The first chapter is over 5000 words long, so I decided to cut it in half. So the end of this first part might be a bit awkward. I tried to find a place where to cut it without making it feel too strange… No idea if it worked. XD
English isn't my native language and I don't have any beta reader, so yeah, finding a mistake ? Tell me please.^^ And yes, the beginning might be all cheesy and all, but I needed a kind of sugar sweet initial state to make it a contrast for later. XD
Ps : Yes, males and females differ in priorities and ways to see the world. XD Can anyone truly understand how the opposite gender works ? (speaking in generality since each person is unique, due to several reasons) Never fully, even if studies can indicate a few tendencies, but- I'm not here to give you guys a lesson. So lay back and enjoy.^^
Chapter 1 : Last Night Together (Part 1)
"This is your room, serah !" announced the inn-keeper's wife as she opened the door giving to a rather decent room considering the misery the village seemed to live in.
Hawke quickly inspected the room, discretely searching for traps (mentally wishing to have a rogue around). Near the window was a narrowed double-bed, on the opposite was a small wooden wardrobe and there was another door probably leading to the bathroom.
Something she had to check ! So, Hawke led to the mysterious and opened it. She hummed in approval as she saw the bathtub, a bit small for two people, but it'd be fine. Behind her, Fenris had instructed the woman not to bother them and had closed the door in a rather cold motion.
"That was harsh…"
"She despises elves", he stated.
She sighed.
"And you, you've become ridiculously suspicious since we left Kirkwall."
The elf looked over at her as she put her small bag (which looked like a belt) in the old looking wardrobe, soon she laid her large double-edged blade against it.
"We're wanted people. YOU are a wanted person, Hawke. A lot of people want your death and you know it. Or else you wouldn't take the time to check for traps."
The female warrior didn't reply and instead had started to undo the different claps of her dark grey armour. A few seconds later, the elf was helping her out. He was right of course…but there was little which could be done about it.
"I can't believe it's been one year already…"
"…"
"I wonder how the others are doing ?"
"Don't even think about it ! Seeing them now would put all of us in danger !"
The woman hummed again before getting lost in her thoughts.
"I wonder what Sebastian would do…" She took the upper part of her armour off. "He was pretty pissed the last time we saw him."
"I can't pretend I don't understand him."
"Hmm…"
She sat on the bed to undo her metallic boots while the male warrior took his gauntlets off. As soon as he had taken them off, he left the room. A bit confused at what he could be possibly doing, Hawke continued to unclothe herself, revealing her dark brown leather clothes underneath. They were starting to get old, but as long as they wouldn't have holes, she wouldn't bother buying new clothes. Before he came back with a rather looking boy, carrying one bucket filled with hot water (Fenris had one in each hand), she had taken off the rest of her armour and other protections.
She decided to help them out, as they would need a few more buckets of water. When they had enough, the human offered the child a coin and sent the promising bathtub a smile. She'd finally bath again. It was almost one month since they last were in people's company and society. She had kind of missed it.
She shivered in anticipation. And soon enough shivered for a different reason as a pair of lips landed on her neck and a hand found its way under her shirt.
"Mmm… Fenris, not now !"
She used one hand to take the hand away and made two steps forward before turning around.
"Why not ?"
She must have been day-dreaming because he had also removed all of his equipment.
"We're both stinking like corpses and have one month sweat on us !"
"It didn't seem to bother you last time."
Indeed, the two of them had made out under the sky – as some people said – a few times; it was dangerous (luckily they never had unwanted company) and so they only did it when desire overcame rationality. Curse the Maker for making sex so pleasurable ! Because they were on a runaway, because they were rarely at safe places, whenever they did find a place to stay for night, they would take advantage of it to get ride of any sexual frustration which could have built up (never knowing when the next safe spot would be). But right now, Hawke had other prioritizes in mind.
"Now that we have the occasion to wash ourselves, I don't want to take the risk of cold water."
