#doctor silverbough

[pedros-immaculate-vibes]

The picture that launched a thousand fanfic one-shots

@mimorugk

[kylobith]

Little Town Tails

Chapter 2: Bear Trap

Summary: A first patient comes to Halsin's veterinary practice. And not the usual kind.

Ship/Pairing: Halsin x Fem!Tav

Trope: Modern AU, Meet-cute, Little countryside town, Cosy

Word count: 3,693

Read it on Ao3 here

Listen to the dedicated playlist on Spotify here

There she stands, in the middle of the street, with messy copper-red hair blown around her pointy ears and into her eyes by the mischievous breeze. Sweat beads upon her pale brow, trickling down her temples and threatening to dampen the bumpy bridge of her freckled nose. Although clouded by nearly palpable concern, her turquoise eyes capture his gaze within a heartbeat, stealing the breath from his lungs.

While her expression displays panicked urgency, the faint lines coursing from the curves of her nostrils down to frame her rosy lips, coated with strong cherry-scented chapstick, bear witness to the numerous times she must have laughed and smiled. Such expressions must have been genuine, he thinks, since they have reached and creased the corners of her almond eyes.

Before his stare lingers upon her, he lowers it to the heavy weight occupying her arms and he nearly steps back in surprise.

An owlbear cub. An actual owlbear cub!

Out of breath and attempting to wipe the sweat stinging her eyes with her shoulder, she approaches him and calls out to him.

‘Good morning,’ she huffs, ‘are you…’

She tilts her head down to read a creased business card she previously tucked below her armpit.

‘...Doctor Silverbough?’

‘I am he, indeed,’ Halsin nods and opens the door wide again. ‘Is something wrong with the cub?’

The lady acquiesces and lets out a whimper as the whining cub’s weight weakens her grip and she tries to adjust it. Without thinking, he shoves the pastry box in his pocket and steps forward to delicately take the ailing animal from her. He invites her inside as he carries the cub to the examination table in his clinical room. Upon seeing the owlbear’s stature, he mentally pats himself on the back for having invested in a larger examination table despite his former mentor’s advice to stick to standard dimensions.

The woman, having followed him and closed the door behind them, comes to stand by her furry and feathery companion to scratch him behind the ears in reassurance.

‘There is something wrong with his front paw,’ she says, showing him which one she means. ‘When I called him for breakfast this morning, he didn’t come up to me. He stayed at the back of our field and he wouldn’t move. So, I went to check up on him, and I saw that he couldn’t stand up and that he couldn’t walk at all.’

Halsin lets the cub smell his hand before petting him on the head and the side of its face, letting it know that his intentions are nothing but friendly. After a moment of hesitation, the owlbear squeaks and sits back on its hind legs, almost in reverence. The veterinarian thanks it with a brief scratch under its beak and proceeds to a preliminary examination.

As he carefully feels around for any spot that might be especially sensitive, Halsin senses warm dents into the flesh of the paw, about three inches above the long and sharp claws. While the owner watches him with fear ablaze in her eyes, he brushes back the feathers and tries to find the holes he felt just a moment ago.

It does not take long before he does. Fresh blood guides him to the puncture wounds, witnesses of the tearing of the cub’s leathery skin. It is a botched work. Either the animal has struggled and caused more damage than necessary, or something — or someone — has pulled at whatever the source of such injuries was. And it must have been something quite solid, if not the teeth of a strong-jawed animal.

‘I feel deep punctures in a curved line,’ he mutters pensively to the owner. ‘Can you think of anything which could have bitten your cub? Or any object that could have torn the skin?’

The woman ponders for a moment, folding her arms as she does, but responds with a shake of her head.

‘I cannot think of anything. The field I let him live in is not one where I cultivate the land, so there is no farming equipment on the spot, not even a pitchfork.’

‘Does it ever leave the field?’

‘I do take it on the occasional forest walk, but I am extremely careful when it happens. Because of his wild animal status, I can’t take him just anywhere, you see.’

‘Of course.’

From the corner of his eye, he catches a glimpse of her holding her head. When her whole body sways, he reaches out to catch her by the arm, preventing her from hurting herself in an unfortunate fall. He sits her down on a chair against the wall and crouches before her. Funny enough, his large frame is such that even in such a position, he remains taller than her.

‘Are you alright, madam?’ he asks loudly, in case she might need to snap back into consciousness. But she is awake, much to his relief.

‘I am, sorry about that. I am just worried about my cub.’

Judging from her pallor, he can tell that her issues are rooted in something else.

‘Have you eaten today?’

‘No. I usually give him breakfast before I have mine, and it took me so long to carry him across the field, then into the car, then drive here, then…’

She sighs and leans her head back against the wall. Poor thing, Halsin tells himself. In his two decades of experience in this field, fainting owners have been commonplace. After all, animals and pets are companions, family members, even. They are a lonely grandfather’s friend, the confidante of an ill-at-ease child, the partner in crime of an adventurous young woman. They take on many roles and never fail to bring comfort to their owners, although the occasional call to animal protection services has occurred throughout his career, as much for the animal’s wellbeing than for the apathetic owner’s sake. And, to be frank, his own peace of mind, but this is never a useful criterion when dealing with such circumstances.

Halsin gently takes the woman’s wrist to measure her pulse.

‘Would you like me to make you some tea?’ he offers with a warm smile. ‘I have some snacks you can eat. It is not good for you to remain in this state.’

She stares into his eyes, a blush dusting her cheeks and nearly rendering her freckles invisible to the eye.

‘Perhaps it’ll help,’ she answers weakly. ‘Thank you.’

He pats her arm and rushes to the staff room to fill the electric kettle with water before turning it on. As the device starts and a loud hum fills the cramped space, Halsin leans back against the cabinets and conceals a giddy grin behind his hand.

His heart is racing. He cannot explain it, but it is. He nearly grows dizzy from it, in the same manner that she swayed earlier. In twenty-two years of work, this has never happened. If anything, he was known to be the most professional veterinarian in the previous practice for which he worked. From his first day to the last, Halsin impressed his boss on multiple occasions, demonstrating unmatched level-headedness when dealing with heart-wrenching situations.

One day, a young man rushed inside the office, cradling his unresponsive cat whose abdomen was torn open by sharpened iron spikes. The owner was howling in despair, struggling to believe that anybody would do this to his innocent furry companion. While Halsin was busy keeping the animal alive, treating the gash and sewing it up, he could hear the man begging his colleague to save the cat, his only friend left in the world. Uncannily adroit with a needle, he managed to save the feline’s life and he became its regular vet throughout the years. Once the owner had left, his manager had praised Halsin for his unshakeable calm demeanour, but little did he know that he struggled to sleep for a few nights, wondering whether there could have been anything that he could have done better for this poor little creature.

But having his heart racing for a pet’s owner? Never. Unheard of. Inconceivable!

Before he knows it, steam swirls out of the kettle’s beak and a sudden click resounds from the countertop, a brief interruption amid the bubbling noise of the water. Halsin shakes his head, trying to keep his head clear, and retrieves his teabox from one of the overhead cabinets. He prepares the tea service on a tray, complementing it with a jar of honey and a small, flowery sugar box he inherited from a relative. On a saucer, he sets down three of the miniature pastries that Melly brought him earlier, hoping that they would be enough to keep the lady’s blood sugar up. 

Tucking the teabox under his arm, he carries the tray to the examination room and sets it down on the chair beside her, pleased to see that the woman is regaining colours.

‘Here, pick a flavour,’ he says, balancing the teabox on his palm and opening it for her.

‘Thank you,’ she mumbles in embarrassment, picking a red berry infusion. As she notices the honey on the tray, she eyes him curiously. ‘Honey? Isn’t that for sore throats?’

Halsin laughs and washes his hands in the small sink in the corner of the room, drying them thoroughly.

‘It is, but I find honey to be most soothing when I am worried. You are free to try it.’

The woman smiles at last and takes him up on the offer. As Halsin brings his focus back to the injured cub, he hears the clinking of the spoon inside the cup as she twirls the mixture in the same way a witch would stir a potion.

