[ He leans his palms against the worn wooden table by the wall. Jaskier's sigh spills into the air. Geralt is tired. Doesn't care to hide it, either. Jaskier reads him too well. He has been following for a long time. Longer than Geralt's ever imagined he would, long enough that Geralt has gone from expecting Jaskier to leave at any moment to understanding that he even when he does, he'll return soon enough.
Except at the end, on that mountain. And really—he wonders. If he'd gone back that day instead of riding off without a word, would Jaskier have forgiven him? For Jaskier, here, it's been only days. For Geralt, he'd left for a year, unwilling to hold onto something so important and so fragile at the same time. Something too easily lost. Something he does not want to admit that maybe he needs. (A friend.)
He turns his head. His eyes linger on Jaskier's face. Jaskier is studying him—gaze roaming, unabashed—and though it's hardly the first time, he lets himself indulge in letting it happen for a few moments. Then he plucks his trousers off the floor. ]
I'll be full of good cheer in the morning. [ He tosses a clean towel Jaskier's way—leaves without much else said. He'll sleep. He rolls up the spare blanket, leaves it on a chair for Jaskier to use, and occupies a corner by the wall for himself. ]
no subject
Except at the end, on that mountain. And really—he wonders. If he'd gone back that day instead of riding off without a word, would Jaskier have forgiven him? For Jaskier, here, it's been only days. For Geralt, he'd left for a year, unwilling to hold onto something so important and so fragile at the same time. Something too easily lost. Something he does not want to admit that maybe he needs. (A friend.)
He turns his head. His eyes linger on Jaskier's face. Jaskier is studying him—gaze roaming, unabashed—and though it's hardly the first time, he lets himself indulge in letting it happen for a few moments. Then he plucks his trousers off the floor. ]
I'll be full of good cheer in the morning. [ He tosses a clean towel Jaskier's way—leaves without much else said. He'll sleep. He rolls up the spare blanket, leaves it on a chair for Jaskier to use, and occupies a corner by the wall for himself. ]