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squidgeandsmidge · 1 year ago

Note

hey, I love your writing so much!!! pls can we have a fic of the moment sam realises he is in love with the captain 🥺 I imagine he’d probs suppress his feelings in the beginning out of concern for cora but has a moment where he realises & wants to say something but doesn’t know how 😭

I know this ask is a few months old and I'm so sorry it's taken me this long to get here. My motivation has been rock bottom these last few months lately.

I did the ol "5 times this man thinks he's in love with you and the first time he tells you" kinda deal. Hope you like it <3

GN!Dusty/Captain x Sam Coe | No warnings, it's all fluff

The first time Sam thought he might be in love with his Captain was when he saw them picking up books from a dusty library in an abandoned facility. The old things were practically falling out of your arms, scattering across the floor, and undoubtedly slowing you down.

He picks up the books you’ve dropped, following behind you as you try and make room in your outfit.

“What’re these for?” He asks, holding them patiently as you stuff a book (or two) into your belt.

“If I told you, you’d think I’m a softie.”

“Oh no…” Sam laughs. “You’re spoiling her.”

Your smile isn’t as well hidden as you think. “I’m aiding her education.”

“She’s already taking college level classes.” He hands you another book and watches as you shove it down your shirt.

“It’s either this or giving her money. And no, I won’t take neither as an option.”

“Didn’t think you would.”

He opens his mouth to say more, maybe to scold you for trying to break your back. But something in your eyes stops him, it’s a certain glitter and that little quirk of a smile. It’s enough to drive him crazy and instead of allowing himself to smile he looks away.

“Ok, I’m good.” You slowly stand up straight, swaying a little and trying to balance the added weight. “Let’s get out of here.”

His rough sounding retort is perhaps a shield for himself. A carefully constructed wall. “Just don’t make me carry you out of here if you end up breaking an ankle.”

Your laugh makes it all the harder. “Oh, yee of little faith.” A pause, maybe a heartbeat in length. “You wouldn’t heroically carry your captain out of here?”

He still won’t look at you. “With all those books? I’d break my back.”

“Don’t lie, you’d do it.”

He shakes his head, turning himself around to check behind. The facility was empty, completely cleared, he was doing it so you didn’t see his grin.

- - -

The second time Sam thought he might be in love with his Captain was when he slammed his fist down on the comms console, ending a fight with Lillian. He leans over the flashing board, closing his eyes to shut it all out. To try and regain some notion of control.

Another button lights up—it’s Lillian, calling back to have the final word. As she usually does. He can’t do this anymore and he doesn’t know how to say it. He’s about to press that button, about to let her have the final word just so he can get some goddamn rest, when a hand on his shoulder stops him.

“Hey.”

It’s you. Amazing, wonderful, infuriating you. Always here when he needs you the most and always here to complicate his feelings more.

“She just…” He spits out, finger resting on the button. A little push would open the comms with Lillian again.

“Yeah, I know.” You wrap your arm around his shoulder. Not quite a hug, but still supportive. “Want me to talk to her?”

To your absolute credit it makes him chuckle, albeit a little dryly. “What would you say?”

“Roadkill Cafe. You kill it, we grill it!”

He removes his finger from the button, turning to look at you from over his shoulder. “What?”

“Mhm. Oh, my other favorite one is ‘Mule Barn. Head ass speaking!’ Just to really throw her off.”

It’s so absurd he genuinely laughs. “I’m almost tempted to let you, just to see what she would say.”

“She’d probably hang up.” You lean against him—god you’re warm. “Problem solved.”

Rubbing a hand over his face he can’t help but smile. “Don’t teach Cora any of those or that’s all she’ll ever answer with.”

“Well…”

“Don’t.” He playfully pushes into you. Your other hand wraps around him, it’s officially a hug now.

“Ok, I won’t. Scout’s honor.”

Seconds pass in silence. Sam stands in your embrace, not wanting to leave but also feeling his carefully constructed walls beginning to crumble.

“I’m gonna—” He starts, but you’re also speaking.

“Why don’t—”

Something hangs in the air, something unspoken.

Removing your arms but keeping one hand on his back you step around, flicking a few switches. The comms panel goes dark. The flashing light that is Lillian’s call blinks out with finality.

“I’m gonna take over the watch. Go get some sleep.”

“Alright.”

Sam leaves without another word. He has to, or he might say something ridiculous.

- - -

The third time he wasn’t even aware of it.

“I really do not understand your jokes, Sam.” Andreja grumbles. “Or why the captain is laughing at every single one.”

Sam scratches his beard, trying to control himself. Next to him, you’re doubled over in your chair still laughing. “You have no sense of humor, that’s all.”

“I have humor.”

“She does.” You add in, recovering. “Just when it’s about dead stuff or killing. Dad jokes aren’t her thing.”

Andreja gives Sam a triumphant look.

“Ok, ok.” Sam holds up a hand. “I’ve got another one.”

