Astarion x Reader
・❥・You bring him frogs and hedgehogs; he brings you smirks and reluctant affection.
The first time, he thought it was a joke.
Astarion was lounging by the fire, polishing his dagger with that casual elegance only he could manage, when you marched into camp with your hands cupped around…something.
“What,” he drawled, “is wriggling in your hands, darling?”
You crouched in front of him and revealed the prize with all the pride of a victorious dragon.
“A frog.”
Astarion stared. Slowly. Then blinked.
“A frog.”
You nodded eagerly. “He was just sitting by the river, and I thought of you.”
There was a pause - a long, incredulous pause - before he leaned back on his elbows, a wicked smile curling his lips.
“Of me? I can’t decide if I should be flattered or insulted.”
“He’s cute,” you argued.
“…Yes. And he eats bugs. I see the resemblance now.”
You stuck your tongue out and went to release the frog, but the sparkle of mischief in his red eyes lingered all evening.
………………
The second time was a squirrel.
You held it out like a rare treasure. “Look! He let me pick him up!”
Astarion didn’t even lower the book he was reading this time. He only peered over the top, voice smooth as silk and dripping with disdain.
“Darling, unless you intend to train a small army of rodents to do our bidding, I’m not sure what you expect me to do with that.”
“He’s soft.”
“Mm. And he probably has fleas.”
You made a face but stroked the squirrel anyway, letting it scurry back into the woods. You swore you caught Astarion watching, lips twitching as if he was holding back laughter.
………………
By the third time, you thought he’d be used to it.
You crept up behind him with your latest find - a hedgehog, balled up in your palms.
“Astarion…” you whispered dramatically. “I have a gift.”
He sighed without looking up from his dagger.
“Let me guess. A feral pig this time? A bear cub? Oh, I do hope it’s an owlbear, that would really complete the menagerie—”
You plopped the hedgehog right into his lap.
Astarion froze. He stared down at the tiny spiny ball now sitting politely on his trousers. The hedgehog sniffed, then sneezed.
A soft sound escaped him - half scoff, half laugh.
“You…are absolutely incorrigible,” he muttered. But instead of shoving the creature away, he extended one elegant finger, letting it sniff him.
“…Alright, I admit it. He’s rather…distinguished. A fine gentleman.”
“See?” you whispered, grinning. “You like him.”
“I tolerate him. There’s a difference,” he sniffed but the smile ghosting across his lips betrayed him.
………………
That night, as the hedgehog trundled off into the shadows, Astarion lingered by the fire with you, watching the sparks drift upward.
“You are an utterly ridiculous creature, you know that?”
You nudged him with your shoulder. “You kept him in your lap for almost an hour.”
He hummed thoughtfully, eyes glittering in the firelight.
“Yes, well. Perhaps I’m growing…attached. Don’t get used to it.”
The next morning, he left a single wildflower on your bedroll.
When you raised an eyebrow, he only smirked.
“Consider it a return gift, my dear. I thought of you when I saw it…though, unlike your frogs and squirrels, it doesn’t have fleas.”
Astarion x Reader
– Even in a world of blood and battles, you and Astarion find a little nightly routine.
The camp had gone quiet. The fire burned low, casting its lazy glow against the canvas of your tent. You were smoothing down your bedroll when the familiar whisper of boots brushing the grass reached your ears.
“Well,” came Astarion’s lilting drawl, his silhouette tall and elegant against the tent flap. “If it isn’t my favorite companion in crime — already tucked in, like some dutiful soldier. How very quaint.”
You laughed softly, tilting your head at him. “Not all of us thrive in the dead of night, Astarion. Some of us need actual rest.”
He pressed a hand to his chest with mock offense. “And deprive yourself of the riveting company I provide after sunset? Scandalous.”
Despite the teasing, he stepped inside, crouching with practiced grace. His eyes — red, sharp, endlessly watchful — lingered on the small tin of balm you kept by your bedroll. You were uncorking it, rubbing some into your palms before working it into your arms, worn from travel.
He arched a brow. “Is this… part of the human ritual? Greasing yourself up like a roast before sleep?”
You chuckled. “It’s for sore muscles. Keeps them from aching in the morning.”
“Mm. Delightful. Do go on.” His smirk curved wickedly, but he stretched out beside you anyway, reclining like a cat claiming its corner. He always did this, slipped into your space as though it belonged to him.
