Today is the day I'll finally let him go.
it kills geralt as he comes to the realization. Jaskiers been smelling more sad every day. At night he can smell the brunettes salty tears, and it makes him wish he was capable of weeping.
Its yet another thing the mutations have taken from him. Perhaps it's the cruelest part of his lost humanity, the inability to wash out the sorrow he's feeling with tears.
He decides to be selfish. To give himself one last golden day with the bard. Something to tuck away into his heart, for those nights when the loneliness wants to devour him, and the pain is seemingly endless.
Jaskiers face lights up when he sees the waves lapping at the sand. His laughter is unaffected by any past sorrows. When he turns to geralt, the sparkle in his eyes matches the shimmering ocean.
Jaskier leads their frolicking. They build sand castles and watch the waves knock them over. They wrestle in the water, geralt inevitably winning every round. But jaskier still giving it his all until he smells of salty tears, from laughing too hard.
Geralt gathers seaweed, while jaskier looks for pretty shells, and rocks. Together they make a portrait of roach. Geralt teases jaskier that it looks more like a kikimora and laughs when the bard swats at him in mock offense.
They float in the blue waters, peacefully until one can't resist annoying the other and they both end up half drowned from a splashing contest.
Jaskier naps on the warm sand, his heart beating steadily, a rhythm that Geralt commits to memory. It'll be a steady tune for him to carry when the bard no long walks beside him, but rather pursues his own, better path.
As the sun sets they sit around a campfire, leaning against eachother, marveling at the way the colors dance around each other.
Geralt closes his eyes, wishing he could live in this moment forever. He breathes deeply and tries to prepare himself to tell the bard that he is free to leave. That geralt won't stop him from pursuing what pleases him.
There's the smell of wildflowers interlacing perfectly with the salt of the sea. It's subtle at first. But the smell has grown stronger by the end of the day, until geralts head is practically swimming with the wonderful smell. He can't help but look for the source, and he ends up leaning into jaskier, the dark strands of hair tickling his nose as he breathes in the scent coming off the poet.
That's what he's been missing this entire time. He's been so lost in his own self hatred that he has completely missed the obvious.
The sweet scent of wildflowers, it's the way jaskier has always smelt around him.
Its the smell of happiness.
It's the smell of friendship.
Geralt pulls back from jaskier and gazes at him. Geralt moves even slower this time. Carefully watching and noting every one of jaskiers physical reactions.
His pupils are dilated, and they are staring at geralts lips.
His heart is beating quicker than usual, but it's not the same rhythm as when jaskier is truly terrified.
His hands are trembling as they cup geralts face, yet they pull him closer.
His lips are tentative, but grow bolder as they kiss.
Jaskier wants this. He wants geralt. This realization rocks him to his core. There's a soft tickle on geralts cheek, and he brushes his fingers against it, surprised when they come away wet.
A tear has slipped out. One of joy, and hope, and love.
They'll be OK. It'll take time, effort and communication. They'll have slip ups and set backs.
They'll need to work through their insecurities, past heartbreaks, and traumas.
But they love each other, and that will carry them through every low, and lift them higher than they've even been before.
gummygunk
kianamaiart
