At this time of night, Gilmore’s Glorious Goods is quiet. The streets outside are dark, only lit by the lights in the shops and the glowing balls of lights carried by mages on their walks home. Inside his shop, Gilmore is getting ready to close and head upstairs. With his permission, Sherry headed home early, so it’s just him sweeping the floor and adjusting the positioning of his merchandise.
There are some of his favorite moments, just the silence and peace of the shop he’s worked so hard to create. He loses himself in the rhythmic noise of the broom on the wooden floor, his mind wandering to Vax’ildan and Keyleth as it so often has these past months.
Their relationship, though still new, has managed to bring him such extraordinary happiness. He so often dreamed of what it might be like to get to kiss Vax without any guilt, to take him to all of the wonderful places he deserves to go, and now he can. And though he and Keyleth aren’t involved in the same way, she’s become someone very important and dear to him. It’s hard to define their relationship when ‘friend’ feels too paltry and ‘lover’ isn’t even close to what they are to each other.
The bell on the shop’s door dings as the door opens, Gilmore sighs, he’sabout to close but business is business. “Be with you in a moment!” Gilmore calls as he dumps the dust pan into the garbage. He ducks around one of the shelves towards the door.
Standing just inside the doors, wreathed in the golden light and darkness from outside is not a customer but Keyleth, pale and shaking, arms wrapped around herself. Face, morphing into alarm, Gilmore rushes over to Keyleth, pulling her into his arms in a tight hug. “Are you alright?”
She shakes her head into his shoulder, “Gil, someone was following me.”
“Okay, I’m going to go lock the door, I’ll be right back,” he promises, kissing her head as he pulls away and hurries over to the front doors, locking them soundly before restoring his arcane wards with a shimmer of purple. When he returns to Keyleth’s side, he puts an arm around her waist and begins guiding her out of the shop and up to the third floor.
“Does Vax know you’re here?” He asks her softly.
She shakes her head, “I was out with Vex and I-I told her I wanted to stop by and see you before going home.” Then she blinks and looks at him hesitantly, “Was I not supposed to come here? I’m sorry, I thought-”
“Of course you were supposed to come here. You’re welcome here any time, especially when you’re in trouble,” Gilmore assures her quickly before she can work herself up any more. “I was just wondering if I needed to let him know that you’re safe.”
“Can I stay with you tonight?” She asks nervously. “I really don’t want to go back out.”
“Of course,” he says immediately. “I wouldn’t let you leave if you tried. Now come on, a warm cup of tea sounds nice, doesn’t it?” Keyleth nods as the two of them walk up the stairs. When they arrive in Gilmore’s rather large bedroom, he gives her a gentle push towards the wardrobe. “I’m sure you can find something suitable in there. Vax’s things are in the second drawer.” He winks as Keyleth blushes.
Gilmore snags his sending stone from the nightstand as he ducks out of the bedroom and into the hallway. Once he’s in the kitchen, a mere flick of his wrist causing the kettle to begin to warm. Gimlore leans against the counter as he squeezes his sending stone to get it to turn on. Gilmore speaks into it, “Vax, everything’s alright. Keyleth is here, she said someone was following her so she’s going to stay the night here.”
Vax’s response comes immediately, “Is she okay? I’m on my way.”
Gilmore smiles at the exact response he’d been expecting, “She’s alright, dear, a bit shaken up but nothing more. I’ll see you soon, handsome.”
As he tucks the stone back into his pocket, the kettle is ready so Gilmore pours a cup of Keyleth’s favorite mint tea and makes a plate of a few chocolate covered strawberries Vax bought him the day before.
He raps lightly on the bedroom door, “Are you decent, dear?” Keyleth responds in the affirmative so he pushes the door open, finding Keyleth sitting in the center of the bed, playing with a fidget toy, one that Gilmore made her a few weeks back. She’s wearing one of Gil’s sleep shirts and a pair of Vax’s sweatpants. She’s tugged her hair out of its updo so it hangs loose around her shoulders. And as he sits down on the bed next to her, he sees that she’s also stolen a pair of his warm socks.
“Here,” Gilmore passes the plate, setting the mug of tea on the bedside table to cool. “I told Vax what happened and as you can guess he’s on his way here.”
Keyleth smiles softly, moving the fidget toy to one hand as she bites into a strawberry, “Thank you, Gilmore. I-I know that you’re obligated to-”
He holds up a hand, “I’m not obligated to do anything, Keyleth. I’m helping you because I love you very much, not because of Vax. Now, first things first, finish those strawberries and drink some of your tea. Do you want to cuddle?”
Keyleth smiles, “Always.”
Gilmore leans back on the headboard, lifting an arm. Keyleth quickly presses herself to his side, resting her head on his shoulder as she relaxes against him.
“You’re safe here,” Gilmore assures her softly. “No matter what.”
“Thank you,” Keyleth says softly. The two of them rest like that for a while, Keyleth finishing the offered food and occasionally sipping at her tea. Only ten minutes later, the two of them hear footsteps on the stairs. They share a fond look, recognizing the cadence.
The door bursts open as Vax rushes in, his eyes, full of worry, soften as he sees his girlfriend and boyfriend cuddling on the bed. Vax hurries over to them, sitting on the edge of the bed closest to Keyleth, demanding softly, “Are you alright?”
Keyleth nods as he pushes her hair back, tucking it behind her ear. “I’m okay. Just got spooked.”
Vax nods and pulls her into a tight hug, kissing her cheek. Over Keyleth's shoulder, he looks at Gilmore, silently asking if she’s lying. Gilmore waves his hand back and forth with a shrug, she’s down playing it for sure, but she’s alright.
When he pulls out of the hug, Vax kisses Keyleth softly before leaning over and kissing Gilmore as well, a silent thanks for taking care of Keyleth. Vax settles down on Keyleth’s other side, sneaking a quick sip of her tea as he wraps his arm around her as well.
Eventually, Keyleth falls asleep, head on Gilmore’s shoulder, one of her hands in Vax’s.
“I think she’s feeling insecure in our relationship,” Gilmore tells Vax once he’s certain Keyleth is asleep. “We should do something special for her soon. Do you think she would like a trip to the beach?”
Vax shakes his head, “Maybe we should make her a nice dinner, stay in and get drunk together. That’s more her speed.”
Gilmore nods thoughtfully, “I’ll come up with a menu and have you look it over. I’m not as well versed on her favorite things quite yet.”
Vax leans over Keyleth to kiss Gilmore softly. He pulls back after a long moment with a smile, “I love you so much and I know she does too.”
“I love you as well,” Gilmore says quietly. “Let’s get some sleep, shall we? It’s so rare we’re all in one bed together.”
With a nod, the two men lay down, Vax cuddling against Keyleth’s back, reaching one hand over her to touch Gilmore’s chest. And in the silence of Gilmore’s bedroom, the three of them are comfortable and safe all together. All of their minds are quiet.
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