Chapter Text
Chapter 1: Dancing the night away
Octavia sipped on her wine as she observed, at a distance, Karlach laughing with Dammon and Alfira. If you didn't know the barbarian, you could believe her life had always been breezy, adventuring with mates, drinking, and laughing. So light. Octavia saw how Dammon looked at the woman she desired and felt a tug of jealousy inside her stomach. She could not blame him. Karlach was too charming, and too damn good-looking for her own good. She saw the barbarian smile and laugh louder at something someone said, almost snorting beer in the process, and could not help to smile at the sight.
“You never struck me as a shy person, Tav” Shadowheart’s snarky voice brought the drow back way too subtly.
“I’m not… It's just… Look at how happy she is. She hasn't had a lot of opportunities to enjoy herself like this in the last… 10 years. I don't want to disturb her…”
“Gods. You are so sweet it disgusts me.” The half-elf said jokingly, offering Octavia a smile. “She likes you too. I see the way she looks at you and even though sometimes she seems to lust everything that moves, it is different. I can bet she won't be bothered if you try something.”
Octavia smiled and sipped a little more of her wine: “I know. I’m not scared or nervous. I told you, I’m really not shy… it's just… I genuinely want her to have all the fun she needs tonight.”
“You are way too nice for your own good, Octavia. Don't let Astarion hear you talking like that. He would never give you peace again.” The cleric said, filling up the sorcerer's cup with more wine.
Octavia laughed through her nose. “I'll be mindful of that, thank you!”
“I wouldn’t take too long to do something, though. You’re not the only one on the podium. The Blacksmith is rather charming, fixing her heart and all. Be quick, or you might miss your shot!” Shadowheart lifted her cup in a silent toast before leaving Octavia alone once more.
The drow observed the group still laughing together as Lae’zel sat among them, and Karlach cheerfully filled the githyanki’s cup with ale from her own, giving the other warrior a pat on the shoulder that could dismantle a bull. Lae'zel did not even flinch, but seemed confused about the social interactions, keeping to herself drinking or clicking her tongue in response to the tieflings' rattle. Soon Wyll joined them and weaved the group into some sort of tale, which quickly got Alfira to grab her lute and begin risking a few notes, turning the tale into music. Karlach stood up and grabbed everybody’s cups, walking towards the caskets of ale at the edge of the camp, still laughing over her shoulder. And then, Octavia saw when the tiefling locked eyes with her and detoured her path to a straight walk towards her.
“Hey, soldier!”
“Hey, gorgeous! Enjoying yourself?”
“Enjoying myself? Would you look at this!” She waved the half a dozen mugs on her hands “Would you look at this place! All these people - Happy! Because of us. It's nice to be somewhere where good is still possible! And with good potations too!” Karlach finished waving her hand full of mugs once more and spilling leftover beer into Octavia's dress. “Oh crap, sorry about that!”
“No worries!” Octavia waved the ale out of her clothes with prestidigitation “Come, let me help you out with those mugs…” The drow reached out and took a handful of mugs from her hands and they both walked to the caskets, a slight tension permeating the air around them. Octavia could feel the heat emanating from Karlach's body. There was a spring in her step and she hummed to herself with content.
They had begun filling the mugs when Karlach looked her in the eye once more and said. “What about you? What have you been up to tonight? Are you having fun?”
“Oh yes. Absolutely. I spoke to some people here and there. Got slightly embarrassed by Lae’zel’s bluntness. Had a chat with Halsin… and was just… happy to see everyone happy! We needed it so bad!”
“Fuck yes! I’m celebrating my freedom! And our friendship! And these folks’ bright future besides! All I need now is a fire retardant lover to get lost til sunrise!”
In a split second Octavia felt many things. A tug in her stomach, an urge to search her mind for any fire retardant magic she could have possibly come in contact. She felt sorry her draconic magic was of the ice type, and did not grant her any fire resistance so she could reach out and touch the woman in front of her… And above all, she felt a surge of admiration for Karlach. That was a feeling she found herself constantly flooded with since they met. The woman had literally been kept as a slave to devils, lived in the hells, and still, she found in herself everything to be sweet, carry for others, and had such a bright outlook on life.
This time, Octavia could not contain herself, and she heard her voice asking: “How do you do this?” Karlach put the mugs on the makeshift table beside them and looked at the drow, confused.
