Afternoon, Minrathous

"Milord," Hadriana said, coming into Danarius's battle practice room.

Danarius was in his shiny mage armour, throwing fireballs into a grand portrait replica of Hawke and Fenris. Hawke's face was completely charred, save for her eyes. Then the painting simply reconstructed itself. He paid a whopping amount of gold for that cutting-edge technology and it was worth every single penny.

"Any news?" he said flatly, throwing a rain of ice shards at Hawke. It landed in both her eyes, her neck and her heart.

"Magister Ahriman will not be attending the next Senate meeting," Hadriana said, looking down. "There was… an incident."

"What incident?" Danarius said irately, the fire in his hand dispersing.

"You are aware of the riots in Qarinus, I'm sure," Hadriana said.

Danarius scoffed. "Of course," he said, throwing a hex that made Hawke's eyes and mouth bleed blackness. "They couldn't just leave it to the slaves to revolt, they had to sink their dirty noses in it too and reap the benefits. Equality, my arse! They have their damned freedom! Bunch of lazy, ungrateful twats!" he said angrily, throwing another fireball in Hawke's face.

"The workers were aided by Qunari spies. They infiltrated Ahriman's mansion and set fire to it," Hadriana said.

Danarius stopped, dread suffocating his face. "Varania?"

"She was wounded, but she is alive. Her son is in critical condition, however."

"Vishante kaffas!" Danarius growled nastily, summoning a rage demon. He broke a vial of blood and bound the demon to his will. "You! Your name is now Useless Idiot! Smash that ugly whore down, Useless Idiot!"

The rage demon complied and formed a mega-fist with their hands and proceeded to smash the painting.

"There… now I can concentrate," Danarius said, wiping his forehead. But calmness did not visit. It hadn't shown its face for a decade. He hadn't seen his face for six years. It seemed so far away now. He thought of the day they met properly. That seemed like an entirely different lifetime ago. He spoke in that terrible Seheroni accent and the boy didn't even know the word 'comb'. He wore that horrible Tevinter soldier armour. No style at all. No charm. The latter never changed. Some things never changed. "For fuck's sake, Hadriana! I've got to get her out of there! If she dies in a fire like that other wildling whore, I'll have nothing left!"

"Varania will not leave," Hadriana said. "Ahriman's wife took a liking to her."

"Ahriman's wife is a fucking idiot! Like this one!" Danarius said, pointing to the demon. "Ahriman's fucking her. That's why she won't leave. She does what she knows best." He cold snapped the demon and threw a block of ice into it, making it explode. "Not that my idiot father ever appreciated it."

"I…" Hadriana said, contained.

Danarius looked at her with scornful eyes. "You are my apprentice, Hadriana. I am your master. If I want to shit on my father's name, you will shit on him with me. You will shit on his grave and eat it if I tell you to."

Hadriana inhaled. "Yes, of course, master."

Danarius summoned another demon of rage. "You!" he said, binding them. "You are Useless Idiot No. 2. Can you shit, Idiot No. 2?"

The demon shook their head.

"And that's why you're useless," Danarius said, and pointed to the painting. "Go on. Smash that redheaded botched abortion! The resemblance is uncanny." He became somewhat calm, finally. Could breathe. He turned to Hadriana. "Ahriman made it out alive, I presume."

"Yes, he is rebuilding," Hadriana said. "Perhaps it's best if we wait until the next Senate meeting after that. With all the casualties and the rioters fraternising with Qunari, maybe Ahriman and the other magisters in Qarinus will be more generous and agree to a work reform bill that covers development opportunities, if you propose it."

"To solve the riot crisis, of course!" Danarius said happily, throwing a snowball into the demon's head. "I am a genius!"

"I… " Hadriana said, stopping herself. "Yes, milord."

"What about Vanard? Have you heard back?" Danarius said.

"Yes, I saved the good news for last," Hadriana said, grinning. "He cannot evict Fenris. There is no evidence of him ever living there in the last two inspections, but—"

"What's the point?" Danarius said, scoffing. "He'd just move in with the funny bastard. I don't need him in a more defensible position."

"However…" Hadriana said, grinning. "Magistrate Vanard has no love for Hawke."

"Who the fuck is Hawke?" Danarius said.

"Our funny bastard," Hadriana said, smirking. "She is stirring up her own riot in Kirkwall against the Templars."

"Huh," Danarius said, leaning on his staff. "The Fereldan packs a brain in there after all."

"Magistrate Vanard lost his son," Hadriana continued. "Guess who murdered him?"

