silver for monsters
summary. johnny is a witcher. someone who saves people from monsters. but sometimes the monsters themselves want to save people.
warnings, extras. shirtless johnny (it needs a warning. hes sexy and he knows it.) blood, mentions of death, killing, murder. violence. swearing. an open ending!!! its up to u and ur mind to think how it ended... ~ PLUS! its based on this song but i recommend this whole playlist to listen (while reading to teehee). ALSO not proofread bc i wantred to post it asap lmfaooo
universe. set in the witcher universe. i kinda played with 'the creature' so any fans. shush. i know it dosnt work like that. all the other monsters mentioned are accurate tho. i encourage u to read a lil more abt them if u find urself interestd hehe. spreading my witcher propaganda as usual!
word count + net. 3,751. @kstrucknet, @neocity-net (this is my neo tech game event entry hehe<3)
author's note. i've finally got a chance to write in the witcher au. if u dont know, im a huuuge fan<3 (i even type this w my wolf school keycap staring at me rn). and as rough world is in the witcher, i tried to go for the same vibe in this fic. hence the open ending - just like in the game. you make the choice<3
thank you dearest @slytherinshua for the banner!
johnny is tired. and so is his horse.
he was exhausted from everything. his job, the journey, the people he has met along the way. he just wanted to find a cozy inn and rest. maybe have a beer or two. maybe eat a warm, delicious pork knuckle, glistening from fat in the candle light. with some potatoes and—
"aaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh!—"
johnny was tired.
but his work duties remain more important than sheer human exhaustion. he's not exactly human, after all.
squeezing his horse's side with his leg and with a kiss to command her to go faster, peaceful trot turned into rushed canter.
the blood-curdling scream was definitely not caused by a mundane thing. after long years of service as a witcher, monster hunter, he got it figured out.
he was still out in the open, riding through green and golden fields of wheat. crows nibbling out worms and seeds started to fly away, startled by the sudden noise of a galloping horse. johnny began to see outlines of houses in the nearest village. the source of the sound must've been somewhere nearby, his abnormal hearing allowed him to localize it faster. pulling the reins sharply, he stalled roach, his horse, to listen in.
"help! somebody help me!!! please, anyone!"
his head turned sharply towards the feminine voice, which was located somewhere in the golden fields of wheat. his cat-alike pupils became as thin as a slit, focus kicking in. he could sense a tender rumbling of eight legs. arachas.
a creature also called crab spider. large, eight legs, highly venomous with sharp teeth, protected by shell-like armor. on the other hand, slower than foglets or vampires of various kinds. and also, they were easy to kill: you just had to aim from the side or the back, where the armor didn't reach. with a silver sword, of course.
silver was for monsters. steel for humans.
squeezing the sides of his horse once again, roach's rhythm swiftly turning into gallop. the crops were tall and their blades brushed the horse's body as it lurched forward. in one, smooth motion johnny reached his hand back to grab his sword. due to the impact of the fast ride, the sword jumped out of the case and johnny gripped its handle.
the dark crows circled in the air, observing. as if hoping the witcher won't be fast enough and they will have a tasty dinner.
"not today" johnny grunted to himself, the tall, golden grass bending out and slowly showing him the victim, fallen on the ground. and the monster in all its (dis)might.
the poor woman was pale, johnny could hear her thumping heart as clear as bells in a church ringing on sunday.
johnny rose his hand up and swung his sword, the sunlight reflecting on its surface. the arachas moved, circling around the woman. if only it doesn't charge at the woman, it all ought to be under johnny's control. as always.
the insectoid was about to move between the woman and the witcher, moving in round circles. its jaws were open, about to spit venom. one step closer, two heartbeats in, and one swing of a sword. the monster will be out.
the ground was shaking, dust dancing in the air around the stomped grass.
"move!"
all johnny saw was a flurry of red and black.
dust rose up once again, rumbling of hooves coming to a halt. johnny froze, with his sword mid air.
there was another horseman.
the horse was black like coal, and johnny realized it was what flickered before his eyes. along with the splash of blood.
caused by… the rider.
who jumped down from the horse. rolling on the ground, professionally, sword in hand. one, two steps. jump. slash forward and a cling!
the crab spider was dead. its head rolled away from the impact, landing near the saved woman's feet.
johnny looked at her. her face was drenched in the monster's blood. she let out another scream and fainted. only then he looked at the invader.
"what the fuck?" he snarled, hiding back his sword. his witcher necklace with a carved wolf - the symbol of the school he attended - didn't budge. no reaction meant no magic. no magic, no monsters. or danger.
"i told you to move. i had to squeeze in between the crab and you. and now… she fainted" the rider said. johnny was perplexed. not only he didn't hear someone approaching - which was concerning, his unusual hearing should allow him to sense it - but also, he was shocked. how dare someone steal his job opportunity? money has been tight lately.
he huffed and jumped off the horse, wanting to walk closer to grab the woman and check on her. but the mystery rider was faster.
