(A Heclach ficlet dedicated to @astreamofstars, @eluvisen, and @cindymeltzer for their support and patience while I freaked out the whole weekend that I got to meet Tracy Wiles. XD )
"I still can't bloody believe it," Karlach says. "The Jaheira. Right up there."
She peers out the flap of the tent at the dark landscape of the Shadow-Cursed Lands beyond. The outline of Last Light Inn is barely visible in the distance, its silhouette of moonglow subtle against the curse-black sky. "A mile off, max, and there she is. Jaheira. Holy fuck."
Hector smiles drowsily, squinting up at her through half-closed eyes. It's got to be past midnight, and they really need a proper night's sleep. Their infiltration of Moonrise Towers is precarious at best, and even though they didn't get thrown out instantly, he's still fully aware that things could go south at any minute. And, frankly, being able to fall asleep next to Karlach is still such a miracle that he doesn't want to waste a moment of it.
But her excitement is so obvious that he can't bear to interrupt her. "Holy fuck, indeed," he murmurs with a crooked smile.
"Yeah. You get it." Karlach laughs. Her tail is curled under her hips, but its point lashes back and forth with irrepressible energy. "You grew up with all those books in your monastery. Bet you had all the stories about her and her crew - written down proper and everything."
"Mm. A set of four volumes bound in brown leather," Hector says sleepily. "The Saga of the Bhaalspawn, in great golden letters across the front. And then, rather smaller and more ornate - As Told to Volothamp Geddarm, Truth From The Hero's Very Lips." He rolls over on his side and pillows his head on one arm. "A tale full of intrepid adventure and derring-do - and, I'd guess, intense exaggeration. Maybe Jaheira would be willing to tell you some of the real stories."
Karlach meets his eyes sidelong with a goofy grin. "Yeah," she says brightly. But then the grin fades and her eyebrows knit together in an expression of sudden concern. "Maybe. I mean, I know most of the stories the way mum used to tell 'em. I bet Jaheira hears that all the time, though - how everyone grew up hearing about her, how she was my childhood idol, blah, blah." Her tail goes still, then draws an idle little nonsensical shape in the dirt. "Bet you get tired of hearing that. When you're a hero."
"Maybe," Hector says, rolling his head to look up at her with quiet affection. "Or maybe she'd find it inspiring. That even while she's stuck out here in the dark, people are still excited to see her. Reason to keep fighting and all that. You never know."
Again that slight grin flashes across Karlach's face, irrepressible. "Yeah. Oh, man, that would be cool. To help inspire Jaheira, like she inspired me."
"You do know all about fighting your way out of a terrible place," Hector points out.
"Yeah." Karlach considers this for a moment. "I mean, she probably doesn't want to hear about Avernus. Not while everything's already this deep in the shit. But I could tell her how those stories about her helped keep me going down in the Hells. That'd be nice to hear, right?"
He smiles softly. "I'm sure it would."
She juts her jaw out in a pensive expression. "If we get out 'a the Towers alive, maybe we can talk to her more. If she's not sick of us yet."
She gives an exaggerated groan and flops down to sprawl out on the bedroll next to him. "Fuck. I keep thinking about that drink we had with her before we left. I can't believe I did that weird little curtsey at her. What the fuck was I thinking?"
Hector's eyes are closed again as he curls in against her side, but his lips twitch in a slight, teasing grin. "Definitely the first time I've ever heard you call anyone 'milady'."
"Oh, fuck, I did do that too, didn't I?" Her tail lashes violently around at her side as she covers her face with one hand. "Gods. She probably thinks I'm a fucking nutter."
He chuckles low in his throat, shifting to rest a hand over her stomach. (A little shiver goes through both of them, at that soft, casual touch.)
"My guess is she thinks you were excited," he says gently. "And if she's anything like me, she'll like you best that way."
Karlach snorts, but he can feel her relax a little, squirming to get more comfortable on the bedroll. "Yeah. Maybe. I hope you're right." She rolls her head to look at him. "Thanks, Hec." A slight pause. "I'll be really normal, when we next talk to her. Promise."
He snickers softly, pressing a kiss to her shoulder. "You're welcome, darling. And don't make promises you can't keep..."