Nero didn't sleep for very long after putting Fenris to bed, he had gone to bed early the night before out of boredom. Even so his arm was still painfully numb where it was pinned under the elf's shoulder. Wincing, and trying desperately not to wake Fenris up, he wiggled it out and frowned while the blood flowed back to his fingers. Luckily, Fenris was sleeping like a rock and didn't even stir when he jostled him. The elf was laying on his back now, one arm across his chest and the other hanging over the edge of the bed. Nero was momentarily surprised by how peaceful the man looked while sleeping and he recalled a similar reaction not that long ago when they were in the gallows.

As quietly as possible Nero slipped out of bed, his joints popping in the process, reminding him, again, that he wasn't young anymore. He sat down in a chair by the fire, and stoked it again, and allowed himself to wonder what exactly happened to get the elf so upset. Clearly something triggered memories of his past, but what? Recalling the bite marks and bruises on Fenris' neck Nero found himself hoping fervently that someone didn't try to force the elf to do something he didn't want to.

Glancing at the armor on the floor he shook his head, no, the elf was still wearing the armor when Nero found him, and it would have had to have been removed for those marks to get there. Maybe Bethany had been right, and the two were that close. He frowned and a sharp pain exploded in the center of his chest. That seemed the most likely explanation for the marks, but it still did not explain the state Fenris was in when Nero found him. Nero's brow furrowed, surely Hawke wouldn't have caused that, Hawke was not that type of person, he wouldn't knowingly put someone in that state. At least, Nero didn't think he would.

With a mental sigh he stood and glanced at the sleeping elf, shaking his head sadly he turned and left the room, quietly closing the door behind him. Guilt washed over him at how he had acted the night before. If Fenris and Hawke really were together than Nero had no reason to sleep in the elf's bed with him; had Fenris been in a better state then Nero was sure he would have been kicked out. Unknowingly Nero had taken advantage of Fenris, he was despicable. How could he do something like that to someone who had been a slave, a position that would have warranted being taken advantage of at every turn?

Prior to this train of thought he had been considering getting something to eat, but now he barely felt as though he deserved such a luxury. One of the few things he did not like about freedom was that he had to take responsibility for his own actions. He could not comfort himself when he regretted doing something by telling himself that he had no choice in the matter. He did have a choice and he had chosen poorly.

Stopping in his room to grab a shirt he wen to the backyard. He should be doing exercises or maybe even cleaning but he did not feel up to it. Instead he decided to try and clear out the mess that once might have been a garden.

...

The sun was setting when Nero decided that he should probably check on the elf, make sure he was still alive and all that. He had worked the day away, well, most of it anyway. At some point in the afternoon he had uncovered a stone bench by a waterless waterfall and took a nap on it. He had the sunburn to prove it. Most of the weeds and foliage were cleared away but there was still lots that needed to be done. He absentmindedly wondered if he had always had such a penchant for gardening.

He stopped by the kitchen to clean the dirt from his hands before he ascended the stairs to Fenris' chamber. He knocked gently before slowly easing the door open. Only to find the room empty, and not just of the elf. Although Fenris didn't own very many things (mostly just his armor, weapons, and a pack containing things that are necessary to have when on the road) they were all gone and the fire was dead.

With a frown he threw the door open the rest of the way and looked over the room a few more times before assuring himself that he wasn't imagining things, Fenris was gone. The only sign the elf had ever been there was the mess that he had made the night before. Confused Nero turned and headed to his room to bathe quickly before getting dressed and heading to Lowtown and the Hanged man with hopes that Fenris was there. In the least Nero hoped that Fenris had told someone he was leaving.

As Nero walked through the darkening streets he reprimanded himself for his actions even more than had been earlier. Chances were that Fenris had found the idea of continuing to live with him an uncomfortable one. Maybe he was going to live with Hawke in his new estate, maybe if Nero really wanted answers he should head there.

No, Nero knew if he headed to Hawke's he would have a hard time concealing his jealousy over his relation with the elf. 'Cause that's what it is, isn't it? he asked himself, even Bethany saw it. Lo and behold, you can't even read yourself as well as others can. He smiled sadly. It would have been nice to realize that he had feelings for the elf before he screwed it up. Or before Hawke got there first.Stop referring to him that way, Fenris is not some waif ready to go with the first person that will take him.

Nero looked up at the wooden replica of the man hanging from the bars rafters. At least I'm not down enough to be jealous of him, he chuckled.

Opening the door he strode past the growing crowd, side-stepping around a man that Nora was demanding somebody get rid of. As he walked up the stairs he was surprised to hear Hawke's muffled voice on the other side of the door leading to Varric's suite.

"... he looked as though he was going to say something before he left, but he didn't." Hawke was saying, confusion evident in his voice "I don't know Isabela, he seemed hurt that i wanted him to leave. I thought i had made it evident that i didn't want more than sex. Maybe i should have just said it straight-out."

