Omg, my thought processes is all over the place =[ I do love the Arishok though...There are about three other things I need to do, but...Arishok!
Bioware/EA owns everything...my heart included.
:D I found a wonderful betas ~ Kurgs, PirateShipForever. Thanks for helping me, lovelies :)
P.S. Ellie had been helping me revising the chapters, adding more spice if you will, and we have long chats about fangirl things. I luff you, Ellie XD
"Shit!" Isabella swore, shooting a glare at Hawke as she presses a piece of torn cloth against the gash in her shoulder. So far, Hawke's effort did little to stem the flow, and the cloth is becoming increasingly soaked with blood and grim."Would it kill you to be gentler?"
"Would you rather bleeding to death?" Hawke smiled grimly, but only increased the pressure on the wound. The pirate spit out a few explicit curses as the pain lanced through her shoulder. She had not known Hawke for long, but she could've sworn that Hawke was a sadist.
"I already am!" Her cursing only stopped when Varric handed her a small vial containing red liquid. "Whose idea was it to take on the whole group of smugglers without bringing a healer?" Isabella asked, tipping her head back to gulp down the whole thing before motioning for Varric to give her another one. It was fortunate that Varric always carried extra healing potions, because she didn't fancy trekking the long distance back to Kirkwall being soaked in her own blood.
"If I remember correctly Rivaini, it was your idea." Varric chided, pulling out two more red vials and handing them to the pirate. "Something about Anders being too quiet for your liking? Though, Broody here is just as bad; his scowl actually made a baby cry this morning."
The mentioned elf scoffed, but did not bother justifying his actions. It was quite amusing to Hawke, who had been present at the time, and she couldn't help but laugh a little remembering the scene. Hawke, Varric, and Fenris had been taking a walk through High Town that innocent morning. Despite his dislike for the haughty citizens, Fenris' sprawling mansion was located near the center of all the ongoing events. There was some equipment and ingredients that only High Town's merchants could supply, so sometimes the tattooed elf had to venture outside his comfort zone and 'mingle' with the people milling around in the area. This morning was one of those instances.
Hawke had been the one that wanted to go shopping, and Varric was by her side, as usual; Fenris went with them on this particular trip, because Hawke remembered him mentioning that he was running low on supplies. Since she knew he hated being stared at, she had thought it would be best if they went together. Strength in numbers, as they say, and she could distract him from noticing that people were looking at him. So there they were, efficiently getting the things they needed and perusing wares that could potentially be helpful. As they haggled with one of the merchants, a happy family walked by. It would have been over quickly, but the baby in the woman's arms chose that moment to wake up, and stared right into Fenris' visage. He normally had a standoffish aura around him, but it didn't help that the merchant was being greedy and trying to get more than the items were worth. As the baby glanced in Fenris' direction, he decided that he did not care to see such a heavy frown so early in the morning and cried for all he was worth.
It was just an unfortunate moment, but Varric had been spinning outlandish tales about it, and Hawke had been laughing about it ever since.
Fenris frowned at her, but Hawke smiled at him, noticing the bemused look in his eyes. He, too, had thought it was amusing, but he had a reputation to keep. After a short moment though, Fenris smirked at Varric.
"I have you to thank for the terrifying looks I received after your tale made the rounds, dwarf." He remarked, crossing his arms and leaning against the coconut tree. "Hopefully, people will move out of my way more quickly now."
"I would rather you move in my way more quickly." Isabella chimed in with a wink. Although her face held pallor under the dark skin, she still had the presence of mind to appreciate Fenris' good looks. She winced and hissed as Hawke shifted so Varric could bandage her shoulder. Not that he was any good at it, but the wrapping would keep her from bleeding to death until they could get healing magic. Next time, she wouldn't be so choosy with mages, but who would have thought that a quick trip up the mountain would prove so...bloody? You'd think that with three rogues they would be able to go someplace without anyone being attacked. Then again, going anywhere with Hawke was just naturally dangerous. She should have taken that lesson seriously.
Originally, it was supposed to be a quick trip. 'Go to Wounded Coast, get some sea rocks, and return before the sun was overhead,' Hawke had said. Isabella snorted. Yeah, right.
