Char: Iron Bull & Val'Aishlym, mentions Dorian & Val'Aishlym

Summary: Iron Bull reflects back on his relationship with the inquisitor.

Sprout: Enter The Bull

Augmented Interest

Iron Bull grunted as the familiar burn of the alcohol travelled down his throat. He looked around the tavern with a small frown. It had grown quiet since Corypheus's defeat – hell it was quiet just before his defeat too.

The Inquisitor.

He couldn't get the elf out of his mind. He was an odd one – nothing like Dalish from the chargers at all. He'd ask her about it but she had shrugged saying Dalish clans weren't all the same.

Bull could tell there was something troubling the elf. He just couldn't really understand what it was…or who it was. He had tried asking Solas about it but the mage was trying to figure it out himself too.

The only person who would have known what was up with him was just as clueless. That didn't spell right and Bull had knew it.

When Cole had joined the Inquisition, he had noticed something odd. Cole would always say what everyone was thinking or feeling but not once had he ever uttered anything about the Inquisitor.

It was strange.

He asked Solas about it. He'd asked whether it could be some sort of magic preventing it but Solas had no answers for him either. He had said maybe the Inquisitor had specifically asked the spirit not to say anything which is why he never said anything. When asked about it, Cole wouldn't respond so it strengthen the theory.

'Besides', Solas had said to him, 'a mage would only have the power to do such a thing and the inquisitor is no mage.'

Iron Bull called bullshit on that. There was something off about the Inquisitor, he'd once said to Cassandra. She had agreed with him but told him not to press him for answers. It'd most likely undo all the things they'd worked up to.

That could have been. The stress. The stress and weight of having the entire world's fate on his shoulders. Bull knew that had to be some hard shit. Something no one was even considering. No one considered the mental strain it was putting on an elf who'd not set foot outside the forest- to be suddenly thrust into human politics and governing. He was going mad on the inside, no doubt.

Iron Bull sighed, rubbing his forehead. On top of that…his relationship issues. That was not something Bull was happy to touch upon – especially as it somewhat involved him. Oh yes…he could remember all the shit that'd gone down in the past. He could never forget.

Everything around him reminded him of the small elf and their short somewhat-of-a relationship. It wasn't a real relationship. More like…friends with benefits, he liked to say. He wasn't into mushy emotional crap – mostly because he didn't really know how to deal with it.

That was probably why their 'relationship' was doomed from the start. He wanted sex but the elf wanted something more solid…or was just not interested in sex at all. He'd realized some ways down the line that the elf was a virgin. That was one of the reason he hadn't continued to pressure him into anything – okay he tried his hardest not to pressure him into anything but his hormones betrayed him from time to time.

The elf probably thought he was too pushy which was why he shied away from the relationship. That's why when he called it to an end, the Bull wasn't so surprised about it. Sure, he would have loved to continue it but he knew it was pointless. He wasn't what the elf really needed. He understood that and wouldn't be selfish and ask the elf for more than he could give.

After their relationship ended, nothing really changed between them – well except for the fact Bull couldn't steal kisses from him anymore…or touch him in that way. He was content with being his friend and being there for him when his mysterious lover wasn't.

Mysterious lover.

Iron Bull snorted. Wasn't more mysterious than the idea behind dragons being lizards.

Dorian was so transparent. It was hilarious. Bull took joy in messing with the mage. It was funny watching his feathers being ruffled. He wasn't the only one, of course. Varric was in on it too. Iron Bull smirked.

The first time the elf had truly caught his eye was his exchange between him and the mage in Haven. The way he told the Tevinter off and stormed off was hilarious. The second time was when he was practicing throwing. He'd been mad at something, Bull had assumed. He spoke a bit to him but noticed the elf hadn't really been paying much mind to what he was saying.

..

.

Iron Bull watched with slight fascination as the Herald held knives, chucking them with increased hostility at the practice dummy. It wasn't until his last knife was thrown – which he threw so hard, it took the head of the practice dummy straight off. Iron Bull walked over to him whistling. The elf turned to regard him with a blank expression. "Pretty good throwing arm you got there. As expected from an archer, I guess."

"You are….Iron Lung, right?" Bull raised an amused brow.

"Iron Bull." He corrected. He gestured towards the dummy. "Probably going to need something stronger to be your practice dummy." Iron Bull snickered. He noticed the elf's gaze kept trailing up.

"It helps to imagine the dummy is someone I want to kill," The elf said absently, bringing his gaze back down to Bull's face. He'd been staring at his horns.

"I assume you're imagining it is Dorian." Iron Bull snorted. He saw how the elf always glared at the mage's back. He wondered why the elf harbored such animosity towards him. Was it because he was human? He didn't seem to hate Cassandra that much and, from what he heard, she had held him prisoner.

"Just human," the elf shrugged, his gaze returning up. "Does it hurt?"

"Hm?" Bull raised an eyebrow. "Does what hurt?"

"Horns." He pointed to his own head. "It looks like it forced its way out of your skull…"

"Well, it hurt when they were growing. They don't hurt now." Iron Bull shrugged. The elf looked like he was going to say something more but stopped himself. He nodded before turning away. "Nice talking with you, Herald." Iron Bull chuckled.

"Val'Aishlym." The elf mumbled. "Farewell, Brick Bull."

"Iron Bull." Iron Bull rolled his eye then watched the herald walk away with a smirk. "Interesting…"