A/N: This was meant to be longer but my laptop is running out of battery and I'm still tired from moving house. The next chapter will be a part two to this one, and I'll try not to take so long this time.
Progress
"Are you sure about this Isabella? It's very pretty but it's not very practical…" Merrill said dubiously as her friend made the final adjustments to her outfit.
"It's absolutely adorable! And you did say you needed new clothes." The rogue replied as she stepped back to admire her work. She had just returned from a seven month absence, cheerfully knocking on the surprised elf's door that morning, a devious smirk on her face and a bag slung over her shoulder. Merrill had been overjoyed to see her friend, and delighted to learn that the bag contained presents in the form of the tight green and brown outfit she now wore.
"Come on, let's show Varric." Isabela said enthusiastically as she dragged Merrill out the door. "And you can tell me what I've been missing on the way. Is Hawke still trying to convince Sebastian that it doesn't count with a man?" Merrill frowned slightly as she thought.
"I'm not sure. They seem to be treating each other the same, but Sebastian does get that silly smile on his face whenever he thinks no one's looking." Isabela cackled at that.
"It seems he's made progress then." The rogue gave her companion a sidelong look. "And what about Fenris? Have you made any progress?" Merrill looked down at her feet and fiddled with the hem of her dress. Isabela sighed, and began to understand just why Varric had sent her that letter.
"I haven't really seen anyone since you left." Merrill said quietly. "They've all been so busy. Hawke has his responsibilities as Champion. Aveline had to take care of the riots after the Qunari attacked, and now she's in Orlais. Anders has been busy in his clinic, although I did see him when I went to help out with all the injured from the Qunari. Varric came to visit on occasion, but he's been busy overseeing the repairs to the Hanged Man. Corff was so grateful that Varric was willing to pay for the repairs that he declared him part owner. And I suppose Fenris has been busy. Varric hasn't seen him since the attack either." The look of misery on Merrill's face broke Isabela's heart, and she put her arm around the smaller woman's shoulders in a reassuring hug as they reached the tavern.
"Glad to see you're still alive Elf." Varric said archly as Fenris sauntered back to the corner table they favoured when not in Varric's suite. Fenris took a long pull from the bottle he had just bought as he sat down.
"Ran out of wine." He said in reply, picking up the hand of cards Varric had delt him without asking.
"since it seems you've coin today, I thought you wouldn't mind a hand or two of Wicked Grace. Rivaini's back in town, she'll probably join us soon." Fenris frowned as he surveyed his hand.
"I wasn't aware she'd left."
"That's because you've been holed up in your damn mansion. Was it really so terrible having to fight next to Daisy against the Qunari? I suppose it would have been too much to ask that you two talk it out."
"Battle is hardly the place for any sort of discussion, had either of us been so inclined." Fenris said as he tossed two cards into the discard pile, and drew two more. "And I recall telling you it was none of your concern." Anyone else would have backed down at the threat in his tone, but Varric was not afraid of his friend.
"Actually, you told me your reasons were none of my concern, not the situation as a whole. And Daisy is like the little sister I never had. I'd like to see her happy."
"I doubt she would be happy with me. And it's your turn."
"She certainly isn't happy without you. And neither are you, if I'm any judge. You can't just ignore this. Whatever this is."
"I beg to differ." The elf asserted as he frowned at his hand. He didn't see Varric look over his shoulder, nor the smirk that appeared on his face.
"Oh, I doubt that. Some things just can't be ignored. And look, Rivaini's here." Fenris turned and almost choked on his mouthful of wine.
It was unfair, cruel even. The dress was the colour of grass after rain, and stopped just below the tops of her leg guards, giving tantalising glimpses of creamy white thighs. It was an off-the-shoulder cut, leaving said shoulders and a delicate collarbone on display. The tight sleeves flowed down her long arms to flair slightly at her wrists. Over top of the dress was a very tight brown leather vest, delicately embroidered with emerald green vines. Its high collar accentuated her long neck, and it was cut low, under the bust, lifting breasts that strained against the tight leather to add to an already impressive cleavage. It hugged the irresistible figure usually hidden under loose wool, showing off a willowy waist and full hips.
Fenris realised his throat was dry, and he swallowed thickly, then turned to glare at the dwarf chuckling across the table from him.
"I win." Varric said smugly as he lay down his cards, although Fenris was not entirely certain it was the game he referred to. He took another long pull from his bottle as Isabela bounded up to their table, pulling an uncomfortable looking Merrill behind her.
"Fenris! Glad to see you haven't turned into the hermit Varric said you were. I've got something for you." As she rummaged through her bag of gifts, Fenris' gaze was drawn inevitably to the lithe figure peering cautiously at him from behind the effervescent rogue. A look of tentative hope graced her features as two sets of green eyes met. The vulnerability in that gaze made him want to pull her close and envelope her in the safety of his arms. He wrenched his gaze away before the urge overwhelmed him. A fleeting look back etched the portrait of her misery in his mind, and he wanted to rip his own heart out for being the reason for it.
This was madness. She had borne three year's worth of his vitriol, and he had seen her unhappiness countless times as a result. And yet now he could not stand the sight of her misery, wanted to bring fierce retribution to it's cause, even though it was he himself who was responsible. The damned dwarf was right. Some things just could not be ignored, and she was one of them.
"AHA!" Isabela cried triumphantly as she pulled a crumpled cloth bag from the bottom of her sack. "This is for you." She said as he gingerly took it from her. He upturned it onto the table, and a rainbow of colours burst forth. Fenris looked at the her with a raised eyebrow as he held up a fistful of cloth.
"Underclothes?" he said incredulously. She giggled.
"Since I guessed the colour of your current ones, I thought I'd buy you a few more colours so the game is more fun." She said delightedly. He hooked a bright pink pair on one gauntleted finger.
"These are women's underclothes." He pointed out drily. Her grin widened.
"I did say more fun, didn't I?" He just rolled his eyes in response. "Anyway, what do you think of the new outfit I bought Kitten? Come on, give us a twirl." A very self-conscious Merrill did a quick spin, her cheeks flaming.
"Very nice." Varric said approvingly. "Those colours were a good choice Rivaini." She preened at the compliment, then turned to the warrior.
"Fenris? What do you think?" His gaze was dragged up from it's resolute examination of the table. The two rogues held their breath as his eyes made their way up, taking in every detail of the figure before him. His gaze continued to rise up, past her collar, and a frown formed on his handsome features.
"Your hair is longer." His deep voice rumbled out thoughtfully.
"Oh," Merrill said as her hand flew unconsciously to her ebony hair. Locks that had once grazed her temples now fell past her cheekbones. "I suppose it is. The Keeper used to cut it for me, and Isabela did it after that but she's been away. I don't usually pay much attention to it, as long as it stays in it's braids it doesn't trouble me much and I'm babbling I'll stop now." She looked down in embarrassment, going back to playing with the hem of her skirt.
"It suits you." She looked up at the husky whisper. "As does your clothing." He wasn't looking at her, instead at his wine bottle, but he saw her tentative smile reflected in the glass.
"Isabela?" The tension was broken as all four heads turned in surprise to look at Anders. "When did you get back?"
