Just a Little Lyrium Obsession
mirrored on AO3
note:I couldn't resist doing my take on Fenders. *It's the ultimate rivalmance. Tried for mostly a lighthearted tale but ended up with some angst because DAII
*actually, Fenris/Merrill is the ultimate rivalmance but Bioware overdid the Naive Waif with Merrill. I can't pair her with anyone.
Chapter One - Justice develops a crush
Anders paced outside the Hawke mansion. It was still brightly lit, but it looked like the house-warming party was almost over. He stepped aside to let a pair of jovial nobles pass. There was no getting out of this. Garret was his friend, and he really should make an appearance. Even though that little voice inside him was railing against wasting time.
"Hey, Anders," Hawke said, poking his head out the door and waving him in. "I thought I saw you skulking about out there. Come on in, there's still plenty of good eats on the table. Those two were the last of the Hightown crowd. Make that almost the last, I can't get rid of Sebastian, between you and me I think he's got a crush on Mom."
"That sounds ... horrifying," Anders said as Garrett slung an arm around his shoulder and steered him into the parlour.
"Seb's not so bad," Garrett said. "Now why don't you relax and have some fun, it's just the usual Hanged Man gang left.
Anders scowled. "Plus Sebastian the pure."
"Hey, don't mock the man," Garrett said. "Having Mr. Chantry Brother Prince as a friend makes me look nice and respectable. I need all the help I can get to keep the templars from looking too closely at me."
"Congratulations on moving into one hell of a big house," Anders said as he walked into the parlour and took a look around. "Hello Varric, everyone."
"Blondie,' Varric said. He gave him a halfhearted wave. "You missed a really boring party. Give it a few minutes, though, Rivaini and Broody have gone to fetch some good stuff from his wine cellar. Maybe we can still salvage some of the night."
"The party wasn't my style," Hawke said. "But Mom had her heart set on having a proper high-class affair." He turned and then bellowed up the stairs. "Hey, Mom! Come say hello to Anders."
"Hello, Mrs. Hawke," Anders said after Leandra had sashayed down the stairs.
"That's Lady Amell to you," Leandra said and then turned to Garret. "I see you've found someone who makes your pirate tramp look classy. Really, dear, you're a noble now, isn't it time you found some friends that suit your station?"
"You know, Lady Amell," Varric said. "We have met your brother."
Leandra sighed and looked up at the ceiling. "I am going to retire now, Garrett. Do try to keep the riffraff from soiling the furniture."
"Ha, ha," Garrett said as his mother turned and walked away. "What a kidder, my Mom. She loved Isabela, really."
"Especially after Izzy did that upside down trick with the bannister," Carver said dryly as he came over.
Anders stiffened as he felt his inner spirit stir. "What is that templar doing here?
"He's my brother," Garrett said. He spread out his arms. "I kinda had to invite him."
"Aw, gee, thanks brother," Carver said. "I'm feeling the love."
"You may as well have just invited the Knight-Commander herself," Anders said as he crossed his arms and scowled.
"Mom did," Garrett said. "Meredith turned down the invite. Knight-Captain Cullen put in an appearance, though."
"Are you mad?" Anders asked. "Have you no sense of self-preservation? Have you no shame?"
"Uh-oh," Varric said, shifting from a lying to a sitting position.
Aveline sighed. "I knew I should have left with the sane people."
"He's glowing blue!" Sebastian shouted as he ran half way up the stairs. "Why is he glowing blue?"
"Who invited Justice to the party?" Varric asked.
"The host," Justice said.
"Of course he did," Aveline said as she pinched the bridge of her nose.
Garrett looked sheepish. "I couldn't invite Anders without including Justice. That would just be rude."
"Who's Justice?" Sebastian demanded.
"Anders' demon," Aveline said. "Did Garrett forget to mention our apostate healer's little possession problem?"
"I am no .."
"He's not a demon," Hawke interrupted. "Justice is a fade spirit, a spirit of Justice if you haven't figured that out already. You know all about good fade spirits, don't you, brother Sebastian?"
Sebastian opened his mouth but no sound came out.
"'Sorry, sorry, sorry," Anders said as he stopped glowing. "It's been a long day, and there's been nothing but bad news out of that Gallows pit lately. Justice is ... a bit on edge."
