Author's Note: I wasn't sure if I wanted to write a longer piece with chapters or just make this into a One-shot… I'll probably write more because I can't seem to just stop at one chapter. I hope you all enjoy my little mush between my two favorite characters. Please read&review ^_^.
Disclaimer: I do not own Dragon Age II and give all credit to Bioware for their wonderful world and characters.
Chapter One: The One-Night Stand
It had happened without her meaning it to. It happened far more often than she liked, but as she sat on the dirt that passed for a floor in their uncle Gamlen's Lowtown abode, she couldn't deny her desires. Ever since helping that voluptuous pirate at the Hanged Man, Hawke was confused by the heat coursing through her body.
Last night, Isabela had tagged along with Varric to escort Hawke back to the rundown home. Hawke listened intently to Varric's offers of odd jobs and tried her best to ignore how close Isabela walked on her right hand-side. The pirate would throw in a few naughty innuendos here and there which made Varric snort with laughter and Hawke blush profusely. It's not that Hawke was completely innocent, but it had to do with Isabela's comments almost always being unsuccessfully whispered in her ear.
"Alright, well keep in mind that Ser Haron is an avid collector of discarded panties. Don't ask me why; nobles are a strange sort, but it makes for easy profits."
"Thanks Varric, but where in Kirkwall would I find discarded underwear?" Hawke raised an eyebrow as she stood at the foot of the stairs.
"Oh you'd be surprised where you'd find those." It was Isabela who spoke up. "They're everywhere. After all, under clothing isn't of that much importance when your attention is elsewhere. In fact, I believe I've lost of few of my own along the docks."
"Rivaini! I wasn't aware you even wore any." Varric chuckled and continued, "perhaps you could help out Hawke with this since you seem to be so knowledgeable on the whereabouts of misplaced panties." With that he waved a goodbye and started his walk back to the Hanged Man alone.
"How about it Hawke, would you like my help?" The pirate stood mere inches from Hawke.
"How about tomorrow night?" Hawke proposed as her body felt the warmth emanating from Isabela's.
"Why not now?" Isabela closed the gap between the two and pushed Hawke against the wall. "I do owe you one after all." Her smirk was dangerously seductive to the cornered mage.
"I–" the door to Gamlen's excuse for a house creaked open and out came Leandra to Hawke's discomfort. "Mother!" Isabella slowly backed away from the startled mage with a small chuckle. "I don't believe you've met Isabela yet." Hawke eyed the baffled pirate with her best imitation at confidence.
"I don't believe I have." Leandra said with some distrust. "I thought I heard someone out here."
"We never meant to startle you, mother." Hawke apologized. "Isabela was just sharing some very confidential information with me."
Isabela stifled her laughter, which caused Hawke to lay a hand on the pirate's shoulder and send a slight zap of electricity. Isabela flinched slightly but couldn't help but want to laugh all the harder at Hawke's attempts to smooth things over.
"Indeed." Leandra eyed the two warily but decided it was best not to push the topic. "Well dinner is ready. You are welcome to join us, Isabela."
"Thank you, but I'm afraid I have to decline." Isabela pulled away from the mage's grasp. "I just wanted to make sure Hawke returned home nice and safe."
"Very well, Marian I'll see you inside."
As soon as her mother went inside, Hawke turned to look at the pirate's smug expression.
"Marian, is it?"
"It is," Hawke sighed. "I'd rather you call me Hawke. Not a lot of people know my first name. By the way, why were you surprised when I introduced you to my mother?"
"Well look at the time," Isabela looked at a random spot in the night sky. "My spot at the Hanged Man must be strangely vacant; mustn't keep all that booze waiting. I'll see you tomorrow, Hawke."
Hawke sighed again and kicked the dirt on the ground with her weathered boot. Her lips had been so close to Isabela's, and if her mother hadn't come out from the house, Hawke got dizzy from thinking about what might have happened next.
The rest of the night had passed by pleasantly enough save the strange stares her mother was giving her and the even stranger questions that pertained to her relationship with Isabela. She explained to her mother as best she could; she and Isabela had only just met, and tomorrow tonight they would be searching for discarded underwear (she hadn't mentioned that last part.)