Without asking, he plucked the tin from your hand, dipped a pale finger in, and began to work it into your shoulder. His touch was deceptively light, careful, as if he knew how fragile mortals could be.
“See?” he murmured near your ear. “Not so bad, is it? You fuss with your little ointments, and I, magnanimous creature that I am, assist.”
You leaned into the touch despite yourself. “You’re enjoying this far too much.”
He gave a quiet laugh, breath warm against your temple. “Guilty. But then, pampering you is infinitely preferable to watching you hobble around in the morning, groaning like an old man.”
You elbowed him lightly, and he hissed, feigning injury. “Careful, darling. I might just withhold my services.”
When he finally drew back, you noticed the faintest shift in his expression — something softer beneath the mask. He reclined on his side, head propped on his hand, watching as you adjusted the blanket around yourself.
“Tell me,” he said suddenly, voice gentler now, “why do you bother? The washing, the creams, the rituals. Every night, as though tomorrow is promised.”
You met his gaze, steady despite the weight of the question. “Because it makes me feel… human. Grounded. And if tomorrow isn’t promised, then tonight should still feel like mine.”
For a moment, silence stretched between you. Then Astarion smiled. Not his sharp, mocking grin, but something quieter. Something almost real.
“Well,” he said softly, reaching to tug the blanket snug around your shoulders with surprising care, “then let’s make tonight yours.”
And though he stayed awake long after you drifted off, he didn’t leave. He lay there, listening to the steady rhythm of your breath, and for once, allowed himself to simply exist beside you.
Imagine Tav having previous sexual trauma and trusting Astarion enough to go to bed with him only to be devastated and feel dirty when he admits that he was using them for protection.
Even if he changed because he loved them doesn't erase the fact that it happened.
daemon “well she’s my wife” and mysaria “well she trusts me more than you” going back and forth until alicent gets brought up and both their dumbasses just gotta sit there like this because she still tops overall
A/N: here's a little something I had saved up for a while, enjoy while I get back into my writing phase and craft up some amazingggg new stories!!
Word Count: 2.3k
Warnings: angst, rebellious teen things, family death (not detailed), nete being the sweetest
Summary: Blamed for her older sister's death, y/n learns to carry everyone's expectations until the weight finally breaks her. But the last person she expects to see her at her lowest is Neteyam.
You were swimming in the reef with the fish, smiling as you swam along a particularly beautiful one. Coming up to the surface, you realised the commotion. Watching as everyone in the water swam to the shore, and those on land circled around one area. Curious, but not worried, you continued to swim. Smiling as you notice your ilu, Tani, swimming up to you, ready to play. You hadn’t noticed how quiet everyone had got until your giggles echoed as you played with Tani.
𓆉°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･
Your father, Tonowari, walked into the middle, where Jake Sully and his family stood. The man was quite famous, and he was honored to see him, however he had to know what the meaning of this was. Walking up to the man, he formally greets him before asking, “What is the meaning of this?”
Jake begins to speak, but is interrupted by the sound of laughter, confused, many of the Metkayina look around whilst others groan with a knowing look on their faces.
Tonowari brings a hand to his face, muttering something before looking at his kids – seeing two instead of the three. His tone clipped and harsh, he speaks to Ao’nung, “Go get her. Now.” Watching as the boy nods and walks off. What was he going to do with you?
𓆉°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･
You were swimming in the water when your arm was suddenly pulled harshly, someone yanking you up and out of the water.
“Ow! Skxawng!” You shout at your brother.
“Shut it!” He continues to drag you and when you join the circle, where everyone from your clan was gathered, you begin to grow curious. Ao’nung moves you to stand between him and Tsireya as you take in the scene before you, not missing the sharp glare your mother, Ronal, gave you. You only rolled your eyes in response.
Watching as your father talks to the strange man in this group, you take in the other people. A boy who seemed to be Tsireya's age, a girl who seemed to be your age, a much younger girl, and…a boy your brother's age?
Your eyes roam up and down the boy as you take in his odd appearance. He had a much thinner tail, and as you heard his father asking to seek Uturu here, you knew they would do no good here with those features. Little did you know, as you took in the boy, he was doing the same to you. Not missing how the water dripped from your long hair down your body, slow and ever tantalizing.
