcher finally speaking,

"Why?"

"Hm?" Max asked in confusion, looking up at Geralt who looked down at him,

"Why...why do you...do this?"

"...I'm not following"

"You touch me like I'm simply another human, Tatiana fights with Lambert with no fear, Simon looks at Eskel..." Geralt frowned, "why do you-"

"Okay I'm gonna stop you there" Max said, "Geralt, have any of you hurt us?"

"...No"

"Do you intend to hurt us?"

"Never" Geralt said quickly, Max smiled,

"Exactly, you aren't monsters...simply men who have become more, you won't hurt us" he said, reaching up to gently touch Geralt's cheek, the other leaning into it immediately, like if he hesitated, the touch would go away.

Max sighed softly, "Have you never been touched gently?"

Geralt didn't respond, looking away instead and Max gently held Geralt's face in both hands. The Witcher reaching up and grabbing Max's wrists. Max leaning forwards and gently kissing Geralt's forehead.

"Thank you...your highness" Geralt said quietly and Max froze. Geralt smiling a bit at Max,

"Did you think we did not know?"

"...You...didn't turn us in" Max said, eyes wide and Geralt nodded,

"Witchers tend to try not to get tangled in mens drama"

Max laughed a bit breathily. Geralt reaching up and wrapping one large, rough hand around the back of Max's neck. Searching his eyes before slowly pressing their lips together.