Simply Be
By Jackie Almasy
Part 1
Confrontation
Varric had heard of idiots, fools, and morons of many kinds in his years of traveling. Throughout taverns across Thedas, he thought he had seen it all. But this was taking idiocy to a whole new level.
"By the Ancestors, slow the hell down!" The rogue dwarf cursed under his breath as he ran as fast as his legs could carry him. Thankfully the setting sunlight over the near pristine roads of Hightown was cleared for the day, giving him room to catch up to the determined man ahead of him.
"Mage! This is not a good idea!"
Anders turned around, looking over his shoulder at Varric struggling to keep up.
"My name is Anders! You know it! Why not start using it?" Anders continued at his pace, heading for the Hightown Estates with a vigorous determination.
"Fine then, Anders! Would you just calm down for a minute and think this over?" Varric reached out, grabbing the man's belt looped around his waist. Yanking with all his might, Anders cried out in shock as he fell backwards onto the cool cobblestone.
Panting, Varris stepped over him unable to suppress the grin of accomplishment from spreading.
"There, now maybe you will calm down and listen to reason."
Glaring intently at the dwarf, Anders shoved him aside to stand up. Dusting off his robes, he folded his arms over his chest.
"Fine. You got my attention. But only for the next thirty seconds!"
The look on Varric's face instantly changed as his eyes became somber and serious all at once.
"I know you are upset. Hell, we all are. No one deserves to watch someone they love die." Varric's voice caught in his throat, a rare moment that he hardly let anyone else see. He silently cursed the Maker for allowing his emotions to show despite the horror they had just witnessed.
"Hawke needs time. She needs space, privacy, and more importantly, peace and quiet! We did what any friends would do for someone in need. We offered our condolences and our services should she require them."
Anders clenched his hands into tight fists.
"You heard what was happening! Hawke won't even open the door for us! The last of her family is gone! Bodahn can't even get her out of her room!"
Varric's patience was wearing thin with the mage.
"What do you expect her to do? Greet every damn visitor to come in and remind her of the events that happened today? You think it is so bad that she wants privacy from even us?"
Anders extended his hand, motioning to the towering estates behind up. The stone steps became shadowed in the setting sun, the cascading colors of orange and pink illuminating the beautiful architecture.
"You may be annoying dwarf but you are no fool. You know as well as I do that there is only one person who can get in there and help her right now!" His tone of voice changed, a hint of anger and bitterness in his words. "And the only thing the bastard did was walk away without saying a single word to her!"
He began pacing back and forth as he raised his arms, waving them around in sheer anger.
"What in Andraste's name was he thinking? I thought they had something! She's been swooning over him like a damned new priest who joined the Chantry! Her attraction was no secret and more importantly, she was always there for him!"
He stopped hot in his trail, staring down intently into Varric's calm and empty face.
"So now why, in her time of need, is he not there for her?"
Varric only shrugged. Hearing Bianca creaking slightly behind him in his shuffling, he shook his head.
"I don't know. I don't even think Fenris knows what goes on inside his head. But I know that he is also not a man to be trifled or screwed around with. He's a dangerous man Anders and if you give him cause, he will not hesitate to defend himself."
Varric shifted on his feet, holding his arms across his chest.
"Ever heard of this expression? Don't poke a nug in the nose."
The look of confusion spreading over Anders face said it all. It took Varric all he could from not bursting out laughing right there though a small grin appeared in response. He couldn't help but chuckle though.
"Alright, let's try something else. I believe the human saying goes like this. Let sleeping dogs lie."
Anders scoffed. "I fail to see the point in this Varric."
The rogue sighed and placed a hand on his forehead. "Sodding idiot…"
"The point I am trying to make Anders is that Fenris is a dog who likes to be left alone. If he speaks, he does. If he wants to join us, he does," Varric hummed slightly, tilting his head in thought. "Actually he's more like a wolf if you ask me but anyway, that is beside the point."
Varric took a few steps foreword, staring straight up into the mage's brown eyes.
"Fenris is not a touchy-feely type Anders. If he cares for her, he will show it in his own way. Do not poke the wolf."
"Yeah well that doesn't sit well with me. Back where I come from, true friends are intrusive even when they are not wanted because in the long run it shows you care." Anders turned, continuing on his way up the steps of the estates as the sight of Fenris's mansion came into view.
"I don't know whether to think you are a good friend or a jealous idiot." The padding of thick leather boots echoed in the empty street signaling the continued following of the dwarf.