The way you lean in with a growing smile makes him pause for effect, his own smile matching yours. “Today, my son asked, ‘Can I have a bookmark?’ I burst into tears—11 years old and he still doesn’t know my name is Brian.”

And you’re back to laughing, just like that. Head thrown back and everything. The lodge is full with the sound of you. Sam can’t get enough.

“I do not understand. You do not have a son—” Andreja is looking between you and Sam, who is laughing purely from your reaction.

From the upstairs railing, Barrett leans over. “I’m not impressed, Sam. Real bottom of the barrel stuff.”

“Then why is the captain laughing so hard?” Sam calls back up to the man, motioning to you, who is still wheezing.

Barrett shakes his head. As he walks back to his room, Sam can barely hear him. “You know why.”

- - -

Sam’s walls are carefully constructed for a number of reasons. 1) He was a ranger and that’s how it’s meant to be, you can’t let anyone in and that’s a lesson that’s stuck with him; 2) he has Cora, a little girl who has enough instability in her life. She doesn’t need any more; and 3) once the wall is down it might take years to put it back up, and he just doesn’t have the time or luxury to deal with that.

But goddamn is it hard to keep the bricks together around you.

You have this way of finding a hole, an imperfection, and tunneling straight through. The universe must have sent you to him with a sledgehammer in the back of your pocket.

“Oh, oh! This is my favorite part!”

Sam didn’t even mean to start sharing his music with you. It just came up. And then you both started singing.

He’s full of this euphoria that he only feels when he and Cora do something together. And he hates it, he hates how he can’t control it either, how it bubbles to the surface when you’re around. It fills him with so much fucking joy he can’t stand it.

Every attempt at patching the hole, the little tunnel you’ve made for yourself, is subverted by you finding somewhere else to slip in. Another crack that erodes away just enough for you to fit through. His gruff words, attempts at distance, or even talking about Lillian are all met with the most heartwarming support. It really breaks a man down. Are you even aware of that? Are you aware of what you’re doing to him?

Your voice rises to a pitch that’s too high for you and it crackles with effort. Without even thinking, Sam takes the lower tone, going so deep that his throat burns. You both sound like howling lunatics. But Sam isn’t embarrassed, it feels nice.

Goddamn it—it feels great.

Something in the back of his mind urges him to pull away, to leave, to say something belittling, but he can’t bring himself to do it with the way you’re grinning and acting. Playing out the song like you’re in the band that sings it, with a touch of dramatic flare that has his mind reeling.

Another thought strikes him as he pretends to take the imaginary microphone from you and belt out the lyrics. You cheer him on singing another note that’s way too high and laughing when your voice cracks.

Maybe feeling this way isn’t a bad thing.

- - -

The fifth instance couldn’t come at a more inconvenient time.

“Reload!”

Sam picks up another missile battery and slots it into the back of the literal cannon on your shoulder. “Ready!”

Your finger pulls the trigger and the weapon hums, heating up. It grows louder on the verge of firing, and Sam presses himself against you to avoid any blowback.

The recoil is enough to jolt you both and he holds you steady. Somewhere in the distance, an explosion rocks the Spacer compound.

“Ha! How ya like that, assholes?!”

“Is taunting them the best idea?” He pulls out another battery as you both scramble back behind cover.

“You know I can’t help it, Sam.” You pant, looking absolutely alive.

He laughs, despite the knot in his stomach. “Yeah. Silly question.”

“You want to see something else silly?”

He catches the absolutely insane look in your eye and is shaking his head. “No! No, I really—"

But you’re gone after that, darting out from behind cover and sprinting toward the line of spacers.

That knot in his stomach flips and twists until all of his insides are writhing. Bullets, lasers, and everything the Spacers have are thrown your way and all Sam can do is just watch.

You’re somehow unscathed as you make it to where the Spacers are crouched. Sam is about to join you when he sees movement from rafter above. No less than four grenades are hurled at you. He stands trying to shout, but the explosion cuts him off.

It’s dead silent after. Nothing moves except the debris falling.

The spacers above retreat further into the building. Sam is up as fast as his legs can manage, even stumbling as his feet scramble over one another.

A number of horrible, gut-wrenching images flash behind his eyes as he sprints to where he last saw you. He wasn’t sure what he would find, and if he cared any less for you, he may not have lunged into action so quickly. But he did. He cared a whole hell of a lot.

When he reaches the place he saw you duck down, around some flimsy metal pieces of machinery, he sees the black scorch marks from the blast. He sees the remains of the spacers that were there a few moments ago. And he sees a dead body—for a spilt second Sam thinks this is you, but the suit colors are wrong.

It’s not you.

The body shifts and is moved to the side.

You’re underneath. Miraculously in one piece.

“Do I still have my legs?” You ask, breathless and wide-eyed.

“Yeah…” Sam is trembling, just staring at you.

You notice his strange stare. Uncertainty and a hint of fear colors your voice. “Am I missing anything else?”

“No.”

