Title: Unexpected
Notes: Eventual Fenders, Eventual M
Beta: thekkid
Unexpected
Prologue
He took a seat on one of the cots and sighed deeply. His thoughts ran around in his head and mixed with Justice's. He tried not to think about the one thing that could perhaps bring an end to it all. An end to the illusion that he was indeed in control and helping the people of Darktown and cleaning the name of all the mages in Thedas.
You are.
Justice's voice echoed in their shared mind. Anders snorted and said, "Well, sometimes it doesn't feel worth it."
Then do not think about it – Justice snapped. We have better things to do anyway.
"Says the spirit who lives in my head," Anders said pushing himself off of the cot and stretching. Even those few moments of relaxation didn't help the ache in his body nor the pain that traveled with him every day. It didn't help things that he had a raging spirit always booming in his head. The internal fighting sometimes drove him mad.
What is that supposed to mean? The spirit asked.
"Nothing," Anders said. "Sod off, we've got work to do." If spirits could groan in annoyance Anders was sure that's what Justice was doing right now.
Anders set about cleaning the dirty clinic before realizing what little work that entailed. Other than making the cots and washing the covers and clothes he'd used, there was nothing. All his herbs were stocked and labeled; medicines lined behind a cabinet and locked. Nothing was out of place. And that bothered him. He had too much time on his hands.
With yet another sigh, he plopped down onto the floor, too bored to care, and rubbed his coarse hands over his tired face. He could feel every deep line of worry and fear etchedinto his face. He longed for the feel of laugh lines to replace the ones he had now. But that part of him was over and done with. This was who he was now.
"At least I've got character," he said to himself. He raked his hands through his hair next, frightened at the thought of discovering a bald spot in the back of his head. Finding none, he smiled and tried to remember the last time he'd cut his hair. Must have been three years ago, he decided, back before he had left the wardens. He played with his hair, his long fingers trapping it and mentally assessing how much to cut.
"What are you doing?" a voice from the door asked. Anders glanced up to see Fenris.
"What are you doing here?" Anders asked getting up. Fenris took a step inside, closing the door behind him. Anders took a step back, wondering if the day had finally come when the elf had gotten enough of him and had decided to pulverize his heart with his glowing fist. For a moment, he could've sworn he saw Fenris' eyes widen as he pulled his blond hair back to tie into a ponytail. Ander shook his head. He was being ridiculous.
"I... I asked first," the elf stammered out.
"My hair is too long," Anders replied with a shrug. "I was thinking of cutting it."
There it was again, the widened eyes from the elf that disappeared within seconds. Fenris grunted in response however and they stood in silence for a long time. They looked at each other, their eyes raking over each other's bodies. Anders folded his hands over his chest and looked at the angry, lyrium encrusted, snowy white hair, tantalizing full lips, rich caramel dark skin and big hands... Anders shook his head.
What in the name of Andraste's holy knickers just happened?, he wondered as the elf looked at him. Unblinking, Fenris just looked at Anders. Anders coughed and nodded his head in a general direction while looking at his feet, not paying attention to the heat pooling in his stomach.
"So..." he said casually. "Needed something, did you?"
"No," Fenris replied taking another step. "Hawke was too lazy to deliver this to you." He flung a bag at him. Anders barely caught and shook it. Money, his winnings from a bet he and Hawke had made; something to do with Varric and Isabela.
"I like your long hair," the elf's voice said cutting through all the chatter in Anders' head. The mage stared at the elf as he left the clinic. Had he... did he...?
Yes, Justice confirmed as a smile spread across Anders' features. Well perhaps he didn't have to cut his hair, at least not for a while.
"One of those days," Anders said opening the pouch and counting his winnings.
This is just a small prologue but what do ya'll think? Does this have potential? R/R