Chapter Text
Grendan didn’t spend a lot of time in dwarven areas. Their parents didn’t quite understand their life choices, and while they weren’t exactly disowned, they never felt particularly welcome there either. Between the dog walking, their other various odd jobs, and spending time with York and Rosé, there just wasn’t much point in going to a dwarf-owned tavern. They didn’t think they missed the lifestyle. They certainly weren’t a heavy drinker anymore, they could tell that just from the way their head was spinning after only a few mugs of ale.
Maybe they should’ve eaten more before they came. It had been quiet that day, too quiet clearly considering they were here. York was out of town for some modeling gig. Rosé had become absorbed in a new anime and while they had tried to keep up at first, she was a handful of episodes ahead and they didn’t want to deal with the spoilers. Their dog walking job that day had fallen through, and Jancy was busy with some official case, and now Grendan was at a tavern.
They probably should’ve gone for a day in the park instead. They sighed, pushing away their half-finished mug as they considered if that was still an option. Were they drunk enough to be arrested for public intoxication? They didn’t think they were that bad yet.
Before they could figure that mystery out, a shadow fell over them, and they glanced up at the stranger who had sidled in next to them.
“Hey there,” he greeted, giving Grendan an almost confident grin. “Hardwon Surefoot. What’s your deal?”
He was human, that was easy to tell from his height and the round curve of his ear, but he wore dwarven braids in his beard. They let their eyes drift over them - no familial braids that they were familiar with, no marriage braids or fancy ornamentation, just some indicating loyal friendship and achievements in mining - then they met his eyes again.
“What’s… my deal?” they asked and his eyes widened at their voice. They wanted to be offended, but they couldn’t help but laugh at the surprise on his face. “Uh, I’m a dog-walker I guess. Or a detective, depending who you ask.”
“That’s… cool,” he said, stumbling over his words. He glanced behind him, not at all subtle as he made an odd gesture with his hand. “I like your dress.”
“Thanks.” They leaned around him to peek at who he was signaling to. A wood elf and a halfling man waved at them before another halfling who couldn’t be older than a teenager swatted at both of them. “Is your kid allowed in here?”
“He’s not my- Beverly’s mature, alright? We’re adventurers, tavern owners let us keep him around as long as we rent a room.” Hardwon huffed, more flustered than annoyed, and Grendan grinned. “You still haven’t told me your name.”
“Grendan,” they replied, letting the second ‘N’ fall silent as they returned to his gaze.
“You’re a lady, then?” Hardwon asked and Grendan rolled their eyes at the familiar question. Still, he seemed genuinely curious and he was nice so far.
Summoning a courage that they didn’t think they had - stolen from Rosé, mostly, she was the best at flirting even if she still sucked at it - they replied, “buddy, I’m whatever you want me to be.”
A beat of silence. “Explain that to me?”
Hardwon was funny when he wasn’t putting his foot in his mouth. Well, he was then as well, but Grendan felt a little bad laughing at him. He had the same vibe as a kicked dog, and Grendan had always been soft for doe-eyed animals.
It was equally mean to call Hardwon an animal, but Grendan had to allow themself something. He certainly ate like one, ordering a round of wings for both of them before tearing into three-quarters of the food. Grendan didn’t think they had ever felt like a neat eater before.
“So you guys caught the guy who did it and he had some weird train lab?” Hardwon’s eyes were wide again as Grendan nodded. “That’s awesome!”
They buried their face in their mug, hiding a grin. They had swapped to water a while ago, but they didn’t think Hardwon had noticed. “I mean, you’re the one waging city-wide wars or whatever. That’s much more impressive than me.”
“I mean, yeah,” Hardwon said, waving a hand. He wasn’t modest, by any means. It reminded Grendan of York a little bit, a thought that made their grin even worse. “But around here, that’s about as close as you get to monster fighting. You guys are crazy peaceful in Fancy Town. I thought it was some freaky cult at first, but then we realized the surrounding towns are the same way, so we’re just in vacation mode now.”
