He was a very powerful man, the Inquisitor, a deep, commanding voice along with the commanding of magic at his fingertips. He was quite the man to be reckoned with. His eyes were the most peculiar thing, bright blue with a tint of purple in them. His eyes were quite charming, with just one look and a smile he could break even the coldest of stare-downs.
So it was quite the shock when Josephine heard the hushed curses and yelp of pain from the hallway. She quickly stood and made her way to her door. It creaked open slowly and she witnessed the Inquisitor keeled over, holding his arm tightly to his body.
"Inquisitor?" she asked softly, "is everything alright?"
"Ah!" he quickly straightened, hiding his wince of pain well, but not well enough. "Josephine, what're you doing up at this hour?"
"Do not deflect my question, I asked first." Josephine said with a roll of her eyes.
"I'm... fine, just a bit sore." the Inquisitor replied.
"And your arm?" Josephine opened the door fully, crossing her arms over her chest.
"Quite broken, I think." he said glancing at his motionless limb.
"Broken?"
"Yes, I think. Sometimes going up against a bunch of demons can do that to a person." the Inquisitor chuckled.
The Inquisitor walked slowly over to Josephine, smiling softly. "I couldn't sleep, so I decided a walk might help me forget the pain. Until I ran into Iron Bull. He congratulated me, with a very hard punch to the arm." he shook his head. "I thought I knew pain before. But that was the worst I've had to endure, and having to smile, without crying in pain."
Josephine gestured into the room behind her, "would you like to come in? I was finishing up on a few letters, but at least I have tea."
"Tea would be wonderful," he smiled warmly at her.
It shouldn't have had such effect on the woman, but that smile made Josephine smile just that much wider.
The inquisitor had poured two cups of tea, and was slowly stirring his own drink, a cup of tea next to his own.
"I don't know how you take it, so I just poured you a cup." he said sheepishly.
"Just a small amount of sugar," she said, shoveling in the sweetener into the cup.
"Would you like some tea with your sugar?" the Inquisitor joked.
"What? Oh!" Josephine stirred her drink, "Ha ha, very funny,"
"Thank you. If all else fails, I could just make Corypheus laugh to death." he said smirking, taking a slow sip from his tea.
Josephine glanced at her desk, deciding that she would just finish her letters tomorrow. The inquisitor sat on the couch that sat in front of the softly burning fire. The Inquisitor hummed, and crossed his legs, sitting like a child at story time.
"What brings the Inquisitor to my neck of the woods?"
"You invited me in, I was heading to my quarters, but how could I pass up an invitation from such a lovely woman?"
"Your flattery is too nice, Inquisitor."
"Please, just call me Max. I hate when the people here at Skyhold call me Inquisitor. It's too formal," he scrunched up his nose and shook his head.
"Sorry, but with someone of your power, some formality is expected." Josephine said.
"Well, I don't want to be formal with my advisers, I would like to consider you all friends. Especially my ambassador." Max smiled.
Josephine blew on her tea to cool it, and slowly took a drink. The Inquisitor shifted, causing a groan of pain.
"Are you alright? Truly, no sarcastic response, please." Josephine asked worriedly.
The Inquisitor let his head fall against the back of the couch, his eyes closed. His jaw locked and an audible gulp was heard.
"I don't know. I feel fine sometimes, but other times, I just want to lock myself away and never deal with this again. It's stressful, being a diplomat. I don't know how you do it. I'm much more of a soldier."
"Ah, it is very tiring, but someone's got to do it. I'd be lying if I said I didn't enjoy a bit of a verbal battle."
Max arched an eyebrow, "You are quite the ambassador. I appreciate all the work you're doing here." he said sincerely.
Josephine nodded, "I think you should see one of the healers, perhaps we could call Solas up."
"Well that was a change of topic," Max swatted with his good hand, "bah, I'll go see him in the morning. I'd rather not disturb him so late at night."
"What about the pain?"
"What about it?"
Josephine shook her head, "how do you deal with the pain? It hurts, doesn't it?"
