Author's Disclaimer: I don't own a thing belonging to "Dragon Age 2." Bioware holds all the goods!
Author's notes: Haha, what you've all been waiting for, the big meet up!
CharlieBarrow: Thanks again for showing me this game :P My favorite three characters are amazing!
QueenTyzula: Stay tuned for more awesomeness :P Hope you enjoy this! I personally love Isabela :P
Maraghoul: There's my other Dragon Age appreciator!
"Catching the Wind"
Chapter ten "Face to face again"
"So. You've come back to the city. Was wherever you went not up to your standards of fun?" Aveline's tone was slightly condescending as Isabela leaned against her desk. The pirate crossed her arms.
"Whatever. You have to have your own work for Hawke piling up. Can you find her or not?" Isabela tried to keep her own wit in her tone, but was finding it harder these days. Merrill was as upset over Hawke's new disappearance act, and thinking of her son's faces made her angry.
Aveline folded her hands together. "I have to admit, she's been rather evasive the past three years. She still helps out, but she's been taking too much time reaping the rewards of her status. Your doing?"
Isabela ignored the barbed words meant to hurt. "Whatever. Are you going to help look for her or not?"
Aveline leaned back in her chair, sighing. "I can't say I'm surprised Hawke vanished if she heard YOU were back. But I do want to talk to her. Yes, I will look for her."
Isabela sighed inwardly. "Good girl. I owe you a drink."
"I don't want it," Aveline retorted. "Go on, get out of my office. And close the door on your way out."
Isabela left the door wide open to irk the Captain. Aveline's call of indignation was the only balm of pleasure she could get out of these strange few days.
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"Guess the Captain wants to check in with the Champion. We haven't seen her all week!" one of the guardsmen called. His companions moved throughout the market square of Hightown, looking idly.
"Ssh, you fool. If you keep a good ear open, you never know what you may pick up." His partner retorted.
"Yeah, yeah…."
As the two men moved along, armor clinking, they could easily pick out bits of conversation. After being shooed away by a few noblewomen, they found listening in on the servant's gossip was a lot easier. They seemed to put up with their closeness as a form of surveillance of the market square.
After circling the square a few times, appearing at ease, the two guardsmen could make out bits of a very interesting conversation.
"….and then she took up the other two maids to a room! I swear the Champion has the stamina of an ox."
"Oh, next time it's my turn. I don't care who I have to run over!"
The two guardsmen gazed at each other and coolly made their way out of the square. "Well that cinches it. Those were Lord de Launcet's maids. I could tell by the sigil on their aprons."
"Captain Aveline will want to hear this," the other man responded. The two guardsmen took off at a jog. Back at headquarters, Aveline almost smiled. Almost.
"Well done, men. Gather ten more guardsmen and meet me out front."
"Aye, Captain!"
Whatever Aveline was planning, it was bound to be interesting.
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Tara opened her eyes. Hawke was already up, and dressing. She hitched her trousers up and re-laced. She made to pull her boots on leaning against the wall, then noted the servant was awake. Hawke smiled and sat on the edge of her bed, patting Tara's hip through her thin blanket.
"I wasn't too rough, was I?" she asked gently. Tara's smile was wide. She shook her head.
"No…just right…."
Hawke had definitely had a lot of pent-up frustration, about what she didn't say, but she had been as slow as she could. Tara had only known one other besides the Champion, and she had been much too tight. After coaxing wetness with her fingertips, Hawke worked herself in slowly, mouth on Tara's small breasts. The size comparison to Merrill in her mind urged her on to thrust Tara up against the wall, hips flexing in an urgent rhythm.
It had been a good night and after, Tara had eagerly shared her bed, hugging Hawke from behind. Hawke only flinched once when her small hand descended on the raised scar across her belly through her undershirt.
"Don't worry, sweet Tara. I'll smooth over anything that may be churning with your lady," Hawke gave a soft grin. She started to swipe an errant hand through her tousled hair.
"Thank you…"
Before the two could exchange any more words or dalliance, there was a flurried sound of activity outside in the servant's quarters.
"What are you doing? Get out of there!"
"Guardsmen! City guardsmen!"
"Hey, we haven't done a thing!"
