#it long

“You prefer another other one?”

“No.” Tav runs a hand over his cheek, the slight stubble scratching their palm. “I like them all. I just haven’t seen it for some time. What’s the occasion?”

“A visitor will arrive momentarily who will react better to this.” He smiles as he catches their hand and presses a kiss into Tav’s palm.

“So soft,” Tav murmurs and snuggle up against him. As human, Raphael is shorter and they could easily just-

Raphael places his finger over their mouth. “Later. We don’t want to let our visitor waiting.”

Tav stays glued to him, and slowly sucks the tip of his finger into their mouth. It is almost new to caress a fingertip that doesn’t sport sharp, pointed nails.

“Impossible.” Raphael ends Tav’s interlude with a kiss. When he pulls back, the devil is smiling, though.

Tav yields and threads an arm through his as they walk the short way from the library to the foyer. The portal is already dimming down again, leaving a lone human standing in the room. When he turns to face the new arrivals, Tav rips free of their devil and jumps at new arrival.

“Gale!”

“Tav?” The wizard replies, closing his rams around Tav who hugs him with the determination of a constrictor.

“I’m so happy to see you.” Tav relents but stays stuck to his side, both arms around the wizard’s waist. “Raphael didn’t tell me it was you. Naughty.” They send their devil a mock reproachful glance.

“I imagined you like surprises.” Raphael saunters over. “I seem to be quite correct.”

“You said you are looking to secure an important asset,” Gale says carefully. “I am here to – consider. Depending on what it is we are talking about.”

“Of course.” Raphael turns on the charm. “All business, like your good friend here used to be. Very professional.”

“You plan to deal with Raphael?” Tav can’t believe it. “What in the hells are you thinking?”

“Hypocrite much?” Gale asks back. “And Raphael has offered a solution to my magical consumption problem.”

“He did?” Tav eyes the devil warily. “And in return you secure his stuff?”

“That is how I understood it. But,” he looks at Tav solemnly, “you remember Hope? I am not agreeing to anything unless I know what that asset is and what I am supposed to do to secure it.

“You are holding on to it already,” Raphael smirks.

The humans jerk apart.

“Me?” Tav asks.

“Them?” Gale wants to know at the same time.

“How very quaint of you.” Raphael laughs. “Yes, I am talking about Tav. I want to make sure they cannot be harmed in this place. The fiends are – heedless and I do not want an incident. Especially not one that may look like an accident.”

“Tav?” Gale asks. “Why not just leave? Come with me.”

“Um.” Tav takes a moment to stare at their toes.

“I see you need some time.” Raphael puts a hand on a shoulder of each human. “Take your time, eat, drink, the Feast Hall and the library are yours.” With a smile at Tav he adds: “You know where to find me.”

“Are you alright?” Gale asks as soon as Raphael is out of earshot.

Tav nods and takes his arm. “I can explain. Mostly. But not here. You hungry? Food has improved in the mouldless department. And I can get my hands on some excellent tea.”

Gale follows reluctantly and offers no input on the choice of nibbles. Tav falls back on their times together and hopes for the best. When they open the door to the library, Gale whistles.

“This is new.” He takes in the three levels of books. “Last time we were here, I am certain it was a balcony.”

“Yep.” Tav puts down the tray on a table and pulls up another chair. “I was totally getting on Raphael’s nerves. It keeps me busy.”

“I assume there is a reason you do not return to Baldur’s Gate?” Gale settles in a chair, looking none too comfortable.

“I-“ Tav hesitates. “I was stupid. And now I cannot leave. I mean I could if I want to end up dead and then my soul goes, well, it goes to a place I don’t want it in. And it is not the House of Hope. I’m here for my own safety.”

“How long?”

“Not sure, but it isn’t forever. I am looking forward to being able to leave again. I don’t know when, but it will happen.”

“And Raphael..?”

“Is good to me, no deal necessary. Which, I admit, surprising, but I won’t question it.”

“Playing the long game for your soul?” Gale doesn’t sound convinced.

“Maybe.” Tav shrugs. “Not sure my soul is worth that much though.”

“You know what?” Gale reaches for a biscuit. “If he’s not after your soul, I don’t think I wanna know. Truly. Oh my. You realise there are bite marks all over your throat, yes?”