“Well, we’re honored to have you guys,” they said, touching his arm with their hand. He jumped as if he had received a static shock. Adorable. “We get a lot of people coming through here, but I’ve never talked to many adventurers.”
“What, no murders caused by traveling goons?”
“We haven’t been trusted with a murder case since Sorin.” Grendan laughed and Hardwon joined in. “We’ve saved a lost dog, I guess, but the train thing felt like we mostly stumbled through to an answer.”
“I mean, that’s how me and the boobs do everything,” Hardwon joked back, propping his chin on the palm of his hand, and Grendan leaned back in their chair.
Grendan wasn’t exactly used to male attention, or female attention, or any attention outside of York and Rosé (and that was different anyways). They didn’t think they were lonely, not really, their partners were more than enough, but it was nice to feel wanted. Especially by a man almost as big as York with intricate dwarven braids and a charming smile. They let their eyes wander, tracing down the muscle of his arms, and Hardwon cleared his throat.
“You know, if you’re free tonight, I can afford another room.”
Grendan blinked, processing for a moment before a warm flush filled their face. Without thinking, they replied, “oh, I don’t think Rosé would like that very much.”
Hardwon’s face fell and Grendan cringed, their own words catching up with them. “I didn’t- you’re not wearing- you’re taken? Your braids didn’t indicate that.”
“Oh, I don’t really uh, do dwarven braids. Bad history with my family.” Grendan shook their head. Not the thing to focus on there. “Uh, my relationship status is complicated, but I am available! I just share a bed with my… with my Rosé. And York, but he’s not home.”
Hardwon blinked. “I mean, I share a bed with Moonshine and Bev. They don’t mind not sharing for a night that much.”
“I’m sure my situation is a little more complicated than that.” Grendan sighed, dragging their finger through the condensation on the bar. “We are together but like- It’s not wholly an open thing- Do you know what queerplatonic means?”
“Not at all,” Hardwon said, far too chipper, and they laughed.
“You’re so cute,” slipped from their mouth. Hardwon lit up like a pet offered a scrap from the dinner table. “It’s just a dedicated relationship without the romantic feelings. It’s hard to explain, but Rosé will worry if I’m not back, and York likes to know who we’re out dating or sleeping with or whatever. That’s all that really matters.”
“Right, right.” Hardwon nodded, a distant look in his eye implying he didn’t get it, but oh well. Grendan’s family didn’t either. Most people didn’t seem to. “Why don’t you do braids for that? I mean like, I get having a shitty relationship with your family, but don’t they trump that?”
“I guess I just don’t do dwarf stuff in general anymore. It’s kind of bizarre that I’m at this place at all.” Grendan reached out to grab the loose end of one of Hardwon’s braids, tugging on it. Miner. A good one. “They don’t exactly have braids for dog whispering, and this is kind of the first time in a while that my beard had been long. I use to keep it short to piss my family off.”
Hardwon leaned in at the tug. Grendan was pretty sure he could hear some gasps from across the tavern and they grinned. “That’s kind of hardcore. I mean, I’d rather get shot in the back of the head than lose my beard. But the principle of it all is cool.”
“Thanks, man.” They wrapped the braid around their finger, only half-aware of themself as Hardwon turned red. “I should probably get home soon.”
“Yeah,” Hardwon replied, disappointment clear in his voice, and Grendan gave him a crooked smile.
“Do you want like, my phone number?”
Hardwon’s brow furrowed. “Is that sending stone compatible?”
When Grendan got home about an hour later, Rosé was making tea in the kitchen. It was a quarter past midnight. She was using the caffeinated mix anyways, headphones pulled over her ears as she bobbed her head to whatever she was listening to.
“Hi, Grandma!” She swayed her hips as she danced over to them, bending over to kiss the top of their head. “Ew, you smell.”
“I met a guy at the bar,” they responded, not dignifying her jab with a response, and she gasped. In a moment, her headphones were thrown onto the counter and she had both hands on their shoulders, leaning down in their face.
“Tell me everything!”
Grendan laughed, their cheeks warming in embarrassment, and they started explaining their night.