Anders momentarily delayed in his determined pace, sighing softly in admittance.
"Sometimes, I think it's a bit of both."
The silence of Fenris's solitude was suddenly interrupted by the door to his main room being slammed open. Closing the book in his hands, Fenris's face turned to disgust at seeing Anders charging into his house.
Standing, he put the book gently down onto the table.
"I don't recall inviting you into my home mage." He walked foreword a few steps, taking notice of the look of disgust on Ander's face and the curious grin on Varric's. "And the dwarf in tow. Interesting."
Anders stomped foreword, bringing his body closer to Fenris. The look of disgust only seemed to grow.
"What the hell do you think you are doing here?"
The elf narrowed his eyes, taking a step foreword as if getting into a battle stance.
"That is none of your business mage. If you know what is good for you, get out of my house. The only reason I give you this warning is in favor of Hawke. Otherwise, my fist would be firmly planted in your chest right now."
Before he could react, Varric watched in shock as Anders raised his hand and punched Fenris in the face. The surprising force of the punch made even the dwarf cringe. Not surprisingly though, a light chuckle and grin spread over his face. Leaning against the doorway, Varric remained silent.
"Now this will make a good story later."
Colliding with table and some nearby barrels, Fenris fell backwards onto the ground. He groaned, caught by surprised at the pain soaring through his face. He heard the wine bottles fall and collide with the ground, shattering upon impact and cascading all over the floor.
The strong scent of wine soon began filling the air as a loud thump caught his attention. In the corner of his eye, Fenris looked up in time to see the book fall off the edge of the table and into the deep puddle of wine below it. His breath caught in his throat.
The pages began soaking up the wine, staining the words beyond recognition with the deep red color. Before he knew it, Fenris felt himself lose self control. With elf speed and grace, he quickly kneeled up and kicked Anders in the gut. Sending him colliding back into the wall, Fenris quickly followed with a growl of anger.
Anders felt his back and head snap back against the cold stone, grunting in a mixture of surprise and anger. Opening his eyes, Anders gasped at Fenris's incoming fist. Dodging the incoming punch, Anders flinched at the sound of cracking stone under the elf's strength.
Swinging his fist again, Anders connected with Fenris's chin. The elf barely seemed to register the pain, lifting his arm in time to elbow Ander's across the face. Feeling his anger flare even more, Anders struggled to keep his anger and Justice in check. He could feel it clawing on his very soul and it was only a matter of time before he lost complete control.
Grabbing him by the front of his shirt, Anders threw him into the nearby corner. Dishes and bundles of cloth cascaded to the floor as Fenris immediately stood up. The glares directed at both of each other were ice cold. Clutching his fists tightly, Anders watched as the lyrium scars engraved on the elf's pale skin lit up.
"You're a real bastard! Do you know that?" Anders could taste a coppery substance in his mouth, turning to spit a little bit of blood out of his mouth. Wiping his mouth with the back of his sleeve, he panted a little at the sudden fight.
Fenris said nothing as he merely stared at the mage with hatred and anger.
Anders continued, taking a step foreword.
"Hawke just watched the last of her family be taken away from her today! Ripped from her very arms! Her world is shattered, gone, and when she needs someone at her side, I find you reading a sodding book!"
Varric eyed the two men silently, unsure of how this interaction was going to end. He couldn't help but feel the storylines threading together already in his head. Anders, the jealous man, fighting for the wellbeing of his one-sided love and then there was Fenris. The silent brooding elf was probably in love for the first time and unsure of how to act around the beautiful Hawke in private, much less public.
"Even I couldn't come up with better shit than this."
"Is that why you come here? To preach and ruin my home? I will not hear your words mage for you do not know of what you speak! Get out!"
"I am not moving from this spot until you go to her! What kind of man does not console the woman he loves in her time of need?"
Charging foreword, Fenris grabbed Anders by the front of his shirt and slammed him into the wall. Glaring at the Anders face, the volume and tone of Fenris's voice went up.
"Do NOT talk about what you do not understand! You know nothing!"
"Oh I'm sorry, did I hit a soft spot?" Anders mocked openly, only seeming to instigate the matter further. "Should I be surprised that the brooding elf actually has feelings for someone other than himself?"
Crying out in unleashed fury, Fenris clocked Anders across the face before throwing him to the ground inches from where Varric merely watched.
"I should kill you where you stand!"