Setting the paw on a sterile cloth, he washes the blood away with saline water, clearing the view so he can identify the problem.

‘I cannot believe this,’ he grumbles through gritted teeth as he recognises the marks.

‘What is it, doctor?’ the woman gasps, her head shooting up as soon as his voice reaches her.

‘Bear trap. Your cub had his paw stuck in one. Are you sure that you have not seen anything suspicious in your field or the forest? Truly nothing at all?’

She hastily drinks a sip and sets the cup aside, jumping onto her feet to see the injuries with her own eyes.

‘A bear trap, you say? I don’t…’

‘Does he ever leave your field? Are there any other places that he might go?’

‘No, only the field and the forest. My permit only allows me to take him there,’ she answers, before furrowing her brow. ‘Although, when I found him this morning, the fence had been broken in from outside. I doubt that he escaped. He has never tried it.’

Her gaze darkens as she ponders about the fence again. It seems that she might have found an explanation for the broken face, and, Halsin hopes, for the trap.

‘This little fucker!’ she hisses.

As she sees his raised eyebrow, she waves a hand before her.

‘Sorry, doctor. I believe I know who might have done it.’

She grabs her cup of tea to sip it, letting it calm her nerves, even just for an instant.

‘My neighbour, Mr Bongle. A bitter man, this one. Always angry about something. He was so adamant about having the cub taken away by the local authorities and euthanised. He tried to oppose my acquisition of a piece of the field behind my house for the owlbear’s development, and it went so far that the dispute needed mediation from the town hall.’

‘I see. How did it end up?’

‘I won the dispute. I proved that I had the right paperwork done and that I had all the permits to keep the owlbear in my care. My family owns a rescue centre in the north. They cure wounded wild animals and release them. I used to work with them when I was a student, so I’m experienced when it comes to that sort of animal.’

‘Do you believe that your neighbour might have disagreed with the verdict?’

‘Oh, very much so. He has threatened to hurt the cub more than once,’ she scoffs, finishing the tea in one last gulp, before petting the owlbear’s head and peppering its feathers with kisses. Even from where he stands, Halsin notices the tears welling up in her eyes. ‘I just never thought he would actually do it.’

While she cuddles her owlbear — the animal being visibly comfortable around her — Halsin begins to clean each wound individually.

‘Have you seen any trap on your land?’ he inquires while hunched over the animal’s claws.

‘None.’

That does not help things at all. After all, the woman mentioned owning a field, it is possible that the spot where she found the cub is different from the whereabouts of the trap. What if the creature crawled away after being caught and simply could not go any further?

‘It is not the first time that I see such an attack happening,’ Halsin confesses to the woman. ‘Back in the village where I used to work, neighbours’ quarrels were sometimes aggravated by attacks on the other party’s private property, and pets or farm animals were often the first to suffer from such pettiness.’

‘Any pattern you recognise?’

Halsin offers a simple shrug.

‘It could be anything. If Mr Bongle is indeed behind your cub’s injuries, it is possible that he planted the trap on the edge of your field, but once he saw it caught, he could have panicked and broken into your property to remove the trap. That could explain the broken fence and the tears in the skin. But these are mere suppositions.’

‘I see.’

Once all the wounds are disinfected, Halsin conducts a test to assess the extent of nerve and tissue damage caused by the jaw of the bear trap. Unfortunately, the cub does not respond to stimulation as well as he hoped it would. When he gently pokes the area with a dull needle, the creature merely tilts its head, wondering what he is up to. But there is no response in the limb. No twitch of the claw. Further up the leg, however, everything seems to work as normal.

‘Mh,’ Halsin sighs, ‘I am afraid that there has been some nerve damage, either caused by the trap or the attempts to remove it. That is why he could not stand or walk. He does not seem to feel anything in the paw. Slight tingles at most.’

‘Is there anything we can do?’

‘I can operate this afternoon. All the materials and equipment are here. Since the rest of the leg responds normally, I believe that the damage to the paw is not irreversible. That was simply bad luck.’

‘Will he struggle to walk later on?’

‘That is a risk, indeed, but if he limps for the rest of his life, it should be a painless hindrance. I have seen animals with worse injuries that could still run around until late in life. Sure, their gait appeared a bit silly at times, but they did not experience any discomfort or pain.’

The woman nibbles on her lower lip and nods slowly.

‘Fine. Let’s operate.’

Halsin lets her reassure the trembling owlbear and walks over to the computer on the opposite side of the examination table. He opens his software and types the details of the situation into a new file.

‘I can keep him here already until the surgery. Just in case, I would like to keep him overnight for observation. This will not be at your charge.’

‘Oh, thank you. May I ask how you are going to look after him?’

‘I live right above the practice,’ he responds warmly, pointing at the ceiling. ‘I can check up on him every three hours and make sure that he drinks and eats enough. You should be able to bring him home tomorrow. Would that be suitable for you?’

‘Yes.’

He continues to fill in the form on the software, the clickety-clacks of his old keyboard filling the room.

‘Besides,’ he adds, ‘I have a loyal companion who would be delighted to keep watch over your cub.’

Behind the reception, outside the room, they hear Scratch stretching his paws. His claws clink against the linoleum floor, and his whimpery yawn causes both the veterinarian and the anxious owlbear owner to smile.

‘Sounds like a good boy, alright,’ the woman acquiesces with a chuckle. ‘Well, I suppose that Beaky’s in good hands.’

‘Beaky?’

‘Oh, yes, that’s his name. Beaky. Sorry, I’m not creative when it comes to names.’

‘That is quite alright,’ Halsin laughs, ‘I have heard much worse.’

Once every field has been filled in, he turns around to face the woman.

‘May I ask for your name and address, so I can fill in Beaky’s file?’

‘Of course. My name is Tav Ashguard and my address is 8 Barn Way in Combury.’

‘Thank you.’

Tav. What a peculiar name, but one he likes nonetheless. As soon as compliments fill his head, he ushers them away as if he fears that she can read his mind.

‘There. Everything is ready,’ he speaks over the deafening whirlwind of thoughts inside his brain. ‘If you wish, I can take your phone number and keep you updated if anything happens. This can be done by text or on the phone, whatever suits your preferences.’

‘Texts would be perfect. Call only if it is dire.’

‘Very well.’

Tav recites her phone number and he enters it in his file and into his work phone. Halsin then gives Beaky some mild painkillers just to be sure, before escorting its owner back to the reception. Once they stand at the door, he points towards a nearby street.

‘If you suspect Mr Bongle, I would advise you to seek the local forest ranger, Minsc. His office is up that street, to the right. He is in charge of the woods between Heawick and Combury, so perhaps he can help you find the bear trap. If not, he can refer you to a lawyer from the animal protection services, he often works with them when he finds injured and orphaned animals.’

‘Oh, that’s lovely of you. Thank you.’

She shakes his hand firmly.

‘Thank you for the tea and for taking care of Beaky. I was not sure whether you would take him in, but I’m glad you did.’

‘Of course. All animals deserve to be saved.’

‘I like hearing that.’

If Halsin did not know better, he could swear that he saw her blush just now.

‘Please, keep me updated on Beaky’s state?’

‘I promise you that I will keep a close eye on him.’

‘Perfect. Thanks. Goodbye, Dr Silverbough!’

‘Goodbye, Miss Ashguard.’

He sees her walk back to her car, right when a roaring engine echoes through the street. Karlach appears, perched atop a vintage motorcycle, and parks the vehicle in front of the practice. The tiefling hops off, clad in a short leather jacket adorned with silver buckles and dull spikes. She runs a hand through her dark hair ornamented with red streaks, hoping that it was not flattened too much because of her helmet.

When she notices Halsin at the door, she waves excitedly, her whole face illuminating.

‘Morning, Doc!’ she chimes, watching Tav’s car driving away. ‘Was that our first patient?’

Halsin grins. He has not known the young woman long, but one thing is for certain. Her enthusiasm, even for the littlest things, is unparalleled.