"This will do for now," Hawke pronounced, putting a hand on her uninjured shoulder to keep the pirate steady when she tried to stand up. The pirate lurched unsteadily on her feet, and Hawke tighten her hold, preventing Isabella from falling.
Isabella winced, but quickly masked her expression. "Let's get back to Anders." She said between clenched teeth.
Fenris growled at the mention of Anders, which made Hawke sigh. They had known each other for half a year now, yet they were still act like cat and dog around each other, which, given their preferences, is an apt description. Hawke had played the mediator role between them numerous times, and today was no different. Every time they were together, they would bicker until she had to step in to prevent them from doing physical harm to one another.
"Varric, be a dear and take our beautiful walking wounded to get properly healed." Hawke asked, watching Isabella taking little steps before straightening up and moving with wider, yet somewhat unsteady, steps. "Here, before you go." She walked beside Isabella and handed the woman two more red vials. The Pirate took them gratefully, but only drank one more and put the last in her pocket.
"Thanks, Hawke. If you see any more bandits, do me a favor and kill them all." She told Hawke with a brave wink. "Then join me at the Hanged Man, I do enjoy seeing a woman fresh from the fight."
"Go already." Hawke rolled her eyes, waving to her two friends as they left, then turned to Fenris. "You know-"
"Hawke." Fenris cut in, already knowing what she was going to say. The abomination is useful in certain situations, but he should not warrant Hawke's friendship, especially when he was hardly a step away from becoming a demon. Fenris still didn't understand why Hawke would want to befriend such a thing. A mage is dangerous enough, but a possessed mage filled with anger... It never ends well. Hawke's own sister was a mage, so he could understand her sympathy toward them, but he would rather Bethany be the healer.
"Not every mage is bad, you know." Hawke said instead.
"I understand that." He sighed, walking beside her as they headed back toward the city. "Your sister, maybe. That abomination, I don't think so. Given the chance, he would destroy the entire city."
"Anders is not an abomination," Hawke huffed, readily coming to the defense of a friend, "He-"
"Is possessed." Fenris finished for her. "You should know of the danger."
"Yet all he's done so far is healing others, for free." At the reminder, Fenris glowered at her, but did not reply. Seeing that he's not refusing her outright, she presses the issue. "You don't have to be the best of friends, but please try to be nice. For my sake." Hawke batted her eyelashes with a grin.
"No promises." He muttered, but returned her smile with a small, crooked one of his own.
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"Stop sulking, Anders." Hawke laughed, smugly gathering up her winnings.
"Three rogues against one mage, don't you feel ashamed of yourselves?" Anders threw his hands up in mock frustration.
"Nope. Not one bit." Isabella replied, watching as Hawke counted the papers that served as 'currency.' "Only fools refuse to take advantage of an easy win."
"Only fools want to play against three rogues." Varric laughed. "You should have learned that lesson from day one, Blondie."
"You three are impossible!" Anders shook his head, grouching good-naturedly. They did not play with real coins, but used papers with crudely drawn pictures - courtesy of Isabella; but since they had cleaned him out of those, he felt like he should at least put up the pretense of a complaint. "My pockets are empty now, thanks to you."
"You'd earn a lot more money if you'd start charging for your services." She paused for a second as a thought darted through her mind. "Think about it, magical hands could get you a lot of money Anders, if you know where to look."
Hawke glanced up from the pile of papers she had accumulated and looked from Isabella to Anders, curiosity in her eyes. She had figured that they knew each other before they met her, but she didn't know they were close. Anders saw the speculation on her face and glowered at Isabella.
"You need to stop putting ideas - wrong ideas - in her head." He told the pirate, making both women giggle. "Hawke, you've been around her too much."
"With all that's going on, I'm a great distraction for her." Isabella defended herself, making Hawke's grin wider when she leaned back, giving the group an ample view of her bountiful bosom.
"Or corruption." Varric chuckled.
"Keep that up, Varric, and you'll see something funny!" The pirate threatened with a grin.
"You want to see something funny?" Varric smirked, turning to Anders. "Flirt with Edwina. Come on, I dare you!"
Hawke buried her face in her hands, laughing silently. Anders glared at her shaking form, muttering something under his breath, something like 'women are scary.' Varric himself was chuckling merrily at Anders' discomfort.
