-----

-----

"Now, don't sell yourself short, you could charm anyone if you tried. It's one of the many reasons people like you so much, Regis. You have a way with people."

There was the barest hint of a playful smirk tugging at the corner of Geralt's mouth as he teased his friend, but it was true all the same. Regis had this special way with people, he drew them in, helped them, healed them and made them feel safe. It was unusual and wonderful to witness.

"Well, my job is plenty dangerous so if you're sure you want to tag along, I'd welcome the company. And someone to help patch me up when things go wrong could be useful."

He cocked his head and looked over at the other man. He missed people when he was alone for too long, he was different to other witchers that way, this would be good for him, no doubt.

"I'm certainly lucky to have her at any rate. And I think she'll be pleased to finally be able to say thank you, for what you did for her."

⸻

"What you say is cute, teasing me so, I say is dastardly in return. Charming I am not, and now you're only making the situation worse. She's... a rather interesting woman. Round, short, and wild-haired. She's certainly not a woman, or even a being in general, that I'd ever be interested in."

He turned to send a pointed glare in Geralt's direction, all at once teasing and faux-mocking. An elegant brow rose upwards and he chuckled, unable to help himself.

"I'm not entirely sure where I would call home next, but..." He paused, trailing off as he turned his gaze on Geralt once again. "An idea has come to me, seeing you again. I daresay that trouble follows you. Perhaps I'll set off on the Path with you for a while, if you're in need of a bit of company. You're certainly injured enough. Would it help to have a doctor of sorts by your side, my friend?"

The proposition itself was certainly an interesting one. It filled him with warmth for the moment, comforting him to imagine them on new adventures together, helping people, solving mysteries, et cetera.

"I would very much like to see Cirilla again. I can only imagine how she's grown. She's lucky to have you, and to now have her freedom that she's craved for so long. It brings my heart some much-needed joy. If I was to travel with you, perhaps I'll finally have that opportunity."

-----

It turned out to be four years before Geralt came across Regis again, and it wasn't by any kind of plan or design. He hadn't heard anything from or of his friend since that night in the cemetery. He'd heard the odd squawk of a raven in the trees ahead while he'd been going about his business, but nothing beyond that.

He hadn't quite fully managed to retire, as soothing as he found it to have a home, the first real place to call his in his life time, the silent life wasn't completely for him just yet. There was still a rough edged restlessness about him that he couldn't seem to settle. The Path called to him still, fate -which he was still a little prickly about- had other plans for him yet.

He'd found himself near Nilfgard on a job and since he was so close he'd decided to drop in. It would have been a shame to be so close to Ciri and not to see her -neither of them would have forgiven him for that- but now he was spending some time to recharge, get some new armor and supplies before he moved on again.

Currently he was settled in the shade of the market place, resting against the wall outside of the herbalist, while he waited for them to gather his order and across the square the armorer was busy knocking out a fresh chest plate for him. He was in no rush, though. For the moment he was content enough to let life drift by.

⸻

The road to Nilfgaard was long and lonely. The only creatures to keep him company along the way were any ravens in the area. It was enough for now. It had to be.

Ravens and vampires tended to be fond of each other. The lack of human chaos from the vampires was reassuring to the birds, and in return, the birds looked out for the vampires. It was a relationship built on understanding more than trust, on respect more than friendliness.

There was, of course, a vampire who was an exception to these generalizations. He understood and respected the ravens, like the rest of his kind, but he trusted and befriended them as well. The energy of his being was calmer than any creature the ravens knew.

They knew he hadn’t always been this way, and they knew he contained vast amounts of strength, but he smiled whenever he spotted a black bird, and he often spoke to them about his life or his passing thoughts, whether mundane or compelling, so the ravens grew to like him more than the rest of the vampires they watched over. It made for easy companionship.

His thoughts often roamed to Dettlaff, wondering if things might have been different. Not everyone held a capability or capacity to live like him. Dettlaff was the very proof of that. Betrayal had wounded him too deeply. Regis had to remind himself that this was perhaps the only true outcome that would have come to pass, given the situation and its turn of events. Nevertheless, he should have tried. He could have done more. Regis often blamed himself for things that were out of his control, he knew this to be true, but the feeling remained. It was a deep and lingering one. He should have tried harder where Dettlaff was concerned.

-----

It wasn't long before Geralt became aware of eyes on him, his instincts kicking in and it only took him a moment to zero in on the culprit.

He didn't think he'd lay eyes on his friend again if he was being completely honest with himself. There had been no goodbye before, but there had been no promises made either. In fact, a part of him had even considered that if it hadn't been for that contract in Toussaint he never would have known that his friend was even alive. That struck a chord somewhere deep inside him, but he couldn't, wouldn't consider it too deeply.

He arched a brow when he caught Regis' gaze, the very corner of his mouth pulling up into a smile. "Fancy that," he mused, voice gruff, he knew that even over the crowd Regis would be able to hear him. "Small world after all."

He didn't yet move from his shady spot, leant against the wall with his arms crossed, he was pleased to see Regis, but he'd leave the door open for Regis to approach if he chose. For someone so incredibly loyal the man could be flighty sometimes.

⸻

Regis, while on his travels, often thought of his weary witcher and wondered how things were going for him. His ravens told him enough. He was safe. He was alright. If need be, Regis would have flown to him. He would always be there to help if it was required. The years passed, though, and time slipped away from him.

Humanity flew by. They moved so quickly, and Regis wondered if it was because time moved so slowly for him, the opposite of humanity's view of things. The world turned, the days progressed, and life was still as fleeting. Things were different for a vampire.

True, he never healed from the knowledge of that final day and the few before it. He had ended a friend's life. Not just a friend, but one so closely tied to him. He had saved him. He should have tried harder. The words rang through his mind on the loneliest of nights.

He had been in Nilfgaard since leaving Geralt. He hadn't strayed from the area. There were far too many humans to help. He had a shop set up, renting a space from a fellow herbalist and healer. He spotted a familiar face as he was out running errands, a scent catching his nose that he never thought he'd encounter again. His eyes scanned the crowd before landing on Geralt, idly wondering if he had spotted him yet.

These days, Regis looked far better. His resurrection, while it might not have been complete, was successful. His hair was darker, body more filled out and less thin and bony. He'd gained some weight, felt healthier, and looked less like death warmed over.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (dev. CD Projekt Red)

-----

He rumbled a soft reply in the back of his throat, concedng the point. There had indeed been plenty of times that Regis had stitched him up. Sometimes because he couldn't reach the wounds himself, sometimes because he'd been too out of it and others, well, just because Regis had insisted so ardently Geralt had eventually given in.

He paused himself off of the wall as Regis stood, nodding his agreement to the question.

"Ananda? No mule this time?" He asked, rolling the stiffness from his shoulders before he turned back to Regis. "I'm sure Roach will appreciate the company, she never tells me but I think she gets bored of me on long journeys."

-----

Geralt rumbled in agreement, a deep, content sound. It wasn't a wrong assessment after all, there always did seem to be some form of trouble just waiting for them. It had become something of a tradition. Sometimes it was huge, sometimes it was so small and stupid. But it was usually there, waiting.

His lips tugged up into a wonky grin as he watched Regis laugh. So open and unconcerned. It was a rare sight for the man to allow himself to be like this, usually he held himself with such poise and control. This freedom was nice.

"Alright," he agreed. It wasn't the worst thing he'd ever been asked to do. He paused though, and his grin turned a little sharper at the edges, a little more amused.

"Though, if you want to see me shirtless you only have to ask, Regis..."