Kill Your Darlings (Jaskier x Assassin!Reader)

Chapter 13

A groan of pain escaped your lips as soon as you reached consciousness.

"You're alive!"

You shot up out of the bed despite your throbbing head's protest. As soon as you realized you were inside your shared room, with only Jaskier to accompany you, your shoulders relaxed. Still, you frowned at the spot he was in — the chair you planned to occupy for the night. Instead, you were sitting in the middle of the only bed in the room.

Jaskier's voice broke through your thoughts once again, "You insisted on sleeping in the chair, don't worry."

"So why am I here?"

"You fell asleep before you could argue." He chuckled at the pout that settled on your lips, walking over with a cup and handing it to you. "It's water. But don't...spit it at me this time."

You smiled but took the cup greedily, chugging the liquid to quench your thirst. Once you did, you felt yourself grow slightly awkward. You couldn't remember everything from last night, how you acted, and you never let yourself drink that much on a job. Jaskier seemed to sense your uneasiness.

"It wasn't that bad, really." He took the cup from you, purposefully ignoring your eyes following him as he got more water. "Besides, it's not like I haven't seen you pass out twice already."

"That doesn't make me feel better."

"Then maybe this will." He returned with more water and sat delicately on the end of the bed, the frame squeaking as he did so. "Geralt might have something to help the headache."

You shook your head, wiping the remnants of water from your lips, "What's the point of drinking if you're not going to feel the pain that comes after?" He scrunched his nose up in confusion. You smirked, "What's wrong? I thought you were a man of adventure."

"Adventure, yes. Suffering? Not so much."

"What adventure doesn't have a little bit of suffering?"

"This one hasn't been so bad."

"Hm. Well, don't test your luck." You held back another groan as you stood from the bed, slightly swaying on your feet as the pain throbbed heavier against your skull.

"Easy," Jaskier grabbed your arm to steady you, and for once, you fought back the urge to pull away. You let him hold onto your arm as you blinked away the dizziness. It took a second, but you opened your eyes once the throbbing lessened.

"I'm good." Jaskier let go and watched you shake your head and shake out your limbs. You walked over to the pitcher of water and chugged another cup. "Where's Geralt?"

"Right here." You and Jaskier jumped at the same time, turning towards the now open doorway where Geralt stood. He blinked back, but a glint in his eye told you he was slightly amused at your surprise.

You rolled your eyes, "Great."

"You ready to head back?"

You nodded and drank another cup of water, "Yeah. Are you?"

The witcher watched you with only what you could describe as curiosity, and a little bit of challenge. You both didn't know what was waiting for you back in the city, what would happen when you returned. None of you did. And despite the hope in your heart that everything would be wrapped up quickly, your gut knew that wasn't how it worked. And you guessed the witcher felt the same.

"I most certainly am." Jaskier clapped his hands together, breaking you and Geralt's gaze. "As much as I love this little village, I can't wait to get back to the city. Do you know just how many performances I have missed?"