The Drow Queen of Glaley [Very NSFW]

[Zevran]

"I do not wish to be hurt," Zevran replies with a faint smile, the worry bothering him but the concern warming him. "But nor can I allow her to remain a threat to those I love forever. I refuse to spend my entire life dreading the moment she strikes. Or for her to keep you and Coquette from the other half of your family for that matter."

[Shisou]

Shori pauses. "Don't... do anything rash on my account. I wasn't... I was less of a parent to the girls than Nox or Lux -- and I can only pray she hasn't hurt them, either -- and now it's... distant."

[Zevran]

"Such actions would be for your sake, but not only your sake," he assures her, kissing her temple. "Or, if I am honest, even mostly for your sake. Coquette... She will always, always, fear Varisia. The bitch's body could be dust, her soul rent and consumed, her every legacy dust and still there will be a part of her that will hold that fear. But damned if I will not do everything I can to make that part as tiny and insignificant as possible."

[Shisou]

"...my life... it feels like a dream now. Or not a dream. A story. And... and I know how these stories end. Please. I don't want to lose the last of what I have left because you couldn't accept that we escaped. That the story is ended. When the hero goes back, that's when... that's when his hubris gets him killed." She takes a deep, shuddering breath, taking his hand and kissing it over and over to calm herself. 

[Zevran]

He lets her fuss and cuddle for some time, stroking her back and murmuring wordless comforts. "I will be careful, I promise," he finally says. "I wish her safely, permanently, gone, but I wish to live, I promise."

[Shisou]

"I'll miss you," sighs Shiori, pressing his fingers to her forehead. "I'll write, when it's safe to. When it's safe to visit I'll let you know where we settled, exactly."

[Zevran]

"And I you," he whispers back, lips curving in a smile. "I am sorry life is taking us away from each other, but I Cannot regret the reasons. You deserve this new life, this chance to... Be yourself, be happy and in control."

[Shisou]

"And pregnant," she sighs, a smile curving onto her face. "I still can barely wrap my head around it. I'm going to give birth, to be a mother. Things I never dreamed possible."

[Zevran]

"But did dream of before?" Zevran asks curiously, wanting to know more about this part of his... lover that had simply been far too buried for any to know, even Shiori herself, before now.

[Shisou]

"No. I just... I wanted... I wanted my body to be fixed. I never dreamed it could be fertile, or that I would find someone willing to... wanting that with me."

[Zevran]

"Whyever not? You are beautiful and kind, caring and interesting; you always have been, even when you were," Zevran hums softly, then finishes, "not as you should be. Should always have been."

[Shisou]

"I... I was?" she ask, softly. "I thought... the way everyone treated me... most people acted like, like because I stuttered I was... not worth listening to."

[Zevran]

Zevran wrinkles his nose, then impulsively kisses the tip of her nose. "I will not insult you by claiming to have never noticed or been impatient about it, but it was simply part of who you were. It is not as if I did not-- do not-- have quirks and flaws of my own that you dislike, I am sure."

[Shisou]

Shiori wrinkles her own nose, but decides not to elaborate. "I suppose. Still... I can't remember a time I was important. Even Lady Coquette saw me as an afterthought, someone to pity and pet but not a confidant or a partner."

[Zevran]

Pity, no, but Maeve seemed more interested in petting and cossetting than confiding or the like. "You were something of the odd one out, so to speak. Lux and Nox, Coquette and Iron Bull, you." He sighs softly. "It occurs to me, I never did apologize for how... cold I was when first we met. I am sorry."