A statement of a soul | Raphael x Reader

6. Regrets

The smiles, laughs, all of the sounds of celebration seem distant. You feel the void in your mind, finally rid of the annoying swirling of the tadpole as well as the commands of The Emperor.

It's all over.

Ketheric, Gortash, Orin. The chosen of the Dead Three, The Emperor, The Netherbrain - all gone. What is left behind them is almost a completely destroyed city, masses of homeless people cleaning up the dead corpses of illithids from the cobbled, ruined streets and a scattered pack of adventurers - friends, saviors of the Baldur's Gate.

Although most of them are missing.

You push your back away from a nearby wall and walk away from the warm, glowing light of the campfire. All of your friends are alive, all of the tactics payed off in the end as absolutely no one lost their lives, yet you cannot help but feel emptiness, a bit of a sour taste after your victory.

You take a tiny sip of your wine, and begin to walk slowly towards your tent. It is when you notice Mizora, standing next to some young man, both of them blocking the path to your much deserved rest.

You approach them with a raised eyebrow.
'Tav!' the man smiles slightly seductively and twists his whole body towards you. His top three buttons of a nice, black shirt are unbuttoned, revealing a smooth skin of his torso. His sleeves are rolled up to elbow height.

You glance at Mizora, penetrating you with her burning eyes, not saying a word to clarify the weird situation. How very on brand with her.

'Hey, I am sorry, I've met so many faces this evening. I'm not sure I quite recall your name,' you say politely and put the wine goblet into your left hand to offer your right one to the visitor.

'Little mouse,' the man says and you tilt your head.

'Haarlep?'

The young, handsome features disappear in a cloud of cinders, replaced by a form of glamoured cambion, the same one you have met in the House of Hope.

'Me,' they respond with a grin.

'Who would have thought that the hero of Baldur's Gate has such acquaintances,' Mizora mocks, trying to make you feel embarrassed.

You give her an amused side glance and for a moment, all of your attention is forwarded to her.
'Thank you for your help, Mizora. Without you, we could have suffered more loses against the Netherbrain.'

'I just wanted to be there in case your entire party dies. I wouldn't want to miss such a spectacular failure,' she retorts with venom in her voice, but the look in her eyes softens just a tiny bit.

You nod at her.
'Sorry to disappoint you, then.'

You turn your attention to Haarlep, curiously watching your interaction with Mizora.
'How have you been?'

They raise their hands theatrically, putting on a perfect Raphael impression.
'Splendid!' they say with his voice and you can feel a cold touch inside your heart. The voice impression was a bit too good, making you recall Raphael in the Last Light Inn.

You gently touch Haarlep's forearm and drag them a few meters away from Mizora. The incubus leans over to you, trying to give you a kiss. You instead cup their face.
'Is he... Is he still alive?'

Haarlep's face twists with disappointment and the wings of Raphael's form fall idly on their back.
'Why do you care, little mouse?'

You stroke their face, then look to the side for a few moments.
'I don't know,' when your eyes meet again, Haarlep already stares at you suspiciously.

'I come all the way from Cania to visit you, my little pet, and all you ask of is Raphael,' they straighten up and sigh. 'Like I want to talk about my dead brat.'