"Maker save us," Sebastian said as he put the pieces together. "He's an abomination!"
Anders head came up and his eyes flashed blue. "Be silent, puppet of an oppressive regime."
"Aaagh," Sebastian said.
Garrett held out his hands and smiled. "Abomination is such a harsh word. He's mostly harmless. You know, all bark, or rather a lot of bark, but not much bite."
"Unless you're a templar," Varric said.
"They will all die!" Justice bellowed. Carver ducked behind Aveline who rolled her eyes.
"He kills templars?" Sebastian asked.
"Only the bad ones," Garrett said. "Justice, hey buddy, time to let Anders take over, huh?"
"Traitor!" Justice said. "Willing consort of the enemy!"
"Yeah, you go on and get that out of your system," Garrett said. He turned away and headed to the buffet table. "Templars bad, mages good, we got the message already," he said through a mouthful of cookies.
"Does this happen often?" Sebastian asked as Justice raved in the middle of the room.
Varric lifted a hand and tilted it back and forth.
"Aw, did we miss all the fun?" Isabela asked as she and Fenris came in through the door.
"He's an abomination," Sebastian said.
"Yes, sweet thing," Isabela said. "We know."
"Welcome to my waking nightmare," Fenris said to Sebastian.
"Fun?" Justice said as he turned towards Isabela and Fenris. "Injustice is not 'fun', oppression is not ... oooooh, pretty."
Hawked scrunched up his face. "What was that?"
Anders doubled over and clutched his head. "No Justice. Stop that at once. Bad thoughts. Bad. Go back to the rage, anger, and destroy all templars thoughts."
"Thanks a lot, Anders," Carver called out from behind Aveline.
Isabela smirked. "I think I've got it. Is our little fade spirit all grown up now? Tell me, Anders, does Justice like what he sees?" She asked as she crossed her arms under her breasts and leaned forwards.
"Uh, sure," Anders said as he eyed her ample assets. "Let's go with that."
"If you'd like to get together some time and corrupt Justice in a fun way ..."
He straightened up and lifted his hands in a warding off gesture. "No, no, no, thanks, but no."
She pouted. "We could invite Garrett and make a party of it."
"Izzy!" Garrett said.
"Just think about it, tightbuns," Isabela said as she tapped one side of her mouth with a finger. "You, me, Anders, and Justice. He could teach you that electricity trick."
"Izzy, no," Garret said.
"Maybe Anders could teach you that trick anyway?"
"Yeah, sure, anytime," Anders said as he backed through the door. "Sorry if my little ... episode spoiled your party. I'll just be ... going now." He turned and fled out into the night.
"How can you people be alright with this?" Sebastian asked. He looked from one face to the other with horror in his eyes.
"It's baffling, isn't it?" Fenris said as he popped the cork on a wine bottle and then took a long drink.
"Why haven't you killed that abomination yet?"
Fenris scowled. "Hawke said not to."
Varric sighed and went to lead Sebastian away. "I'm just going to have a talk with Choir Boy here about our resident stranded fade spirit. Don't have too much fun without me."
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It had been another profitable fight for Garrett's little mercenary band. Varric looked up from inspecting Bianca for scratches and frowned as he saw Anders take a swig from some potion bottle. Lyrium again from the looks of it.
"You feeling alright, Blondie?" he asked as he walked up to the mage. "You're looking a little flushed."
"Never better," Anders said as he looked somewhere over Varric's shoulder.
"Uh-huh. The fights over, and no one got much more than a paper cut, so then why the lyrium?"
"Just, um, making sure I'm prepared if we're attacked again."
Varric scowled. "This isn't the first time I've spotted you downing that stuff at the end of a fight."
"I ... always like to be prepared?"
"Blondie," Varric groaned and then held his head in his hands. "I've never seen Hawke or Merrill swig lyrium except in emergencies."
"Uh ... Garrett's got more mana reserves than I do and Merrill's got her ... you know what."
Varric crossed his arms. "And you merged with a fade spirit; so don't try to tell me Hawke's got more mana on tap than you do. Now, quit trying to bullshit me, you're really bad at it. You covering up for some illness or injury? Because I've gotta tell you, the martyr bit? Rarely a good idea."
