Chapter Text
You found yourself in a sprawling night market on the docks of Grey Harbor. Booths lined the streets, boats decorated with magical lights, vendors calling out from all directions. It was a magnificent sight. You were in awe at the resiliency of the city. After everything that happened, it was a miracle that so much beauty and life could still be found in a place that had seen such destruction.
A glimmer of silver curls caught your eye.
Your thoughts drifted to Astarion, as they often did whenever you saw something that stirred your memories. You froze. Staring after the white haired figure in the distance.
Could it be…?
It was then he turned, locking eyes with you.
His unmistakable, beautiful crimson eyes that you had longed to see.
He took a step forward, the briefest flicker of joy on his face. Then he stopped. Hesitating.
You made a move towards him. First one step. Then another.
His eyes sparkled with each step you took, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips as he fought back the hope blossoming in his chest.
You broke out into a sprint. You had to hurry. You had to get to him. Faster. Faster. Before he disappeared. Before he was gone forever.
Your body slammed into his, your arms flying around his neck, hugging him tighter than you ever had before. His arms wrapped around you, crushing you, holding you with such force you couldn’t breathe. But you didn’t care. It didn’t matter. Nothing mattered.
He was alive.
Gods. He was ALIVE.
You relaxed your grip on him just enough to see his face, his arms still tight around you. He tried to turn away, keep his face hidden, embarrassed by his own tears and ashamed of his own emotions. But you gently cupped his cheeks, turning his face towards yours so you could study every beautiful detail before placing a kiss on the tip of nose. His cheeks. His forehead.
He smiled and laughed, relaxing with each display of affection and tenderness. He had spent so long waiting for this moment, hoping to be reunited with you. Ever since you had stopped him from ascending and he stormed off, cursing your name. He had imagined it over and over again. Dreamed of it, even.
He understood now, after everything, why you had done what you had. It had been months since. He had feared the worst after the Netherbrain had fallen, consumed by guilt when he realized he should have been there to see things through and because of his own selfishness, he had no idea if you lived or died.
You had only ever loved him with your whole heart, and what had he done to deserve that level of devotion? He may have been able to lie to himself, convince himself that Ascension would be for your good too. But you had seen through that. You knew. You knew how scared he was. And you knew it had nothing to do with you.
When he had been so blinded by his own fear and pain to see clearly, you had tried, with such compassion, to reach him. But he had pushed you away. Shut you down and said such horrible things. And then just abandoned you when you needed him most.
Yet here you were, jumping into his arms, pressing gentle kisses to his face, smiling and laughing like nothing had changed.
“I’m sorry, my love,” Astarion began.
“Shh,” you replied, cutting him off with a shake of your head, “Not now. Let me look at you. I’ve missed you. So much.”
Astarion complied, without hesitation. He would have done anything you asked of him now. He had so much to make up for. So much to fix. If you would have told him to walk into the sunrise, he would have listened, so heavy was his guilt. But he hoped that’s not what you wanted. He hoped with the way you showered him with love and gazed into his eyes that you’d be willing to forgive him.
“Where have you been all this time?” you finally asked, after pressing another kiss to his nose.
“Surviving,” was the only response Astarion could offer. He watched as your face fell. You tucked a lock of hair behind his ear before gently kissing his cheek, pausing for a moment to keep his face near. You understood the implications of what he was trying to convey, while being too ashamed of himself to form the words.
“Doesn’t matter now,” you said, your smile as soft and gentle as your touch, “We’re together again.”
“Do you really mean that? We can be together?” he asked, his voice cracking, his eyes wavering.
“Of course. There’s nothing that would make me happier,” you replied before placing a chaste kiss onto his lips. You paused, gauging his reaction. You smiled as you watched a boyish grin spread across his face. Just as you were about to kiss him again, he leaned forward, pulling you into a kiss of his own, this one deeper, more desperate than the first. He smiled against your lips, all the loneliness and fear of the past few months melting away. He had missed you so much. Your scent. Your warmth. Your very presence.
After so many ups, and so many more downs, he had finally found his way back to you. And he was never going to leave your side again.