"Of course. As I said before, I am more a soldier than any diplomat, I can handle pain. There was one time, in the Circle when some friends of mine decided to play a prank on one of the templars."
"The templars at the Circle?"
"I was merely a pawn in their plans. The templar found me, and in turn, took me down. He popped my shoulder out of place, his sword slipped and had cut into me. Rather deeply." Max chuckled. "The pain was unbearable,"
"That's awful!"
"It was my fault for trying to mess with the poor guard, he was new, jumpy. He didn't know the group like the older Templars."
Josephine laughed, "A troublemaker? I wouldn't have pegged you as one."
Max made a face of faux surprise. "You think i'm a troublemaker? What makes you think that?"
"Oh, you just have some god-demon after your hand, amongst other things,"
Max smiled, "when you put it that way..."
Josephine yawned despite herself. She didn't want this evening to end, the Inqu- Max- was such an easy person to talk to. She found herself loving this conversation with the man that so many looked to for hope.
"Ah, I've kept you up past your bedtime, forgive me Lady Montilyet,"
Max stood, shaking his sleeping limbs awake. "I can walk you to your chambers, if you wish?" he offered.
"Thank you for the offer, but I think you should get to your quarters, you need rest."
"Same time tomorrow?" Max asked, hope falling into his words.
Josephine smiled, and nodded, "as you wish, Inquisitor."
Max has never, ever, been as angry as he was at the House of Repose representative. Someone threatened the life of Josephine, his ambassador, and he had taken quite a liking to her. With one look at Josephine he had decided to let the assassin go, Josephine did not want any more blood shed, and just one look at her was enough to calm him.
"We should get back to the Skyhold, I have an idea."
"We cannot sit by and wait for all these orders to fall into place when your life is in danger, Josephine!" Max said loudly, Leliana nodded, keeping to the side and out of the way.
"I do not wish any more bloodshed over this, Inquisitor, please let me handle this."
Max sighed, and leaned against Josephine's desk. "Leliana, please, send your agents to dispose of the contract. I will not sit idly and wait for something to happen. The House of Repose will not sit idly forever. Max took a deep breath, and stared Josephine down, his eyes blazing.
"Please, Max, this is unnecessary." Josephine tried to reason.
"I will not take these threats lightly, and I will not wait longer than I have to. I order Leliana to dispatch her agents to find and destroy the contract on Lady Montilyet's life. No more arguments."
"As you wish, Inquisitor," Leliana said, bending slightly at the waist.
Max turned on his heel and strode from the, summoning the war council at once. While orders were being set up and issued, he couldn't help but glance at Josephine worriedly. He had to do what he had to do, and he was not worried about that. Max was worried about Josephine's possible feelings towards him after going against her wishes.
After the meeting was adjourned, Max decided he had to apologize. He had to make sure Josephine was not too angry with him.
He cleared his throat when he entered the room. The courier in the room quickly bowed and scurried from the room once her job was finished.
"Josephine, I wanted to know if you had time to talk?"
The ambassador looked him up and down, but relented with a quiet sigh. "Of course,"
"I am sincerely sorry for my attitude earlier, I understand your wish to resolve this peacefully, but your life is too valuable to the Inquisition," and me, he added silently. Maker, he had it so bad for this woman.
"It is alright," Josephine sighed. "I appreciate the concern, perhaps this is the only way to get it done. My way would take far too long. And time is of the essence for us."
"Indeed." Max smiled, and let out the worry he had built up inside of him. "Anything to report?"
"Nothing of note, really."
"Anything I could do to help?" Max asked.
Josephine stood from her chair, "No, they are trivial things." she shuffled the papers on her desk around and filed them into piles, she straightened the quill she was using to write and closed the top of the ink with ease.
"Sometimes, I do miss my staff from the embassy in Antiva. It was helpful to go over the day's visitors with them."
"I have time, if you wish to discuss them with me," Max said holding his hands out, a smile playing at the corners of his lips.
"I wouldn't wish to impose," Josephine said, suddenly becoming shy.
