Julian POV
Jaskier looked up at the sound of Ciris voice and he smiled before letting out a loud laugh before speaking again. "Ciri, darling, don't tell me a bit of facial hair and growing up means you can no longer identify me! I'm offended, I truly am." he said with a light laugh before he looked to he with a softer smile before looking up to Geralt, thae same admiration in his eyes for Geralt, if not then it had strengthened, than the look he would give Geralt while they were making flower crowns and Jaskier got to braid his hair.
Jaskier's heart warmed as his gaze turned back to Ciri, his heart rate picking up slightly out of nervousness that he didn't really realize was there until now. Would Ciri welcome him? Would she be angry at him? He didn't know but he was interested to find out. Perhaps interested wasn't the correct word for it. If she was angry then he was going to be in for an earful that was for sure.
His gaze moved down to Roach as a grin came across his face, happily staring at the best girl in the whole wide world right next to Ciri, they were evenly the best. "Roach! My darling! Has he still not got you socks! Darling, honestly you must get her some socks. If not for the cold then because she might like being fashionable." he said with a light chuckle before looking at the beautiful girls before him with a small smile. This would be his family for a week. He could not be happier. He was now really starting to feel like a princess.
Ciri POV
Ciri frowned, narrowing her eyes in thought. But she thought she knew that voice, and those eyes were really familiar...
"Jaskier!" She cried triumphantly and in joy, perhaps a little too loudly. Geralt gave her a look and hissed her name.
"Sorry, sorry. Jaskier!" She said in a whisper-scream. Them she returned to her normal voice, chattering on in excitement. "I told you, Dad, I told you he wasn't dead! They never identified the body, not with fingerprints anyways! ANYways, Jaskier, how are you? Hi! It's only been threw months but gosh it's felt longer. Dad's missed you, y'know. He won't admit it but he has. I haven't seen him much, either, now that I think about it." She frowned at Jaskier.
"You better not be mad at him for the whole Renfri and Blaviken situation. My dad's a good guy, he just got put in a tough place is all. ALSO, I SAW YOU YESTERDAY. Could you really not have told me it was you? I missed you too, y'know. Am I talking too much? Sorry, I probably am." She fell silent, bending down to scratch behind Roach's ears. Geralt took advantage of that to step into the house, using his foot to shut the door. Ciri locked it behind him.
Geralt POV
Geralt crossed over to the couch and deposited Jaskier and the poncho. He himself remained standing. "Is Dara's family here?" He asked Ciri. She nodded, then curled up on the couch next to Jaskier, fasting her head on his head shoulder. The questions didn't stop, excitement, relief, and joy pouring out of her.
"Have you been here this whole time? I thought you didn't like the cold? I don't know, I might have made that up." She gasped. "Are you coming home with us? Dad, is he?"
Julian POV
Jaskier couldn't help but let out a light laugh as she yelled his name, Gert was right to give her a look, it was a bit too loud the way she yelled his name. If anyone else heard it could've been bad news. As he said, it wasn't just his father after him.
He gave a small smile to Ciri as she rambled on. God's, did she somehow get that from Jaskier? He couldn't help but laugh lightly before smiling. "My dearest Cirilla, I am doing well, not the finest. I promise you, I know your father is a good man and probably the best I've ever met. So you do not have to worry about that." he said with a light chuckle as he spoke while Geralt moved. Making a small oop noise and repressing a groan as he got placed down, no matter how gentle it was the transition always hurt.
His skin was still cold, but the poncho clung to Geralts heat so he clung to it. It covered his arms and the top half of his body. What he hadn't been ready for was her to jump up and put her head on his shoulder. He could feel the bullet wound stinging and pulling from it, along with his arm that she was pressed up against but he hadn't had the heart to tell her so instead he gritted his teeth hard for a moment before swallowing and trying to relax his jaw, his voice keeping happy.