Anders looked around to make sure no one else was listening. "Varric, no bullshit, nothing's wrong. I just don't like being drained of mana."
"Isn't too much lyrium dangerous? And addictive."
"Not for mages!" Anders said. "Just ... drop it, Varric, please."
"Drop it, he says," Varric said as they hiked back to Kirkwall. "Not bloody likely. Hey Hawke, wait up a minute."
"Sure, what's up?"
"How do you tell if someone's a lyrium addict?"
"Well, if they're wearing a big flaming sword on their chest - that's a pretty big clue."
"No, a mage."
"Hey, I can quit anytime," Garrett said.
"Funny," Varric said. "I'm serious here, can a mage get addicted?"
Garrett stopped walking. "Seriously? I don't really know. Probably, but not in the same way as a non-mage can. All Dad ever said was not to overindulge or I'd get lyrium-addled."
"What's that like?"
"I wouldn't know."
Varric laughed. "Yeah, right. Come on, Hawke. Is being lyrium-addled better or worse than being drunk?"
"Fine, fine," Hawke said. "It's maybe a little more fun to drink lyrium, but too damned expensive to make a habit of. Is there a point to all these questions?"
"Hrm, maybe," Varric said. "Maybe not."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Garrett whistled cheerfully. This was one of the best card games hosted by Varric in months. No one was sniping at each other, no one was pestering him to help them with something, and there was no sign the templars were getting suspicious of him. Life would be just about perfect, if only his luck would change.
"I'm out for this round," Anders said.
"Cleaned out already?" Garrett said. "I can spot you a few coppers if you'd like."
Anders gestured out the door. "No thanks, Garrett. I just need to visit the little mage's room."
Varric looked after Anders with narrowed eyes and a furrowed brow, and then dropped his cards on the table and stood up. "I'll sit this one out, too. Be back shortly."
"Yes! Soon it will all be mine," Garrett said as he eyed the pile of coins on the table lustfully. "Take your time, Varric."
"Apologies, Hawke, but I believe the next hand is mine," Fenris said as he rearranged the cards in his hand.
"Ha! You boys are so cute when you're delusional," Isabela said. She blew a kiss towards the pile of coins. "Don't worry, dears, Momma will take care of you."
Varric waved jauntily as he left the room, trailing silently behind Anders who was definitely not headed down to the privy. Instead, the mage ducked into an empty room and fumbled with his pouch until he pulled out small vial and drank a couple of mouthfuls.
"Aha!" Varric said from the doorway. "Caught you. Stay right there and don't move, I'm going to go get Hawke."
"Shit," Anders said as he flopped down on the bed. "Thanks a lot, you demented spirit."
"Maker damn it, you two," Garrett said as Varric dragged him into the room. "This better be important. I had a fantastic hand."
"Not as good as the one Isabela had in her boot," Varric said. He pointed at Anders. "This is important. He was drinking lyrium."
Garrett looked surprised. "Justice won't let you get drunk but he lets you get lyrium addled? Is that crazy spirit trying to bankrupt you or something?"
"I'm not addled!" Anders said. "I only took a couple mouthfuls of lyrium. That's all it usually takes."
"Where's the fun in that?" Garrett asked.
"Hawke!" Varric said. "Don't encourage him. Now I'm no expert on mages, but it seems to me that if Blondie feels the need to take lyrium on a regular basis then he has a problem. These things always get worse if you igore them."
"I don't have a problem," Anders said. "It's only, um, can we just drop this?"
Garrett looked at Varric and sighed. "I don't think so. Not if this is going to affect you during a fight."
Anders groaned and looked up at the ceiling. "I don't have a problem. Justice does, sort of. He likes lyrium. I mean really likes lyrium. It reminds him of home, or something. You should have seen him back in Amaranthine whenever the Commander gave him a lyrium based gift. His face would just light up ... well, as much as a rotting corpse's face could light up. Anyway the point is. Justice likes lyrium."
"Addicted Anders or addicted Justice. I'm not seeing much of a difference there. I mean you've told us more than once that you two are of one mind now," Varric said.
"Not about everything," Anders said. He lay back and threw an arm across his face. "I've just found that a mouthful or two of lyrium keeps Justice a little more under control when that irritating elf is around."
