#airshari

           So MAYBE he could have forgotten about their little drunken hook up, as one does, when it wouldn’t have been for Keyleth and the way she LOOKS at him. Sometimes it’s when she doesn’t think he’s looking, but Percy catches her anyway, and he can feel the look of almost animalistic hunger go straight to his cock.

           And maybe it’s been a long day, and maybe he doesn’t quite manage to restrain himself when she shows up at his door, suddenly all innocent looking, suggesting they’d watch a movie. He doesn’t make it through half of it before he pushes her back against the wall his bed is positioned again, one hand up against her throat as his lips hover just inches from hers.

    Percy doesn’t remember the last time he’s slept this well, and everything is still a little hazy as he blinks his eyes open and Keyleth comes into view. He feels a spark of warmth settle in his chest and his lips curve into a smile as he leans in to press his LIPS to hers.

    “Good morning.”

    It takes him a moment to catch up with what he’s done and then he feels his heart stumble in his chest, eyes wide with a mix of panic and something else he can’t quite put his finger on. “I didn’t...” But Keyleth doesn’t PULL AWAY, she doesn’t run screaming, and Percy feels his heart stumble again, and before he can change his mind he pulls her into another kiss, a little more forceful this time, arms coming to wrap around her.

   They’re having a CONVERSATION, one that might not be considered entirely important, but it’s polite to participate nevertheless, especially since Caleb finds himself a guest of the Ashari too, much like the group of people that has joined them for dinner tonight.

   Granted, he’s already stayed LONGER than he thought he would, but it’s hard to leave when the company is this good. He almost smiles to himself, eyes meeting with Keyleth’s over the fire, before dropping his gaze to her lips.

   He could think of a hundred things he’d rather be doing right now, and KISSING her is very high up on that list. “Excuse me for a minute,” He offers a polite smile before stepping away from the fire, all the while never taking his eyes off her.

        “God, you look absolutely INCREDIBLE...” Vax’ voice is almost raw as he speaks, watching mesmerized as the toy slides in and out of Keyleth. She might have seemed innocent to many, but her closeness to nature allowed her animalistic side to come out every now and then, and he tries his best to keep up and give her what she needs, and oh Vax has always been ready to worship her.

IT   IS   USUALLY   VAX   WHO   IS   THE   RECKLESS   ONE.         vax   who   charges   headfirst   into   the   fray      —      vax   who   doesn’t   think   twice   before   casting   himself   before   danger.      so   it   is   usually   vax   who   limps   out   of   a   fight,   blood   splattered   upon   him.      this   is   a   rough   bout      —      a   stupid,   spur-of-the-moment   brawl   in   an   alleyway   after   they   cross   the   gang   running   the   underbelly   of   the   place      —      but   it   ends   faster   than   it   begins,   and   vax   doesn’t   dwell   on   it   any   more   once   he   cleans   off   his   daggers   and   puts   them   away. 

but   he’s   sheathing   one   blade   in   his   boot   when   he   spies   the   blood   on   the   ground   by   keyleth’s   feet.      he   looks   up,   paling   as   he   sees   what   she’s   been   hiding   for   the   last   fifteen   minutes   or   so:      a   bloody   hand,   covering   a   bloody   stomach.      too   much   blood   on   her   skin;      too   much   blood   on   the   dirt. 

          “   i’ve been ,   ah  --  collecting flowers  for awhile .   ”     calloused fingers carefully press the bright yellow bloom in-between the pages of her book ,   being careful not to smear the dirt under her nails over the parchment .   she gingerly brushes the petals with the faintest touch ,   gaze wistful yet tinged with a faraway sadness .     “   for my wife .   ”

     It’s a MISTAKE.

   Percy KNOWS, because he’s made many of them in his life, and yet, amongst all of them, this seems to be his biggest one yet. Still, he can’t bring himself to stop, hands scrambling for purchase in Keyleth’s dress, holding on and keeping her close.

   He doesn’t even know where to begin with the feelings that threaten to take over his body, desire, pain, grief, WANT. It’s a new combination, and yet not entirely, because he’s been feeling all these things, and he’s been feeling them around HER. 

  Keyleth is kind, and loving, and fierce, and she’s just as BROKEN as he is. He briefly thinks about Vex, who only rarely checks in, and Scanlan, Pike and Grog, who are off living their lives, dealing with grief in their own ways, and he hopes they’re doing better than Keyleth and him are. 

  He thinks about how many times he wanted to do this, and how many times he’s HATED himself for the thought of it, but now that Keyleth is holding onto him so tightly she might fall off the face of the earth if she doesn’t, Percy feels his resistance crumbling.