"I wouldn't have offered if you were imposing," he said softly.
"Well," Josephine paused, "I admit, there are some potential alliances it would be good to discuss.
"See? I might not be so useless as a diplomat after all!" Max joked. "We can discuss in my quarters," he said with a smile.
"Who does such a thing in front of guests?" she said incredulously.
Max chuckled, and leaned against the railing, gazing at the ambassador. He tried to listen to her, he really tried, he even offered his help, but now, as the sun set gracefully behind the scenic mountains, he couldn't focus on anything but the shape of Josephine's lips, the way they turned up when she smiled, or the way she bounced on her feet in excitement when talking about her homeland. Or the way her hair was starting to fall loose from her normal hairdo. She made it so damn hard to concentrate.
"Oh goodness, have we been here for an hour already?" Josephine pondered, straightening her back, she turned to Max, who shook his head.
"It went by too quickly. I didn't even notice," he said, stepping closer to Josephine.
"You're far too polite. I didn't intend to go on for so long, you must think me quite the gossip,"
Max smiled, "Spending time with such an engaging woman is never unpleasant, Lady Montilyet."
She looked away and Max took great satisfaction in knowing he had made her blush such a deep red.
"I'm glad I wasn't a waste of your precious time, Inquisitor. Though, I have taken up quite enough of your time," she backed away hands tangled together in front of her, "until next time, Your Worship."
"I read Leliana's report, the contract on your life has been disposed of," Max said quietly. It had taken quite a bit off his shoulders, now that he didn't have to worry anymore about assassin's trying to kill his ambassador.
"Thus we outwit the House of Repose," Josephine sighed, her eyes shutting.
"Don't sound so enthused, m'lady."
"Oh! Forgive me, don't think that I am not grateful. This whole situation was very overwhelming, s'all."
"I understand, I was just trying to joke with you." Max leaned his forearms on the railing, looking out to the vast sea that surrounded them.
"Did I ever mention I used to be a bard?" Josephine said suddenly, glancing to her left at the Inquisitor.
"No, don't seem to recall you mentioning such a thing. A singer, eh?"
"Bards are more than just singers, we entertain, singing, dancing, charming conversations, but also, we spy." Josephine turned, putting the water behind her, she took a deep breath in. "It's such a way to practice The Game."
"You seem a bit," Max struggled to find a suitable word, "steady for such an outgoing lifestyle."
Josephine smiled, "the life of an entertainer did not suit me at all." She crossed her arms over her chest, "during one particular intrigue, I encountered a bard trying to kill my patron. We fought," she gestured outwardly, "or perhaps 'scrapped' is the correct term. We were both terrified. We were at the top of a steep flight of stairs," she shook her head angrily. "A knife was drawn on me, and... I pushed him away from me."
"You were only defending yourself, Josephine," Max said, a hand finding a spot on her arm, an encouraging squeeze to keep her talking.
"It was such a waste, Max," she said, visibly upset. "I took his mask off and I knew him. We attended many gatherings together." she shook her head silently. Tears swelled at the brim of her eyes, "if I used my voice, if I stopped to reason with him instead of scuffling like a common thug!" Josephine trailed off,
"He seemed more than willing to murder you for The Game," Max thought with disdain.
"Perhaps," she said quietly, "I am the last to judge if he really would have used the blade." Josephine started to walk away before a gloved hand grasped her wrist, stopping her in her tracks.
Max opened his mouth but his words failed him at that moment. Instead, he pulled the smaller woman into a tight hug. She sighed and wrapped her arms around Max just as tightly.
"It'll be alright," he soothed.
"We should get back to Skyhold," Josephine said pulling back slightly.
Max nodded, unwrapping himself from Josephine, suddenly feeling a bit more empty.
They walked into Skyhold and Josephine excused herself.
Leliana greeted the Inquisitor with a cold face. "I would like to see you when you have the chance,"
"I'm free at the moment. What do you need?" Max said.
"Go get changed and meet me soon. We have something to discuss." Leliana said instead. She stormed off leaving a very confused Inquisitor. She was never this snippy with Max before.
