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eleanorbloom · 3 years

Text

When You’re Ready Ch. 18

Pairing: Bryce Lahela x f! MC (Eleanor Bloom) x Ethan Ramsey.

Word Count: 7.4k (I’m making up for my almost three weeks of absence!)

Warnings: Angst, cussing and nudity. Rated T.

A/N: Please excuse me the fact that I’m mixing past and present tense in this chapter. I tried to write it all in past tense as usual, but it didn’t feel right aesthetically in some parts, so I just let it be XD

Taglist @utterlyinevitable @binny1985 @shanzay44 @choicesficwriterscreations @starrystarrytrouble @lahellacute @lucy-268 @cinnamonspongecake @romewritingshop @bratzlahela @mrs-raleighcarrera @mercury84choices @curiousconch

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Chapter 18: Into My Arms.

So keep your candles burning

And make her journey bright and pure

That she will keep returning

Always and evermore

Into my arms, O Lord

Bryce had never been a man of strong faiths, but he wasn't a cynical either.

He was just practical. He respected people who needed something to believe in, but preferred to put his beliefs in science because that's what was closer to infallibility compared to religion. After all, that's why he decided to become a surgeon, he believed in the power of medicine to heal people against all adversities.

However, he knew medicine wasn't enough. At least not when he's not the one holding the scalpel and giving everything he has to save a life, but holding the hand of the person he loves the most, and her life is hanging by a thread.

Doctors have medicine. They do everything they can with their knowledge and skills to save lives. But patients? All they have in the waiting is hope. And all they can do is pray.

After spending hours awake, not missing a single second of her breath, of her arterial pressure, of her oxygen levels, all the indicators that could assure him that she was alive, the passing of time inevitably starts kitting uncertainty upon him. Would it be enough? Will they do it on time? Will they do it at all? Because he knows the possibilities and limits of medicine. He knows that sometimes there won't be an answer, there won't be a cure, there won't be anything that could be done.

Sometimes, medicine is not enough and death is inevitable.

Bryce had never been a man of strong faiths, but he wasn't a cynical because maybe, just maybe, he was just waiting for the time he would need something to believe in. When his optimism and science combined wouldn't be enough. When the waiting would be so long, excruciating, and painful that he would need something to hold on to. A refuge.

Just like now.

Just like now when there's nothing left to do but pray.

To God, Allah, Buddha, Yahweh, Jehovah, Kāne.

"Please, please, let them find the antidote. Please, let them find it on time so Eleanor, Rafael, and Danny can survive. Please. Please."

There's no logic in asking the unseen something only medicine can give. But it doesn't hurt. It actually feels like a warm blanket that envelops in the middle of a tempest. At some point, it will soak with rain and it will no longer provide warmth, but it will do for a while. And that's all that he needs. Temporary comfort. Temporary faith to go through the night.

"Please protect her. Don't take her away. Don't take her away from me. Please. Please."

And then he begs like God is doing all this. As if they don't make the antidote, is because God moved his thread to not make it happen.

As if he needs to have someone to blame in case things go wrong.

Because blaming God is universal.

"They'll make it, they'll make it. They'll find the cure. She will live. They will live. Everything will be alright."

And then he just holds onto hope. He desperately forces himself to stay positive. To not think in a scenario where they don't make the antidote or where it's too late. And he tries to remain in that state, not daring to move his thoughts even a single inch, fearing that the slight movement could send him to the abyss. So he just locks himself in that state of mind. Hoping. Pleading.

Sunrise was dimly percolating through the blinds when a shriek startled him. Bryce turned his gaze, previously fixated in the monitor, and found Eleanor tossing on the bed, shuddering.

"Eleanor, what is it? I'm here, baby."—He asked, standing up from the chair and leaning over her, studying her reactions. Her breath was ragging and all of a sudden, she sat up, clutching her stomach desperately.

"It… Owww! It hurts so much…"

"What hurts?"

"My stomach and… my chest… My… My lungs and… heart…"

Her voice went mute and then hunched on the bed, her cries growing desperate.

"It's okay babe, take a deep breath."—He pated her on the back in a soothing way, hoping that the slow movement could ease her pain somehow.—"In half an hour someone from the team should come to administer the next dose of your treatment. How much it hurts? Do you think you can hold on?"

After a few moments, Eleanor nodded, thriving to breathe as deep and slowly as she could.

"Seven."

"Okay, you can do this, beautiful."

Bryce forced himself to take a deep breath too. Even if had passed several hours since Eleanor fell in that state, he could never get used to the idea of her suffering and not being able to do anything to stop her pain.

"Do you want some water?"

"Please."

Trying to ignore the lump in his throat, Bryce walked to the other side of the bed, poured a glass of water, and offered it to her, sitting behind her to give her support.

Eleanor received the glass and brought it to her mouth her hand quivering. Bryce hurried to place his own hand over hers to steady the glass and then watched her intently, waiting for her reaction.

A moment later, her eyes widened.

Fuck.

"What is it? It… it feels hot for you?"

She nodded, slowly and solemnly.

His whole body froze for a second.

"I'm doomed."

It was an affirmation, not even a complaint.

"Babe, you are not doomed. You're still standing, there's still time, and I'm sure the team will find the antidote soon."

"Stop this crap, Bryce. Let's be realistic here, it will be less painful for you in the … Owwww. Shit!"—Her face flinched and a hysteric sob escaped her mouth.—"Fuckkk, it hurts so much now…"

"How much?"

"A nine."

"I'll page Ramsey."

Bryce took Eleanor's pager and wrote frantically. He didn't know how he steadied his hands because his whole body was trembling, and his mind was feeling unbearably dizzy.

"COME NOW."

It had taken him just a few seconds paging Ethan, but when Bryce looked at Eleanor, her face was glistening with sweat and the only reason she was still staying upright on the bed, was because he was holding her from behind.

"I'm sorry Bryce… I'm… not strong enough."

"Baby don't say that. You're incredibly strong and brave."

Even through the latex, Bryce could feel how cold her body was, and when he placed a hand over her forehead, she felt even colder.

Desperate, he took her in his arms and placed her on his lap, cradling her protectively.

As she felt his warmth enveloping her, Eleanor curled up over him, grasping the fabric of his suit instinctively, and pressed her face to his chest.

He had never seen her this fragile and weak.

"I'm so tired…"

Her eyelids seemed heavy, making her incapable of keeping them open, but she was resisting, trying to see him through the window of his suit.

He looked into her chocolate eyes, tired and pleading, while he was tracing soothing circles on her temple.

"It will pass, babe, I promise. Ethan will put you to sleep, but please, please stay with me. Stay with me."

How much he wanted to place a kiss on her forehead and soothe her pain with his caresses, as so many times he had done before. When she was feeling sad, angry, frustrated, sick. He had always found a way to make her feel better.