‘Indeed.’

‘What was it? A dog? A cat? A bird?’

‘An owlbear.’

Karlach gasps, her eyes as round as marbles and her jaw dropping at once.

‘No fucking way!’

‘Language,’ Halsin scolds playfully, although he certainly wishes that she could swear less loudly.

‘Sorry. No way!’

Without needing any form of invitation, she rushes inside, slamming her helmet on her chair behind the reception. She bursts into the examination room and finds the docile cub on the table. While Halsin closes the door and quietly makes his way to the two of them, he hears Karlach’s squeals and her cooed words as she pets the creature.

‘I will operate on him this afternoon, so I will need to close the practice earlier. Until we find another vet willing to work here, we do not have much choice.’

‘Understood, Doc.’

‘I will keep him overnight for observation. You can simply go home once I am done with the surgery. Does that sound alright to you?’

‘Are you sure you don’t want me to stay longer?’

‘It should be fine.’

The tiefling continues to pet the cub in the same way she does Scratch, not caring that it is supposed to be a wild animal.

‘Where will the cub sleep, though?’ she asks. ‘Aren’t our cages too cramped for a pet this size?’

‘I will bring down the mattress from my guest room,’ Halsin sighs. ‘I might sleep near him while he recovers.’

‘You know what you should invest in, Doc? A babyphone. Or one of those baby cameras, you know?’

‘Hah. Perhaps I should.’

He watches her as she showers Beaky with love. Despite her inexperience, he has no regrets about employing Karlach. She is most efficient, involved, caring, and willing to learn any new task. These are qualities that he immediately sensed in her when she showed up to the practice one day after reading online that it would soon open. Out of nowhere, while varnishing wooden poles, Halsin found the tiefling scratching at his door, begging him to give her a job. Anything.

At the time, she and her partner Dammon were struggling to pay rent, but with early salary payment, once he allowed her to help with the renovations in the office space and the running of errands before she took on her official role, the issue was solved altogether.

Karlach presses a kiss into Beaky’s feathers and turns to Halsin with a smirk.

‘His owner was cute. Didn’t you think so, Doc?’

Halsin laughs and leans against the doorpost, trying to appear as nonchalant as he can.

‘I suppose.’

Taglist: @emmanuellececchi

[pickel182]

Marked improvement:

Where Astarion’s therapist gets more than she bargained for…

18+

Contains: f/m sex, fingering, creampies, mentions of last trauma.

******************

Date of service: February 29, 2024

Date of last service: February 22, 2024

Patient name: Ancunín, Astarion

Progress notes:

Astarion describes himself as having a much improved overall sense of well-being. However, he stated in his last appointment that a feeling of hyper vigilance persists. Symptoms of anxiety have continued, but he no longer describes himself as depressed, but rather “radiant” and “hopeful.”

Diagnoses:

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) F43.

Male Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder F52.0

Behavior:

Occurrences of genuine emotion and vulnerability are punctuated by flirtation, arrogance, propensity for lewd language, seduction, making it impossible for me to think straight-

What the hell is wrong with me! Get it together! She thought. He’s a patient for fucks sake!

“Ugh!” She raged, throwing her fidget toy across the small room. To her horror, she looked up to see the pale elf leaned against the doorframe, feigning shock and scandal with one elegant hand over his chest.

“Do you always take on such terrifying foes?” He teased.

“Only on special occasions,” she quipped. Like today, your appointment day, that definitely doesn’t dictate which underwear I put on in the morning…

“Please come in,” she said as she gestured to the couch across from her chair.

Rescinding his invitations after each appointment was standard protocol for vampire patients. It had nothing to do with not wanting to be walked in on during what she did after his appointments.

He pushed himself gracefully off the doorframe, lithe and beautiful in a way that was completely unfair. He closed the door behind him, and she pretended not to notice him adjusting… himself as he sat.

“So, Mr. Ancunín-”

“Astarion.” He corrected. “Aren’t we past all that, Kamilla?” He purred her name like a caress, and quirked an eyebrow in question.

“That’s Doctor Silverbough, Mr. Ancunín.”

He grinned at her withering look, as if it was exactly what he wanted. “Fine, fine, always spoiling my fun,” he lamented.

She flipped through the notes on her iPad, desperately averting her eyes. She was determined to stay professional, even as he held her in his predatory gaze.

“Tell me, how was the group session you had last week, on mindfulness practices?” She queried.

“Oh, It was all…very twee.” He smirked. As if he knew that was not the answer she was looking for.

She sat the iPad down in her lap, brows knit together at his response.

Hungry eyes roamed her torso, lingering on her breasts and décolleté before meeting her gaze. A smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth and she spoke before she thought better of it.

“You’re fucking with me.” She accused, immediately contrite, but powerless to retract the outburst.

He barked out a genuine laugh. “I am,” he conceded. “They taught me quite a lot. I’m confident I can apply the exercises, and I rather liked it.”

“Good,” she breathed a sigh of relief, and buried herself in her iPad again. “I’m glad you enjoyed it.” She was careful to keep her voice even, not betray any emotion with her next set of questions. “Have there been any new developments in your relationship as far as intimacy?”

Suddenly, a cool finger tilted her chin up to meet hooded crimson eyes. “Marked improvements, I would say,” he murmured.

Her breath caught as his thumb brushed over her bottom lip. “What are you doing, Astarion?”

He tutted and his lips found the delicate flesh beneath her ear. “There’s a spark here,” he rumbled against her skin, “I know you felt it too, darling.”

Goosebumps broke out across her skin. She pressed her knees together in a desperate attempt at halting the aching throb between her legs.

“If we do this,” she panted, “you can’t be my patient any longer. And no one can know. Can you promise me that?”

He nodded and nipped at her lower lip. “Assuming you want this too, of course,” he added with a wry smile, “but we both know you do,”

Arrogant bastard.

She bit his lip, hard. His breath left him in a gasp, and with supernatural speed, he had pulled her into his arms and laid her on the couch underneath him.

Astarion deftly tugged the neckline of her dress downward, taking her bra with it. Her exposed nipples pebbled under his clever fingers, pulling a groan from him at the sight of her.

She moved to unbutton his silk shirt, and quick as a flash, he seized her wrists and pinned them above her head.

He shook his head. “Not this time love,” he murmured against her lips. “I… this is the only way I can…”

She nodded in understanding, leaving her hands over her head. Astarion had been completely touch-averse when they started their sessions a year ago. He said he hadn’t successfully been intimate with anyone in decades, but was making strides toward reclaiming that part of himself.

“Whatever you need,” she reassured him.

His dazzling smile stole her breath right before his mouth descended on hers again.

She’d never been kissed like this before. His lips moved urgently against hers, sucking her lower lip between his teeth and teasing her with his fangs. His tongue dipped into her mouth, laving over hers, in a torturous dance of back and forth as she did her best to give as good as she got.

His erection between them ground into her as he expertly rolled his hips, leaning her quivering beneath him. She arched up to meet him and the friction made him gasp and buck into her, swearing as she whimpered.

He gathered her dress up over her hips, finding the lacy fabric at the apex of her thighs wet with want. Using his knee to push under her thigh, he spread her wide for him, and slipped a finger beneath her underwear to dip into her searing heat.

She cried out as he swirled over her clit, and he covered her mouth with one hand as the other continued working over her swollen bud as he groaned into her ear.

“Do you have any idea how long I’ve wanted you like this,” he rasped out breathless with his own need. “How the smell of this sweet cunt has kept me up at night after our sessions, hmm?”

Her eyes rolled back as her hips circled in time with his stroking of her. She moaned wantonly into his palm, unable to stop the sounds he wrenched from her body.

He slid two fingers inside her and ground his palm over her clit, making her thighs convulse involuntarily with each stroke.

“When I was finally able to fuck someone again, do you know who I was pounding into?” He removed his hand to lick into her mouth for a greedy kiss swallowing up her pants and moans.

A third finger slipped into her wetness and she bit her lip bloody stifling a scream. “You,” he grunted, as he fucked her with his hand. “It was you. Every time it was you.”

