Isn't it time that some things got repaired? :) I hope you enjoy!

(9) Kingsway 21st

Hawke reenters the bedchamber, her arms loaded with papers and books, the bottle of wine balanced on top. She makes her way over to the bed and drops the stuff in a heap. I join her to look at what she's brought.

I have to make things right. There's no need to live under the fear from before. Hawke is everything to me, and she must know that.

She turns towards me, surveying my face. "You look stressed; what's on your mind?" She frowns.

Even if it hurts to try… I have to. I close the distance between us and glide my thumb gently across her cheek before sliding my hand into her hair. I glance at her lips and then smile at her.

"Um…" She takes a startled breath, her cheeks tinge pink. "Uh, what's on your mind?"

"You." I press my lips to hers and pull her to me, kissing her deeply and slowly. She places her hands gently on my chest and leans into me. My other arm wraps around her waist, drawing her body flush against mine.

After a few moments Hawke pulls back slightly, her eyes wide. "What are you doing?"

"Hawke, you make me happy. Not bringing me wine. I love you, and that is what matters. No, that doesn't instantly fix everything, but it is the reason I want to try." I tell her seriously.

She nods, choked up. "I… love you too. And want that too." She manages.

Smiling, I run my fingers lightly up and down her back. This time I won't be an idiot and fuck this up.

"So… does that mean, I get to start kissing you again?" Hawke asks with a giggle.

I'm just as happy about it as you are. I smirk. "Yes." Before the word is even finished, she grabs my tunic and forcefully pulls me into another kiss. We lose our balance and fall onto the floor, nocking several things off the end table. The land with a loud thud. This doesn't faze us. She hooks her leg around my hip, and I part her lips with mine. I slide my hand down to grip her butt and keep her close. Hawke bites playfully at my lip and shifts her body on top of mine, her legs straddling me, our chests pressed together. My markings flare brightly to life, shining clearly through my clothes.

"What was that noise—what the—" Stammers Anders' voice from the doorway.

I break the kiss and release my hold on Hawke just long enough to sneer and hold up my middle finger to the abomination. I can't say that isn't satisfying.

"Close the damn door!" Anders grumbles, pulling it shut with a slam.

Hawke sits up and yells after him. "Sorry! I forgot you were the boss of me!" She sasses.

I chuckle and shake my head. "Perhaps now he'll be more apt to leave us in peace."

"Doubt it. If there's any change, it'll be from him telling Isabela and her looking through the window. Much to her disappointment I'm sure." Hawke snickers, standing to her feet and offering her hand to pull me up.

I certainly made the right decision. Hawke understands exactly what I need this to be, for now. She always continues to amaze me. "Is she ever not disappointed by our relationship?"

"Hmm…" Hawke thinks for a moment. "I think she likes the way it fuels her humor."

"Ah, like a certain nameless dwarf whose initials are Varric?" I jest.

She nods. "Indeed, indeed. The very same. Although, we could give them something to talk about."

"I believe we just did." I lean back against the bed, crossing my arms.

Hawke twists her lips mischievously. "I know… but like… something a little more public?"

I narrow my eyes at the beautiful mage. "Somehow, I don't think you need to give Aveline another reason to be disappointed in you." I jest.

Hawke gasps, feigning offence. "I am never disappointing! Well… except for to all those people who I accepted quests from and then immediately forgot what we had just talked about…"

"Mmmhmm." I roll my eyes. If Aveline has nighty-nine problems, Hawke is most of them.

She places her hands on her hips. "I am perfectly reasonable, and Aveline couldn't be more proud of how I've grown as a person."

Oh, Hawke. She will always take the opportunity to push her luck. I lightheartedly shove her shoulder. "Well, are you teaching me to read or not?"

After a scowl, she nods and picks up a sheet of paper off the bed. "I'm going to do my best but be warned, I helped Carver learn. And you see how he turned out."

"Carver can read?" I raise an eyebrow.

At this, Hawke bursts out laughing, covering her mouth. "I love it when you're funny. It's refreshing." She looks at me sweetly.

"I'm a funny guy." I shrug.

This elicits another bought of giggles from her. "I've noticed." She winks. "I'm going to have to up my game to stay ahead of you. Remember? In this dark comedy, you're the dark, and I'm the comedy."

I raise my eyebrows. "Ah, so you've given up on this being a romance then?"

Her eyes widen, pale cheeks flushing a brighter red. "I- no- I didn't- No!"

Taking her hand in mine, I smile. "I'm kidding."

Hawke grins in return and leans down to rest her head on my shoulder. "I'm so glad to get back to this. I could lie to myself every day, but I could never get over you. You're just… you're the love of my life, Fenris. And I'm going to be in love with you for the rest of it."

"I feel just as strongly about you Hawke. You're just a bit better at all this than I am." I trace my thumb in circles across the back of her hand. "But, I promise it will be different this time. I'm not afraid of my feelings for you any longer."

She gives a slight nod and squeezes my hand. "Still, don't feel like you have anything to prove to me. I don't expect anything from you. If you ever need another break, or space, just tell me. I understand."

"Thank you." I press a kiss to her forehead. I could never be with anyone else. The Maker must have had a hand in pulling us together… There's no other way I could have ever found someone like Hawke.

As it turns out, learning how to read is horrible. The letters all look the same, the sounds the letters make often have nothing to do with how to actually say the word, and what I can read in one person's writing, I can't read at all in another's. It's a maddening exercise of my thin patience. Still, I persevere and channel my rage through my fist into the wall, rather than via scathing remarks to Hawke. True, this is her fault, but she's doing it as favor to me and she's working really hard. She doesn't deserve the string of profanity I want to fling at her at every given moment. As a result of the damages our surrounds receive, our lessons only take place in my mansion.

Every evening, after the various shenanigans Hawke gets us into, we return to the crumbling mansion and fail miserably in an attempt to turn me into some kind of scholar. This is fine with me; Hawke's estate is alright, but it's as pristine as those in Tevinter, thanks to Orana, and I find more comfort in worn places. Also, I spend an excessive amount of time there, with the abomination nearby, as it is.

In contrast, reading lessons themselves are not horrible. Hawke is an incredibly patient teacher and does an excellent job of redirecting us to work on Tevene when I get particularly irritated. Generally, the sessions also involve wine and freedom to kiss without the constant interruption of her estate, so that's a plus. We de-grimed one corner of my bed chamber, in which Hawke placed several pillows and declared it 'The Totally Only for Research Corner.' She somehow managed to convince everyone, even Isabela, that we just use my mansion to avoid disturbing her household by having sex. Why they believe her, I don't know. Does anyone actually have sex every day? It seems extremely unlikely.

As the days pass, reading does become easier. I start finding that I can decipher most of the signs throughout Kirkwall. It isn't a novel, but it's still encouraging and useful. Walls have begun to receive considerably less abuse since I've adapted to the feelings of fury reading tends to provoke. Hawke's begun saying things in Tevene to people, generally insults, and then refusing to explain what she said. Occasionally, it's actually funny. I tend to shrug and act like she was speaking a nonsensical string of words. Anyone who knows her isn't surprised to hear that.

The sense of normalcy the lessons bring to our lives is actually nice. It's something that's constant, and that I wanted and chose. Having this with Hawke gives me a place where I'm more than just one of the companions or a reassurance that she'll make it through the night. We both learn things and our bond grows. This passage of time has gained a meaning that my past has definitively lacked.