"Our funny bastard?" Danarius said, laughing with glee. "How come they haven't hanged her yet?"

"His son was a murderer himself. A child murderer and a rapist," Hadriana said. "In truth, no one misses him but his father. Guard-Captain Vallen took over about the same time, and he did not have her friendship."

"Poor Vanard," Danarius said, shaking his head. "A rapist murderer for a son…" He shook his head some more. "I told him not to move to Kirkwall for that broad. Those Marchers breed nothing but scum."

"He is happy to do you a favour for a favour," Hadriana said.

"I know what he wants," Danarius said, smiling. "The question is, what do I want?"

"I've thought about this, milord," Hadriana said excitedly. "Even if Hawke's not a mage, rumour has it her father was. The Amells have a lot of magic in their blood, too. That coupled with her ire against the Templars, there's already enough suspicion."

"I thought Vanard had bad blood with the Templars," Danarius said. Then he laughed at his own joke.

Hadriana shrugged. "The enemy of my enemy is my friend. I think if you ask him to grant a warrant to search Hawke's house, he'd oblige. He could make up a reason for it. She has a reputation. If there's evidence of magic, the Guard will have to inform the Templars and she'll be taken to the Circle. If she's not, well… I'm sure she has other skeletons in her closet. Fereldans are sentimental hoarders. If anything, it could buy us time."

"I thought she had the Guard-Captain in her pocket."

"I'm sure Magistrate Vanard will think of something."

"Then we must make time, and space. I will take over correspondence. You will depart now. Take Barnabas with you. You can stay at Leonidus's summer house in Tantervale until further notice."

"At once," Hadriana said.

"Good work, puppet," Danarius said.

Hadriana looked happier than a drunken vagrant finding leftovers in the trash.

"Wait," Danarius said. She turned around. "Where did you say Hawke was from again?"

"Some tiny, unimportant village in Ferelden."

"Find out where exactly. People do all sorts of crazy shit in cataclysmic times."

"Fereldans do not speak to Tevinters."

Danarius scoffed, looking at the portrait. "Don't they?"

Night time, Fenris's Mansion

"I'm sorry, Hawke," Fenris said, his eyes strangled by sadness. He covered his face. "I'm so sorry."

"It's okay," Hawke said softly, opening her arms. "Come here."

He didn't want to. She wasn't sure what spooked him more—her or himself.

She blew on all the candles and then she looked at him. He was just stunned and immobile, somewhere far away into himself.

"Fen Fen, it's fine," she insisted, coming to him. "Are you okay?"

"Stop trying to make me feel better every damn time!" he said angrily, which he immediately regretted. "I don't…" he said, breathing in. "I don't deserve it this time."

"What do you want me to do? Have a go at you for having trauma?" she said, flinging her arms widely. "Look… I'm sorry for whatever I did."

"You didn't do anything!" he said with sadness and frustration. He put his arm and forehead against the top of the fireplace.

"Well, that's not how that works," she mumbled to herself.

"It's not right," he said firmly with his eyes closed, shaking his forehead against his arm.

Hawke had complained about men all her life. Their greediness, their violence, their sense of entitlement. But this was no ordinary man. Should she have felt rage at what he did? Maybe. Maybe she was crazy. But she couldn't shake the feeling the rage would have been entirely misplaced.

But rage she felt plenty. She was full of it, and it was ready to burst, so she stormed out. She breathed in and out, looked around his awful mansion and she wanted to cry and destroy something. She went back angrily into his room. He remained exactly where she left him.

"You know what's not right?" Hawke said, her nostrils flaring up. She picked up her gauntlets. Didn't even care to put her sweater back on. A black bra and a pair of gauntlets was all she needed for this. Black like her fucking hate. "I'll show you what's not right," she said.

"Where are we going?" Fenris said, all confused. Hopefully not outside.

Hawke dragged him to a random room downstairs and let him go.

She grabbed a vase. "What's not right is that FUCKING MAGE!" she screamed, smashing it to the floor. She took a painting of some important person off the wall and put her leg through it. "That fucking WEAK, pathetic little man!" she screamed, throwing it away.

Fenris just looked at her, his eyes coming out of his sockets.

Hawke picked up a chest. "I fucking hate him, Fenris! I FUCKING HATE HIM!" she growled loudly, smashing it through a wardrobe.

She paced around angrily, then stopped and pointed at him. "Men like him are what give mages a bad name!" she shouted. "Well, fuck him and his next eighteen generations! I'm gonna fuck him!I'm gonna fuck him to the end of time! He just has to show his face here!" she said, laughing maniacally. She breathed out, nodding at Fenris, and pointed a thumb at herself. "He's fucked with the wrong mage!" she said, spitting on a naked man statue.

