TRP: Gavi and Raef (What Comes Next)

[Day: 282 Setting: Castle grounds]

Raef slouched back against a tree trunk.  He should've been inside - Az had finally
stopped glaring at the book and listened to him - but...he didn't like being
inside the walls of the castle.   They
were too - too much shit he didn't want to think about.

He sighed softly, glancing out across the yard.  At least it wasn't fuckin' winter anymore.

**ABBY**

And then there was Gavi. Almost tripping over a rock as she
stumbled into the yard. She took a second to look around-- and fucking Raef.
She grinned, jogging over and waving. "Hey! Raef!" she called.
"Been a bit!"

**MINK**

Raef's lips tightened into a line when Gavi came stumbling
in, trying not to smile.  He raised his
hand in greeting. "Yeah. How's it goin'?"

**ABBY**

"Oh y'know. Trying to balance running a nation with
bein' a wife and ma. Talking to my god and finding out that I'm on my way to
being one too. You? How's Tikva?"

**MINK**

"Sounds busy." He waved off her question about
him.  "She's great.  Grows every day, seems like."

**ABBY**

God Raef was just so stoic sometimes. Little disappointing.
"Shit yeah, babies are like that. Where she at? Can I see her some?"
Last chance to, most likely. She tried to hide the pain that thought gave her.

**MINK**

"Az has her." For all his grumbling, Az sure as
fuck kept dotting on Tikva. Raef loved it.
He nodded. "Yeah.  Might
haveta pry her outta Az's arms." He chuckled.

**ABBY**

"Hey I'm gonna go be a fucking god--" Gavi said,
half grinning. "I ain't gonna get much chances to hug her till she's
dead-- that is so much more depressing said aloud."

**MINK**

Raef grimaced; yeah, it was depressing. "He's got
her.  Probably won't fight too
much."

**ABBY**

It didn't take long for Gavi to find Az and convince him to
let her borrow Tikva. She was getting so big. Gavi cooed over how much she
weighed now while she paced around, rocking her to sleep.

Then she started thinking about Timur, when he'd been that
size. And then about how she wouldn't be able to see him till he died either.
But maybe, maybe she'd be able to do something for Griffin, and her daughter--
and then her face started feeling wet.

"God, nothing like goodbyes for bringing on the
waterworks huh?" Gavi half-joked, shifting Tikva so she could wipe at her
face. "Sorry. I've been  good about
holding it together till now. Gimme a minute."

**MINK**

Raef walked with Gavi to find Az, who was holding
Tikva.  He smiled softly; Az never put
her down.  His husband eventually handed
Tikva over to Gavi.

"I'm gonna get food, ahuvi," Az said with a
smile.  He placed a kiss on Raef's
forehead before leaving them alone in the bedroom.

Raef itched to touch Tikva, but he kept his distance.  He'd said she could take her.  He felt awkward as Gavi's eyes began to well
with tears.  Shit. She was Griffin's and
Tikva's aunt.

"Yeah," he answered, lowering his hand.
"But...it's not forever, right?" Fuck.  Maybe he should rub her back or some
shit.  He didn't know.

**ABBY**

"Not forever," Gavi agreed. "But would you
wanna only be able to see your fucking family after they fucking died?"
This wasn't helping the holding it together thing. Raef was family though. And
fucking older than her too for that matter. Gavi... gave up. "If I hug my
son again before fifty years have passed something's gone real fucking wrong,
Raef," she said. "Fifty fucking years."

**MINK**

"Yeah, I would.
You can see them for an eternity," Raef answered after several
moments of though, quiet and with no real bite.
He was no good with this shit.  It
was a bitter, jaded thought.  "I
ain't gonna see anyone when I fuckin' die.
You can at least make sure you get to see them forever if you
want."

**ABBY**

Gavi held Tikva close. That was the other side to it. If her
family came to her-- and fuck if Gavi wouldn't fight tooth and nail for that--
then... yeah. Hey wait a sec.