It was an accusation an exultation all at once. She whined when he removed his hand, and he swore again as he frantically unbuttoned his trousers. He freed his hard, twitching cock, and unceremoniously shoved her drenched underwear to the side.

Astarion clamped his hand over her mouth again as he lined up with her entrance, and she cried out as he thrusted into her without warning. She’d never been stretched so deliciously, and in just a few rough thrusts he was already bottoming out.

She was soaked from his previous ministrations, and could feel her own juices dripping down her ass as he pistoned into her. She had kept her hands over her head as he had asked, but now they gripped the arm of the couch as she scrambled for any leverage to keep her grounded as his hips snapped against hers.

He stilled for only a moment as he repositioned her hips, only to resume at a punishing pace that had her crying out into his mouth that had captured hers once more. She locked her legs around his waist, digging in her heels as she matched him thrust for thrust.

“Fuck, fuck!” He gasped and groaned, before grabbing her behind her knees and pinning them to her chest, folding her beneath him and caging her between his arms. He used the new position to thrust harder and deeper than before, at a supernatural speed intended to steal her voice and shatter her sanity.

He clamped his palm back over her mouth moments before her orgasm struck savagely, blinding her as she tore at the fabric of the couch above, screaming into his hand. Moments later his thrusts became sloppy and uneven as the contractions of her climax shoved him violently into his own release.

Her head fell back in exhaustion as he groaned and whimpered into her chest, coating her inner walls with thick spurts of his seed.

She barely registered her meeting timer sounding somewhere behind her, signaling the fifteen minute warning before their time was up. Astarion lifted his head, rewarding her with a sleepy, fanged grin.

He brought her hands to rest around his shoulders, and pressed a slow, soft kiss onto her lips, before snuggling back down onto her chest.

“You can take me off the patient books, I suppose.”

She laughed as she felt his smile against her skin. “I suppose I will,” she answered softly, still caught in the afterglow of her orgasm.

He picked his head up again and rested his chin on one hand as he drew circles on her collarbone. “But you’ll keep my appointment time open, won’t you?” He asked with eyes round and soft. “You’ll let me come back next week,” he paused to kiss her hand, “for this?” He asked as he rubbed his cheek against her palm.

She sighed. “Only if you say please.”

He grinned at her, the very picture of the cat who ate the canary. “Please?” He purred.

“Alright,” she conceded, and the dazzling smile was back before he kissed her soundly.

There was no doubt about it.

She was literally and figuratively fucked.

[kylobith]

Little Town Tails

Chapter 5: The First Butterflies

Summary: Halsin and Tav are given the chance to know each other a little bit better.

Ship/Pairing: Halsin x Fem!Tav

Trope: Modern AU, Meet-cute, Little countryside town, Cosy

Word count: 5,647

Read it on Ao3 here

Listen to the dedicated playlist on Spotify here

Emerald Grove goes through its first week as smoothly as a cog with the winds in its sails. Halsin welcomes a variety of animals in his consultation room for reasons as diverse as the species he has seen. From a routine checkup to heavier surgeries, every animal receives care and devotion in his practice, either from him or Karlach, who never skips on the chance to give the pets a good cuddle before they leave. A few of them need to remain under observation overnight, especially for older patients whose state requires closer monitoring. Before going home at the end of each shift, the tiefling makes sure to spend some quality time with the animals, giving them enough cuddles and kisses to last a lifetime, not hesitating to stay for an extra unpaid hour. Luckily, Halsin has found himself so grateful to have such a dedicated assistant that he does not hesitate to pay her for what they affectionately name ‘cuddle time’.

If anything, Karlach has only improved in her work. Fewer mistakes have been made when logging in patient information or appointments, and Halsin trusts her enough to make new patient files for those who desire to make him their pets’ designated veterinarian. She is a fast learner, constantly working on welcoming anxious owners in the best way possible, offering treats to the pets and sweets to the humans, always slipping one or two extra to the tiny ones.

Astarion’s work is just as qualitative. Halsin cleared the guest room in his own home so the vampire could sew in peace with a proper workspace and in a way that the noise will not disturb or frighten the animals. As promised, he enjoys quite a lot of freedom when choosing fabrics and patterns, and his first shirts were already given away to freshly operated pets in recovery. As far as they are aware, no problems with the shirts have been reported and, in fact, many owners and their children seemed to have felt more in control of the situation by being offered a choice in silly and cute patterns for the recovery shirts.

On Friday morning, everybody is busy with their own task at Emerald Grove. The faint whirring of the sewing machine can be heard through the ceiling, but not so much that it becomes a bother or that it startles you. Every so often, the floorboards crack when Astarion moves around the room to fetch new fabric, patterns or his equipment. Downstairs, playing Led Zeppelin through the speakers, Karlach hums along to the tunes while managing incoming emails or putting away the delivered kibble Halsin ordered on Wednesday.

In his office, Halsin reads the files of his afternoon patients once their previous veterinarians have transferred them over to him. While reading the medical history of a rat struggling with chronic severe itching to see what treatments have already been attempted, he hears his work phone ping. Startled by the sound, he chugs the cold tea he has forgotten, so focused he has been on the record. He grabs the telephone and unlocks it, seeing that a text message has come in.

‘Good morning Doctor Silverbough, would it be possible to make a medical report for Beaky’s injury? The lawyer from the APO advised me to get one to add more weight to the lawsuit against Mr Bongle. I hope that’s not too much trouble! Thank you in advance.’

Halsin smiles from ear to ear as he realises that it is from Tav. Without thinking, he puts the phone down and opens a new document on his computer to type in the medical report. He adds all the information he can cram into it, even seemingly minor details to be safe, and joins the X-rays taken of Beaky’s paw before and after surgery to the file. Once all is done, he takes his phone again to answer her.

‘Good morning Miss Ashguard, this is no problem at all, I am glad that you are asking and I am just as happy to provide for Beaky’s well-being. To which email address should I send it? Doctor Silverbough.’

Swiping his thumb down, he consults missed notifications and skips some of them. But right as he is about to open an important email, the phone vibrates. Tav answered already.

‘Would it be possible to print out two copies? I don’t have a printer and it seems that the lawyer is a bit old-fashioned. I will be in Heawick today, I can just pick them up.’

Feeling an odd tingle in his fingertips, Halsin smiles at the screen. On the computer, he sets out to print three copies of the file to be safe, then types in an answer.

‘They will be waiting for you in my office, then. Come by at any time. I can also put them aside for another day if you do not find the time to come, should that happen. Doctor Silverbough.’

Then, he hears the little doorbell and puts his phone in his pocket. Time for his duty.

Later on, when all morning consultations are done and the printed medical reports are sorted on his desk, Halsin peeks outside the window. For once, it is quite sunny and warm outside, even for an early spring day. He decides to take his lunch break outside. As he puts his jacket over his scrubs, he lets Karlach know that she can close the practice for half an hour, and that she and Astarion can use the spare key should they wish to fetch something to eat in town. Then, carrying his old cotton sandwich bag, he goes out.

The small park has never looked prettier than on this fine day. As he sits on a sunlit bench, fondly watching the ducks quacking around in the pond, he enjoys his lunch on his own. His phones are silenced for this half hour, his only music is the singing of the birds over his head, although the occasional car disrupts the otherwise harmonious setting. Even when he is done eating, he rests his elbows on the backrest and tilts his head back, welcoming the warmth kissing his traits.

The rustle of plastic bags pulls him out of his reverie. He cracks an eye open and sees Melly, the baker’s mother, dressed in her infamous duck cardigan and carrying her groceries. Out of politeness, Halsin stands up and smiles at the elderly lady.

‘Good afternoon, Melly,’ he greets her warmly. ‘Isn’t it nice to see the sun again after so much rain?’

‘Halsin! What a surprise!’ the woman beams. ‘Oh, quite pleasant, indeed! How has your week been, dear? Everything alright at the practice?’