“Then why the hell are you looking at me like that?”

Because he almost lost you. Because for a few seconds he thought you were dead, and the idea of that was too much for him to imagine.

Because he loves you. He loves you, he loves you, he loves you.

“I…” He starts, completely overwhelmed.

His world was overturning, a flurry of emotions threatened to give him whiplash. He wanted to hug you, he wanted to yell at you, he wanted to laugh and cry and scream, he wanted to devour you and leave nothing for anyone else.

Propping yourself up on your elbows, you give Sam a once-over. “Are you ok?”

“Don’t…” He lets out a trembling breath. “Don’t do that again.”

- - -

It’s a normal day, a particularly boring one too, when he finally tells you.

He finds you sitting at the flight deck, reading. You don’t notice him, so enveloped in your book that the outside world isn’t a concern. You must be reading a particularly intense part; your brow is furrowed and your lips twist in that peculiar way they do when you concentrate. If he said it now, revealed the deepest—most secret—part of himself, would you even notice?

“What’s up, Sam?” You look up at him as you turn a page.

“Didn’t mean to disturb you…” he drawls. It’s a partial lie.

You keep the book open, turning it over and using your knee as a bookmark. “You’re not.” Your smile is reassuring. What’s going on?”

For a moment, he thinks about dropping it. Retreating back to that status quo, something comfortable. Back behind his walls—the walls that were barely there now, riddled with holes and gaps. You’d done your work on him.

“I uh…I needed to get something off my chest.”

You take the book and close it completely, setting it on the console. “Ok, go ahead.”

The carefully crafted list of talking points Sam had circled like angry bees in his head. He was never really a talking points kind of guy, so he threw them all out and decided to wing it instead.

“During the last fight, in the spacer compound, you were a dumbass.”

That wasn’t exactly the best way to phrase it, and he knew that. Strong start, moron.

You only smile patiently at him. “I like your honesty.”

“Well…my point to that is, after traveling with you—fighting by your side—picking up books for Cora, that she doesn’t need…” He struggles, hands moving to try and articulate what he wasn’t capable of. “I’ve come to—to not only respect you, even when you make crazy, dangerous decisions, but…”

He swallows, but finds his throat is completely dry. “I—you…” He groans, and every coherent thought flies from his mind. “You make me crazy, in the best way. I never know what’s coming next and I love that. You care for Cora, when that’s not your responsibility—you help me through all the shit with Lillian, when it’s not your problem.” He spreads his arms out. “And when you throw yourself into danger like that, I feel like I’m on the verge of losing everything.”

Your face is soft. Vulnerable. Maybe he’s gotten through to you, but he needs to say it. He won’t rest until he says it.

“You are my everything.”

Why can’t he come out and say it?

“Sam Coe.” You stand from your chair. “Are you in love with me?”

“Yes.” His answer comes out in a great whoosh of breath. This weight that’s been pressing on his chest for months is gone. He can breathe. And suddenly he can say it.

“I’m in love with you. I’ve been trying to hide it, rationalize it away, or just ignore it, but I can’t. Not anymore, not if you’re going to keep throwing yourself into grenades.”

“I won’t do that anymore.”

“You swear? Because I am too old to go through that again, next time it might kill me.”

“I swear.” You move closer to him. “When did you fall in love with me?”

Sam chuckles, scratching his neck. At this point he doesn’t register you haven’t said anything about your own feelings back to him. “When you were trying to break your back carrying all those books for Cora.”

“That feels like a lifetime ago.”

“Yeah.” He shifts his weight. “I don’t want to cause any kind of a rift between us—I really just needed to tell you how I felt.”

“I’m glad you did.” You pause, looking down at your hands. “Because this creates a pretty big conflict of interest.”

“What?”

“Well, you see, I was actually going to ask Lillian out—”

“Please tell me you’re fucking joking.”

“—and adopt Cora—”

“You’re playing a joke on me. I know you are; I can see you starting to smile.”

“—we’d all move in with Jacob—”

“For Christ sakes, you’re laughing, give it up.”

“—one big, happy—” You bust out in laughter, almost doubling over as Sam shakes his head.

He’s trying not to laugh as he turns to leave. You grab his coat sleeve. “Wait, wait. I’m sorry, you just—your face was—"

“I tell you I love you and you make that joke?” He looks down at you, holding your arms and bringing you closer to him. “Unbelievable.”

“Sorry, sorry. I couldn’t help it.” You lean your head into his chest. Your voice is muffled. “I love you too.”

“What was that?”

“I love you too.”

He leans his head down. With your face still in his chest you can’t see his shit eating grin. “Didn’t catch that. One more time?”

You look up, gritting your teeth and trying not to yell. “I. Love. You. Too."

Your faces are very close together now, a hair’s width apart. Sam is still grinning. He opens his mouth slowly.

“Sam.” You warn. “I’ll never say it again.”

“I’m going to call you on that bluff.”

You caress the side of his face before giving it a light tap. “Funny.”

