Authors Note: Just a short little tidbit of something bigger I have kicking around in my head after playing through Wicked Eyes and Wicked Hearts, but I thought I'd do a spit polish and share with anyone who might be interested in some more Iron Bull love. Nothing explicit, but if I add onto this like I intend, there will be some pretty high ratings for kinky sexytimes, and general Iron Bull-ness.
Lavellan knew Iron Bull could dance. The man had sat in his chair with his stein along with Varric and Cullen and laughed as Josephine had attempted to teach their Inquisitor the steps for ball. Eventually the ambassador, after a great deal of long suffering and toe stomping, had given up hope on the idea of their leader being able to dance with anyone at all at the ball. It was after the group dispersed, leaving the two alone, that the Iron Bull had gotten up from his chair and taken over Lavellan's training. 'Ben-Hassrath, remember?' He had responded to Lavellan's surprised look. Not that he should have been surprised, they'd taught their spy everything from seduction to killing, why would dancing be any different?
In battle he was loose, relaxed, as natural for him to fight as it was to breathe. As he brought Lavellan's body into line with his, adjusting his posture with heavy hands and then began to run him through the steps of an entirely different dance, it was clear he was a different creature all together on the dance floor. Careful, calculated, throttling his power in a way that left Lavellan breathless to see it released.
The worry of stepping on Josephine's feet (again) nonexistent with Bull, as was the fear of appearing a fool in front of those who'd think less of him. Bull didn't care how many times he tripped, and he did, just corrected him with calloused hands on skin and moved on. It worked, and hours later Lavellan had not only learned the dances, but also what subtle mistakes would get the qunari's hands on him the most.
Bull didn't address that until he was satisfied with his Inquisitor's ability to dance. When he did however, the tension of their dance was long gone, and the Inquisitor's trouble walking the next morning was far more than simply sore feet.
The Court however, did not expect the qunari that walked out with the Inquisitor to have any idea what he was doing. There were whispers and laughs and other than light comments no one paid them any mind. When Bull gave a signal subtle enough Lavellan almost missed it, and the musicians changed the song to something decidedly stronger, there was a moment to wonder when his companion had paid off the orchestra before he was pulled into position.
Bull had been focused on teaching the last time they'd danced, and the difference was evident. From the way his hands settled at Lavellan's hips, the closeness of their bodies from the first step, it was clear that this dance was not meant to teach anyone but the nobility watching them.
"When I'm done with you, Kadan, everyone in this room will want you, and they'll be too terrified to try because they'll know they have to go through me first." A voice so low it was filled with gravel, a whisper across his ear, warm breath so distracting that he missed the first step when the music began. There was a chuckle in the crowd because Bull dragged him through the steps he missed, did not let him fall behind, the strong hands on him giving him no choice but to keep up.
The music started slow, their steps strong and easy to follow. Somehow, the people in the crowd began to fade away because Bull's body, his breath, his closeness was far more distracting than they ever could be. They did not waltz, it was not the dance of a ballroom though it mimicked it in ways obvious enough for it to be familiar to those watching. It was qunari, Lavellan was sure, but he did not know where in the Qun's society one might dance like this. Ben-Hassrath perhaps training their agents to be able to seduce nobility on the dance floor?
Bull's hand's moved constantly as he guided their dance, at a hip for a side step, taking hands for a spin, across his back for a dip. As a dancer, he was hyper sensitive to the contact, keeping in step to be rewarded by more touching almost a larger motive than not making a fool of himself in front of the Orlesian court. As a spectator, the touches were subtle enough to bring interest, fascination in what they were witnessing. The Inquisitor being undone.
They had drawn a great deal of the crowd's attention, not that Lavellan was aware at that point. His focus on his partner just as revealing to the spectator's intrigue as their dance. Iron Bull had been a spectacle in their midst, a statute to look intimidating, a trinket of the power and reach of the Inquisition but nothing more. Now, he was the only other person to have a dance with the Inquisitor besides the Grand Duchess. Her dance had clearly been the Game at work. This? The Inquisitor was open and honest as he danced, the way he followed through the fierce steps of the dance as it picked up incredibly telling.
Was he this in sync with all his team? So trusting of his inner circle that they were permitted to see this side of him? Surely the qunari was not the only one...
Lavallen felt what Iron Bull was so expertly hiding from the nobles. Easy for the stern faced qunari to look unphased even as he subtly exposed his Inquisitor's grace and poise to those who had not previously noticed. Easy to look like he was unaffected by the sexuality of the elf he was so close to, as if the way their bodies brushed against each other as they danced was not making him mad with desire. The Court's eyes were on the inquisitor, who was far too caught up in the thrall of the qunari to notice the Game still at work.