Now that the ordained 'pantie-search' night had come, she sat down on the dirt floor, tried to calm her nerves, and began to wonder if her mother ever knew what happened to Hawke's engagement back in Lothering. As the eldest daughter of the Hawke lineage, Marian was expected to marry first, and she had been matched with a local farmer's boy. She liked him enough as a friend, but knew straight away that she could never 'feel' anything for him. She just wasn't interested whatsoever in any kind of romantic ordeal. She didn't want to tell her mother who had been ecstatic at the news when it broke. Arron was the best a mother could ask for in a son-in-law, and he looked absolutely dashing beside her eldest daughter.
Everything would have gone by fine, if Arron hadn't discovered what happens when you try to kiss an unwilling mage. She hadn't meant to do it, not really. As his lips got closer, all Marian could think of was how much she did not want this to be her first kiss, and her magic seemed to heed to her wishes. The poor boy was flung a good ten yards by an unseen gale force before he could get his lips to make contact. Marian apologized profusely but finally understood that she could no longer fool herself in believing that she could love this man.
Arron was understanding of her refusal of his hand, and admitted that he wouldn't want to be partnered with someone who could launch him ten yards away merely by will alone. He hadn't told her mother what had happened, but the engagement was ended nonetheless. Leandra was confused at the abrupt ending, but upon seeing both remain good friends was content with the outcome. Since then Hawke never pursued any form of relationship because she had never felt any attraction… until now. The pirate was surely a master at seduction and Hawke felt like easy enough prey.
"Are you going out tonight sister?" It was Carver who hovered above her.
"Yes, an odd job has cropped up and Isabela has agreed to help."
"The pirate whore?" Carver chuckled. "I wouldn't mind if she helped me every now and then."
Hawke groaned and suppressed the urge to set his trousers on fire. "I don't think your charms would work on her. Slow and obnoxious aren't really her type."
"What's this? A bit defensive aren't we?" Carver smirked and tussled his sister's short, black hair.
With a quick channeling of magic, Hawke zapped his hands away from her, causing him to yelp in shock.
"Let's not forget who is the eldest." She smirked at her brother as she rose from the floor bristling with electric energy.
"And let's also not forget why we have to flee from the Templars." He spat back, now in a sour mood and unable to take part in the game that they used to play in Lothering.
Hawke cut off her magic but kept her smile. Those carefree days in Lothering seemed to be memories from another life. Before the darkspawn and before her father and Bethany had died, life had been pleasant; innocent almost. Back then Carver and her had been dueling partners. Bethany had always been a healing mage rather than a battle mage, so she acted more as a referee. They'd come home with such massive bruises and cut up all over, though if it weren't for Bethany they would have definitely looked worse. Now her and Carver hardly ever spoke without one of them offending the other, and his regard for mages seemed to have fallen to the depths of the Deep Roads and beyond.
Hawke stared long and hard at her brother before she left. Anger spoiled his features and he no longer looked like the boy she had known in Lothering. She exited the musky room and took a deep breath of the outside air. It was a cool night, and even with the smell of garbage and spoiled goods, it was preferable to the damp, sooty smell that made up Gamlen's home.
"Are you ready sweet thing?"
Hawke looked down at the base of the stairs to find Isabella looking up at her, smiling mischievously. She smiled back and gave a slight wave to acknowledge her readiness.
"As ready as one can be on a quest for undergarments."
"It's not that hard. If I had known that there was money in this, I would have stolen at least a good couple of dozens."
The duo laughed and continued to converse as they made their way towards the Docks, a place Isabela swore would be littered with discarded undergarments. Isabela led the way to a stack of crates.
"Now look what we have here." Isabela gloated with glee as she pointed out to a piece of clothing. "What did I tell you?"
"You're right!" Hawke reached out to grab the piece, but Isabela quickly snatched her wrist and gently pulled it away.
"Now, now, Hawke there's some ground rules we should probably go over." She took out her dagger and prodded the garment off of the crate. "Never directly touch underwear that are found on the docks unless you know who's they are."
"You have rules for these kinds of things?" Hawke smirked.
"More like common sense." Isabela teased and led the mage to a different location.