Tara clutched the blankets to her breasts. "What….?"
Hawke took up a stance by her door. "I'll take care of it," she vowed.
The door was shoved open and Tara squealed. Hawke stood in front of the bed and the next figure that pushed in behind the city guardsmen made her ease up. For a moment.
"Aveline! What's the meaning of this? Who are you looking for?"
"You." Aveline was never one for subtlety. She gestured to the Champion. "You're coming with me, Hawke. Best not to make a scene about it."
Three guardsmen piled in and took up residence beside a tense Hawke. She grimaced. "Have I done something wrong? I don't remember breaking any laws, nor would I."
"Let's just go. It's about time you settled your affairs," Aveline said. The group force-walked Hawke out of the servant's quarters. The last look Hawke shot over her shoulder caught sight of a teary-eyed Tara, blankets clutched around her thin naked body, waving sadly from her bedroom door. Hawke gave a wave back and was ducked back through the kitchens and to the front of the estate.
"What are you talking about?" Hawke asked her friend. Aveline didn't seem her friend as she ordered the Champion's armor brought out. Hawke barely had time to refasten the pieces, the guardsmen aiding her, when Aveline ordered a push out of the de Launcet estate, double-time.
"I received a visit from your old favorite pirate. Yes, I know Isabela is back," Aveline retorted. Hawke began to visibly drag her feet and look for an escape.
"Hey, that's none of your business," Hawke snapped. The guardsmen beside her clasped her arms. "What the…!"
"They have my orders to deliver you and I gave my promise."
There was times Hawke wished Aveline wasn't so….just.
"Whoa, hey, since when do you…hey! Stop jerking! Aveline!" Hawke was getting downright pissed. When Aveline turned and shoved her bodily backward, Hawke went down, sputtering with rage. Aveline's careful shove placed her head first into the de Launcet's fountain. Hawke flailed, weighted down by her armor and two guardsmen had to fish her out. Hawke wheezed, spitting out water.
"What the HELL?!"
"You reek of girl, Hawke. And I doubt Isabela would want to smell THAT on you."
"I'm not….hey… let go!" Hawke had five men on her arms forcing her down the streets, and she growled low in her throat. They may have been only doing their job, but they'd do well to mind who they were crossing.
"I'm tired of cleaning your mess, Hawke." Aveline was saying as she forced the front door of the Hanged Man open. A quick perilous look around the common room conveyed Merrill wasn't there. Good.
"Handle it," were Aveline's last words as a door to a back room was flung open. It could be rented for the odd business transaction, and was across the hall from Varric's permanent suite. Hawke bypassed all that as she was forced into a chair at the round table, boots stumbling at the shove. She hissed and flung a glare to the Captain and her guardsmen who were dispersing the room, shutting the door behind them.
A small inhale of breath made Hawke dart her eyes across the table. She blinked and blinked again, not trusting herself. She had to be dreaming. Isabela was before her, looking as radiant and beautiful as ever. If she were truly there and not a figment of Hawke's dreams; she looked well. What's more, she looked healthy. Her dark eyes were bright and a hesitant welcome smile was on her lips. Hawke's eyes darted up and down the body she had seen so often and remembered in dreams. From what she could see, Isabela was ever the same; if anything, her breasts looked a little fuller but maybe that was just an old inner want.
Hawke made her brows pull over her eyes in anger as she shifted back in her chair, sopping wet bangs falling into her eyes. Her clothes squished with each movement and Isabela's eyes widened, noticing her wet state.
"Hawke…."
Just her name on the pirate's lips and already Hawke was reeling. Damn her! She didn't get to go and then come back when Hawke was certain she'd never see her again!
"So. Back for the rat-flavored whiskey?"
Isabela frowned sadly. "I…"
"I hear it's the favorite drink of pirate whores." Hawke lounged insolently in her chair, legs spread and eyes hooded. The distance in her eyes and the jab of her words made Isabela flinch noticeably. She swallowed.
"I….I deserve that. I didn't know a good thing when I had it."
Hawke blinked. And blinked again. "You disappeared. I didn't even know if you were alive. If I knew you were, and taking every alpha's cock along the coast, I wouldn't have worried!"
