Chapter Text
The inn where they were sleeping was actually quite nice. Jaskier was happy when he noticed that there was indeed a really nice bed and an already lit fireplace. The bard let himself fell on the sheets and sighed. “Ah, Geralt isn’t this nice? A warm bed, a lit fireplace… it has been a long while since we had that” The bard watched the Witcher as the white-haired put his backs in the corner. As the Witcher bowed down the bard had an excellent view on his bottom and he was clearly enjoying it. Obviously, he turned his eyes away as soon as Geralt looked up. “I´ll be off. The werewolf should be easy to handle.” The Witcher said and made his way through the room to the door. “Yeah, I´ll stay here and maybe I can earn a few coins, just to make sure…” the door closed “…that we have something to eat for dinner”.
The bard looked down and bit on his lip. He was used to be ignored. But he knew the witcher liked him, he did, didn´t he? Sometimes he wasn´t sure about it. Sometimes the witcher was just so mean in his cold humor that the bard found himself thinking that the man didn´t like his companion.
The bard grabbed his lute and went down to the bar. The people were already drunk and the bard thought to himself that this would be an easy audience. He stood in the middle of the room and started to sing.
“When a humble bard
Graced a ride-along
With Geralt of Rivia
Along came this song”
His audience started to sing along and he smiled. This would cheer him up, he knew that.
After he sang at least ten songs, he took a break and sat down at a table in the corner of the room. He was exhausted. The Witcher and his companion were on the road for many hours and the bard’s shoulders and legs were sore. Jaskier heard the door open and his eyes went up from his drink to see that the Witcher entered the room. He sighed happily and waved his companion towards him. “Tell me, how did it go?” The bard asked and gave the waitress a sign to bring another drink. “It was fine,” said Geralt and looked around the room. “Not very problematic, like I said” The bard nodded and waited for further explanation, only to discover that he won´t be getting it because the Witcher was looking at some women from the brothel next door. Jaskier sighed. He wished that the Witcher would look at him this way once in his life. It wasn´t a look of love but a look of longing and desire and oh how he wanted to have something with his brooding Witcher just once. “I won´t be in our room tonight, Jaskier.” said the Witcher and the bard let out a sad “Oh…” Geralt noticed the reaction and looked at his traveling companion. “Something the matter?” “No, no, it is fine. I just use the time to compose a few new songs.”
Geralt took his drink and sipped at it. “You could invite company,” said the witcher and pointed out the girls at the next table. “No, they aren´t what I want…” answered Jaskier and Gerald furrowed his brows. “Jaskier, those are exactly your type” `You are my type` thought Jaskier and just let his hand glide over his lude.
After they ate, Geralt went off and Jaskier was sitting alone at his table. He only saw Geralt through the window. The Witcher stood outside talking to the women and suddenly he kissed her and Jaskier felt sick. He stood up and practically ran upstairs. He noticed his wet cheeks and before he was out of sight, a man screamed after him that he should at least perform one last song. The bard turned around with a sad expression in his face and he noticed that his throat was burning. “I am very sorry, my dear sir, I…” he stopped and started to cough. Something was stuck in his throat and he tried to get his outwith heavy dry coughs. His surroundings went quiet, at least for him and he ran further upstairs. Quickly he stumbled through the hallways and ended up in his room, no, in their room. He fell to his knees and threw up. Coughs shook through his body and he started to cry hard. He opened his eyes after his coughing stopped and starred paralyzed on the flower petals. They were covered with a thin layer of saliva and horrified the bard saw a few drops of blood. He was shaking and ran his hand through his hair. “Fuck”
As he tried to get on his feet again, he wiped the blood and saliva from his mouth with his sleeve. He felt very weak and just wanted to sleep.
Jaskier dragged himself to the bed and just fell on the sheets. He didn´t care about the petals which were on the floor. He will clean it up tomorrow he thought and slipped into a fever dream which he could not remember after he woke up.
Geralt returned to their room after a hot night and opened the door quietly. His eyes fell automatically to the ground. Light purple petals were covering the wooden floor and with a concerned expression, the witcher saw blood on them. “Jaskier?” he said and walked to the bed. He saw the bard who was laying on the sheets. Sweat was covering him and a few drops of blood were on his sleeves. “Jaskier” the Witcher was concerned and shook the bard awake. “Jaskier!” The bard´s head shot up and he looked at the witcher. “Jaskier what is this? Are you hurt?” The white-haired asked and his hand grabbed the bard´s shoulder. The bard just looked disorientated to the petals on the floor. His mind was racing to find a good excuse. “A girl… I bought a flower… gave it to her. She slapped me, I…” The witcher shook his head “Don´t lie to me, bard!” Jaskier went quiet. He was feeling the look from his companion on himself. “I don´t know what happened. It hurt and I coughed and…” His eyes filled with tears again. The witcher was helpless. He felt uncomfortable and sat next to Jaskier, a hand on his shoulder. “We can fix that. You just need to tell me who is the one you fell in love with.” Jaskier froze. “Pardon me, what the hell?”
Geralt explained what happened to the bard´s body and why and Jaskier just cried. Tears were flowing down his face like a waterfall and he knew who was the one he fell in love with. He looked up to the witcher and noticed the concern in his eyes and the shook in his expression. “So tell me, who is the unlucky woman?” Jaskier sobbed and held his hand before his mouth to silence the coughs that were coming up. He tasted the iron on his tongue and he noticed the petals in his mouth. Slowly, strong arms were hugging him and he leaned into the witcher’s touch. “Tell me, Jaskier” mumbled Geralt and Jaskier closed his eyes. He knew Geralt wouldn´t return his feelings and he prepared himself for the worst. “What would happen if the person wouldn´t return my feelings?” he asked, his voice shaky. Geralt sighed “It will take some time, but eventually the flowers will destroy your lungs and you will die” Jaskier coughed and looked at the petals on his hand. “It´s you…” He looked up “It has been you since I met you”
Geralt furrowed his brows and loosened his hug around the bard. His face was a little paler than usual and he stood up and he was speechless. Jaskier just watched him with tears running down his cheek “Jaskier, I am so sorry, I don´t feel the same way”
What was Jaskier expecting? The bard was sobbing loudly now, while his heart ached and his hands trembled. He wanted to reach out to Geralt but the Witcher just took a step back. Jaskier looked down and nodded. “Of course…”
“I need some air,” said Geralt and stepped out of the room and left Jaskier alone on the bed. Soon enough petals were covering the sheets and Jaskier didn´t bother to wipe away the blood that was dripping from his lips.