But now…

The lump in his throat was so painful that he couldn't hold the tears anymore.

He felt so useless.

So hopeless.

He couldn't do anything right. He couldn't stop her pain, he couldn't find the antidote. And now he couldn't even hold his emotions and stay strong for her, while she was trying so hard to keep her eyes open and stay with him.

He was an utter fiasco.

And then… her body felt heavier in his arms and her grip on him loosed.

Bryce panicked.

"Babe?"—His voice was barely a whisper. He looked at the monitor, her vitals were dropping. —"Babe? Please…"

He didn't know if he was pleading to her or to the unknown.

"I'm… ssso…tired…"

His whole body relaxed when he heard her voice. She was still with him. She just couldn't with her body anymore.

He embraced her more tightly, pressing her head to his chest, and stroked her hair softly.

"Keep fighting, babe, I got you. You're doing great, gorgeous."

He didn't know how much time passed, but suddenly the sound of the decontamination tent door woke him up from his pleading state. When he looked up, Ethan was standing in the entry, frozen.

It was a shocking view, undoubtedly. Her body motionless in Bryce's arms, while he was fighting the sobs with pleading words.

"What happened?"

Baz asked, slipping behind Ethan, with an evident tremor in his voice.

Bryce cleared his throat and breathed deeply.

"She… Uh… experienced the hot-cold reversal a while ago and her pain has escalated. Started with a seven and now is a nine."

Only then Ethan could react, taking a step toward the bed, studying the bundle of bones curled up over Bryce's lap.

"Her vitals had dropped but are still better than Rafael's at the moment he fell into a coma."— June commented, inspecting the numbers in the monitor.—"Any other symptoms?"

"Cold sweat and loss of strength."

"Did she sleep?"

"Yes, about five hours. She woke up minutes before I paged."

June nodded, adding the new information to the chart.

"Eleanor, are you still with us?"—Baz asked, holding a needle with a crystalline liquid inside.

Eleanor hummed.

"Good. Excellent. I'm gonna administer a higher dose than last time, okay? This will put you to sleep and hopefully when you wake up the pain will have decreased."

Baz injected the dose into the IV. After a few minutes, when Bryce felt she had fallen into a deep slumber, he stood up and placed her on the bed, covering her with the duvet. Then, turned to Ethan, who was witnessing the whole process silently.

"Any progress with the antidote?"

"Yes. There's a chemical that we are synthesizing that seems to be our best option so far. We are expecting to have it ready in a couple of hours."

Bryce nodded, hope resurfacing again after such dark and tortuous hours.

After a few more exchanges, the Team left, leaving him alone again, praying with all his strength that the chemical is the answer.

Minutes feel like hours. And hours an eternity. His hand had gotten atrophied by holding hers, but letting her go isn't an option, scared that she might go if he leaves her even for a second.

He's drugged by fear.

"We did it!"

Bryce isn't sure if he's imagining it, if he's daydreaming about the moment when their friends and the team will find the cure, or if it's true. If it's really happening.

But when he sees Ethan entering the room again, his eyes glistening with pride and hope, smiling, he knows is not his imagination.

"We made an antidote."

It feels surreal. His whole body feels lighter and suddenly a burst of laughter attacked him.

Happiness, relief. Hope.

He knew there was a chance the antidote couldn't work. But he chose to believe it would.

And then he can't stop thinking about all the things they talked through the night. All their plans, all the places they would go, all the things they would do. All the things he would say to her, but he kept inside for fear.

All the love he had to give to her.

There was so much to explore and learn with her. Life was giving both of them a second chance. Not only to Eleanor but to him too.

And then all he can do is thank. Thank to whoever accompanied him through the night. To whoever held him and filled him with hope.

To whoever put a blanket over him, to keep him warm until he reached a shelter. A safe place.

Bryce was now full of hope and optimism. With the optimism he knows so well and that comes naturally to him. He's sure everything will be alright now.

And he thanks his friends and the doctors who helped. He knows words will never be enough to thank them for what they've done, but he decides to do it on the brink of his emotions, when they are more genuine, and retributions and gratefulness is all that people need after such a long night giving everything of themselves to find the antidote. To save the lives of their friends and colleagues.

The waiting in the next hours was nothing like the last one. They're full of hope.

Benjamin joined him in the room once he gave his parents the news. After a while he forced him, with the same persuasion and stubbornness that Eleanor would do, to take a break.

"Bryce, you should have some rest."

"I can't leave her side."

"I get it, I really do, but at least you should take some air, eat something, have a coffee. You haven't left the room in like ten hours. I'm sure you wanna be in your best conditions when Eleanor wakes up and not pass out of exhaustion after five minutes."

Bryce stared at Benjamin, the determination set in his eyes was the same he had found so many times in Eleanor's. Where would that come from? From their mother or their father? Hopefully, he was expecting to find it out that night.

An hour later, after catching up with his friends in the cafeteria and calling Keiki to give her the news, he returned to the room with renewed energy and a lot more confident than before.

It only takes him a minute to start talking with Benjamin as if they were old friends.

Hours flied by.

"Man, I'm not saying that Kobe doesn't have his merits, but let's be honest: without Michael Jordan, there is no Kobe."—Bryce stated, both sitting in chairs at the end of the bed.

"But we are not discussing who came first or their legacies, we are discussing objective facts. For example, Kobe beats Michael in career poin-"

"Shut up you two, we all know Lebron James is better than Michael and Kobe."

Bryce and Benjamin's eyes widened in shock and turned to the bed, where Eleanor was awake and smiling.

"Andrew! You're awake!"—Benjamin jumped up toward her side and hugged her affectionately. –"I'm so happy to see you okay, sis."

"And I'm glad to see you again, bebé."

Bryce sat on the other side of the bed and caressed her cheek.

"Hey, babe."

"Hey."—She smirked—"I should've asked you if you were team Kobe or team Jordan before agreeing to be your girlfriend but… I think it's too late to give you back now."

Bryce chuckled, giving Benjamin an amusing glance.

"I'm sure we'll be able to keep the debate on civil terms, right, Benji?

"Absolutely."

"How are you, beautiful?"

"I'm feeling… surprisingly good. Did they change the treatment?"

"No, must be the antidote that's working. And probably you're still high for the morphine."

"Did you say antidote?"

Eleanor was a mix of confusion and amazement.

"Yeah. The team created an antidote. They injected it like… about four hours ago."

"And why didn't you wake me up?"

"Because Baz put you to sleep, you don't remember?"

"No? What happened?"

Bryce looked at Benjamin who shook his head subtly.

"You were in deep pain, so Baz put a higher dose of morphine. It would have been like… humanly impossible to wake you up considering the dose."

Eleanor frowned.

