Hauntober Day 11: Nightmare
Summary: When Karlach has a nightmare, Shadowheart is there to comfort her.
Characters: Karlach/Shadowheart
It always started the same. Karlach would be staring out over a cliff, enjoying the view and breathing the fresh air, and then the sunset would turn red instead of dark blue. Flames would begin to creep over the grass towards her, and then the clawed gargantuan hand would reach up over the side of the cliff, fingers splayed before closing around her. She would be pulled–yanked really– over the edge. It came with the sensation of freefalling, the flames in the pit getting closer and closer as she heard that wretched, wicked laugh getting louder and louder. She’d explode on impact with the gods damned infernal engine in her chest. Everything she loved about life flashed before her eyes–her friends, exploring, having adventures, a certain cleric–as the flames cleared to reveal the marble of Zariel’s estate. As she hit the ground, she’d wake up, sitting straight up in bed. Her infernal engine pounded against her chest for a few moments before the fear left her system–quickly replaced with rage.
“Fucking she-devils and their mind games,” she grumbled, getting up to leave her tent. Everyone else was still asleep. Of course they were. They weren’t plagued with nightmares of Avernis–whether caused by someone else or her own tired mind, Karlach never really knew, it was easier to blame Mizora or one of Zariel’s other underlings. She walked over to the edge of camp to sit down by the river, taking off her shoes and dipping her feet in the water. Her body sizzled with the contact, but she barely noticed.
“Couldn’t sleep?” Shadowheart asked, coming to sit next to her. She took off her own shoes to dip her feet in, letting out a contented moan at how the warm water felt on her feet. “Want to talk about it?”
Karlach sighed. “I have nightmares. Always the same. Always Avernis.”
Shadowheart frowned. “Do you think the thoughts are your own?”
“I’m not sure anymore. I thought it was when I first escaped, but now… now I wonder if it's punishment for leaving Zariel’s domain.” Karlach rested her chin on her bent knees. “I fucking hate nightmares.”
Shadowheart scooted a little closer to her. “I have nightmares sometimes.”
“You do?” Karlach asked, turning her head to look at Shadowheart. “What about?”
“Wolves,” Shadowheart admitted, looking down at her feet swishing in the water. “I’ve been terrified of wolves since I was a child.”
“Wolves can be scary,” Karlach said. “What do you do?”
“I just remember that if my goddess thought I was worthy then she would let me forget those fears, but since she hasn’t… then I must strive harder,” Shadowheart said.
“That sounds like bullshit,” Karlach said, a snort of a laugh. “You are a fine cleric, regardless of whether or not your goddess lets you have a nightmare once in a while.”
Shadowheart frowned. “My lady rewards the devoted.”
“You pray every fucking night, love,” Karlach said. “If that’s not devotion, then what is?”
“Perhaps I need to try harder in other aspects.”
“You are enough,” Karlach said, her hand reaching out to touch Shadowheart’s where it rested on the riverbank before she pulled back, folding her hands in her lap. “Never let some goddess who knows nothing of the struggles of daily life make you feel otherwise.”
Shadowheart blew her bangs out of her eyes. “I’m supposed to be comforting you, not the other way around.”
Karlach shrugged. “Talking to you helped me out. Made me realize that some beings could give Zariel a run for her money–that goddess of yours being one of them.”
Shadowheart swallowed. “Do you die in these nightmares?”
“I’m about to, but then I wake up.”
“Maybe they’re supposed to be a reminder to not waste the time that you have?” Shadowheart asked, her foot moving closer to Karlach’s.
“Careful, soldier, don’t want you getting burned.”
Shadowheart shrugged. “Some people are worth the pain.” She nudged Karlach’s foot with hers, not pulling away.
