Chapter 10: Burned

Chapter Summary: The Inquisitor has told Bull to bed other people. Bull doesn't know why, but he's game. Kirah knows it's for the best, but that doesn't make it easy...

Notes: OK, so we're beginning to see some issues come up here for our beloved Inquisitor. A warning: there's a hint of self-harm here. It's not explicit, but might be a trigger. It's not gratuitous in any way, merely an expression of Kirah's inner turmoil.

'Er… whatever you say, boss,' Bull replied. He was a little perplexed about Kirah's suggestion that he sleep with other women, but he wasn't going to argue. The woman knew her own mind, one of the many things he admired about her. She'd been insistent they carry on with their physical escapades, that she wasn't saying, 'katoh', so at least he still got to have amazing sex with her.

The Qunari's Ben-Hassrath training hadn't been fool-proof where she was concerned, but he could tell she was putting up a few barriers, outside the bedroom. He didn't want to pry, his aim was to help her in whatever way he could. Sex with her blew his mind. The idea of going back… well, even that red-head, Annabella would pale in comparison now.

Kirah paced around the war table. It was late and she couldn't sleep so here she was looking at Cullen's maps and… damn it.

Kirah's innards were squirming. She'd gone to the Herald's Rest to give Bull the nod to slip away and he hadn't been there. Dalish drunkenly informed her he'd gone to his quarters with no less than three giggling women. Krem caught her eye, confused. For a moment he looked like he was going to speak, but Kirah didn't want to discuss it and got out of there as fast as she could.

She'd told him to do this, but now... Now she stood in the cold war room, unable to distract herself from thoughts of other women all over her Bull.

At the end of the table there was a cluster of candles, melting together at the base. Kirah gazed into their flickering light before walking towards them, tracing her fingers across the wood. Her rapid breathing began to slow as she lightly swept her hand across the flames, feeling their faint warmth. She paused, then held her hand over them a moment longer… hot but bearable. Inhaling deeply, she held her hand still, nose twitching as the pain began to grow, taking the edge off the pain in her gut. Qunari could take more pain than most, what with their thick skins and greater tolerance to heat. Kirah knew she wanted to go beyond that tolerance and stared into the bright flame until it was all she could see.

Annabella lay between Bull's thighs rubbing the trousers over his bulge. Clara was taking off her clothes in a slow strip tease and Bonny was sitting in a chair, mask over her eyes, hands down her skirt. Bull smiled, he didn't know where to look. He'd originally planned on lying about having sex as he no longer had the energy, or the inclination, to go around fucking all comers. He'd hoped the small white lie would appease whatever kinkfest, or need to distance herself, was going on in Kirah's world right now. But the moment he failed to brush off Clara's advances in the Herald's Rest, the ladies were all over him like bees around embrium and a familiar desire inflamed his loins.

Naked now, Clara slid onto the bed and began kissing Bull's right nipple while Annabella was working out how to undo his belt. This was probably the best way to make up for non-Inquisitor sex, Bull thought, lots of hands...

Then Krem burst into his chamber.

'Argh, my eyes!' Krem wailed, half-joking.

'What the fuck, Krem?' Bull shouted as the women screamed and scattered under covers and behind furniture.

'Chief, I… need to talk to you,' Krem urged.

Although irked, Bull knew Krem wouldn't interrupt like this if it wasn't important.

'OK, ladies, show's… postponed. Please accept my sincere apologies,' he grumbled, getting up and straightening his trousers. And then to Krem, 'Let's take this outside.'

Krem rubbed the back of his neck as they walked along the ramparts, trying to think of what to say. Bull studied him for a moment. He watched Annabella's round ass saunter away below them and crossed his bulky arms over his chest.

'This better be good, Krem,' he rumbled dangerously.

'I don't get it,' Krem began. 'Why are you trying to bed these other women when you've got the Inquisitor?'

Bull stared, surprised, 'How did you-'

'Hello? I know you, you big oaf, Krem interrupted. 'And I kind of confirmed it with her.'

Bull's eyes widened.

'Answer my question,' Krem demanded.

'It's none of your business Krem,' Bull breathed.

'Do you want to bed other women?' the young man persisted.

It was Bull's turn to rub the back of his neck now, as he began to pace. He was very proud of his discretion so he wasn't about to reveal this was all at Kirah's behest.

'No, not really,' he conceded.

'Good,' Krem said, relieved. 'Because I don't think she wants you to either.'

Bull's head snapped round, 'What?'

In the moonlight, Bull's large form, replete with huge horns, looked particularly menacing. Krem trod carefully.

'She came looking for you earlier. Dalish told her you'd gone off with the ladies and, well, she didn't seem surprised, but she did look… perturbed. Agh... I'm sorry I interrupted you but I just thought it would be a mistake if you… you know.'

Bull sagged a little, 'Yeah… thanks Krem, thanks for letting me know.'

Krem nodded, his eyes shining a little in the moonlight, then he turned on his heels and left.

Bull stared after him for a moment, trying to process this. Anger welled in his gut, with both himself and with Kirah, and he threw a punch into the cold stone wall.