He invites her to sit down on the bench next to him, gracefully taking the bags from her and holding her hand so she can lower herself onto the small seat. What an unpractical design. They set the bags between them and begin to chat merrily. He tells her about employing Astarion for pet shirts, and Melly is nothing but intrigued to hear about it. He omits the vampire’s legal issues, of course, not wishing to breach confidentiality in the way that the lawyer seems to have done to help his cases. 

‘Now this sounds like quite the week, dear!’ she says while rummaging through one of the bags. She takes out a box of chocolate biscuits and opens it, before pointing it at him. ‘Would you like to share?’

‘Oh, no, thank you Melly. I am trying to watch out. The renovations and the opening completely threw off my eating habits. I want to get back to healthy eating.’

‘Oh, dearie, the occasional snack has never hurt anybody. You should treat yourself from time to time. Still no?’

Halsin chuckles and hesitates for a second before reaching into the box to catch a biscuit. As she does so too, she clinks her cookie against his, as though she is toasting. They laugh and savour the treat in silence, watching the ducks and their bring new twigs towards the little floating nesting box that the town hall had built for them.

‘There should be ducklings about soon, I believe,’ he says enthusiastically.

‘You really do love ducks, Halsin, don’t you?’

There is no hint of judgment in Melly’s voice. Merely affection, as always. Ever since he moved to Heawick, she has given him unconditional support, despite her having no particular reason to do so. At first, it was curiosity that brought her out of the bakery to inquire about the works done to what was once a woodworker’s shop. After a lovely chat during which he invited her in for tea and she brought some pastries, she seemed to have taken a liking to him and never hesitated to watch him work from the bakery and bring him food if she noticed that he had not taken a break in a long time.

Despite his advanced age, Melly is the coddling grandmother he never had. Whenever he sees her, while feeling the urge to be courteous and mannered, he cannot help but feel some childlike joy ignite within him. If anything, she is one of the reasons why he has felt like home from the moment he set foot in Heawick.

‘Mh?’

Feeling the old lady nudge him playfully, he realises that he was lost in thought. He jolts and chuckles.

‘Oh, sorry. Yes, I love ducks. And bears. They are my absolute favourites.’

‘That is good to know. And that explains the little duck on your reception counter.’

Halsin laughs again and sees that Melly is trying to stand up. He rises to his feet and helps her up, then picks up her groceries from the bench.

‘Let me carry them for you,’ he offers.

‘Oh, no, no, son, don’t you bother. You have to go back to work! Besides, I’m stronger than you think for my age.’

She takes the bags from him and pretends to be lifting weights just to make him smile.

‘Well, it seems that you are happy with your week, Halsin, it warms my heart to see it,’ she chimes with a pinch of his cheek. I’ve already heard from Arfer that he was most satisfied with your methods and Clawdia was quite jolly afterwards herself!’

‘That is all that matters to me.’

‘In this case, you should head back. I will see bring you and your two colleagues some treats on Monday. Ta-ta!’

‘Bye, Melly!’

While he waves at her, he takes a step away and feels that his foot is crushing another under its weight and his shoulder knocks into someone’s chest. As the other person yelps and nearly loses balance, he quickly catches them. Embarrassment dusts his cheeks with rosy hues, which only deepen when his gaze meets a pair of beautiful turquoise eyes. His breath catches in his throat instantly. His heart races. If not already holding her by the arms, his palms would grow clammy.

‘Miss Ashguard!’ he blurts out breathlessly. ‘Oh, I apologise, I did not look where I was going. Did I hurt you?’

Tav’s face illuminates in a heartbeat as she recognises him.

‘Oh, hi, Doctor Silverbough! I wasn’t looking either, I’m sorry. But no, no, you didn’t hurt me. Are you alright?’

‘Oh, yes, yes.’

They stare into each other’s eyes for a split second, before clearing their throats and letting go of one another. Halsin scratches the back of his neck.

‘How is Beaky?’

‘He’s doing great! Recovering like a champ, I must say. I’m really glad that you took care of him. You did great.’

‘Thank you. And it was a pleasure.’

Tav tucks a lock of her fiery hair behind her pointy ear and points towards the path she is coming from.

‘Were you heading back to the practice?’

‘Indeed.’

‘May I walk with you?’

‘Of course! I have the files ready on my desk, you can already take them with you.’

‘Brilliant!’

As they walk out of the park side by side, Tav admires the town with her hands buried in her pockets.

‘Beaky’s already going outdoors again, by the way,’ she says, ‘I hope that it’s alright for his recovery. He just couldn’t stay put anymore if I left him indoors.’

‘Was it this bad?’ he inquires with an amused laugh, seizing the opportunity to take in her beauty, although he refuses to admit it, even to himself.

‘Oh, horrible! He kept horsing around, breaking stuff because he just didn’t feel comfortable inside. He almost knocked down my dad’s ashes. Now that would’ve been hell to clean from the rug.’

Halsin snaps his head around in concern. He observes her expression, which remains oddly calm after mentioning her father in such a nonchalant way.

‘I am sorry for your loss.’

‘Mh? Oh. That’s okay. I’m used to his absence by now, I suppose. Besides, he’d rather have me laugh about it than cry whenever I talk about him.’ ‘Were you two close?’

‘When I was younger we were,’ she says, burying her hands in her pockets. ‘But towards the end, we were constantly bickering about my career. He just didn’t approve of it. Not even a revelation in his last hours or anything. He hated it until the end.’

They reach the practice and enter. Karlach’s eyes illuminate with a blend of excitement and mischief as she recognises Tav and notices the fleeting glance she gives Halsin. The two women wave at each other and Halsin shows her to his office. On the desk is a stack of three coloured files of the same size. He picks them up and hands them over to her.

‘Beaky’s medical report. I made you three copies to be safe.’

‘Thank you so much,’ she chimes, taking them and briefly skimming the report. ‘That should be of great help.’

Halsin offers him a warm grin. Oddly, he is not eager for her to leave just yet. They may not have talked for long, but he feels the same tingles in his fingertips as he did when she texted him earlier this morning. What in the hells are they?

As she smiles bashfully at him and turns towards the door, his heart races and his mind nearly short-circuits. He wants to speak with her just a bit longer. Has he been a good host? Probably not. Why would he want to ask her to stay? Foolish. Stupid.

‘Would you like to stay for a cup of tea?’ he blurts out before he can stop himself, causing her to halt and peer over her shoulder at him. He suddenly wishes that he could disappear on the spot. Melt into a puddle. Deflate like a balloon and fly out the window. Catch fire. Anything. Why does he feel so giddy when she is around? He does not know her, neither she does him.

When she blinks while considering his offer, he wants to tell her that he is joking but he knows that he is not. He clears his throat and decides to play it smoothly.

‘I also have coffee and water, if that is more to your taste.’

Tav shrugs and grins. Such a beautiful sight.

‘Tea sounds heavenly.’

‘Right. Um. Have a seat,’ he says, pulling out his desk chair, the most comfortable he has ever sat on. ‘What kind? I can make you mint tea with honey.’

‘Like when I felt dizzy?’ she recollects, tilting her head in the most adorable way. ‘I would love that. It was delicious.’

Halsin nods and disappears into the kitchen to put the kettle on. Just like the first time he met Tav, he takes a moment to take deep breaths to calm his maddening heart. He cannot believe that he is losing his composure like a teenager experiencing puppy love. He is supposed to be professional and serious. This practice has been on his mind for nearly twenty years and he has finally fulfilled his dream. Is he going to throw it all away from the start by developing a crush on a pet’s owner? The first one to have ever walked in his practice, on top of that?

He cannot let this happen. Whatever this is, he must rationalise the situation. First of all, he knows next to nothing about her. Second, she is obviously younger than him, she would be better off with people her age. Third, he is being immature and he should perhaps take Karlach’s advice and sign up on one of these dating apps or sign up to a whittling or wildlife photography club in his free time. He would be meeting other people there. Other women. More appropriate relationship could occur there.

There. His heart is finally quiet. But the boiling kettle is not, yet he nearly misses its signal that the water is ready. He hastily prepares two cups of tea and brings them over to his office.

