An intimate display meant for one

Title:  An intimate display meant for one
Rating: Explicit
Series: Baldur’s Gate 3
Characters/Pairings/Couples: Everett (Male Tav named, Original Character), Astarion, Astarion/Everett, Astarion/Tav, Karlach
Part of: Falling into a sea of stars
Beta: No Beta, all mistakes are my own
Summary: Karlach just wanted to see if Lae’zel would let her borrow her whetstone to sharpen her Greataxe.  Instead, she witnesses a display that would normally be reserved for the bedroom.
Notes: I totally head canon that Tieflings lift their tails up when they’re interested in someone/their potential partner.  Be it just sexually or in love and Everett is doing it unintentionally.  He’s so into Astarion that his body is just taking over.  The use of the Infernal language is from a common to Infernal language translator. 

💜

Eying her greataxe with concern, the normally razor sharp end was starting to dull rather quickly.  And the only one who had anything close that could help sharpen up the dulling blade was using their whetstone.  Going through her items, hoping she had enough gold to even think of paying Lae’zel to use the whetstone, Karlach slipped her greataxe on her back.  She may not have enough, but surely Everett would have enough to pay Lae’zel or even convince the Githyanki to let her use the whetstone.  Humming a melody, it didn’t take her long to find the Tiefling.  And the person he was talking to.

Animated hands moved, a little bounce on heels as the Tiefling spoke with Astarion.  From where she stood, Karlach could see that it could have been just a one sided conversation if not the way Astarion’s body leaned just a little closer to Everett.  If the Tiefling’s tail hadn’t lifted in interest, a signal that had Karlach blushing and trying to look away from the intimate scene.  Swallowing past the lump growing in her throat, she couldn’t bring herself to turn around and walk away.  Instead, she leaned closer to hear what the two were talking about, even though she knew it was a lost cause to figure out what was being said.

Everett’s tail lifted a little more at what Astarion had said, at a height she hadn’t seen someone do in public in so long.  Feeling more than flames crawl up her cheeks, she stole one last glance at the two before leaving to give them their privacy.

–

She waited, her Greataxe forgotten, watching the way Astarion would look at Everett through his lashes.  Karlach could guess that Astarion believed he was being sly, periodically looking down at the book he held before turning his gaze back towards the tiefling.  A smile crossing her face at the way Astarion followed the man with his eyes.  She must have made a sound, maybe a giggle of happiness that had the vampire looking up at her with a frown.

“What do you know about a tiefling in love, Astarion?”

“Hmmm?  What makes you ask such a silly question?”  The evading, his tone slipping to carefree, unlike what she’s heard the elf used when he’d speak to Everett.

“Well, if you ever notice one speaking to someone they really like or love,” a little nod towards Astarion’s direction.  “You’ll notice a tail being lifted unconsciously,” a raise of an eyebrow at the widening of Astarion’s eyes.  “It usually signals to their chosen partner that they-” she coughed, feeling a little shy for a moment.  “Why don’t you ask Everett? He’s doing it without even realizing he’s doing it.”

The confused look that crossed Astarion’s face, closing the book and setting it to the side.  An expression that she rarely saw flittered in the man’s eyes.  Shoulders stiff, Karlach wondered if she made a mistake, pushing herself to her feet.  A glance around the camp told her that everyone else was busy with their own things.  No one noticed that Astarion followed Everett away from camp and no one noticed her waiting a few minutes before sneaking off.

Hoping that her footsteps were quiet enough to not be noticed, Karlach followed the path Astarion had taken.  Crouching low, taking cover behind a rather large outcrop of rocks, Karlach peeked around to see Astarion talking to the Tiefling.  A tilt of a head, she guessed he was trying to see if Everett’s tail lifted like she had mentioned.  It didn’t take a genius to know that Everett had been falling in love with the vampire. Unsure if the others had noticed and knew Astarion hadn’t entertained the idea of love.  She was sure that before she even spoke to Astarion that the man had no clue to Everett’s feelings.

“You know, I always wondered why your tail lifts when I’m around.  Or when I’m close like this,” Astarion’s voice dropped, Karlach peeked once more to see Everett’s cheeks flushed with color.  Astarion nuzzling against the side of a neck, she caught the way the vampire peeked over Everett’s shoulder.  Hands inching down, Everett’s tail lifting higher still, allowing further access.  “I never thought it was about love.”

‘Shit, he went straight for the jugular,’ Karlach thought to herself as Astarion walked the Tiefling backwards.  A barely there sound of a “thunk” before the rustling of clothes, a gasp that easily resembled Astarion’s name.  Chancing a look over to the couple, Everett’s pants tangled as the Tiefling himself stumbled to get the clothing down.

