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There comes a time in every rogue's life where they end up in a jail cell, beaten to hell because they ran their cocky little mouth after failing to steal something that’s usually easy to steal. The reason… a coin pouch, it’s always a coin pouch.
On the floor of a dim, disgustingly damp and cold, tiny jail cell lies a relatively young half elf who looks like he was just thrown in here without a care in the world. His face bloody and a black eye staring to form, cloak haphazardly draped over him obscuring his dark leather armour and blood red tunic. Black hair streaming down like a river that collects on the stone floor and spills over his pale face.
The half elf isn’t woken by the first person that gets shoved in here, they don’t stay long anyway, but he is woken by the second. He doesn’t move until he’s poked repeatedly by a tiny and sharp finger. He turns his head to look at whatever is poking him and is greeted by a small green face that he only sees for a moment before it moves away extremely quickly. He sits up slowly, containing a groan of pain and leans against the cold stone wall.
“…I really don’t care what you are just don’t poke me with your pointy little finger” the half elf sighs, tilting his head back. He sits there for a moment doing nothing before looking around for the creature, who he spots huddled up in the back corner of the cell obscured by shadow. The half elf is about to say something again but is interrupted by the cell door slamming open and a disheveled ginger man is shoved in with so much force he faceplants the floor. As quick as it was opened the door slams shut.
The ginger man pushes himself up and sits against the opposite wall to the half elf and he looks like he smells terrible, which he does, could smell him from a mile away. The cell sits in silence for what feels like an eternity before the half elf speaks.
“So what’s a poor man like you doing in a place like this?” The half elf tilts his head, making his battered features more obvious.
“..they thought I stole something” the ginger man responds in a rough zemnian accent.
“Did you?” The half elf asks, not really expecting an answer.
“..yes” the zemnian man lowers his head.
“Well that makes two of us though you got better treatment than I did.. clearly didn’t run your mouth” the half elf chuckles bitterly and glances over at the small shadow in the corner.
“We don’t bite you know.. well I don’t, I don’t know at this other guy but he seems harmless, kinda like a wet cat”
The little shadow moves into the dim light hesitantly, at first glance you would think they’re a child until you see the green skin and pointed teeth.
“See not so bad..” The half elf sits up a little.
“Well seeing as we’re stuck in here for a while maybe we should get to know each other” the cell falls silent, nobody else wants to talk.
“Not big talkers.. that’s fine we don’t have to talk.. just sit here in silence forever and slowly go crazy “ the half elf sighs, messing with the hem of his cloak.
The silence stretches on for a long while, all that’s heard is breathing and shifting.
“…I may have a way to get us out of here” the zemnian man breaks the silence.
“Oh please I am all ears” the half elf replies.
“..I..I know a spell that can open the door” the ginger looks towards the door.
“Well what are you waiting for?” The small green one finally speaks.
“..I do not know either of you.. how do I know you would not betray me as soon as the door is open” the ginger looks back at the other two and the room falls silent again.
“We could get to know each other like I suggested before “ the half elf suggests and is followed by more silence.
“Gods you two don’t really talk a lot, I’ll go first. Im varian” the black haired half elf tries to show a reassuring smile but winces at the pain that shook through his face.
“..I.. I’m Caleb Widogast” the ginger man speaks next .
“Nott.. the brave, no comma” and finally the small green one. Varian pushed himself up off the stone floor.
“Let's get out of here” Varian holds a hand out to Caleb who takes his hand and gets up.
“Well mr wizard show us what you can do” Caleb nods at the half elf’s words and moves to the door, placing his hand on it and concentrating. A soft golden light emits from Caleb’s hand before the door clicks open .
“Oh I want to keep you around “ Varian says as he walks over and pushes the door open wider , patting Caleb on the back as he does so.
The three are now running after finding their things and narrowly avoiding the guards. All three of them decided the best plan of action would be to skip town, sticking together because there’s safety in numbers. Eventually they slow down deeming they are far enough away from the town and are now looking for somewhere to bunker down for the night.
The three misfits end up finding an abandoned house in the middle of the forest. Varian checks the perimeter, Nott checks the surrounding forest and Caleb checks the inside of the house, once it’s all clear they meet back up inside to settle down for the night.
Nott is laid out on the floor, already asleep, wrapped up in Varian’s cloak. Caleb is carefully tending to Varian’s wounds, a split lip, a pretty bad cut on the cheek and blood coming from somewhere around the hairline, the black eye Varian has Caleb can’t do much about. Varian just watches , eyes tracking Caleb’s hands, tracing his face.
“..has anyone ever told you, you have pretty eyes?” Varian says softly, almost involuntarily.
“..ja.. a couple” a slight smile curves the corners of Caleb’s lips. Varian panics slightly realising what he just said, a flush of pink coming to his cheeks making the cut bleed again.
“..I..I don’t know why I said that, you must think I’m delirious or crazy because I’ve only just met you a few hours ago” Caleb just lets out a small laugh at Varian’s panicked words, though the laughter seemed broken like he hasn’t laughed in a long time.
“You’re fine..”
Silent stretches between them. It’s not awkward or uncomfortable like it was in the jail cell but something else entirely new, like these two men have known each other for years and are comfortable in each other's presence. There’s no need for talking, no need to fill the silence, just the sound of Nott snoring in the background and the crackle of a small fire.
Caleb dabs up the tiny trickle of blood on Varian’s cheek, his hands far too gentle for how rough they appear.
Varian can’t take his eyes off the ginger man’s face, he's far too pretty for how dishevelled he looks. Varian knows once upon a time Caleb was very handsome, still is handsome, just by looking at him right now. He studies Caleb’s face like he’ll never get another chance, memorising every last detail.
Caleb tilt’s Varian’s chin up just slightly, checking for any injury he may have missed but doesn’t let go when he finds none. He studies the other, much like Varian is doing currently.
“Your eyes are mesmerising..” Caleb’s voice is quiet, only slightly above a whisper.
“I’ve haven’t seen anything quite like them.. almost like a storm circling the sky..” he leans in just ever so slightly, breath fanning over Varian’s lips.
“You have eyes I could get lost in if I am not careful..”
With a small sudden surge of courage Varian closes the distance, softly pressing his lips to Caleb’s. Eyes fluttering closed. The kiss is just soft and tender like they both know there’s no need to rush. It only lasts a minute before they part, eyes opening slowly looking at each other.
Caleb’s eyes grow wide as he realises what just happened and he steps back quickly, dropping his hand from Varian’s chin, his face now beat red.
“I..I am so sorry that shouldn’t have happened..” the words stumble out of Caleb’s mouth.