Lately I've been thinking about the "in between" moments that could have possibly occurred throughout the course of DA2. So I've decided to write a series of oneshots following my mage F!Hawke, Daria, and Anders. This particular one takes place between Act 1 and Act 2. I don't know about anyone else but I abuse the flirt options, so I imagine to my Hawke to be somewhat whore-ish, for lack of a better word.

It was expected that she would be a popular woman. With her full pink lips and dangerous sapphire eyes. With her hips that swayed like a pendulum. With her long black hair that blew perfectly in the wind. The new face of the Amell family definitely lived up to the rumors of being a beauty to make the gods jealous. It wasn't her looks alone that made her popularity rise. It was her wit, her charm. Anders damned it all. Every time they went out, someone somewhere would look at her marvelous curves and he'd feel that disgusted feeling in the pit of his stomach. And what was worse than the attention she attracted? Was that she enjoyed it. He felt his heart break as she flirted so shamelessly in front of him. "My, my…" He could hear her mumbled under her breath. His brown eyes followed the direction of her gaze. Is... Is she serious? He's a bloody templar! She was serious. She turned to the group and sly smile spreading across her face. "Meet at the Hanged Man later?" It was more of a statement, or order, than a question.

"Hawke, I'm not one to step in when it comes to your personal life, but no one knows you're a mage. I don't really think it's a smart thing to mess around with templar boy over there," everyone was taken back when Varric had been the one to stop Hawke. His arms folded across his chest and one of his brows arched so high, Anders thought a new creased formed on the dwarf's forehead. "We have a good thing, Hawke, don't mess it up by getting involved."

"It's not like I'm going to marry the man," she pouted. She began to walk towards the templar and everyone knew they had lost this battle. Varric and Fenris turned the other way. Varric had a look of disbelief then took out a small piece of paper from the breast of his coat and jotted something down. Fenris just shook his head, but glanced back from time to time to stare at her swaying hips.

He stood for a while as she drew farther and farther away. He felt empty. He ran his fingers through his blond hair, having to redo the ponytail as quickly as possible. "Hawke!" he yelled chasing after the mage. His hands were large compared to the size of her arms. He was strong compared to her delicate figure. The tugged at her shoulder forced her to stop, to face him. "Don't." He couldn't take it. Seeing her time and time again leave for business she had to attend to elsewhere. Checking the books at the Blooming Rose and realizing her name was written far too many times. "Let's go." There was no protest.

They had reached his clinic in record time. It was strange to see no one there, usually it was bustling with refugees, but today it was closed. Once he let go of her arm, she sat on one of the cots. That sly smile of hers, staining her face. Her legs crossed, her back arched, her hands supported her weight behind her. They've played this game of cat and mouse before and she has never won. "Oh dear, has the hotheaded renegade finally given in?" She gave that certain look that made men weak. Dilated, bedroom eyes. Soft, pouting lips. Everything to make his heart stop beating. His brows furrowed. His jaw tensed. Any man could not lie and say he did not think about sex, especially any man that's met Hawke. And here she was, so ready. Anders took three deep breathes, hoping to stop the tremendous beating in his chest. "Hawke, stop it." He tore his eyes away; if there was any hope of keeping his composure it would not be as he stared and hungered for her. He had spent many nights wanting to hold her, to kiss her, to touch her; tonight would undoubtedly be no different.

She was mildly impressed by his poise. But above anything she was annoyed and confused. "So, I don't get to witness that 'electricity thing' Isabela spoke of? Such a shame," she made no effort to hide her comments. She stood quickly and made her way towards the exit.

"Hawke," he found himself calling out to her, spinning her around once again. His hands held her shoulders firmly. "I can't stand this. Please, stop it."
"Stop what?" Her gaze never wavers the way his does. She is stronger in ways he could never hope to be.
He can't bring himself to look at her straight away. "I—We can't have that kind of relationship. You are an important friend. What you are asking of me is madness. I can't give you anything you want… You're looking for something that isn't there!"
"Isn't there? Really? Then why did you stop me from leaving? You can't tell me, I'm the only one who feels anything!" She was different from the Daria Hawke he has come to know. She didn't have a silver tongue that can guide her out of any situation. She doesn't put on a smile and brave through the most terrible of circumstances. She is selfish and at her most vulnerable. He lets her go, arms falling back to his side; he fears he might hurt her. She opens her mouth again to spout venom, "Don't try to save me from my decisions. Especially if there is no chance we will ever have anything."
"I suppose you're right. You're old enough to make your own bloody mistakes. You are my dearest friend in Kirkwall… But I can't support you if you begin to endanger yourself by fraternizing with some Chantry zealot. Especially because that may be very well the end of me as well. You have to understand that we're apostates, Hawke, they kill people like us."

She smiles again, there is the Hawke he is falling in love with, the one that is brave and fake. A small half-hearted laugh fills the large room. "Making me choose between friendship and sex? Like there was ever contest!" He sighs, a wave of relief washing over him. "I choose the sex!" She laughs and pulls her fellow mage into a tight hug. He is surprised and doesn't return it. He pretends to not hear her whisper under her breath, "I'll do anything for you."

She lets go with a large grin on her face, stretching ear to ear. "I was serious about the sex though. Maybe I can play 'the naughty mage and the helpless recruit' or 'secret desire demon and the upstanding knight?' You sure about this ultimatum of yours? I mean—We could always play secret desire demon and the helpless mage on his harrowing. I want to see that sexy-tortured look again."
Ugh, she heard when I was talking to Aveline. His eyes widen, but he forces them shut and makes a motion towards the door. "Hawke, leave. Please." He blushes as he hears that horrendous witch cackle of hers.
"I'll stop by tomorrow to tell you all about Ser-Whatever-his-name-is!"
"Hawke! You aren't really going to sleep with him are you?"
"Are you going to whisk me away again?"
"If I have to."
"Stop getting my hopes up. I'll end up making up all sorts of nasty scenarios in my head." With a wink she left. Her hips swaying like a pendulum. Her hair blowing perfectly from the breeze blowing from carved windows. And as she walked away he could see the stares she was given. The way she shamelessly flirted in return.

"This is ridiculous..! I-I need to lie down."