“May I?”

Muffled sounds she couldn’t quite make out, seeing hands work at the clothing Astarion wore.  Hands that gently parted fabric, words that she couldn’t make out before watching the way Everett stared up at Astarion.  Her breath caught in her throat at the look that Everett wore.  A mixture of emotion that was only for Astarion, utterly raw and open, easily conveyed without a word.

Turning her gaze away, she ducked back behind the rock with her face aflame.  She had witnessed something deeply personal between the two.  Something she wasn’t meant to see.  One last glance at the pair, fingers running through blue hair, cradling the back of a head that moved in a way that told her what Everett was doing.

Holding her breath, feeling heat run through her body.  Breath hitching, Karlach couldn’t turn away.  She shouldn’t be watching, only curious to how Astarion would react.  Never would she have thought such an intimate sight would be so romantic.  She forced herself to move away from the spot she had taken cover.  Unable to get the sight of the way Everett’s head bobbed slowly, hands that cradled the back of the Tiefling’s head.  The way the high elf stared down at Everett as though no one had ever offered pleasure to him.  She couldn’t help the stab of envy, wanting that closeness the two shared.  Turning back towards camp, she quietly made her way to her tent with the hopes of being able to get a little bit of privacy behind the flaps of her tent.  Or at least time to cool down.

___

“May I?” Everett asked, biting his bottom lip as he held his hand out.  A tilt of Astarion’s head, he swallowed and pushed aside his nervousness.  “Can I touch you?” His back against a tree, rough bark scraping at his tail.  He didn’t care, didn’t want to think of how Astarion figured out the reason and didn’t care.  Heart beating heavy in his chest, he could imagine the hardness in Astarion’s pants and while that wasn’t the case, he didn’t care.

Didn’t care that he was on his knees before Astarion, pants parted and ripped in some places.  He only cared about the way Astarion stared down at him, hands that seemed to cradle his head.

“I don’t know what-”

“You don’t have to do anything, just- I want-” Everett started to stumble over his words, feeling as though everything was falling apart.

“Tell me, darling, don’t hide behind that mask of yours,” soft soothing words, hands sliding to the back of his head.

“I want to give you pleasure, Astēr,” Everett admitted, not realizing he vocalized the nickname he had in his head for Astarion.

“Astēr?”  A raised eyebrow, thumbs against his cheeks.  The elf had no trouble pronouncing the foreign word, speaking with ease

“It means Star.  A word I learned in one of the dreams my patron shared,” cheeks flushed, looking up to see lips curl a little, parted as though Astarion wanted to say something.  “I want to be the one to show you pleasure.  To let me please you.  You can say no, it won’t hurt my feelings.”

A humming sound, Everett couldn’t tell if it was a pleased sound or not.  He waited for a moment, each passing seconds left him second guessing himself.

“You don’t have to do this, you know.”

“I want to, Astēr.  It’s something I really enjoy doing.  A lot.  And it’s something I want to do with you, if you’d like.”

Another moment, the incline of a head.  A smile that was void of mockery.  A smile that seemed to be just for him.

“You continue to surprise me, you know.  I wouldn’t have thought that this would be something you enjoy,” a sigh as hands cupped the back of his head.  “Well, let me see, then.  Show me, please” a hint of uncertainty in Astarion’s voice.  The fear that he wished he could soothe.  Instead, he leaned forward, resting his cheek against Astarion’s leg, nose breathing in the high elf’s scent.

“Just let me, Astēr,” Everett inhaled as he nuzzled against the man’s trousers, trying to keep his hands from trembling in excitement.  Being able to touch Astarion, to map his body with his hands, memorizing the way muscles felt under his touch.  Something to hold onto when the man inevitably gets tired of him.

Swallowing down the nerves, he worked the buttons loose, parting fabric that Astarion took care of not to damage.  Fingers through his hair, feeling the brush against his horns, Everett hissed in a breath.  Trying to muffle the sound, he worked the clothing down enough to reach inside.  It didn’t matter that Astarion was only half hard, only that Astarion trusted him enough to do this.  Working the clothing down a little further, underwear following.  Fighting to keep his eyes open, content to nuzzle against the fine hair at the base.  Inhale and memorize more of the scent Astarion gave off.

Snuffing out a breath, parting his lips to kiss the base of Astarion’s cock.  He could have sworn he heard a hissed breath, it could have just been his imagination.  He didn’t care, only the feel of Astarion’s hands in his hair, guiding him.  Bringing his head up just enough, licking at the swelling crown and the near translucent drop of fluid that was beading.  Pushing back the urge to rush this, wanting to savor and take his time, Everett closed his lips around the head.