"Hey who says you ain't gonna see anyone?" Gavi
asked. She kicked at Raef's ankle. "You're fucking family too you ass. I'm
gonna get you. Less you're really determined to go somewhere else I
guess."

**MINK**

Raef snorted softly, smiling. "Nah." He waved off
her words. "Everyone else...is goin' or gone somewhere else.  I'm not gonna be somewhere they're not."
And he'd already sold his soul to that fucker.

**ABBY**

Gavi's expression darkened. "Gruumsh ain't keeping
Griffin," she vowed lowly. She didn't know what she'd do-- but that wasn't
happening. Not Griffin. The others... kinda fucking asked for it. She was still
gonna see them freed, figure out some way to keep 'em from being a danger
still, but Griffin.... he hadn't asked for any of this.

**MINK**

"Gruumsh isn't gonna keep him," Raef agreed.  Gruumsh wasn't going to be around much longer
and wasn't gonna keep anyone then. But Gruumsh wasn't his only problem; his
problem was that he lived too fuckin' long.

**ABBY**

Gavi was quiet for a second. Glanced up at where Az had
been, when she'd asked for Tikva. In some ways, following Gruumsh had been...
simpler. Not too many afterlifes to worry about. But now, now Gavi was gonna
have her own, who fucking knew where Raef'd go, or Az for that matter. And she
couldn't exactly tell 'em they were wrong and to find somebody else.

Gruumsh was still a lying evil fuckface though.

"Y'know you and Az'd be welcome too," she said.
"I mean-- bet he's already got someone he fuckin' likes and all and I
don't like calling for turning backs unless there's a solid reason to-- but. I
wouldn't turn either of you away."

**MINK**

Raef watched Gavi with no expression.  That was...that was different.  Unexpected.
She was different than even days before.   He couldn't take up her offer, but the
others could.  If they wanted.  For some it was too late, unless...

His gaze softened, saddened. "Can you...can you get my
kid, Gavi?" he asked, throat tight. Shit.
He wasn't gonna get all fuckin' weepy in front of her.  Gwydion wasn't...he had fucked up, but maybe
Gavi could take care of him better.

**ABBY**

His kid-- it took Gavi a second to remember he'd mentioned
having one before Tikva. "Tell me about him? Or her, I don't fucking
remember that part," she said, half-grinning. "I'll do what I
can."

**MINK**

Raef chuckled. "He." He returned the smile.   He rested a hip lightly against the table
near them.  "He was..." He
grimaced a little. "...good.
Misguided, but good." He sighed and rubbed the back of his neck; it
was fuckin' odd talking with Gavi about this.

But, fuck.  She gave
him a chance.

"...He's a blonde elf...tall as fuck.  Was a necromancer or did shit like
that." He tried a smile and failed. "I fucked up with him..." He
glanced towards Tikva.  He'd do better
for her. "...but...you can do better."

**ABBY**

Gavi nodded, committing that to memory. "Y'know a
name'd help too," she said. "Maybe an idea where he've ended
up?"

**MINK**

"Gwydion." Raef shrugged. "Fuck if I
know...probably fuckin' Bhaal."

**ABBY**

Well now. This Gwydion was a mess. "I'll do what I
can," she promised.

**MINK**

Raef offered a smile. "Thank you." He hesitated a
moment before he reached out to give Gavi's shoulder a squeeze.

**ABBY**

"Hey," Gavi said with mock offense. "Is that
any way to treat your auntie?" She stood up and shifted Tikva to one arm,
grabbing Raef and pulling him into a tight hug with the other. "See this,
this is how you hug your auntie," she teased lightly.

**MINK**

Yeah, Gavi was fuckin' related to Griffin.  Raef snorted laughter as he was hugged and he
returned it, squeezing her. "Yeah, yeah, Aunt Gavi."

**ABBY**T

"Damn straight, and don't you forget it," Gavi
said. She let go and ruffled Raef's hair up.

[END]