Fenris visited as often as he could after that. Sometimes they would chat, sometimes they would argue, and sometimes they would they would sit in silence like before. He found her presence oddly comforting, and as long as he didn't dwell on her magehood, he didn't mind that. They grew accustomed to each other, and he often found himself looking for advice from her, and her from him. It worked well. He even got Isabella and Varric to help Elysia with her housing situation.
As time went on, they grew closer physically as well. The two chairs they sat on scooted closer and closer together, until they were touching. More and more often, they would brush against each other, and neither of them minded. Occasionally, Elysia would place a hand on Fenris' shoulder or leg, just to ground her. The first time, he jumped, after that, it became commonplace, that it felt odd when her hand wasn't gently resting on him somewhere. She lay down on his lap to read once, and then he lay down on her lap while she read. Sometimes she would stroke his hair while he lay there, and sometimes he would sing to her.
He had never been a tactile one, since all of what he had felt before was pain by touch. But her touch was soothing to him, like her smell, her face, and her existence. Part of him wanted to fight it, she still was a mage, but the rest of him thought he deserved some happiness after Hawke. And some non-sexual touching never hurt anyone, right?
One afternoon, when the sun was high over Kirkwall, and it streamed lazily into the front room through the grubby window, everything changed. When he came in, her hair was down. She always wore it up in tight buns, but today, it flowed free and long, cascading down to her hips.
He didn't mention it though, and things progressed as usual. They started with them sitting in separate chairs, but then he started to crave her touch, so he gently rested his head on her lap. She stroked his hair, until she finished her book. With her book done, she put it down and looked into his deep green eyes.
"I need to get up," she said, nudging him lightly.
He lifted himself, and watched her as she stood and stretched. She turned to look at him, and they made eye contact again. Something seized her, some passion she couldn't resist any longer, so she leaned in and kissed him.
He was shocked by this gesture, but not unhappy. He pulled her into his lap and kissed her back. She ran a hand through his hair and one pulled his face into hers. He put a hand at the small of her back and in between her shoulders. Passion grew, and their hands started to go lower. He caressed her breasts, and she gently trailed down his torso, until she reached his…
He jumped up, and he just caught herself before she hit the floor. "What?"
"I can't… I…" He looked confused and frustrated. He knew he liked her, that was evident by his mental and physical reactions, but she was still a mage, and he couldn't go through this again. He wasn't hurting over Hawke anymore, but that had taken a long time, and Elysia. What were the chances he would find someone like her again.
"It's okay. I am sorry if I pushed. If you are not ready, we don't have to."
"I… I must go. I'm sure the party is leaving Merril's by now. I don't want them to… to uh see me… here." He rushed out the door.
She stood and went to follow him. "Fenris," she calls, "please?" But he was gone, and she was left alone.