"Oooh! What about that electricity trick?" Isabella suggested.
"What electricity trick?" Hawke gasped, trying to get enough air in her lungs. She was very interested in the answer, especially when Anders blushed a deep red and cleared his throat, loudly, which wasn't an easy feat in the loud and rowdy Hanged Man. The tavern was busy enough that nobody really noticed the red-faced Anders, otherwise he probably would have made his escape. Hawke was not ready to let the mage do that just yet. From what she had guessed, Anders was more outgoing and flamboyant, not to mention more open-minded when he was younger.
Knowing Isabella, that kind of open-mindedness must have led to some wild nights, but now he spent most of his time in his underground clinic, and gloominess environment was not good for him. For anyone, really; this was why Hawke kept dragging him out as much as she could, and teased him so he could relax and enjoy himself. "Come on, Anders, stop holding out on me."
"Hawke!" Anders glared, but deflated after a few seconds. "Alright, but only one."
"This should be good." Varric smirked.
"Make it dirty!" Hawke leaned forward, her chin on her fists, listening raptly.
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"You missed a nice story." Hawke told Fenris, settling herself into the chair facing the elf. Yet another of their misfit group who preferred the shady cover of shadows than to the light.
He had been staying in this dark mansion for a while, yet did not make any attempt at cleaning it up, or even making it more habitable. Most of the time, he just used the living room and one small room in the back; he had ignored the rest of the place, and the negligence showed. Dead corpses in dark corners, broken windows, and spider webs made the house seem eerie in the daylight, never mind at night. Hawke supposed those things did deterred the common intruders, but she didn't think living in these conditions was healthy. She should know, living in Gamlen's house and all.
"What story?" He said absently, not really paying attention.
"Sex." She said frankly, and was rewarded with a surprised expression as Fenris focused on her.
"What?" He blinked, unsure if he had heard her correctly.
Hawke managed not to grin. She had Isabella to thank; the pirate had said that when all else failed, the mention of sex would get anyone's attention. She wasn't wrong.
"We were retelling stories of conquests. You missed out on the funny things."
"You were at the Hanged Man, listening to Isabella?" He snorted. "I'm glad I missed out on that then."
"It wasn't Isabella, but Anders." She smiled, remembering some of the details he told her. He wasn't explicit, but she had been amused at his tactics. "He was such a daredevil back then." She chuckled in memory and winked at him.
"I'm not sure about the dare, but devil, yes."
"Bah!" Hawke rolled her eyes. "Have you even tried to be nice to him?"
"Sometimes, Hawke, you are a pain."
"You might protest now, but once you get to know him, he's quite fun to have around. Speaking of fun," Hawke said, changing the subject, figuring that he would come around to it on his own time. "What about you? Any stories, like at all?" She asked instead, settling comfortably into the seat and put her feet on the table, looking at him expectantly.
"I...have no good memories of my past, Hawke." He looked away. "You know that."
"Of course." Hawke leaned her head to one side, studying the stiff elf across from her. It was true that Fenris hadn't talked much about his past, but she didn't know how far back he actually could remember. She let her usual snarky facade fade as genuinely curiosity coloured her features. "You really don't remember anything? Surely it hasn't been all bad memories?"
He was silent for a long while, and Hawke wondered if she had offended him. However, she shrugged to herself, knowing that if Fenris was indeed offended, he would let her know. Their friendship had been built on almost brutal honesty and as a result they trusted the other implicitly, enabling them to fight alongside one another effectively. She wouldn't hold back her opinion, and neither would any of her friends. They knew where they stood with each other.
After a few more moments Fenris sighed, turning back to face her. "There was a time when I thought I was free from Danarius."
Hawke sat up straighter, waiting for him to continue.
"During a Qunari attack, I was left behind. I was lost, not knowing where to go or what to do," he began, "I don't remember how long I spent wandering aimlessly. A clan of rebels in the Seheron jungles found me, and took me in."
"Did you suffer injuries from the Qunari attack?"
"Not many, but it was more malnourishment than anything." His lips tilted up for a moment before his expression returned to thoughtful. "I learned a lot from them. They bow to no master and fight for their freedom. They were bold, strong, and free with their affections. I was in awe of them, and owe them everything."