Crossing your arms, your foot taps the ground impatiently as your tail swishes slowly. You were oh so bored. As your father wraps it up by saying the family can stay here, you were about to turn to walk away before he spoke,
“My children, Ao’nung, Y/N, and Tsireya, will help you learn our ways.”
You roll your eyes, already knowing this is just another thing your father says that you will ignore. Tsireya and Ao’nung stay back to help the family as you quickly walk off– trying to avoid your father.
“Y/N.” You internally groan as you hear him, turning to face your father.
“Yes?” You speak, annoyed.
“What was that back there?” He speaks. When you don’t respond, he continues. “You continue to make me and your mother look bad in front of everyone, why?”
Not wanting anything to do with this conversation, you look away from your father, and into the distance, not noticing you had caught the attention of the boy from earlier. He waves a hand in front of your face.
“When will you accept that this is your future? That me and your mother want the best for you?” He snaps.
Not wanting to take this any longer, you turn away. Walking off into the clan, you grumble to yourself about how stupid and unfair this all was. You find yourself returning to the water, diving in without much thought. All thoughts left your mind as you swam for hours, only coming up when the light had completely disappeared.
You finally surface, slicking back your hair as you take a deep breath. Finding a nearby dock, you sit atop it, kicking your legs as you think.
Life felt so unreal sometimes. There you sat upon a dock, alone, you were no longer close with your family and pretty much had no one, your life going down the drain.
Nothing felt the same after the incident, as you sat and inhaled the salt water your eyes filled with tears as the memories came flooding in. It had been a few years but it still felt so fresh. And your family never seemed to care, they only shoved you into a role you were by far not ready for.
No matter how much they hated you, how much they fought you, you would never do it. You could never ever take over the role of Tsahík. It wasn't meant for you.
𓆉°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･
You’d fallen asleep on the beach, hearing the waves crash as it drowns out everything you didn’t want to think about. When the sun rose you woke, hearing the village already up and walking about.
On the walk home you grabbed a piece of fruit from someone's basket, thinking up excuses you know wouldn't matter anyways.
The moment you stepped inside, Ronal rose from where she was sitting and started glaring at you.
“Where were you?” She demands, following you as you move past her.
“Out,” You respond dryly. “It doesn’t matter.”
“It does,” she snaps, “You missed training. Again. This is your responsibility–why do you refuse to learn what is required of you?!”
That was when you decided you’d had enough.
You turn towards her sharply, “I refuse because I do not want this life that you two keep trying to push onto me!”
Her jaw tightens as you shout. “You are our daughter, you are made to be the next Tsahík. It is the path laid before–”
“No,” you cut her off. “It is not my path and it never will be.” Your words are final as you once again turn to leave the place you never felt comfortable enough to call home.
𓆉°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･
You rushed to the one place you felt comfortable being when things got hard to deal with. The ocean. Calling your Ilu as you make your way down to the water, you hear your name being called. Lifting your head, you see Aonung calling you over in the water. As you jump onto Tani, you ride over.
“What?” You say.
“Care to help?” He responds.
“Uh, kinda busy.” You relax onto your Ilu, sparing a glance over to the Sully kids, noting that they had Ilu’s surrounding them. The only one who seemed to have tamed one was the older brother. You still didn’t know their names.
The older boy seems to notice this however, as he suddenly speaks, “My name is Neteyam, this is Kiri, Loak, and Tuk.” He gestures to each one of his siblings and your eyes flit to each one, nodding.
Upon hearing your lack of response, Tsireya sighs before adding. “Our sister, Y/N. Ever unhelpful.” She adds to the end.
You glare at her before sitting up on your Ilu.
“Anyways, like I said, busy.” Patting your Ilu, you take off.
𓆉°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･
Neteyam was curious about you. You did not act like how the daughter of an Olo’eyktan should. No matter how annoying that thought was, that you could just get away with acting like that, he had the feeling that something else was going on.
Every time he saw you, he swore he could see something when he looked into your eyes. A deep, unwavering pain that it seemed like nobody else could see except for him.
Because if they could, why would they keep treating you like that?
𓆉°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･
You escaped to the one tiny island you claimed as yours. Sitting on the rocky cliff, overlooking the ocean you let the emotions claim you. The tears flow endlessly as you bring your knees into your chest, resting your head on them.
