John had not known precisely what to expect from Geralt’s reaction. It’s true that he had trusted him enough to offer up this gift in the first but Geralt is hardly an emotional man, certainly not as openly emotional as the writings are themself. He watches with bated breath as Geralt reads — seems to take a long time reading, honestly, his golden eyes fixed on the page in front of him.

It is only when Geralt raises that gaze at last and reaches for him, fingers curled around his jaw and lips soft against his own, does John feel s as though he can breathe again. He cannot know for certain all that Geralt makes of it — or of him, for that matter — without further discussion. But this is certainly a positive start.

John lingers in the kiss, leaning into the warmth of the other man and soaking it in, pressing his forehead against Geralt’s and offering a soft, slightly self-conscious smile as at last he breaks the silence and says, “I hope it is not too much…”