"don't touch her" the snarl made him dig his heels into the ground, unnaturally. he froze, watching how you leaned and effortlessly carried the woman in bridal style.
he observed the scene, perplexed. a total stranger just chimed in, killed the monster in one swipe like a professional, ordered him around… and now, even the horse followed his owner. without any command.
johnny tsked and grabbed the loot from the crab. then, he followed the rider hoping to gain some answers and hopefully earn money. he tried to rescue the woman, didn't he?
the village wasn't far, so you made it quick. two young teens gasped and ran up.
"take her to my hut, please. clean her face and make sure she stays there if she wakes up. i need to do a check up" you ordered and gently handed them the unconscious woman.
"on it, lady y/n!" they called and strolled off with a sense of urgency. turning on your heel, you sent a cold glaze to the witcher. "the hell you think you're going to?"
"the chief" johnny shrugged nonchalantly. he observed how your eyes glimmered with hatred.
"you should leave. there's no business here." you grunted, tugging your horse's reins.
"lady y/n, i'll make sure of that myself. there clearly was danger nearby" he taunted you.
"and i clearly had it under control." you grunted, stepping closer. a splash of blood across your face dried in the prickling sun, burgundy shade blooming from across the right side of your forehead to the corner of your left cheek. "don't test me. go to the chief, sure. show off the head as a proof. and then leave"
once again, that feeling. the last word felt like cold steel slashing through his body. like an order called by a siren. he did not like it one bit.
with one last glare and an annoyed huff, you hopped on your horse and rode away. towards the woods.
he could just turn in, show the proof that he (technically) eliminated the danger, and be on his way. but he did not like your behavior at all. and he will make sure that there's nothing suspicious in this village. witchers ought to protect humans, not only from monsters.
he got paid. the chief of the village was surprised but paid, nonetheless. johnny was looking out of the window, observing the black crows in the sky.
"is there anything that needs to be taken care of?" johnny asked, already mentioning his profession. he sensed the hesitation in the man's features.
"truth be told, mr suh…. there is a beast in the woods. y/n, our local medic, says it might be leshen. but she's not sure either. the monster sometimes… requires…" the man gulped and sat down with a heavy sigh. johnny rose his eyebrows. "an offering. human offering, that is."
it's not impossible but very unlikely, johnny thought. leshen usually consume wild animals living in the forest and yes, humans, but mostly… if they step on their territory.
"i-it's nothing, i shouldn't have mentioned it" the chief blurted out when he saw johnny thinking deep. "lady y/n is working on it"
"is she? who is she, if i may ask?" the witcher crossed his arm, his necklace dangling on his chest.
"well… our healer. she is quite strange but never harmed us. ever since she arrived to our village, there's been less wild animals or monsters. she's no professional like you but let me tell you, boy! the way she swings that sword of hers! majestic! rychu, our senior veteran, couldn't even do that when he was younger!" the chief laughed, holding his belly.
"hilarious" johnny said with a straight face. "i want to talk with y/n. where does she live?"
the chief's face turned pale, his laugh dying in his throat.
"away from our village, a fifteen minute walk. near the forest. there's a small pond, then you take a turn and her hut is there. you'll know you're on the right path once you see cherry trees. but… if you're not hurt or anything, don't go there." seeing johnny's unfazed face, the man quickly added: "that's a rule she set. only come there if you're injured or sick. or if there's an emergency. i told you, boy, she's weird. doesn't like people much. well, spending time with them. she can lie all she wants but we all know that deep down, she doesn't. just needs time alone."
"and you never found it weird?" johnny tsked.
"well, she pays taxes just as everyone else does" the chief grunted. "listen, boy. if you mess with her, your problem. but do not indulge our village in that: we need her." the man said angrily, visibly upset with the conversation.
johnny strode off, not bothering to say goodbye. he will find out what was up with you, just out of spite.
johnny left his horse in a tiny stable next to the inn he stayed in and went to visit you the next day. refreshed, rested.
and prepared.
he indeed passed a small pond, frogs creaking in a choir when he walked by. soon the smell of cherries overtook his senses. your hut appeared from between the huge trees. wooden, simple, with a huge garden overflowing with herbs and flowers.
his swords attached on his back clicked softly as he softly placed his feet. shifting the weight of his feet not to make too much noise. if his gut is right - and in most cases, it is - you might not be an ordinary healer.
aside from the buzz of bees dancing around the lavender near him, he could hear two voices. loud, chaotic. arguing.
"i told you so many times not to!"
"but… father…"
"your father is a drunkard and a lump!"
