Love Run

I'll Keep Him Safe

Seven years ago.

           Geralt rested his head against the car window, watching the passing nothingness as they drove in the dark.

          "I could've gone alone." He muttered under his breath, half hoping that the older man hadn't heard him.

          Vesemir let out a low sigh, not moving his eyes away from the endless road in front of them.

          "No."

          Geralt rolled his eyes and leaned back again in his seat. "Then I could've stayed, taken on an easier case. There's just no point in both of us—"

          "I said no." Vesemir interrupted, relaxing his clenched jaw before letting out a quiet sigh, "You're not ready for your own cases yet, Geralt."

          Geralt scoffed and crossed his arms, "Not ready? I'm nineteen! I've been hunting with you since I was ten years old, I think that's more than enough time to be considered ready—"

          Vesemir raised his voice and tightened his grip on the steering wheel, "For gods' sake, Geralt! I said no!" He growled. The older man took a deep breath and tried to calm himself down before continuing, "You're only nineteen, you're not ready."

          They pulled into the parking lot of a garishly painted motel and Vesemir looked over at Geralt. "Do you remember what happened the last time I let you out of my sight?"

          Geralt just rolled his eyes and avoided looking at the older man, "Yeah, I was fine."

          "Fine, my ass, Geralt!" Vesemir snapped, shutting the car off. "Yennefer brought you back to me half dead, because you were too damn stubborn to wait for backup before charging a vamp nest." His words grew quieter and he looked forward, "We nearly lost you."

          The two spent the remainder of the night in uneasy silence, researching and reviewing the case information. Eventually, as the clock reached two am, Vesemir broke the tense atmosphere.

          "Go to sleep, Geralt." He ordered, looking over at the boy, who was just barely keeping himself propped up over an open book.

          "M' not tired." Geralt responded, trying his best to repress a yawn.

          "Yeah, that's bull and you know it, kid." Vesemir said, shooting Geralt an unamused eye roll.

          Geralt got up and trudge to the bedside with false reluctance before laying down and promptly falling asleep.

— —

           Geralt awoke to the motel door banging shut and he looked up wearily to see Vesemir standing with a bag of what he assumed to be breakfast.

          "Eat." Vesemir grunted, tossing the bag into Geralt's lap before gathering a few things and heading back towards the door.

          "Where are you going?" Geralt questioned groggily while trying to pull himself up from the bed.

          "Got a lead, going to the coroner's office." The older man said, turning back around to face Geralt, who was now standing near the edge of the bed. "You're staying here."

          Geralt's head snapped up and stared at Vesemir in disbelief, "What? No! You're not leaving me here!"

          "Yes, I am." Vesemir stated plainly.