#fighter tav

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After speaking with Araj, the party of companions set up camp near Moonrise towers. It felt like night, but nobody could really tell, since the entire land was shrouded in darkness.

They were exhausted, so they figured they'd sleep off their recent journey. Protected by the fairy's moon light, the party settled in.

Artemis retreated to her own tent and started to remove her armor. As she was finally able to relax, she felt how strained her muscles were. She winced as she removed every piece of armor.

She sat down on her chair at her desk, removing her boots. The folds of her tent parted open slowly, she glanced up to see her fellow elven companion.

"Do you have a moment to talk?" He asked,

"Of course, what is it?" Artemis replied.

"I just wanted to thank you." Astarion started as he walked into her tent. Artemis stood up and got her night clothes out, she was standing in her undergarments.

"For what?" She questioned inquisitively as she dressed herself.

"For what you did, whilst I was in front of that vile drow." Astarion sneered as he frowned. Artemis was finishing up getting dressed as he spoke.

"I spent two hundred years using my body to lure pretty things back to my master. What I wanted, how I felt about what I was doing, it never mattered." Astarion poured out his feelings.

"You could have asked me to the same-to throw myself at her, what I wanted be damned...!" He paused as he looked Artemis in the eyes,

".... But you didn't. And I'm grateful." He said softly, looking at her, really looking at her. Artemis approached him slowly. She could see the vulnerability; he didn't even attempt to hide it now.

"I don't want you to do anything, you're not comfortable with." Artemis told him with sincerity, he could see it in her eyes.

"It's a novel concept, I admit. And a little intimidating." Astarion started, Artemis just listened.

"It would have been so easy to bite her. To just go along with what I was being told to do. A moment of disgust to get myself through. and then I could have carried on, just like before." Astarion continued to explain.

"So why did you sleep with me? Did you think you'd get something from it?" Artemis questioned as she narrowed her eyes, her heart twinged with an all too familiar pain.

"Well of course, I needed protection. People don't trust vampires-perhaps understandably-so I needed to get someone on my side. And seducing you was easy, frankly." Astarion went on with his explanation. At this point, Artemis's heart broke. Tears well in her eyes.

"So, imagine how stupid I felt when I actually started to genuinely feel something for you." Astarion confessed and Artemis's tears quickly diminished and a look of surprise washed over her features.

"Trust me I was not happy about it. You were a complication I didn't see coming. And yet..." He stopped talking, searching Artemis's face.

"I care about you." She said,

"Really?" Was all Astarion said, but it sounded genuine.

Artemis smiled at him, she walked towards him and closed the gap between them. Astarion just stood there, completely dumbfounded. His arms stiff in the air as he looked down at Artemis. She hugged him tighter.

Slowly, Astarion relaxed and wrapped his arms around Artemis's waist, hugging her back. He was touched starved for two hundred years, surely sexual encounters happened, but never a genuine friendly hug for comfort.

This was the first time he had a hug since he was turned. He nuzzled into Artemis's shoulder, letting out a shaky breath. It felt so foreign but felt so good. He relished in the feeling of his friend's embrace.

Artemis stepped back; she caught a glimpse of Astarion's expression. Longing and the desire to hold her longer, not wanting to let go just yet.

"You're...You're full of surprises, aren't you?" He told her, still in shock.

"Honestly, I have no idea what we're doing or what comes next." Astarion said like a star struck boy. He stuck out his hand, Artemis looked at it before taking it.

Astarion pulled her closer, resting his hand on top of hers. They were silent for a moment as they looked at their hands.

"But I know this..." He started as he looked up, meeting Artemis's eyes.

"This is nice." He added with a smile and not that fake persuasive smile, it was his smile. Artemis returned her own smile. They stood there for a long moment just staring at each other.

Then boldly, Astarion broke their glance and stepped towards her, closing the space between them. He cupped Artemis jaw, she looked up at him through her lashes.

Then Astarion leaned into her, capturing her lips in a tender kiss. It wasn't anything like the first kiss they shared a few months prior. This kiss was real. It had true feelings behind it.

Their lips moved in smooth rhythm with one another. It's as if they were made to mold to each other, they fit perfectly together. Astarion kept his hand on Artemis's jaw, deepening their already passionate kiss.

When they pulled back from their kiss, they were still smiling. Astarion's hand lingered on Artemis's face a while longer before he retreated from her. He sighed in delight,

"You are perfect, every time." Was all he said. Artemis's face was flushed a bright pink.

"Well, we should get some rest." Astarion said after a brief silence, he retreated for the entrance of the tent; before leaving he peered over his shoulder and spoke in a low voice.