"we have to live somehow… if he can't, i… i have to"
"not by going out alone into the field!"
"you wouldn't understand, y/n! you're here alone. do you even have a family to care for? a loved one? you wouldn't get it!"
silence.
"get out."
"i… i'm sorry-" the other voice cracked.
"get. out." almost a wolf-like growl. the tension was getting thick.
the door busted open and a girl ran out of the hut, tears in her eyes. johnny realized it was the same woman who was saved by you yesterday. she ran past him, sniffling.
"you too. get out. no trespassing." you snarled, leaning against the doorway.
"you interrupted my work. i'm intrigued about you" johnny said, not lying one bit. besides your mysterious appeal, you were also quite beautiful if he said so.
"yeah? and i don't care. unless you're hurt, there's no need for you to be here. moreover, there's no need for you to be in this village. we are doing perfectly fine without a witcher. there are no monsters nearby." you said, wiping your hands against your linen shirt. around your neck was hung a necklace decorated with wolf fags and crow feathers.
"no monsters? and the arachas was a fish?" johnny stood in his place, patiently. he peeked inside your hut. a typical village hut - wooden furniture, dried herbs, garlic, and flowers tied into a braid and hanging on the walls, candles. and… animal skulls. he noticed some scattered bloodied cloth on the ground.
"i repeat: unless you are not hurt, get out" you said and were about to close the door, when he cleared his throat.
"i am."
you rose your eyebrows, unfazed.
"don't tell me you got a scratch from a fight you haven't participated in. that would make you quite a useless protector of the human kind, no?" you teased. johnny smiled, admiring your word verbal fencing.
"mhm, no. i got hurt before i got here and i was hoping to find a medic. conveniently, here you are" he shrugged, crossing his arms. it wasn't necessarily a lie - he did get hurt during a fight with a wyvern on his way here. he drank a potion or two to regain strength but his wound needed healing.
with a heavy sigh, you moved away from the door and disappeared inside.
he followed you inside, the smell of herbs being even more intense than inside. it almost tickled his nose.
"sit down and don't move"
he did. resting his fists on his thighs, he continued to scan your house in search for more extraordinary items. for example, your shelves were bending from the amount of books on them. no normal, poor villager in the middle of nowhere would had that many books. in another language at that. you were either really rich or moved here with already existing collection.
another thing, scented candles. something told johnny you tried really hard to bring as much fragrances as you could to fill up the house. he hasn't figured out the reason yet, though.
"where?"
he snapped back to reality, looking at you rolling up your sleeves.
"under my collarbone" he said.
"undress then" you huffed. in a blink of an eye his swords were laying on your bed, along with his shirt. you gulped, trying to focus. in the village, the men weren't really… muscular… so it was definitely a nice sight. and he noticed that.
you scanned the wound, a curved cut running from under his left collarbone to a little above his right nipple. not too deep but could use a cleaning and a bandage.
so you went to grab some. johnny used this opportunity to lean on his hands a bit back, not so subtly flexing his arms as well. when you returned, you just sighed at the sight. men.
"so, are you the village protector? if so, i am truly not needed here" he engaged the conversation, eyeing you carefully.
"exactly. aren't you witchers so smart…" you taunted, gently pressing a cloth soaked with a pungent smelling liquid to his wound. normally, it would sting. but due to the trials and mutations witchers undergo through, such minor sting felt more like a tickle. besides, he was used to it.
"so you will handle the leshen alone?" johnny cocked an eyebrow. you hesitated.
"i will" your tone was hard and convincing. then, you moved the cloth. "i need to bandage it."
"go on" johnny said lazily. when your hands started wrapping the bandage around his torso, he realized one thing: your hands were deadly cold. which was weird in the middle of summer.
all the small clues he has gathered started forming into a clear image: you might be a vampire.
a crow cracked ugly in the backyard, adding an extra note to his observation: a bruxa at that. this kind of vampire is cooperating with animals, which would explain the constant presence of crows and your horse not rebelling against you; yet, even listening to your commands without tantrum. you were probably resistant to witcher potions and oils, bringing only fire and silver to defeat you — given that you're not a higher vampire yet.
it took hundreds of years for a normal vampire to turn into a higher one: and they were impossible to kill, even by a professional monster hunter.
"done, all patched up" you sent him a beautiful smile. he mirrored it. "you can go now. farewell, witcher!"
"i'm staying overnight. then i'll decide. i can't just leave a village that's threatened by a leshen" johnny smiled and stood up, putting back on his shirt. here comes a test. "can you pass me the swords?"
if you touched silver, it would bring you pain — unless you were a higher vampire. if you were, johnny would leave. only a higher vampire could kill another one.
but when you grabbed them, nothing happened. johnny cursed mentally. there was hope, though: he noticed the small burn scars scattered all over your hands.
