Home is where the Heart is
Dagda x Reader
(Contains: fluff, tenderness, slight angst, non gendered reader)
“Dagda, when can we stop to see your friend again?” Custas asks, sitting across from him in the caravan. Dagda raises a brow in turn pausing in the tuning of his roundlute.
“Friend?” He asks, tilting his head a bit. Who could Custas be talking about? Dagda wouldn’t say he has any ‘friends’.
The boy rolls his eyes dramatically at his father figure. “Your friend! The one that always gives us sweet breads! You always talk with them for hours when we go see them!” He put heavy emphasis on hours too. He’s had to sit through plenty of torturous adult talk. Still despite that the bread is so good and he’s been craving it for over a week now!
Dagda blinks at the boy. Oh Custas is talking about you! He hasn’t really explained to the boy the nuances of adult relationships, and at his current age he likely won’t for a while. Dagda wouldn’t call you a friend per say. You’re more his lover, one he only sees a few times out of the year unfortunately. Whenever you do get a chance to see each other though there’s always immediate sparks. He’ll talk with you well into the night and after putting Custas to bed he’ll share yours until the earliest hours of the morning.
Thinking on it, it has been a while since he’s seen you. The caravan should be passing by your village within the next coming weeks so perhaps it’s time for a detour.
~~~
“Dagda! Custas! What a surprise!” You smile wide at your unexpected visitors. Opening the door wider you welcome them in. Custas happily runs past you while Dagda pauses at the entrance to place a welcome kiss to your temple. “I’m happy to see you both, the harvest season is coming fast. I'd hate for you two to be stuck out in the cold.” You ruffle Custas’ hair as you return to your pot on the stove. They have very convenient timing. You were just working on a warm stew you’d planned on stretching for a couple days so you had enough on your hands to feed the three of you for the night.
Your favorite part of catching up with the duo is having Custas regale you with the details, given his young age and his personality he has a tendency to overexcurate which makes listening to him all the more fun. “And then Dagda got stuck in the mud all the way up to his knees, if we didn’t get help from a passing witch he woulda been done for.” The boy snickers. You laugh along with him tossing Dagda a teasing grin. The gruff man sighs with a face that reads embarrassed but understanding, it was a funny story.
Eventually night gets late and Dagda takes Custas to your spare room to sleep. You’re happy you can provide some sanctuary to them, you care a lot for Dagda and his son, a part wishes they’d stick around but you’ve made a bitter peace with the unfortunate truth that this is their way of life. They enjoy traveling and will likely never give it up. Even so, what time you do get with them is treasured dearly.
“You’re looking a bit skinny Dagda, why don’t you two stay for the cold months at least.” You offer crossing your arms. The man eyes you warily, he’s looking more tired than usual too.
“You know I’d love to.” He groans, rubbing his eyes with his middle finger and thumb. You can tell there’s a ‘but’ coming just from his tone alone. “But we’ll be back on the road again soon, can’t stick to one town too long. Custas gets restless and I can’t say I do any better.” He rubs the back of his neck as he speaks, clearly uncomfortable. You let it go.
“Where will the two of you be heading next?” You begin taking steps toward your own room, Dagda follows like he always does.
“We’ll be heading through the Naakiwan Downs and make our way across the river to Kalhn.” He takes a seat on your bed, watching as you undress and slip into more comfortable night clothes. “You should come see us while we’re performing there, it’s a wonderful town.” He smiles when you step closer, his arms wrapping around you easily before you lean down to kiss him.
“Maybe.” You hum with your own smile, biting your lip you easily let him pull you in for another.
~~~
When Dagda wakes he’s feeling a lot more well rested than he has in a long time. He’s surrounded by your smell in the comfort of your warm bed. Feeling the morning sun heating his skin further he figures he’s slept in which makes sense since you’re no longer in the bed with him. When he sits up he can hear muffled clanking of cooking, your warm voice speaking to Custas in the kitchen. The scent of frying meat and sweet cakes seeps through the door making his mouth water.
When he joins you both he lingers in the hall watching his son excitedly tell you the time he got to observe a pack of scalewolves up close, well as close as Dagda allowed anyway. “You always come back with such exciting stories.” You ruffle the boy's hair as you serve him breakfast. When your eyes catch his you smile at him in a way that makes him long to hold you close again. Motioning for him to join the two of you, you make him a plate as well. “Oh good, I thought you wouldn’t wake up before it was cold.” You laugh, placing a plate in front of him and your own across the table as you all sit together.
You three eat together chatting and laughing, from an outside perspective you’d look like an honest to goodness family.
~~~
Saying goodbye is the hardest part. You’ll go months feeling like two integral parts of you are missing. For the final night you always try to make it extra special. You cook a large meal. You encourage the two to perform their favorite song and dances for you, even allowing Custas to pull you in and help teach you some of his moves. Sometimes he’ll even attempt a song on the roundlute himself while you and Dagda dance together.
This time you end up being the one to carry Custas to bed and tuck him in. You push wild strands out of his eyes and kiss his forehead before leaving the room.
Dagda pulls you to bed with him, taking his time unraveling you. Each touch, kiss, and slow rock of your bodies helping him show just how grateful he is to have these moments with you. He hopes you can feel his love through each action. He needs you to know that he holds you as dear to his heart as possible. Between you and Custas he’s rich in the only way that matters.
“Am I a horrible man?” He has an arm tucked around you, keeping you close to his chest. “You could have an honest family by now. You wouldn’t be lonely. You’d be loved every waking hour, never worrying when your love would come home.” You can tell he’s been mulling it over the whole time he’s been here.
“This is the only family I could ever want.” You whisper back, pulling him to your lips to help convince him. “I’m happy with you Dagda. I’ll be here waiting until you no longer return to me.” You reassure him. Watching the candlelight flicker against the deep tones of his skin.
“I’ll always return.” He promises, pressing his forehead to yours, tilting your chin up so he can pull you into another long kiss. “We will always come home to you.” He repeats the promise again.
When morning breaks he and Custas will depart again. There will be well wishes and stifled tears as you both try to save face in front of the boy. Maybe he can reconsider after their trip to Kalhn and return for the winter like you’d offered. He could find work in your village and contribute more to your home, maybe they could even stay longer. He’s sure it won’t be hard to convince Custas, the boy already adores you. Maybe the two of you can even give him the proper childhood he deserves.
(Dagda my beloved! 🫠 I was so sad that not so many people voted for him lol. But I get it you guys haven’t gotten to meet him and be charmed by him like I have! He’s a good man Savannah!)