Tav blushes violently. Subconsciously, they know. After all they are very present when the biting happens and may have returned the favour, though they are less prone to drawing blood. Unlike the very sharp teeth of a certain devil. It just never comes up.

Burying their head in their hands Tav groans. They are a walking advertisement of their own doom. Of course the other devils don’t consider them worth a second glance – plaything of their master. Out of bounds even if obviously delicious enough to bite pieces off.

“I take that as a no.” Gale sighs. “At least I can be sure it is you. Nobody else is that oblivious.”

“That is the consensus in this house, yes,” Tav agrees. “But enough of me, tell me everything. About you. About the others. Everything I missed!”

“Do we have time for that? Devils aren’t known for their patience.”

“If Raphael was in a hurry, he wouldn’t have let me alone with you,” Tav laughs. “He knows me.”

Gale doesn’t grace that with a reply. Instead he launches into a detailed report of his doings before branching out to the others. Tav sits happy to listen and sip on their tea.

In the middle of Wyll and Karlach’s most recent endeavours in Avernus, Gale stops with his mouth open and eyes glued to the door.

When Tav follows his glance, they find Haarlep sauntering towards them, their predatory lust in full swing.

“What have we here?” Haarlep asks, devouring the wizard with their eyes. “Oh, I wondered where you were, dear,” they add curtly at Tav.

“Having a visitor, as you can see. My friend Gale, who is not a treat, Haarps. Gale, you may remember Haarlep from our last visit.”

“Darkly,” the wizard says but still offer his hand. “It doesn’t feel like a memory I am supposed to have.”

“Oh, let me help you with that,” the incubus purrs, taking Gale’s hand with both of their own.

“Haarps!” Tav cuts in sharply. “If Gale doesn’t want to remember me fucking nasty with an incubus that is his good right. Unlike others in this room, he does have decency.”

“What a shame he’s all alone with that.”

Tav huffs. "Still not over the fact that I don't want to sleep with you?"

"Maybe." Haarlep grins mischievously. "Something I am certain you can help me get over." They lean towards Gale and Tav can feel the magic roll off the incubus.

"Not for you, Haarps," they repeat.

"You absolute spoilsport." The incubus sighs theatrical. But they relent on the wizard. "Alright. I'll just be going then, playing lanceboard against myself."

"Lanceboard?" Gale perks up.

"Gale, don't."

"Oh, but please, Gale do." Haarlep leans back in. "Tav can use any help they can get. They lose every single time."

"You didn't tell me you play lanceboard now." He sounds offended. "You know I would love a game. We can talk as we play."

"I cannot play, Gale," Tav tries. "I was roped into losing against Haarlep because-" they shut up. How to explain that lanceboard was easier to interrupt for a quick fuck than a song and dance number. "Alright. I'll get the board. I can see that this is the price I will have to pay for my information."

They follow Haarlep and give a complete lecture on how Gale is not a snack and isn't to be seduced.

"I would be easier to mollify if you'd send somebody my way," the incubus pouts. "You said you might and then you didn't in a while."

"Alright, alright. I'll do my best to send you somebody. Something juicy, okay? Complacent cunt with a hubris. How's that sound?"

"Exactly like the type that would arrive here in service of Mephistopheles." Haarlep licks their lips. "Be a dove and try not to forget about it again."

"I swear." Tav rises to their toes to give the incubus a peck on the cheek. "And maybe, if you can one day credibly swear you won't eat him up, I may allow you a game of lanceboard with him. But I warn you, Gale can play."

"Finally a challenge." The incubus sweeps up the game and drops it into Tav's arms. "At least in one respect."

Tav carries the board to the library where Gale eagerly helps setting it up. It takes two games for him to finish his updates.

"You're not half bad," he tells Tav. "If you are losing so quickly, Haarlep has to be very good."

"They are certainly full of it." Tav pours some more tea. "Coming back to the reason you're here. What did Raphael ask?"

The wizard hesitates, a smart reaction. "Not much. Just that he needs magical protection for one of his assets and that I needed to come here to secure it. Are you in danger?"

"A little." Tav blushes. "As I said, my soul will go unsavoury place if I die so we try to avoid that. While others try to hasten it to curry favours with the unsavoury in question."

