A/N: Originally I put up two chapters of this story before I decided I hated the direction it was going and took it down for a near total rewrite. I've tried to inject more personality and humor and less angst. I intend for the story to follow Hawke's and Isabela's romance throughout the game without doing a complete rehash of the moments that the game provided for us. I really want to dive much deeper into the emotions of these two as I felt that the game only left us wanting more. Please read/review if you enjoy the story. It only makes me want to write faster!
Disclaimer: Is this necessary? Well just in case you should know that I own nothing.
Chapter 1
Marian Hawke sat at her desk in her uncle Gamlen's house reading a request to meet from Magistrate Vanard that had arrived earlier in the day when Isabela sauntered in and made herself at home by pouring some ale and sprawling out in a chair across the room. Hawke could tell by the other woman's demeanor and silence that something was on her mind, so turned around and offered a small smile.
"Isabela I was hoping you would stop by, how would like to go on a little adventure?"
Isabela smirked before taking a swig of her ale. "This swill of your uncle's is absolutely horrid Hawke. It should be illegal to even produce it and you know I don't say such things lightly."
"He gets it from a neighbor across the way. I helped him retrieve some goods that were stolen from him a few months ago and he has been paying us back by providing the ale. Gamlen and Carver haven't complained much and it is one more thing that we don't have to pay money for."
"So let me get this right. You gallantly retrieve this man's stolen goods and in return he gifts you with a barrel of dog piss. You were wronged Hawke, I think we should immediately go and right this injustice!" Isabela perked up for a moment before saying, "Perhaps we can tell Aveline about this and it would give her something better to do than harass innocent town folk such as myself."
Hawke shook her head amused. "Stop avoiding the question! Adventure yes or no? Don't make me ask Fenris or Anders. I don't think I could possibly handle another whine fest," she said grinning.
"Who else is coming? Varric?"
Hawke rolled her eyes. "Varric and Aveline as well. Possibly Merrill too, she needs to get out more. We could use you."
Isabela sighed dramatically. "Well Varric and that exquisite chest hair of his does sound appealing, but you always seem to get me into trouble," she grumbled.
"You love trouble!" Hawke accused.
"Of course I do, but usually only when I am the one causing it. Also your trouble never seems to involve sex or liquor," the rogue said winking.
"Isabela you are incorrigible. Yes or no, will you come?"
"You haven't even told me where we are going. Not that it matters, I've been a bit bored as of late," she admitted. Isabela then leaned back and stared at Hawke for several silent moments.
Hawke grew nervous under the scrutiny and blurted, "You look far too calculating right now. Why are you staring at me like that?"
The pirate's mouth played at a smirk. "How exactly am I staring at you?"
"Like you want to eat me or something."
Isabela's grin was wide when she replied, "Well that is definitely one way of putting it."
Hawke's blush was immediate and her eyes widened. "Do you mean...?"
"Yes," the pirate replied moving in close. "You and I have been at this game for weeks now. As much as I like playing think we are both ready to try a new game don't you think?" she said in a sultry tone as she ran a gentle finger along Hawke's jawline.
"Um, Isabela personal space please?" Hawke blurted as she backed away from the advancing rogue. Isabela ignored the mage's plea until they both practically stood in the corner of the room. The pirate put her hands on the mage's hips drawing them together and Hawke felt like her heart could not possibly pound any faster in her chest.
Isabela lightly kissed the mage's ear and whispered, "Do you want this or not?"
The touch of the rogue's lips on her skin felt intoxicating to Hawke. She was breathing heavy when she responded. "I think that perhaps I do, but I honestly can't think very clearly right now," she mumbled anxiously. The mage found she was transfixed by honey colored eyes that sparkled with mischief and a beautiful smile that told Hawke the other woman knew exactly where this was going.
"Good," Isabela whispered as she nuzzled Hawke's neck. Her breath felt warm and sensual. "I think I've waited too damn long for this." And with that remark the pirate put her hands on either side of the mage's face and drew her in for a deep kiss that left Hawke reeling. Isabela wasn't nearly done though and roughly pushed Hawke against the wall before assaulting her mouth again. Her tongue flicked against Hawke's time and again while her hands groped the mage's body.
Finally the pirate pulled away looking incredibly satisfied with her handiwork while Hawke slumped back against the wall panting and trying to regain her composure. Isabela rested her hands against the wall keeping the mage trapped. "Now just try and tell me you didn't enjoy that," she said smugly.
Hawke suddenly wanted nothing more than to be ravished by the pirate, but forced herself to come to her senses. "Isabela...oh Maker! I think we should perhaps continue this discussion later. My brother is due home any moment now."