“Why?” You mutter. “I don’t get it…” Your voice trails off as you speak to no one.
You remember exactly who you would sit on this cliff with. Who you would take turns braiding hair with, whose lap you would rest your head on as she sang to you for hours. It was so beyond unfair. You knew that you two were the closest, but why did nobody else seem to care or even remember? Why were you the only one left, why did it hit you the hardest? Why couldn't you just forget?
Your hands come up to press against your head as if you can force the thoughts out of your head. You wish things were different.
𓆉°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･
Neteyam wasn’t quite sure what he was doing. He doesn’t even know you, and you probably don’t even want to get to know him. So why didn’t he stop and just go home?
Despite not knowing where you went, he hopped onto his Ilu after his lessons, and took off. He headed in the general direction in which you left, trusting his Ilu to hopefully take him to wherever your Ilu was.
Eventually, he had stopped at a small island, looking up to see large mountains. Seeing what he thought were your feet swinging from a ledge, he jumped off his Ilu onto the land. Reaching the wall, he braced himself for the climb.
𓆉°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･
You had stopped crying at some point, now just staring mindlessly off into the distance. The sharp aching in your chest now replaced with a dull and barren void.
Your eyes drifted to the sky watching the soft blue deepen as the sun lowered. You blinked slowly– eyes unfocused as until the blue began to shift. It seemed darker, closer.
You sucked in a breath as you jumped back, heart pounding, and only then did the shape in front of you come into focus.
It wasn’t the sky–it was him. Neteyam. Neteyam Sully sat crouched in front of you, face fixed with a softness that made your throat tighten all over again.
What was he doing here?
𓆉°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･
“Hey.” He speaks, ever so calmly.
“Hey?” The words barely manage to escape you, “What are you doing here?”
“I came to check on you.”
You were completely shocked. He didn’t even know you, why did he care?
“I’m fine.” You say.
He moves to sit beside you, staring out at the ocean. “No, you're not.”
You watch out of the corner of your eyes as he brushes himself off as if this was the most normal thing ever.
He continues, “And that’s ok. Sometimes we just need to talk things out.” He flashes you a goofy smile as you stare at him.
“But I don't even know you. Why should I tell you anything?”
“Maybe that's a good thing, sometimes it's harder to talk to people who know us so well.”
You consider what he’s said for a while, neither of you speaking.
“Listen, I know this is weird,” he spoke quietly, “But when I saw you earlier…you didn't look okay. And I saw the way your parents spoke to you and the way your siblings look at you like they’re waiting for you to fail. I just wanted to let you know if you ever need to talk, I’ll be here.”
It was stupid– you knew that. But no one had ever said anything like that to you.
No one ever seemed to notice you.
How could he see something in seconds that your own family ignored for years?
You turned away from him as soon as your lip began to tremble.
Neteyam didn’t reach for you, he didn’t push it. He just waited.
“People don't usually… care.” You finally spoke, voice only a whisper.
You wiped your eyes as you sat up.
“It’s not just the yelling, it's everything.”
Neteyam stayed quiet, listening like every word mattered.
“I used to have someone– Someone who helped me through it all. Who made the feelings seem not so big.” Your throat tightened but you pushed it out.
His eyes softened with an understanding you weren’t prepared for.
“What happened?” He asked.
“She died,” you whispered. “And when she did…they just put everything she was supposed to be onto me. Like I could just replace her.”
You exhale shakily, the words getting harder to speak now.
“But I couldn’t. I’ll never be able to.”
He speaks up, “You’re not supposed to. You're meant to be you.”
You laugh bitterly, "I don't even know who I am anymore.”
“An-and it's not even just that. I’d be fine with just the responsibilities, but it’s the way they got over it–got over her- so easily…” Your voice trails off, there was so much more to say but you felt like you couldn’t.
When the first sob left your mouth you knew you were done for. There was no stopping now.
Neteyam shifted closer to you–not touching you, but close enough that you could feel his warmth.
“May I hug you?” He asks gently.
Nodding in response, he immediately engulfed you in a hug. And in that moment it didn’t feel like a show– it felt real. It felt like the hugs your sister used to give you, so you embraced him just the same. It almost made you never wanna leave, sitting at the edge of that cliff with Neteyam. And just for that night things felt a little less heavy.