He finds Tav reading the report while gently swinging from side to side on his desk chair. When she hears his footsteps, she looks up and closes the files, putting them away for safety, should she accidentally spill her cup.

‘Thank you!’

Halsin smiles and sits in front of her on the stool that originally stood in his guestroom but swapped for the chair so Astarion can work comfortably. The clinking of her spoon against her cup as she stirs the honey while holding the branch of mint soothes him. His office often feels much too lonely, and finally having someone visit him there that is not Karlach or Astarion feels rather special to him.

‘So,’ he starts, trying to break the awkward silence, ‘you mentioned earlier that your father disapproved of your career. What awful path is it that you chose for him to be so against it?’

Tav chuckles and takes a first sip of the tea, grimacing as she burns her tongue.

‘I compose radio and commercial jingles.’

‘That is quite interesting, actually! Anything I might have heard?’

‘Probably not, unless you listen to the radio. The commercials aren’t broadcast widely, they’re mostly local.’

‘Do you like what you do, then?’

She shrugs and dares to take another sip, which finally comes easier to her. Just like him, she wraps her hands around the cup to savour its heat and takes a second to smell the mouth-watering blend of minty freshness and the heartwarming sweetness of the honey.

‘I do, but I wish I could aim higher. Ah, at least my schedule gives me enough free time to discover the region. Sometimes I can go for months without commissions, so I do need to find temporary jobs to survive. At least my dad taught me how to be a good moneysaver.’

‘That is important. I hope you will manage to sign bigger contracts, eventually.’

‘So do I,’ she grins. ‘Anyway. May I ask you when you settled down in Heawick? I can tell you’re not from here from your accent. It’s not too obvious, but there’s a hint of one. Are you from… the east?’

Halsin laughs softly and the tingles resume. Godsdammit. How dare she pay attention to the way he speaks?

‘I am! I arrived about six months ago. I bought the house upstairs and I am renting the office space for the practice. I find it somewhat silly that they came separately, but it is working so far. But I am hoping to buy it by next year, provided that all works well.’

‘Ah, yes, I remember the two being separate.’

‘How did you know?’

Tav drinks half of her cup, sighing contentedly as the drink flows down her throat.

‘I actually made an offer for the house. I made it to the final list, but it seems that your case was stronger than mine.’

He widens his eyes in surprise. The unreasonable voice in his brain whispers to him that it is fate bringing them together, but its resisting rival reminds him of the list he made in his mind earlier. He does not know her. She is younger. Dating apps.

Hiding his reaction as best he can, he takes a sip and 

‘I apologise, had I known…’

‘Oh, no, not at all! I’m glad you got it. Everyone’s so happy that the practice opened, you know? That was the talk in Combury for the whole week!’

Blushing at the idea that the idea he has been cultivating for years brought such joy to the community he has been meaning to serve and help. He cannot deny that the sole knowledge of it is bringing him to the highest highs. Within the first week, he has already achieved what he assumed would take months to establish. Yet trust is easily given within and across these towns, it seems. It is much different from where he comes from.

There, despite towns being as small and close to one another, few people reached such levels of altruism and compassion as he has experienced in Heawick. Where he grew up, too many members within the same circles turned on one another over the pettiest quibbles. That was precisely why his parents preferred to take him and retire into a tightly-knit community, closer to nature.

His love for animals and the environment stems from this peculiar upbringing. Reverting to a simpler way of life, Halsin was raised surrounded by the same familiar faces who took turns in caring for him whenever something came in the way. Whenever his mother or father became ill, there was always somebody jumping in to help with chores or with feeding him. If anybody encountered a problem in their life, the community strove to tend to them as best they could until the person finally jumped over the obstacle.

Meditation in the forest was commonplace as well, and he quickly learnt to care for the animals that inhabited it. Despite being homeschooled and isolated from the rest of civilisation, he often snuck out to study in libraries and research things that he had never heard about when among his folks.

Indeed, not everything about it was as idyllic as it may sound. If a member decided to leave and pursue other interests or another lifestyle, they were shunned and became the object of much gossip. If the person had children, then they could no longer come in contact with the children of the community, no matter how well they got along. Many ties were severed abruptly in his youth as more parents realised how this concept that, while coming from good intentions, had turned rotten and corrupt.

As soon as he was old enough to gain independence, Halsin fought to leave the community. While ‘civilisation’ in itself never particularly attracted him, he believed that there would be something in-between this seemingly carefree group and the bustling, polluted city. And he found it in little towns such as Heawick. Ever since he left his family, never to speak to them again, he stuck to smaller populations, which always brought him comfort from their numbers alone.

Adapting was decidedly difficult at first, but once he found a way to fend for himself with the support of charities and organisations meant to help people like him, living in the semi-civilised world began to feel natural. He received a proper education to fill in the gaps in his general and specialised knowledge, and he was eventually able to study to become a veterinarian. And it was during his studies already that the idea of opening his own practice to connect people and serve them sprouted.

Now, it has blossomed. And what a blossom it is!

Halsin finishes his tea and leans against the table beside him, gazing at Tav.

‘Why Combury, then? Since you wanted to settle in Heawick, why did you not look for other houses?’

‘The house on Birch Lane wasn’t on sale yet, so there weren’t any other options in Heawick itself. And… I don’t know, I really wanted to live by a forest, so Combury was the other logical choice. Now I’m renting my house, which is on the forest’s edge like yours, and I own a patch of field behind it because of Beaky.’

‘Does your landlord agree about Beaky living on the property?’

‘I didn’t tell him. That’s why I try to keep Beaky on the field as much as possible. He’s happier there anyway.’

He tilts his head in disapproval.

‘You should tell him. It is a bad idea to keep it from him. I would not want you to be in trouble because of your kindness towards Beaky. Perhaps you can compromise on certain things. Just… Do not leave them in the dark.’

‘I know, I will. I just don’t know what to tell him,’ she admits, drinking the rest of her cup. She then glances at her wristwatch and stands up. ‘I’m afraid I must go, I’ve got an appointment shortly.’

While Halsin stands up and gathers the cups, she grabs the copies of the medical report and slips them inside her bag. He escorts her back to the reception, even forgetting to take the empty teacups at all, so eager is he to spend every second with her. When they find themselves near Karlach’s desk, unknowingly piquing her curiosity again, Tav rummages through her bag.

‘How much do I owe you for the report and the copies?’

The question takes him aback. Perhaps he is supposed to charge her even a small fee for making him work on Beaky’s case again, but honestly, he does not have the heart to it. After all, if this lawsuit can help with granting her compensation for the strife caused by Mr Bongle while showing that the court cares about wild animals as much as it does pets, then he can only be glad to have participated.

‘Nothing at all,’ he says warmly. ‘It was my pleasure.’

‘Doctor Silverbough, you’ve worked on this file and used precious ink and paper so I could have everything. Please, tell me how much I owe you. It’s only fair.’

Halsin gently places his hands around hers as she pulls her wallet out of the back. Unbeknownst to him, Tav is a blushing mess when he does it. It only lasts a split second, yet it is enough to turn her assurance into bashfulness and to nearly create an explosion as Karlach suppresses the urge to scream ‘I told you so’. 

‘I insist. Beaky’s well-being and his safety are worth much more to me than money. I assure you.’

Tav sighs, but a smirk curves her rosy lips. She takes out a note equivalent to a hundred gold coins and slips it into the tip jar on Karlach’s desk. Both the veterinarian and his assistant stare with wide eyes as she does so, not having anticipated her gesture, let alone the amount that she put in.

Before he can react at all, Tav takes his hand and gives it a firm shake, adding to his sheepishness.

‘Thank you again for your help, Doctor Silverbough.’

Halsin sighs as though he has been holding his breath for a thousand years. Still shaken up by her donation, his handshake is not as firm as he means it to be, and he wonders whether she would take it as an insult. Probably not. The people in his region would, though.

‘Thank you for… Well. The donation. Thank you.’

Tav chuckles and shakes his hand again, and this time, he does not disappoint.