“You love my jokes.”

The noise you make as you pass him is less than satisfactory. It has him trailing after you further into the ship.

“What does that mean?”

“You know what it means.”

He trails you all the way to your quarters and through the door as you invite him in.

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squidgeandsmidge · 1 year ago

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'No One messes with a Coe.'

Thanks to Elias's adorable and funny photo he posted recently and the quick sketch i made that he mentioned in the recent Twitch broadcast, i was inspired to pull myself out of my art-block and finish it properly. This is what both of them do when someone suggests Sam is a bad dad for having Cora travel with him. ;)

As always Reblogs are loved, Reposts are hated.

(For those new to Tumblr, reblogs are that little recycle button in the bottom right corner next to the heart like. That lets you share the work from my blog to yours so more people see it! Reposts here, unlike Twitter, are when you save the image and then repost it on your own blog...Dont do that, it's stealing.)

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squidgeandsmidge · 1 year ago

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squidgeandsmidge · 2 years ago

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Swamp Star | Baldurs Gate 3

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squidgeandsmidge · 2 years ago

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Pairing: Halsin x f!reader

Angsty fluff

Word count: 1,3k

Content warnings: none as far as I'm aware, but feel free to correct me if I missed anything.

Summary: Halsin is going through it, and you're worried about him.

Okay, so seeing the vid of all the companions as barbarians changed me. Not only do I now think Halsin would be perfect as barbarian in the 'nature's wrath' typa way, I also decided to make Gale a barbarian in my next playthrough. My boy had the most pathetic little shout, and i happen to think that's great.

Anyway, here's reader getting worried about sweet druid Halsin turning into raging barbarian Halsin. There will be a part two eventually. It will be smut. Sorry guys, but i can't keep the horny in check.

Also, this is rly more of a drabble than a fic, so I'm not naming it :)

Ever since you'd been unable to save the grove, Halsin had been unable to change into an animal. This change hit the archdruid hard. Not only did this mean that Silvanus saw no chance of redemption in him, it meant the rest of his connection with nature was gone.

At least that's what he had convinced himself of. You were not so sure. You still saw the way nature seemed to respond to his presence, a spark of natural magic still present in the large elf. And yet, you also saw the rage, the new way of fighting he'd adapted to at least try to end the shadow curse alongside you.

The first time he fought by your side since the loss shook you to your core. It seemed for a second that the gentle giant had disappeared. The deep war cry that left him would have stunned you had you not also been fighting the claws of a shadow monster off.

It left an impression on you. You didn't necessarily dislike his new demeanor, but it did worry you. It simply didn't seem like him.

"Halsin!" You call out to the man as he stands next to lae'zel's tent, sharpening his newly acquired battle axe. "Come look!" You'd spotted the ducklings near the ruin in your camp before, but you'd never pointed them out to anyone before. Something about seeing Halsin with the axe made you want to take his attention off the blasted thing as soon as possible, though.

Your plan was working. He put down the axe, jogging to your side in a way that made your heart flutter. What can you say, the man was big in a way that was very attractive to you, and his normally gentle ways only endeared him to you more.

"And what is it I'm here to look at?" He asks, looking straight at you instead of looking around. The lack of his usual perception skills bothered you a bit, but at the same time, you didn't mind his attention being on you either.

"Look over there," you speak more quietly now that you're closer to the animals, not wanting to scare them off. You softly guide him closer to them when you notice he still hasn't spotted the ducklings. "Thought I saw them in the grass yesterday, but the mother finally had the courage to come out!"

The heat of his skin against yours is nice but you chastise yourself for focusing on that when your mission is distracting him, not yourself.

"Oh, younglings this late in the season? The mother has her work cut out for her if she is to keep all of them safe until adulthood." Halsin's voice seems to soften and you can almost physically feel the connection between him and nature. "Though maybe she should give up while she's ahead, protecting what is dear to you is sometimes...simply impossible."

The pain in his voice is clear to you, his eyes steeling. "There will always be new dangers to threaten it after all," Halsin speaks, a new edge entering his voice. "Always new ways to fail," anger. "Always injustice." Rage.

The increasing volume scares of the mother duck, sending the ducklings scattering across the lake. The seething man next to you seems to be too caught up in his anger to even realize. But you do, you realize maybe more than you should have.

A moments hesitation, maybe you shouldn't be getting this involved in Halsin's feelings and inner turmoil. After all you were part of the cause of it all, you'd failed to protect the Grove just as much as he had. What would you do if he turned this newfound rage to you?

You shake your head to clear your thoughts. This was no time to fear consequences to yourself. Halsin could use your help, so you have to try, even if that possibly leads to your favourite man in camp hating you.

"Halsin," you speak softly, almost like you're attempting to soothe him. "Look." The same words from before, spoken differently but accompanied with the same gentle guiding gesture.

