Chapter Text
It had been a tough few weeks on the road since the first night their crew had camped in the wilderness. Rudy remembered it vividly. He had stayed up late with Astarion, the vampire under the guise of keeping watch while Rudy actually had. The sky had been crystal clear that night as the stars flickered brightly, accompanying him while he prayed to Ilmater.
The moon had bathed them in a comforting glow as he took the time to scan the camp, trying to gauge his new companions. Shadowheart’s disgusted ire toward the moon had been confusing at first, Gale had pondered in front of the fire, Astarion was tetchy with what Rudy had come to learn was hunger, and Lae’zel had fluctuated between meditation and looking longingly to the sky. Wyll and Karlach had been yet to join them.
Now, it was the night before they planned to make their way down into the Underdark and lose sight of the sky for the foreseeable future. It was to be their next attempt at uncovering the mystery of the tadpoles after their failed excursion to Crèche Y’llek.
As he searched the camp for a newly rallied Lae’zel, he gratefully accepted a cup of tea from Gale. The man was set in his routine of brewing a pot each night for the camp and Rudy often joined him along with Wyll and sometimes Shadowheart.
He eventually found who he was looking for tucked away at the edge of camp down by the gentle water of the river.
“I wondered where you’d got to,” Rudy greeted as he sat down next to Lae’zel and took a sip from his mug.
She acknowledged his presence with a low hum, her gaze completely focused on the sky. He took note of her irritated frown.
“What’s wrong?”
Lae’zel groaned as she gestured toward the sky, “The clouds are an annoyance. They block the view of my home. I had wished to look upon it before we headed underground.”
“You mean K’liir?”
“Yes.”
“I’m surprised you would after everything with Voss and the crèche.”
“Regardless of Vlaakith’s true nature, K’liir is where I was raised, where I became the warrior I am today. She cannot take that from me.”
“I’m glad,” Rudy smiled, happy to hear the passion reignited in her voice after a quiet few days.
Taking another sip of his tea, Rudy watched the sky with Lae’zel before a thought sprung to mind as he leaned in a little more into the woman’s space.
“The clouds aren’t all bad, you know.”
She turned to him with a scowl.
“And why is that?”
“Well I know you can’t stargaze, but there’s always cloud spotting.”
Her scowl softened a little. “And what is this, cloud spotting ?”
“Well,” he started, shuffling closer so that their sides were touching, “you watch the clouds and sometimes they form into the shapes of animals, people, anything really. They create stories.”
“Stories from clouds?” Lae’zel asks, hesitant.
“It’s true! Though admittedly it’s a little more difficult a night when it’s harder to see the clouds but the full moon is at least helping us out tonight.”
“Hmm, very well. Indulge me. Show me your cloud stories.”
“Alright,” Rudy accepted, scanning the sky for something to start them off. “That one there, what does it look like to you?”
Lae’zel squinted at the night sky, observing the cloud Rudy had pointed out. “I see a warrior, their blade at the ready.”
“I can see that too,” he nodded. “Ok so, the cloud to the right, that looks like a rothè don’t you think?”
“Yes, I agree.”
“So, let’s say the warrior is battling a maddened rothè. Who do you think would win?”
Lae’zel ponders for a moment before turning her gaze to Rudy. “Whichever one loses its shape first. If it fades into nothing it has lost the battle.”
Rudy smiled back at her, enjoying her interest. “Alright, well I’m betting on the rothè.”
“Then I shall bet on the warrior. What is the prize of this bet?” Lae’zel asked as she turned back to the sky.
Rudy scoffed a laugh. “You’ve been spending too much time with Astarion.”
“The spawn is a mere acquaintance.”
“If you say so,” Rudy chuckled as he nudged her shoulder with his own, remembering the occasional evenings he’d seen the pair sat together, Lae’zel enraptured by Astarion’s dramatic tales of life on Faerûn.
The githyanki simply grumbled in response, her eyes fixed on the cloud warrior that was starting to blur at the edges. They watched in silence as the warrior smeared first, the cloud expanding enough to lose its shape.
“I win,” Rudy claimed smugly.
“We go again!”
“It’s not a competition, Lae’zel,” he replied in amusement.
“You are afraid of defeat,” she huffed.
“Very well, find our next battle in the sky and I’ll think of the winner's prize.”
After a few more attempts, Lae’zel claimed the winner’s title with a pleased smirk that Rudy relished seeing. When she caught his gaze, her expression turned to one of intrigue.
“Why do you stare, Rudy?”
“Just basking in your winner's glow,” he claimed, tip-toeing around the truth of his captivation.
“It is not just this single circumstance. I catch you often, and even when you have failed in subtlety you do not look away. Why?”
Rudy felt his cheeks flush at the accusation, but he was no liar. “I thought it was quite obvious really.”
“You remind me of our fellow cleric and her frivolity.”
“I should know better than to try to be vague with you. I know you prefer the blunt truth.”
“Indeed.”
He took a breath, making sure to hold the woman’s gaze. “Very well. You're beautiful, Lae’zel. It’s hard not to look. Especially in this light, with the moonlight filtering through the clouds and lighting up your eyes.”
It was not often Rudy saw Lae’zel caught off guard. This was one of the times. An even rarer occurrence was when he spotted the darkening colour of her cheeks.
They may have slept together multiple times, but Lae’zel was unused to the gentle affection he would offer. He hoped in time she would come to learn it did not mean weakness.
“ Bah , your softness will be your undoing. You come to my tent later and I will show you true strength.”
With a patient smile, Rudy nodded up at the rising Lae’zel.
“Alright, I shall see you shortly.”
“Yes. You shall.”
He watched as she stormed away. As she walked around the corner and out of sight, it was only then he realised they’d forgotten about Lae’zel’s winning prize.
When he pushed back her tent flap an hour later, he found her ready and waiting. When he mentioned her lack of prize, she rolled her eyes.
“You make a foolish error. I had not forgotten. Your presence here is my prize. Now,” she grabbed the hem of his shirt. “Take this off.”