Isabela laughed and said, "The more the merrier!" then she paused briefly, "Wait thats creepy right? Brother and sister? Yes definitely creepy, I take that one back. Seriously forget I ever said that."
As if on cue Carver threw open the front door and stood stunned as he stared at the two women. "What the hell is going on here?" he shouted.
Both women spoke at the same time.
"It's not what it looks like Carver."
"We were about to have sex before you rudely interrupted."
Hawke groaned and pushed past the pirate. "Look Carver nothing happened and nothing was going to happen."
Isabela snorted. "I think I was about thirty seconds from making all kinds of exciting things happen. In fact its not too late! Would you mind stepping out for a few Carver? Be a dear and guard the door against other intruders?"
Hawke flashed a look of pure annoyance at the pirate. "Damn it Isabela, please be quiet."
Carver's eyes had widened to the point of practically popping out of his head and he began to shout in earnest. "You were going to have sex with that pirate whore when our mother could have walked in here at any moment!" he yelled accusingly.
Hawke was about to try and calm her brother down when Isabela cut her off. "Oh whatever shall we do? Baby brother doesn't approve!" Isabela said in a mocking tone.
Carver glared at the woman and sneered, "You disgust me pirate whore."
Isabela chuckled. "Oh now thats original. I definitely have not heard that one before. Hawke dear, could you document this moment please?"
Hawke forced herself to keep a straight face and calmly looked at the pirate asking with her eyes for the pirate to behave. Isabela rolled her eyes and stayed quiet, but didn't lose her grin. The woman just loved to torture Carver at every possible opportunity. Usually Hawke was vastly amused, but she could see that her brother was about to explode.
"Isabela" Hawke said quietly, and the other woman shrugged and blew a kiss in Carver's direction before walking out the front door. Marian glanced at her brother who was seething and sighed loudly. "Alright Carver lets have it."
"Sister you disgust me. You put us in constant danger from the Templars, and now you bring this...this woman thing, your whore into our home. Maker! How many times before this?" he asked in an accusatory tone.
"The things that disgust you about me these days are too long to list. As for Isabela, it is none of your business. I told you that nothing happened," Hawke replied in a steady voice.
Carver calmed down and ran his fingers through his short dark hair. His shoulders slumped and he visibly seemed to relax. "Alright I believe you, but I think it would be better for our family if you kept whatever relations you have with your whore away from our home. Maker forbid our mother ever see you dallying a woman, much less pirate scum."
Hawke felt her temper rising and knew that if she didn't get out of the house soon she and Carver would come to blows. Since the death of their sister the two siblings never could seem to see eye to eye and often argued over the smallest issues.
"Tell mother that I am going to The Hanged Man," she said icily and walked through the front door without waiting for a response. She needed to get away from her moody brother and think about what had just happened with Isabela. The pirate had flirted constantly with her since they had met a few months earlier. In fact once she thought about it Hawke realized that she had flirted back at every opportunity. In truth she had been fascinated by the rogue since they had first met. The woman moved like a cat, graceful and smooth. And predatory. Isabela stalked her prey with the same feral tenacity whether she intended to slay them or bed them.
Dusk had just settled when she walked into the popular bar. She and her friends were always welcome here mostly due to Varric's influence and Marian appreciated the chance to relax away from her often stressful home life. Before losing nearly everything she held dear in Lothering Marian never would have imagined that a great source of comfort for her would be a seedy bar in one of the most dangerous parts of Kirkwall, but she found she looked forward to going there almost every evening.
Inside her friends were all settled at a long table and laughing. Anders said something to Varric and the dwarf turned around in his seat shouting with pure glee.
"Hawke my friend, we were hoping that you would be coming tonight."
Hawke laughed and said, "Well it was either being with you goofs or staying with Carver and continuing to work out the many ways we dislike each other. Easy decision. Okay who has the good ale? I think I am going to need a bit extra tonight." She slid onto bench next to Isabela hoping her choice wasn't too obvious. Isabela look pleased.
"Ho ho ho!" Varric laughed gamely. "Looks like our fearless leader is perhaps ready to try my special stock?"
"Special stock Varric?" Hawke asked perplexed.
From across the table Isabela coughed and got Varric's attention. "Perhaps another night Varric, some of us would like to not pass out in our own vomit tonight," Isabela murmured.
Varric seemed to pick up on a signal from the pirate and his eyes flicked quickly between the mage and the rogue. "Rivaini I think maybe you are right. While I can always appreciate a good drink I do believe that having the ability to walk to my room might be more important. Perhaps I need to be more cautious after Blondie here dropped me on my face the last time I generously supplied him with something better than this swill. He was apparently helping me to my room after I fell asleep at the table," the dwarf said as he brought his fingers up to gesture for quotations.
