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"Are you sure you want me here for this?" Karlach stood beside you as you both watched the Gale's tower get closer with each step.
"Why wouldn't I?" You questioned the woman you've spent the last year and a half fighting alongside.
"I don't know this just feels like something you'd want to do alone, you know? You and Gale haven't seen each other since our little reunion. I can't imagine how excited he'll be to see you." She gave you a gentle shove with her elbow.
You smiled at her, "What? Scared we'll start making out in front of you?"
Karlach chucked, "You joke but that's exactly what I'm afraid of. What am I supposed to do? Stand and watch?"
"Well Gale always did like showing off."
She rolled her eyes at you, "You start kissin' and I'm heading back to that tavern we passed."
You stopped walking as you got closer to his tower, Karlach noticed and stopped, standing a few steps ahead. "Hey? You alright?"
"I- Yeah. I'm fine." Your feet didn't move, your gaze not breaking from Gale's tower.
"Don't give me that, I know that look Soldier." She walked back to stand at your side and you took a deep breath.
"I guess I'm just.. scared." You admitted.
Karlach gave you a puzzled expression, "We've fought all sorts of beasts from the hells and seeing the man you love is what scares you?" She teased lightly, bringing a soft smile back to your face.
"Priorities right? No it's not that it's.. It's been so long, what if.. he's not as happy to see me as I am to see him?"
"What are you talking about? Gale loves you."
"I know that but.. what if he found someone else? It's been months since we last had contact." You and Gale tried to send letters when you could, but you being in the Hells made it extremely hard to do so.
Karlach put her hand on your shoulder, "If he has another lover in there you and I are getting drunk off our asses and we're painting this town all shades of red!" She pulled you in closer and you couldn't help but laugh at her words. "But I doubt that'll happen. I'd say it's impossible to find someone even half as good as you." She urged you forward, "Now come on, no point in standing here wondering."
With Karlach's encouragement you walked the final stretch to Gale's tower and stood before the door.
He was right there, beyond the door. The man you adventured with, the man you loved and left behind to help Karlach in the hells.
Finally after so many months you'd get to see him again, face to face. If you were lucky you'd get to touch him again, you'd get to hold him and kiss him the way you dreamed of most nights.
Your job was done now and you were finally coming back to him.
But would he welcome you into his home like he told you he would?
A warm hand enveloped yours, Karlach gave your hand a firm squeeze and you looked up into her eyes. She nodded, giving you a determined look. You returned the gesture, squeezing her hand tight before letting go and raising your hand to knock.
Immediately you heard rustling coming from inside. "Just a moment!" The voice you had been dying to hear called out. You almost couldn't hear him scrambling over he sound of your own heart.
What would he say when he saw you? What would he do? How would he feel?
Your breath caught in your throat as the door opened.
And there he was.
The moment his eyes caught your form he froze, your name, spoken barely above a whisper.
"Gale."
For a very short moment neither of you moved, you didn't think either of you even breathed.
"Is that really you?" A smile tugged at his lips as he lifted his hand to reach for you, only to hesitate.
But you didn't. You took his hand and placed it over your cheek, leaning into his touched, "It is, Gale. I'm here." Your voice shook and your eyes stung. This almost didn't feel real.
His hand twitched, his thumb caressed your cheek, "I'm not dreaming again am I? Please tell me my mind isn't playing another cruel joke."
A soft, almost sad laughed left you, "No Gale. I'm real." You smiled so widely seeing him again. He had dreamed about you, about this, nearly every night since you parted ways.
His other hand found your waist, "You are, aren't you?"
"Why don't you kiss me to make sure?"
"Now that's not a bad idea." Gale pulled you in close, pressing his forehead against yours, like the very first time you kissed him.
His lips were just as soft as you remembered.
You leaned into him, his hand squeezing your waist as you pulled back only to kiss him again. You almost forgot how good it felt to be kissed by him, to be loved this much by this wizard.
"Dose this mean you're done? Are you here to stay? Please tell me I won't have to go another lonely night, waiting for you." And just like that all your fears of him having moved on from you vanished in an instant.
"Yeah Gale. I'm here to stay, from now on, I'm all yours. We fixed Karlachs engine and we-" You turned your head only to find your tiefling friend gone from where you swore she was just standing.
"Seems our friend has run off." Gale chuckled.
"Well she did warn me she'd leave if we started making out." You shook your head lightly.
"I'm sure she'll come back when she feel's like it. In the meantime-" He pulled you in by your waist, "Why don't you come inside? I think we have much time to make up for, nearly two years of it."
You chuckled, "I was thinking the same thing. I'll have to properly apologize for being gone so long, won't I?"
Gale shook his head, "Actually I was thinking you deserve quite the reward. Fighting in the hells is quite the task. If you wish to make your absence up to me I ask you do so another time. Tonight, let me show you just how much I missed you."
You cupped his face and planted another kiss to his lips, "I'd like nothing more."