It snaps him out of his inner spiral but the anger is clearly still there, barely even hidden beneath the surface. "I know nature has been rejecting you lately, that Silvanus has all but abandoned you." You subconsciously start stroking the man's back in an attempt to further soothe him as you try to make your point. "But this right now? It's you. You're scaring them off. I'm not sure if there's space in you for all this rage and the power of nature."

His eyes linger on your face for another while after the last words leave your lips before he diverts them back to the ducks. He doesn't speak, and for all your nerves, you're not as scared anymore. His posture became less tense and as he crouched down by the edge of the water, you see the old him again.

His hand reaches the water without disturbing it, and as the ducklings regroup near their mother, she swims up to him. You see the change in him the second she touches his hand. Like a world of weight fell off his shoulders, his burden still heavy, but bearable now.

A soft golden glow emanates from the water now, and before you can question anything, Halsin begins chuckling.

"By Silvanus, you were right! Nature never severed my ties, I was burning them with my own fury." he turns to you, still crouched by the ducks who've started nuzzling in his palm now. "You've returned an important piece of myself to me."

"I only pointed out some ducklings, Halsin. You did the rest." You send a wink his way before turning back to the rest of camp. "Oh! Does this mean I can give that sharpened axe to Karlach? She's been eyeing it," you ask, turning back to Halsin, barely noticing the blush creeping over his face. He merely nods in return, feeling his heart stir at the grin you give him.

You'd been right about the axe, Karlach's face when you handed it over to her could only be described with the same words one would use for an overjoyed child. She'd even vowed to you to keep the ribbon you'd put on the handle clean of blood so she could keep it on there.

Unbeknownst to you, as you were accepting the barbarian's expressions of gratitude, the druid that was admiring you form afar got cornered by the two other elves in camp.

"Say Halsin, if I didn't know any better, I'd almost say you're fawning over our dear little (y/n)." It was Astarion who spoke up first, but by her proximity, Halsin could tell Shadowheart had some words for him as well, most likely less sugar coated than Astarion's.

"She's not just our leader, Halsin," Shadowheart begins, "if you hurt her, we'll be forced to hurt you." The clear threat from the cleric was endearing to him. He liked knowing how much the others cared about you.

"Actually," Astarion continued. "I'm fairly certain if we really needed a druid on our travels, we wouldn't be too hard pressed to find one. Jaheira seems entertaining if nothing else." Astarion's thinly veiled threat was less endearing but the same thought process kept the smile on Halsin's face.

"Thank you both for stepping up like this. Though I assure you, I do not give my heart lightly, and I'm ready to offer her all of it." His eyes returned to you as he spoke, watching you fondly as Karlach lifted you into the air and swung you around.

"There is nothing in this world that could make me hurt her."

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squidgeandsmidge · 2 years ago

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My ranger with Speak With Animals on when Bear Halsin says "Time for blood" before breaking out of his dungeon cell:

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squidgeandsmidge · 2 years ago

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Bedtime Stories

Fem!Reader x Halsin

Masterlist

─── ⋆⋅☼⋅⋆ ───

A/N - Halsin has ran himself ragged with bedtime stories, his charges demanding to hear a tale or two every night. He comes to you for help, hoping you have a few stories to spare. Unfortunately, this simple ask is going to leave the two of you with very little sleep tonight

Word count - 3.3K

Warnings - NSFW, MDNI, fingering, dirty talk, size difference, vaginal penetration, cream pie, established relationship, smut with plot, minor spoilers, mentions of past violence

─── ⋆⋅☼⋅⋆ ───

“Not even the first drop of rain in a drought of one thousand years could compare to the sight of you bared for me like this.”

─── ⋆⋅☼⋅⋆ ───

“And that’s when I knew I was a goner.” Halsin said, his voice low and serious. You stifled a giggle, worried it would pierce right through the tense air. There wasn’t a single breath taken in the expansive silence.

”What happened next?” A tiny voice whispered from the semi circle before Halsin. It came from a tiny tiefling girl, one that was hanging on every single word of the Druid’s story.

It was adorable watching them, watching your love tell tales to the children you were charged with taking care of. He was rather animated in his stories, hushed voices and sweeping gestures, speaking of beasts and demons and giant brains touched down to earth to take over the land.

The kids ate the stories up. Listened to him as if it were the last story they would ever hear. Each one of them could throw quite the impressive fit in the evening, demanding that Halsin talk them to sleep. He always gave in, sometimes having to make something up on the spot. You would think that with as long as he’s been alive, he would have plenty of stories to tell, but you knew all too well that most of those stories couldn’t be told to little ears.

You loved the evenings, though. Loved watching the gentle giant try his best to calm the terrifying horde of children. You couldn’t help but feel a pang of sadness as you looked over the kids. Most of them had the same story. Lost and forgotten children, victims of the horror that occurred a few months earlier.

Only a few of them had actually told you what happened to them, but it was more or less consistent. Their parents had been killed, turned, or were simply missing in the fight against The Absolute. You didn’t know during the journey itself how many villages had been affected by the cult, but each one of these cubs were a testament to how deep the violence ran.

