Part 1
"Do we have any other takers? Any more bets? How about you, sir? Betting man?" the gorgeous bard beamed while she played a melody to raise anticipation on her lute.
"You know what? Sure." The man tossed a couple gold into the pot.
The crowd cheered while Astarion gave a close lipped smile, eye fucking a couple of the women in the group.
A few more coins trickled in, clinking against the others.
"Now watch and be amazed as I throw this dagger, up to the second floor, it bounces handle side down off that, that then that," he pointed to a couple of things, "and into the center of that barrel." He announced with a flourish, parading around dramatically.
While he distracted the crowd, the bard cast a little spell to ensure he'd succeed. Astarion felt the power and confidence surge as her spell took effect, making a big show out of throwing the dagger.
While it flew through the air, Liv took the opportunity to pick a few pockets then make her way to the front before the trick shot was over.
As the blade hit home, the crowd was a mix of cheers and jeers.
"Aww better luck next time, friends!" She offered a supportive smile that hid the inward smirk she felt. She validated a few peoples feelings and casually got each of them to walk away.
The bard scooped up the gold while the rogue retrieved the dagger. They smiled at each other for a moment before quickly and discreetly leaving the area.
To an outsider they'd look like lovers exchanging a look. But they knew they were shit eating grins of victory, and they were in fact not lovers, but 200 gold richer.
Each.
As they reached the end of the ally, they waved to Gale, who stood with hid arms crossed. "Again? Really?" he glared, falling into step on Liv's other side.
"Oh relax, you benefit from the spoils too. Most of this ends up going to potions and gifts for you." The half elf snickered, purposely hip bumping him.
The wizard's glare softened and he ducked his head. "I suppose that's true. But if you two get caught, you're on your own."
The elves smirked at each other, "Somehow I think we'll manage." Astarion turned his ruby gaze to Gale who rolled his own.
The men grew uneasy while the trio walked by a group of men who began to whisper after them, staring at Liv in particular. The vampire could have torn their heads off with his bare hands for the disgusting way they spoke about her.
Gale glared back at them, putting an arm around her shoulders protectively. "Honestly, Liv, we can't take you anywhere civilized."
"I'd hardly call this place...much less those meat sacks civilized." Astarion agreed, now wishing he'd been the one to grab her first.
"I'm not doing anything on purpose." She muttered, dropping her chin.
"Boo hoo, it must be so hard being effortlessly gorgeous." The vampire rolled his eyes.
"When I cant go anywhere alone without being hassled, propositioned or having wives threaten me for stealing their husband's eyes-" "And hearts." Gale added.
"Right. A few of them did say that." She pouted, "I know I can more than take care of myself but I get so..." she crossed her arms over her ample chest and shivered with a frown.
The group had noticed fairly early on she seemed fairly oblivious to the leers she got everywhere she went, and that when she no longer was, the attention made her extremely uncomfortable.
She could flirt her way out of trouble no problem but was easily flustered and nervous if a man just started commenting on her body. It made pit in her stomach that stayed until someone else from her party found her.
Even Shadowheart had played the role to make the men think they had no chance.
She sighed, "And Astarion," he looked at her. "You sound jealous when you say stuff like that. You're too pretty to be jealous."
Gale smirked as the vampire's jaw dropped for a moment, blinking in surprise "I...er..um..you're absolutely right." He pushed his hair from his face and shook out his shoulders, "You passed the test."
Liv rolled her eyes while the wizard shook his head, a small smile on his lips.
Red eyes grew annoyed as he saw this, promoting him to cross his arms and pout, "I'll meet you back at camp." He strode of into the masses of people on the street.
The pair laughed, keeping their leisurely pace.
"He adores you, you know." Gale told her once their laughs became little giggles.
Her cheeks grew dark, "No, he would have made a move by now if he did. We're just good friends."
He arched an eyebrow, "Is that so?"
She mimicked him, raising her own and dropping her voice, "Yes, that is so."
The wizard made a face, "You're too good at that."
Wind whipped her long blonde hair around while carrying her laugh. "What can I say? I give a performance like no other."
Liv yelped as a hand sized her elbow. "I bet you do, babe. Why don't you come with me and give a private show?"
Her entire body froze as ice set in, eyes wide with fear as her legs stopped moving.
"I'm going to give you one chance to let go of the lady and be on your way." Gale's voice dripped with venom in a way she'd only ever heard in situations like this.
