A big thanks to Mike (giant-sequoia) on this one...well really all of them. He gives me so many good ideas, and I really don't know what I'd do without him. Anyway thanks for being patient with me. RL has been creeping up. But expect one more update on this, and then it's on to the new story! Enjoy!
Anders greedily lapped up every bit of ejaculate coating Hawke's palm and fingers. He tried his hardest to hold back a moan, completely overwhelmed by the salty and bitter taste he loved so much. But luckily for him, the orchestra played loud at the moment, a fierce and dark melody as the actors on stage struggled to lose their last battle. It seemed as though the play reached its climax just as the mage had, and it wouldn't be long before they would be walking back to the palace.
The warrior wiped his hand off on his trousers as the blonde worked to discretely lace up his own. Once he was done, Anders grabbed for his lover's hand, intertwining their fingers, and he smiled as he looked forward at the stage. He was nervous about their trip to Val Royeaux. It seemed like they'd barely had time at home in months, and he hadn't been able to work at the clinic in quite some time. Justice had been growing more and more restless about the need to work with the mages, and this trip was once again setting that all back. But at this moment, there was nothing in the apostate's mind. He was free to enjoy the end of the show, sitting next to the man he loved. In a matter of days he would be back home, able to get back to his duties. And he will have been rested and more eager to move things forward than ever.
In less than half an hour, the play drew to a close. The curtains opened one final time for the actors to come back on stage and take a bow, and the entire audience rose to applaud them. Hawke really had no idea if they all deserved such cheer as he'd hardly spent a moment paying attention. But he did know that he had a wonderful time, if only for the few moments he spent pleasuring his lover.
Once the crowd had started to exit the theater, the group decided it was time to leave as well and head back to the palace for the evening. The majority of the party would be meeting with the Empress and the Divine early in the morning, so it was to their benefit to get a good night's rest. The walk home, however, was rather long. Everyone took their time, enjoying the view of the night sky which was so remarkably similar to that of Kirkwall's. The lovers straggled behind the elves and the rogue, hand in hand, enjoying the silence save for the chirping of crickets and boots upon cobble stone.
"Did you enjoy the play?" the pirate asked, breaking the silence. She had turned around and was looking directly at Hawke, a sly smile on her face.
"Loved it," he answered.
"What was your favorite part?"
"Um, the end," he said, not really having any clue what to say. "So…dramatic."
"And you, Anders? You seemed to really get off on the whole thing. I looked over and saw you gasping at one point."
The mage's eyes grew wide as he realized what she was talking about; her smile revealed far too much. He simply frowned, and that was enough answer for her, and the rogue turned back to catch up with Fenris and Orana.
"I think I've had enough of this public sex thing for a while," Anders whispered to Hawke. "We haven't been able to do it a single time without getting caught."
"Yeah but we haven't gotten in trouble so it's not like it really matt-"
"You told me that you would always respect my wishes if I was ever really against doing something," the mage said quietly, squeezing the other man's hand. "I'd just like to avoid doing it again for a little while. I'm not saying 'no' to it forever."
"Alright," Hawke said. He pulled his hand away from his lover and wrapped his arm tightly around his shoulders, pulling him close. "But was this alright for our first anniversary?"
The blonde smiled and rest his head against the warrior's shoulder as they walked. "It was wonderful, Love. One of many more, I hope."
"You promised me you had at twenty-five years until your Calling. So I expect twenty-five more."
Anders really wasn't sure what the future would hold. He felt like his work with the mages would lead him somewhere that Hawke would certainly not want to follow, but he hadn't the heart or ability to express this to his lover. And rather than hurt him with the silence, he just shrugged off any thoughts pertaining to such things. All he could do now was live in the moment and hope he could have as many happy days with the other man as possible. "You'll get as many as the Maker allows," he said softly.
"He's taken away my entire family," the dark-haired man said. "So I still expect those twenty-five."
The mage kissed his cheek as they approached the palace. "Then I'll expect them as well."
The next day, Anders sat with Orana in his large Orlesian room, and they used one of Hawke's large armor crates as a table. They'd been alone for hours, the others having left early in the morning to go to the Grand Cathedral, and they were growing quite tired of cards. The elf was becoming quite the player, winning several hands at both Diamondback and Wicked Grace. The mage found himself tired of losing, so he taught her a brand new game that he had just created, one that he knew she couldn't win.
As Orana groaned, losing yet another hand at Apostate Rummy, the door to the room swung open and slammed against the wall. Hawke burst in, scowl on his face, and he tossed his sword onto the ground. "Gather your shit, we're leaving," he said with a huff. The elf got up off the ground and scurried away, heading out towards her room. Anders could see that, behind the warrior, Fenris and Isabela were entering their own to grab their things as well. He gathered the cards and pocketed them before getting up and going over to his lover.
"What happened, Love?"
"Not now," the warrior grunted as he walked into the washroom.
"Archer, I've already got everything packed; it's all in the crates," Anders said, following after him.
"Good now let's find some guards to carry them to the ship so we can get the fuck out of this bloody stupid country." He stomped out of the room and started banging on the doors to their companions' rooms. "Let's go! I want to be back in Kirkwall by the 17th!" Then he raced down the hall to gather some guards.
Orana, Fenris, and Isabela came out of their rooms. Anders looked at the warrior and the rogue questioningly, but the just shook their head as now was not the time for explanations. Hawke came back in a hurry with several guards and instructed them to gather the crates and follow them to the ship. Immediately he grabbed his sword and his lover's staff from the room, and, without looking at him, he tossed the blonde his weapon and was off. The others followed, and the guards with the crates were close behind. The walk to the ship was brisk and silent, and Anders was finding himself more and more uncomfortable by the second.
Once the crates were loaded in the ship, the companions got to work quickly readying the ship for their departure. It didn't take long this time, now well trained from several days on sea just a few days ago, and they were out of the docks in no time. Once out on the open water, Val Royeaux was just a speck of a sight in the distance, and Anders watched as the towering stone pillar in front of the Grand Cathedral faded off into nothing. It had been nearly an hour since Hawke had uttered a word to him, and he was growing impatient, desperate to know what had happened at his meeting. He left his place at the stern of the ship and found Hawke staring down at the water close to where Isabela was steering.
"We need to talk," he said, leaning over the railing to look down where his lover gazed.
"Right," Hawke said with a sigh. He pushed himself up and made his way below deck to their cabin. He sat on cot, and, after he lit a few lanterns with a small fire spell, the mage joined him.
"I haven't seen you so upset in quite a while," the mage said, resting his right hand on his lover's knee.
"You should have seen me at the end of the meeting," the warrior answered. "I was just about ready to take down the Divine herself. And Fenris. Don't get me started on him."
The blonde raised his eyebrow. "You're really going to have to tell me everything, Love."
Hawke leaned over and pressed a heavy, wet kiss against his neck. His hand wandered, finding itself between the mage's legs. "I don't want to talk."
"You just want to take your frustrations out on me?" Anders asked with a smile.
"Something like that."