She was hyperventilating at this point. Filled with all the rage, all of it. She looked like she felt real good.

Fenris watched her being a hot, aggressive mess, making a complete fool of herself, and he felt real good. He watched her go full on Fereldan, almost half naked with gauntlets on, screaming like there was no tomorrow and smashing things into other things for him—it made him love her to the end of time.

"Who the fuck does he think he is?!" she screamed, her accent hardening. She punched the muscular naked man with her gauntlet, and the jaw came off. "Who the fuck gave him the right to fuck up my wonderful boyfriend?!" she screamed, and punched right through the statue's genitals. She grabbed them out with her claws. "Who the fuck gave him the right to destroy the man I love?" she shouted, throwing the genitals hard in the statue's face and decapitating it.

"The man you what?" Fenris said, dumbfounded.

Shit. She lost it tonight after all.

Hawke turned around, wiping the plaster off her forehead nonchalantly. She had nothing to lose anymore.

"Yeah," she said, her nostrils flaring up again. She pointed at herself determinedly. "Who the fuck gave him the right to destroy the man I love? Before I could even love him like he deserves to be loved!" she cried. She literally cried. That's how angry she was.

"Give me your gauntlet," Fenris demanded.

She shoved it off and gave it o him, using the freed hand to wipe away her tears.

Fenris went to the statue and viciously destroyed what remained of it. Then he went to the other statues and destroyed those too. She watched him, hands on her hips, and blew air up her bangs.

When he was done, he took his gauntlet off and threw it away. He looked very calm.

He silently dragged her back upstairs.

Night time, Hightown

Donnic and Gregory were bored out of their minds. Donnic was also extremely annoyed, as he had little idea what he did to deserve a Hightown assignment. Gregory didn't mind, which annoyed him even more.

"I really don't get it," Donnic said as they patrolled.

"Mate, it's probably just a staffing issue," Gregory said, eating his sausage roll.

But Donnic knew it wasn't the truth. There were staffing issues, of course. The Captain had fired a lot of loose cannons. But getting Hightown meant two possible things—either you were a baby guard or you were a problem.

In his heart of hearts, he feared the truth was much, much closer to him. That in his awkwardness and idiocy, he made his inappropriate feelings for the Captain obvious and she didn't take kindly to them. He shouldn't have gone out with Hawke. He knew they were friends and she may have shown up that evening. That's what he was hoping for, really. But she looked so damn upset with him at the bar. She must have known. Must have drunk her resentment away. Must have left because of him.

They had such a good thing going with the morning news and he just had to ruin it. He just had to pry in her personal life. See if there was space for someone else in there. Who wouldn't have seen through that awfully disguised attempt? Then, he more or less—he could argue—stalked her to the Hanged Man. He face-palmed himself. He even said, "Tough tongue, Captain." Who says that? He was going to get fired.

At least he made a new friend. A non-guard friend for a change. Also, quite an odd friend. But he didn't mind odd. Fenris was Donnic's kind of odd. He may have to find out where this guy lived and ask him if he could crash for a bit until he found a new job. Ugh. That wasn't right.

"What was that?" Gregory said, dropping his sausage roll. There was loud banging coming up from the Chantry District.

"Probably the De Launcet's fighting again," Donnic said.

"You think we should go in?"

"I don't know… Serah De Launcet is pretty harmless."

"I wasn't thinking of him. I was thinking of his wife."

"You think the Mrs is breaking shit?"

"Nothing like a woman scorned."

Donnic pursed his lips. "Yeah."

Night time, Fenris's Mansion

"Lights on," Fenris demanded.

"O… kay," Hawke said, and snapped her fingers.

As soon as that was over, he took her to his bed and threw her down. That was… not what she expected would happen.

"Wait. I still don't know what I did—"

Fenris came on top of her. "Shut up," he said.

A tall order, but he definitely could help. He kissed her like there was no tomorrow. Touched her all over. He finally knew where an arse was. She rolled on top of him so he could grab it better, and she did too well a job. He grabbed so hard it hurt. A good, good hurt.

There was so much blood pumping between their crotches it was crazy.

Night time, The Chantry District

Gregory took too much time making pleasantries with the De Launcet's. They opened up the good wine, perhaps because they knew they made too much noise. Gregory was such a fucking sensualist. They weren't supposed to drink on the job. Even if it was… Hightown. Blergh.

