hm how about. while ciri is a little too old for this phase i think she's just belated in it, so - ciri constantly being full of Fight and trying to spar, and geralt picking her up and tickling her while she fights like a bobcat lol ~🌵💞
@inconveniently-placed-cactus yes! Thank! I am very tired and barely edited this dkjfndkf
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Fandom: Witcher
Ship(s): PLATONIC!!!!! FAMILIAL!!!!!! don't be nasty
Characters (lee/ler): Lee!Ciri, Ler!Geralt
Word Count: 1105 words
Summary: Ciri's been pushing her limits and working too hard. Geralt tries to convince her to get some rest.
[ao3 link]
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Ciri had been taking her training seriously. She worked hard, perfected everything Geralt showed her, and practiced at every spare moment she had. If Geralt had been half so dedicated when he was her age, he probably would’ve gotten in much less trouble with Vesemir. That being said, Geralt was starting to wonder if she didn’t take her training a little too seriously.
She was late for meals, only not missing them entirely half the time because he came out to fetch her. She wasn’t taking breaks, working herself past the point of productivity. Geralt was even beginning to wonder if she was getting enough sleep, or if she had been sneaking out at night to squeeze in more practice, trying to improve faster.
Which was why Geralt didn’t even try telling her to stop when he came out that evening to check on her, the chill setting in even more heavily with the slow setting of the sun. She really shouldn’t even be outside this late. She didn’t have the stamina or the sturdiness of a witcher. She was going to catch her death out here in the snow.
But instead of chastising her, instead of commanding her to go to bed and rest, all Geralt said was, “Let’s spar.”
Ciri, ever-dedicated, finished the series of moves she was practicing, before lowering her sword and turning toward him. “What?”
Geralt tugged the wooden sword out of her grip and tossed it aside before backing away and lowering himself into a fighting stance. “Let’s spar.”
Ciri frowned, but mimicked his stance. “But you haven’t taught me how to fight hand-to-hand yet. And you’re so much bigger than me.”
Geralt raised an eyebrow. “Do you think all your opponents will be as small as you? If you want to learn, then watch carefully. And use your size to your advantage.”
Ciri’s eyes narrowed as she scanned Geralt’s form. He allowed her those few moments, watching the fight build up in her eyes. She was full of it, it always rose to the surface so easily, and that’s what Geralt had been betting on. It was time she learned what happened when she worked past her limits.
Geralt telegraphed his moves carefully, taking a few light steps in her direction. She immediately hopped backwards, trying to circle around him. He allowed her to start flanking him before suddenly lunging in her direction, grabbing hold of her arm. She yelped and tugged on the limb, but while gentle, Geralt’s grip was secure and strong. She wasn’t going anywhere.
“Let go of me,” she growled, trying to twist out of his grasp.
“Be resourceful,” he said.
Ciri grunted and tried to kick at his arm, but Geralt was faster. He snatched her ankle, holding it tight in his grasp as well. She growled again, tugging hard at her limbs.
“Geralt!”
“Cirilla.”
He used his grip on her to tug her close, dropping her ankle when she was near enough and using his grip on her arm to twirl her around. Then, he leaned down and wrapped his arm around her waist, lifting her into the air while she kicked and cursed, shoving at him.
“This lesson is a very important one,” he said, and her struggles died down somewhat as she listened. “I’d advise you to listen carefully.”
Then, when she had turned to glare at him over her shoulder, he smirked. And he attacked. The arm hoisting her up by the waist started pinching at her side. Her eyes went wide as she shrieked, her struggles renewing tenfold. She twisted and kicked and spat curses, but the childish giggles poured easily out of her mouth despite all her fight. He wrapped his other arm around her so that he wouldn’t drop her in all her squirming, letting those fingers scratch at her lower ribs.
“Geralt! No!”
“This lesson,” Geralt said, “is about knowing your limits. And when to stop and rest.”
She shrieked again as Geralt bounced her up in his arms, hoisting her back up from where she had been slipping. She was quick, though, having taken so well to her training, and she used those few moments where his arms were looser to twist herself around in his grasp.
His arms wrapped more than far enough around her back to keep plucking at her sides, but now he had to try and dodge her weak swipes at his face as well. She bit down on his shoulder, not hard, but certainly enough for him to notice, while her boots searched for purchase on his frame.
“I don’t think you’re listening very well,” he rumbled, chuckling as she managed to plant her boot against his hip and push herself up.
“Maybe your lessons are just boring,” Ciri replied, still giggling even though he had stilled his fingers to instead steady her as she tried to climb up onto his shoulders.
Geralt raised an eyebrow. “Then I guess I’ll stop boring you.”
He bounced the shoulder she had been climbing up to unbalance her and make her shriek before letting it dip and crumple completely beneath her weight, sending her toppling toward the ground as she laughed. He caught her by her legs, tossing her knees over his shoulder and barring his arm right above them to hold her there. Then with his other hand, he reached down and clawed into her belly, smiling as she cackled and shouted obscenities at him. She slapped and pushed at his hand without success, eventually giving in to her tired muscles and just hanging there, laughing wildly.
“Are you ready to go inside and go to bed?” Geralt asked after a few more moments.
“Yes!” She shouted through her laughter, drumming her heels against his back.
Geralt slowed his fingers to a stop, waiting for Ciri to get her bearings before slowly lowering her to the ground and helping her to her feet. She was panting and leaning against him heavily as they walked back toward the keep, but there was a smile plastered to her face and no sour anger in her scent.
“Remember to rest and take breaks from here on,” Geralt told her as they climbed the icy steps. “Or I’ll have to repeat this lesson.”
Ciri snorted. “I doubt any monsters or men will be using that against me. Not a very good lesson, is it?”
Geralt gave her side a few pinches, making her squeak and dance away from him as they walked into the keep.
“Careful,” he said with a smirk. “The monsters out there aren’t the only ones you need to be worried about.”