"I thought it had been quieter lately," Varric said. "No fun little talks about mages and templars."
"Is that all?" Garrett said. "Anders, buddy, it's alright to go into one of your little rants on mage freedom. We're used to them. You're all 'Mages should be free!', and then Fenris goes 'Mages are dangerous!'. Truth is, no one's really listening to you guys anymore, so go ahead and let Justice get riled up every once in a while."
"No that's not it," Anders said as he said up. "... wait, no one's listening anymore?"
"That's not the issue," Varric said. "Lyrium. Addiction. Stay on topic."
"Andraste's dimpled ass, you're going to make me say it, aren't you?" Anders said. "Alright, fine, Justice likes lyrium, and who do we know who's a walking, talking, bottle of lyrium?"
"Oh Maker," Garrett said and then started laughing so hard he had to sit down on the floor. "Anders has the hots for Fenris."
"I do not! Justice has the ... Justice has a thing for Fenris. It's like he sees those shiny lyrium lines and that's all he cares about."
"That is not all," Justice said, speaking through Anders for a moment.
Anders took another swig of lyrium. "He gets these weird urges - stop laughing Garrett - I meant protective urges around Fenris. Mostly protective urges."
"Oh sure, Justice is obsessed," Garrett said from the floor in between bouts of laughter.
"It's not funny," Anders said. "Varric?"
"It is sort of funny," Varric said. "Sorry. Are you sure it's all Justice? The elf isn't exactly hard to look at."
Anders looked disgusted. "Please, Varric. I do have standards. Fenris is a pretty package wrapped around a bigoted annoying interior. I assure you it is not me who keeps getting the desire to lick the elf all over like an oversized Orlesian sugar-stick."
"Shit, now that is funny," Varric said and he joined Garrett down on the floor laughing.
"Oh wonderful, I'm so happy to be a source of amusement for you two," Anders said. He glared down at them. "I hope you can at least keep this to yourselves."
Garrett held up a hand with his thumb up. "You can count on us, buddy."
"I'm so relieved," Anders said. "I'm going home. Try not to catch anything while you're down there."
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"I despise getting covered with spider innards. It itches." Fenris said as he shimmied out of his armour by a stream.
"I don't mind the spider guts," Anders said from further down the bank where he was washing bits of spider off his coat. "It's much easier gunk to clean up than when you people are wearing your own innards on the outside."
"Yes," Isabela said from Garrett's side, neither of whom had been covered in anything worse than dust. "It would be just too, too terrible if Fenris ended up covered in Anders ... gunk."
Anders paused in his cleaning and looked up at Isabela suspiciously.
"I still cannot believe you dragged me out to aid that fool witch in a quest her demon sent her on," Fenris said.
"It's my quest, the spirit didn't order me to do anything, he just helped me," Merrill said from downstream where she was sitting on a rock and dangling her feet in the water.
"I trust Merrill," Garrett said lazily as he chewed on a stalk of grass. "She knows what she's doing."
"She really doesn't," Anders said. "Garrett you know better than to think any good can come from trusting a demon."
"You're one to talk abomination," Fenris said.
Anders flinched. "I am ... Justice was not a demon, he was my friend."
"Was?" Garrett repeated.
"Justice is my friend."
"Oh please," Fenris said. "I'm sure that will make it better when you and your friend finally turn on us."
'We will not," Anders said.
"Oh phoo," Isabela said. "This is no fun at all. Can we talk about something more pleasant?"
"Please do," Garrett said.
"Let's talk about how the water glistens off of Fenris' lovely tattoos," she said with a wink to Garrett who made 'stop it' motions with his hands.
"Let's not," Fenris said as he pulled his shirt back over his head.
She pouted. "But you're so ... shiny. Hey Anders ..."
"Leave me out of this," Anders said. He surreptitiously took a drink from a lyrium vial he pulled out of his pouch.
"Tell me, Anders sweetie," Isabela said. "Don't you sometimes just want to ... lick Fenris all over like an Orlesian sugar-stick?"
Anders stumbled and fell into the stream. He stood up and glared at Garrett. "Garrett," he said menacingly. "Hawke."
Garrett stood and held up his hands. "Sorry man, she caught me at a vulnerable moment."