"We'll have to wash afterwards anyway", reminded the ex-slave as he raised an eye-brow.
The human rolled her eyes, but soon enough an idea crossed her mind.
"Then what do you think of this ?" She slid a hand inside his shirt and gently caressed the irregular skin. "It's been a long time since we did it in the bathtub. Maybe… (she put on a promising smile) we should do it again ?"
A sparkle of interest flashed through his eyes and he pulled her closer, hands on the small of her back.
"It sounds like a fair compromise to me."
He brushed his lips against hers, but was pressed back again by the hand on his chest. He didn't complain though and took off his shirt. He distractedly followed her with his gaze, as she led to the bathroom taking her own clothes off in the process.
Hawke let out a pleased sigh as she entered the hot bath. Her body immediately relaxed at the contact of the water. It was ridiculous, but she was already feeling cleaner. She heard a knock on the door and was about to stiffen again (she hadn't closed the bathroom's door), but she saw the elf closing it – in his pants only – and she could hear his footsteps as he went to see who was the intruder. To relax herself again, she plunged her head under the water and didn't move until she was starting to get out of breath. She did it a second time, but it was short-lived as she jerked upward as something glided on her ass.
"Fenris !" she hissed, throwing him a dark glare. "Are you trying to kill me ?"
"That was for being in such a vulnerable state. You're letting your defenses down way too easily, Hawke."
The female human sat down, protecting her behind from a wandering hand. Her head turned towards him, she let her eyes appreciate his muscled and yet slim body. His marks had a complex pattern, not letting any part of his body save (except his soles, she knew for having seen them of course). The contrast between white tattoos and dark complexion was a nice scenery; she never got tired looking at them, and if she could she'd love lightly tracing them over and over again. But here was the problem. Touch on his markings were painful, and since his whole body was carved with the lyrium, she always feared to hurt him. He never complained, so he either could deal with it or he didn't want to worry her. And deep within, she wished he may simply not feel pain anymore.
"Well, sorry for believing you'd kill anyone daring to enter the bathroom."
A small smile formed on his lips as he entered the bathtub, behind her. He kissed her between her shoulder blades and wrapped his arms around her. He heard her sigh happily and she leaned back against him. Her wet skin damped his dry one, making him sigh in return. It felt good to be able to hug her without fearing for their lives. Simply taking a bath with Hawke was like a bliss. Hmpf, in the end her idea had been much better than his. Not that they weren't going to do it in the end anyway, but no need to rush it.
Hawke recalcitrantly moved away from his arms. As nice the whole thing was, she hadn't forgotten why they were here in the first place. She leaned over the border of the bathtub to take the soap on the small table not even an inch away and changed her position to face him.
"Do you mind if I wash you ?"
"Wash me ?"
He couldn't refrain a mischievous smile to form on his lips. She smiled back in amusement.
"No, not that kind of washing ! I'll wash you properly."
He lightly shrugged and put his forearm in her stretched hand. Moving on her knees, closer to him, she turned his hand over. She slowly started to apply soapy fingers on his palm. She gently followed the four lines of lyrium marks with her fingers.
"Do they still hurt ?"
"Hmm ? You mean my markings ?"
The question wasn't that surprising. He did have told her physical contact was painful and except the time when she had asked if their first night together had hurt him, they had never talked about it. She did touch him without restrain though. Wasn't it kind of weird to suddenly wonder about his well-being ? Well, it was partly true. Even if it wasn't as strong as before, he still despised being touched. However…
He lifted his other hand lightly brushed it against her cheek.
"How could it ? I love your touch. I love it more than anything in this world. I couldn't possibly live without it. I can't live without you, Eliana."
His face gradually approached hers and by the end of his sentences, they were merely inches apart. Her hands left his arm to settle one behind his head, the other one on his back and lowered herself to kiss him. He gladly kissed back as he used his palms on her back to press her down on him.
Hawke must have thought about something funny because a wide smile formed on her lips and broke their kiss.