"I don't remember any of it, honestly. How deep are we talking about?"

"You reached a nine, but the Team came quickly so you didn't suffer too much."

"A nine? Shit. That's pretty bad. Maybe that's why I don't remember a thing. "

"And you had a fever too."

She nodded.

"And how they did it? The antidote, I mean."

"In simple terms, they created a compound that binds to the maitotoxin and prevents it from attaching to the plasma membranes. So far has worked very well and your levels of the toxin had decreased significantly since the administration."

"And they beat the stupid Government. How embarrassing—She giggled., and how has worked with the boys?"

"They are still in a coma, but their levels had dropped too. Very slowly, though."

"I'm glad Danny is still with us. I really thought he would…"—Eleanor shook her head—"He's such a fighter."

"Yes. You all are, Elle."

"What about mom and dad, Benji? Have you spoken to them today?"

"Early in the morning, before they took their flight here. And luckily for them, they were at a stop in Lima when the news of the antidote came, so I texted them right away. They'll arrive at about 11 pm."

"Great. Great. Poor things, at least they are traveling knowing the worst has passed."—Benji nodded—"And you, kiddo, have had some rest?"

"Yeah, I could sleep a few hours during the night, but then I went to Lab to see how was the searching. It was really impressive watching all those brilliant minds working."

"Oh, yeah. I would've loved seeing Ethan working with Tobias. Those to hate each other, you know? I don't know how their egos fit the room."

Eleanor laughed, imagining the picture.

"And what about you, mister?"—He directed to Bryce—"I got the feeling you didn't sleep a wink last night."

"I didn't. I had to monitor you, but I went for a coffee and some food a few hours ago under the strict orders of my very good friend Benjamin."

"You're the best, Benji, thank you for taking care of him for me."— Eleanor squeezed his hand approvingly and blow him a kiss.—"Well then. Now that I'm feeling better, and under my strict orders, you're gonna go home, have some sleep, and spend a few hours with your sister, alright?"

"But babe... I ca-"

"Bryce Golden Lahela. I know you want to stay with me, and I swear if I were in your position I'd never want to leave your side, but please, pretty please, do this for me, okay? I bet you haven't seen Keiki since when…? the day before yesterday? Because I'm sure she was completely asleep when you left your apartment yesterday morning"

"Yeah, she was."—Bryce replied sheepishly.

Eleanor was still weak, and he could tell she was doing an incredible amount of effort to stay lucid and strong, but even like that, she had enough energy and strength to take care of him and Keiki. That selfless side of her would always marvel him.

"Please, I'd feel a lot better if you go to sleep and spend the afternoon with Keiki. But…"—She stared at him seriously and then her whole face transfigured in a wicked, almost psycho, smile—"If you don't do it, don't worry, honey, I won't be mad, but I'll kick you out of my room."

Benjamin giggled.

"Dude, do as she says. You know she means it literally, right? Because I'm already seeing her getting up from the bed and kicking your ass."

"Okay, okay, I'll go."—Bryce stood up from the bed, lifting his hands in surrender—"There's no need to use violence. Any special message for your beloved Keiki?"

"Yes, tell her I'm sorry I had to borrow his brother for too long and that I hope I can see her soon because I miss her."

"Yes ma'am."

When Bryce opened the door of his apartment, the smell of sauteed veggies gave him a warm welcome.

It'd always cheered him up having his sister receiving him when he got home, but today was different. Today he was grateful for having her after the living nightmare he had been into in the last 24 hours. Her sole presence was enough to soothe him.

"Bryce?"—Keiki poked her head out of the kitchen and then ran towards him.—"Ohmygod, what are you doing here? Is everything alright?"

"Yeah, everything's okay, don't worry. Elle's awake and getting better. She's so well that…—He chuckled, collapsing on the couch.—" she made me come here to see you and have some sleep. She was worried you were too much time alone… And she's right, of course. I'm sorry Keiki, I know how abandoned you must have felt."

Keiki shook her head, sitting beside him.

"It's okay, Bryce. You needed to be with her, I totally get it. Not knowing what was happening was worse."

"I know."—He gave him a sad smile.

"Do you wanna have lunch? I have mashed potatoes pie in the oven. It should be ready in like twenty-five minutes."

"Ooh, are you serious? The one you cooked the other day? Because that was superb, Keiks"

"Yeah, the same. I actually was thinking about bringing you some to the hospital. I know you told me not to go, but…"—She gave him a sheepishly smile, shrugging, but before she could continue, Bryce hugged her, warm and tightly.—"Woah, woah, is just mashed potatoes and ground beef, no need to do such fuss."—She added instantly, patting him nervously in the back.

"Keiki, I was an ass with you for years, and now you're taking care of me like this? I don't deserve it."

"Nonsense. You know we are okay now, and you care a lot about me too, this is nothing."

Seeing Benjamin and Eleanor together had put a lot of things in perspective for him. How caring they were to each other had reminded him of his own relationship with Keiki before he moved to California. They were very close, so close, that he had no doubt that if he hadn't distanced himself the way he did, they wouldn't be much different from how Elle and Benji were.

Even if she was a six-year-old princess living in a fantasy world and he was a teenager soon-to-be a college student, they used to spend a lot of time together back in Maui. Entire days at the beach, swimming, playing hide and seek, playing tag, building sandcastles, doing races, finding forms in the clouds during the day, and looking at the stars at night.

He even learned about constellations just because she liked the stars.

But all that ended when he left and never came back.

He knew closeness and affection were still there, even if had passed ten years, even if she wasn't a kid anymore, but a teenager with a strong character that pretended to be too cool for affection. Because if it weren't like that, Keiki wouldn't have risked what she risked at coming to Boston. She wouldn't have forgiven him how she did weeks ago, and things wouldn't be as good as they were now.

After all those years, Bryce was still her refuge. The only person she could come to. And after all those years, Keiki still managed to bring out the best of him. She was making him thrive to become a better brother, a better man.

"What is it?"—She asked, as Bryce was staring at her tenderly.

"Nothing, I was just remembering those days at the beach. You were so little, and you're so grown up now… and you're even taking care of me when I should be the one taking care of you…"

She smiled sheepishly at him again.

"That's what siblings do."

"That's what I should've done in all these years and I didn't, and what I should be doing now…"

"Bryce, how many times I have to tell you…?"

"Okay, okay, I won't say it again. But… the thing is..."

He breathed. It wasn't easy for him. In fact, he used to avoid at all costs this kind of conversation because there were still a lot of issues he had to resolve with himself, but he felt like he had to say it now, without thinking it too much.

"What?"

"Look… I know things cannot be like they were before, but… I want you to know that you're the most important person in the world to me, Keiki, even if it seemed otherwise for ten years. Nothing has changed between you and me, okay?"

He didn't know how else to say it but in the way he was feeling it.