"Did not!" shouted the seemingly tipsy apostate. "You tripped on Barkspawn's tail and dragged me down with you!" Anders blurted indignantly
"Nobody remembers it that way Blondie."
The companions all shook their heads at Anders who appeared to grow more flustered. "Unbelievable I can never win!"
"Varric I think you were lucky he dropped you. You were pretty plastered and Anders is quite fond of sausage," Isabela quipped.
"Isabela!" Hawke and Aveline shouted together. Anders looked mortified and was choking on his drink. Varric was choking on laughter.
"What does Anders' having a taste for sausage have to do with Varric?" Merrill asked perplexed. Isabela began laughing so hard that Hawke had to catch her when she nearly fell off of her stool. Merrill looked embarrassed. "Oh did I say something silly again?"
Isabela leaned over and kissed the young elf on the forehead. "Yes, but it wasn't anything I didn't love hearing Kitten."
Meanwhile Anders was red in the face and glaring at Isabela. She flashed him a wicked grin. "I am not...I have not...would never!" he sputtered.
"Oh calm down Blondie, Rivaini here got you good." Varric said incredibly amused. He looked thoughtful for a moment before turning to Aveline. "However, one can never be too cautious around sausage lovers. If Blondie is still around later can you make sure I get to my room safely?" Aveline chuckled and nodded.
Anders groaned and planted his face in his hands. "Oh damn Isabela what have you started?"
Hawke spent the rest of the evening being fairly quiet as her friends chatted merrily amongst themselves. The mage tried her best to catch glimpses of Isabela out of the corner of her eye when the rogue was laughing or telling one of her stories of grand adventure aboard her former ship The Siren's Call. She tried not to be too obvious when she leaned in close enough for their arms to touch. The warmth of the pirate's skin against hers was electrifying. Isabela was giggling while telling an entertaining story of drunken sailors running naked through Lowtown with guards chasing after them when she slid her hand beneath the table and ran her fingers along Hawke's inner thigh.
Hawke's jaw tightened and when she turned in surprised the pirate winked mischievously at her. Hawke felt her breath catch in her throat and her heart began to pound furiously. She sat holding her breath for several moments while Isabela's hand rested on her leg.
"Hawke! Damn it all pay attention. This is important!"
Marian glanced quickly at an incredibly sloshed Anders. "What was it you were asking me Anders? I'm sorry I was distracted," she blurted sheepishly. Isabela snickered and squeezed her thigh gently. Hawke glanced around nervously at her companions, but they were all paying attention to Anders.
Anders looked at her for a moment confused before settling his head in his hands. "I don't remember," he miserably. "I think I need to turn in for the night. I miss my cat."
Fenris stood up and walked over to the drunk mage. "I'll see to it that he gets home safely."
Varric raised an eyebrow. "Hey if he just so happens to trip on something and fall on his face a few times drinks will be on me for a week," the dwarf remarked dryly.
Fenris' lips curled slightly as he put an arm around the other man and dragged him to his feet. "I'll give your offer serious consideration Varric."
"Thats all I ask Broody."
Isabela pushed her chair out and stood up. Her hand rested on Hawke's back briefly before she pulled away and stretched her arms out wide. "I think thats it for this girl tonight blokes."
"All alone tonight Isabela?" Aveline inquired with a raised eyebrow.
"I think perhaps I'll be trying something new tonight Big Girl," Isabela replied with a chuckle before turning on her heel and walking towards her room. Hawke watched the pirate's hips the entire way. And Varric watched Hawke.
Finally all of the companions said their respective good nights and Varric sat alone with Hawke. He didn't wait long before speaking his mind. "Are you sure you know what you are doing with the Rivaini Hero?"
Her jaw fell slightly open, but Marian quickly recovered. "I don't know what you are talking about Varric."
"Oh shut up Hero. You two have been playing googly eyes for weeks and tonight you were practically sitting on her lap. Look I'm just trying to say that you need to be careful. The Rivaini isn't as careless as she would have others believe, but she also isn't relationship material. I don't think you are the love 'em and leave 'em type Hawke."
Hawke sighed and and the corners of her mouth turned slightly upwards. "Have you ever wanted something so badly your entire body aches for it?"
Varric tilted his head and nodded. "Yep. Thats how I feel about Bianca," he said and caressed his crossbow.
Hawke stood up and regarded him seriously. "Well thats how I also feel about Isabela. I don't think I have ever wanted anything more."
"I just hope this doesn't end in tears," Varric remarked sagely before a loud 'hic' escaped his lips. He grunted and said, "Go on. She is waiting."
Hawke offered him a small nervous smile and turned towards Isabela's room. She was nervous, terrified and incredibly excited. When she reached the room she raised her hand and paused to take a deep breath.
Finally she knocked.
