Liability (Geralt x OC)

Chapter 4

The first thing I heard was the yelling. The second thing I heard was the clash of swords. Those sounds alone drove me to the stairs. My mind screamed at me to stay in the room like Geralt said. But my body disobeyed and took me to the stairs anyway, at least to see what the hell was happening downstairs. Peering between the poles of the banister, I spotted Geralt in the midst of a group of men with swords. To be more specific, Whoreson's henchmen. My jaw clenched seeing the idiots with their swords swinging at Geralt. Whoreson's henchmen wandered the streets of Novigrad and caused trouble for anyone they felt like. Whoreson Junior was just as bad as his lot, if not worse. I wonder what Geralt had done to invoke their wrath enough for them to search him out...

I didn't have much time to wonder as the sound of fighting brought me back to the present. Geralt had been forced back towards a wall, outnumbered by Whoreson's henchmen. His eyes caught mine from the corner of his eyes.

"Get in a god damn room!" He yelled before clashing swords with another henchmen. His shout called the attention of some men to where I stood at the top of the steps. I locked eyes with one of them and my blood instantly ran cold.

"Hey! It's that whore Tanea!" Fuck. A couple of the henchmen broke off from the group to storm up the stairs. I spun around and broke into a run down the hall. There was another exit that would lead to the outer stairwell. If I made it there, I could escape into the streets and hopefully lose them. I could hear the henchmen close behind, their yelling mixing with the blood that was pounding in my ears. I just had to get tangled up with Whoreson Junior, didn't I?

"Cut her off!" Just as I was about to reach the exit, another henchman burst through the door with his blade drawn.

"Fuck fuck fuck fuck," I cursed, turning around to see that I was blocked both ways. I could try to lock myself in a room, but then I'd be stuck with no way out but jumping from the window

"Geralt! Now would be a great time to get your witcher ass up here!" I yell in panic as the henchmen close in on me. On cue, I saw Geralt rush up the steps and stab his sword through one of the henchmen. Any relief that flooded me was taken away when one man grabbed me from behind, a blade coming to sit uncomfortably close to my neck. As Geralt cut the head off of the last man, he turned to see the position I was in.

"Drop your sword, or the whore's head rolls," sneered the man. Geralt kept his sword trained at the man, and he pressed the edge of the blade tighter to my skin. I gasped in response, my body stiffening at the sensation of the cold metal. With a grunt, Geralt dropped his sword and held his hands up to placate the henchmen.

"Listen-"

"No YOU listen you son of a bitch! You're going to let me leave with this whore, or else she isn't making it out of this building alive," threatened the henchman. His seething anger was clear, and I could have a guess that he was someone closer to Whoreson Junior in ranks. Geralt raised his hands a little bit to say something, but the henchman responded by pressing the blade harder into my skin. The area stung, and I knew he had cut into my skin. Geralt's eyes locked onto mine, most likely searching for pain or panic. Instead, I gave him a hard stare in return.

"Do what you must." In a flash, I pulled my leg up and thrust it back and up, hitting my mark. The henchmen howled in pain, his hold loosening enough for me to thrust my body away from him. In the blink of an eye, Geralt moved his hand in a specific manner that sent the henchman flying down the hall and onto the ground.

"Stay behind me." Geralt scooped up his sword again and wasted no time ending the fight for good. I gingerly touched my neck to find blood on my fingertips. Nothing life threatening, but inconvenient at worst. Besides, Geralt was far more roughed up than I was.

"Are you alright?" Speak of the devil. I turned to look up at Geralt, surveying the damage done to him. He didn't look horribly roughed up: some potential bruises and a knick here and there. Otherwise, he was unscathed.

"I'm alright Geralt. What about you? You're the one that did the actual fighting here." Geralt shook his head, sheathing his sword.

"I've had much worse. Nothing some cleaning up and rest won't do." His eyes moved to take a look at the cut on my neck.

"I'll be okay, it's just a flesh wound. But, it could have been much worse... How can I ever repay you for saving my life?" I asked earnestly. If Geralt hadn't come in time, who knows where I'd be now. Who knows if I'd even be here now...

"We'll just call it even since I never paid you." I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms.

"That's hardly even, Geralt. You saved my life!" Geralt looked at me with a curious look in his eyes. What I wouldn't give to know what thoughts were running through his head.

"Fine, then I claim the Law of Surprise. What you find at home yet don't expect will be what I claim. That's even for saving your life, yes?" I swallowed nervously and nodded. The Law of Surprise. I didn't exactly expect that to be his request. The way he off-handedly threw it out as a suggestion was, well, surprising. I've heard of others who claimed the Law of Surprise and having to give up their firstborn. However, I wasn't with child at the moment. Besides, he said whatever I find at home. So, the brothel?

"Yes, that is of equal value." Geralt chuckled and rest his hand on my shoulder.

"Trust me, I'm not interested in claiming anything of the sort in your lifetime. I'll be out of your hair before you know it," he reassured me, giving my shoulder a small squeeze. His hand moved to brush his fingertips against my neck. I could feel my cheeks flush before realizing that he was observing the cut on my neck.

"You should probably bandage that up." I nodded silently, moving my eyes away from his face to a door that was down the hall.

"I'm going to go to my room to fix myself up."

"Then I'm going to be on my way before I cause any more trouble for the Passiflora." Geralt's eyes sought out mine, and a moment of silence passed between us. "I should also talk to the madame." I could only nod, my head lost in the clouds from the events that just occurred.

"Are you sure you're alright?" He asked again, his voice soft. I shook my head to gain focus again.

"I'm fine Geralt. Or at least, I will be. I think I just need to splash some cold water on my face." I smiled up at the witcher pleasantly. "I won't stand in your way anymore witcher. It was nice to meet you, despite what followed after." Geralt chuckled at that comment.

"It was a pleasure to meet you as well, Tanea. I hope to see you again some day."

"Well, you always know where to find me." We smiled at each other before Geralt stepped back to head past me. I watched him retreat down the steps before allowing myself to walk to my private bedroom. I released a breath I didn't realize I was holding when I was finally in the safety of my room. My heart was still pounding after the incident, but I could feel myself calming down. I turned to face the dresser, a mirror propped up on top of it. The cut on my neck was beginning to scab, but I should still dress it just in case.

Looking at myself in the mirror, I felt an odd sensation in my gut, making it difficult to look away from myself. Somehow, I knew I would be seeing Geralt again very soon.