So, Hawke had worried for her. Isabela knew she had loved her dearly, but held her at arm's length, more for her own pride and ego. Isabela had let Hawke know from their first joining that she wouldn't be tied down. Hawke had done everything to let her feel as free as she needed to be.
And all that time, she had probably worried she would leave her. Until she did. Isabela blamed herself, for the heaviness of her heart, for the sad anger in Hawke's snapping green eyes.
"I…I'm sorry….."
"Why ARE you back?" Hawke lifted an empty tankard on the table and tipped it upside down. "Aveline wanted to bring me here and there's no fucking ale?"
Falcon and Lark's bright smiles filled Isabela's mind's eye and her heart softened as she thought of them. She longed so much to tell her. 'That you're a sire. That we have two boys that remind me of Bethany's features. That they try to be strong like you are…..'
Cowardice choked Isabela's words, as much as her pride had in the past. "I…I've had time to think. And I missed you. I thought about you all the time…"
Sincerity pooled in Isabela's eyes. She was never this patient, this content to be railed at by someone. She saw plain as day the hurt on her ex-lover's face. Hawke had once cared for her a great deal. She couldn't have turned all that off in three years, could she? Suddenly, as if a cloud moved from the sun, Isabela saw Hawke. Really saw her. Her hair was a bit longer and unkempt, sopping wet if anything from an impromptu dunk on the way over, and her armor was finer, although drenched as well. Her tunic and trousers were well embroidered, hinting at her rise in status, but the heavy scar across her nose was dark red. It didn't mar her beauty, it merely made her stand out more. The thin lips beneath the scar pursed in exasperation, lips that Isabela had once kissed over and over again.
Her green eyes sparked with ire, pain and a weariness that confounded Isabela to her very soul. Hawke had once moved so fluidly, and aside from the scar on her face, she knew she now carried many more across her body that she couldn't see. Her shuffling gait inside the room told her that. Again, Isabela cursed herself for leaving. For not staying and helping Hawke find her footing, and maybe a place at her side….
"So….you've had your fill of every alpha's cock from here to Antiva?" The anger that laced Hawke's words and the vulgarity of them made Isabela flinch. Hawke turned form her and called angrily for a serving girl to enter the back room and fetch her ale, her mug uplifted in ire. Isabela blinked. Her pups did that, raising their mugs for more milk when she fed them in public. Tears pricked the pirate's eyes. She had to be strong, she had to push ahead…..
"I….I was with others…yes….as you were." There, a hint of the hurt Isabela had gotten hearing about Hawke's sexual conquests was out. And not to hint at the hurt seeing Merrill kiss her ex-lover…..
Hawke glared at her. "You expected me to wait? I didn't know if you were coming back."
Isabela's heart thudded hard. "Would you have waited?...if I had left a note, and explained myself…."
Hawke's scowl deepened. Isabela could barely remember how her smile would light up her face noticing her. "You left a clear enough message; you had every intention of leaving and you did. Leaving a note wouldn't have mattered. What would it have said? 'Gotta run, the wind's high, maybe see you in a few years?' I know nothing matters to you more than your own ego. Why should I have waited?"
The words thudded as harshly as physical blows. Isabela forced herself, made herself, reach for Hawke's hands across the table. She squeezed her fingers, glad Hawke had forgotten her thick gloves. She could feel the warmth of her fingers and it gave her a moment of strength.
"I messed things up, Hawke, and I'm…. I'm sorry. I know you have no reason to believe me….but I am." All the moisture fled Isabela's throat as she watched the stunned disbelief mar Hawke's scarred features. Hawke looked as shaken as she felt.
Hawke's fingers shook, but she couldn't bear to jerk her touch from Isabela. "I.. I never thought I'd hear you say that…." She shook her head. A sullen light was in her green eyes. "Or have you really stopped trying to ruin other people's lives?"
The question was meant to hurt, and it did. Isabela's fingers tightened over hers. "I know you shouldn't believe me, and I'm sorry for the…extreme way to find you again. But I had to see you. Every lover I took since I left turned into you. Maker's balls, I should have stayed…."