And for the first time in weeks, Bryce saw Keiki let her guard down. Her eyes swelled with tears at the mention of those memories at the beach, but after hearing his last words, her lips quivered.

"Okay,"—She said, wiping a tear from her eye—"But, gosh, what's gotten into you?"

What had gotten into him was that almost losing Eleanor also put a lot in perspective regarding how much he kept to himself. And he couldn't let that happen, let alone with Keiki. She deserved better. She deserved so much more than what their parents (poorly) had given to them, emotionally and affectively. He had to make things right, starting now.

"I love you, Keiki."—Before a sob could escape from her mouth, Bryce hugged her again, this time more tightly. –"Don't you ever doubt about it, okay? And please remember that, at heart, we are the same Bryce and Keiki playing on the beach. No matter the years."

He felt her fighting the sobs, but then she just let it flow.

"I love you too, Bryce."

Bryce breathed contently at hearing those words. That's all that he needed to hear.

After several seconds, Keiki parted from him, wiping the trace of tears off her face.

"This is a one-time bonding moment, right? Because if you're going to be this cheesy and make me cry everyday…"

Bryce chuckled.

"No, no. I know this is not your thing. This is just for today, a cathartic moment after what happened with Elle. But now we return to our regular sibling's relationship, where I'm obviously the cool one."

"HA! Dream on, Bryce. Let me inform you that today I award you with the title of the weirdest and most sentimental brother of the year."

He smiled fondly.

"I guess that makes me even cooler. I'm a total winner. Thank you, sis."

"No! You're the… You know what? Nevermind. After what you did yesterday with Kyra, and considering you're a very caring boyfriend with Ella, yeah, I'll let you be the cooler sibling, but only for this week."

"Oh, thank you for your generosity, loser."

Keiki rolled her eyes, and before sauntering to the kitchen, she ruffled his hair affectionately.

"Take a shower, weirdo. By the time you finish with all your beauty care routines, lunch will be ready."

He wasn't sure how many times he'd pleaded for that moment, how many times he'd imagined it on his mind, but it was finally happening. And it felt a thousand times better.

Bryce opened the door of Eleanor's room just as he had arrived at Edenbrook. With a navy-blue hoodie, light-blue jeans, and black and white sneakers. No hazmat suit, no gloves, nothing.

She was asleep. Her chest was moving harmoniously under the sheets, and the vitals on the monitor were almost on normal levels.

She was alright.

He walked to the other side of the bed and carefully laid behind her, placing an arm around her waist. She wasn't as cold as in the morning but still wasn't at her usual warmth. He buried his nose in the crook of her neck and breathed deeply, smelling the natural scent of her body mixed with some very faintly remnants of her shampoo. The sweetness of the pomegranate added even more joy to the fact she was safe.

His hot breath must have woken her up because, after a few seconds lost in her scent, she started stirring on the bed until she finally turned around and faced him.

"I'm dreaming? Why you're not using the hazmat suit?"—She muttered in a slurry voice, looking equally surprised and confused.

He smiled, sliding his index over her cheek softly.

"No, you're very much awake. And safe. Toxin-free safe."

"Toxin-free? Are you for real?"

"Absolutely, the last two blood tests have shown you have no traces of the toxin in your bloodstream."

"Oh my god, I can't believe it… I thought I would die here…"

"And I told you you would live."

"Yeah, and I've never been happier to be wrong."

They both chuckled

"And I've never been happier to be right."

After a moment, Eleanor started caressing his just shaved and very smooth cheek, but suddenly, she stopped, staring at him expectantly.

"Well, what are you waiting for? Are you gonna kiss me or not?"

"I was just letting you contemplate me, I'm sure you missed touching this flawless skin."

She snorted.

"I know last night I said I don't find you cocky anymore, but I can change my mind any minute, you know?"

"But you won't."

Bryce parted from her slightly and took his phone out of the pocket of his jeans. He scrolled a few seconds and then a piano melody started playing.

"Is that…?"

When I fall in love it will be forever

Or I'll never fall in love

"You said you wanted a kiss just like Isabella's…"

"Oh my god, I should've known you'd do this."

She placed her hands around his neck.

"The problem is… If I remember this right… you were the one who kissed me that night…"

"Yes, now you will. Period. You're talking too much."

"Now you realize I talk too much?!"

"Bryceeeeeee"

He laughed heartly.

"Okay, okay, miss impatience..."

Bryce tightened the grip around her waist and placed a hand over her cheek. After a few seconds of looking deeply into her amber eyes, he brushed his lips over hers. It was sweet and slow at first, but then he deepened the kiss, capturing her lips in his teeth and playing with her tongue just as she liked it.

Eleanor wanted a kiss like the one at Isabella's, but so much had changed since then, so much he had learned since then.

He knew the way she liked his kisses, how much pressure to use or how deep his tongue could go, so he was going to give her exactly that, a dreamy kiss, because honestly, he didn't know any other way.

After several seconds, he parted from her.

"Happy now?"

"Mmm… I'm not sure… Maybe you can give me another taste?"

He shook his head and kissed her again, harder. And this time he left her breathless, and giggling, and with the goofiest smile he had ever seen in her.

"Wow. 100/10."

"I'm amazing, I know."

And then, she couldn't help but look at him adoringly. Because yes, yes, he was indeed amazing. And she was completely in love with that amazing man.

"Te amo."—She said with warm candor, and then kissed him enthusiastically and incessantly for several seconds. –"I love you... god, I love you so much… Telling I was in love with you… without being able to kiss you… was a nightmare! But now I can... Finally…Kiss you…As much… as I want…"

Once she stopped, Bryce looked at her, marveled.

"What? Too much?"

He shook his head, biting his lower lip.

"No, it's perfect. Feel free to act like that whenever you want."—He kissed her forehead—"I love you, beautiful."

After receiving the official information from Ethan, June, and Baz, and being filled with kisses and hugs from Benjamin, Bryce wheeled her to her new room so she could take a shower. She didn't want to spend another second in that damned room.

"This is mine?"—Eleanor asked, inspecting the light blue bag over the bed.

"Yeah, I swung by your apartment before coming here, I thought you would need some fresh clothes."

Eleanor stood up with difficulty and wrapped him in her arms lovingly.

"Thank you, my love."

He smiled, melting by the words, but before he could say anything, she clung to him clumsily. Her legs failed her.

"Mmm, I think someone's going to need some help in the shower."

"Ooops, too bad that someone has a boyfriend with magic hands to help her."—She replied teasingly.

"C'mon, princess."—He whispered, picking her up in his arms and taking her to the bathroom.

Once he collected her shampoo and conditioner from the bag, he returned to the bathroom and closed the door behind him.

When Eleanor looked up at him, he felt the air changed instantly.

It's the intimacy.