"It's a long explication Ciri, a very long one. And no you're right, I don't like the cold. However I absolutely adore snow. Have you seen the snowflakes here? They land perfectly into your hands. Its the first time I've seen snow so perfect. As a child my mother used to tell me perfect snowflakes means that fairies are near. Now, don't judge me but I do believe in fairies. I even leave offerings for them every now and again." he said with a slightly forced laugh from the pain, rambling on helping to disguise the uncomfortable feeling on his body, shoulder burning as he could almost feel it ripping. He was slightly worried that maybe it was actually ripping. He shook it off, he's just being a idiot pussy. And not the good kind.
Geralt POV
Geralt took a seat across from Jaskier, resting his arm along the back of the couch. He frowned slightly, seeing how Jaskier looked like he was in pain as he talked. Ciri wasn't helping, he fathered. The man was trying to hide it, but he shouldn't have to. "Ciri, he's coming to Posada with us. And the man's injured, get off him." Ciri sat up, jostling the couch some as she stood, despite trying to be careful.
Ciri POV
"Sorry," she said to Jaskier. She hadn't meant to hurt him, just like she knew Geralt wasn't trying to be rude. It came out that way sometimes, but she knew her adopted dad wasn't usually quite as grumpy as he appeared. Then what he had said about Posada caught up with her.
"Wait, really?" She turned back to Jaskier. "Jaskier, you're coming home with us?" She grinned. "Also, fairies are totally cool by the way. I bet you know lots." She leaned on the arm of the couch. "How long are you staying? Is this permanent? Does this have to do with my dad's job? Why'd he stop working for you, anyways? He doesn't tell me enough." Geralt shifted how he sat.
"I can't tell you things because secrecy is in my contract." Ciri rolled her eyes, but she was used to that answer and ones like it.
"He's always like this," she said to Jaskier. "You aren't legally obligated to keep your mouth shut, though." She had a bit of a sky look on her face at that. Ciri just wanted answers, really. She was tired of being kept in the dark, even if it was for her own good.
"Do you miss Posada?" She asked Jaskier, changing the topic without meaning to. "I do. I wanted to come out here over break, but I miss home now. It's warmer there, though we'll have snow in a couple months. School's started again, by the way. Did you still wanna see my art? I'm in another art class again this year, it's really fun so far."
Julian POV
Jaskier couldn't help but give a chuckle at the girl before raising an eyebrow and looking to Geralt. "You can definately tell she's yours, that's all I'm saying. Also Ciri my dear, I may not legally have to but I can't unfortunately. All I can say is I'm glad to have him back, he's gorgeous and a wonderful man." he said with a light chuckle and it was true. He gave a small nod to her, thankful for the fact that she had moved off of him.
"I promise later on we can have the best of times and go ahead and you can cuddle up on me all you want. I don't miss it that much, I missed the people there though. I've missed you and I've missed Geralt and of course my darling, darling roach." he said as he smile and looked around the room for her. "Speaking of which where is that big ball of beauty? I deserve some love from that ball of fluff," he said with a proper laugh as he looked to Ciri with a smile.
"Oh yes! Finally! I've waited months to be able to see it all Ciri, go get it for me if you want, maybe we can even do some art stuff when we get back and I can teach you some things my mother taught me." he said with a grin, happy to be able to pass on his mother's knowledge to someone. Someone else could remember her other than himself.
Ciri POV
Ciri sighed, but it was what she'd expected. Of course they'd both say nothing. That was fine, she supposed. She'd figure it out herself. "Roach!" She called. "Roachie, c'mere girl." There was the clack of toenails on the wooden floor, then Roach padded into view from behind the couch. Ciri pointed at Jaskier. "This man needs your attention. And I'll go get my phone," she added. "I've got pictures since the actual thing is back at the apartment." She ran off, making for the stairs.
Geralt POV
Geralt looked to Jaskier now that they were a bit more alone. Roach hopped up beside the man, on the side without the bullet this time. She curled up beside him, her head resting on his lap. "She's a lot like me," Geralt agreed softly. He meant his daughter. "So much it's scary sometimes. I don't want her to join Witcher Corps, but if she makes it that long she'll have to."
