ADD NOTE: My Hawke doesn't make good jokes...and she doesn't always understand humor – blame the Circle, they ribbed her of her individuality. Also, most of the characters will seem OOC. I made this AU for a couple reasons and you will be seeing why as the story goes on. I hope you all like the first chapter '^-^
Chapter Warning/Content:
1. Rape
2. Action
Hawke sat under her stairs in the lower levels in Darktown. She looked at the wall next to her and pulled her dagger out from it's sheath on her belt. She carved another tally on the wall.
Three-hundred sixty five.
"A full year," Hawke whispered. She didn't recognize her own voice sometimes. She's spent so long alone, there was never a need to talk. Hawke put the dagger back and leaned onto the wall, resting the side of her temple against the cold surface. Hawke could hear some shouting from above her, probably someone getting mugged. Hawke looked down at the sword that laid next to her. She closed her eyes and tried to ignore the screaming. It was normal is Darktown. People get mugged every night, women get raped and men get murdered for being courageous. Hawke has earned her share of scars trying to stop some crimes she came across. Hawke froze once she started to hear an infant cry.
"God dammit," Hawke quickly got up, grabbing the sword, and ran out from under the stairs. She skipped steps as she climbed up the stairs. She turned a corner and stopped. An elven woman was stuck under a man, her top torn off and tears falling from her eyes. Her arm was stretched out towards another man standing just out of arms reach. The man smirking and holding the woman's child, starting to undo the blankets it was wrapped in.
"H-Hey!" Hawke drew her sword, calling out to the men. She walked closer to them, her sword pointed towards them, "Let them go!"
The man with the baby smirked and threw it to the side, another man that she didn't see in the shadow caught it. The infants cries could be heard throughout the calls, making Hawke shiver. She could hear foot steps behind her, turning her head to look. Two more men with weapon's emerged from the shadows.
Shit.
She heard the baby cry again before the halls went quiet. She turned her head to look, quickly leaping away as large sword swooped down at her, cutting her hood off. She hissed as she fell back into the two men from behind, pushing them down with her. She knew the sword cut her shoulder but ignored the pain as she pushing herself off of the men, picking up her sword and quickly slit one of the mens throats.
Her arms are caught by two bolas and she struggles to break free as the men that held the baby before leapt at her. Hawke kicked one in the jaw, him falling into the other man. She screamed as an arrowed pierced her thigh, another piercing through her shoulder blade. She cursed as she used her magic to burn off the bolas ropes and pull out her dagger. She threw it at the man that killed the child – the dagger cutting through his eye. He fell to the ground as the other man came up behind Hawke and strike the pressure points in her back, weakening her.
"Ah!" Hawke fell to the ground, her sword falling out of her hand. The man that was raping the woman stalked up to her and picked her up by the collar. He slammed her against the wall, his arm pressing against her neck. Hawke struggled to breathe as she clawed at the mans arm. She could see past the man that the woman's throat was slit, the baby lay next to her – its head bashed in. Tears welled up in Hawkes eyes as she felt herself slipping away. The man let go and slammed her against the wall again. She heard something crack before she fell to the ground, numb and disoriented. Hawke reached around for something to protect herself with, feeling nothing around her start tried shielding herself as she saw the mans dagger coming towards her. She held her hands up, curling up on her side, trying to defend herself. He replaced the daggers with his fist, punched her face over and over again until she didn't struggle anymore. Her eyes couldn't focus as the last two men turned her over. She yelped as the gash on the back of her head touched the ground.
"What should we do with you?" One of the men snickered, pulling out a dagger. He started to tear off Hawke's clothes.
"N...no," Hawke voice was hoarse as she struggled to keep consciousness. Her fingers twitched as she felt the front of her shirt cut open, the blade cutting her stomach. She could hear the men laughing before a bright light shined in front of her, feeling the heat of the fire. She could hear yelling and fighting before feeling something cover her chest. Hawke tried to focus her eyes as someone carefully picked her up.
"Don't worry," The figure said, "You're safe."
Hawke's eyes slowly fluttered open. It took her a moment to realize she wasn't under the stairs or that she wasn't in the lower regions of Darktown. Hawke turned her head to the side, hearing papers shuffling. A man stood at the desk next to the cot, his back facing her. One of his hands rubbed the back of his neck as he looked down at something in his other hand. Hawke opened her mouth to speak, shutting it once the man turned. Her brows furrowed, trying to place his face. Hawke groaned as she tried to push herself up. She cringed as she put pressure on her shoulder, rolling onto her side.
"You shouldn't move," The man was at her side at an instant.
"I-I'm fine," Hawke mumbled, pushing her legs off the cot.
"No, you're not."
Hawke told the guy to fuck off as she stood up. She stepped forward and screamed, falling to the ground and holding onto her leg. The pain made her vision turn white. Hawke hissed as she rolled onto her side.
"As I said," The man sighed and carefully picked her up, "You aren't fine."
Hawke mumbled curses as the man placed her back on the cot.
"Now I need to heal your leg again." The man mumbled, walking over to his desk and taking the staff that leaned on the pillar next to it.
"Magic," Hawke whispered, "N-No! Do...Don't come near me." Hawke quickly scurried into the corner of the bed, ignoring the searing pain in her leg.