The barbarian sized him up then laughed, yanking her arm confidently, causing her to stumble closer. "Fuck off, mate. If you can't defend your woman, don't bring her outside."
They couldn't go throwing magic in the middle of town, the creep knew that.
What he didn't expect, was Gale to cast a hold person spell, locking him into place.
He then gently unfurled the man's fingers from Liv's arm and put a protective arm around her waist. "You need to learn some manners. Best hope we don't ever meet in a battlefield."
The man's eyes burned with rage as Gale pressed a kiss to the still shocked bard's temple and led them back into the crowd.
She pressed herself into her companion's side all the way back to camp, trying to match his breathing the entire way.
No one knew what caused this reaction in her, but they had an idea. None dared broach the subject and figured talk if and when she wanted.
Normally in battle, she was fearless and thoughtful. But when confronted with someone like that barbarian she locked up.
When they returned to camp, Astarion had already thought up a snappy quip-the perfect amount of sting and sass.
Unfortunately, it died in his throat as soon as he looked over at them. One look and he knew.
Gale was softly rubbing her forearm, reassuring her while he led her to his tent.
The vampire frowned and exchanged a look with the wizard on the way. He immediately regretted his hasty exit earlier. He noticed pursuers were more easily deterred when she was with more than one man.
Astarion silently crept over to listen, able to hear their magic friend leading her through breathing exercises. When she'd calmed down, Gale finally left the tent to get some dinner.
He was about to stand only for Shadowheart to beat him to it, heading toward Gale's tent to comfort the other half elf.
Annoyed as he was, he knew for Liv's sake that only one person could be with her at a time.
Much to his dismay, she stayed for an entire hour and a half.
He started to head over only to stop in his tracks when the tent door moved and Liv emerged, looking tired buy otherwise okay other than her red cheeks and the fact that she changed her appearance to the one she preferred-the one that more clearly showed her half-drow ancestry.
Her skin kept its pink hue but her hair shortened to a pixie cut, blonde at the root morphing into silver tips that sat perfectly in place. Her blue eyes darkened until you could scaresely tell pupil from iris. A silver ring sat in her septum above her lips that wore a coat of black paint, matching her winged eyeliner and eyeshadow.
Her pointed ears were dotted with two in her cartilage on both sides, and a silver ring on the lobe. She bore tattoos of solid black up her throat with flame-like tendrils licking at her jaw, a small flame adorning her forhead.
This was who she preferred to be. Who she felt the strongest, and most confident as. It was also her defense.
The others knew not to be surprised or comment on what she decided to look like that day. The long blonde look was always used for public performances, it had even earned her the title "The Angel" by word of mouth.
Astarion thought she was perfect both ways, but he knew the other men liked The Angel, while Shadowheart and Karlach preferred the one he dubbed the demoness, the little devil, and simply the drow.
She hadn't noticed him, and headed for her bedroll by the fire.
Astarion's chest tightened as he realized he was too late to comfort her. If he hadn't ditched her this probably wouldn't have happened. They'd be sitting around the fire while she played her lute and told them legends.
He should have stayed. This was his fault.
He should have stayed.
Jaw clenched, he thought, I'll never abandon you again, my angel. You have my word I will remain close at hand.
What he couldn't see, was her small smile as their tadpoles relayed the message in his voice.
In fact, he'd been so distracted that all his thoughts of guilt and protectiveness were made privy to the blonde.
He didn't know it, but they grew closer that night without him ever speaking a word.
--
The following morning when they returned to the little town of Hodge to continue their search for information, Gale noticed Liv go out of her way to ensure they passed by the same intersection from last night.
It was fairly early and the roads were almost clear, blue sky above them.
As they neared it, Gale stepped forward and took her hand. To everyone's surprise, she turned her blue and silver gaze to Astarion and held her other hand out to him.
Shadowheart pouted as the visibly confused vampire hesitantly took her it and walked on her other side.
Liv squeezed both of them as they strode down the road like they owned it. When they got to the next street, she pressed a kiss to the back of Astarion's hand and gave him a grateful look before letting go and repeating the gesture with Gale.
The vampire blinked in surprise as an odd fluttering feeling danced in his stomach, Gale's cheeks darkened a little as he returned her smile.
He followed her blindly like they were magnetized, eyes wide as he tried to make heads or tails of this feeling.
Her pixie cut shined like silver in the sun, contrasting the warm, sunny light from the blonde near her scalp. Even painted with dark make up, she was breath taking-silver septum ring glinting back at him a top her confident smile.