Already, his superiors in the Corps were reaching out to the girl, beginning to get her through basic training. Ciri enjoyed it. Geralt did not. He knew how much she looked up to him and wanted to be like him. All he wanted was to push her away sometimes, to give her the truth about the Corps, and then keep her at arm's length the rest of her life, if it could keep her safe. She loved art. He wanted her to pursue something in that direction, not become a bodyguard for his company.
Ciri POV
Ciri came back down the stairs a few minutes later, quieter this time. Her phone was in hand. Mindful of Jaskier's injuries and Roach, she settled for standing behind him and the couch. She turned on her phone and typed her password in, then opened her camera roll. She scrolled down, then tapped on a picture. "Here." She passed it to him.
It was a watercolour piece, of the mountains near Posada. It was done at sundown, or maybe a little after. The sky was a pale purple, orange along where the horizon would be. The sun was mostly set behind the mountains, only the tiniest of slivers showing between two of the mountains.
Julian POV
Jaskier smiled softly at Geralt, now he understood more of what he meant. Geralt was strong, very strong as a dad who had such a fucked job. And Ciri was aspiring to be like him too which made things difficult he guessed. He gave Geralt a small smile, he would reach his hand out but he couldn't reach that far, expecially with the now very fabulous roach sitting next to him with her head on his lap. He placed his hand down on roaches head and gently scratched at it with a smile, between her ears with soft gestures before Jaskier yawned. Christ, he needed to sleep. He was already exhausted. Which was expected but still irritating to him.
"You're doing a good job darling, you're a great dad." he gave him a larger smile. "it's not easy, I know. Part of... Training on my end I guess. You're lucky you adopted and missed the baby part. It is the worst part in my opinion. But they look like little potato's." he noticed that time had passed a little. Ciri could be back anytime." I'll tell you more alter if you wish he said, locking his jaw in as he yawned, trying to do so without showing it before smiling as he heard Ciri arrive.
He smiled as he looked away as she put her password in, a bit of privacy towards her. Once she typed it in he looked over, excited and interested in what she had to show him. He knows he wasn't her father, holy hell he wouldn't want to be when Geralt was so good at the damn job. Hed been a father before, not to his own but.. Its complicated. He snapped out of his thoughts as he looked to the art with a wide proud grin coming over his face.
"Ciri! Your strokes are beautiful, the way you allowed the brush to stroke the paper, I can see it from here. It's gorgeous! I can only imagine how good it looks in real life if you can se such detail in a picture. Geralt, have you seen this? She had a delecate hand. Aw Ciri, you did a wonderful job. Your blending is beautiful." he said as he admired her work, zooming into it by double tapping on the screen and moving it around, he truly did think that it was beautiful. He thought most art was.
Geralt POV
"Hm," Geralt said, but he wasn't convinced. He was doing what he could, but he couldn't be there enough or even most of the time. He was there in spurts, a week here, a couple days there. Then he was gone again, and for longer than he was home for. Geralt preferred to have long-term clients, but it made his home life more difficult. "After, then." It wasn't only that he wanted more information about raising children, but he also wanted to learn more about Jaskier.
Ciri POV
Ciri grinned. "Thanks, Jaskier." She was rather proud of her work, too. It had been a bit of a challenge, but she loved painting in general and was able to stay after school to get lessons from her teacher and extra time. She didn't have anywhere else to be, not with her dad always gone and Yennefer usually home late. Now, of course, it was just her and Geralt. She missed the woman who she'd come to think of as a motherly figure, but she did still see her from time to time. Just not as much as she had.
She let Jaskier hold onto her phone for another couple minutes. She didn't mind, and he didn't seem to be trying to go through the rest of her camera roll, unlike some people. Pointed look towards her friends and their parents. Her own dad was pretty good about it, but then, she rarely gave him her phone. He respected her privacy, and so that was that.
Geralt POV
"Hm," Geralt said again. He had, in fact, seen her art. Ciri had worked hard on it for a couple of weeks, and the results showed. He wished that he had been there more of the time, but since she had done it all at school, him being home more wouldn't have changed anything. Speaking of being home, once Jaskier was either back in London or had decided to stay, Geralt was probably going to have to resume his search for a client.