"I knew I lost these somewhere around here!" It was Isabela who had climbed out from behind a hidden section littered with boxes and barrels. "See here, I really like these."
Hawke blushed profusely as she bared witness to a piece of cloth that could hardly be called underwear at all. It was more like lace that happened to be somewhat in the shape of underwear.
"Well what do you think?" Isabela asked with genuine curiosity.
"W,w,what about?" Hawke stuttered and looked towards the floor.
"The underwear you silly goose!"
"I can see how they would be hard to locate…" Hawke's eyes trailed to Isabela's waist and then lower to her pelvic area, "I can also imagine why they'd be carelessly thrown."
"Is that so?" Isabela smirked as she threw her pair in the bag with the others they had collected through the night. "Perhaps you can help me imagine what happened exactly; my imagination seems to have left me at the moment."
"I highly doubt that." Hawke felt her voice become throaty.
Isabela began her advance on the subdued mage, but the sound of drums and other percussion instruments filled the nighttime air causing Hawke to snap back. Isabela bit her lip and furrowed her eyebrows in frustration at the loss of Hawke's attention.
"What's that?" Hawke grew curious at the sign of life towards the middle of Lowtown.
"Probably a drunken party in front of the Hanged Man." Isabela retorted
"Let's check it out since we're done here." Hawke smiled boyishly and Isabela, though dismayed that she wasn't going to have sex with Hawke, found that smile irresistible.
Hawke grabbed Isabela's hands and took off for the Lowtown market; to their surprise a festival was being thrown. Lights were lit everywhere, making Lowtown seem more alive and bustling than usual. It had its charm and the usual smell of garbage was replaced by roasting meat and sweets that littered the stalls.
"What is this?" Hawke eyed everything with glee and Isabela couldn't help but notice how excited and childish she looked.
"Rivaini, Hawke, I was hoping you two would show up." Varric called out to them from behind. "Well what do you think?"
"How did you manage this one Varric?" Isabela wasn't used to seeing Lowtown look so… merry.
"That stories a bit too long, even for my tastes, and I don't want to waste the entire time. Why don't you two enjoy the festivities?" Varric smiled and then eyed the full bag in Hawke's hand. "Are those the panties?"
"More than I thought could be found in one dock." Hawke handed the bag over.
"Good job; I'm glad Rivaini was somewhat useful." Varric caught sight of the girls' intermingled hands and raised an eyebrow at the voluptuous pirate.
Isabela caught his stare as well as his questioning look, but only shrugged her shoulders to indicate that it was nothing.
"You don't need to tell me twice, let's go Isabela!" Hawke practically yanked the pirate with inhuman strength and ran straight to a booth that had a bow and arrow laid out with a target at the back of the wall.
"Andraste's tits, Hawke! I think you nearly yanked my arm off!" Isabela commented in mock anger. "Now, what's this?" She eyed the set up and wondered if Hawke even knew how to hold a bow.
"I've always wanted to try this." Hawke looked at the man who was at the booth, "how much is it?"
"You the dwarf's friend? He tol' me bout you. For you it's free."
"Really?" Hawke grabbed the bow without really heeding her unbelieving remark.
Isabella chuckled as she watched the natural mage hold the bow sloppily and almost fell over laughing when she watched Hawke try to place the arrow. Hawke fumbled around with the two a bit more but her arrows always ended up going straight down and nowhere near the target. On her last attempt she almost shot the booth man straight through his head; Thank Andraste he crouched over in laughter at the mage's atrocious bowman skills.
"Here, let me help you." Isabela stood behind the mage and guided her hands. "Bows aren't really my thing, you see, but as a rogue I learned many trades." She placed her lips next to Hawke's ear. "Pull gently at first… good. Now be stern and keep your arms tight. Let go… now." The arrow flew, and while it was no bull's eye, it had at the very least made it onto the target. "See you're not that bad; you just need proper instruction.
Hawke unleashed her boyish smile and thanked the pirate for her aid. Her body quivered from the closeness with the mage, and that made the ache all the more apparent. While Isabela was lost in her thoughts of ravaging the mage, Hawke had already spotted their next destination.
