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Karlach noticed that the Shadow Cursed Lands are especially hard on Astarion. Not because he minds never seeing the sun—that is something he loves to complain about but that doesn't actively bother him—but because he keeps going hungry. None of the wildlife here can sustain him and Karlach knows that he's too proud to ask for a meal every night.
Or at all, that is.
This, of course, leads to Astarion being weaker and slower in combat, his movements sluggish and his steps bordering on stumbles, almost as if he's drunk. It had to come bite them in the ass eventually and Karlach realizes too late that maybe tiptoeing around Astarion too much isn't the right strategy when it comes to feeding.
Giving him time is good. She knows that. She knows it's the right thing. But him going hungry for days on end and then almost dying because of it, that's simply not alright. Karlach will not allow it to happen again.
She's so relieved that Wyll and her are both there when push comes to shove while they're fighting that fucked up drider and his crew. Karlach isn't exactly scared of spiders, but she's also not terribly fond of them and this huge dude who looks like some sort of fucked up centaur is not doing it for her at all.
Especially not when she saw him trying to slash Astarion into tiny little, undead pieces.
After the fight she hoists him up to carry him, putting his arms around her neck while holding up his knees in a very limp piggyback style. He weighs way too little, that twig of a man.
She can feel his breath tickle the side of her neck and Karlach sighs into the shadows as she carries him, wondering when her stupid dick will finally get over the fact that she won't be getting any action any time soon. Astarion almost died and her skin is on fire just because he's breathing on her neck.
For fuck's sake, Cliffgate, get your priorities straight.
"Hey, Fangs", she mumbles, turning her head as far back as she can so she doesn't have to talk too loudly. Astarion mumbles something unintelligible and his lips move against her skin.
She's so normal about all of this.
"You can feed on me, if you'd like. Right now, I mean. Get some of that strength back."
Karlach knows that some people are really into the whole blood drinking thing and she won't kinkshame anyone, but for her it's just offering a sandwich to someone who's been starving for a long time and well. She doesn't mind any accompanying pain. She wonders if her blood tastes weird because it's not pumped through her body by an actual heart but by a machine.
"I'm fine", Astarion sniffs. Karlach snorts.
"Stop being so difficult about this. I know you're hungry as fuck. Just do it already."
There's a pause and then she can feel Astarion's arms tighten around her as he pulls himself up a little bit to get a better angle on her throat. Karlach cocks her head to the side a little to give him better access. Then his teeth find purchase and he starts sucking. Hard.
Karlach grits her teeth through the pain and the wooziness accompanying the process. Astarion drinks and drinks, his gulps getting greedier with each second and Karlach wonders if he'll stop on his own accord or if she'll have to stop him before she passes out in the middle of this cursed landscape.
Astarion's arms shift one of his hands comes to rest on her chest, right above her infernal engine. If Karlach had a heart, it would beat so fucking fast right now. This feels less like a necessary grip to hold onto her and more like a hug. Astarion isn't really the hugging type, though. So maybe this is all wishful thinking.
After what feels like forever Astarion detaches from Karlach's neck and he's breathing hard when he does. Karlach wants to ask if he's alright, if he feels any better, when his tongue darts out to lick off any remaining blood drops off the side of her neck. She makes a sound at the back of her throat and the flames that always flicker over her skin flare for a second.
Yup. No big deal. She's so, so brave about all of this.
"Feeling any better?", she asks and her voice sounds as if she ate three pounds of chalk. Great. She'll have to go jerk off in the bathtub later. Again.
"Much better", he says, his voice also hoarse. Then, very quietly: "Thank you, darling."
"Don't mention it. And—uh. Just. Whenever you need it, yeah?"
His grip around her tightens some more.
"This is a gift", Astarion mumbles. "I won't forget it."