Fenris had been awake the moment he heard voices at the door.

It was early morning. The earliest that they had ever arrived. Talking just outside of his door about trusts and transfers and they were clearly the same tax collectors as the other day. Like a cat, Fenris moved silently across the dilapidated mansion with his great-sword strapped to his back. As the heavy front door opened and the bureaucrats walked in, their footsteps echoed through the cold stone rooms.

He had toyed with the idea of killing them once – very briefly. The respite would quickly be replaced by guards at the door and Aveline would not take too kindly to him having murdered the employee's of the Viscount. There was no doubt that no amount of words or bonds of friendship would quell the anger of both her and Hawke. That fact alone meant that the indignity of having to climb out the window of an estate that he had rightfully acquired – despite what the law said – was possibly the best option for him at that point.

Out of the window his toes spread out onto the smooth stone floor and he slowly lowered himself down onto the rest of his feet. Fenris bit back a yawn that caught him by surprise and made him blink. The sun hadn't yet risen for an hour as he ambled through Hightown not paying much attention to the merchants' elves setting up stores and preparing their wares. The merchants themselves would not come until a more reasonable time, the ability to sleep in, it appeared, was a rich man's luxury even out of slavery.

The issue with the tax men would have to be dealt with soon. If not for his chance to laze – though he did find that quickly got boring – but for their sanity. He did wonder how they felt about the empty house with its shady occupier. He let himself smirk a little before grabbing an apple from a stall and throwing a copper at the boy setting up the stall.

Apples, even raw they were something that could be appreciated. Their texture was like nothing else, even their taste came through despite the constant flux of pain running through his body. Hawke had once told him all about how the Orlaisians would dip them in sweet chocolate or caramel. The thought wasn't especially pleasing, caramel made his teeth ache.

When Fenris threw the core onto the floor he had already reached Lowtown and had almost made it to the Hanged Man.

'Perhaps now is the time to ask Varric about the tax inspectors.' He thought, pushing the door gently open and coming across Isabela at the bar already with a drink in hand.

"Fenris! Don't you think its a bit early?"

"Taxes are so boring." Isabela leant back and let eyes trail over her legs as she dumped them on the table. "Drinking shots from your glistening chest on the other hand... That sounds like fun."

"Do not think that there is a chance of that happening today." Fenris told her, holding a mug of honeyed mead that he had taken to drinking in favour of the rougher ale served at the Hanged Man.

"Oh I don't know... A few more of those, some of that pale wine..." Isabela grinned and let her eyes trail up his chest easily. "We could get you doing so much more."

"I'm sure you would enjoy that." He drained his mug and dumped it down on the table next to him.

"I really would." Her smile could have reached her ears if her face had allowed it causing Fenris to wonder just what she was imagining. Both were distracted however by Hawke's voice coming from Varric's room.

"We might as well get it over with. I have no wish to deal with this myself." She was dressed in her hightown finery instead of her usual dark blue robes and gauntlets. Both Fenris and Isabela glanced at each other in confusion as Hawke walked over to them with a cunning smile planted firmly on her face.

"Hawke."

"What are you wearing?" Isabela cut in, looking almost offended as she stared at the outfit. It was nothing special, burgundy silk cut in a way that was not especially flattering for anyone not a rakish boy.

"I have a job you know Isabela." Hawke shrugged and let Isabela finish her drink and continue to eye her up.

"You look ridiculous."

"Take it up with the Viscount." Hawke took a seat next to Fenris. Leaning backwards she motioned to Norah to get her a drink. "He doesn't especially appreciate apostate robes in his keep."

"Of all the dresses though." Isabela frowned. "There is nothing exciting about that."

"No sneak peeks for you m'dear" Hawke turned her attention to Fenris, now leaning forward and looking up at him through long dark eyelashes. "I need your help."

"Of course." How could he refuse?

"Brilliant! The Viscount has informed me that I will be dealing with everything Qunari from now on. Serrah Arishok has been requesting me personally." Her back straightened a little, still leaning forward Fenris noted that her clothes were much less modest than originally assumed. He kept his eyes focused on hers. "Since you are my go to man when it comes to all things Qun, I'd like you to be there, by my side."

The way she asked things, with orders shaped like requests that he didn't really have any choice accepting. She knew how to get him to do things, he'd seen her inform Isabela and Merrill of their involvement with one of her many schemes and he was under no illusion that he was any different. A true master of manipulation.

"Fenris? Is that okay?" She asked, and Fenris realised that he'd taken too long to answer her.

"Who else are you taking?"

"My favourite Dwarf... Probably Aveline, she has a day off tomorrow and you." She listed. "Isabela hates being around the Qunari and from what you've told me the Qunari don't like mages all that much."

"And you..?" He let end of the sentence fail as she stiffened a little and glanced around. A dry smile on his face as she gave him a sour look and sat up completely. With much amusement he realised he had changed her little game.

"I am Bassitin."

"Basalit-an."

"Basalit-an, somebody worthy of dealing with the Qunari and their respect. The Viscount intends for me to work with them instead of doing it himself." The look of absolute seriousness on her face lapsed into a thoughtful one and she looked up at the ceiling of the Hanged Man. "At least, that is the plan. And, when they eventually leave, I shall become his right-hand woman."

"You don't strike me as the sort who craved power." He told her, a creeping sense of wariness had began to flower in the pit of his stomach. This is how it started with so many mages. How long would it be before she yearned for the Viscounts position?