"You know you already said that, don't you ? And why do you sweet talk me so suddenly ? Having something in mind ? I already told you we'd do it, so what is it ?"
"So what if I said so already ?" He kissed her right above her chest "It isn't making my words false. And do I need a reason to tell you how important you are to me ?"
He pulled her down again, her legs were now on either side of his, their forehead pressed against each other. She lowly whispered something he didn't understand and their lips brushed again before Hawke moved away and took her previous position. She rubbed the soap between her hands again and finished his two hands and arms. She hummed thoughtfully as she washed his shoulders. He'd have to turn around, or she wouldn't be able to wash him properly.
Then she leaned forward, left hand on the side of the bath, she pressed her palm at the base of his neck and gently started to rub it upward. He closed his eyes and tilted his head back to give her more access. It kind of felt relaxing… Like a massage. Speaking of which, he should repay her.
Her hand passed at the back of his neck. He opened his eyes, raising his head and locked his green eyes on her blue one. Her soft smile grew a little wider. So much love in her eyes. Did he deserve it ? Even after one year, even when he knew she loved him, even when they both didn't care what people would say about them, he still had doubts sometimes, or to be accurate : fears. Nothing was eternal. Things were changing, slowly but surely… They wouldn't break up anytime soon but-
Something wet stroked his ears. He lightly jerked backward in surprise, coming back to reality.
"I can't believe you're still worrying", she sighed after finishing to wash his ears.
"Eliana…"
He tugged on her forearm.
"Shut up !" She pushed him back "I don't want to hear anything about it !"
He let himself be pushed back once again, closing his mouth. He very well knew her thoughts about this subject; it'd be useless to bring it up once more. He closed his eyes again as her hands started to rub slowly on his chest, letting out a contented sigh.
Another fond smile spread on Hawke's lips. She felt happy to see him enjoy her touch so much. The complete absence of trace of pain on his face was comforting. It had taken him a few months to completely stop stiffening at her touch.
After washing as much as she could of his chest (he'd have to stand up so she could finish the work), she asked him to take a sort of lying position so she could wash his legs and feet.
With his legs laying on each side of her, on the edge of the bath, and his buttocks pressed against her knees (or more like the only thing making him keep his balance) he had a rather vulnerable position; however he didn't feel the slightest nervous. Actually, he was slowly starting to get impatient. His body at least. Too bad for it, he wouldn't give in. Not now.
She took one knee in her left hand and bent it so she could wash the more than dirty foot.
"Geez, did you ever wash them ?"
He didn't even replied and curled his toes as if commending her. She rolled her eyes and started washing it. The skin under her fingers was really hard. Without a doubt, constantly walking shoeless must have made his feet insensitive. She guessed it was for the best (what endless troubles otherwise). Still holding the heel in her left hand, she extended her work to his calf; then she washed the upper side. After a short self-debate, she decided to let the upper part of his leg for later and took the second leg.
And noticed something along the way.
"I can't believe you're turned on by getting washed !"
It wasn't much. Not even half hard, but still noticeable. ….Or the instability of the water's surface was giving a false view. She wouldn't check it however. She had other things to do right now.
"What I can't believe is that this band chased us for over one month. Just how many of them are still after us ?" he snorted.
"So what is it ? Too much adrenaline ? Too much pent up sexual frustration ?"
Once again, he didn't answer and simply laid back. She shook her head, partly amused, and briefly looked at his appendage before resuming to her task. It didn't take her too long, but she couldn't focus, casting a glance at his slowly growing interest every now and then. He pointed it out a single time, to tell her looking there would definitely not help. His amused tone kind of annoyed the woman who sent him a dark glare. She sharply told him to turn around so she could wash his back. His slightly mocking smile grew at her irritated behavior but he complied with a short chuckle. Warmth filled her stomach, as whenever he would smile or chuckle around her. He could be really cold and rude towards the people he disliked. He did joke with other people sometimes, once he had passed a while with them. All in all, he wasn't really sociable.