‘Have a good week-end, Doctor Silverbough.’

‘You too, Miss Ashguard.’

‘Goodbye, Miss Cliffgate!’

Karlach, quite speechless from the scene she has just witnessed, waves at her with a smile. She cannot help but boil inside as she suppresses the flaming hot urge to gossip about Halsin’s crush on Tav with Astarion.

Once Tav has left, Halsin is still facing the door, quite dumbfounded. He then hears a hardly dissimulated squeal as Karlach stomps her feet on the floor and drums her fingers on her desk.

‘Doc, do I get to tell you “I told you so” or not yet?’

He peers over his shoulder at her, raising an eyebrow.

‘Sorry?’

‘You have the ninth-layer-of-the-hells-hots for Miss Ashguard! Look at you, Doc! What was that about? Her touching your hand? Shaking it twice?!’

‘You are reading too much into things, Karlach.’

Halsin attempted to distract himself from the allegation by taking a distracted look at his agenda and checking the time. The tiefling elbows him playfully and pokes her own nose.

‘I’ve got a flair for romance, doc. Who do you think played matchmaker with Astarion? He’s married now!’

‘Miss Ashguard is the owner of an animal who happened to be treated and operated here. Our relations are purely professional. I have a code of honour.’

‘But you’re dying to breach it. I can sense it.’

Growing frustrated by the situation more than by Karlach, he rolls his eyes and prepares the consultation room for the rat with recurring skin rashes. The rest of the days goes by as smoothly as the rest of the week, and there comes the time for the team to close up shop for the week-end. Astarion joins them, carrying his sewing machine and a bundle of pet shirts of all sizes he gives to Halsin. Once he has taken a brief look and approved of them, he brings them over to the small storage room and sorts them into several boxes according to species and size.

While the vampire fetches the rest of his personal equipment and brings them downstairs, Karlach squeals as she gazes out the glass door. Halsin frowns and comes by her side to observe what is going on. Coming out of an indigo car is a man about ten years younger than him with brown and grey hair combed back yet maintaining a carefully tousled appearance. His purple shirt is unbuttoned at the top, revealing some of his chest hair and a peculiar symbol tattooed into his skin. In his hand wearing a simple golden band, he carries a thick bouquet of red roses.

Astarion, hating when he is left out of gossip, comes to look with them and lets out a groan.

‘Ugh, he should know by now that I hate flowers. What a silly gift!’

Halsin rolls his eyes with a smile and unlocks the door as the man approaches. He holds out his hand to him.

‘Hello, you must be Mr Dekarios-Ancúnin!’

Gale chuckles and shakes his hand firmly, acknowledging Karlach with a bright grin and a wink.

‘Just Dekarios, actually. I’m afraid that only one of us was allowed to change his name, and Astarion insisted,’ he responds with his usual charming demeanour. ‘You must be Doctor Silverbough.’

‘Halsin is fine. Please, come on in.’

‘Then Gale is fine too! Thank you.’

Upon seeing Astarion, who is forcing a smile despite hating the fact that he is being given flowers, Gale beams with pride and affection unlike anything Halsin has ever witnessed before.

‘Hello, my love!’ he chimes, going towards his husband to kiss him. ‘This is for you, for completing your first week without being fired!’

He laughs merrily, before slipping his hand into the vampire’s.

‘Jokes aside, I’m so extraordinarily proud of you, Astarion. Really. So I thought that maybe we could celebrate it tonight?’

‘Mh. Thanks,’ Astarion replies curtly at first. Thankfully, his grimace does not last as he notices the sincerity in his husband’s gaze. He returns the kiss and nuzzles the other man’s nose. ‘Fine.’

‘Great! I already have something planned.’

‘Ugh, this better be a hot bath with candles and wine.’

Gale simply winks, yet this is enough for Astarion to smile giddily. The teacher picks up the sewing equipment to help his husband carry it to the car. Everybody goes their own way, the couple to their car, Karlach to her motorcycle, and Halsin upstairs to his home.

After this busy day, Halsin takes a warm shower and only puts some underwear on before dragging his feet, clad in bear-shaped slippers, towards the couch. He lies down on it and covers himself with his favourite plaid, before switching the television on. He zaps from channel to channel until he finds a documentary on the ocean’s wildlife. He makes himself comfortable and takes a moment to finally relax after work, doing something he truly loves.

That is, until his work phone pings.

He sighs and picks it up from the coffee table to check the notification. His face instantly illuminates as he sees Tav’s name on the screen.

‘Thank you again for the reports! You’re truly an angel! I forgot to ask you something earlier, I was wondering if you’d accept to be Beaky’s designated vet? Like people have their own GP?’

Without the need to think, his thumbs type his answer.

‘It was my pleasure, Miss Ashguard. I usually do not do this, but Beaky was an exemplary patient, so why not? I will create the patient file over the week-end, so you have nothing to worry about. Enjoy your evening. Doctor Silverbough.’

He runs a hand across his face and places the phone beside him on the blanket to divert his attention back to the documentary, which is now showing footage of a shoal of fish swimming in a set pattern. Nothing short of mesmerising.

When the ringtone plays again, he instantly check his screen with an impressive reflex.

‘Thank you! Apparently, that’s the only thing I’m able to say to you, haha! Enjoy your week-end, doctor, see you next week!’

Next week? Huh. Beaky’s appointment is not before two weeks. Ah, for now, it does not matter. He will see her then. If he gets to see her in the week to come, he will be just as glad.

The prospect alone releases butterflies in the pit of his stomach.

Taglist: @emmanuellececchi @cakenpiewhyohmy @reignydeys

[pedros-immaculate-vibes]

Okay so instead of the doctor Halsin fanfic that I haven’t started (yet) or the paramedic SILVERBOUGH/Professor Dekarios fanfic I HAVE started, I’m adding a chapter to A Peaceful Elf

YAY UPDATES

there’s a lot of chit chat in this one and it’s mostly from Astarion’s POV, bc we love him.

[pickel182]

~Taking Your Work Home ~

Summary: Dr. Kamilla Silverbough’s patient-turned-lover arrives for his weekly visit to her apartment, away from prying eyes. She may not be his doctor any longer, but this week there was something new he wanted to try.

Rating 18+

Porn with Feelings, Inappropriate Behavior, Dom/sub Undertones, Penis In Vagina Sex, Creampie, Strip Tease, Clothed Sex

WC: 2,126

**********************

She knew better than to put all of her eggs in the basket of Astarion Ancunín, but when he dipped her backwards into a dramatic kiss at the door, all of her better judgment must have fallen out of her. That was until he unceremoniously scooped her up and pressed cold hands against her back beneath her blouse.

“Put me down you lout!” She cried in performative outrage, rendered less effective by her squeals and giggles. “I can walk, you know.” She insisted, even as she linked her hands behind his neck.

He turned his sad, garnet eyes on her, knowing good and well she’d never deny him anything. “Oh, but you’re such a little thing- far too easy to lift. I’m afraid I cannot resist.” He silenced any further protests by claiming her mouth with his, relishing in her little hums and sighs as he brought them to her bed.

Kamilla buried her face in the crook of his neck, wallowing in the mingled scents of rosemary, bergamot, and brandy that clung to his skin. “I missed you,” she admitted.

He squeezed her tight against him, burying his nose in her dark hair. “I would have come whenever you called, my sweet. You may remember,” he started, as he tugged her hair gently, tilting her head back, “that it was your idea that we keep to once a week.”

She didn’t want to admit the reason for that decision. If he saw her more often, the novelty might wear off. She was ashamed to admit that very little struck fear into her heart like the thought of the fairy tale coming to an end. So she did what she thought was best to ward off the midnight chimes.

Her silence was enough of a reply for him to follow her train of thought. “If it’s me you’re concerned about, I’ll remind you that this is off the books now, and that’s not what this is anymore.” He sighed as he pressed his forehead against hers. “And if it’s you that you’re trying to protect, then I’ll just have to keep proving it to you. I’m not going anywhere.” He insisted, punctuating his promise with a kiss.