It was being played by someone who detested it, by someone not working for himself. The Game in Bull's hands was like a curious imp of a child lighting a ladies skirts afire to see what would happen. He wanted these nobles to see past their bias of an elf, their distrust of a mage, their reverence of the Herald of Andraste, and their fear of the leader of the Inquisition. A simple dance, to make everyone wonder at how they had missed the honest innocence of Lavellan's sexuality.
When the steps grew faster, their turns tighter, their bodies were brought together, and Lavellan's hands began to stray across Bull's sides for anchor as they danced. "Maker, they're playing faster." He breathed in a rush with a grin as the music began to speed.
"Started slower, thought I couldn't dance." Bull answered with a rough chuckle, "It'll get faster." Lavellan took it as a warning, concentrating on the pattern of steps that stayed the same no matter how Bull lead them across the floor. If he kept them down and followed, he would be fine, he knew this.
Palm to palm they circled each other quickly, their height difference causing Lavellan to raise on his toes just to bring his lips closer to the qunari's jaw. This was noticed by their rapt spectator's who were now alight with low toned conversation. The Inquisitor's new found sexuality the delight of both men and women as they speculated. It must be men he favored, look at how he follows. He must value strength above curves and dresses. How does the qunari not realize the Inquisitor's attentions?
The music drew to a peak, and when Bull lead him into a dip, Lavellan relaxed into it completely, their bodies pressed together tightly, and despite all his attempts to keep it together, Lavellan let out a soft moan that could only be heard by Bull over the music. The music picked up speed yet again, and Lavellan prayed it was in its final chord because his feet would not move faster without tripping him and even Bull would not be able to smooth that failure. Is the qunari made of stone to not take what the Inquisitor is offering? Has no one claimed him at all?
Bull's hands were finding their way under his jacket as they poured themselves into the final round, their bodies pressed together by what could be blamed simply on the gravity of their dance's turns, or more realistically, Lavellan's need to rely on Iron Bull's movements to keep up. He was swept up in the heat and movement of their bodies, the closeness and the hands under his jacket across the thin soft cloth of his tunic. Consumed by the dance, victim to the thrall as much as the spectator's were as their whispering increased.
The orchestra was at its finest, they missed no note even as the song crashed together in speed, challenging their dancers to keep up. Iron Bull pulled them into a spin as the notes reached their peak, and Lavellan found himself on his toes not just to help the spin, but straining for affections, lost so completely all he wished was to press his lips to the throat of the qunari dancing with him. In the final round of their spin, with a surprisingly graceful strength, Bull lifted the Inquisitor just enough his feet left the ground, just enough height gained that the elf could press his lips to a stubbled jaw, and for a brief moment he smiled in contentment before he was back on the ground, out of their spin for the final few steps.
The crowd exploded in whispers, Did you see that? No, no, it was all too fast. The qunari was still unaffected, though the Inquisitor clearly wasn't, surely it meant something.
And when the music crashed to its final halt, Bull dipped the Inquisitor low in a classic ballroom sweep, and the crowd burst into applause and cheers. They held for several long moments, faces only inches apart, chests heaving with the exertion of the dance as they regained their breath. Then, amongst all the talk and loud conversation, Bull leaned down took his prize in the form of a chaste and gentle kiss.
Voices exploded, whispers and loud conversation alike, but it was the Inquisitor's response, a hand around the qunari's neck, a deepening of the kiss to something that could not be mistranslated in any culture before they finally broke away, the clear look exchanged, that gave the Game away. The soft approving whisper of 'Kadan' that gave Lavellan all the approval he needed was missed by their greedy ears.
They'd been played. They'd been presented with something tantalizing, they'd been made to not only long for it, but think it was available for the taking. And then just as easily, it'd been taken just out of reach with a simple kiss. Better yet, the qunari had proved to everyone there that any advances were not unwarranted, indeed much of the conversation was Good, they fit like a glove. An Orlesian court, cheering for a qunari's advances towards an elf.
Scandalous. The word was being used in all the right ways, and as they departed the dance floor arm in arm, they passed Josephine in the hall. Her cheeks were flushed and when she grinned at them it was all the polite amounts of lecherous. Bull had dumped yet more pieces of the Game in her lap, but so expertly coordinated it could be used so easily to promote all the right agendas.
Oblivious to it all but was Lavellan, practically glowing with energy, blindly following where Bull guided him in hopes it would be somewhere quiet with just the two of them. His hands strayed to Bull's arm and side continually with casual contact, craving touch. He was done with the Court and all its games, he was hoping for something far more intimate to occupy the rest of his evening.