When he was changed and climbed the steps to the hiding spot of Leliana, he took the area in. It was dimly lit, birds squawked all the time, and agents were busied over papers that they shuffled away when the Inquisitor went to inspect them. He realized this was not his place, and made his way to Leliana. She turned to him before he even made it to her.
"A word, if you may,"
"Go on," he prodded.
"I've noticed you've paid Lady Montilyet quite a number of compliments." Leliana said, matter-of-factly.
"I may have," Max said suspiciously, crossing his arms over his chest. "I enjoy her company very much," he added.
"Entanglement with our ambassador seems... most unwise," Leliana threatened carefully, hands clasping together. "I asked Josephine to join the Inquisition because we needed a diplomat, not for her to be toyed with."
"Toyed with? You think i'm toying with Josephine?" Max said appalled. "I'm not toying with anyone." he shook his head, "is my own spymaster telling me to watch myself?"
"This is hardly something to tamper your supper over, but, she is a very dear friend of mine." Leliana explained. "Josephine is no stranger to courtly intrigue, but love? There she is innocent. She has no idea you are truly attracted to her. If, indeed, you are."
"Why are you so against the idea of me being attracted to Josephine?"
"I have not known you long, Inquisitor, neither has Josephine. Her heart is easily carried away, and I want to make sure that it is taken by someone who truly cares." Leliana said. "So, if you feel anything towards Josephine, I want to know,
"I am very attracted to Josephine." Max heartily said. His face pulling into a small smile at the mention of his affection.
"Whatever is between you two, I ask you treat her with kindness. For both your sakes."
Max nodded. "Does she... is the attraction mutual?"
"How would I know, Inquisitor?"
"You and her are close, I was curious if she mentioned anything."
Leliana smirked, "Perhaps she mentioned you once or twice, but, she doubts it."
"Doubts it?" Max asked
"That she is reading into it correctly, she wants you to like her, but she is unsure of myself. As I said, when it comes to love, she is quite innocent."
Max nodded again, this time halfheartedly. "If you can excuse me, I have someone to talk to," Max bent slightly at the waist in a bid of farewell, and turned on his heel. He quickly made his way to where he knew Josephine would be, behind her desk, working. He was detoured slightly when Varric asked for his help. Varric needed a second opinion about the turn he was taking in Swords and Shields. When Max gave his opinion, he was off on his way again. Pushing open the two doors to the office.
"Max!" Josephine greeted happily, "Is there something I could do for you?"
"Maybe," Max answered. "Leliana just gave me quite the speech,"
"Oh? What about?" Josephine inquired.
"About us,"
"Oh she is impossible!" Josie sighed. "Might we discuss this somewhere more private?"
They both made their way to Max's quarters where he sat on the couch with a smile, Josephine sat next to him, very close. He started retelling his conversation.
"Leliana is a very frightening and intimidating woman when she wants to be."
"Oh I know, but I guess it's best in her line of work," Josephine agreed. "Do tell me what she said,"
"Well, she noticed you and I were spending a lot of time together, that there were many compliments. She said you were innocent in love an-"
"Wait!" Josephine jumped up, and her hands went to the air. "She said I was an innocent in love?"
"More or less," Max said.
"Of all the-" Josephine cut herself off, sighing in exasperation. "I'm quite capable of understanding our association!" she stopped her pacing in front of the Inquisitor and sighed, looking very apologetic. "I never thought your intentions were overly romantic, I assure you."
Max sighed inwardly, "Perhaps I should have composed a ballad, or sent roses." he said in quiet deadpan.
A hand flew to Josephine's mouth, "What?! You mean.. you do-" Josephine cut herself off again. "We've only just met, I didn't want to presume you harbored such tender feelings for me."
"Presume away. I won't deny you're anything but captivating, Josephine." Max said, standing, joining Josie in front of the wide open window. He glanced out of it for only a brief moment before returning his gaze to the ambassador.
"We've only known each other a few short months, how can you declare this liking for me so quickly?"
