"I should just take a taxi," Hawke said as they stood outside the Hanged Man. "Or walk. I'll walk, I really don't live that far."
"You shouldn't go alone," Fenris insisted,"There's been reports of attacks."
Hawke shot him a glare. "I can take care of myself just fine, thanks."
"Hawke," he sighed. "Just be careful. And. . .call me or send a text when you get home. Please."
"I'll be fine, Fenris. Have a good night," she gave a wave as she walked away.
"Goodnight," he mumbled behind her, waiting a moment before heading off in the opposite direction.
In truth, she really didn't live terribly far from the Hanged Man. It would take a few shortcuts through a parking lot and an alley, but she could get home in less than twenty minutes. She took a quick glance behind her, noticing Fenris waving down a taxi. She went on to the end of the street, pressing the button for the crosswalk going right. She waited and the taxi Fenris flagged down passed through the intersection and he gave her a slight wave as he passed. She thought about returning it, but the car had already passed before she lifted her hand. She crossed with the light, fingering the knife in the pocket of her trench coat. It was dangerous in Lowtown at night, and she sometimes did run into trouble. It was by sheer luck that she got out of it each time without exposing her talents.
She reached the next corner, crossing left and through the parking lot of the market. She slipped behind the building and through the alley, past the loading gate and passing the autopart warehouse. She was just passing the back door of Mi-Ran's when she heard someone approach. She quickly folded herself in the space between the brick wall and the dumpster, hoping her presence would go unnoticed.
She watched as a figure approached the back door of the restaurant. She kept her hand around her switchblade, just in case. The person knocked on the door. Who's visiting Mi-Ran at three in the morning? she thought to herself. When the door opened and the light from the restaurant illuminated the alley, she noticed the figure was Athenril. She was one of the distributers Mi-Ran ordered from. What in the void is going on?
Mi-Ran talked to the woman for a short eternity, Hawke's back aching from crouching behind the dumpster. The door closed behind Athenril and Hawke waited a moment before ducking out from behind the dumpster. She kept periodically glancing back to the door and didn't notice the group at the other end of the alley until they shouted at her. "Hey girl! What'cha doing out here?"
Hawke stopped dead. The group - maybe five or six men- was running toward her. She panicked and looked around. She slipped in the narrow space between two buildings, barely fitting through by turning herself sideways. She shuffled through and stifled a laugh when one of the men attempted the same, not even able to get his meaty arm through the gap. Free from the buildings, she ran across the street and through someone's garden, ducking under their porch. She watched as the men ran from around the other side of the building through gaps in the wood. They split, patrolling up and down the street. Oh Maker, I'm stuck here.
Her pants pocket vibrated and she quickly pressed the button on the side of her phone to keep it from ringing. WIthin seconds it vibrated again. She quickly pulled it out, covering the light with her palm before flipping it open. She said nothing, just let the call go on in silence.
". . .Hawke?" His voice asked tentatively on the other end. He called her. He called her to make sure she got home. Hope flooded her.
She whispered, "I'm stuck."
"Stuck?" He echoed. One of the men passed in front of the porch and she stilled. "Hawke?" Fenris asked. The man disappeared into an alley and his comrades were split at opposite ends of the block.
She breathed out. "I need help," she whispered quietly.
"Hawke, I can't hear you. Where are you? Is everything alright?"
She snapped the phone closed to end the call and opened it again to type out a quick message.
There's men following me. Im hiding under someone's porch but they're not leaving the street.
Hawke held the phone to her chest waiting for a reply. She peered through the cracks. The men still paced down the street, but she noticed that the man that went into the alley was still gone. Her phone buzzed and the sound was so loud she nearly dropped it. Again, she used her hand to shield the light.
Where are you?
She sent back the street name, but told him she had no idea what house number, but she could see the auto parts warehouse from where she was hiding. A few moments later, she recieved a reply.
Stay hidden. I'll be right there.
She made a silent prayer, hoping that he would arrive before the men found her. She's seen some of these men before - the needle with the blood drop tattoo on one man's beefy arm was a dead giveaway. The Sharps. They were theives for the most part, but on occasion they were hired as mercenaries. Likely, they were hired to keep people out of the alleyway. They're probably armed, she thought with a chill.
They were, and currently made a show of it. "Come on out, girly," one taunted, pacing the street while brandishing his handgun. "We know you're still here."
Hawke stayed still, keeping her eyes open for the missing Sharp. Several minutes passed and a Kirkwall Guard patrol car pulled up, lights blazing. The men scattered, but she remained where she was.
"Hawke!" Fenris yelled, climbing out of the passenger side. "Hawke, where are you?"
She slipped her phone back out of her pocket and sent him a quick text.
I'm here. I can see you, but one of the men disappeared a while back. I'm scared.
She watched as familiar face - Aveline, a women that helped her flee in Ferelden - stepped out of the driver's side. She shut off the lights and stepped around the car, hand hovering over her holster. Fenris glanced at his phone and said something to the woman, but Hawke couldn't hear it. His hand reached under his shirt and pulled out his own handgun. Hawke cringed. Did he have that on him all night?
The two separated, walking across the front yards of several houses. She made a slight knock on the wood of the porch and Fenris' head immediately turned in her direction. He paused again and listened. She made another tap. He ran toward her, his long stride carrying him to the porch in a flash. If she didn't know any better, she'd say that the markings on his chin and hands were. . . glowing. No, that can't be right. I'm seeing things.
"Drop it, man." A rough voice ordered as Fenris approached. Crap.
She watched as Fenris bent to set his handgun on the ground. The man crossed past the gap she entered her hiding place, gun raised. Her eyes searched out Aveline, but she was no where to be found.
The man laughed. "Girly gave us the slip. Tell me where she is and you're free to go."
"No."
"I'm not messing around, man!" He shouted, moving the arm holding the gun to emphasize. "You've got three seconds to tell me where she is. One."
Hawke crawled as quietly from her place as she could. The man was a few steps from the entryway to her hiding place.
"Two."
Still, Fenris said nothing. Don't risk your life for me! her mind screamed. But he looked calm, standing before the Sharp with an amused grin.
"I'm not fucking kidding! I'll shoot!" The man barked.
Zap.
He fell to the ground and Hawke shuffled to pry the gun from his hand. She looked up at Fenris, but he was backing away from her.
"You're-" he started. Hawke only nodded. "You should be-"
"Locked up? Look around you, Fenris. These men with guns are more dangerous than me."
"Hawke! Thank the Maker!" Aveline spoke, relieved and heading toward them. "When Fenris said-" She stopped and looked at the man at the other woman's feet. "Hawke, you know better!" she hissed.
"He's not dead," she whispered back. "Just knocked out. He was going to shoot Fenris."
"I would have been fine," he assured her.
"He was aiming for your head!"
"We can cover it up, easy enough. Check his back for marks. Make sure you didnt leave a burn," Aveline instructed. "Then let's get you home. We'll file the report in the morning."
Hawke lifted the Sharp's shirt, and satisfied their was no evidence of her magic on him, she allowed Aveline to lead her back to the car. "You need to be more careful with your magic, Hawke," the guard scolded.
"I don't understand how guns and tasers can be legal and the energy I hold in me is not," she mumbled.
"Fenris?" Aveline questioned and Hawke turned to look back at him still standing over the fallen Sharp. "Come on, let's get you home."
"I'll call a cab," he said, tone dismissive.
"Nonsense, you're near the station. There's no need,"
"I'm not getting in a car with a mage," he spat at her.