"I don't, not particularly, but think of all the things I could do. I could make sure that mansion of yours remains yours. Isabela would get her boat – I still owe her for last week when I almost drowned remember?"

"It is not just for our sake I am sure." Was that the alcohol? He hadn't meant to sound so harsh. Then again he'd not drank that much. Hawke stopped looking up at the ceiling and frowned. There was something in her expression that him think that she looked for too vulnerable to be any danger. If Fenris had not fought by her side in battles they had almost lost, he doubted he would have believed she could be any sort of threat wasn't demonic possession.

"You're right. I want to prove people wrong, about my sort." Now she was talking through the tankard that Norah brought over, not looking him in the eye. "I want to live my life as someone successful, surrounded by deeds that have only helped Kirkwall. And then, when I die, I want it to be revealed as to what I am." She paused and looked at him, her eyes crinkled with mischief. "A Ferelden that is."

"Naturally." He wished he had a drink now, he had no idea what to do with his hands. "Though I am sure all... Ferelden's start with the best of intentions." He always sounded so angry with this topic, he wished that they'd change the subject, he didn't want to argue with her about this in public.

"That's why I have people to keep me grounded." She downed her drink and shook her head as the rush of sensations and tastes enveloped her head. "How do you drink this? Its so sweet!"

"My sense of taste is somewhat diminished." He shrugged and Hawke nodded and stood up; still smarting from the strong taste of her drink.

"I'll come knocking tomorrow. Gonna go find Aveline now and persuade her to waste yet another day off with our merry band." With that she waved him off, nodding to Corff and leaving before he could respond.

"Just bend her over already." Isabela sat back down at the table next to him with four new tankards and a new coin purse. "I bet you didn't even notice I'd left the table."

True, but he wasn't going to let her know that.

She was certainly improving.

Fenris had watched her with the Arishok when the time had come. Spine straightened, shoulders back and her head held high. Any confused fragility she had shown years ago had disapeared as Hawke spoke about the poison gas her group had walked into and sucessfully dealt with. Honeyed words and speaking quietly so that when his temper exploded and the giant Qunari ranted about the vices of Kirkwall it was not her that seemed to be in the wrong.

He hadn't been there when she had confronted the crazed elf but he had when Varric had told the entire Hanged Man what had happened the evening previously. Marian had not been around, instead choosing to remain in her estate that night. It was clear now that she had chosen her words very carefully having poured over the precious few books she owned of the Qun and the notes she'd taken from their times together.

As they walked out, there was a smile on her face that only increased as she noticed him watching her. Aveline frowned when she noticed the exchange. The guard-captain had come along at Hawke's request and Fenris did not try to understand the reasoning behind it.

"Well, that went well." Hawke told them as they climbed the stairs from the docks and into Lowtown.

"Your standards of well are different to mine Hawke." Varric admitted, following behind the apostate.

"It depends what you're looking for, my dear Varric you must have heard him." Hawke moved her hand in a delicate wave that was more controlled than she would have liked to admit.

"About the ship." Aveline noted, her lips were thin, clearly still not happy with what they had heard.

"About the ship." Hawke repeated, stopping at the stalls of Lowtown to admire a pretty looking amulet. "He doesn't want to be here any more than the Viscount wants him to be here."

"He will not leave without fulfilling his purpose." Fenris told her as she continued to admire the silver moon she had picked up. "Despite his own grievances."

"So he is stuck here. Sucks to be him." Hawke didn't seem that upset about it as she dug around in her coin purse and produce a few silver coins to give to the merchant. "What do you think?"

"Not really sticking to the topic Hawke." Aveline told her, Hawke just flashed a smile and put it on. "Pretty however. It suits you."

"I know right?"

"Hawke." Aveline frowned.

"Yes, I know. I know." The smile had gone and was replaced by a thin line of annoyance as she stretched and turned to the two men. "I'll see you later, thanks again for coming to my rescue."

"Always a pleasure Hawke." Varric patted Bianca fondly before they parted ways.

It had not rained in such a long time and the air was thick with a humid stickiness that hinted an end to Kirkwall's drought. The heat and wetness of the air made it difficult to walk through the busy streets comfortably and it was not the first time that day he was glad he was not wearing the metal armour that Aveline was obliged to wear. It had made her quick tempered and the usual easy banter of her conversation was quick to sharpen when Hawke sounded too careless or joked in bad humour. It was almost a blessing as they reached Hightown in a more subdued silence than had they had originally left the docks in.

"I should go." Fenris told her, feeling a little awkward as they reached the Chantry. He had been taking jobs from the Chanters board recently to pay for his expenses. Now that Hawke rarely took on mercenary jobs he found himself lacking the coin that he had grown accustomed to. It was something he was loathe to her discovering however, he was unsure why.

"Of course. Are you coming over tonight? Mother is at Gamlen's tonight so we should have some privacy in the study."

He could have smiled but it would not have been apropriate. She wasn't looking at him, instead choosing to inspect a rose bush that grew nearby. Her fingers ran gently over a petal and she pretended to focus solely on that. Fenris had noticed the quickest of glances she shot his way, the blush on her cheeks meant she realised she'd been spotted.

"I would not miss it." For all of Thedas.

"Good." She let her hand drop to her side and gave him a small smile before waving and leaving with Aveline; leaving him to watch her hips sway as she walked away.

It took far too long for me to write this and I'm still not really happy with it, so I apologise! Thank you for reading, faving and reviewing.