"I have yet to meet someone who affected me like you do. You're intelligent, and graceful, and on all accounts, quite beautiful. Call me a hopeless romantic if you will," Max said shrugging, a smile on his face.
"I.. would not object a closer relationship between us, my lord." Josephine raised her eyes to meet Max's "If that sounds agreeable to you,"
"I should thank Leliana for prompting this talk," Max chuckled, stepping closer to Josie.
"I suppose she was right after all," Josephine said. Max smiled, taking Josie's hands in his own. She glanced down at their hands, with a wide smile. "Just don't tell her I said that," Josephine said worriedly.
"Your secret is safe with me," Max said winking.
That was when Josephine noticed just how close they were, and she started to wonder what it would be like to kiss the lips before her. She didn't have to wonder very long, as the Inquisitor quickly closed the gap, and soon soft velvet lips of the diplomat met slightly rough and chapped lips of the Inquisitor.
It was everything Josephine dreamed of, and more. A calloused hand drew a path up from the nape of her neck to her cheek, cupping her face delicately. How was a girl suppose to ignore the urge to just slowly raise her leg.
They stayed in Max's quarters until the sun disappeared behind the mountains and the moon started to rise over the snowy peaks. Max had some servants bring dinner up to them, as if leaving the quarters would somehow make the bubble of happiness he was feeling, burst.
"So.." Josephine started after a moment of silence. Max stood by the fire, slowly feeding it to keep it alive.
"So?" Max answered, turning to face her.
"What does this make us?" she asked, her eyebrows pulling together, her mind racing through all the possibilities.
"I assume you mean our relationship status," Max said.
"Well, yes," Josephine clasped her hands in her lap.
"What do you want it to be?" Max asked, his heart hammering in his chest. His tongue licked at his bottom lip and he strode over to where Josie was seated.
"W-well, I-I don't know. You are a very important man,"
"You are a very important woman," Max offered with a shrug, Max sat next to Josie on the couch, turning his body to face her. "I really can't describe my feelings for you. I just know they're strong, and very hard to ignore," Max started. Josie nodded, she glanced out the window onto the balcony, then back to Max's hopeful face.
"You are an intriguing man," Josie said seriously, "I... have grown very attached to you,"
Max smiled at her warmly, this causing Josie to completely forget what she was going to say next, and making her completely flustered.
"I-I, well... when yo-"
"Do I make you nervous, Josephine?" Max teased.
"What? No, of course not I deal with dignitaries that..." Josie trailed off, "Perhaps a tad,"
Max leaned in close to Josie's face, planting a chaste kiss on her cheek. "You make me very nervous, Josie," he whispered. His voice was like a song to Josephine's body, she couldn't help the visible shiver. She gulped, the blush already creeping up her neck, painting her face in a red hue.
"We-well," she cleared her throat, "do explain more?"
Max smiled, "It's late, you should rest. I'll walk you back to your quarters," Max stood and offered his hand, which Josie took gratefully. How could she possibly sleep after the events of today?
They talked quietly as they walked throughout Skyhold, everyone else was asleep. When they stopped in front of Josephine's door, Max bowed dramatically.
Josephine rolled her eyes, but smiled none-the-less.
"I'll see you in the morning, my lord." she said softly,
Max let his arms encircle around her hips. "That you will."
"You should get some sleep as well," Josephine said softly, her hand resting on Max's chest.
"I shall have sweet dreams," he leaned down and kissed her softly, and very slowly, agonizingly so, pulled back. Josephine's eyes had yet to open, and Max couldn't help but smile. He placed another kiss on Josie's forehead before unraveling himself from her. "Good night, Lady Montilyet,"
"Good night, Your Worship,"
A/N- And I absolutly adore Josephine, she is so adorkably (I mean that leg pop? Too adorable) cute and the whole romance had me 'aw-ing' and smiling like a fool. Not to mention, there's next to none M!Quisitor fanfics. So WA-LA. Hope you all enjoyed, Till next time :P and be sure to review