Alt title: Is our love still burning or has it gone up in smoke? 🔥

Jaskier couldn't stop feeling the tears roll as the patrons left the bar.

Burn Butcher Burn had become one of his most requested and most popular tunes but it was one of the hardest for him to sing if he was being truly honest.

He put so much heart and soul into each word of his song, because it hurt the most. The betrayal he felt was something he knew he wouldn't be able to forget even if his Witcher returned to him and he forgave the pain would stay in his heart for a long time.

He was sitting at a table writing down his earnings for the night when he heard footsteps coming from the bar. He looked up believing he was alone. "The tavern is clos-" he yelped in surprise as a hand wrapped around his shoulder and pulled him upright.

"I told you the worst thing I have ever been called is a Butcher."

"It was the only insult I could write, stupid hair was not a good line. Considering your hair is not really that stupid." Jaskier managed out through tears. "If you let me or Yennefer braid it I think it would be more beautiful than any maiden."

Geralt made attempts not to smile, Jaskier's tear stained faced was breaking his heart. "I left you."

"Yes you did." Jaskier murmured. "You left me!" Jaskier yelled as he slammed his firsts on Geralt's breastplate. "You fucking left me!" Geralt stood still as Jaskier slammed his fists weakly against his armor. "You... you left me all alone..."

Jaskier's fist stopped slamming, each hit had grown soft as he sobbed harder. "Jaskier..."

"You left me." He cried harder. "I thought we... I thought you and I were going to be something..."

"I did as well, that is why I left you Jaskier."

Jaskier's eyes narrowed. "Don't you fucking dare!"

Geralt raised an eyebrow. "What?"

"I loved you!" Jaskier screamed. "I love you!" He fell to his knees before the Witcher. Geralt looked down at him with soft sad eyes. "I loved you and you left me on a mountain top, have you seen my damn shoes? Do you think it was easy for me to get down?"

Geralt went to respond when one of Jaskier's heels sailed past his head. "How did I fucking miss your damn head?!" Jaskier cried harder becoming more frustrated. He took the other heel off and tossed it at Geralt for the man to only catch it. "Why are you so good at everything!" Jaskier whined miserably. "Why... why would you have left me..."

"I was doing it to protect you Jaskier. What I do is not easy... what I do is dangerous and I had made a decision that I didn't know if you would agree with and it was easier to walk away than to force you into it or have you leave me."

Jaskier looked up at him standing slowly barefoot in the tavern. "I would have followed you to the ends of the earth White Wolf." His jaw locked. "I've loved you since I first laid eyes upon you, so don't you dare tell me it was easier to face rejection and watch me walk from your life."

Geralt looked him up and down offering his shoe back which Jaskier took but not kindly. He yanked the shoe free from his hand and stalked to the opposite end of the tavern to retrieve his other heeled boot. Geralt watched him walk, his heart beating quickly as he stormed forward.

"Jaskier..."

"What choice did you make that you didn't believe I would stand for? Because if it's stupid this heel is coming right at your damn face Witcher. I will sing songs about how a weak bard attacked you and won because I swear to you I will be furious."

"My child surprise," he replied without hesitation, "I was going to retrieve her. She is mine, and I am to protect her. I would be like her father and I did not want to make you become a parent if you didn't want t-." Jaskier's face grew red, his nose scrunched and this time Geralt did not catch the shoe that sailed across the room, it may have been a kindness to allow Jaskier the single win or if he truly had been caught off guard.

"I would love her like my god damn own!" He stormed up to Geralt frustration high. "So you tell me when you thought I wouldn't?"

"You never said anything that would have hinted you wouldn't want a child with me, but I was nervous."

"Nervous? You got nervous and ditched me!" He was angry, really angry now. "God damn it Geralt!"

"Jaskier I'm sorry."

Jaskier grew silent, he had never heard I'm Sorry come out of his mouth before, so that was start. "Why did you come here?"

"I came to get you back, bring you home with me." Geralt thought for a moment. "I messed up and I know I did, I've told my child much about you. She can't wait to meet you," he smiled softly taking a step forward. Jaskier didn't move as Geralt took a few more steps forward until his hands cupped his cheeks. "Jaskier... I'm sorry. I need you more than I ever accepted, I shouldn't have left you. I was scared."

"I thought Witcher's didn't get scared." Jaskier whispered. "You don't have feelings."

"I have them, and I do get scared. I feared you would hate me, that you would reject me. I fear now I will be leaving without you again... I fear for my daughter."

Jaskier eyed him. "Our daughter." He corrected.

Geralt's pursed lips turned up into a smile. "Really?"

"She's our daughter, if you ever leave me behind again I will kick your ass and never stop bugging you about it."

"Do you still wish to burn me?"

"After the flames there is smoke." Jaskier whispered. "Our flames are still going, one's of love are still kindled. Mine were dwindling becoming nothing but ash, but you've set them a flame once more. Forgiving you is easy because I truly love you. Forgetting will be hard."

"I don't expect you to forgive me Jaskier what I did was wrong. It's kept me up at night. It's... it's the worst thing I've ever done."

Jaskier smirked looking up at Geralt, he was wishing he had left his shoes on so he was a bit taller but he still felt triumphant in hitting him with the shoe so he wouldn't complain too much.

Geralt lifted Jaskier up into his arms and kissed him deeply. "I'll never leave you behind again," Geralt promised murmuring, "if I do I am possessed and you should kill me."

"I'll hold you to that." Jaskier smirked placing his hand over Geralt's heart. "This belongs to me."

"Just as you belong to me." He remarked softly kissing him once more. "It's time for you to come home to me, with me."

Jaskier smiled, his Witcher finally came back to him. He was back in his arms, and the smoke that clouded him was now flames burning in love. He had arms to keep him warm once again, lips to kiss him in the morning and before bed.

His songs no longer would be full of sorrow, and the Butcher that haunted him was his protecter once more.