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Their relationship had been rocky for a while. Geralt knew it, Lambert knew it but neither wanted to say anything about it but eventually there was a time that they both snapped.
It was about the dishes.
This time at least.
Lambert was supposed to do them, there were only about six. Wasn’t too hard, but he was busy. So Geralt did them, and he was angry.
Lambert had scooted beside him on the couch, he tried to put his arm around him but he was still angry so he pushed his arm off.
“What the hell?”
“You didn’t do the dishes again.” Geralt muttered.
Lambert was silent. “I’m sorry, I was busy.”
“You’re always busy.” Geralt snapped.
“What do you want me to do, quit my job?” Lambert asked, holding his hands up.
“No, of course not. I just want you to care.” Geralt replied.
“I do care.” Lambert replied, his brows were furrowed and his hands were balled up in a fist, he was trying to lower his volume, but it wasn’t working. He was growing angrier and angrier by the second. “Why the fuck are you always on my case? It’s our house not just yours.”
Geralt stood up. “Exactly, our house. So our fucking dishes, our fucking chores. But there you are, sitting here when I have to do the damn dishes all the time.”
“I cooked last night.”
“So what?” Geralt bit his lip, his face screwing up in frustration. “So fucking what Lambert? I made breakfast and lunch, you did one task.”
Lambert sat back watching him, Geralt hardly ever reacted this way. However at this point it had been boiling up within them both. “I do a lot for this house Geralt.”
“Do you though?” Geralt asked. “Like what?”
Lambert stammered for a moment because he was flustered, his tongue seemed to be tied but he honestly did help around. He vacuumed Monday, and took the trash out. He just couldn’t think straight.
“That’s what I thought.” Geralt huffed, he turned on his heel and made his way towards their room. Lambert was silent, he didn’t even move for what felt like an eternity. What the hell just happened?
Lambert finally forced himself to move, he followed him behind closely. As he walked in the room he saw Geralt packing a bag. “Geralt?”
“I’m going to stay with Yennefer and Jaskier for a while.” Geralt huffed. Lambert reached for his hand but Geralt pulled it away. “I think we should take a break.”
Lambert was honestly in shock. “What?!”
“We need to take a break, it's been a long time coming.” Geralt replied softly. “This isn’t us breaking up its just a break.”
“But you’re leaving?”
“I am.” Geralt remarked. “I’m sorry.”
“Are you?” Lambert asked, holding back tears.
Geralt looked him over, he didn’t know if he actually was sorry if he was being honest with himself. “Lambert.”
“Are you sorry?” Lambert asked again his lips quivering.
“I- Lambert.”
“Did you even ever care?”
“Of course I cared.” Geralt replied, his shoulders were tight, and Lambert lowered his head. “Of course I care.”
“Care, or cared.” Lambert asked again, his eyes locking with Geralts.
“I care,” Geralt repeated. “Honestly.”
“Then why are you leaving?”
“We need some time alone.”
“No.. We don’t we should work this out.”
“Working this out is letting me clear my head. There are too many thoughts running through it right now.”
Lambert lowered his eyes. “We could fix that.”
“I’m in no mood for sex with you Lambert, not right now.”
“How about we just take a shower to cool down, if you feel the same way about me after fine.” Lambert remarked.
Geralt eyed him up and down, he was honestly extremely angry and hurt but he wanted to try and give in. “Alright.”
Lambert smirked, he reached for Geralt’s hand once more but he recoiled from his touch. His smirk faded. Geralt undressed himself and stepped into the shower letting Lambert join him once he was ready. Lambert slipped in, they were inches apart, their shower small for their large builds. Geralt tried to hide his face, he wanted to just take a shower and leave.
Lambert leaned forward in an attempt to kiss him. Geralt allowed the kiss, but only for a few moments. The kiss brushed his lips but moved to his cheek. Lambert felt the cold shoulder, he was honestly hurt that he was so cold to him.
Geralt noted the hurt in Lambert’s eyes. Geralt began to squeeze shampoo onto his hand, Lambert let out a soft moan as Geralt scrubbed his scalp. His nails scratched at him with intensity but it was kind and loving. Geralt eyed him carefully, he knew very well that he was breaking it off on his own. Lambert wanted to keep pushing forward but if he was being honest he was less than willing to try. He loved Lambert, but that love had slowly died out.
Lambert returned the favor, scrubbing his hair and beard. He soon began to wash Geralt with a lilac and gooseberry body scrub they’d found at a farmers market. Geralt felt his hands line his muscles. His fingers ran along his skin tickling him, he watched him carefully but said nothing. He wanted to feel the same way about him as he had before. There used to be a passion and fire, but now it felt as frigid as ice.
There was no longer a burning love.
Lambert pressed his body against Geralt’s, Geralt allowed his advances knowing this may be the last time they ever do anything like this again.
For Geralt, it was the end.
Even if he didn’t want to admit it out loud.
Lambert ran his hands across his chest, kissed along his collar bone down to his cock. The man began to pepper kisses along his shaft, Geralt lowered his eyes, a frown upon his face.
It didn’t feel the same.
“Lambert I’m sorry.” Geralt whispered.
Lambert looked up, water dripping off his body. “Geralt?”
Geralt pushed him away and stepped out of the shower, he wrapped a towel around himself and got back to packing up. Lambert scrambled from the shower following him with water dripping from his body.
“Geralt.”
“I’m going to stay with them for a while.”
“Bu-.”
“I’m sorry Lambert I just can’t do this anymore.”
“So you’re running?”
“I’m not running.” He grunted. “I’m stepping away.”
“It feels like the same thing.” Lambert stated, he was honestly heart broken. He thought that maybe an attempt to spark something again would bring back the memories but he was clearly wrong. All those years suddenly seemed wasted.
There was a bitter cold that fell over the room like a blanket. The fire had gone out for one, and kindled within the other but neither would ever be able to bring the fire back to a flame as it once was.
Geralt finished packing everything up, pulled some sweatpants on and headed out the door. Lambert sat watching him as he climbed into the back of Jaskier and Yennefer’s car. Lambert watched the car drive down the road until it was out of view, and then he broke.
He slammed the door behind him, and just sobbed. He stormed around the house pulling every picture of them together off the wall shoving them into a box underneath their bed.
Their bed.
Lambert couldn’t sleep there, Geralt picked out those sheets. Geralt picked out the curtains, hell he picked out nearly all of the things in the house. Lambert dropped to his knees clutching the bedsheet in his hand as he dropped his head against it.
“I’m sorry I didn’t do the dishes.” He whispered softly, but no one was there to listen.