Hawke blinked, willing tears to keep from forming. "You should have. You didn't even leave a note…" The agony within her at the mention of other lovers formed a hollow place inside Hawke's chest that she thought she'd ignored long ago. "I worshipped you!...Loved you…."
The deep hurt on Hawke's face made Isabela's heart drop to her stomach. Loved? As in past tense? She kept her hands over Hawke's, taking the small comfort that she wasn't forcing her touch away.
"You don't….have to forgive me. But maybe…you can look at me one day and not be hurt." Isabela licked her dry lips. Think of the pups…not just for them, she wanted this for herself. She owed it to herself to try and she should have trusted Hawke long ago. Her heart aside, if Isabela had shown up, belly swollen with Hawke's pups, she knew she wouldn't have turned her away.
Hawke watched her warily. She gave her fingers a tug and Isabela reluctantly let her go. Hawke tugged at the sopping wet collar of her tunic, exposing a good amount of her pale throat and collar bone. "Maybe…one day."
There was still an undercurrent of wariness and hurt, but this was what Isabela could hope for in this first meeting again. She gave a wide smile, hoping to alight Hawke's old feelings. The Champion watched her warily. "Great. Maybe….maybe you'd want to catch breakfast with me tomorrow morning? I'll be here at the Hanged Man. As always."
Hawkes' eyes softened. It was like three years had never passed. "I could…If the barkeep decides to make a good pork stew. If not, I'm staying at home."
"I'll look for you tomorrow." Isabela wasn't sure how Hawke had done it, letting her go to flit about her wily ways. Extending the same courtesy was an exercise in patience. But Hawke's pups had given her patience. Breastfeeding and diapering two boys at once as they made life difficult certainly had been a challenge.
Hawke fanned herself with her open collar and Isabela froze. Imbedded in her throat was a mating bite mark, small and delicate from their dear elf friend, but still, all the more noticeable with Hawke's tunic open.
"I don't wake at dawn unless I have to," Hawke was saying. Isabela tried to smile at her, but horrible images went with the mating mark. Hawke's body she could easily see naked, but now Merrill was equally bare in her arms. Hawke was hoisting her in her arms, wrapping the elf's legs round her waist. Both of them naked, both of them enjoying each other….
It wasn't a secret Hawke had taken on other lovers. But having a face to go with the stories made Isabela want to be sick.
"Dawn, midday, I'll be here. I'll be waiting." The furtive look Hawke gave her made Isabela's heart thump.
"Then I need to get going. It's been a long day already." Weariness lined Hawke's eyes and Isabela was sad to think she put the look there.
"Good day, Hawke?" Isabela asked. Hawke stood and bowed at the waist chivalrously.
"Good day, Isabela." Her words were polite and her moves polished, but the clear bite on her throat made ire boil through Isabela's blood.
She couldn't be too late…she just couldn't be! The sudden cowardice shamed Isabela that she couldn't force herself to call her ex-lover back. And Hawke was sidling out the into the hallway, and exiting the back of the tavern.
Isabela found herself on her feet and before she could think, she was running after Hawke. The irony, if she dwelled on it, was horrendous. Down the hall, out the back door and in a back alley, the pirate stopped Hawke with a clasped hand on her shoulder. Whirling the Champion round, Hawke only had time to get one word out edgewise… before Isabela fisted her sleeves in her fists and kissed her.
It wasn't a nice kiss. It was hungry, angry, and above all, aggressive. Despite all that, tasting Hawke's lips after so many years…. It was so damn good. But Isabela's hurt omega chi roiled about as she forcefully sampled Hawke's lips, forcing her tongue into her mouth. Hawke gave a muffled yelp, but even as her lips moved, Isabela could barely register she was kissing her back. Anger forced Isabela's hands to tear Hawke's tunic open further, and off went the fastenings to her breastplate. With a clear goal in front of her, Isabela shoved a hand down between them, fumbling, then tearing at the laces of Hawke's trousers.
She was already shifted and hard, which should have eased Isabela's mind. Her inner omega was not placated. She had to make her hers, had to have her…even if it was just her fingers.