Isabella chuckled, "he's an ex-slave Hawke, i don't think he's as capable of reading someones body language when it comes to these things-oh, hello, Nero-Hey!"

Nero had thrown open the door to the suite and in one quick move had grabbed Hawke from where he was sitting across the table from Isabela and pinned him against the wall with one hand on his throat.

"You bastard," He hissed, "how dare you use him like that. What have you done?"

Nero's fist connected with Hawke's jaw with a sickening crunch. Hawke's head snapped to the side and when he turned it back to face Nero fury burned in his eyes. He grabbed the thumb of the hand that was being held around his neck and twisted, with a wince Nero let go and fell to his knees. Hawke kept hold of his hand and punched Nero three times in the face in a quick succession. Nero spit blood out of his mouth and made to push himself to his feet when Isabela grabbed him by his spare arm and pulled him across the floor, away from Hawke. Varric rushed past and put his hands up in front of Hawke, trying to calm him down and prevent a full-fledged fight from taking place in his room.

Isabela dropped Nero's arm and let him get to his feet, but when he made a move towards Hawke she grabbed him by the wrist and twisted his arm behind his back. Pushing him out the door she forced him down the hall and into her room where she slammed and locked the door behind them.

"The the fuck is your problem?" She demanded.

He sat on the foot of the bed, bunching the bottom of his shirt and holding it against where his lip was bleeding, He looked up when she spoke, anger still evident on his features but didn't say anything.

She tsked and disappeared into the bathroom, she returned with a bowl of water and a cloth. Setting it on the floor she kneeled in front of him and made to pull his hand from where he held it to his face but he gave her a hard look and jerked it back. She smacked his arm hard and when she again tried to move his arm he complied. She dipped the cloth in the bowl and, after wringing out most of the water, she placed it on his chin. He winced and she smiled wryly.

"Maybe next time you wont try to fight hawk when he's in his armor and you're not. Gauntlets and face are not friends you know"

Nero continued to scowl, he was almost certain now that it was Hawke's fault that Fenris had been so upset the night before. He wanted to pin Fenris' disappearance on the man as well, but he knew that could just as likely be his fault. At least he could safely assume that Fenris hadn't decided to move in with Hawke. Hoo-rah for that, he thought sourly.

The cloth Isabela was using to clean his face was now more red than white...or gray as it were, but he had stopped bleeding so profusely. As his rage began to subside Nero became increasingly aware of the discomfort in both his face and his hand. His lip stung every time Isabela put the cloth to it and his knuckles throbbed painfully from when he had punched Hawke. Nero lifted his hand and wiggled his fingers to survey the damage, it was swollen and turning an ugly purple but it didn't feel broken. Thank the maker for small miracles.

Evidently in his rage he had left his training outside. He knew throwing a fist at someone was more likely to hurt him than the other person, especially if he was aiming at the face. He was silently thankful that he his fist hadn't gotten caught in the other man's teeth, Nero didn't particularly feel like going to Darktown and visiting Anders. Going at Hawke in and of itself had been dumb, the man was almost twice his size. Nero's skills lay more in fighting dirty and making use of pressure points and speed, brute force was not his strength. Nero was sure the only reason he got Hawke out of his chair was by surprise. He shook his head at his own stupidity.

"You're lucky," Isabela said, "your bottom lip has a nasty split in it but nothing seems to be broken and you aren't missing any teeth."

There was a knock on the door and Varric demanded to be let in. Isabela put the cloth in Nero's hand and stood to let the dwarf in.

"Andraste's flaming knickers, what was that all about?" the man demanded.

Nero looked away, his scowl unfaltering. He refused to answer, instead gingerly holding the cloth to his lip.

"Did he talk to you, Rivaini?"

"No, but if i had to guess i would say it has something to do with Mr broody-elf." She smirked at Nero's look, "I think that's the one."

"What the hell did the elf do? I don't understand." Varric shook his head in frustration.

"I think its more a question of who did the elf do. Hawke was just telling me of his pleasant evening with Fenris when Nero came charging in to defend Fenris' honor." Isabela laughed.

Varric looked at Isabela thoughtfully before speaking, "i wonder if that's why the elf was leaving..."

"What?" Nero demanded.

"Lo and behold, he can still speak. I had begun to think maybe Hawke beat your ability to talk right out of you." Varric smirked, "Fenris came by this morning, he asked for some of his share from the deep roads and wanted to know when the next ship was leaving. Lucky for him I have a contact taking some of the things we found in the deep roads to Antiva to trade and his ship left around noon today."

"He didn't say why he was leaving?" Nero asked hopefully.

Varric shook his head, "when I asked he just said that he needed to get away for a while."

Nero visibly deflated and let his hands fall to his lap.

"Sorry, Violet." Varric apologized.

Nero shook his head and stood, "I'm going home." was all he said before he let himself out of the room and left the hanged man to walk back to Hightown and the empty estate.