She willed herself back into the moment, not wanting to waste more of their time with her anxieties. “You’re very sweet, you know,” she murmured against his lips as he brushed them across hers.

He let out a shaky breath that betrayed concern under the careful calm he had worn to reshape her. “I am! And beautiful,” he added with a pout. “Not enough people mention that.”

Kamilla felt the rustle of a shopping bag against one of her legs as she straddled him. She must not have noticed it on his arm while he had literally swept her off her feet. “What’s this?” She asked eagerly, grateful to move away from such profound conversations that were doomed to make her even more attached.

“Something new,” he replied, lowering his lashes in a way that made a blush rise up her chest. He set the bag on the floor and brought his hand back to tangle in her hair. “Kiss now, surprise later.”

She was all too happy to comply.

Gods, how could anyone ever get used to this?

His cool hands slid up the back of her shirt, splaying against her back to press her against him. She sighed as his tongue gently prodded against her lips seeking entry. Straddling him like this meant that she was already spread open for him, clenching against nothing as he nipped and sucked at her bottom lip.

It wasn’t fair that he had her already panting by the time that his hands had moved to cup her breasts, teasing her over her font-clasp bra. He expertly alternated between light caresses and quick pinches that stiffened her nipples to the point where the fabric between them was sheer agony. One deft twist of his hand, and the bra fell open, rewarding her with a sinful groan as he palmed her soft flesh.

He canted his hips upward slightly, making her gasp as his rock hard length somehow pressed just right against her swollen clit. “It’s already weeping for you, little love,” he purred into her ear.

Her head fell back as he guided her hips over that bulge, allowing her to just barely grind against him. “Oh, Astarion,” she sighed breathlessly. “Astarion,” she sighed his name once more around a set of whimpers.

The soft color on his cheeks traveled up his pointed ears as a soft moan escaped his lips. “I do rather like that, you know,” he murmured. He planted a soft kiss onto her mouth, and moved to her off of his lap so that she would stand.

Kamilla whined at the loss of friction even as she did just as she was bid, and stood before him.

Fuck. How can anyone be so handsome? She thought. He leaned back on his hands, hair delightfully disheveled, and lips kiss-swollen and flushed. She swore she saw his thick cock twitch in his trousers as he spoke.

“Take off your clothes. All of them. Now.”

She pulled her shirt over her head as slowly as she dared, and let it drop to the floor. He had already done some of the work unclasping her bra, so she lingered a little longer than was necessary over her nipples on the way up to sliding the garment off her shoulders.

His eyes never left her body as he hastily unbuttoned and unzipped his trousers, and began to work his throbbing length over with his hand as she stripped for him.

She peeled off her leggings to reveal lacy lingerie beneath. The scant lace thong was already soaked, and she shivered as his eyes widened taking in the garters attached to thigh-high stockings. She brought one leg up beside him to slide the garter and stocking down.

He continued to slowly stroke himself as she brought the other leg up to repeat the motion. His brow creased with what looked like great effort not to pick up the pace to chase his own pleasure.

His unfettered desire was a drug like no other, and she wasn’t quite done getting her fix. As she slid her panties down off her hips, the evidence of her arousal stretched in a single translucent string between her outer lips and the fabric.

Astarion’s breath caught at the sight. Before she could let the panties fall, she was tugged on top of him again on the edge of the bed. He fell backward and pulled her with him as he shoved her discarded underwear in his pocket.

He bunched his shirt up over his abdomen to get it out of their way, revealing sculpted muscles and pale skin that made her insides flutter.

She reached for his member below her and marveled at the perfection of the velvety smooth skin over that hardness, and the slip of the precum seeping out of the tip. She stroked down and back up again, and he groaned and thrust up against her palm.

The head of his cock slid along her folds, gathering wetness as she guided him to her entrance.

She couldn’t help but quiver and clench as she slid down inch by inch as he stretched her. She gasped out his name as she withdrew to lower herself onto him, greedy for more of his length.

He gripped at the sheets and whined with the effort it took not to just thrust and bury himself to the hilt right away. His thighs flexed as he felt her juices dripping down his shaft.

A long, desperate moan tumbled out of her on the last few inches, just before he grabbed her hips and pushed into her so hard that she felt his balls throbbing against her.

He pulled her down for a kiss as she squirmed on his cock, and he repositioned her hands so that they were resting on his chest. She’d driven him near mad with want, and now it was time to pay the piper.

Astarion held her in place as he ravaged her mouth, nicking her lips with his fangs in the process. The taste of her blood mingling with their kiss devastated the last reserves of his restraint as he planted his heels on the bed.

Kamilla gasped as he drew back suddenly, and her body protested his retreat, inner walls grasping and clenching in an attempt to keep him in place. She cried out with the force of his next thrust, and as she tried to sit up again for more leverage to ride him, one hand closed around her throat faster than her mortal eyes could have detected his movement.

He narrowed his eyes as he held her

In place, and began a slow rolling of his hips against her. “You’ve had your fun, my dear, but now it’s my turn. You’re going to hold still while I set the pace, is that clear?”

The hand on her neck and his cock stretching her below had scrambled her brain, and stole her reply. He tightened his grip ever so slightly, and got her attention again with a rough thrust.

“Is that clear, Kamilla?” He asked again, his voice dropping to a growl around her name.

“Yes!”

Yes, what?

“Yes, Astarion.” She panted out as his hips began to snap against hers.

“Good girl.”

He tangled his hand in her hair and brought her back down for another kiss. One particularly more particularly delicious thrust, and she buried her face in his chest, muffling a moan.

“Eyes on me, lover,” he chided, as he tugged her hair back to bring her eyes back to his.

The mixture of lust and pure adoration in his eyes made her heart lurch. He changed the angle of his next thrust, hitting just the right spot deep inside her to make her cry out with every jerk of his hips to follow.

Astarion claimed her mouth again, now with a more desperate edge. “You’re so godsdamed perfect,” he gasped out, between kisses. “Every time.”

Kamilla was so close already, but wanted to see him come undone too. She clenched tighter around him, squeezing him as he pounded into her, and was rewarded immediately as his head fell back with a whimpered curse.

He picked up the pace of his thrusting, making her vision blur at the edges as ecstasy hurdled ever closer. His curls had fallen out of place onto his forehead, and sweat broke across out across his brow with the effort of not cumming. He was the most beautiful thing she’d ever seen, gasping out her name like a prayer as she met every thrust of his hips.

He sucked his thumb into his mouth for a moment before reaching between them to find her clit.

“Ah! Fuck!” She cried out. It was too much, she was going to cum soon, and even as that clever thumb worked over her bud while he pummeled her cunt from below, there was still something else she needed.

“Cum with me,” she begged, hands scrambling for purchase at the front of his shirt.

He kept rubbing her clit while the other hand closed around her hip, and his eyes rolled back as his thrusts became rougher, more erratic, urgent.

Her orgasm struck savagely, lighting every inch of her on fire and stealing her breath. She clung to him screaming a garbled mess of cries mingled with his name as she convulsed.

Both his hands seized her hips as he thrusted once, twice, and once more, as deep inside her as he could manage before his world ripped apart at the seams. A long, rough groan tore from his lips as he jerked inside her, flooding her with bursts of his cum.

They lay there for a long time after, tangled in a mess of limbs and rapid breath. He lifted her off of him gently, and moaned while she gasped at the flooding rush of wetness that was released once his cock slid out of her.

Her wobbly limbs made her feel boneless as he tucked her into his side. Kamilla drifted toward sleep as he kissed her temple, sighing contentedly, before realizing she had forgotten all about the bag on the floor at the foot of the bed.

“My surprise,” she murmured sleepily into his shoulder.

Astarion chuckled softly as he stroked her hair. “Later, my treasure.” His cheeks warmed at the thought. Even soft, his cock stirred at the thought of the strap on and harness he had brought for her.

His darling was going to need a little rest if she was to peg him properly. He was content to bask in her warm comfort and the afterglow of their coupling.

For now.