You could still remember the look on Halsin’s face when you came across a tiefling orphan in the streets of lower Baldur’s Gate. There they were, standing over their parents' bodies. The two older tiefling had been unfortunate murders dedicated to the god of murder himself, Bhaal. The Druid’s face hardened, his words harsh as he wondered how many children had been affected in a similar way

That little tiefling was one of the first that Halsin scooped up to rescue.

Since then, you acquired quite the group of wayward souls. What was it that Halsin said? Right, nine wagons full of the little angels. At first you had been completely overwhelmed at the thought of so many little mouths to feed, little minds to grow, little hearts to mend. But Halsin took it all on the chin, always seeming to know exactly what to say or do.

Yet, the panicked look he’s giving you right now? Maybe your bear wasn’t equipped to handle all of what the children required.

“Then…” You started, beginning to move around the semi circle of kids, your voice sinister and low.

The kids' attention turned to you, eyes wide and expecting. You could’ve laughed at how intensely they were staring, but you knew you had quite the show to put on if you didn’t want to be mauled by a pack of rabid cubs.

”Then Halsin stalked around the cave, trying his best to appease the Mother Owlbear. He knew with one wrong step…” You paused for a dramatic moment, making eye contact with as many of them as you could, “And he would be swallowed up in one gulp.”

You heard Halsin scoff and ignored it, seeing the reaction ripple through your tiny audience.

”How would the owl bear even eat Daddy Halsin!” A particularly brave kid questioned.

A valid question. My spur of the moment storytelling probably wouldn’t withstand professional attention to plot holes

”Well, because,” You pondered, standing up straight again. “The owl bear was the biggest one we’ve ever seen. Just one of its claws was bigger than any one of you little cubs.”

One of the kids, a pale ginger half elf, stifled a shriek. She clung to her brother who was putting on a very good show of bravery, though he was a shade paler than usual.

Note to self - Less scary, more story

”If you want to know how Daddy Halsin escaped, you all have to be good and get some sleep.” You ended, putting on a warm smile.

Groans echoed around you, the kids obviously not happy with the cliffhanger in their bedtime story.

“Aht, ah, ah, lovelies. Bad kids who don’t listen to Miss Daddy Halsin get eaten by giant owl bears.”

That seemed to do the trick, the children scrambling over themselves to crawl into their bedrolls. Halsin had let them choose where to put their beds, most choosing to sleep in the equivalent of a pile in the corner of the grove. A few slept a few feet away, but the proximity to your quarters seemed to keep all of their mind’s at ease.

You smiled as Halsin came bumbling toward you, a tired smile gracing his features, “You’re always better at getting them to bed than I am, my heart.” He muttered, pressing a chaste kiss to your cheek. You leaned into the touch, his large hand warming the small of your back.

”What can I say, terrorizing kids is my specialty.” You teased, looking over the bundles of furs. You hadn’t realized how heavy your shoulders felt until now, how hard it was to keep your eyes open.

Ever perceptive, Halsin knew how exhausted you were as soon as you did. He chuckled softly and let you go, “Go on to bed, sweet. I will kiss foreheads.”

Any other day, you might’ve argued. Kissing everyone goodnight was one of your favorite parts of the night. But you were tired, and, well… there were a lot of foreheads.

You padded towards the large stone door, making your way to the room you and Halsin shared. When the children first arrived, it made you nervous to think of them out in the open, separated by a thick slab of rock. Practically no sound got past the opening, after all. Halsin kissed away your worries, assuring you there were a plethora of animals who would keep careful watch over them. Half of which were even nocturnal.

Without any worries, and a slight feeling of fatigue in your bones the sight of your bed was a beautiful, beautiful scene. You sat on the edge of the bed, idly running your hands across the deep set carvings etched into the wood. It had taken weeks to convince Halsin to make you a bed frame, even longer to convince him to actually sleep on the bed and not the ground. After enough pleading and many a kiss, he finally completed the process, even detailing the wood with his whittling tools.

It didn’t seem long before Halsin appeared in the wide doorway, expression light. “Those little ones will surely be the death of me.”

”I’ve heard it said that being around children makes you feel young again.” You mused, tucking your legs under the thin blankets.

“Whoever says that is a fraud. They only make me feel much, much older.” He laughed, coming over to sit at your feet. “They love your stories, my heart. Perhaps you should be in charge of that for now.”

”No, I simply couldn’t.” You said decisively, shaking your head for good measure.

“And why not?” Halsin asked incredulously, hands coming up to rub your feet. You knew that his movements were a thinly veiled attempt at bribery, but you wouldn’t be weak enough to fall for it this time.

”They like your stories more.” You shrugged, letting your eyes flutter shut as you enjoyed the massage. “I like your stories more as well.”

”It’s difficult to tell stories with you around.” He said quietly, eyes trained on you. You met his gaze, seeing a sly smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

That smile never meant anything good.