Half laughing and gasping for air through the pain, Anders coughed out a mocking groan as he pushed himself up onto his arms.
"No, you should be at Hawke's side but alas, apparently everyone has been misreading the whole situation. How silly of us to actually think you cared for her. I mean who could blame us really?"
He groaned as he pushed himself to his feet.
"The way you would look at her as she walked through the streets, talking to people. It was so pathetic!"
"Shut your MOUTH!"
Varric winced inwardly at the raised volume of Fenris's voice. Anders was walking a very thin line with the pissed off elf.
"Or maybe I should be the one to go console her. After all, she needs a real man to be at her side. To hold her at night, caress her face, and wipe away her tears. Hell, I'd be very happy to be the one kissing those lips."
Reaching foreword suddenly, Fenris grabbed Anders neck and tightened harshly. Without so much as a grunt, the elf's lyrium tattoos began glowing brighter and brighter as he lifted the mage clearly off of the ground. Clutching his wrists, Anders began choking a little and gasping for air.
Images of the past few months came rushing back into Fenris's mind in that one moment. He could never remember himself being so angry and dominant. What had happened between Hawke and himself seemed only like a dream at times. The night haunted his dreams often, reminding him of her gentle touch, soft body, and shaky whimpers.
He remembered they had taken their time slowly with one another. Curious caresses and kisses were spread all over their bodies and for the first time in his life, Fenris had trembled not from pain but pleasure. He could still hear her soft cries of ecstasy as she climaxed underneath him, catching him completely off guard from the amount of trust and love in her eyes.
And like a fool, he had run away from something so wonderful.
To know that someone else desired the same thing from Hawke made his blood boil.
"If you even touch Hawke, I will hunt you to the ends of Thedas and kill you with my bare hands! I will make it as slow and painful as I can possibly make it!"
Suddenly an arrow flew by Fenris's face, catching him completely off guard as he let go of Ander's neck and jumping back. He turned his attention to Varric and became completely bewildered at smile on his face.
Settling Bianca back into her holster, Varric chuckled and clapped his large gloved hands as he took a few steps foreword.
"Bravo! Bravo gentlemen! If only Hawke knew how you two fight over her honor!" Stepping in between them, Varric turned to confused elf.
"While I would love to see this dramatic end continue Fenris, the reason we came to visit your," He chose his next words carefully. "Lovely abode was to inform you about Hawke's predicament."
"She's not taking the death of her Mother well at all elf. She's refusing to see eat and not letting anyone into her room. Bodahn has heard her tears and occasionally, some crashes and bangings."
"Fenris, she needs you more than anyone right now at her side. If only to be there as a shoulder for her to cry on."
Fenris stared at the dwarf with a confused but annoyed look on his face. Panting slightly, he walked over to the knocked over table and gingerly picked up the wine soaked book. Looking over its title, he ran his fingers softly over the tainted words.
"And what makes you think I can do anything for her Varric? I am not a man of emotions or words. I…," He paused, unsure of what to say. "I do not know how to console her."
"Because unlike anyone else in the world Fenris, she knows now how it feels to be as alone as you claim you are."
Gasping silently, Fenris's grip tightened on the book. For what seemed like an eternity, he merely stood there in silence. Without a nod of acknowledgment or words of goodbye, Fenris walked out of the room at a determined pace. Watching from the doorway, Varric smirked at the sound of the main door slamming shut.
Groaning heavily, Anders raised his arm and waved it back and forth.
"Um, Varric, a little help please?"
Walking over to the mage, Varric gripped his hand and pulled him up. Gasping in pain, Anders staggered to his feet and cradled his lower chest with his hand.
"Bastard packs quite a punch, I'll give him that."
Shaking his head in amusement, Varric pat the back of the mage a few times and ignored the pained grunts and glares from Anders.
"Mission accomplished. Come on, I'll buy you a drink at The Hanged Man. My treat."
Walking down the stairs with a slight limp, Anders turned to Varric with a slight frown.
"You enjoyed that little fight didn't you?"
"I have no idea what you are talking about mage. Absolutely none."
Part 1 of 2 is now done.
I am on a Fenris/Female Hawke binge. This idea came to me at the end of the "All That Remains" quest. It's been sitting in my brain for the past two days now and I thought it would make a good two part story.
What do you think? Reviews would be much appreciated.
Part 2 will be done soon.
Till next time,
Jackie Almasy
Dragon Age II is copyrighted by BioWare and Electronic Arts. I own nothing.