"Isabela this way!" Isabela snapped out of her reverie and looked around to see where her delectable, apostate mage had gone.
"Over here!" Hawke called out again as she received a treat from the booth.
"What have you gotten yourself into this time?" Isabela asked as she strode up behind Hawke.
"This is for you as thanks for your wonderful instruction." Hawke handed her an iced pastry.
"Oh, thank you!" Isabela put the pastry to her lips and bit off a piece. It was good for a Lowtown dessert. Certainly more flavorful than anything she devoured at the Hanged Man. "Delicious."
"Hold on…" Hawke nipped lightly at the corner of Isabela's mouth with her lips. "You're right, delicious."
Isabela was taken aback by Hawke's display of affection. Usually it was she that devised the seduction and played with other's desires. She felt the warmth of Marian's light peck on the corner of her mouth and was somewhat baffled at the strange, flighty feeling in her stomach. Without any protest, Isabela stayed by the mages side the entire night. They enjoyed other snacks and treats, some of which Hawke had to pay for but didn't mind. They had sparred, and much to Isabela's surprise the mage actually put up a good fight, ending the match in a draw. Isabela wasn't sure if Hawke was using magic of some sort, but it was a challenge trying to read her body movement. On another occasion Hawke had definitely used her magic to cheat at one of the booth games. The man was flabbergasted when Hawke managed to land a stone in the very center mug well over 10 feet from where she was standing. Hawke smirked and demanded that she be given the prize that the booth man had been offering– a dagger of extreme beauty. He muttered but handed it over to her nonetheless. Before the night was over, Hawke had managed to down more than a few quarts of alcohol, but Isabela could tell she was nowhere near drunk. They ended up around a bonfire where they were playing drums and other wind instruments. This was just like the fests at Lothering, thought Hawke as she pulled the pirate into the circle to dance with her. Isabela was no stranger to dancing and Hawke took notice. The way the pirate's hips sashayed side to side nearly mesmerized the mage into a type of hypnosis. The mage wasn't without her sense of rhythm either and though not as curvaceous as the rogue, she was a beauty to behold. The men watched in envy, but didn't dare try to interfere as the last man who tried somehow ended up with frost bitten hands, and the second with a black eye courtesy of Isabela. Isabela was humored at Hawke's mischievous side and when she felt the mage pull her hand towards the docks, she didn't complain or protest.
The duo ended up on a dock and let their legs hang over the edge as they sat by each other. Hawke took out the dagger and handed it over to Isabela.
"Here this would compliment you nicely."
"You don't have to give it to me Hawke, you won it fair and… well actually you cheated."
"I did not cheat… I simply used the gifts that the Maker granted me." Hawke yawned as she placed the dagger on Isabela's lap. "Just take it."
Isabela took the gift and looked out towards the ocean. She had never spent a night quite like this. It felt so carefree, so innocent. While Isabela was well acquainted with the former, the latter was mostly lost on her. She looked back down at the dagger and loved how the silver handle shined with the moonlight– it was an undeserved gift. Isabela felt the strange feeling in her stomach again and felt revolted. This mage would get the wrong idea about her if she kept this up. Isabela was a pirate after all, a whore to others and above all a free woman untied by any man or woman no matter how charming their boyish smile proved to be. Just as the pirate rogue was about to set her mage partner straight she felt a weight on her shoulder. She looked to her left and found a mane of black hair resting on her shoulder.
"Hawke?" The mage didn't reply. "You sweet girl… you've fallen asleep."
Isabela sighed knowing that tonight she would not be able to ravage Hawke's body, but strangely enough she wasn't all too disappointed. She would set Hawke straight tomorrow, for sure. She would tell the beautiful mage that all she wanted was a good rut session every now and then, but not to expect any more nights like the one they shared tonight.
"Mmm… Isabela." Hawke murmured in her sleep.
Isabela dared to wrap one arm around the mage's back and pull her closer. She was asleep so it didn't matter; she wouldn't remember anything.
"I wonder what my dream version of me is doing to you right now… that damned bitch is probably getting more than I am." Isabela jested and rested her cheek on the mage's hair. Just for one night she would let her affection roam free.