The Corps was still paying him some, but he was going to need to find a job sooner rather than later. It would also hopefully keep him from having to go on any more missions or keep an eye out for the Corps, like he had for Jaskier.
Ciri POV
Ciri eventually took her phone back and put it in a pocket of her hoodie, still beaming. "I'll do art stuff with you when we get back home," she told Jaskier cheerfully, based on his offer from a few minutes earlier. He always spoke of his mother with a sad fondness, she noted. Like they were separated now. Which they might be, for all Ciri knew.
Julian POV
Jaskier gave a small chuckle at Ciri as she accepted the offer and nodded. "It's a done deal then." he said out of habit as he felt his jaw tighten, turning his face away from Ciri out of manners as he did so. He brung his hand over his mouth, covering up his yawn from the rest of the world to see, but it was obviously still there.
He blinked a couple times, watery eyes from the yawn, tiredness was starting to come over him but he didn't really want to retire yet, he wanted to take in this moment but he knew he'd fall asleep. He looked to Geralt with a sheepish smile. "I'm sorry, I know I just slept.. God knows how long but my body is still feeling the after effects of.. What happened." he said. Careful of his wording around others, not for the fact Ciri was young. The girl could handle it. But mainly in case anyone else had been listening. Plus he didn't entirely want to answer questions while so tired.
He looked down to roach, smiling softly at her. She did always like Jaskier which was rather odd, animals did like him but he didn't think dogs would as well. He just never really thought of it since he couldn't have one as a child. He tried but that.. Really didn't go well. He learnt dog didn't taste good once his father forced him to eat it. His face screwed up slightly at the memory. Oh it was going to be one of those nights, luckily Geralt was here so he should be just fine. He put a smile back on his face as he looked to Geralt.
"Any chance I could have a shave before we go to bed? I really, really want to. You have no idea how many times I looked at a damn razor and just wanted to shave my beard off. I don't know how you do it Geralt, it just feels so weird. But mind me, you suit yours. Not saying you wouldn't look handsome if you didn't have it, just it suits you. I can't imagine you clean shaven.. Actually yes I can. You'd look like a damn superhero out of a comic book." he said with a light laugh, the sleepiness lacing into it slightly as he didn't bother to cover it up
Geralt POV
Geralt gave a small shrug. If Jaskier needed sleep, then the man needed sleep. They'd be seeing each other plenty tomorrow, if not for the rest of the week.
Ciri POV
Ciri frowned. It was the middle of the afternoon, but then, Jaskier did look tired. Oh well. There was always the car ride and possibly later that night to talk to him. She'd let him rest for now. Dara and his parents were somewhere, probably outside. Ciri had opted to stay indoors, since she preferred the warmth. It wasn't that she didn't like snow, there was just a lot of it, and it was cold out.
She walked around where Jaskier was seated and took a seat on the other end of the couch Geralt was seated on. She curled into a ball, pulling her knees up to her chest. She rested her chin on her legs, grinning across to Jaskier.
Geralt POV
Geralt got to his feet, which made Roach perk up. He clicked his tongue once, watching her. She yawned, then got off Jaskier and stepped down to the floor again. She nosed the man's legs, then padded over to Geralt. He scratched her head. "Good girl," the bodyguard muttered.
"Can you walk?" He asked Jaskier, ignoring the comment about looking like a superhero if he was clean shaven. And the comment about how not being such made him appear handsome in Jaskier's eyes. He didn't pretend to understand the man. Geralt didn't mind how he looked, but he had never found it overly attractive. Little of it was natural, and less was obtained legally. This body was his, but he wasn't why it looked how it did. His genes were out of his control, but so were the mutations.
Julian POV
Jaskier made a small 'Hm' as he popped out of his thoughts. They weren't anything too bad, just factual. He'd have to start planning for everything for as soon as he arrived before he showed up in London. Mainly about who goes where what order everything was in. He was sure his father would test him or God be known, he shouldn't be there.
