(I don't own Dragon Age, Torchwood, or Bloodsong 13T's works.)

-Assan-

Somebody licked my ear.

I jumped, quickly pulling my headphones from my ears as I let out a shrill squeak of surprise, only relaxing when Zevran's familiar laughter hit my ears.

I frowned and rubbed at my ear, shaking the shiver he'd caused me free and squirming in my seat, giving my vhenan an unimpressed look.

"Creators, Zev," I scowled, still rubbing at my ear, "a simple hello would have worked."

Zev grinned and rested his chin on top of my head, his chest a familiar warmth against my back, "I did say hello. Several times."

"Oh," my face flushed and I glanced at the headphones, which were emitting a small hint of music even from where they rested on the ground. I grabbed onto the part of the cord connecting them to my phone and quickly pulled them up before pausing Pandora, "...maybe I did have them pretty loud."

"What is it?"

"Music; these OtherWorlders have managed to record their Bards' tales."

"And I suppose you have already found out how?"

I beamed, proudly picking the headphones back up, "so you remember those stones we found that stick together? Well, they call it magnetism! There's this thing called electromagnets, see, and so they have this current thingy that -so basically the way the lights work, I've found out already, is that these OtherWorlders have found out how to make electricity and so the way electromagnets work is that..." I frowned and tilted my head up, not losing my frown even when Zevran kissed my nose, "you're not even listening."

"I'm listening."

"No, you're not," I pouted, "you've got that dreamy look you get on your face when you've tuned me out."

"I don't tune you out," Zevran protested.

"Well, you're definetly not focusing on my words."

"But your face lights up so!" Zevran pouted dramatically, "how can I resist but to admire such a handsome face looking so happy?"

I smirked, "oh, is that it?"

"Yes."

"And admiring me so," I said, imitating his Antivan accent, "is not simply because the great Zevran hasn't tapped such a handsome happy face for several months, no?"

Zevran shivered, a little shake that went from head to toe, "the suit.. doesn't help."

"Does this?" I waggled my eyebrows and adjusted my tie, leaning back as I did so.

"Oh, stop it," he punched my shoulder lightly, "may I mention that being here is interesting and all, but I really was looking forward to a night alone once Hawke and Fenris had arrived and would have been able to watch our backs to allow us some alone time?"

"Meeting up for the first time in a while and no time for fun on the run," I sighed, "I could kill for a date night."

"You have before," Zevran laughed before he sighed and rested his head on the top of my head again, "you've been on edge. Don't think I haven't noticed. I doubt abstinence is what's really bothering you."

I glanced around the empty shop before I allowed myself to relax, closing my eyes and taking comfort in the feel of Zevran's heart beating softly against my back.

"Jack found us quite quickly after we landed in that ally, and we were quite close to where they'd set up shop. I'm afraid of it being more than coincidence."

"You think there's an ulterior motive for him getting us to stay?" Zevran asked, voice soft. Anybody looking would think we were whispering sweet nothings, instead of contemplating things that might put us in danger should my fears be correct and overheard.

"They already had Bannon and his Zevran when we got here," I pointed out, grabbing one of the hands wrapped around my waist and rubbing circles on the back of his hand with my thumb, "how did they get here?"

"The other Zevran said they were pulled through a Rift."

"And how did that Rift reach through to an entirely different dimension, when before it had stuck to its own? Something is going on, and not knowing what it is is ticking me off."

"Is that the only thing shortening your nerves?"

I thought about it before forcing myself to ignore the fear that lurked in the song that still danced at the edge of my mind, "I'm not sure. Not yet. I need to figure out more. Tonight, while they sleep, I'm going to investigate. Ianto's sorting through records downstairs. Tonight, those records are what I'll search first. If they're keeping something, that's where it would be."

"And you'll want me there?"

"Two elves who can't keep their hands off each other," I grinned, "if anybody shows, what will they think of two elves somewhere that they shouldn't be except that they were searching for privacy when their room is shared with two others? Besides, I always feel better knowing you're there... that you're safe."

"And will said elves manage to keep their hands off each other?"

"Should we find success or keep from getting caught, I doubt we wouldn't... find a way to celebrate a successful mission."

Zevran grinned, lowering his head and planting a kiss on my cheek. His breath was warm against my ear, "I like the way you think, mi amor."

-Marian-

"You hypocrite."

Fenris jumped, nearly falling off of the couch. We both stared at Zevran, who stared back at us with a shit-eating grin, his arms crossed against his chest.

