I love you || Caleb Widogast ||
Caleb Widogast has faced horrors most people could not even imagine.
He has survived fire, seen far to much death and had guilt that claws at his bones even in sleep.
Right now, sitting stiffly at the edge of the Mighty Nein’s campfire, hands clasped so tightly his knuckles ache, he is quite certain this is the most terrifying thing he has ever attempted.
“…I am going to tell her,” he mutters under his breath, staring intensely at absolutely nothing.
Across from him, Beau snorts. “You’ve been saying that for three days.”
“I will,” Caleb insists, voice thin with fragile determination. “I simply… require the correct moment.”
“You mean when she’s not accidentally falling on you?” Beau shoots back.
Jester claps her hands together, bouncing in place. “Ooooh! We should help!”
Caleb goes pale. “Nein….I will do this on my own…You…you will ruien it some-."
"No we wont!" Jester huffs.
Fjord, ever the voice of reason…unfortunately—leans forward. “Actually, she’s right. You’ve been spiraling. We can’t keep watching you suffer like this…..it's embarrassing."
“I am not suffering,” Caleb lies weakly.
“You almost set your sleeve on fire when she smiled at you yesterday,” Beau says flatly.
Yasha, quietly sharpening her blade, glances up. “You should tell her gently.”
“Yes,” Caleb says quickly, grateful. “Gently. Subtle. Quiet—”
“Or dramatically!” Jester interrupts. “Like...flowers! And a speech! And fireworks! Oh!!Caleb, you could do fireworks!”
“I am not….there will be no fireworks! Stop suggesting ideas—!”
Fjord pinches the bridge of his nose. “Let’s keep this simple. You like her. You tell her you like her. Done.”
Caleb stares at him like he has just suggested jumping into a volcano.“…it is not so simple.”
Because you are everything good in this world, Caleb thinks. Because you are light, and warmth, and kindness…and he is..
He swallows, nails digging into his palm, well he is him
“Because I do not wish to frighten her,” he says softly.
That quiets them, just for a moment, then
“Oh my GODS, you REALLY do love her,” Jester whispers loudly.
Caleb chokes. “You can't! That is not..! We are not discussing—!”
“You’re in love with her,” Beau repeats, grinning.
“I am going to kill you,” Caleb mutters.
Deeply. Profoundly and comfortably asleep.
Curled up in your bedroll a few feet away, wrapped in a blanket, breathing soft and even, completely unaware that your love life is currently being treated like a group project.
Unfortunately for you, the group is getting louder.
“Okay, okay,” Jester says, leaning forward conspiratorially. “What if we just… help the moment happen?”
“We could push her toward you!”
“Or lock you in a room together!”
Beau cracks her knuckles. “Or we just tell her for you.”
Caleb nearly falls over. “You will do no such thing.”
Fjord sighs. “Then what’s your plan?”
Caleb opens his mouth.Closes it.Opens it again then coughs into his hand. “…I will approach her calmly. I will express my feelings in a composed and respectful manner—”
“—and then accept whatever answer she gives.”
Jester tilts her head. “But what if she doesn’t know you like her?”
“…that is the entire point of the conversation.”
“No, I mean….what if she’s too clueless?”
Everyone pauses.Slowly… all eyes drift toward you, who was in fact very much asleep, mouth slightly open.Completely unaware of your surroundings.
“…she did think Fjord was flirting with her when he asked her to pass the salt,” Beau says.
Fjord groans. “I was not flirting…"
“And she apologized to a chair yesterday,” Jester adds helpfully.
“It surprised her,” Yasha says gently.
Caleb stares at the ground. “…I am doomed.”
“OKAY,” Jester suddenly announces, jumping to her feet. “New plan! We wake her up and just—”
“Heyyyyy!” Jester calls, skipping over. “Wake up!”
Beau follows, crouching beside you. “Rise and shine, sunshine.”
You blink slowly, eyes barely opening. “…why… are you all… loud…”Your voice is soft, sleepy, confused.
Caleb feels his soul leave his body, because this is not the moment.This is absolutely not the moment.
You push yourself up halfway, blanket slipping off your shoulder, hair a mess, eyes heavy.“…did something happen…?”
Jester beams. “Yes! Caleb has something to tell you!”
Caleb chokes so hard he actually coughs.“I do not!!!That is!!!! Jester!!!”
You blink at him, then at Jester, then back at Caleb.“…are you okay…?” you mumble.
“I am….perfectly fine,” he says, voice cracking.
Beau leans in. “He’s in love with you.”
Silence drops like a stone and Caleb stares at Beau in horror.
Fjord mutters, “Well. That’s one way to do it.”
Jester claps. “YAY, we did it!”
You look at Caleb, really look at him. Your head tilted to the side.
He’s red. Completely red. Hands shaking slightly, eyes wide, like he’s about to bolt into another dimension.
“…you are?” you ask softly.
Caleb swallows.Everything in him screams to run.To deflect. To joke. To retreat back into safety.But you’re looking at him.Soft. Sleepy. Confused and waiting for him to say continue.
“I….” he starts, then falters, then forces himself forward. “I did not mean for it to… become this. It simply, happened. You are kind, and bright, and you laugh like the world is not so terrible and—”His voice softens.“…and when you fall into me, I find I do not wish to let you go.”
Your breath catches as Caleb takes a shaky step closer. “I do not expect anything,” he adds quickly. “I only wished you to know. That is all. You may say no, and I will—”
You reach out and grab his sleeve gently as he stops mid sentence. “…Caleb,” you murmur, still half-sleepy, still soft, your body swaying for a moment.“…I thought you didn’t like me like that.”
His heart stutters.“…you did?”
You nod, a little embarrassed. “You never… said anything. And you’re always so serious, and I thought maybe I was just… bothering you all the time.”
“Bothering…? Liebling, you are…”He stops himself, breath catching.
You tug gently on his sleeve. “…I like you too,” you admit.
Caleb freezes, blinks then watched you. “…you… do?”
You nod again, shy now. “Yeah. I just didn’t think… you’d want me like that.”
Something in Caleb breaks open, the mans eyes lowered as a soft laugh left his lips. "…I have wanted you for longer than I care to admit.”
Behind you ,Jester is vibrating.Beau is trying not to grin and Fjord is quietly whispering, “Finally.”
You yawn.A full, unashamed, sleepy yawn,you blink up at Caleb again. “…are we… dating now?” you ask, completely serious.
Caleb lets out a soft, almost breathless laugh.“…if you would like that.”
You nod immediately. “Okay.”
Then without thinking you lean forward and rest your forehead against his chest and Caleb goes completely still.
“…I’m still sleepy,” you mumble. “Can we do the rest of this later…?”
Caleb hesitates only a second before carefully, gently, wrapping his arms around you.“…ja,” he whispers.
From the side Jester squeals.Nott nods her head approvingly.Beau whoops as Fjord groans again.
“Can you all not?” Caleb snaps weakly, though his arms tighten just slightly around you.
You hum softly, already half-asleep again, tucked against him like you belong there.
Caleb exhales, and for the first time since this whole disaster began he smiles and because despite the chaos, the yelling, the complete lack of subtlety you here here in his arms and this time he doesn't let go.
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