"People come here to kill you?" Gale takes their hand. "I will do what I can to keep you safe, my friend."

"Thank you. I – it's lonely here sometimes and I wish Raphael allowed visitors more often. But I understand. " Tav forces a smile. "Most visitors want to kill either me or him. Often both."

"He should hire a bodyguard." Gale brightens. "I know one, excellent track record, superbly fit for Avernus. Maybe you heard of her? A tiefling with the name of Karlach?"

Tav laughs but it turns wistful quickly. "You know, that is an excellent idea, really. She protects me and in return Raphael gives her an actual heart. Everybody is happy and I am not that lonely."

"You may have your hands full convincing her those bite marks are worth anything though. She's not one to endorse of anything fiendish."

Tav's hand sneaks back to their throat. Turtle necks - they will have to look into that. A good thing Gale can't see how deep the teeth marks wander. "It will keep me in shape," they reply. "Let's go find Raphael. I hope whatever you do will take very, very long so you can stay for a bit."

"That makes one of us." Gale rises as well and follows Tav out of the library. "I am hoping to get out of here at the soonest. It's not a place for humans."

Tav can't object to that. They lead him down the broad stairs and though there is two of them now, they still have to get out of the way of the devils milling around. The door to Raphael’s study is open and they don't have to wait long before the devil notices them lingering and sweeps his current clients out.

"All caught up, I assume." He stands and walks around the huge desk. His fingers trail over the polished surface in a way that wakes many memories. Tav swallows. It's a great desk.

"Yes," Gale replies oblivious of, or acutely ignoring, the tension between Raphael and Tav. "Tav told me a little about how life is here and where danger might come from. But I think you can shed deeper light on the latter part."

"Of course." Raphael leans against the desk. "I need Tav to be untouchable, yet free to move around the house as they wish. No weapon or spell must touch them. No harm can come to them under my roof."

Gale blinks at the ferocity of the words. He looks at Tav who is thinking, eyes shifting between the polished wood of the desk and the devil leaning against it. "Armour is out of the question, I assume."

"I need them protected out of armour," Raphael explains. "When Tav is armoured up, they are fighting and capable to look after themself. I need them safe when the armour comes off."

"Like Sanctuary," Tav brightens. "I can just cast that on myself, can I not?"

"Not when you are sleeping," Gale throws in. "Or unconscious. But the approach is solid.”

He continues to devolve into magic speak with Raphael and Tav is content just watching the two argue back and forth. As one point, Gale draws a crude map of the House of Hope one fresh paper pinned over the map of the hells. With Raphael’s guidance he marks several places and connects some with lines.

Tav is completely lost on the details, but they get that the points are foci for some kind of spell that is supposed to cover the whole house. Their heart beats fast. Tav knows how much energy and money such a thing would cost. The thought that Raphael thinks them worth the expenses-

"That will do," the devil decides and lets a hand descend on Gale's shoulder. "Do it."

"I will need-"

"Give me a list," Raphael interrupts and parchment a quill appear hanging before Gale.

The wizards takes them with a glance at Tav and starts to write. "It's not much but some things are tricky to come by. And I will say you are lucky you have me. No normal wizard can do what you want."

Raphael takes the list, and after looking it over, hands it back to Gale. "Everything you need is in the throne room. Begin at your own discretion. Be quick and if you need helping hands, any devil in this house is at your disposal."

He half guides, half pushes the surprised wizard out of the room. Tav follows in time to hear their friend welp when he finds everything he requested neatly stacked on a trolley.

"Prepare everything in the library. It should be enough for a few extra dummies." Raphael snaps his fingers and the trolley vanishes in a small cloud of dust. "Let me know when you are ready for the last step."

Tav watches their devil retreat and shrugs at Gale. "I hope I can help somehow? You know my level of magic."

"I do but you can." He follows them through the throne room back up the stairs. "A lot is assembling the material components which will go up around the house. I show you how to put them together and the I'll bespell them.”

"How long will it take?" Tav bounces. Finally something to do. Finally a friend to do something with. Old times rise at the back of their mind and they set to work smiling. Soon they are chatting easily with Gale, the severity of the situation blown clean from their mind.

After a snack they move through the house positioning the small items and making them invisible. They take the same care for the dummies and Haarlep offers their help for the right to look without any respect at all.