"I thought you were watching tv," he added, waving his hand at the screen, "although it seems your... attention... has fallen elsewhere, no?"

Fenris scowled, growling out his words, "get out."

"While Mr. Cockblock makes out with his girlfriend on the couch? Hmmmm... no," Zevran plopped himself down in front of the couch, ignoring us. I quickly fixed my armor -and thank the Maker these OtherWorlders didn't expect me to wear that 'normal' clothes stuff within the Hub- and straightend my ruffled hair a bit.

"It was on commercial," I explained.

"And your pretty little pirate armor was just too distracting for poor Fenris, hmm?" Zevran waggled his eyebrows at the other elf, "but no, that's perfectly fine because it's Fenris having fun, no?"

Fenris scowled and picked up the shirt he usually wore under his armor, "we were not progressing past that, currently, and we were not starting anything while people were trying to sleep. Unlike you."

"My armor is pretty, isn't it?" I winked and smiled, "distracting is exactly what I try to earn in a fight. It's so much easier to kill somebody when they're focused on how pretty you seem to be. Why do you think Isabela's got such a big gap in her shirt?"

"Because she sleeps around all the time?" Fenris suggested in a grumble.

"Hmm, perhaps she wasn't the best example," I frowned, tapping my chin before my eyes caught on the tv, "oh, oh, oh! Back on!"

"Weren't you watching something called Merlin?" Zevran asked, though his eyes were already glued onto the screen.

"Merlin ended," I pouted, "so we pressed a couple of the numbers on the remote and got this."

"I'm waiting for the wingless dragon to start eating people, but so far it appears friendly," Fenris grumbled, watching the purple creature dance around the screen.

"I have not seen such a creature before," Zevran said, watching with caught interest as the reptile hugged one of the human children, "how does it keep itself safe without claws or teeth?"

"Perhaps it is strong?"

"Its tail appears a bit floppy. Not at all useful for smacking people around."

"I think it's cute," I said, "maybe it protects itself by surrounding itself with powerful allies."

"Small children?" Fenris smirked, "I see the danger already."

"Maybe it's a circle!"

"But where are the Templars?"

I gasped and almost fell off the couch in my excitement, "that's it! Maybe it is the templar!"

"Not all Templars are mean," Zevran agreed, "it would make sense. It keeps them from falling prey to demons by keeping them happy and playing the part of the family the young mages were ripped from."

"Not it. He," I corrected, "Barney is a he."

"He is not wearing clothes and has no parts," Zevran argued, "it is totally an it."

"Oh," Fenris tapped my shoulder and pointed my attention at the tv, "there's more of them! See the green and yellow one are slightly similar, yet they must be different variations of the species!"

We all fell silent, watching the show with unrivaled attention.

"What-" Owen's voice pierced our focus but none of us looked away from the screen, "-how old are you guys? Five?"

"Shh," Fenris lit up blue for a second in the hopes of scaring the OtherWorlder into shutting up, "one of those kids is going to turn into an abomination any moment now. The two new wingless dragons are too annoying not to cause at least one abomination."

"No. There is no way in hell that you three are watching Barney the Purple Dinosaur under my roof," Owen said, snatching up the remote and pressing a button. The screen changed, and three angry glares turned on the human.

"It isn't your roof," Zevran said, "you don't own it."

"Yeah! I- Andraste's flaming mabari! That thing is so adorable!" I gasped, whipping my head around to stare at the new thing on tv.

"That's- that's a snake," Owen stared at me with a tad of concern in his gaze.

"I know what a snake is, you nug foot," I rolled my eyes, "and Maker's breath, they are so cute! What channel is this!?"

"AnimalPlanet," Owen said, shoulders drooping in defeat, "thank God it isn't Nick Jr."

"Oh, wook at him!" I squealed, watching the snake slowly wrap itself around a mouse on the screen, "oh, the wittle baby's getting dinner, oh yes he is! Wittle baby!"

"It can't hear you," Owen tossed the remote onto the couch.

"We figured that out when Arthur wouldn't kiss Merlin despite how loudly we screamed at him to do so," I waved the human off, "Fenris even threatened him, but he didn't even look at us. Now shut up. Snake time. Cute little snakes. Are you cuter than a snake? No. So go away."

"I'm done," Owen grumbled, turning and stomping off, "Jesus Christ why can't we just get rid of the lot of them."

I ignored him. After all, there was a cute little snake on tv!