Till death do us apart (Jaskier x OC)

Old friends, new beginnings

I slam my fists onto the table, looking up into his yellow eyes.

They told me he was here.
I have my informants spread all over town.
Of course, I am well known here.
And taking jobs that I need, jobs that I've worked hard for, just like that? I won't let that happen.

„Geralt of Rivia." I speak, sitting in front of him.
„A female witcher." His companion calls in surprise and I look at the small man in front of me. I turn back to Geralt.

„I must say, I take offense that you've exchanged me for such a puny example of a man." Both me and him have to grin now.
„Puny?! I am not Puny, I am-„
„Jaskier." Geralt calls now and he looks at me. „He's not my companion."
I nod now as I notice the way both Geralt and Jaskier eye me down.

„You grew up." Geralt says and I nod softly.
„It's been years since you last saw me." I shoot back and his companion still stares at me.
I shoot him a glare and move towards him, causing him to flinch.
A chuckle escapes my lips.
„Tullia, that's enough." Geralt says and I smile.
„You're right." I turn to the stranger, offering a hand.

„I am Tullia. Geralt used to train me."
I say and he scoffs.
„Puny..."
„I was just joking. What's your name, handsome stranger?" I call and he soothes softly at the compliment.
„Julian Alfred Pankratz." he shakes my hand and I immediately pull him towards me, almost making him fall of the bank.
I laugh wholeheartedly as he recollects himself, hands straightening his tunic in the most eccentric way.
„Just call him Jaskier."
„I shall. Now to you..." I point my finger at Geralt as the barman brings us the three ales I ordered.

„You are taking my jobs. Velen has been my home for months. I've been working my ass off, you can't just-„
„I shall leave."
I halt again, looking at him.
„Do you have a fever?" Geralt of Rivia, giving up a territory just like that? I can't believe my ears.
„No. I can wander. However..."

I don't like this. A however is never good.
„We could also work together. For old times sake." He speaks and I chuckle.
He's serious.
„Geralt, what's the point?"
„Killing time. Having company."
"Excuse me, I've been excellent company-" Jaskier starts but I shut him off with a swift hand movement.

I pull my glove off my hand, holding it out to Geralt.
He shakes it. So it's settled. I have company.
„I'm sorry to interrupt the lovely reunion but- what does that mean for my place in this?" Julian asks.
„There is no place for you in this."
Geralt groans in annoyance and I grin a bit.

„What is it you do, Jaskier?" I ask as I sit closer to him, playing with the strings of his tunic.
„You see, I am a bard."
„Ah so the witcher song comes from you, then."
It's been played all around, it's almost inevitable now.
„Yes! Yes, that's just me."
„You may stay."
I grab his collar now.
„Not because I want you to. But because I owe you. My profits have been doubled thanks to that stupid song."
I let him go again as he soothes over his clothes.

„Is she always like this?" He whispers, but my heightened senses of course pick it up.
Geralt hums in agreement and I smile.
„When are we leaving?"
„Not for long."
„Good. Let's drink the night out then. Innkeep is madly in love with me, it's on the house."

-

Jaskier stumbles onto the stage drunkenly as he starts playing his songs, the hefty crowd of the inn not caring, either passed out or drunk beyond their wits.

„Let me guess, he stuck to you since you oh so gracefully saved his life?" I speak, sitting next to Geralt with another cup.
He hums in agreement and I grin.

„Your little lap dog is quite talented with the lute, I have to say."
„Say that again when you've heard him play for hours on end."
I look at Geralt again. Killing time instead of rotting and training with Vesemir.
We're on the same path.

„I heard what happened in Blavikin."
He looks at me now and I don't even really notice Jaskier coming back to us after having been forced off stage.
„Let me take a guess. You met a girl, fell madly in love and had no choice but to kill half the town."
He doesn't negate the statement and I know it's the truth.

„Is that a hint of Jealousy I see, Miss Tullia." Jaskier calls now and I have to laugh for a second.
„Oh dear, no. I'd call it predictability. I've known this one for years, I know him inside and out."
„I still say it's jealousy." Jaskier adds and I look at him.

„What would I be jealous about?" I challenge, raising an eyebrow.
„He's dropped you like a fool. Unrequited love, maybe? You seemed oh so happy to see him. And now you've gone all grim." I step up to Jaskier now as I fix his Tunic softly.

„Listen, bard. I don't do love. All I do is mindless, hard sex. So wether I want to fuck the innkeep, or Geralt, or even someone as charming as you, I will." I speak now, looking at him and he halts, face blushing.
I let him go with a chuckle.

„I was pulling your leg. No, Geralt and I are close, but a witcher doesn't date another witcher." I speak and Jaskier nods now.

„I was meant to ask, Lady-„
„I think we're far beyond Lady, dear."
„Yes- Tulia. I was meant to ask, do you also have a name as grave as Geralts?"
My face turns stern for a single second. I used to, but it has long been forgotten.

„Oh no, I am no butcher. And I am of nowhere. I am just Tullia."
„That's a pity. I think there has to be something. The whore of Ochsenfurt."
„Careful there." Geralt warns.
„The hero of Velen, maybe?"
„Oh that she is." The innkeep says now, having just made his way over. I shoot him a soft smile.
„The town has been almost monster free since she arrived."
„Ah yes! So let's raise a toast. To Tullia, the hero of Velen!" Jaskier calls and a few of the townfolk join in.

I shake my head softly, sick of the attention. Geralt has almost dozed off in the corner and Jaskier can barely stand straight.
„I think it's time for you to sleep." I call now, as I heave Geralt over me and I lead both him and Julian up the stairs to my room.
„What you said earlier, about fucking whoever-„
„Don't get your hopes up."