Donnic couldn't concentrate. He went outside and lit himself a guilty cigarette, trying not to think of anything anymore. He exhaled heavily, and forgot why he ever stopped smoking.

Then he saw the lights in the window.

Night time, Fenris's Mansion

"If you don't take your trousers off right now, I'm going to rip them," Fenris warned her in between kisses.

"No, no, no!" Hawke said, biting his lip. "They're my favourite trousers."

"Right. Now," Fenris demanded.

Wow, he wasn't kidding. "Yessir!" she said, climbing off him to take them down. When she climbed back on, that monstrosity was out and waiting for her.

He looked very annoyed. He ripped her smallclothes apart. That was so hot. She should have let him rip whatever.

"Freeze!" a man's voice came.

Hawke didn't even process that. She barely processed Fenris throwing her off the bed.

"Oh!" the man shouted aggressively.

She popped her head up. Donnic was standing there, crossbow in one hand and the other in the air, trying to blot out a standing Fenris and his… weapon.

"Holy shit! Donnic?" Hawke said, coming up a little.

"Oh!" Donnic shouted, putting a hand over his eyes too. He could have gauged one out with that crossbow.

They both buttoned and/or put more clothes on.

"What the fuck?!" Donnic shouted angrily, still not looking.

"Fenris, m-my sweater—" Hawke said awkwardly.

He went down awkwardly and took the sweater out from under Donnic's boot. He threw it at her.

"Alright, all good," Hawke said, doing the last button on her trousers.

Donnic took his hands away. "What the fuck?!" he repeated angrily.

"I live here," Fenris said calmly. He extended his arms as if in a barrier. "It is my crime. She has nothing to do with this."

"You? Here?" Donnic said, looking around. "Ah, shit on a stick," he said, falling down in an armchair.

"Don't rat him out," Hawke pleaded.

"Hawke, please—" Fenris said, raising his hand a little.

"What the fuck were you thinking?" Donnic said scoldingly.

"My thinking was this—" Fenris said. "I am an escaped slave. My former master has hunted me for six years, and I've finally given him pause in Kirkwall. He tried to capture me here, but he ran away. So, I took over his mansion."

Donnic frowned, thinking hard. "Oh, yeah... A Tevinter owns this house."

"You can take me if you wish," Fenris said. "But you can't take her."

Donnic's hand covered his headache. He lit himself a cigarette. What the fuck was he going to do? He had to take them in. Both of them. He didn't want to, but he had to.

But then he thought… weren't they the Captain's friends? He could do his duty, but then she might seriously fire him. Hawke was fine. She could do with a night in jail. She'd done it before. But if Fenris was an ex-slave, that triggered a clusterfuck of conflicting laws. He could get asylum, but then again, in this political climate, he could kiss Kirkwall goodbye.

Hawke might seriously kill him. She had a reputation.

Maybe he could overlook this? The Captain was still going to fire him, anyway.

Then he thought… he could get the Captain in trouble too. He'd always wondered why she had it out for slavers so much. Perhaps this was why. Perhaps she overlooked him squatting out of mercy.

Sometimes doing one's duty was such a royal pain the arse.

"Well," Donnic said, taking a long drag. "Either way, I'm getting fired."

"Wait. Why would you get fired?" Hawke said, frowning.

Donnic ignored her. "Do you have any booze?"

"Don't you have a partner?" Fenris said.

Donnic scoffed. "Fucker's drinking with the De Launcet's next door."

"You're one to talk," Hawke said, giving him a bottle.

Donnic looked at her, all activated. "I have a good reason."

"Can I bum one?" Hawke said, sitting down in the other armchair.

Donnic lazily threw his case in her lap. Fenris came and put a hand atop her armchair. This guy was protective, no joke. He had to give him some credit. He defended his girl.

"So, why are you getting fired?" she said, lighting her cigarette in a candle.

"None of your business," Donnic said, drinking.

"Does this have anything to do with Aveline?" Fenris said, taking her cigarette.

Donnic felt like he was falling through his armchair.

"Holy shit," Hawke said, coming forward in the chair. "It does, doesn't it?"

Why did he have to start smoking again?

"She told you, didn't she?" Donnic said despondently.

"She told us something," Fenris said.

"Ah, crap on a cob," Donnic said, rubbing his face. "I swear I didn't do anything wrong. I just asked her if she ever considered remarrying." He became defensive. "In a very detached way, I might add."

Fenris and Hawke looked at each other.

"Oh my Maker," Hawke said almost angrily. "She likes you too, idiot."

