Critrole prompt, On a sunny Tuesday afternoon, the late sunlight glowing in your hair, any pairing.
Everyoneâs tired and scattered, taking in the rare chance to relax and just be. Theyâre lucky they have Whitestone. Theyâre lucky theyâre all safe and together.
Vex made her rounds, checking on each of them in turn. Grog and Pike were content near the stables, Pike watching as Grog deadlifted a horse. She offered them each an apple from the basket sheâs borrowed from the kitchen, but only Pike obliged.
She found Keyleth and her brother in the library, their heads together as they murmured over a book laid across both of their laps. Vex stopped at the door, slowing her breathing in hopes they wouldnât hear her. They looked so peaceful, content. They deserved it after all the shit theyâd been through.
She left them two apples on the table beside the door before sneaking away.
Scanlan demanded two apples the moment Vex knocked on his door.
âItâs brain food,â he promised, motioning the the parchment in his lap. She laughed, handed the apples over, and wished him luck on his songs.
Percy was the easiest to find. The moment they got back, he broke off from the rest of them to find his forge and hadnât come out for anything, even breakfast.
She found him slumped at his workbench, fast asleep over his sketchbook. Vex sighed at the sight; it wasnât the first time heâd worked through the night, and she knew it wasnât the last.
âPercival,â She cleared her throat, setting the basket on the workbench. âPercy, wake up.â
âMm... Itâs rude to wake a man while heâs working, you know.â He blinked up at her with blurry eyes.
âDoesnât look like youâre doing much work, right now,â she grinned, slipping his glasses on his face for him.
âOh, well, I suppose not much. Ideas, though. Sleep harbors many ideas.â
âIâm sure it does.â She leaned against the table. âWhy donât you take a break from all your big âideas? Take a walk with me.â
âWell,â He paused. She arched an eyebrow back at him, earning a grin. âAlright, for you.â
âExcellent.â She pushed off the table, grabbing her basket again. She barely waited for him to be on his feet before taking his arm and tugging him toward the door.
Whitestone, as a rule, was usually overcast. But on some rare occasions, like today, the sun peaked through a few gaps in the thinning clouds. Vexâalia and Percy walk in silence over the grounds for some time, before reaching the nice patch of grass where Vex left Trinket earlier that day. He was still there, rolling around and enjoying the warmth, when they found him.
The moment Trinket spotted Vex, he let out a fond roar and rolled on to his back.
âShow off.â Vex smiled and led Percy down to the bear, giving him a good scratch on his upturned belly.
âHeâs smart, enjoying the nice day.â Percy nodded his approval.
âHeâs always smart,â Vex corrected him. âBut youâre right. He knows when to take a break.â The look she shot him wasnât lost on Percy.
âIâm here, Iâm taking a break. Arenât I?â
Her eyes flicked over his face; calculating, questioning. âI suppose. But you could do to take care of yourself, too.â
âLike,â she held up the basket of apples, quirking a brow. âWhen was the last time you ate?â
She could see him trying to count the hours, debate what counted as eating, and finally come up short. âI think there some scones when we got in last night?â
It took one more moment of her lifted eyebrow before he relented and took an apple from the basket. A good showy bite was enough to have Vex grinning with an air of victory that wasnât likely to be dampened easily.
âBetter.â She moved past him. Trinket gave a grunt, letting Vex join him in the grass and lean against him. Once she was comfortable, she looked back up at Percy. He was already eyeing her, one hand on his hip as he bit into the apple again.
âYouâre staring, Percival.â
I thought you were a fan of politeness. Itâs not polite to stare.â
He gave a shrug, took another bite.
Vex tried to ignore it, but the look on his face wasnât negligible. She sat up a little straighter.
âAlright, tell me. What are you staring at?â
He smiled behind his apple. âJust you.â
âMe?â She gave a short laugh. âShould I be winking right now?â
He gave a laugh of his own, finishing the apple. âI donât know. Youâve used that wink on a lot of people. But I donât know if youâve used it on anyone youâre not trying to scam.â
âOh, thatâs not true.â She watched him toss the apple core to Trinket. âIâve used it on Jared. And Gilmore, I think.â
âAlright, not scams. But still.â He took a seat beside her, half propped against Trinket.
âStill. Whatâs wrong with my winks?â
âI just wonder sometimes.â He tipped his head back onto Trinket, eyes closed. âDo you use it when you actually like someone?â
âDo I- Oh.â She looked away. âI mean, sure. I could. I would.â
âYou would.â He hummed. âIf?â
Silence fell over them for a long moment, interrupted only by the rumbling snores from Trinket. Another few minutes ticked by before Vex glanced back at Percy, only to find him staring at her again. She swallowed.
âNothing.â He gave a small smile. âJust... The sunâs nice. Itâs sort of making your hair glow. I mean, technically itâs just reflecting off of it because- Well. I mean, itâs rather shiny, isnât it? Your hair I mean.â
Vex smiled despite herself. âYouâre babbling, you know.â
He let out a breath. âI know.â
âDonât worry,â she shifted to lean against him. âItâs cute when you babble.â
He gave a small smile. âFlatterer.â
âAlways.â She gave him a wink.