“What do you mean?” You asked simply, feigning ignorance. You could try to ignore the way his hands moved higher up to your calf, but you knew that focus would be short lived. No, if the Druid wanted your attention, he would have to earn it.

“I mean… How am I supposed to be present enough to tell a story when nature’s most beautiful creation herself is standing mere feet away from me?” His voice was a half a note lower than usual, barely perceptible if it were anyone but the man you loved.

”You flatter me.” You whisper, not trusting your voice to hide the way heat began crawling its way through your stomach.

Halsin leaned in, pressing a kiss against your jaw. His words tickled your skin, warm breath brushing over your ear as he spoke, “Oak Father, preserve me, how am I supposed to focus on anything when your sweet scent washes over me at even your nearness?”

Your breath caught in your throat, your mind already becoming fogged with clouds of desire. “Maybe you are just less skilled at focusing than I am.” You responded.

He pulled back for a moment, still smiling grinning. “You think you can get through a story while being distracted?” He prodded

Your eyebrows furrowed slightly. You knew the feeling that crawled through the back of your mind. It was the same one you had when you knew you were about to walk face first into a trap. One you just couldn’t place, exactly.

“I suppose so.” You countered, arms coming up to cross in front of you. “What story would you like to hear?”

”Hmm.” He thought aloud, pausing for a moment. You found your gaze fawning over him during the brief break, appreciating the way his shoulders flexed, his hands never pausing the foot rub. “Tell me the story of how we first met.”

”That’s it? What’s the catch?” You inquired suspiciously

“Catch? Why would there be a catch, my heart?” His expression screamed ‘innocent’ but your intuition screamed ‘SCHEMER’

“Fine. I’ll tell you how we met without getting distracted.” You started, leaning back against the wall. “I had heard you had gotten captured at the goblin camp. A very intelligent move by th-“

You faltered slightly as Halsin leaned back forward, lips brushing over your collarbone. You could practically feel him smirk against you, words muffled slightly, “Why did you stop? Distracted already?”

You felt a surge of defiance, a deep sense of determination against his taunting. It didn't matter how flushed your cheeks felt at the current moment, you would be getting through this story.

You would be the one to win.

Your voice continued on, a bit shakier than before, “So I decided I needed to break you out.”

Halsin’s lips continue to mold against your skin, peppering slow, teasing kisses along your shoulder. “I asked around quite a bit about you, but no one seemed to know exactly where you were.”

You caught another gasp as Halsin’s hands wrapped around the small of your back, toying with the ties of your bodice.

No. Focus.

”When I realized I would either need to break or sneak into the goblin camp, I also realized I was much too weak for either.”

“Mnm” Halsin responded, signaling you on.

Only, it was difficult to continue on. You felt the ribbon of your dress completely loosened, the delicious warmth of the Druid’s hands against your bare back. You swallowed thickly, trying your best to ignore the feeling.

“I needed to get stronger, so I could save the helpless first Druid,” You muttered, annoyance obviously present as you tried your best to keep your thoughts straight.

”Oh, my heart.” Halsin murmured, deftly pushing the fabric off of your shoulders and down to your waist. You shivered slightly, feeling your nipples pebble through the material of your underclothes. Halsin’s attention went straight towards the raised mounds, a strange sort of irreverent glint in his eyes. He looked back up at you, smiling softly. “You don’t know the meaning of helpless.”

With that, his mouth dipped down, catching a clothed breast in a gentle nip. You had to grate your teeth tightly to avoid the moan caught in your throat, thoughts holding on to your “story” by the thinnest of threads.

”Given up?” Halsin whispered again, a rough palm coming up to cup the other breast, kneading so lightly you might’ve been imagining it.

“No!” You snapped, eyebrows coming together as you mustered all the focus you could manage. ”When I finally found you, I never thought you’d be a-“

You couldn’t help the whimper that took over your sentence as Halsin dragged a thick finger over your clothed core. Your mind short circuited, wetness gathering almost immediately at a simple touch.

You knew, deep down, that Halsin had won. That it was hopeless to think you could’ve ignored his… distractions… in the first place. How were you supposed to ignore the way his mouth skillfully worked in tandem with his hand, the way his free hand had snuck up to render you speechless?

The only response the elf gave you was a low chuckle, his gentle touch beginning to rub circles around your heat devilishly slow. The sly cur, he wouldn’t even take the satisfaction of bragging of his win.

No, instead, he would just continue to see you undone by his hand.

”You're a cheater.” You whimpered quietly, finally giving up the game.

”And you, my heart,” He murmured, shifting in the bed slightly, “Are a sore loser.”

“Just… just touch me.” You responded, refusing to give him any more defiance than he already had broken in you.

Your druid was ever so gentle as he removed the rest of your clothes, leaving gentle kisses along your skin as the fabric slid off. Every touch, every movement left a deep need coursing through your veins. You might’ve been embarrassed by the depth of your desire if your mind had any room for such thoughts.