"What?" Donnic said, uncovering his face. "B-but she exiled me to Hightown patrol! She-she left the The Hanged Man early because I was there."

Fenris face-palmed himself. "This is so painful," he said.

"She left the bar because she made a fool of herself," Hawke said. Her eyes narrowed. "Were you not there?"

"I thought it was because I was there," Donnic said innocently.

"Correct," Fenris said.

"But you just said—!" Donnic whined.

"Because you kept calling her Captain instead of Aveline when she just wanted to hang out as equals," Hawke explained.

Donnic was not going to take them in. This was growing more and more mortifying, like a cancer.

"There was no Guard gathering at the Hanged Man… was there?" Donnic said.

"Nuh-duh," Hawke said.

"No," Fenris said.

"We were just trying to help you," Hawke said. She took the cigarette for herself. "Boy, let me tell you, you're a lot of work," she mouthed through it.

"So that's why you wanted to be friends?" Donnic said to Fenris, all hurt.

"No," Fenris said. "I just think you're alright. And I really want to beat you at Diamondback."

"I think you're… fine," Hawke said, shrugging.

Donnic looked at the cigarette between Hawke's fingers. All this dread and confusion for a half-arsed misunderstanding. And her friends tried to help, which was equal parts wholesome and embarrassing. "You're more than fine," he said, not realising his line of sight.

"Hey—" Fenris said, scowling.

Donnic face-palmed himself. "See, it's stupid things like that..."

"We know," Hawke said, snickering. "'Tough tongue, Captain'", she said, cackling to herself.

Donnic changed his mind. He was happy he started smoking again. He held three fingers to his forehead and wouldn't stop rubbing. Fenris was right. This was so painful.

"You should have heard me three years ago," Fenris said, looking down shyly.

Hawke broke into little snortles, her eyes pressing shut. "'A woman so… capable,'" she quoted mockingly.

"I hadn't even thought of that," Fenris said, chuckling. "I was thinking when I lightly threatened you with murder and somehow thought it sounded sexy."

"Wait, which time?" Hawke said, looking up at him. "You've threatened me with murder a million times."

"When I said I'd like to play flamenco with your innards," Fenris said.

"Oh my Maker, I remember that," Donnic said. "I was coming up the stairs from the barracks. Everyone else in your group were placing bets on when you'd do it."

They both looked away in amusement and embarrassment.

"You should tell Varric he won," Donnic said.

"I would, but thanks to you, there's nothing to tell," Hawke said, annoyed.

Donnic blushed and wanted to forget he existed. He put the bottle down and came up. "Let's call it even," he said. "You have yourselves a good night."

"Really?" Hawke said.

"Really?" Fenris echoed.

"Between your friend, his cock and my existential crisis, I think I've had enough for a night," Donnic said.

"Sorry about that," Fenris said, clearing his throat.

Donnic brushed it off tiredly. "Congratulations," he said to Hawke, then made to leave. "No wonder you didn't keep a super toy."

"Are we… uhm… are we still on for tomorrow?" Fenris said after him.

"Yep," Donnic mumbled in the doorway. "If you can keep it in your pants."

Fenris sat with Hawke cross-legged on the roof, waiting for the sunrise. Hawke got inspired by Merlin and carried an emergency joint in the hidden pocket of her belt. They were sniggering for the last hour. Or was it two? It was probably ten minutes.

"We are the worst!" Hawke said, leaning on him and laughing.

"The absolute worst," Fenris said, smoking.

"No one's gonna win that bet."

"I'm not one to disappoint."

"Really?" Hawke said, leaning off.

Fenris took her by the shoulder back to him. "We will get it right at some point," he said with a little smile.

"Are you gonna tell me, though?" she said. "What I did wrong?"

He sighed heavily. "You didn't do anything wrong. It's me that's fucked in the head."

"Something triggered the headfuckery," she said. "Doesn't matter if or why or how. What matters is what."

He rolled his eyes. "Fine," he said, tapping on the joint. He gave it to her and stayed silent for a while. "It was what you said."

"I was just playing off of what you said."

"I know. It is my fault."

"Stop it. I'm gonna slap you."

"Well…" he said, weighing it out.

"Fucking hell, Fen Fen," Hawke mouthed firmly, then breathed out. "Stop it with the self-flagellation. It's not sexy."

"Oh, really? I thought that's what was in right now," Fenris said jokingly.

"So, is it just calling you 'good'?" Hawke said. She raised a sultry eyebrow. "'Cause you are good."

He smirked and leaned his head on hers. "I know."

"What else should I avoid?"