He heard the curse above him, fingers gripping the back of his head a little more tighter.  A guide he more than welcomed, enjoying the way breathing hitched as he took Astarion further into his mouth.  Breathing through his nose, the taste on his tongue and the overwhelming love he felt for the man.  Glancing up through his lashes, bottom lip caught between teeth as red eyes stared down at him.  He would have smiled if he could, settling to sliding his hands along Astarion’s legs, urging him to move.  Giving in and closing his eyes, Everett bobbed his head at a pace he thought would work for Astarion.

Going by the fingers pulling at his hair, the hesitant and brief motions of hips, the gasps-  Oh God, those sounds.  The sounds alone would be something he would hear and cherish for the rest of his life.  Sliding his hands up slim hips, moving his head a little faster as he tried to swallow back a moan.  Tracing the veins with his tongue, the taste only got stronger as he swallowed around Astarion’s cock.  Swearing from the man, Everett silently encouraged those hips to move more.  To give in and use his mouth.

“L-look at you,” the low words, harsh under a panting breath.  Hands that pushed his head  further down, a groan that was muffled.  Silently begging for more, Everett pulled back. Breathing deeply through his nose, feeling Astarion tremble under his touch.  Looking up, seeing teeth clenched as he stopped.  Wishing that Astarion could read his mind, wishing he could touch himself while giving the elf pleasure.  Closing his eyes once more, taking the man further in his mouth.

Behind his closed eyes he imagined the look on Astarion’s face.  The caring look he thought the vampire would wear, whispered words that would hold so much weight and promise.  The words of love that could fall from those lips, the praise he craved.  Anything that would ease the ache inside, the desire to belong; to be wanted.  He could pretend that the man had feelings for him, beyond what those pretty words told him.  Could pretend that Astarion’s arms were home.

The hitch of breathing, fingers gripping at his hair, pulling as his head was forced down further.  The sweet burn in his chest as the lack of air started to settle in.  No warning was given as his head was held in place, the flood of cum in his mouth as Astarion made quick, jerky thrusts.  Swallowing what he could, Everett pulled back enough as Astarion’s grip on his head lessened before fully pulling off.  Swallowing what was left in his mouth, he took a deep breath.  It had been so long since he took someone that deep.  Been so long that he even wanted to do that to someone.  Chest heaving as he struggled to catch his breath, he could feel a curl of happiness in his chest at the sight of Astarion.  He could feel his whole body aching, wanting to get himself off as well.

“Gods be damned, Everett,” Astarion huffed, staggering forward a bit before falling to his knees to lean into him.  “No one’s ever done that for me,” a confession uttered into his neck as he leaned back further, pulling Astarion’s weight onto his body.  He couldn’t deny the rise of joy when Astarion curled into him.

“I-” Everett swallowed, his breath finally slowing down, wrapping his arms around the man.  “I take that it was good?” He asked, nosing into Astarion’s hair and breathing in the man’s scent.  He couldn’t help himself, running his fingers through soft hair, curls of pale hair that felt like silk against his skin.  Gently touching Astarion’s head while cradling the man closer, enjoying what trust the elf had in him.

A murmured sound of approval, a sigh of content that escaped.  He couldn’t help the swelling of emotions taking over, the love he had for Astarion.  The ache of wanting to keep the man safe, to protect the happiness he finally had.

“Xe dajy haf, Awzirual,” Everett whispered into Astarion’s hair, closing his eyes as he confessed his secret in a way he hoped Astarion wouldn’t understand the infernal language. “Xe dajy haf wa pftm.”

“Hmmm?”  The hum of Astarion’s voice, the shift of weight as the man moved.  “What language was that?”

“Huh?”

“I’m not a fool, you said something important.  Your breath hitched in your chest while your heart was pounding.  Almost with anticipation and your scent,” a nose against his neck, lips against his skin.  “Say it again,”

Everett took a deep breath, body shuddering as Astarion’s hand slipped between them.  Fingers slipping under his clothing to trace along the ridges along his ribs and hip, further down to his hard cock that lay among his torn pants.  He tried to concentrate on the language as it didn’t come as easy as common did, feeling his heart racing just like Astarion said.

“Xe- Xe dajy haf wa pftm, Awzirual.”

“What language was that?”  The swipe of a tongue against his skin, he couldn’t hold back a whimper as Astarion’s fingers curled around his hard flesh. 

“I-infernal,” he answered, licking at his bottom lip, lifting his head in the hopes to see what Astarion was doing to him.

“Infernal?”

