Chapter Text
“Here.” He reached out waiting for the rag. I groaned, doubling over and handing it to him. He pushed my legs open and I felt warmth spread from where he touched. He leaned down dipping the cloth in the water. “I told you to leave it alone. I’m afraid you’ve ruined your relationships.” He began wiping at my face.
“Ouch.” I hissed.
“Sorry.”
“They aren’t ruined, you know? My relationships.” He said nothing, instead tilting my head up. We made eye contact, but neither of us dare break it. I reached up and grabbed his wrist, stopping him. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” He said quietly. “How does your nose feel?”
“Hurt. Throbbing. How do you feel?”
“Fine.”
“Mmm. Sure, you look like it.” I said unconvinced, pushing him away from me. We stood chest to chest and I turned 180 and pushed him to sit on the edge of the tub. “Let me help you.”
“I’m fine.” He insisted.
“Yeah that busted lip and cut by your eye says so. You may be a witcher, but you can still get hurt.” I dipped the rag in the water and came to stand in between his legs. I cleaned the blood from his eye. “I’m sorry.”
“What are you sorry for?”
“You got this because I distracted you.”
“It wasn’t your fault.”
“I still feel bad. I don’t think it’ll scar though so that’s good.” He opened his mouth to say something, but I stopped him. “Nope, you can't talk anymore. I’ve got to work on your lip.” I began to dap and wipe, he winced a little. I just bit my lip but said nothing. I moved closer to him and he rested his hands on my hips. I was distracted by my thoughts and pushed a little too hard.
“Ouch.” he was rather apathetic, gripping my hips a little tighter.
“Sorry.” I whispered. We continued to move closer, like gravity was drawing us in.
“There. Your face is done.” I stepped back and rested my hands on his shoulders. “Are you hurt anywhere else?”
“No.”
“Good, because then Lambert would get an earful.” I let a soft chuckle escape. “Letho…” I muttered as he leaned closer.
“Hmm” He hummed, stopping a couple of inches from my face. “Is this okay?” He asked.
“Yes.” I whispered. He smiled and finished leaning down pressing a fervent kiss to my lips. We stood there for who knows how long, before we pulled away. “I should go.” Letho muttered abruptly standing and walking away.
“Letho!” I called after him. “What the fuck?” I mumbled to myself. I sighed and stomped off to my room.
The following day at lunch we were eating together, when Letho came in. I slid down, hoping he would sit next to me, but he chose to sit at the opposite end of the table. I tried not to let my face fall, but it hurt. Later when I went out to the stables, he was there taking care of his horse. I gave him a smile, but he pushed past me like I wasn’t even there. After dinner, where he chose to avoid me, I decided to go talk to him. I found him in the library, and stood between him and the exit. I was determined not to let him get away this time.
“What’s going on? Are you okay?”
“Yes.” It was short and he refused to look at me.
“Are you avoiding me?” I decided to be upfront about this.
“Yes.” I gawked, not ready for his reply.
“Why?”
“Does there have to be a reason?” He finally looked at me, but it was with something in his eyes I haven’t seen before.
“Yes. There is. What happened?”
“You happened. You interfered and made things worse.”
“I made things worse?!” I was surprised. I didn’t think I did.
“Yes you did. I told you not to interfere, and yet you did.”
“Letho, this isn’t you. What’s really going on?” I was pleading now, desperate to see the man I saw last night.
“You don’t even know me. What gives you the right to say that?”
“I-I didn’t think-” He cut me off.
“That’s right you didn’t think. I want nothing to do with you.” He was trying to push past me now. Before he could I wrapped my hand around his forearm, stopping him in his tracks.
“I’m sorry it wasn’t my intention to make things worse. I won’t bother you anymore.” I gave his arm one final squeeze and let him leave. I stood there not sure what to do anymore.
A couple of days passed with Letho continuing to avoid me. I chose to ignore it and pretend that it had never happened. That way it was easier for me. Not as painful. I was sulking in the library when Vesemir, Lambert and Eskel came in.
“Dove? Is everything okay? I haven’t seen you in a few days.” Ves asked.
“I’m fine.”
“Now I know that’s a lie. What’s going on?” Lambert pushed.
“Nothing that matters.”
“Dove…” It came out more like a warning from Ves.
“Fine. I’m upset. I don’t know how to feel or what’s going on.”
“What happened?” Eskel asked coming over to sit next to me.
“I have feelings for Letho.”
“I see. I had my suspicions, but I wasn’t sure.” Ves said knowingly.
“Thanks, that makes me feel better.”
“Sorry, so what’s so bad about that?” Eskel asked.
“He doesn’t care about me. He hates me. I made his life miserable and he wants nothing more to do with me. He doesn’t even want to see me.” I mumbled looking at my hands.
“I’m sure that’s not true.” Eskel said, rubbing my back.
“It is. He told me a few nights ago.”
“That fucker said that to your face?” Lambert all but yelled.
“Lambert, please.”
“Well did he?” He insisted..
“Yes.” I felt the tears spring to my eyes, at the memory.
“I’m going to kill him this time.” Lambert was raging, I could feel it radiating off of him.
“Dove…” Eskel trailed off at a loss for words.
“Please just leave me be.” I asked them, curling in on myself. They said nothing and left in silence. I stayed there for a little while longer before getting up and heading to my room.