Hawke roared in her mouth, but Isabela shoved her back against the brick wall of the building beside them. Her hand was busy in her trousers, pumping her shaft from base to tip in hard strokes. Warm fluid leaked from the tip of her cock and Isabela's heart pounded harder as she worked her. Hawke's eyes flared, but Isabela kept her lips on hers. When they broke apart, Hawke made to yell something, and she certainly DID look angry enough to, until Isabela's mouth was above the small swell of her left breast. Isabela inhaled the alpha sweat and sweet smell that was distinctly Hawke.
And then she bit down deliberately. Hawke stiffened against the wall. Her hand was against Isabela's waist, ready to shove, then she gripped down on her curvy hip instead as she struggled to hold onto herself. Spurts of warm come flooded Isabela's fingers and encouraged, she kept her bite, and stroked the alpha to a shuddering finish. Hawke gasped, feeling like she was choking. She couldn't help the mess as Isabela's talented fingers drew what felt like a gushing flood in her pants. Her trousers formed a distinctive stain across the lap and Hawke leaned back against the wall, her knees shaking and barely able to stay upright.
Isabela took her mouth from Hawke's breast. Her hazy eyes made out the shape of her mating bite. It looked nice over the curve of the Champion's breast, and was rather close to her heart. Despite herself, Isabela silently told Merrill off about how to place a mating mark. Hawke staggered a step away, brushing at the stains across her trousers, re-lacing, and wincing as her sensitive cock was tightly encased in fabric.
Isabela took a step closer. "I don't….know what came over me…"
Hawke scowled, trying to reign her panting in. "Obviously I did… you never could control yourself!"
Isabela had the grace to blush. She inhaled Hawke's scent on her fingers, and resisted the urge to outright lick the Champion's seed from her finger tips.
Hawke's pale face erupted into a tomato red. She took a few steps aside, trying to make herself more presentable. She turned to go but Isabela's voice called out shakily.
"W-wait! Will you still meet me tomorrow?"
Hawke turned, shooting a strange look over her shoulder. For once, she didn't look angry. Confused and conflicted maybe, but not angry. Secretly, Hawke couldn't remember nutting so hard. Maybe not since being inside Isabela years ago. Hawke kept going, but waved an idle hand over her shoulder.
"Tomorrow."
In that simple word, there was so much promise. Isabela fairly stared at the Champion's strong gait as she picked up her swagger and walked away. She found herself leaning against the brick wall, her own legs trembling. She tilted her head back and grinned, a dreamy smile stretching her lips.
"Yes!"
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Hawke didn't think it prudent to show her face back at the de Launcet household. She did send a runner with a message to deliver her sword back to her estate. That was one thing she certainly did not leave with during her forceful exodus that morning. After gratefully taking her longsword back from the staggering boy holding it out to her, Hawke paid the lad and made her way upstairs, settling her weapon by her wide bed out of habit. She shed her dressing robe and made her way to the bath.
Bodahn was working oil into her damp pieces of armor to keep rust from setting in. Orana was hanging her clothes up to dry. Weapon secured, Hawke settled on getting her body and mind to relax. One could be easily swayed than the other could. Hawke eased into the large metal tub, sighing at the warmth of the water.
Her fingers skimmed the raised bite mark on her throat, then the deeper, fresher bite around the curve of her left breast. Two! She had two mating marks! She had to make a decision about this. Both women had made their intentions for her clear. Hawke's heart churned happily, then in turmoil as she went over what to do. Regrettably, thoughts of sweet Merrill went to the back burner as her recent encounter with the fiery pirate that morning captured her mind.
It was just her hand, just her fingers, but she had come wonderfully hard clutched and squeezed in Isabela's grip. Hawke sighed as she shifted, her cock stranding half at attention in the warm water. Just the very thought of being with Isabela again, and the grip of her clever fingers, had her riled up. What to do? Well, rest. She had to get herself under control when she went to see the pirate queen for breakfast….
Hawke was feeling hungry enough to just jump Isabela for breakfast instead of sampling the Hanged Man's stew. She had to get herself in better control for the next day, or she wasn't certain just what would happen.
End for now
End notes: Bwhaahh! Charlie, thanks for the assist to evil here :P Like it, smash that button and do that review thing. Stay strong, my lovelies.
Sincerely, pen
10/14/2017