"I don't know… Anything that remotely suggests behaving well or… obeying."

"Done."

"What? Just that simple?"

"Yup."

"I will stop saying that too."

"Hey, no. I mean if you're not into calling me 'good', that's fine. But if you are, that's fine too."

Fenris inhaled and sighed, thinking. "I suppose… I don't say it in the way I hear it."

"Exactly. I don't care for obedience shit. You can toss that out the window. But I am a brat and a half. If I'm being called 'good', it's funny because I know I'm so bad. And it's hot when you can make me shut up."

"Noted," he said, grinning a little. He shook his head. "It still doesn't feel fair."

"Why not?" she said. "Fairness is both parties getting what they want."

"I don't even know what I want," he said despondently.

"We'll find out, Fen Fen," she said, ruffling his hair.

He smiled a little and kissed her hand. "I like it when you say 'we'."

"We, we, we, we, we, we," she said in his ear as the sun came up. She put the joint in her mouth "… And now I need a wee," she said, picking herself up.

Fenris watched her go, and counted four emotions. He was getting good at this. One was frustration that he didn't say it back. The moment had passed, and he failed. He had to find the right time, and soon. Another was compassion for himself. If only a little. He watched the sun rising, and he could swear he finally felt its warmth. Because the third and fourth emotion were love and happiness.

Afternoon, Pancakes Around The World

Fenris was late. Donnic fiddled with the copper relief of marigolds, completely ignoring his pancakes. He felt like he was walking on a tightrope between euphoria and anxiety, and he had no idea which way was which. Should he just walk up to her office the next day shift and tell her how he felt? She would never do it herself, he thought. She was in a bad position.

"Donnic," a deep voice came from above.

"Wine bottle," Donnic saluted.

"Will you stop exaggerating?" Fenris said, taking a seat.

"Beer bottle," Donnic said flatly, trying not to chuckle.

"Are you jealous or something?" Fenris said.

"N-no," Donnic said, crossing his arms. "I know how to please a woman."

"Good?" Fenris said, raising an eyebrow.

They both looked away, clearing their throats.

"You already ordered?" Fenris said, frowning at his pancakes.

"Yes."

"Why?"

"You were late and I was getting hungry."

"You haven't even touched yours," Fenris complained. He frowned at the copper marigolds in Donnic's hand and he quickly hid it away.

"Well, you came just after I got these," Donnic lied. "It's Antivan chocolate pancakes. You'll love them."

"I don't want Antivan chocolate. I wanted to see how Fereldans made their pancakes."

"Then go and get Fereldan pancakes."

"And just throw this away like I'm Empress Celene?" Fenris said, annoyed.

"Do whatever you want. Just don't behead me," Donnic said, chuckling.

Fenris went to the till, while Donnic sighed. He let him off the hook, and he was still annoyed. What was this guy's problem?

"So… is there a reason you're kind of hostile?" Donnic said when the elf came back with his Fereldan pancakes.

"You were there," Fenris said, eating grumpily.

"I let you go," Donnic said. "Plus, I tried to diffuse the tension earlier."

"With unimaginative dick jokes?" Fenris said, scoffing. "Please. One Hawke is enough."

"I was doing my job," Donnic said, annoyed.

"Not very well," Fenris said.

"Alright," Donnic said, standing up. He rested an arm on the table and pointed at him. "I don't know how they do it back in Tevinter, but here in Kirkwall we say 'thank you' when receiving a kindness. And pancakes!"

Fenris inhaled and stared at him as if he was trying to make Donnic's head explode with his mind. "Thank you," he said monosyllabically.

"You're welcome," Donnic said, sitting back down. He cut himself a piece of pancake. "You look like shit."

"I know," Fenris said.

Donnic stared at him. What the fuck was he doing to that pancake? He wasn't cutting it. He was dissecting it, like some kind of serial killer. He took a little pad out and made some notes.

"Well, you have two options," Donnic said, unable to divorce himself from his policeman training. "Either you tell me why you look like shit, or you tell me why you're molesting that pancake."

Fenris looked up at him with the same kind of death glare. "If I don't get a solid seven hours of sleep it ruins my sunny disposition."

Donnic didn't know Fenris very well, but even a stranger could see no amount of sleep could give the elf a sunny disposition. He scanned him and logged in one, two, three bruises and about two cuts under his bangs. Also his hair was slightly burnt. "How'd you get those?" he asked.

"None of your business," Fenris said, eating.

None of his business? Since when did a man not want to brag about his battle scars?