He was offered a room in the Royal Apartments to spend the night by the empress' ladies in waiting. They gave knowing and expecting looks in Bull's direction, but they were not shared by the stern qunari who seemed once again to be impervious to the inviting energies of the elf he lingered near. More fuel for the fire, more gossip and whispers. Was it all an act? Was the qunari simply teasing them? Was the Inquisitor truly claimed? Who would be brave enough to find out?
The subtleties weren't unappreciated by the court, but they were lost on the elven mage as they exited to the Gardens and began to walk away from the crowds and the people. There was an excited sort of energy to his step, fully renewed after the strain of the majority of the evening.
"That was amazing." He finally said when they were out of ear shot. He didn't know what The Iron Bull's motivations were, but he had managed to keep himself in check until they were alone, or as alone as one could get in the Winter Palace where eyes were on you at all times. "I can't believe you kissed me in front of everyone!" He said, looking inquisitively at his qunari partner.
Bull just gave him a glance from his good eye before looking ahead of them again, very careful as he lead them through the gardens where they had been fighting for their lives only hours previously. "Like you made it possible to resist." He grumbled, "You should have seen yourself."
Lavellan seemed to think on this for a moment, before he suddenly put a hand to his mouth in horror. Putting together how caught up he'd been, how wanton he must have seemed to the uptight nobility of Orlais. "Oh god, they're going to lynch me." He concluded. "Not just an elf, but an elf kissing a qunari. Josephine is going to kill me if the Court doesn't." He moaned, beginning to panic already at the thought. "Will they withdraw the alliance? Maker, I-"
"Relax." Iron Bull chided with an easy laugh, drawing a hand to the elf's neck, tucking fingers under his collar. "That's the last thing on their minds right now. Remember what I told you?"
Lavellan had to think on this a moment, before flushing. Everyone in this room will want you, and they'll be too terrified to try because they'll know they have to go through me first. "You did it all on purpose! You...!" He accused, whirling on his companion to stand in front of him and stop him from walking, not that it worked because Iron Bull just continued to walk and Lavellan was forced to start walking backwards.
"You wanted me to dance with you, I wanted to dance with you, we danced." Bull said simply. "You just saved their empress, you just put dating qunari into style." He grinned and waggled his brow. "Better treat me good Boss, I got options now."
"Oh...for makers sake!" Lavellan said with defeated toss of his hands. "I give up." He said before returning to Bull's side. "Just take me to these apartments and make it all up to me." He said with an air of authority, as if it was an order that would meet any sort of resistance.
"If you insist, Boss." Bull drawled with a smirk.
Lavellan's cheeks were flushed as he walked, flustered and having a difficult time processing anything witty to come back at Bull with. Eventually he gave up, changing his step to walk closer to the qunari and slip his hand into the bigger man's. "I'm glad you kissed me." He admitted quietly, resting his head against Bull's bulky arm. "It's nice that you don't want to hide us from everyone. Like you're proud."
Bull gave him a serious look from the corner of his good eye, before squeezing Lavellan's hand, almost painfully tight. "Yeah well, don't let it go to your head." He said gruffly, and Lavellan looked up at him with a curious sort of look. Always hard to get a read on his Iron Bull, he simply wasn't trained for this type of thing. There had to be something more, but pushing would just lead him in circles, so he let it rest.
Thoughts were pushed from his mind however when he saw an orlesian guard standing next to three horses on the cobblestone ahead of them. He looked around, and realized that they were actually on the edge of the gardens, very near the exit of the palace. "I thought we were going to the apartments?" He asked, tilting his head.
"I've seen a few too many assassins jumping across balconies and windows tonight to feel the least bit safe sleeping in this place." Bull said with a grunt, approaching the horses easily. The guard wore a full helmet, but didn't seem to be the least bit bothered as Bull took the reins for the large warhorse he rode. A gift from Lavellan, a mount that could actually carry the qunari for long periods of time. "I already arranged us a safe place to spend the night." He said as mounted his horse, looking down at the elf that was receiving his own horse from the guard.
He was impressive, in full regalia, atop his horse, horns an eerie silhouette against the moonlight, inviting and intimidating all at the same time. Lavellan sighed but hopped up on his sleeker horse next to him.
"Good to go Krem?" Bull asked, and Lavellan twisted on his mount in surprise as the soldier behind them nodded. Krem waved lightly before guiding his horse to begin a canter down the path towards the gate. Bull met the Inquisitor's look of amused surprise with a positively wolfish grin, before tapping his heels and taking off without a word, expecting the Inquisitor to follow.
Of course, he did.