Heart of the Forge // Dammon! (Patreon)

Alright so those of you who's on my Sinner tier with access to my NSFW work know that I sometimes I accompany a spicy oneshot text with my paintings, as a treat. Nothing serious, just a for funsies. This time, I'm making it available to everyone.

I wasn't going to write anything smutty for Dammon. He's cute but also he's not like my fave fave, he's not an obsession, ya kno I mean he's alright but not like the best ya kno

Anyway here's my 1k word DammonxKarlach piece 

The scorching heat was killer. 

Dammon had a higher resistance than most to the heat wave that plagued the Sword Coast. Fire was his element; it was the blood in his veins, the living heart of his forge. Fire, which he stoked, handled and soothed every day. But this damp, sweltering heat was unbearable.

Blinking away the sweat from his eyes, he tightened his grip on the hammer and swung. Again and again. The rhythmic clang of the hammer meeting molten steel echoed throughout Baldur’s Gate, each beat molding the axe on the anvil to his desire. Droplets flung from his face, a sizzling harmony of sweat on hot metal accompanying each forceful blow. Locks of hair had come loose from his tight bun, plastering to his face and neck. The minutes ticked by, the heat slowly fading from the blade as he worked it. He had a good feeling about this one. He gave it a final look over before putting it back into the fiery heart of the forge. His lungs and muscles ached, but he felt good. The axe wasn't commissioned by a wealthy client like most of his work these days, but was of his own creation. He'd made the head bigger than usual, demanding both fury and strength to wield, yet the handle would be slightly on the slimmer side. Perfect for--

“Hey, Soldier.” 

The voice caressed his spine. Dammon turned to find Karlach leaning against a wooden beam, arms crossed, inner fire dancing in her eyes. A smile graced her beautiful lips. For a fleeting moment, Dammon found he wasn’t nearly hot enough, he craved fire to engulf him, to devour him whole, mind and body. He hastily blinked away this sudden madness, as he broke into a grin. 

“Karlach! How wonderful to see you!”

She pushed off the beam and wrapped her arms around him, her scorching red skin nearly scalding him. But he just pulled her in tighter, lifting her off the ground, her laughter filling his ears. She smelled like Avernus.

“What are you doing here?” He smiled broadly as he put her back down on her feet. She leaned back against his anvil, her hands grasping the cool metal. Still panting from the forge, Dammon pulled off one of his gloves, wiping the grime, soot and sweat from his brow with the back of his calloused hand. Or, attempted to anyway. Gods, he must look like a disgusting mess. 

“I, uh,” she mumbled, distracted. Her eyes dipping to his chest, only covered by the loose leather straps of his blacksmith's apron. It had been too hot to wear much else, safety be damned. Little was left to the imagination. He couldn't decide if he was thankful or not that he'd chosen to wear trousers.

She tried to avert her eyes, to little success. His shimmering chest heaved like bellows, the veins of his arms bordering on obscene. Dammon had always been handsome, but the grime made him near irresistible, especially as he failed to wipe any of it off. A particularly large bead of sweat rolled off his collarbone, down between his muscular pecs, and disappeared behind the dip of his apron. She couldn't help but imagine him without it.

“Karlach?”

"I came to check on my favorite blacksmith," Karlach said finally, her voice regaining composure as she tore her eyes from his chest. Dammon chuckled, though his cheeks burned.

“All the way from Avernus just to check on little old me?” 

What was the chance he didn’t notice me staring? She thought hopefully. Probably zero. 

“I have a big heart,” she winked, attempting to save face. As if on cue, flame flared from her chest, lashing out. Her wink turned into a grimace. He steadied her with a gentle hand on her shoulder, worry on his face. 

“No luck searching for a cure?”

“We’re close,” she couldn't quite keep the exhaustion from her voice, though she smiled. “Very close. I'll need you, when we're ready. I trust no one else with my heart.” She didn't want to voice the worry that the plan would fail. That this was truly her last time in Faerun.

“Of course. I won't let you down.” 

Without thinking, she placed her hand over his heart, feeling his thunderous heartbeat. So different from the monstrosity within her own chest.. 

His blue eyes dipped to her mouth, hungry. She had watched him earlier, his strong back to her as he worked the metal, and wondered if he'd make the same sounds of effort in a different context. A thought she had swiftly waved away, cursing herself. A thought that now resurfaced, and needed to be proven.

“You can't stay here much longer, Karlach. You must return.” It looked like it pained him to say it. He flicked his eyes back to hers. 

“Just,” Her amber eyes bored into his, “one more moment.” She grabbed his face and pulled him down to her. Their mouths met in a supernova of heat, fire and flesh. His arms wrapped around her.

The sounds of the city faded to nothingness...

Then they banged, right there on the anvil. Can you believe it?! You have AN OPEN AIR FORGE, DAMMON. Aren’t the kids traumatized enough?!