"Did your girl do that to you?" Donnic said. He was going to deny it either way, but he wanted to gauge his reaction.

Fenris's eyebrows clashed like two bulls in a fight. "Are you high?"

"No. Are you?"

"At this point, I would prefer it."

"There were a lot of banging noises coming from the mansion last night."

"I was redecorating."

I, not we. Why was the fugitive ex-slave so protective of the powerful noble? Something wasn't right.

"Clearly you're head over heels and I'm happy for you," Donnic said, then came closer and whispered, "But men can get abused too, you know."

Not one muscle moved on Fenris's face. "I really want to punch you right now."

"We can fix that."

Afternoon, The Keep

Donnic held a cushioned practice shield up while Fenris punched it like the Void in a courtyard.

"Great job. You're doing well," Donnic said.

"Don't patronise me," Fenris said.

"I'm not. You've got a lot of anger," Donnic said. "Let it out."

Fenris punched it harder and harder and then took his shield and threw it on the ground.

"Would you like to talk about it?" Donnic offered.

"No, I don't want to talk about it!" Fenris growled mockingly.

Donnic picked up the cushioned shield. "Then continue."

Fenris assaulted the shield again until he blew one so hard Donnic fell over. Fenris stared at him from above, breathing heavily, and held out his hand.

"Someone really fucked you over, didn't they?" Donnic said, being helped up.

"Yes," Fenris said, preparing his fists again.

"And you're sure it's not your girlfriend?" Donnic said.

"The more you say that, Donnic, the more I want to beat you over the head with this shield."

"Alright, alright. Someone did you in though. Someone did you good and well. It's all tangled up like thorns inside."

"The size of giant fangs!" Fenris shouted, punching.

"It's scary, isn't it? The fangs? They can bite you over and over again."

"You don't have to tell me that!"

"Who gave you fangs, Fenris? Your former master?"

Fenris punched way too hard now. He was going to fall over again.

"Bingo. There's the fucker!" Donnic said.

"He fucked me!" Fenris growled, punching fast and hard. People were starting to stare. "He fucked me and now I can't fuck my own girlfriend!" he shouted angrily. He almost took Donnic's arm out when the shield came flying away.

"Wait. What?" Donnic said. That sounded… way too literal. He looked around. Maybe this was a bad idea.

"You heard me!" Fenris shouted, catching onto his knees and breathing. "How the fuck did you get that out of me?"

"I'm good with talking," Donnic said, shrugging. "Have you never talked about this before? It's good to talk about these things, you know."

"It was between me and Hawke!" Fenris said angrily, flinging his arms out. "And now you and… the rest of the fucking Guard, I presume."

"Fuck that. What's said in the courtyard stays in the courtyard," Donnic said. "Right, guys?"

"Damn right," some guards said.

But then The Cap—Aveline came over. "Are you alright? Donnic, what are you doing here? It's your day off," she said.

"Splendid. You?" Fenris said sarcastically.

"It's your day off too, Captain," Donnic said, smirking a little.

Aveline cleared her throat. "I heard what you said, Fenris. I know what you need."

"I'll pass on the lobotomy, thank you," Fenris said grouchily.

"Not that, arse," Aveline said. "There's a group we started for victims of domestic and sexual violence."

"Pass," Fenris said.

"It starts at five in the Chandelier Room. I really think it would help you. Just give it a try and if you don't like it, then shut me up."

"The Chandelier Room?" Fenris said mockingly.

"You'll go with him," Aveline said to Donnic.

"I… uh… yes, Captain?" Donnic said.

"And he doesn't have a say in this?" Fenris said, annoyed. "Have you just met me?"

"No… I've known you… for too long," Aveline said, sighing. "Just go." She looked up at the sky and grunted. "I'd go with you, but I have a disaster to take care of."

"What disaster?" Donnic said.

"Possible terrorist attack in Lowtown," Aveline said. "Qunari poison infecting a whole quarter."

"Qunari aren't terrorists," Fenris said. "If they wanted to terrorise, they'd just take over the city."

"Either way, this needs stopping and fast," Aveline said. "Since you're here, I'm guessing Hawke made it out alive of Sundermount."

"You should be more concerned with Merrill and her status of existence on this planet," Fenris said a little angrily.

Aveline looked at him, all scared and activated.

Fenris rubbed his forehead. "Never mind. Let us come with you."

"Group, mister!" Aveline said firmly, pointing at him. She looked at Donnic. "Do not let him exit the building until that's over."

"I'm not… super comfortable with this," Donnic said.

