Chapter Text
Geralt knew that Jaskier had formed a relationship with every Witcher in the Keep. It’s one of the driving factors behind his apology. Well, that, and Ciri telling him what an idiot he was really being. And though the admission had created less tension between Geralt and Jaskier there was still something detectable. Something unknown that hung over Geralt’s head like a knife on a string. It took him until two days after his apology to notice. The reason he probably hadn't caught on before was because he had been so focused on staying out of everyone’s way. Now, it was almost impossible to miss the depth of Jaskier's friendship with the other Witchers.
It started with the goats. Or really, it started by taking a good long look at the beasts from his room’s balcony. An early morning sun had painted the sky, shimmering off the freshly fallen snow all around the Keep. Geralt was enjoying the view when he heard the familiar sound of Jaskier’s laughter. Looking down into the courtyard he spied the Bard along with Eskel. They were running around the goat enclosure with brightly colored somethings clutched in their hands. After a few minutes of watching this odd display Geralt decided to go down and investigate.
“Nibbler, hold still!” Jaskier was arguing with the smallest goat, a brown and white kid, while trying to force something over its feet. He was rewarded with a swift kick in the gut that caused him to release the kid, “Blast!” Jaskier cried in dramatic dismay while holding his tender stomach
“You have to go easier once you catch them.” Eskel was commenting as he slipped something the color of freshly grown grass over Li’l Bleater’s hooves, “We’ve been over this.” he sounds amused and resigned as he watches Jaskier chase after the kid, Nibbler.
“He’s just a stubborn one is all.” Jaskier snaps back before diving at the tiny goat. He manages to catch in and after about a minute of odd looking wrestling Jaskier releases his prey with a triumphant, “Got it!”
For whatever reason Nibbler takes this opportunity to run in Geralt’s direction. As it stops near him, taking a nibble of his boot laces, Geralt finally sees what all the fuss was about, “Socks?” is all he can think to say
“Geralt, hello.” Jaskier is smiling when he rushes up to Geralt and reaches down to pluck Nibbler from the ground, “Come to help?”
“With what exactly?” he asks curiously while following Jaskier back to the pen where Eskel has finished putting bits of blue wool over a black goat’s hooves
“Socking the goats.” Eskel says as if it’s the most obvious thing on the Continent
Geralt lets that sink in for a moment before bracing himself and asking, “Why?”
“So they don’t get cold.” Jaskier was quick to explain, “The enclosure is damaged and too much cold air gets into it at night. So I decided to try my hand at knitting for the sake of our little furry friends.” Nibbler leans up and gives Jaskier a long lick across his face. Instead of yelling in disgust about spit Jaskier just laughs, a full body laugh at that, and sets the animal down, “Yes, yes, I love you too. Now off with you!” he gives the goat a small pat on the rump and it trotts off to it’s mother
“But Jaskier, the goats don’t need…” his eyes catch Eskel, who is waving at him frantically. It’s obvious that his Brother doesn't want Geralt to finish his sentence. Odd, but okay. If this is something Eskel enjoyed doing with Jaskier then Geralt didn't see the harm. After all, it was just socks on goats. Nothing could really go wrong. And the men seemed to be enjoying themselves. After a short goodbye Geralt left them to their odd activities.
Jaskier finds him later while he’s training Ciri in proper throwing techniques. The lute strings are plucked in a pattern that oddly fits their exercises.