Chapter Text
Summary: Karlach's fiery exterior has some unexpected upsides
Pairing: None
Word Count: 749
Karlach hadn’t touched anyone in months. Years? It was hard to tell after being in the Hells so long. She curled in on herself, tight, her fifth bedroll growing charred like all the others. Karlach wondered if Dammon would really be able to invent another upgrade—another miracle she wasn’t sure she deserved. She wondered if Gale would think she was pathetic if she asked for a Mage Hand to hold through the night.
When the footsteps came Karlach had a hand on her ax before she’d even registered the sound. Then new instincts kicked in and she relaxed, turning with a sleepy smile.
“Hey, soldier.”
Tav grunted, yawning hugely behind the blanket they’d wrapped about them like a cloak. They’d doused the fire hours ago—too risky with so many goblins nearby—but Karlach could see Tav shivering, hard enough that their teeth were likely to wake the whole camp. They all but collapsed into the dirt beside her and Karlach couldn’t help but grin at their muffled exclamation. It sounded faintly… relieved?
“You good? Want to share with the class?
“You’re warm.”
Karlach blinked. Yeah? Duh. Obviously. That had been her problem for a while now. ‘Molten and scalding with the power of the literal Hells’ was a better way to put it, but she supposed ‘warm’ wasn’t wrong. She was just about to warn Tav off getting too close when they rolled over with a groan, tension bleeding out of their frame until there was just a Tav-shaped puddle framed in the moonlight. They cracked an eye, sheepish.
“You don’t mind, do you? No way I’ll sleep otherwise.”
“What do—?”
Oh. Wait. Tav was cold and she was warm.
Gaping, Karlach shook her head. She tried to say something witty and reassuring, but all that came out was a strangled noise that rang with a gratitude she couldn’t explain—didn’t even realize was going to leave her throat. That must have been enough for Tav though because they mirrored their body to Karlach’s and tucked the blanket tighter, releasing a hand only to wave lazily at the shadows behind them.
“There’s still room,” they called.
“Thank Mystra for that,” Gale said, shuffling quickly into view. He blew on his hands before cocking his head in consideration. “Ah, but that would make me remiss in my thanks, wouldn’t it? Thank Karlach, rather,” and he gave her a bow that was ruined when he tumbled down beside her. “Blasted knees!”
Tav snorted. “Old man.”
“I’ll have you know I am a perfectly respectable age for a human and it is merely this gods’-awful cold that is wreaking havoc on my joints.”
“Chk. You would not last a day in the Astral Plane, wizard. There, it grows cold enough to leave frost on your limbs and enemies shatter when you pierce them, leaving blood-red crystals behind.”
“Is your acclimation to such harsh conditions why you’re joining this little party?”
Lae’zel and Shadowheart approached as a pair, the two of them jostling for space near Karlach’s feet. She resisted the urge to pull back, keep them safe, because Shadowheart sported a rare smile and Lae’zel was arching towards Karlach like a lizard seeking the sun. They brought with them bedrolls and blankets—clear plans to stay.
A pair of red eyes suddenly appeared, hovering ominously for a moment before they solidified into Astarion, surveying the group.
“Well, aren’t you all just adorable,” he purred. “The fearsome defenders of Faerûn felled by a cold night. I’m feeling safer already.”
“Not all of us are blessed with a spawn’s resistance to cold.” Wyll passed by Astarion’s shoulder, pausing only a fraction of a moment before snagging his collar and dragging him along. The fact that Astarion let him wasn’t half as shocking as the smile Wyll gave her while fluffing up his pillow, like having Karlach there was a gift.
One all of them were determined to appreciate.
They settled around her in perfect symmetry then: two above, two below, and one on either side. Karlach thought about saying, “Thank you.” Maybe, “Love you.” The words were still caught in her throat though, too heavy now for the gentle sound of six friends breathing in comfort. Karlach couldn’t disturb that.
So instead she concentrated on the feeling of other bodies lying near and the relaxation gracing Tav’s face. She couldn’t touch them, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t touched.
Smiling, Karlach let the purr of her heart lull them into sleep.