"Forget it," Fenris said tiredly. "She will not stop." He sighed. "I'll go to your stupid meeting. Please don't let Hawke die."

"Thank you, Fenris," Aveline said. "I will make extra sure she won't."

Evening, The Keep

"Thank you all for coming," the group lead said. She was a tall Antivan woman with hair longer than Hawke's and a deep lilt to her voice. "We've got two new people joining us today. Would you like to introduce yourselves?"

"Hi, I'm Donnic," he said, waving awkwardly. "I'm thirty-six. Wait, no. Thirty-seven. Wait, no… Almost thirty-seven. I work for the Kirkwall Guard. Oh, but… don't think of me as a guardsman. I'm just your average Joe here." He laughed nervously. "Let's see… what else… Oh, I like Antivan pancakes, so…" he said, chuckling nervously to the group lead, who frowned at him. He cleared his throat. "So, yeah… I-I'm not… err… I am here to support my friend."

The group looked at Fenris, who was slouching in his chair with his arms crossed. He should have burned himself in that pyre. Why did he ever agree to do this? Everyone in the group save for his "supportive friend" were women. He was the only man. The only man.

"No, thank you," Fenris said.

"Right…" the group lead said. "That's okay. We are all about anonymity here. You can make up a name if that makes you more comfortable."

Fenris didn't speak.

"Alright, well, take all the time you need," the lead said. "I am Sofia. We keep things very relaxed here. There is food and drink at the back if you like. No one has to say anything they do not wish to. In fact, you can be completely silent, if that makes you more comfortable. Girls, do say your name before speaking, for our new member and his… supportive friend."

"That's me," Donnic said, smiling awkwardly.

"I used to have a supportive friend that came with me," a Rivaini woman with a blue headscarf said. "Then she decided fucking a married man was more fun."

"No way. Arabella? Who's she fucking?" a Kirkwaller in a pink Hightown dress said. "It's Senechal Bran, isn't it? He always had a thing for exotic women."

"Exotic?" the Rivaini said, scoffing. "Get your head out of the Storm Age, Bonnie."

"I'm Bonnie, by the way," she said, scratching her head. "And the… not exotic one is Lena."

"Fuck you, Bonnie."

"Alright, settle down," Sofia said. "Let's stay on topic, shall we? How's everyone been?"

"Real curious to hear who Arabella's fucking," another Kirkwaller in brown Lowtown worker clothes said. The tattooed woman beside her elbowed her. "I'm Mona, by the way."

"Anything else?" Sofia said patiently.

"I'm building a boat," the tattooed woman said, her legs wide like a sailor. "Tamara."

"Very good, Tamara," Sofia said. "You've wanted to do that for a while now."

"Got tired of overthinking," Tamara said.

"We all get tired of that at some point," Sofia said. "And it's very, very important for our mental health to have a hobby. What are some other people's hobbies? Lena?"

Lena shrugged. "I like crocheting blankets."

"Bonnie?"

"Dancing for me."

"Mona?"

"I like to see how many small items I can hide in my boss's hair until he notices."

"Probably best if you kept looking. Lia?"

Fenris frowned. He didn't notice her at first, because she was too small and closer to him in the circle. That was the girl that escaped the rapist a few years ago. She was so concerned with his feelings it made Fenris mad. He wanted to kill him, revive him, then kill him again. Then he got annoyed with Hawke for stealing his line when she reported back to Elren.

"Me? I don't know…"

"What makes you forget your troubles?"

"I don't know… kicking things?"

"Probably best to keep looking. Donnic?"

"I actually disagree…" Donnic said, raising an innocent finger. "Kicking can turn into a great hobby if you learn martial arts. Also, my hobby is gardening."

"I agree," Fenris said, which made the whole room stare at him. He came forward in his chair. "The Captain of the Guard is seriously looking to recruit elves. Would you be at all interested?" Then he frowned at Donnic. "Gardening?"

"She is? Why don't you join, then?" Donnic said, surprised. "And keep your judgement."

"I'm not looking for employment," Fenris said flatly. "And I'm not judging."

"Oh, I don't know. I'm not good with cooking," Lia said. "My friends like gardening. They grow all sorts of things on the roof."

Donnic cleared his throat and pretended he didn't hear that.

"Not cooking. Guard work. You would make a great guardswoman," Fenris said.

"What makes you think that?" Lia said, chuckling nervously. "I am not Hawke. I can barely swing an axe."

"You escaped a rapist and a murderer," Fenris said. "You're already stronger than most people."

"Well said," Sofia said, smiling at him. "We are all much stronger than people think."