The man sighed and set his staff down, "I'm not a blood mage."
"I-I don't care-"
"What's your name?" The man asked sternly, cutting her off. Hawke didn't answer, looking around the room.
"Do you have a name?" The man asked, his eyes turning soft as he saw her confused expression.
"...Hawke." Her voice was hoarse as she spoke. She looked down at her scratched up hands, inwardly cursing and yelling.
"Would you like some water, Hawke?"
Hawke looked up at him, a small nod. He walked over to a bucket that laid next to his desk and pulled a wooden cup out of it. Water fell from the top of the cup as pulled it out. He walked back over to Hawke and knelt down next to the cot.
"Here." He held out his hand, a soft smile on his face. Hawke stared at his hand before moving her eyes to his face.
"You don't need to heal me." Hawke narrowed her eyes at him.
"I don't need to," He nodded, "But I want to." He moved the cup a little, the smile not leaving his face. Hawke hesitantly took the cup from his hands and gulped it down. She panted as she brought the cup away from her mouth.
"Will you let me heal you now?" Anders asked as Hawke handed the cup back to him. He placed the cup on the floor next to him as Hawke laid down on the cot, biting her lip and groaning whenever she put pressure on her wounds. Anders brought his hands over her legs, teal magic tickling his fingers as he started to heal her leg.
"What's your name?" Hawke asked, not being able to take the silence anymore.
"I am Anders." He furrowed his brow as he continued to heal her.
"How did I get here?" Hawke looked up at the ceiling.
"What do you remember?" Anders asked, pulling his hands away from her leg. He looked up at her as she furrowed her brows.
"I...remember...fighting these men. They were raping this woman...and...her child...I was...trying to protect them..." Hawke shut her eyes and shook her head.
"I found you," Anders got up, the cup in his hand, and walked back over to his desk.
Hawke sat up and looked at him, "...I can go now?"
Anders nodded, "If you want, sure."
Hawke nodded and grabbed her boots, putting them on. She tested her leg and applied pressure on it. With a nod she headed to the door.
"You could stay the night," Anders leaned against his desk, his arms crossed.
Hawke placed her hand on the door and turned to look at him, "Usually when men offer a woman to stay, they think they are entitled to something."
Anders chuckled, "This is a clinic. People stay the night here a lot of the time. Tonight just happens to not be one of those nights."
"I..." Hawke bit her lip, rubbing the back of her neck.
"Think of it as...a gift from a friend," Anders stood up, walking over to her, "Just for the night."
"A friend..." Hawke looked down and sighed, "One night."
"One night," Anders nodded, "At least rest up before heading back out into the dark."
Hawke hid her smile, "Nice pun."
Anders raised an eyebrow, "Pun?"
"Dark?...Darktown?" Hawke looked up at him, "N-No? Okay...never mind. Just...going to go to sleep...over there." Hawke rubbed her neck as she walked back to the cot. Anders rubbed his chin, thinking before a small chuckle escaped his lips.
"Ah," Anders nodded, snapping his fingers, "I did make a pun." Anders looked over at Hawke as she laid back on cot. Hawke pulled the pillow into her arms, laying her cheek on her hand. She felt a blanket fall over her.
"Here," Anders whispered, "It gets cold sometimes."
"Thank you," Hawke shoved her face in the pillow. The lights in the room dimmed as Anders blew the candles out. He slept in the cot furthest from her, picking up a blanket from another cot as he walked over to his.
"Thank you...Anders." Hawke said loud enough for him to hear.
"You're welcome, Hawke."
"Thank you again for letting me stay the night," Hawke mumbled as she folded the blanket she used last night.
"You are welcome to stay whenever needed," Anders shrugged, "My doors are always open."
Hawke nodded, "I...I should go now. Make sure no one stole any of my things."
"Why do you live in Darktown?" Anders asked.
"Why do you?" Hawke set the blanket down, staring at her hands.
"The people in Kirkwall-"
"No," Hawke turned to him, "It has nothing to do with the people."
Anders nodded, a dry laugh, "Templars."
"Exactly," Hawke hugged herself, looking down.
"I have to say," Anders walked over to her, "You look familiar."
"I...wouldn't know why," Hawke shrugged, averting her eyes. Anders nodded, understand she didn't wish to speak about it. Though he did have a clue. He'll figure it out later. Anders walked Hawke to the door, opening it. A few men and women starting to walk towards the clinic. Anders opened both doors and lit the lanterns above the door as the men and women walked through. Anders looked over at Hawke as she started to head for the stairs outside of the clinic.
"Hawke," Anders called to her, pulling her aside as people started walking into the clinic, "If you need someone to talk to-"
"Don't." Hawke had a sad smile on her face, "Thank you for last night but...I most likely won't see you again."
Anders looked her in the eye, "There are few you can trust. Trust someone who knows what you are going through."
"I-..." Hawke bit her lip, looking away.
"Just know I'm here," Anders places a hand on her arm, "If you need anything."
"T...Thank you," Hawke nodded, turning and leaving quickly.
ADD NOTE: My Hawke doesn't make good jokes...and she doesn't always understand humor – blame the Circle, they ribbed her of her individuality.