The formula is simple. It has always been simple between them. It's just the two of them present at the moment. Whether they're alone or in a group, it doesn't matter. It can happen anywhere. It could be just an intense look; a simple touch; even a hug without saying a word. They only need to be focused on each other.

Bryce took a few steps until his lips were inches apart from hers. His hand took with precision the hook of her gown, and after untangling it, he threw it to the floor.

When his hands touched her waist, her whole body trembled, and a soft moan escaped her mouth, but soon she shut herself up by kissing Bryce delicately, sinking a hand under his shirt, craving for his skin. He conceded to her desires instantly, of course. After tugging his hoodie and shirt out, Eleanor roamed her hands roam over his bare chest, and leaving a trail of kisses up his chest, until she reached his jaw.

The heat radiating from his body had always soothed her. Even before realizing she was in love with him, being in his arms was her favorite place in the world. But when Bryce pulled her closer, enveloping her arms around the small of her back, and pressed her body flush to his, this time, Eleanor felt like she was coming home.

He wasn't her favorite spot anymore.

He was her home.

The supreme feeling of comfort and tranquility. A safe haven where she could be herself and where she's the happiest.

And where she can be at her lowest too. So she let it all go.

She let go of all her fears, all the what-ifs that had been torturing her mind; all those questions wondering how much she would've missed…

Millions of kisses and hugs; thousands of showers together; thousands of hours of amazing sex; thousands of nights talking, drinking, dancing. Adventures. Movies, movies interrupted by his unstoppable talking, by his kisses, by his innuendos. Sleepovers on the couch with Keiki. Countless moments just staring at each other without saying a word, because sometimes even for Bryce words wouldn't be necessary.

She wouldn't have lived the life she wanted to have with him. The future she wanted with him. She couldn't have known him as she always wanted, with all his wonders and terrors.

A sob echoed in the immaculate bathroom. Bryce gripped her more firmly to calm her shaky body.

The idea of dying with so much left to give was devastating.

Because she was so full of love. The moment she realized she was in love with Bryce she felt like she was going to burst. When she told him she was in love, she was choking with words because her heart inside was bursting with her purest feelings and sensations. And thinking that she could've died without giving him everything she wanted to give him, without giving him everything he deserved, was maddening.

Even if it was in the past, the fear was still too vivid.

"Let it go, love, I got you"—He whispered, his hands always drawing soft patterns on her head and back.

Love.

She could've missed that too. Bryce calling her love. Bryce calling her in so many ways.

She had always wished for a beautiful love, just like their parents had, but for some reason, it was always out of her reach despite her best efforts. And she could've died without experience it to the fullest with him. With the most wonderful person in the world.

Eleanor wrapped him more tightly, as if she's scared that he could go any minute now.

"I'm here for you and I'll always be, babe. We have now a whole life ahead of us to do everything we dreamed last night, that and much more."

How? How could he know what she was thinking? How he could know her so well?

"But… we need to start somewhere, right?-- —He whispered, pulling her gently from him.—"We need to start with something small."

He looked into her puffy and reddened face and wiped the tears off her face.

"We'll start with a shower. You need to get rid of all the traces of that fucking toxin. You'll let me take care of you, and then, if you want, we can make a visit to see Kyra and the rest of our friends, who must be waiting for you expectantly to fill you with hugs and tons of love."

"I'd like that."—She replied softly.

"Perfect."—He said before leaning in the shower to turn the faucet on.

After a few seconds, Bryce led her to the shower, and both hummed at the feeling of the hot water running through their bodies. Then he turned and looked at her, deeply.

"Are you feeling better, gorgeous?"—He asked softly and sweetly

"Yeah, so much better. Thank you, my love."

He chuckled and then bit his lower lip.

"God, I love it when you call me like that"

"My love? Well, you are my love."

"Yeah, I guess it's just that… now I understand why you were so reluctant to all this pet name situation."

"Yup, I wanted to say it just when I was 100% sure I was in love with you."

"Makes sense. Now I feel guilty for being too annoying with it."

"You're a Goldie, being annoying is part of your DNA."

He raised an eyebrow, seriously.

"But don't worry, my love is my main pet name for you now. And mi amor. Or maybe you prefer that in the first place?"

Bryce narrowed his eyes, thoughtfully.

"Tough question. I like that too, Spanish sounds so sexy in your mouth."

She smiled mischievously and then planted a chaste kiss on his lips.

"Te amo, mi amor"

"Feel free to call me however you want, but I'm warning you, I feel things when you speak to me in Spanish."

"What kind of things, mi amor?"

Bryce roamed his hands over her back until he reached her tights. Then, he lifted her effortlessly in his arms and pushed her against the wall.

"Things that… "—He kissed her hard.—"even if it's tempting to do here, I'll save it for another time. I'll create a whole kink of you speaking in Spanish in the meantime"

"Mmm, a new kink. My, oh my. I'll exercise my pronunciation, then, because it has gotten a little rusty over the years."

She kissed him hard this time, pressing her legs and heels against his back.

"Okay, as much as I want to keep going, let's slow it down, babe. We should be doing some cleaning, you know? Or you'll stay as a koala indefinitely?"

She giggled.

"Yes, I'm a koala now."

"Oh, well, then thank you for simplifying me the choice. I was always divided between calling you a sloth or a koala, but koala is perfect. It wouldn't be too romantic of me calling you a sloth."

Both cackled.

"Only in the bed."

"Specify that? In bed like sleeping or like…—He raised his brows suggestively.

"I'm multifaceted, I can be both."

Bryce chuckled.

"Of course you can, babe."

Eventually, Eleanor gave up her dream of remaining as a koala forever and returned to her feet.

Bryce took the shampoo and massaged her scalp softly and dedicatedly, relaxing her. His hands were magical in so many ways.

Then he helped her clean some parts of her body she couldn't reach, teasing her once in a while, until she was all cleaned.

Once he dried himself up and put his clothes on, he helped Eleanor getting out of the shower and took her back to the room.

He dried her skin delicately. At first, she tried to dress up by herself, but the shower had relaxed her so much, that Eleanor finally gave up, letting Bryce taking care of her as he wanted.

Even if she was feeling a little sleepy, that didn't stop her from feeling amazed with his dedication and the tenderness with whom he was pampering her.

His soft hands spread ever so softly the cream over her arms and legs, and the massaged her so exquisite on her back, that after a while she wondered if she was actually dead and that was heaven.

Once she was all moisturized and dressed in a mint green pajama, he took the towel wrapped around her head and began combing her hair softly and delicately. At some point, she felt like she was six again, when her mum would bathe her and then comb her long wavy hair patiently until she was free of knots.

"Gosh, you could be a stylist or a massagist, and you'd do it wonderfully."—Eleanor moaned, feeling his fingers combing her hair as Bryce was directing the hairdryer to the nape of her head.

