Revelation

Revelation

When Vex dips her hands in the stream, the water is so cold that it almost stings. She ignores the discomfort as she cups her palms and splashes her face. She is about to reach down again when she hears a rustle from the woods behind her. She hastily dries her hands on her tunic and reaches for her bow. 

Percy walks into her line of sight. His pace is brisk and sure. He’s wearing nothing but a white shirt and trousers. Though his holster is on his leg, he still looks vulnerable, and his face looks slightly shocked.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t think anyone else would be here.”

“I needed to get away for a moment,” she says. 

“Ah, I see. Do you mind if I join you?”

“Not at all. There’s more than enough water for two.”

“I wasn’t worried about that.” He removes his gloves and tucks them into his trouser pockets. “Moments of privacy are rare. I don’t want to interrupt yours.”

“You aren’t.”

Percy gives an affirmative hum as he squats down next to her.  He’s close enough that she can see the stubble on his jaw. To her utter surprise, he unties his shirt just a little. As the fabric falls apart, moonlight dances like fingers of silver on his skin. Then Percy rolls up his sleeves, exposing quite lovely forearms.

Her mouth goes dry, and heat blossoms in her cheeks. She’s blushing! Fucking blushing!

“Are you all right, Percy?” she asks to distract herself. 

“I am. Are you?”

“Of course,” she answers too quickly. 

“Good.”  Percy looks at the stream and then back at her. “Will you hold my glasses for a moment?”

“Yes.”

Percy removes his glasses, and their hands brush as she reaches out to take them. His skin is warm and mostly soft, but there are a few calluses that have utterly delicious potential. Their eyes meet, and she can’t help but notice how much younger he looks like this. Yet the intensity of his gaze and his focus are the same. Her heart skips a beat.

He bends down to the stream and splashes his face. He instantly splutters, “Fuck, that’s cold! Why didn’t you warn me?”

She watches droplets fall down his cheeks, past his jaw, and along his neck. At that moment, something wild flows through her veins, and she reaches into the water and splashes him. It hits him more haphazardly than she intended, getting his shirt and hair wet. 

“Oops.”

Percy blinks once, then wipes his hand across his face. “That’s what I get for trusting you.”

“Sorry,” she hides a small smile. “You can splash me back if you want. I won’t fight back.”

“While that offer is tempting, I have to refuse,” he pauses. “I’ll simply get my revenge when you least expect it.”

“Is that a threat?” 

“It’s a promise.”

She laughs so hard that her shoulders shake and her stomach aches. Percy laughs, too, and the smile looks good on him.

Vox Machina has seen many sides of Percy, but this moment is hers alone.

And it’s a damn revelation.