Knowing his father it would be a beating and unless he has a little boy who fixes everyone's wounds, hell bleed out and die that way. Either way he was going to die. Or go through hell at the least. More so than he had already. It only made him appreciate everything he had here and now, mainly being Geralt, love and appreciation but it was more than he could ever ask for. It was the closest thing he'd ever had to a normal family as well.
"Oh, I uh, I can yeah." he spoke as he repositioned his poncho which he borrowed and moved so that he was sitting up straight before he slowly stood up, testing it out he replied that he knew he would be able to but he had no fucking idea and the blood loss didn't help.
He forgot how dizzy one can get from standing up too fast after not having much blood inside of them. He blinked a couple of times, his vision had become blurry and extra bright for a moment, his body swaying but refusing to fall over. He shook his head slightly as he looked to Geralt and chuckled lightly at his own clumbziness.
"Ah, darling, do you have a razor? I never asked beforehand." he suddenly realize. God's he hoped that he had one of sorts. Or someone around here did that he could borrow because he didn't fancy looking like a raggamuffin any longer. Even if it was to just sleep.
Geralt POV
Geralt took a step forward, steadying the man with a hand on his elbow. He didn't quite trust Jaskier not to have overestimated himself. Judging from the man's dizziness and swaying, Jaskier had done so. But he didn't fall, and after a moment, Geralt removed his hand. He grunted an affirmative answer. There were razors around, yes. Geralt had one, and so did Dara's father.
Ciri POV
Ciri watched it all from the couch, fighting her smile. Her dad was so oblivious sometimes. Could he not see how appreciative Jaskier looked. And from her guess, it wasn't just about the razors. Ciri rolled her eyes. Honestly. Men. And they said women were complicated.
Ciri dug her phone out of her pocket as Geralt began to lead Jaskier upstairs. She sent off a series of texts, most of them to Dara, a few to Yennefer, and two to Triss. She missed the other two women. Neither had been offered to accompany them to Southside, which made sense. They weren't friends of Dara's. Not that her dad was, but as her primary legal guardian, an invitation had been extended to him as well. She was glad he'd chosen to take it. He'd found Jaskier again because of it. She knew how much he missed the man, even if he'd never admit to it.
Roach whined around Jaskier's heels, nearly tripping the man without meaning to. Eventually Geralt clicked his tongue again, and she padded back to walk on his other side.
Julian POV
Jaskier smiled up at Geralt in appreciation and honest to gods pure love. His cheekbones raising as he smiled, a feature of his that he loved but was covered by the beard most of the time. He gave a humm as Geralt let go of him and smiled to himself mainly. Geralt could be worrying himself over Jaskier far too much right now, but mind him, he really didn't mind.
"Hm, thank goodness because I have my oils on me an- oh shit. My stuff is all at the bar." he let out a small sigh as he looked down at himself. "I will have to get changed and go over there to get it." he spoke, his last word dragging off into a sudden yawn which came to him. He blinked a few times, eyes a little wider to force himself awake as he did so.
He gave a internal sigh as he forced himself to stay awake, he wouldn't allow a ounce of sleepiness. Otherwise he would fall asleep and he felt sluggish enough as he was. Lord knows shaving in itself was going to be a task. At least its a easier target due to it not being like his stubble which can hideaway.
"Speaking of clothing. Is the bathroom off of the bedroom or a completely separate room. I didn't look last time. I need to know how much clothing to wear." he said with a light chuckle as he looked to Geralt with a smile before chuckling lightly again and instead he brushed his right hand, seeming its the better of the two, against the back of Geralts hand, mainly as permission to hold his hand seeming Ciri was in the room. He didn't know how open he was allowed to be in front of people so that Geralt was still comfortable.
Ciri POV
Ciri looked up from her screen. "I can get them," she offered. "I don't mind. And Roach needs to get outside anyway. Dad took her on a walk earlier, but she's been cooped up since." Geralt looked over to his daughter, considering it. He was fine with it, so long as she came straight back, and Jaskier was okay with it.