"Of course, I'd be wonderful in anything I pursue, especially with these magic hands."

After five minutes, her hair was completely dry.

"Ponytail or braid?"

"Braid."

She was about to lift her hands to make herself a braid when Bryce asked.

"French or normal?"

She turned around with her mouth agape.

"Wait, besides all your many talents, you also know how to braid?"

"Yeah, you didn't know?"—He chuckled

"No! When did you learn?"

"When Keiki was like… four?—Bryce replied as he was dividing her hair into three sections.—"She's always been bossy, you know? And one day after a day at the beach her braid was a mess, so she said: Bryze, fixit! You're a grown-up, you shud know how to braid hair... And of course, she was right! How incompetent of me not knowing how to braid hair, right? Especially since I had a little sister with very long hair."

"Awww, love, this is so cute! Little Keiki asking for a braid. I'm melting."

A couple of minutes later, Bryce took the hair bun from his wrist and use it to secure the end of the braid.

"There, my princess. All done."—He announced, kissing her crown.

Eleanor brought a hand to her hair and felt the patterns with her fingers.

"This is perfect."

"Why the tone of surprise? Of course it's perfect! I don't do anything that's below perfection."

"I know, I'm just admiring your beautiful work, love."

Bryce gathered all her things and placed them in the closet.

"Ready to see our friends?"

"Honestly? Not yet.

"Hey, you don't have to go if you don't want to. Do you want me to call the guys?"

"No, no… besides I have to go to see Kyra."

"But you don't have to if you don't feel in the mood for that."

"I know, I just want to lay down a bit with you."

"Of course, babe"—He replied, laying beside her.

Eleanor turned to his side.

"I'm completely melted inside, you know?"

"Why?"

"For the way you've taken care of me, how you pampered me… you even braided my hair…"

"It's the less I can do for you, babe. This is nothing, actually."

She kissed him on the lips and then rubbed the tip of her nose on his.

"You know, if boyfriend lottery exists, I'm sure you're the biggest prize in history, and I'm the lucky winner."

Because she could win the biggest money prize in history, but not even that could compare to the feeling of having Bryce loving her.

Nothing compares to it.

______________________

A/N2: Make Bryce even more perfect than he already is? Achievement unlocked. Like I love to hurt him (I love angst, actually) but I also love to make him more perfect and more god-tier than he already is. Pure self-indulgence here.

A/N3: As you can see, I'm cheesy/corny not only in romantic relationships but in fraternal relationships too. I have a good relationship with my brother, in fact, we have the same age difference Keiki and Bryce have, so I know firsthand the kind of relationship they could have. And I want to give them that, despite their personalities and the fact that maybe Americans, in general, are not as caring as we the Latinos but… being this caring is something you can learn, you know? So Bryce is learning that from Eleanor. Anyway, it won't be easy, Keiki and Bryce have a lot of issues to explore yet, but Bryce had to take the first step.

Thank you so much for reading. I appreciate each and every one of you for supporting my story ❤❤❤

#bryce lahela #bryce lahela x mc #bryce x mc #bryce x casey #open heart #open heart choices #open heart fanfiction #choices #choices stories you play #playchoices #pixelberry

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beauregards · 6 years

Text

'cause I'm a beautiful wreck, a colorful mess

3,145 words

keyleth/vex’ahlia

keyleth gets sick and the rest of vox machina know the only person with a shot at able to handle her is vex.

a/n: so this is the first thing i've written in like two years and i'm so happy to be over my writers block, god bless.

i've rewatching the first campaign and i got a lot of feelings about keyleth/vex so here's this! i have taken some artistic liberties with details i couldn't remember but nothing major. as i was writing this i said to my sister ‘ignore the fact that none of them would ever actually get sick bc magic’.

title from the song 'honey' by kehlani

ao3

It’s over breakfast that they first notice Keyleth’s temperature. Pike leans over and places a hand on her bicep to catch her attention, meaning to ask her a question about a druidic healing method she had read about last night, when she notices the heat radiating off of Keyleth.

“Keyleth,” Pike moves her hand to the back of Keyleth’s neck, “Do you feel alright? You’re burning up.”

Keyleth presses the back of her hand against her forehead for a moment before shrugging, appearing nonplussed.

“I feel fine, it’s just a little warm in here,” Keyleth finishes off her plate and moves to stand, “I’ve got some work I wanted to finish up this morning, but I’ll see you later?”

She doesn’t wait for a response as she exits the dining hall, leaving Pike staring after her before sharing a concerned look with Grog and Vax.

“We should probably do something about that,” Vax says once Keyleth has left.

“Yeah, but what?” Pike replies, frowning down at her bowl of porridge. Both Pike and Vax sit in silence, pondering their choices when Grog speaks up, his mouth full of bacon.

“What about Vex?”

“What about Vex what?” Pike asks, curiosity flitting across her features.

“Why don’t we tell Vex that Keyleth is sick and let her handle it?”

“What would my sister do about the matter?” Vax asks, wondering where Grog is going with this.

“Well, you know,” Grog says, looking at them both meaningfully, “Her and Keyleth…”

“You know what, you’re right,” Vax says, nodding in agreement, “My sister is pushy enough that she’ll be able to get Keyleth to see reason. I mean, if she can’t none of us can.”

“Good idea Buddy,” Pike says, reaching out to pat Grog on the back which ends up being more like his ribs despite the fact that both of them are seated.

“I don’t think-” Grog starts before letting it go; if Pike and Vax think he’s had a good idea he’s just going to leave it at that, “Thanks’ Buddy!”

Vex finds out that Keyleth is sick when her brother comes to find her in the archery range she had set up in Greyskull Keeps expansive garden. She’s just notched another arrow when her brother speaks up from behind her.

“So, I need you to talk some sense into Keyleth,” Vax says, leaning against one of the large trees that grow throughout their property.

“And why would I need to do that?” Vex asks, “Keyleth’s probably the most sensible of the lot of us, at least most of the time.”

“Well that explains why she’s working on her potions when her temperature is through the roof,” Vax says as she lets her arrow lose. It flies wide, hitting just outside the bullseye instead of dead centre like Vex has been aiming for. “She’s being sensible, making the most out of the day.”

“She’s not,” Vex says, despite knowing that her brother was telling the truth. Despite how much Keyleth cared about Vox Machina, about their little family, she had a tendency to be reckless with herself. Sometimes stupidly so.

“Please, just talk to her,” Vax says, “Or strong arm her into bed. Whatever you think will be more effective.”

“I’ll do my best,” Vex says, sliding her quiver onto her shoulder as she heads towards the keep, “No promises though.”

