Chapter 8: Cassandra Pentaghast - fangirl.
Cullen Rutherford was currently using his mighty (and mighty heavy desk) as a blockade to stop the advance of a certain Seeker who was now bearing down at him across the office. What had he done lately to warrant such a terrifying look from Cassandra? Had he not turned in his reports in a timely manner? The desk was groaning with paperwork! She couldn't expect him to-
'Commander Cullen!'
'Oh maker,' He gulped at the steely eyed look on the Seeker's face. 'What did I do now, Cassandra?'
'You. And the Inquisitor!'
What?
'...Makers mercy Cassandra! There IS no-'
He gasped as the enraged woman grabbed his fur lining and dragged him over the desk to snarl 'There had better be something. Because you need a distraction.'
Where, by the Maker, was this coming from?
'Why on Thedas are you so concerned with - Leliana put you up to this, didn't she? Varric? That little dwarven-'
'You will do something about this situation because I am sick and tired of you both pining over each other and flirting - badly. Do not make me consider consequences, Commander. I am Nevarran. We are vindictive.' Cassandra snapped and let go. Cullen fell back into the wall as she straightened up and huffed 'Bloody children!' As she made her exit.
What by the grace of Andraste was THAT about?!
He'd hardly straightened himself out when he turned and almost hit someone in a broad brimmed hat. 'Maker-!' He growled lowly to himself. This was Cole, wasn't it? The demon - spirit - that Liethe had told him about. The one that could make people forget he was even there.
'Uh, yes?' Cullen managed, given the circumstances. Cole, however, was watching Cassandra's angry tromp back along the walkway she must've come through. 'Cole?' Cullen demanded. The boy finally looked up at him with sorrowful eyes.
'Cassandra's thoughts are loud.' Okay. That didn't explain anything. 'She thinks you hide behind your duty to avoid things. Like your letters to Mia.'
If he had been the man he was a few years ago, Cullen would have killed him then and there for invading his head and bringing Mia into it, but he had resolved some time ago to be better than that. 'I don't hide behind my-' He began.
'She thinks you do. She wants you to be happy - and you're getting in the way of your own happiness.' Oh Maker. He wished everyone would stop getting involved - 'Liethe told me to stop stealing your things. She gave me one of Varric's books. It was confusing and they never talked to each other. It isn't real. But this is real.'
Wait, Cole was the one that stole his sword?
'You're both hurting. You need to talk and tell and show and everyone will be happy.'
Ugh, he could feel a withdrawal headache coming on. Even if he wanted to, she was the inquisitor and Dalish and they had nothing in common besides stopping Corypheus. He didn't even know if she had even thought of him as anything more than the commander of their forces.
Cole paused and tilted his head ever so slightly. 'Why are you so fascinated by her ears?'
The look Cullen gave him would have seared an ordinary soldier. 'I don't take Lyrium anymore, but I can still smite you and it will hurt.' He looked away and when he turned back, Cole was gone. A smirk wound up his lip. He still had it.