#grinchstarion

gremlin couple beautiful and in love

Tags: Astarion x tav, Astarion x reader, fluff, just writing about this scene and his silly lil grin, grinchstarion romanticism

***

You blink your eyes open after the most peaceful slumber you have known in months. As your vision adjusts, your silver-haired lover comes into focus, lips curling into the most adoring smile anyone has ever given you. You wouldn’t guess he’s a vampire, the way his smile looks almost silly adorning his beautifully sculpted face. Every movement he made in your adventures was methodical, purposeful. Today, the mask slips.

But he’s in love and showing it to you without his signature mask. For that, you don’t know if you could ever be anything other than grateful, blessed by the gods themselves. Putting such a being on Faerun for you feels undeserved, despite all your sudden accolades. 

“Hello, darling,” he coos, eyes heavy and loving, lips pulled into a smile he can’t help. Nor does he appear to want to. 

You can’t help but grin at the sight yourself, a blush on your cheeks as you softly giggle. 

“What is so funny?” He asks, suddenly a little defensive. Had he not been so mellow this morning, he may have tensed, losing all of the soft features that delighted you this morning.

“No! Nothing is funny, I mean,” you smile, hoping the little reassurance is enough right now. The tension in his body relaxes. “I just really like seeing you like this. Freedom suits you.” If he wasn’t a vampire you could swear a blush washed over his face. Borrowed blood rising to his cheeks, maybe.

“Freedom... I’ve been thinking about that a lot lately,” he says, eyes transfixed on your visage. You imagine you’re probably tired looking and disheveled, opposed to him, so unfairly perfect with his neat, silver curls so early in the morning. “Without the tadpoles and Cazador looming in the shadows, I do wonder what I’m meant to do with it.”

You sigh. You hadn’t really thought about what it would be like for him, never making a choice of his own for centuries, only to find himself able to make any choice he wanted so suddenly. “Well, what do you want to do?” You ask. His demeanor shifts somewhat, lost in thought. 

“It’s hard to decide what to do when you have to return to the shadows. I can’t exactly revert back to my old habits.” Something of a smile pulls at his lips again at the relief of putting that era to rest.

“You don’t have any ideas? Surely there is something you’d like to pursue,” you say, gazing into his strong, crimson eyes. Softer than ever, they project his newfound strength. His ability to overcome his past must have felt like an impossibility for all these years, and you can’t help but admire every wrinkle, every imperfection, and his careless, hopeless grin. 

“I have one… but it’s silly,” he shifts his gaze away slightly, embarrassed.

“You can tell me anything,” you say softly, stroking his shoulder with your free hand that isn’t leaning on the pillow. 

“I just want... you. Is that okay?” He appears to brace himself for rejection.

“Of course. That’s all I want too, after all.” 

“Ah,” he breathes. “What a relief. As selfless as I am, I do rather like your company.” 

You hope his soft smile lasts forever. You'd protect it at any cost.

***