Crit Fics

Darling (Perc'aliah)

"Percy, darling? Are you awake?" Vex knocked on Percy's bedroom door within Scanlan's mansion. Yet another dangerous battle fought that barely ended with everyone alive, everyone had long since retired to their rooms for the night. She had too, except she'd grown tired of tossing and turning with restless energy; this led her to knock on Percy's door.

"Yes, yes, I'm up." Sounded a moment before the door was opened and a still dressed Percy stood before her. He remained in the clothes he'd fought in, unlike Vex who had changed into a blue silk slip that was hidden underneath her well loved cotton blue robe.

"I can tell. It's late and you're not even changed for bed."

"How late is it?"

"Too late for you to be wearing pants." Vex laughed softly as she teased him. "Really, though; why are you awake?"

Percy stepped aside and allowed Vex to enter without question. "I could ask you the same thing. The awake bit, not the dressed part."

"I'll admit, I've been restless since we got in the mansion. I thought that by laying down and telling myself it was safe to relax, that I would and I'd be able to sleep."

"But that wasn't the case, was it?"

"No, it wasn't." With a sigh, she starts to pace back and forth at the foot of his bed.

"Vex'aliah, what is the matter?" Voice laced with concern, Percy approached her to a point but didn't attempt to cease her pacing.

"This whole saving the world business, it's...it's been making me doubt myself more than I'd like to admit."

"How so?"

"We've all almost died so many times already. And each time I wonder why we have to be the ones doing the saving. Surely there are other people trying to do the same things we are? We can't be the only ones. So why does it have to be us? Why can't we rest somewhere and let others take the risks instead of us for once?"

"This is...unlike you. What's weighing on you so heavily to make you think like this?" Percy had momentarily sat down on the foot of his bed, but had stood up by the time he finished speaking. He was ready to reach for her if the moment came.

Turning to face him in a twirl of loose dark hair and soft fabric, Vex picked at her fingers. "Why should I keep trying to save this world if it possibly means losing you? I don't want this fight. I want my idiot brother to go off and marry Keyleth and live happily ever after. I want Grog and Pike to be happy all the time, I even want Scanlan to get to spend more time with his daughter and build a healthy relationship with her. I want you to rebuild your home, turn it back into the beautiful place it once was. As for myself...I want you. That's all. Happiness for all of us. Haven't we done enough? Haven't we earned that much?"

By the time she reached the end of her declaration, Percy had come to stand closer to her; now gently taking her hands in his own. His hold didn't waver and neither did his eyes as they locked with her own. "Vex'aliah..."

"I know, that probably made me sound like a terrible person. But...I really want to be a good person, even if I have those thoughts and complaints."

"You are a good person. You have been the entire time I've known you."

That made her scoff, looking away but not pulling her hands free of his. "You must not be paying attention then."

"That's the thing, I have been. Over time I've learned not only the simple things like the foods you truly enjoy or the topics that'll make you talk for hours, but also more personal things. I notice how you shift you weight ever so slightly right before bursting into action. I notice the way you'll set your belongings down in a specific order, or how you fold only certain articles of clothing. I've seen you steal from adults then give what was taken to a child. You toy with Trinket's ears when you're nervous and don't ride him during travel as often anymore, probably due to something that happened in the past or a sudden worry that has taken root in your head. I've noticed you prefer cooler tones and dress for easy movement instead of going out of your way to try fitting in with the fashionable crowd."

"Except for the dinner we were invited to, where the rest of us first saw the Briarwoods." Her voice had softened, Percy having taken her full attention. But who's she kidding? He's always had her full attention.

"Yes, the Briarwoods. Speaking of, none of our friends had a chance in Hell of pulling me out of Orthax's grasp; none but you. You didn't show fear when reaching for my mask, or whenever you got close when the smoke began flowing from me. You don't hesitate. You put everyone you love before yourself, yet still find a little time for yourself when you can. And as for those wants of yours, I second them. I want all of that and more."

"All of it? You want yourself?" She teased half-heartedly in an attempt to lighten the mood. It was getting a little too heavy for her liking.

Now it was Percy's turn to scoff, to look away with a brief laugh. He was all seriousness and caring when his gaze found hers again. "I want you. I want you and I to have each other; though I fear I am not deservi-"

His self doubt was forced to a halt when Vex grabbed him by his open jacket and pulled him in to kiss him quiet. Percy had always shyed away from most physical contact, but over the years he'd come to find comfort in it when it came from Vex. It made her heart ache with warmth.

"Don't you dare talk badly of yourself. I won't hear it. I want to hold you tonight, I feel far calmer here than I did in my bedroom. And...I simply don't want to let go."

Percy's hands had hovered in surprise over her hips during the kiss; but had come to rest there by the time Vex had finished speaking. He'd be lying if he said it didn't make him a little flushed. "O–Of course, yes. You can stay." For however long you wish.