“Hum?”
“Yeah! How do you do this?”
“Do what, Tav? Fill up these mugs? I'm afraid I'm not catching you!” Octavia laughed before continuing.
“No! This! This optimism and this… this thirst for life! This will to do good in the world. A world that has wronged you so badly! It amazes me. I find myself constantly full of admiration for you."
“Oh! Do you?” The tiefling seemed surprised and at the same time delighted. For a moment, she clearly did not know what to do.
“I do.” Octavia smiled and took a step closer to Karlach as she would have done flirting in the past, only to be reminded that the woman burned in fire and stopped herself from approaching more. “I catch myself observing you and honestly what's not to like? You are so open and sweet and caring… and at the same time, you are fucking dangerous, you know? And don't even get me started on looks…”
Karlach smiled from ear to ear now, a large grin full of lust and hopefulness. She took a small step closer, the heat emanating from her intensely. The only thing preventing Octavia from burning right now was the ice magic in her veins. “What are you saying, Tav? Octavia?” She asked almost in a purr, facing down to look the shorter woman in the eyes.
“I think you know what I’m saying.” The drow woman stopped, savoring the effect it had caused on the barbarian. Flirting had always been a game Octavia enjoyed very much. Her eyes glazed over the tiefling’s lips, and the urge to just kiss the woman not caring if she would burn or not got stronger, but she contained herself. “But I can be more direct if you want. I like you, Karlach. A lot.”
And then, the butterflies came. Octavia was not strange to flirting and the seduction games, but she was new to caring so much about the receiving end of her advances. In the split second it took Karlach to respond, she felt nervous. Anxious. What if she had misread the situation? The nervousness and how much she cared about the answer made her uneasy.
But then, Karlach answered, almost in a relieved whisper. “I like you too. A lot. I’m sure you know that by now.”
Octavia could not help but let out a sigh of relief, surprising herself. That nervousness was not normal. Maybe it was the tadpole. She got herself grounded, returning to her usual more secure and charming demeanor.
“I thought I picked up on something, yes.” She smiled at Karlach. The heat from the proximity was almost unbearable now. “I really want to… explore our options together since… Well, touch is out of the table.”
“Touch! Gods, you know I want that more than fucking anything!” Octavia closed her eyes, the desire in Karlach’s voice gave her a pleasant sensation in her stomach, a warmth spread between her thighs.
“Oh, I know. We will work our way around it until we finish fixing your heart. Don’t worry. But now… I suppose your friends over there were waiting for their pints. I think we should enjoy the party first. It’s been a while since you had the time for a celebration like this, isn’t it?”
Karlach rolled her eyes. “That is very sweet of you. Yes, I am enjoying myself very much. And there is no way we can get some privacy now…”
“I know, right!”
“I’ll come find you when the others have gone to bed, all right?” Karlach asked hopefully. “Wait up for me.”
“Oh, believe me, there is no way I will fall asleep like this now,” Octavia answered, a malicious smile playing on her lips. “But for now, let’s have some fun together. I’ll help you carry those pints back. Is that ok if I join you all?”
“More than welcome!” Karlach replied before getting half of the pints and starting to walk towards the group that waited expectantly for their drinks, observing the whole interaction between them from afar. Octavia felt her cheeks blushing, another feeling she was not used to having. “Gods, what is the extent of the effects of the tiefling on me?” She asked herself, but then she noticed Karlach whispering “Yes!” to herself and celebrating to herself. She felt a surge of warmth in her chest. At least, she was not the only one affected. The two women joined the group who waited for their pints and distributed the drinks, each of them sitting at one side of the table, smiling sheepishly at each other. Octavia caught Wyll looking at her, a knowing smile on his face. Was everybody at the camp just waiting for her and Karlach to work things out?