Vex leaves her quiver and longbow in the mudroom, her footfalls heavier than normal as she heads towards Keyleth’s newly set up laboratory. She takes a moment to compose herself outside the door. As irritated as she is with Keyleth’s lack of self-regard she doesn’t want Keyleth to think that Vex is angry with her. That’s the last thing Vex would ever want.

Vex lets the door swing open and takes a few steps into the room. Keyleth doesn’t hear her enter and while Vex would like to claim that it’s because of her stealthiness it’s more likely the result of Keyleth’s fever.

Vex watches her for a moment, sitting at one of the workbenches measuring out powders with shaking hands and a sheen of sweat on her face. The fourth time she has to remeasure something Keyleth swears softly under her breath. She sets the powder down carefully on the bench but flings the metal measuring implements across the room. Vex watches them crash into a collection of glass vials and jars, wincing as one of them breaks with a sharp crack that Keyleth doesn’t seem to notice.

“Oh Keyleth,” Vex says softly, stepping forwards until she can sweep Keyleth’s sweat damp hair off of the back of her neck and place her palm against one of Keyleth’s bright red cheeks, “What’s going on here Darling?”

“It’s nothing,” Keyleth says, leaning into the coolness of Vex’s palm, “I’m just trying to get some of these potions done before we leave next.”

“Keyleth,” Vex says with enough feeling that Keyleth forces her eyes open to look at Vex, “The potions can wait.”

“But what if they can’t? What if the next time one of us is on the edge of death one of these potions could help us, but we don’t have it because I didn’t get it finished?” Keyleth’s voice rises at the end of her question and Vex barely manages to conceal her flinch, but Keyleth seems to pick up on it anyway. “I’m sorry Vex,” Her eyes widen and her hand comes up to press against Vex’s cheek, “I didn’t mean to snap.”

“Get up,” Vex says in response and Keyleth blinks at her.

“What?”

“Get up,” Vex repeats, moving both her hands to rest under Keyleth’s elbows so she can help her stand, “We’re going to your room.”

“Yours?” Keyleth asks as she stands, looking at Vex with sad eyes.

“Alright Darling, we can go to my room instead,” Vex readily agrees, leading Keyleth through the hallways of Greyskull Keep until they reach her chambers.

Right after they had first taken Greyskull Keep as their home Vex had dragged her mattress off her bed so that she could curl up with Trinket on the comfortable mattress without him breaking her bed. Now she nudges Trinket awake with her foot and settles Keyleth into the patch of warmth he’s left behind.

She presses a kiss to Keyleth’s sweat slick brow and pulls back. At the whimper Keyleth makes when Vex lets go of her she stops and places her hand against her girlfriends back.

“You’re alright Darling,” Vex unnecessarily adjust the sea of pillows around Keyleth, “I’m just taking Trinket downstairs to help me bring water up from the hot spring for your bath.”

“I don’t need a bath,” Keyleth whines, having apparently finally embracing the fact that she’s sick. She kicks her feet a little in protest and Vex scrunches up her nose at how cute the sight is.

“You kind of do Keyleth.”

“I can go downstairs then,” Keyleth continues to argue, “It’s a hassle for you to bring everything up here just for me.”

“It’s not a hassle and I’m doing it,” Vex says firmly, “Don’t even think about moving while I’m gone.”

She leads Trinket down to the hot springs and loads him up with two barrels of fresh water to dump into the tub in her washroom. She plans to let the water sit for a while and cool down before she attempts to get Keyleth into the tub.

When they return Keyleth is exactly where Vex left her, her eyes closed and her breathing even. Vex tries her best to keep the volume down as she fills the tub, scratching Trinket’s back in thanks for his help before he lumbers out of the room and off down the hall.

Vex wakes Keyleth with gentle hands, brushing her hair out of her face and shaking her shoulder.

“Keyleth,” Vex sings, “Kiki, time to wake up. The bath is ready.”

Keyleth rolls onto her back at the sound of Vex’s voice and blinks up at her.

“Okay,” Keyleth says after a moment, her voice rough, “I’m up.”

Keyleth leans into Vex on their walk over to the tub, already exhausted again. She sits down beside the tub once they reach it and starts attempting to pull her clothes off. Vex watches her struggle for a moment before stepping in when Keyleth manages to get her dress stuck over her head.

“The waters not too warm for you?” Vex checks, watching Keyleth dip her hand into the tub.

“No, that feels nice.”

“Okay,” Vex holds onto Keyleth’s hands and helps her climb into the tub. The humid air of the washroom is heavy with the scent of the lavender oil Vex dropped into the water and Keyleth seems to visibly relax from the combination of the scent and the warm water.

“You are joining me, aren’t you?” Keyleth asks when Vex moves to riffle through the basket filled with scented bars of soap.

“Hm? Oh, no,” Vex half turns to face Keyleth, “I wasn’t going to, why?”

“Oh,” Keyleth says, voice small. Looking down at the rippling water instead of at Vex.

“Would you like me to join you Darling?”

“No, that’s alright,” Keyleth brushes off the question.

“Keyleth,” Vex says, tone firm, “I don’t mind. If you want something you can tell me. I know you push down a lot of what you want for the rest of us, but you don’t have to do that with me.”

Keyleth stays silent, gaze still on the water where the ripples are slowly disappearing. Vex turns back to the soap, looking for the bar she had picked up in town a few days ago that had make her think of Keyleth when she’d smelt it.

“Vex, would you please get into the bath with me?”

“Of course Keyleth, I would be happy to,” Vex says, finally locating the bar and shedding her clothes before climbing into the bath opposite Keyleth. “Washing first, relaxing second.” She says, motioning Keyleth towards her.

Vex helps Keyleth tilt her head back and wets her hair, careful not to get water in her eyes as she rinses the dirt and sweat from the red locks. Keyleth’s eyes flutter shut as Vex’s fingers work through her hair, massaging her scalp with deft fingers.

“Here Darling,” Vex passes her the soap and a wash rag before slipping around to sit behind her, helping Keyleth reach the middle of her back when she asks.

“Thank you Vex,” Keyleth says eventually. She’s leaning back into Vex, body relaxed and eyes shut, and Vex had actually thought that she’d fallen asleep again until she had spoken.

“It’s just a bath Darling,” Vex says, her fingers idly tracing patterns against Keyleth’s hip.

“Not for that,” Keyleth says, “Or not just for that. Thank you for looking out for me, even when I’m not looking out for myself.”

“Always Keyleth,” Vex says, biting her lip at the surge of affection she feels for the girl in front of her. “I’ll always have your back Darling, no matter what. You mean a lot to me.”

Keyleth turns, careful not to disturb the bath water too much, just enough to press her cheek against shoulder.

“You mean a lot to me too.”