"Hmm, yes," Isabela said. "Get him into the right position and Gary will say anything or do anything I want him too."
Fenris walked down the stream and stood in front of Anders. "Mage, tell me Isabela was not hinting that you have dared to harbour lustful thoughts about me."
Anders jumped away from him. "Maker no, I'd sooner lust after a templar."
"Ooh, kinky," Isabela said as she twirled a lock of hair through her fingers. "Is it Carver? Or maybe Cullen? He's a fine piece of man-flesh. A bit prudish, but sometimes those are the best once they get going. I don't think he'd be up for a threesome with Fenris, though. More's the pity."
Garrett elbowed her. "Better stop this before there's another bloodbath, darling."
Fenris whirled to face Garrett. "I will not have that mage thinking about me like that."
"That will never happen," Anders said.
"It's Justice who has a thing for you," Isabela said as she danced away from Garrett who had tried to cover her mouth with his hand. "I think it's sweet. A tragic tale of two star-crossed lovers. The lovestruck spirit doomed to a lonely existence because he's trapped in the body of his beloved's rival."
"Beloved?" Fenris said and then turned to glower at Anders.
"Aw, shit," Anders said. "It's not like that at all. Justice just ... likes lyrium. A lot."
"Does he?" Fenris said.
"Uh-oh," Garrett said as Fenris raised a hand and flared his lyrium brands. "Don't hurt him Fenris!"
"Perhaps," Fenris said as he reached into Anders chest. "Your demon needs a reminder of just what my lyrium allows me to do to those who think they can own me."
"Huh," Anders said and then looked down at Fenris' arm with a dreamy look on his face.
"There's no owning involved," Garrett said. "Come on Fenris, you know Anders isn't like that. Justice isn't like that."
"Do I?" Fenris said. He stepped closer to Anders. "Nothing to say, mage? No pleading for your life?"
"Er," Anders said. "Okay, I should be terrified. I know that. Normally, I would be scared out of my mind by this. The thing is, all my normal responses are being confused by Justice's feelings."
"Doesn't a demon always protect his host? Are you not the one who said that?" Fenris said. "Shouldn't your demon be lashing out right now? That is its nature, is it not?"
"Fenris, honey," Isabela said. "Don't provoke Anders' other half, now. I'd hate to have to make a choice between which one of you to save."
"Yeah," Garrett said. "Put the arm down ... er, take the arm out and just back away from this."
"I can handle this," Anders said, twisting his head to look towards Garrett before turning back to look at Fenris. "I've gotta tell you, Fenris, that Justice is feeling pretty good right now. If you're trying to scare him, it's not working. Between the lyrium and you ... touching us, well, it's kind of a turn on. For him. Sorry."
Fenris sneered and then twitched and looked down. "That had better be your knife sticking me in my thigh."
"Involuntary physical reaction," Anders said. "Sorry, again."
Fenris snarled.
"It's no fun for me either, let me tell you," Anders said. "Look, I like my heart where it is, so don't take this a request to yank it out or anything, but maybe you could try going solid for just long enough to remind Justice that having someone stick their fist in my chest is not a good thing."
"Bad idea!" Garrett said just as Anders started screaming.
"Venhedis!" Fenris said. He yanked his hand out of Anders' chest and stepped back. "Mage, I ..."
"Fenris!" Garrett said just before he tackled the elf.
"I'm okay," Anders said as he lay gasping on the ground with one hand over his chest. "I did ask him to do it. And it worked. I am not turned on at all anymore." He looked thoughtful for a moment. "I think Justice still is, though."
"Perverted mage," Fenris said as he shook Garrett off and stalked away.
"Perverted spirit, actually," Anders said as he looked up at the sky. "I mean, I've been called a dirty perverted mage more than once, but this time it's really not my fault." He rolled over, looked up at Isabela, and made a twirling motion with his hand. "How about showing Justice that there's better things to lust after than that mage-hating idiot? Mind turning around and giving me a little shimmy, Isabela?"
"I never mind," Isabela said as she swivelled around and wiggled her butt.
"Pay attention, Justice," Anders said. "Hey, could you flex for me, Garrett?"
"Can I do something?" Merrill asked. "What are we doing?"