More tieflings joined their group, Zorru, Zevlor, and Nadira, who picked up a spare lute from Alfira, both women focusing on playing something together. Alcohol flowed, conversations and laughs were had and soon it felt like a fun night at a cozy tavern rather than a camp full of refugees and adventurers. Octavia took a second to once more observe all of her companions. Halsin scratched behind the ears of the dog they had picked up, mindlessly, sitting on the floor and laughing at the remarks, tranquil and overjoyed. Gale encouraged Alfira and Nadira, giving them unsolicited opinions about their composition and suggesting verses here and there. Astarion kept himself distant, a goblet of wine in hand, but Octavia could see the corners of his lips curling up in enjoyment every once in a while. Lae’zel seemed a bit lost amidst so much joy and laughter. The githyanki warrior, always so stern and centered was beyond drunk, and had even told some tales of the astral plane to a group of tiefling children, their eyes widening in awe at every word the githyanki said. If Octavia didn’t know better, she would have said the warrior was quite enjoying herself as a storyteller. Shadowheard had approached and between sips of wine and snarky remarks here and there, she settled down with the children, listening to the stories Lae’zel drunkenly told while she braided Arabella’s hair. Karlach had her easy laugh filling the party over and over again, the pretty face full of joy, golden eyes glistening, teary with laughter. And Wyll… Wyll sat at Octavia’s side as soon as he had the chance, again, the knowing smile still playing on his face.
“So. You and Karlach hum?”
“Excuse me, Sir, do I owe you something?” She replied laughing, sipping at her wine.
“No! Absolutely not! I’m just… Happy for you two. She deserves it after… well. Everything. And I bet you deserve it too.”
“Calm down, sir. It is nothing serious… We are just… seeing how things go between us.”
“Keep repeating that to yourself until you believe it, then!” Octavia laughed, almost a snort, the amount of wine she had had putting its toll.
“Are you always this gossipy, Blade of Avernus?”
“No! Absolutely not! Just… a bit overprotective of Karlach at the moment.”
“Right, 'cause she really needs someone protecting her.” Octavia laughed once more, evoking the image of Karlach raging and splitting enemies in half.
“She does,” Wyll said with a serious voice. “Not physically, of course. But she is vulnerable. And you know that. Ten years alone and deprived of touch and affection. She is very vulnerable. So… be careful, all right? It might not be a big deal for you, but it is for her.”
His words hit Octavia like a punch in the stomach. She had not considered it fully. She thought about her last 10 years. Roughly the same time she had left the Underdark. The best years of life. The taverns and parties she had been to, the people she met, the girls she mindlessly seduced. The brief stormy relationships that ended in nothing. All the steamy nights and different bodies she had laid with without worry. All while Karlach was alone fighting demons, avoiding devilish plots and schemes, and isolated from any emotional or physical affection. She took a deep breath. Wyll seemed to not have noticed the impact of his words on the sorceress.
“Just keep that in mind. And know that if you break her heart, you will feel the Blade.” He said jokingly, winking at her. The song Alfira and Nadira composed together was ready, and both tiefling women began playing cheerfully, enticing the people around to sing along and contribute with their responses for the song's chorus. Soon everybody around was singing and dancing, the alcohol washing away their inhibitions. Karlach danced excitedly, bringing Octavia to smile through her anxiety and confusion.
“Dance with me, soldier!” Karlach invited, extending her hand out as if Octavia could take it. But the drow just smiled sheepishly, still too impacted by what Wyll had said to go back to her usual cheerful self.
“Oh come on, Octavia, even I would not be so cruel to let her down now!” Astarions voice cut the air. “I thought you said you were a good dancer and pretty keen on parties in the past! Why are you being so boring, then?” “Go on, don’t keep her waiting any longer!” Wyll added to the pressure. Octavia stood up and initially against her will she joined Karlach and danced. They could not touch, but Karlach mimiced the movements as they would dance if they could touch each other and Octavia followed her lead.
And the music... The music worked its magic. There was something about moving her body to the sound of good music with a pretty girl that could make all her problems disappear. It was the shake on Karlach’s hips, moving to the rhythm, the clapping, the swirling of the alcohol. The breeze on her neck when she lifted her hair... Karlach's eyes eating her up. People around them. The sway of arms and the slight movement of breasts... Octavia wanted to press her body into Karlach's and dance like they were one. She wanted to feel those lips on hers, those teeth in her skin, those curves pressed onto hers. Her breathing got shallow and she felt lightheaded, spinning and falling on her arse right in the middle of everybody. Silence. And then, laughter erupted, first from the people around, then from Octavia herself.
“Are you all right?’ Karlach asked, half worried, half laughing.
“I am! More than all right!” Octavia answered getting up and dusting her bum. “I think I need some water…”
And without waiting for an answer, the drow left, giggling, realizing she was drunker than she thought.