Egg

Your camp clothes were tucked under your arm as you walked to the river. All of the party members seemed to be in bed and you'd taken the opportunity to go wash. The stars shone high above, leaving you breathless as you rounded the rock to approach the shore.

You stopped suddenly in your tracks, your feet crushing the sand underneath. Wyll stood shirtless by the shore in the moonlight. His hair was undone, the dark coils damp as he attempted to work around his new horns with a comb.

"Damnit all!" He dropped the comb and hung his head, the aura of frustration radiating off of him.

You slowly moved toward him and crouched to pick up the comb. He stiffened at your approach and turned away from you.

"I'd rather be alone tonight, Tav."

"Alright, I just thought.. well if there's anything I can do to help, I'm here for you."

A wry smile tugged at one side of his lips. "Very sweet of you, but I think this is my burden to bear alone."

"Stubborn as anything, Wyll Ravengard."

"Guilty in this instance," he said with a laugh.

You watched his face return to a somber expression and reached out, placing the comb in his hand. Your fingers lingered, brushing against his as the darkness hid your longing.

You and Wyll had grown closer since you had first met at the grove. He remained near you, covering your weak spots and helping you with your movements. He even had opened up more emotionally, yet every time you tried to engage him in a deeper conversation, he would always pull away.

His fingers shook at the graze of yours and they flinched, almost as if he wanted to wrap his hand around yours, but it curled around the comb instead. Your hand lifted, startling him from his thoughts as you cupped his cheek.

"Don't be so obstinate. Let me help."

He sighed a bit theatrically before handing you the comb and moving to sit on a nearby stump. You sat your clothes on the ground next to his and moved behind him. His hair was mostly free of tangles, but you took extra time with his hair, running the comb and then your fingers through, lightly massaging his scalp. A quiet moan slipped from his lips and with the moonlight, you could see a deep flush on his face.

"Gods, well. That's embarrassing. I'm so sorry, Tav."

Your fingers continued working through his hair, separating the coils.

"Just relax, Wyll. Sitting like you've got something up your arse."

He barked a laugh and his body relaxed under your hands.

"I can't believe I've got horns now. It's still so unreal. I've just been having some trouble with working around them to take care of my hair properly. I want to look my best, after all."

You hummed in curiosity. "Any particular reason?"

"Most certainly," he smiled to himself. "One I'm not quite ready to divulge just yet."

Your heart sank a bit at his words, but you continued until his hair was completely tangle free. When he felt your hands stop, he held up a small vial of olive oil he'd gotten from Arron at the grove. You poured some on your hand and held the bottle down to Wyll so he could hold it while you worked. After rubbing your hands together, you gently pulled them through his hair, spreading the oil. He set the vial aside and pulled a blue silk scarf through his fingers, the fabric soothing him as he held it.

"What's that?"

"Oh? It was.. my mother's. I took it when I left Baldur's Gate and I use it to wrap my hair at night. It makes me feel closer to her, closer to father, even. Just something to remind me of where I've come from."

You gave his shoulder a gentle squeeze before continuing your ministrations. He was so clearly exhausted, his body slouching forward. You placed a gentle hand on his chest and lifted him back toward you so you could reach his hair more easily. Your fingers electrified his bare skin and he jolted upright. He sat completely still as you finished his hair. You admired the way his hair undone made him look younger, more relaxed. His red eye met yours and uncertainty flitted across his expression.

"What is it? Is something wrong with my face?"

He patted it quickly, feeling for new ridges or bumps. You reached for his nervous hands, clasping them in yours with a squeeze.

"Nothing of the sort. I'm just appreciating a handsome face."

He coughed in embarrassment, his gaze ducking away from yours.

"Sweet talking me, are you, Tav?"

"Why? Is it working?" you purred.

He stood abruptly and pulled his shirt over his head, careful not to muss it. You stood, wringing your hands in front of you as he gathered his items. He turned around, ready to go before you called to him.

"Wyll? What did I do? I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable. I don't.. I don't know how to navigate what this is between us. I don't even know what to call it, but it feels like something."

He put his belongings on the stump he'd used as a seat and turned, striding back to you. He stood mere inches away, heat radiating off of him. You glanced up, your nose near his, your breath mingling with his.

"You haven't done anything wrong," he whispered. "Far from it. In fact, I'm feeling things I only dreamt of before. But I can't. I can't bring you into this now. It wouldn't be fair."

"Wyll," you murmured, shocked when you felt tears sliding down your cheeks.

"Oh, oh, Tav.."

His face fell and his arms slid around you, tugging you close. He rocked back and forth with you tucked tightly against him. His hand came up to the back of your head, cupping it softly and he rubbed a thumb on the back of your neck.