"if you change your mind to cooperate with me, i'm staying in the inn." there was only one in the whole village.
you shrugged and sat down on a chair, back facing him.
the moon glimmered high in the dark sky, dark clouds wrapping around it like soft cotton. johnny wiped his silver sword last time, looking at the reflection of night sky in the surface.
the crows were plucking their feathers outside his window, watching him closely.
once he stood up, ready to face the upcoming danger, the crows flew away. probably to you.
he was in the forest quicker than expected. the night was chilly, without any wind. the atmosphere was tense, every step felt like an approaching grim reaper. different kinds of birds were chirping… meaning he was on a bruxa's territory.
"the leshen was a cover, huh?" johnny asked, voice steady. he could sense your presence, eyes piercing through him.
leaves gently rustled under his heavy boots as he made his way deeper into the woods.
"one thing leaves me puzzled, though…" he began again, trying to smoke you out of your hiding spot. he guessed you were hiding somewhere in the trees. "you could've killed the whole village if you wanted. no one would know. why you're still here?"
"you wouldn't get it"
there is was. a sharp, almost thrilling voice. must've been your rdeal form.
"then explain" johnny said, stopping his movement. if you were not a higher vampire, the fight should be easy. but if you were… he was in real danger. as always, he trusted his gut.
"i was born hundreds of years ago here. i made a promise to protect this village" a soft rustle of leaves told him you must've jumped down from a tree. somewhere to his left.
"i know what you are" johnny slowly reached for his silver sword.
"say it. out loud. say it!" you growled. johnny felt your presence all around him: in the air, in his lungs. in his blood.
"vampire"
an inhuman screech made the hair on his arm rise, imminently taking a defensive stance. bruxae are agile so he should've seen it coming. but you still manages to take him by surprise when he felt your cold hands around his neck, long claws digging into his skin. you not only knocked the air out of his lungs but also knocked him over, quickly straddling his lap. due to his cat alike eyes, he saw you clearly despite it being the middle of the night. your eyes now darker than before, skin almost translucent.
"smart boy. now, listen because i will not repeat myself" you hissed through your fangs. "you leave and never come back."
"but you are killing those people. there is no leshen. the human offerings go to you" johnny's voice sounded like sandpaper.
"a small price for keeping them safe. you don't know how it is. you humans always think you know what's god and what's evil. you never consider another point of view. always so shallow" you grunted and moved your fingers, allowing him to take a breath. he did, almost as if drowning and gasping for his dear life. "i am a monster, i am starved for blood. my hut needs to be filled with scents so i don't go berserk on someone bleeding out while i take care of them. this is my endless suffering, johnny."
he didn't even had a while to ponder how do you know his name. all he sensed in your voice was pain.
"i don't want to kill but i was made to do so. i'm fighting against my monster nature. my life is an endless road of guilt. hunger, shame, guilt. self torture." you spat out, suddenly letting go and blinking away a stinging feeling in your eyes.
maybe two hundreds years ago you'd call them tears. now they were just a pathetic reminder of how it was once to be a human.
"don't make me kill you as well. i know you want to save them. but what then? you'll leave them with no protector. you'll forget about them." you whispered.
"but i can put an end to your suffering" he offered, swallowing hard.
you leaned in and took his sword, grabbing it by the sharp blade. pointing at your stomach. your grasp was soft but still managed to make your hands burn from the silver.
so he had a real chance of killing you before you turn into a higher vampire, much harder to kill in the future.
"the choice is yours, witcher" your voice was soft. tired.
so johnny took a deep breath, weighing his options.
he could kill you, right here. he just had to grab the sword handle and push. but that would make the village lose their healer and protector… and the reason behind numerous deaths a year. alas, your death would set you free from the miseries of being a timeless creature with internal dilemmas.
but he could also save you. with the grab of his sword handle and throwing the blade away to signal his decision. he'd leave like nothing happened — and the village would continue it's mundane routines. continuous mysterious deaths… only to be saved again and again by the person who is the murderer. and you could only grow stronger and stronger with each consumed victim… becoming an impossible to kill creature with mind blurred both by guilt and hunger.
“evil is evil. lesser, greater, middling, it's all the same. proportions are negotiated, boundaries blurred. but if i'm to choose between one evil and another, then i prefer not to choose at all.” said once his witcher friend, geralt. and oh, how johnny wished he didn't have to chose now.
but with your piercing gaze through his skull, he knew the time was ticking.
so he grabbed the sword handle and…
masterlist <3
taglist. @l3visbby ,, @laylasbunbunny ,, @planetkiimchi ,, @mon2sunjinsuver ,, @w3bqrl ,,
@eternalgyu ,, @haecien ,, @slytherinshua ,, @1009high,, @hhaechansmoless
@jvkeslvr ,, @loserlvrss