"Seperate rooms," he said to the man. The rooms were beside each other, but were still very much separate. The one Geralt was staying in was technically a storage closet turned bedroom. He stiffened some when Jaskier brushed a hand against his own, but Ciri's gaze dropped to it anyways. She rolled her eyes.
"Honestly, Dad. Hold Jaskier's damn hand, he deserves it."
"Language," Geralt reminded her. Ciri rolled her eyes again, a habit he'd been trying to break her of with no success. "Says the man who regularly drops the f-word. But fine."
Geralt POV
Geralt swore plenty, yes, but he did try to keep it down in front of his daughter. He didn't much care if she swore, but he did have a duty to her to teach her decent manners. Swearing regularly in front of company was not one of said manners, no matter if he did it himself.
He did take Jaskier's hand, though, lacing their fingers together. If Ciri didn't mind, and neither did Jaskier, then he might as well.
Julian POV
Jaskier have a nod in appreciation towards Ciri. "If it wouldn't be a hassle then I'd appreciate it dear." he said with a small fond smile towards Ciri, she was a good person. A good daughter too. He had a feeling that she nagged herself about not being a good daughter as much as Geralt thought he was a below average father. But that was their bond to fiddle around with, not Jaskiers.
They all had their own bonds. And Jaskier, the other side of Jaskier, tried to meddle with Geralts bonds before and it ended up with them both aching. The words suddenly replayed in his him. If life could give him one blessing, it would be that Jaskier was off his hands. He mentioned it slightly to Geralt, but he didn't respond so Jaskier took it as true.
In a week it would be true. He didn't let the thoughts dull his mood, instead he let them work away and leave him as quickly as they came. He noted that it would be separate rooms. More clothing then
Jaskier nearly jumped out of his skin though when Geralt got told to hold his hand by Ciri. A blush making his way to his cheeks. Goodness me that child was definitely Geralt's. He gave a light chuckle at the banter between the two and smiled as Geralt slipped his fingers between Jaskiers, Jaskier giving a gentle squeeze contently.
He expected them to hold hands, yes. The fact Geralt straight away decided to interlock fingers. Now that caused Jaskier pulse to quicken. Most things, if not then 99.9% of things that Geralt did to Jaskier made his pulse quicken actually. Guess that's what he gets for being a fool in love.
"Can you bring it upstairs to the bathroom or to Geralts room when you get back? Take your time, nut just has some balms and oils of mine in it. As well as my make up. My precious plum make up, I swear it is the best thing to be created since we'll, unicorns I guess. Are they even created? Or did they evolve even in the fantasy-like world?" he asked to no one in particular, a thinking from coming onto his face as he tilted his head slightly as if he were expecting the man to have the answers.
Ciri POV
Ciri grinned, and hopped off the couch. She returned her phone to her pocket, then called for Roach. The dog looked back at her, then came trotting over. She was protective over both her people, though more so of Geralt. He had had Roach since before Ciri came into the equation, but in time Roach had learned that Geralt would protect Ciri, and she started to do the same.
Geralt POV
Geralt raised an eyebrow as he felt the pulse in Jaskier's wrist quicken, but he made no comment. His own was as slow as ever, and his face lacking the red of the blush Jaskier wore. The man was easily flustered, at least by him, Geralt was starting to learn.
Ciri POV
"Uh huh," Ciri tossed over her shoulder as she started pulling on her shoes. Her coat was tossed over the back of the couch, and she tied her boots then grabbed that. "I can do that." She grabbed Roach's leash from beside the door as well, looking rather like a whirlwind. Geralt bit back a sigh.
Geralt POV
"They're unicorns, Jaskier," Geralt muttered, unable to believe that he was seriously having this conversation. "They're not real, and the stories always change." If it really bothered the man, then the internet was always an answer. Otherwise, Geralt was happy to drop it and change the topic. He knew precious little about unicorns, and he was perfectly fine with that.
Ciri POV
"Bye Dad, Jaskier!" Ciri called, waving. Then she opened the door and ran out into the cold, remembering to shut it behind her. Roach barked and went with her. Geralt watched the door for a moment, then turned back to the man standing beside him.