sweetest

[deerna]

Rating: SAFE
Fandom: baldur's gate
Relationship: astarion/halsin
Tags: triggers, past torture
Wordcount: 100 on AO3
Notes: written for the smubbles discord. references this fun thing cazador said.

Summary:
Halsin means to pay a compliment, he accidentally stumbles on a trigger Astarion didn't even know he had.

{ read on AO3 | read here }

“Nothing would please me more than hearing your sweet voice break again under my touch,” Halsin said, his thumb gentle along Astarion’s cheekbone.
Astarion’s face fell. It was like seeing someone after they wiped away paint from their skin after a ritual—still recognizable, but unmistakably other. He didn’t pull away from Halsin—in fact, he almost went limp in his hands, like a performer’s doll whose strings had been cut.
“I didn’t mean to offend. I apologize.”
“You didn’t. Gods.” Astarion shook his head. The smile he gave Halsin next was genuine, if a bit tight. “Kiss me again.”