Zevran was on watch tonight. He had insisted that Nonna go to bed, that he was fine. In honesty he wanted a bit of quiet, just a little time to himself. After a while of just watching the fire Rome ducked out of her tent, a wrapped box in her hands. He could already picture a jealous Alistair pouting at the loss of his personal space heater.
"I found something for you, Zev."
He blinked once at her before taking the gift in his hands. He opened the box carefully and the smell of leather overwhelmed him. He looked up to Rome who was smiling softly at him. His fingers were tracing the top of the boots, the feel so achingly familiar.
"You didn't have to…" He said, and almost as soon as the words left his mouth Rome was shaking her head.
"I wanted to. In my family little gifts were a part of our life. Whenever dad…" Her words trailed off and a faraway look settled in her eyes. He reached forward to touch her arm but she had already regained her composure. "Every time dad went somewhere he would bring back presents for my brother and I. it might've been just a trinket but it was a show of love."
She might've grown up knowing who her family was, loving them and fighting with them but she had lost them all the same. He hadn't seen her cry, or lose her composure. His rogue princess had a stone façade. One that went unbroken.
"I was going to get a pair of these after I finished my job here in the dog lands. A reward for a job well done." He said, smiling at the irony. "I'm glad I never finished the job."
Rome's eyes crinkled as she smiled, something that didn't happen very often.
"I am too, Zev. I'm glad you're here with us. We couldn't do it without you."
"Ah, my rogue princess, you are able to do anything you put your mind to. I am just a pretty assassin who you keep around to have something pretty to look at. You don't need me." It was really how he felt, but it was better to just pass it off as a joke. Rome was a determined, stubborn young woman who could most definitely do anything she put her mind to.
She let out a small breath of air that could've passed for laughter and pulled Zevran into a hug.
"Thank you for sticking around. Really, Zevran."
"Of course, my lovely rogue princess. There's nowhere else I'd rather be."
-
If it weren't for Alistair I would ship Zevran/Rome so hard, goddamn. But Alistair is forever my love and I couldn't stand not romancing him. Rome/Alistair will always be the OTP.