The Vampire's Fairytale

Sunlight and Stars in the Sky 1

Unsteady footsteps came up behind him as he stood by the dying fire, in another life that would make you a perfect target. "'Starion," you said in a little sing-song voice from behind him.

"Yes, my Sweet," turning, he's already wrapping an arm around your waist to steady you. From the footsteps he could tell you'd been drinking. The Githyanki Creche hadn't turned out to be the salvation you had hoped for. Some of your companions were taking it worse than others, Lae'zel was in her tent, talking to no one, and you, you were piss drunk.

"I hate this," you lean into his chest and despite the grim reality, he feels an odd sense of contentment.

"I'm sure nobody is particularly enjoying the moment but-" He was cut off as your lips started to kiss their way along his collarbone.

"You know what could make it better..." Teeth suddenly nip him and he jumps involuntarily while you giggle, you put him on edge lately for some reason. "A quick little tumble in the bedroll."

Just the thought of taking you in this state of inhibition, so little control over yourself, makes his stomach turn. A small part of him asks if you ever have control given his lies, viciously he kicks that part back down. "Not tonight, my little Snack, you are far too drunk."

The pout you reply with is impressive. "Aw, don't you like me anymore?" Despite your clear inebriation, the words are like a blow and he's lost for a moment.

"Of course I do." Instinctively, he pulls you closer, only for your fingers to start fumbling with his trousers. Gently he takes your hands and holds them away from himself. "Alright, I think it's clear you need some water and to lay down."

"I'm fine." You push away from him and wobble dangerously before ending up on your butt in the dirt. "Ow," dejectedly, you stay where you landed until your shoulders quiver and he worries tears are next.

Sighing, he reaches down and scoops you up in his arms, looking you over to make sure you didn't hurt yourself. "How about a deal Darling," he can't believe what he's about to say, "you agree to lay down nicely and get some sleep and I'll let you stay in my tent tonight?"

"Really? You never..." The two of you have never shared space for more than a perfunctory few minutes after sex, and usually Astarion very much prefers it that way. But you're a drunk emotional mess and you just seem to need him and that small part of him that he keeps pushing away wants to help you. "I don't want to, gods what's the word, im-im-"

"Impose?" The way you nod silently without looking up plants a strange sensation in his chest. "Don't be silly, you're my partner aren't you? How could you be imposing?" Softly he kisses your forehead and starts toward his tent.

As he settles you gingerly among his blankets you look around with wide eyes as though surprised to be here. "It's so red," you giggle before slowly laying back and staring at him as he gently removes your boots.

At least you had ceased your attempt at erotic pursuits for the moment. "I'll get you some water, you need to stay up long enough to drink it."

It only takes a few moments for him to retrieve your waterskin from your tent and return to find your eyes shut. He takes a brief second to just watch the way your chest rises and falls and the sublimely peaceful expression on your face. "Sweetheart," kneeling down next to you, he holds out the waterskin, "you need to drink some water."

Eyes slowly open and you sit up, making a little whining noise. "Fine." Taking the waterskin, you drink most of it in one go before lying back on your side facing him. "Happy?"

Your sudden aggressive tone makes him chuckle, of course he's seen you fight, but right now you're as threatening as a lost kitten. "You'll feel better for it in the morning, I promise."

"Mmm," already your eyes are closing again. "Lay next to me?"

The soft plea feels irresistible despite knowing he's feeding you another pretty lie and he shouldn't encourage this. If only you weren't so damnably kind to him all the time; his sweet sunny little half-elf, even from the moment you met, trying to help a stranger kill an Intellect Devourer; he wouldn't feel so odd about everything. You'd fed him when he'd tried to bite you during your sleep, stood up for him after, protected him from the Gur, and listened to every rant and complaint with an open mind. Even during sex, you tried so hard to please him, to make him feel good too, readily experimenting with anything new, and offering up your throat time and again. The mask must have slipped a few times because once you'd very embarrassedly asked him after the act if you were a bad lover. He'd tried so hard to reassure you he was just having a bad day, afterall, it wasn't your fault he couldn't feel the same pleasure, but you still looked so sad for a long while afterward.

Cuddling up close to you, he wraps you both in his blankets, arms enfolding you, and can't help but notice how perfectly you fit next to him, head tucked under his chin, like you were made to be there. Gods, what's wrong with him? He lays a delicate kiss on the sensitive little tip of your pointed ear and you hum contendly. "Happy now, my little bit of Sunlight?" The pet name slips off his tongue, surprising even himself.

"Does that still mean I'm irritating," you mumble softly and he puzzles over it before remembering.

Another moment of kindness from you. One of the first days after the Nautiloid, he'd seated himself so far away from everyone at the campfire, he was practically in the shadows when you came to sit next to him. "You can come closer to the fire Astarion, you don't have to keep so separate."

"I'm fine," he'd snapped at you, panicking that anyone was so near to him so soon after escaping Cazador's endless cruelty. Your mouth opened to answer back and he'd cut you off. "I said I'm fine, hells, you're as irritating as the scorching summer sunlight." You'd backed off but not before he'd seen the hurt in your eyes. The compliment feels as though it turned to ash in his mouth at the memory, he wishes he could take that night back. There's a lot of moments from those first days he wishes the same of.

"That was a very strange couple of days for me," his fingers find your hair of their own accord and start brushing through it. "But no, I mean you're bright and warm and beautiful," and not meant for creatures like me, he adds silently. "Like Sunlight."

Eyes opening, you tilt your head back to look up and study him for a moment, unexpectedly lucid. "And you're as wondrous and amazing as the whole night sky full of stars, and worth any bit of darkness."

The words leave him stunned as you close your eyes and settle back against him. "You don't mean that."

"Of course I do, my Starry Sky," you punctuate it with a kiss on his neck before drifting back in your half-asleep state.

There's an urge to retch and cry at the same time, what a farce he's made of your affection. He holds you tighter, as if that could undo any of what he's done. You deserve the truth, he knows that, but not tonight, because once you know, you'll despise him. A few more days, to soak you up, just like sunlight, and then he'll slip back into the darkness he deserves, where there's nothing to warm him.