Don’t worry about the title, this is pure fluff. @anxiousbard ‘s magnificent Venom!Verse made me feel some things so I needed to write some cuteness to balance the force.
Enjoy!
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There was a knock on Jaskier’s chamber door and he rose quickly to answer it, forgetting his state of relative undress completely. When his eyes met with Geralt’s familiar slitted golden ones he smiled and leaned against the frame. The Witcher swallowed thickly and turned his gaze away, speaking softly, “You are uhm...you are indecent, my love.”
“Oh,” Jaskier glanced down. The dressing gown was pulled closed around his waist and his chemise covered most of his chest. He was wearing his smalls; only his calves, ankles and feet were showing through the bottom gap. He didn’t see any problem. “What’s wrong with this? All the naughtiest bits are covered, Geralt.”
“I can see your - I can see your collarbone, Jaskier. And your legs.”
“And?”
“It’s improper! If I am to woo you properly then you mustn’t - you mustn’t tempt me like this, little bird.”
“Geralt, my great and silly Beast, do you remember what I looked like when you found me that first night, bound to a tree? Those creepy elders hadn’t left me any shirt at all! I was standing in the autumn cold completely bare-chested and covered in berry juice! There’s nothing showing here that you haven’t already seen before,” the young noble scoffed. Geralt continued to look away.
“Still,” he grumbled. “It’s improper, little bird. Would you kindly get dressed and meet me in the library? I have something important to discuss with you.”
Jaskier looked fearful for a moment but Geralt softened his gaze and pressed a quick kiss to his forehead.
“I promise that it’s good news,” the Beast reassured his anxious consort. “The discussion shall be of a happy nature.”
“That’s very good to hear,” Jaskier sighed in relief. “I shall be down shortly, my darling.”
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“I’d like - hmm, I’d like to give you a real courting gift, Jaskier,” the Beast stated. He knelt solemnly before his blushing fiancée and pulled a box from behind his back. It certainly wasn’t a ring; the box was long and thin, made of heavy oak that had been stained a walnut brown and polished to shining. A recurring design of leaves and vines had been carefully carved along the border and the clasp holding it closed was made of shining gold. The young peasant gasped and took a half-step back. “I wish to begin my formal suit. I wish to make you my consort by law.”
“Geralt, I’m - it’s too beautiful, I -”
“The box is not the gift,” the Beast explained. He unhooked the clasp and opened the lid slowly, revealing what lay inside. Nestled against a bed of deep red velvet was a shining silver dagger. The pommel had been shaped to look like a blooming rose. A small, shimmering ruby had been inlaid at the very center, winking up at the awestruck boy in the flickering light of the library fire. Jaskier shook his head and laughed breathlessly. Geralt spoke again, softly and carefully, enunciating each word so that he could not be misunderstood, “Jaskier, my love, I wish to court you with the intent to marry you. I wish to keep you by my side for the rest of my life, where I can hear your voice and feel your warmth. I will protect you and clothe you, feed you and bathe you in illness and in good health. I shall be your castle and you in turn shall hold my heart. You are a lighthouse, my love, and I am drawn to you through the crashing waves. Say you’ll be mine, Jaskier, and make me the happiest Witcher to ever have lived.”
The bright young human was overwhelmed. Tears poured from his eyes and his hands trembled at his sides. His lip was being bitten to pieces between his pearly teeth and his knees wobbled dangerously. Geralt stood and swept the boy into his arms, placing the box carefully on a nearby table in the process. Jaskier threw his arms around his Beast’s neck and let out a gasping, happy sob, “Oh, Geralt! I would be more than happy to accept your suit! I would love with all my heart for you to be my husband and I your consort. May I bring Kaer Morhen glory with my presence here. May I bring you happiness with my presence here.”
Geralt laughed, throwing his head back and spinning in several dizzying circles. Jaskier squealed and clung even tighter to him, giggling softly when they finally came to a standstill. “Will you take the dagger? Will you wear it at your hip so I know that you are safe? So I know that some piece of me is always there to protect you, little bird?”
Jaskier suspected that this gift, the dagger in particular, was specific to Witchers. He nodded and curtseyed formally, the way any noble lady would do when accepting a romantic suit. “I accept your gift, sweet Witcher. I shall wear it at my hip where you can protect me always.”
Geralt set his little bird back on his feet and pulled him close, looping both arms around his waist. “May I kiss you, my consort?”
Jaskier tilted his head back and beamed up at his Beast, “Kiss me breathless, my love. Kiss me until I cannot ask to be kissed again.”