But no. The only thing your thoughts would entertain right now was him.

”By Silavanis’s grace.” Halsin whispered, leaning back, hungry gaze taking you in. “Not even the first drop of rain in a drought of one thousand years could compare to the sight of you bared for me like this.”

Your cheeks reddened further, arms coming up to shield your intimate parts from his attentive eyes. You were never the best at taking compliments, Especially ones as beautifully and lovingly crafted as the words Halsin used.

”Do not hide yourself from me, my heart. Do not deprive me of your beauty.” His hands gently pried yours away, his smile gentle.

”I’m just feeling a little overdressed.” You said, gesturing to the fully clothed Druid in front of you.

“I suppose you’re right, my sweet.” He grinned, hands working quickly to rid himself of his clothes.

You took the opportunity to marvel at the man’s physique. The way his tan skin shone in the candle light, scars shining. His muscles pulled and relaxed as he moved, the entirety of him an artfully designed creation.

It didn’t take long for his lips to come back down to yours, catching you in a passionate kiss. It was slow and purposeful, his arms wrapping around you to pull you flush against him. His grasp was strong, his skin deliciously warm against you. Calloused hands found their way to exactly where Halsin knew you needed them, one on the soft mound of your chest, the other under the curve of your ass.

Your lips worked just as eagerly against him, small moans escaping occasionally. Your hands clung onto his arms, hips already beginning to push up desperately.

”Patience, my heart.” Halsin’s voice was low, rasped, clearly holding on to the last bit of rationale he had left.

You couldn’t seem to help yourself, pushing your hips harder, wetness dragging along his hard member.

”Oak father, preserve me.” He growled, gripping your hip harshly. If it were anyone but Halsin, his tone may have made you nervous. But with him… it only made you crave him more.

”Please, Halsin. Please, I need you.” You begged, not caring how you’d been rendered undone so easily.

You weren’t left wanting for long, Halsin shifting slightly to press the soft tip of his cock against your entrance. You clenched around nothing, whimpering with need.

Halsin winced, showing much more control than you could manage. “You must relax, my heart. Breathe deeply.”

You took a deep breath and held it, preparing yourself for the inevitable stretch of Halsin’s rather endowed length. It had taken twice as long to get this far your first time laying together, you thought he would split open completely. But now, your impatience was wearing thin.

As if he could read your inner dilemma, Halsin finally gave you what you wanted. The tension melted from your body, your breath rushing out as an airy moan when you felt him push into you. “God’s above!” You whined, trying to acclimate to the stretch.

Halsin’s brow was furrowed, mouth in a thin line as he looked down at where the two of your body’s met, “You look so perfect with my cock inside of you, my heart. So perfect.”

You would’ve returned the compliment, thought of something else to say, that is if Halsin hadn’t chosen that moment to thrust all the way into your awaiting cunt. You cried out in pleasure, Halsin giving you no more time to adjust as he set forth a harsh pace. Every other breath was a moan, the sound of Halsin’s labored breaths shock waves to your core.

His hand came up to cover your mouth, trying his best to muffle your lewd sounds as his head dipped against yours.

”My heart…” He murmured. “Mine.”

His tone was graveled, possessive, and you could tell instinct was taking over already. Your own heat clenched in response, earning another harsh growl from your gentle giant.

“Halsin, I’m-“ You stuttered, your mind not able to take in both the pleasure and sweet burn from his cock sliding in and out of your dripping cunt.

“I know, my heart.” He choked out, his thrusts becoming quicker. He drilled into you with short deep pumps, sweat beading across his forehead. “Silvanus himself couldn’t create a more beautiful sight.” He whispered lowly, his hips starting to thrust more erratically. “Not more beautiful than you filled with my seed.”

With that, your cord snapped.

Your heat clenched tightly, incoherent moans muffled against Halsin’s hand. Your vision was blurry, pure ecstasy running like molten lava through your veins. You felt Halsin’s own release erupt into you with a growl, his teeth nipping at your ear as he followed through with his words.

For a moment or two, you both stayed like that, heavy breaths as you came back to the land of the living after such intense highs. When Halsin’s hand left your mouth and began to trace affectionate circles along your cheek, you finally trusted your voice enough to speak.

”I suppose I’m ready to admit defeat.” You smiled, bathing in the warmth of Halsin’s affectionate gaze.

“Surely you didn’t think I would’ve let you best me in the art of bedtime stories?” He chuckled, landing a kiss against your nose.

”We really must be careful doing things like this.” You teased, pointing to where the two of you remained connected. “We’re going to end up with yet another little one to take care of.”

You squealed into a giggle as he rolled the two of you over suddenly, nuzzling his nose against your cheek. You snuggled into his warmth, deciding that cleaning up would better be left for tomorrow. Right now you were content being tucked into Halsin’s strong, steady arms.

“Oh, I’m not sure, my sweet.” Halsin smiled, eyes meeting yours with a look full of love and affection,

“What’s one more?”

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