Especially when she was exuding confidence like she now was, leading them through the streets to their first contact.
Her rapier carefully tucked into her overcoat, lute strapped to her back, she walked through the next intersection exuding joy once again.
Astarion's maroon eyes stayed locked on her profile while he continued to remain at her side. Gale went to talk to Karlach, leaving the two side by side leading the group.
The vampire's eyes flicked down to her hand, yearning to hold it again; to feel her soft, dainty hands in his calloused but well manicured ones.
The butterflies in his stomach hadn't quite settled down yet-he'd heard some young women gossiping recently and learned that's what it was called.
Though if it meant what they insinuated it did he refused to believe that was what was happening to him.
He supposed Liv was pretty enough...oh who was he kidding? They didn't call her The Angel for nothing. She was beauty incarnate, in both of her forms. Her movements were naturally elegant and graceful, her acrobatics during battle were unreal.
Everywhere she went an air of lavender and vanilla followed. You couldn't be in a bad mood when she was around-he would know. He tried.
She was exactly what Cazador would have sent him after.
At that, he looked away from her shamefully. He didn't deserve to walk beside her, figuratively or literally. His steps slowed so he could merge with the others but this stopped when her hand brushed the back of his - making his breath catch for a moment as sparks shot up his arm.
She caught his eye and winked, a small smile on her soft lips. "Walk with me, 'Starion."
He was about to scold her for the nickname but for some reason from her he didn't mind it.
"Gale holds your arm through town." He murmured quietly.
Her cheeks darkened, "So he does."
"It's only fair-rr- I mean....proper." He collected himself. "It's only proper that a lady gets escorted." He raised his chin, keeping his eyes ahead.
"Of course."
"After all, you tend to get sidetracked and lost."
"Sounds like me."
"Hells forbid you see a cat!"
A little annoyed now, she glared, "Are you gonna do it or what?"
"Of course I am, don't be stupid!" Came his rushed reply just before he almost aggressively looped arms with her like Gale often did.
Behind them, the entire team silently laughed. Gale crossed his arms over his chest, batting away Shadowheart who pretended to try and loop arms with him. He turned away from her and glared playfully before pushing her into Karlach who caught her then gave her arm a reassuring pat before going back to minding her business.
Astarion glared venomously at any one that looked at them too long, thankfully only a few people due to her still being in little demon form. He felt like her bodyguard, and as such had to be the scary dog that made outsiders keep their distance.
And unlike most bodyguards, he actually HAD bite.
Meanwhile, Liv was blissfully unaware of the mission he'd given himself, waltzing down the street casually.
When they arrived at their agreed upon meeting place, Liv wanted to go in alone but the entire group was quick to shut that down.
"Just in and out-it'll be quick. Everyone leaves happy, no big deal."
Astarion's lips quirked up in a grin while he held his laughter, little sounds sneaking out. Karlach immediately began to belly laugh, drawing the attention of a few townspeople. Gale sighed and shook his head while the bard looked at him oddly.
"Sweet summer child." He pressed a patronly kiss to her temple and hugged her cheek to his chest for a moment.
With knit brows, she let him hold her for a moment. "Anyway, any alternative plans then?"
"Well, you aren't allowed to go anywhere alone so write that down." The vampire rolled his eyes, missing her little smile.
"Our best bet here is to not arouse suspicion, and to appear as normal as possible to blend in. I think Liv and I should go in together, since we look the most like the locals.
"Human, you mean?" Shadowheart asked, crossing her arms at the other half-elf.
"And not head to toe in armor. Not exactly common garb in these parts."
She relented, "Liv and I could go. Two women won't look odd and I'm sure she has an outfit I can borrow."
Gale gave a snappy retort, angering the Cleric. They bickered over who was going in with Liv until Karlach physically turned their heads to show them Astarion had already whisked her away and toward the little café, both in all their silver headed glory.
After casting an apologetic look over her shoulder, she spoke "You didn't ask me to put on the angel."
He paused, "I'll never ask you to change, darling. However you feel best is how I want you."
She squeezed his arm, smiling up at him while he avoided her gaze.
Luckily everything went according to plan for once and they got another lead.
Before they returned to their team, waiting in the distance in the town square, they decided to slip out the back door to see if they could make a few extra coins.
Liv put on the angel to aid in the con on her own accord, excitement in her stomach as she and Astarion approached a small group of people already with a game in progress.