Keyleth perks up and her fever breaks after the bath and a nap, which is how Keyleth manages to talk Vex into letting her downstairs for dinner. That and a combination of compliments, promises, and puppy dog eyes that Vex was too weak to resist. As dusk falls Vex finds herself escorting Keyleth down to the dining hall for dinner with the rest of their family.

“If you even think you don’t feel well enough to be in there you let me know,” Vex warns her outside the dining room. “I’m serious Keyleth.”

“I promise,” Keyleth says, holding her pinkie out in Vex’s direction. “See.”

“Alright,” Vex says, linking her pinkie with Keyleth’s for a few moments, “So long as we’re in agreement.”

Keyleth heads into the dining room and takes a seat beside Vax. She says a few words to him and he nods at whatever she says before reaching for her hair and beginning to weave it into a fancy looking braid. The corner of Vex’s mouth ticks up into a small smile at the sight.

She drops down across from the pair, sliding a plate towards Keyleth who’s listening to Scanlan tell an elaborate story with a lot of hand gestures that Vex thinks might be a little embellished. Keyleth smiles in appreciation and Vex smiles back. Beside Keyleth her brother catches her eyes and shoots her a weird look before returning his attention to Keyleth’s hair.

Keyleth makes it three quarters of the way through dinner before her eyes start to droop and she excuses herself.

“I’ll see you upstairs when you’ve finished dinner,” Keyleth says, leaning in close to Vex and pressing her hand to her shoulder before she leaves the room.

Once the others think that Keyleth’s out of earshot they all turn to Vex and start asking questions.

“Keyleth is fine,” Vex announces, raising her voice slightly to be heard over the others clamoring, “Well, sick, but fine.”

“So she’s listening to you then?” Pike asks.

“We all know how Keyleth gets when she’s sick,” Percy agrees.

“She’s behaving,” Vex assures them, “The sooner she’s better the sooner she gets back to work.”

The others seem to find that assessment agreeable and turn back to their prior conversations with the exception of Vax, who fixes her with another look. Down the table Vex can hear Pike congratulating Grog on his brilliant idea and Vex’s wonders what that’s about as she picks her fork back up and goes back to eating.

Vax corners her in the hallway outside her bedroom after she exits the dining room, stepping out in front of her and barely managing to dodge the punch she throws when he startles her.

“God Vax,” Vex hisses, placing a palm over her racing heart, “What are you trying to do, get one of us killed?”

“If you were paying attention that wouldn’t have happened,” Vax chastises and Vex scowls at him.

“This is my home; I shouldn’t have to be on guard!”

They stand there scowling at one another for another few minutes before Vax caves.

“What was all that about at dinner?”

“What was what at dinner?” Vex asks, feigning confusion at his line of questioning.

“With Keyleth,” Vax elaborates, “The giddy smile and the fact that you spent the whole meal staring at her like she hung the stars. Do you like her Vex?”

“Okay, so, here’s the thing,” Vex begins; lying is easy but lying to her twin? “I-“

“We’ve been dating for nearly two months,” Vex looks past Vax and Keyleth is sticking her head around the door to Vex’s room watching the pair of them. “I’m going to be in bed when you’re done here Babe.”

The door shuts again as Keyleth disappears into the room and Vax looks at Vex wide eyed.

“Two months? How did you manage to keep this a secret from everyone for that long?”

“A combination of luck and skill,” Vex says, “It was a little tricky at times.”

“I would imagine,” Vax says, and then, “Well done.”

Vex reaches out and pulls her twin into a hug, wrapping her arms tightly around his shoulders and feeling herself relax as he squeezes her back.

“She makes you happy?” Vax asks, voice low.

“So happy,” Vex admits quietly.

“Good, after everything you deserve to be happy.”

“Goodnight Brother,” Vex says, pulling away and walking towards her bedroom door.

“Goodnight Sister,” Vax replies before disappearing off down the corridor.

“So,” Vex says, shutting the door behind her, “That happened.”

“Someone was bound to notice something eventually,” Keyleth says, Vex’s thick fur curled around her on the bed, “It’s been nearly two months. That’s a long time for no one to notice anything.”

“You’re right,” Vex begins stripping down, ready for bed after such a long day.

“How would you feel about telling the others now that your brother knows?”

“I think I could handle that,” Vex says, pulling one of her slips over her head. “It’s about time they found out. Besides, then I can show you off when we’re travelling.”

“I would like that very much,” Keyleth sits up and takes a hold of Vex’s hands, tugging her forward until she’s kneeling on the bed beside Keyleth. “Now, c’mere; lie down with me so I can go to sleep.”

Vex settles into the mattress and feels the familiar sensation of Keyleth molding herself against Vex’s back.

“About what you said earlier, about one of us dying and there being a potion that could help stop it. Whether we have that potion or we don’t that’s not ever going to be in you Keyleth, we all knew what we were signing up for when we started traveling together, we all knew the risks.” Vex entwines her fingers with Keyleth’s where they’re settled across her stomach, “And I don’t want you to ever think that us getting hurt is on you in any way.”

“I’ll try to remember that,” Keyleth says eventually, “But I might need you to remind me sometimes.”

“I can manage that Darling,” Vex smiles when Keyleth presses a kiss to her shoulder. “Now get some sleep, I want you better sooner rather than later.”

“Definitely sooner,” Keyleth agrees, sounding like she’s already halfway towards being asleep.

“Definitely sooner,” Vex echoes softly.

“Alright,” Vex announces the next morning, halfway through breakfast, “Listen up, I’ve got some news.”

“Good news?” Scanlan asks, sounding a little nervous.

“Very good news,” Vex assures him, “Keyleth and I are seeing each other, we have been for about a month.”

There’s a moment of silence before, like the previous night, everyone starts talking over each other. Vex leans over and presses a chaste kiss to Keyleth’s lips while they all clamor to be heard over one another.

“Why are you so surprised?” Grog asks, confusion, a familiar expression, evident on his face, “I told you they were together yesterday morning.”

“Oh my god,” Pike and Vax exclaim at the same time, twin looks of realization on their faces and everyone else stops talking.

“How did you know?” Pike asks, one hand on Grogs arm.

“The way they were looking at each other, and then in one of our last fights Vex got hurt and Keyleth kissed her after we won.”

Keyleth reaches over to hold Vex’s hand at the mention of that fight.

“Nice work Grog,” Vex says, looking impressed.

“I was really glad you weren’t dead,” Keyleth says, leaning over to give Vex another kiss.

“Me too, especially since it earned me a kiss like that.”

Keyleth just laughs and squeezes Vex’s fingers. Vex smiles at the sound .

#keyleth #vex'ahlia #vexleth #keyleth x vex #critical role #mine*#fanfiction*#keyleth*#vex'ahlia*#keylethvex*#critical role*#c: keyleth #c: vex'ahlia #r: keyleth x vex #s: critical role #critical role: first campaign

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