After stoutly refusing to let them handle a dummy, Tav yields and lets the incubus put up an active spell engine. They are preening horribly while doing so but Gale is oblivious to the display of offered features.

"Anything special I should bring to the grand finale?" Tav asks when they make their way back to Raphael's study.

"Just yourself. After all, you are the main ingredient for the last step."

"I am slightly worried somebody is going to try and stuff an apply in my mouth," Tav, chuckles.

"We can get you an apple if you think it will help." Gale bumps them gently in the side.

They arrive in the throne room where the door to Raphael's study is already open for them.

"He does keep tabs on you," Gale observes. "Doesn't that worry you?"

Tav looks at the devils milling about. "I would be more worried if he didn't."

Gale follows their gaze. "Point taken." He closes the heavy door behind them.

Since Tav cant sit on their devil's lap, they chose the table instead and dangle with their feet. "So, what now?"

"Now Mr Dekarios will cast magic over you and the House," Raphael replies, his eyes fixed on the wizards. "A spell that protects Tav."

"Most certainly." Gale switches into explanation mode. "It will work like a perpetual Sanctuary. As long as you are out of armour, it will take effect."

"Why not in armour?" Tav wonders.

"When you are armoured, I assume you are abut to partake in violent interactions." Gale grins. "I know you. Do not try to deny it. But the most energy of this magic is consumed when it changes states. A fight will force many changes, one each time you attack. It is easier to trust your prowess and keep the magic for when you armour down again."

Tav tilts their head. "I like it. That's really smart and I don't think it could be done."

"It can't."He swells with pride. "But I can."

"Anyway, instead of all this," Tav gestures vaguely, "we could just have gotten me a bodyguard, you know? I'm sure Karlach is open to it and she has experience."

"Noted," Raphael only says to their surprise. "But a spell doesn't have to sleep."

A valid point and somewhat worrying.

"Ready whenever you are," Gale cuts in.

"We are." Raphael holds out his hand to help Tav from the desk. They take it and lean on him because it feels good. They let him position them before the wizard who straightens in preparation. He starts enunciating and though Tav listens attentively, they can't even make out words. Every now and then, Gale puts a hand onto their body, pressing his palm between their collarbones or neck.

The spell takes hold slowly. It spreads from the base of Tav's neck to the shoulder blades and meets again at the small of their back where it stabs through to their navel and back up to the hollow of their throat. It cuts like wires of gold and starlight as it settles into their skin and flesh.

Tav shakes experimentally when Gale takes a step back to examine his work. But the effect merged into them already, invisible, intangible, nothing more than a layer of silver spiderweb.

"There." Gale decides. "Done."

Tav turns tentatively. They don't feel much different. Everything looks like before, too; even the spots they felt the magic take hold. Tav pulls their collar wide to stare down a their shirt. When an infernal fist surges at them, they blink in disbelief and forget to evade.

Raphael's punch bounces off harmlessly. The devil follows up with a fire ray which doesn't reach Tav either. "Excellent," he pronounces. Then he turns his attention to Gale. "Now, to the matter of your compensation. If you could wait outside for a moment, Tav?"

Tav blinks and glances from their devil to the wizard who nods.

"If I need you I'll call," he says with a smile and Tav doesn't have the heart to tell him every room down here is soundproof. Instead they shrug and leave.

It feels strange to wait outside. Devils walk by checking if the door is open. They rarely spare more than a glance for Tav. Still they feel better knowing that even if they wanted to, they could not hurt them. Not any longer. Of course, the same isn't true for Haarlep. Tav chews on their lip. With luck, Raphael wouldn't try to lure anybody again by letting Haarlep pose as them.

"Did he cure you?" they ask as soon as gale steps out of the room.

"Mostly," the wizard replies. "There is one more thing I have to do that only I can do. But it is doable and well within my abilities."

"And that is okay? In accordance with the deal you made.?"

"Yes, do not worry. I got what I asked for. And I hope that so did he." Gale looks his friend over with a sigh. "I didn't think I'd be so thorough working for that devil. But protecting you, he sure has my full abilities. We worry, Tav. And not much I saw here alleviates my fears any."