A quick nod of his head, unable to look away as Astarion stared up at him.  An odd expression on the man’s face, one he couldn’t read.  A smile on his lips that didn’t match up with what those red eyes silently conveyed.

“Say it again?”

Everett swallowed, wishing to hide away as he heard the uncertainty in the Vampire’s voice, waiting for the mockery to come.  Still, he couldn’t deny the request.

“Xe dajy haf, Awzirual.”

Lips that mouthed the words, that wicked tongue tipping over the pronunciation before rearing back to straddle his hips.  A hand splayed across his stomach, the other worked his flesh, manipulating him.  Biting his lower lip to hold back the sounds that wanted to escape, holding back the secret that would eventually be spilled and completely wreck him.

“These words,” Astarion stared down at him, his hand never letting go of his grip on his flesh. “I can’t understand them. And yet…why does it make me feel strange?”

Everett froze, snapping his attention back to Astarion’s face and the expression that the man wore.  Lips trembled, he swallowed.  Did Astarion understand the words?  Did he understand the feelings he has? Infernal wasn’t a well known language outside of hell, demons and Tieflings.  A language few wanted to learn and something he thought was safe enough to use around someone he loves.

Mouth dry, blood pounding in his ears as he felt panic start to claw at the back of his throat.  The urge to take off rose, instincts telling him he was a fool to even think someone such as Astarion would care for him.  Before he could say anything, to protest what the man was thinking, Astarion ducked down to press a kiss to his lips.

“Don’t tell me,” a whisper, almost a plea.  A beg.  “I don’t know why it’s making me feel like this, my mind whirling with curiosity as to what you mean.  And yet, I like it.”

A briefest of nods, Everett waited for Astarion to let go.  To climb up and off of him and tell him he’s reading too much into it.  Still, to hold onto a sliver of hope that the strange feeling it was giving Astarion was enough to convey what he can’t utter in common just yet.  Nothing came from that, just the sound of a contented sigh while the grip on his flesh slacked a bit.  Biting at the inside of his cheek as Astarion laid back down across him, resting his head once more on his clothed chest.  Never in this life or the previous lives had he ever felt like this.

__

“So you were right about the tail,” Astarion admitted begrudgingly, seeing the smile growing on Karlach’s face.  He didn’t fully understand Everett’s feelings nor what the man said to him afterwards.  He could only focus on how his body reacted, that if his heart could beat it would have been racing.

“How do you feel?”

An innocent question from Karlach, if not for the ‘I told you’ type of voice.

“I don’t know,” Astarion answered truthfully.  “He called me by a nickname-”. He shot Karlach a look when she opened her mouth, watching as she snapped it closed and rocked back on her heels.

“But he said something I couldn’t understand.  And yet…it made me tremble in excitement.  My mind whirling with curiosity and I don’t know why,” his words came out rather quietly, forcing Karlach to lean in a little bit before looking over his shoulder.  Her eyes widened, rearing back and a silent shake of her head.

Looking over his shoulder, he caught the crestfallen look on Everett’s face.  Eyes that were a mixture of heartbreak and disappointment before the Tiefling turned away.

“Shit,” Karlach slipped before stepping back, to call out over his shoulder to the Tiefling.

“Hy’w qaz la ulzyrywz ul py, Ejyryzz. L xe pyil uz.”

“Is that Infernal?”  Astarion asked, still feeling bewildered.  Infernal wasn’t a language taught to just anyone and he wanted to know what Everett said to make him feel this way.

“Yep!  Most Tieflings learn some of it, be it from parents,” a tap to her chest.  “Or picking it up from others.  Did Everett speak Infernal to you?”

Astarion hesitated for a moment, nodding his answer.

“And you don’t know what he said?”

“Obviously!”  He sighed.  “I can’t remember what he said, but the way he said it and the tone,” Astarion swallowed as he pressed a hand to his chest.  “If my heart could beat, it would be pounding.”

The sharp intake of breath, if Karlach’s face wasn’t red already it would’ve been by now.  He eyed her expression, lips that pressed as the woman fought back a smile.  The excitement that had her rocking back on her heels as she clasped her hands behind her back.

“I can tell that you’re not going to help,” he mused to himself, nodding his head.  “I wonder if Gale has a book on that language  he turned away, ready to track down the wizard

“This is something you need to work out on your own, Astarion,” Karlach called out to him.  Keeping his attention forward, he didn’t see Karlach going for Everett.  Pressing a hand to his chest, wondering how his heart would have reacted to whatever the Tiefling told him.  If it would align with the way his mind took off with imagining what those words meant.

Astarion didn’t notice how his steps seemed a little lighter as he went to ask Gale about such a book.