"It would be worse for me if I left. And here I am," Tav gesticulates helplessly.

"Appreciated?" Gale suggests. "Are you happy here?" Gale asks, cupping their face with one hand.

Tav thanks before answering. "I'm – it’s not. I'm not unhappy here. But I want more. I want something to do. A purpose. Moving about and seeing my friends again. But it’s not bad here. And Raphael is good to me."

"Maybe." Gale touches a bloody crust on Tav's throat wistfully. "But he won't take well to you leaving him."

"I'm not leaving him," Tav huffs indignant. "Like you didn't leave me when you returned to Waterdeep. And Lae'zel didn't leave me to lead her people in resistance. We are still we. We are still one."

"He's a devil," Gale says softly. "Such nuance may be lost on him."

They embrace and Tav can't help shedding a tear. "I wish I was coming with you."

"So do I." Gale takes a deep breath as the portal hums into life. "Write. Make the devil deliver. We miss you Tav."

S: Yes who is this

??: Wow. No proper punctuation? Usually you would do your best to seem proper.

S: You didn't answer

??: I know you kept my number. It's Mason!

Well, that caught him off guard. He didn't expect the man that got him and Isaac into bounty hunting to message him out of the blue. Sam took a moment to think over his next words, that is till something dawned on him.

S: Mason, what time is it for you

MW: It's like 2 am here. What time is it for you?

S: 8:30 am

S: What are you still doing awake?

MW: Well this new job I got after dropping bounty hunting is making me pull all-nighters. Plus, the little spawn that is my child won't sleep.

S: ... I forgot you have a family. Your wife was pregnant at the time we-

He stopped to hit the back button to delete "we" in that message.

S: ... I forgot you have a family. Your wife was pregnant at the time I knew her, yes?

MW: Mhm. And now said child is a demon and thinks it's funny to try to take my leg out from under me. Literally!

He couldn't help but smile a bit at the thought of that. It's enough to make him chuckle a bit at the idea of watching a little Wu running around with their father's leg in their hands.

MW: Gods she's going to give me early gray hairs. Anyway. I reached out because I remembered you and Isaac left some of your things in my storage unit. Do you want it?

S: I'm not sure. Maybe. Is there a sweater in one of my boxes?

MW: Yup. So where are you anyway so I can give it to you?

S: Remember hearing about Chorus? I live there.

MW: Shit. Chorus? Wasn't there a big war there or something?

S: Yeah.

-

That was a few hours ago. Sam sat there in his apartment, listing to his two neighbors arguing a floor above him again. Something about the fridge looking like a raccoon got in. The other is going on about how he was stressed out. Ah, Grif and Simmons. Those two find anything to argue over that he isn't surprised by it, seeing as how he had to deal with a deranged Grif when the Reds and Blues got captured by other sim troopers. That was a hectic day. The worst was what had happened to Washington.

To distract himself, he got up from his spot on the couch to the kitchenette, where he opened up the cupboard to pull out one of two mugs and set it down. He pulled out one of those coffee pods to put in the coffee machine and let it brew. It took a bit of time, but once done, he emptied what was there into his mug, he added two spoonfuls of sugar into it and let it settle before taking a sip and scrunching his face up.

"Fuckin tastes like burnt dirt."

Why did those words sound familiar? He remembered now. Back during the Great War, he let his partner try it and those were his exact words on how Sam favors his coffee. When he had tried the other's coffee, he remembers another soldier telling the two of them they might as well kiss. And well... To think that was their first kiss was something and made him chuckle at the thought.

Sam jumped when the door was knocked on as if someone was struggling. He set his mug down before going over to the door and peaking through the peephole. An old face of an old friend was there. He opened the door to let Mason in, only to see the man gawk.

"Jesus Christ! Did you get bigger or something?! You look like a giant!"

He sighs. "You coming in, or not?"

"I will once you move."

Oh, right. Sam moved out of the way to let him in, a box in his arms that he went to put on the couch with a huff. Of course, being in a new place, Mason looked about the apartment. Plain, nothing much that's been added other than a strange handle-looking thing on the surface the TV is resting on.

"So whatcha been up to since I last saw you both? Where is Isaac anyway?"

He thought about how he was going to word this. The answer was simple to both questions, but the response worried him. A sigh left him as he reached to rub the back of his neck.

"Isaac is dead. An explosion went off and sent him flying over a cliff. As for what had happened... He and I were the ones that caused the war here..."

"You... WHAT!?"

'Oh fuck...'

"You're telling me, you and Isaac became THE mercenaries that the Reds and Blues fought and worked for fucking Hargrove? I'm surprised they didn't expose YOU to the entire universe, or else I would've known."

"Well, when you put it that way, you make it sound like it happened last week."

Mason threw his hands up with an exasperated expression on his face. He started to pace about the room and collected his thoughts on what Sam had just told him. Locus and Felix were the reason that Chorus had a planet-wide civil war, that people died and peace could never be made. Hell. Working with Hargrove was the biggest fuckin mistake they made. Mason knew to never go near that man from what he picked up from the access he had via his new job.

"I mean, seriously! Shady as hell. When I was a bounty hunter, I knew never to touch anyone associated with that bastard. But from what I know about you, how could you!?"

Sam flinched and lowered his head as he shifted the weight from one foot to the other. "I... I wasn't in the right state of mind at the time..."

The flinching didn't go unnoticed. Mason found himself staring at Sam, who in turn looked up at feeling his gaze on him. The older man moved close to the other, head tilted to the side to get a better look at Sam's face. The closeness, of course, made him lean back some.

"What are you-"

"Have you been crying?"

The events of last night came back like whiplash or the brutal recoil of a gun. He felt like he might cry again but instead moved around Mason and gestured to the couch to sit as he headed to his room. Confused, he listened and waited for the bounty hunter to return. Sam returned with one hand clenched at his side, eyes looking like they might brim over with tears any moment. From this angle of looking up, Mason could see a hint of something blue on the back of the other's neck, but he didn't pry.

Nothing needed to be said as Sam handed his old mentor whatever it was he had in his hand. Though heated by the amount of heat Sam produces, cold metal spread across his palm along with a chain to hold it. Mason looked to the object to see a set of dog tags. He thought it was Sam's from his time in the Great War, but looking closer told him a different story. On one, it has the man's name next to him; the other was an unknown to him.

Ramon de Romero-Cruz.

"Who's this?"

"Remember how you asked if I've been crying? I'm not going to bore you with every detail, but I will tell you that Ramon and I... grew close... He's the reason why. When Isaac and I were fresh recruits, he was a high-ranking officer, able to command his squad if allowed. He welcomed us both when we were put into a shared group, but primarily led by a Commanding Officer. He became something more to me than just an officer, than just a friend..."

"He was your partner, wasn't he."

A slight nod of the head confirmed it. "He was everything I didn't know I needed till he happened. I've never felt close to anybody as I did with him. His death, in the end, was the reason I broke. The other reason being how my CO treated me afterward was the last push to the scar you now see on my face. Raw emotions were pushed away to create the mask of a man Locus that you met those years ago. From being a mercenary to being a part of the Chorus War until last night. The shell I had locked myself in broke and I was able to find it in myself to grieve his death."

Mason knew the feeling. Yeah, losing a leg is different than losing a loved one, but the grief there is similar. But to think the man seated beside him has been hiding such emotions for years shows how beyond broken he is. If there's any time to work through the loss, it is now. And he honestly felt honored that Sam was willing to open up to him. With a bit of prodding, of course.

"Well, I'm glad that I had reached out to you and learned something. But there's one thing I'd like to ask you."

"Which is?"

"I dunno what it is, but is that a tattoo on your neck?"

Sam let out a low 'ah' at the mention. Instinctually his hand went to where the blue flower is embedded into his skin. The corner of his mouth twitched up a bit at the thoughts that surfaced.

"It's a forget-me-not. He brought me a small batch of it during the war and asked me never to forget him. So..."

Mason nodded. He didn't need for Sam to go on. The man just poured out his entire thoughts and feelings in a matter of minutes, and it went to show that he had changed. All Mason could do was smile a bit and handed the dog tags back to him, then rested a hand on his shoulder.

"Well, you take the time you need. You're a free man, and you must be tired."

"A little. It was quite a bit to work through as of last night. But I'm glad that you reached out, Mason. It... It means a lot to me."

"I'm glad I did, or you would've been wallowing in a corner."