Author's Disclaimer: I don't own a thing belonging to "Dragon Age 2". Nada thing.
Author's notes: More Hawke/Bela smutness. You're welcome, people :P Suggestions for key moments of this chapter came from CharlieBarrow. Also the line about "the screws" which is a derogatory term for soldiers. And a lot of other things about the couple interactions.
"Catching the Wind"
Chapter twenty-seven "Reconciliation"
Hawke dropped the alpha in the dirt, standing over him and over his head to get to her mate. The young man wheezed for breath, one hand cradling the fractured hang of his jaw. But Hawke didn't care about him. Her blood seethed, her skin aflame when she slid her hands around Isabela's waist, drawing her in for a deep hug. Her heart thundered happily when Isabela held onto her neck, coiling one leg around her waist and holding her close.
A clatter of armor rattling filled the air and some of the sailors squinted to make out who was approaching. One of the beta males whistled and tensed.
"Look alive, it's the screws!" Everyone turned to watch with alarm at the approaching soldiers of the town.
"Run!"
"Cap'n, we gotta go!" Craven called beside them. Hawke and Isabela shared a glance and darted a look for the rest of their family. Mel and a few of the men were gathering up the twins and guiding Merrill between them. They took up the head of their party, everyone all but jogging to leave the town behind them.
As the docks came into view, Isabela laughed aloud. Hawke's lips quirked up into a nervous grin to hear it. Isabela sounded almost her old self. Was she getting there?
"You almost missed out, Hawke. A young alpha trying to take your place." Isabela's words could have sounded caustic but warm teasing was in her tone. Hawke took that for a good sign, the subject of the alpha not withstanding.
"I'm too much alpha for you." Hawke raised one bicep for her to feel as they stood by the gangplank, letting the crew jog up. Lark and Falcon got a firm swat on the rear to hurry up by Isabela and her hand was gentle on Merrill's arm.
The look the elf shot them was of pleased gratitude. She gave her mate a wink and waddled up, Mel and Craven all but lifting her by up the elbows on either side.
Hawke's heart surged with warmth for her Merrill but when she cast her gaze to Isabela and her pirate queen crooked her finger to follow, Hawke went along willingly. Isabela led her to the wheel area, waiting as the crew cast off lines and unfurled the sails, readying the ship to leave. The last time they'd had so much excitement in a town scuffle, well….
Hawke's eyes went down to Isabela's flat middle. Her eyes softened, and she prowled after her. Isabela turned and blushed as Hawke was in her personal space, grazing the side of her naked throat with her lips. Isabela's breath hitched, and her hands ran up the back of Hawke's neck, scraping through the short hairs there gladly.
Hawke didn't know who had started the next kiss, but she was falling into Isabela's mouth, tongue stroking hers. Her alpha pride roared hearing her pirate murmur against her. Hawke cupped Isabela's jaw in her hands and gazed down at her, awe and love in her eyes.
"I missed you," she growled. Isabela stared at her, blushing. Only Hawke saw her truly vulnerable side and it humbled her.
"I…Hawke…." Isabela lowered her gaze and Hawke lifted her face, her palm cupping her cheek.
"Say it. Say you missed me. I was going out of my mind," Hawke pleaded. Isabela shivered at the predatory growl in her mate's tone. She gave a slight nod, twining her arms about Hawke's neck.
"Yes… I missed you…."
Hawke kissed her again and heard footsteps coming up into the wheel area. By the heaviness of the gait, she guessed Craven.
"We're ready to leave, Cap'n… never mind, I'll handle it," he said. Hawke was glad for his arrival. Their family was safe, and he would ensure the ship got well on its way. Her hands settled over her mate's smaller waist and lifted. Isabela pressed against her gladly.
Hawke heard a loud grating clicking sound and darting a glance to the side, saw Craven latch the locking mechanism of the large wheel into place. The ship would move at the direction latched and for now, it would do. Hawke silently thanked the first crew mate as she heard him move down from the platform. Without asking, she knew he would look after their twins.
The wind was rising, as stray droplets began to cascade from the blackening sky. Hawke nibbled the side of Isabela's throat, pressing her bodily up against the wheel itself, wrapping her leg around her waist as she pressed close. Isabela gasped, pleased at the erection she could feel pressing up against her. She had been so afraid Hawke would never touch her again….well, the hard rod of flesh trapped behind two layers of clothing was her answer.
Isabela knew her fear-riddled question was moot now. Her mate DID want her, was touching her and would never leave her side. The baby would be talked about. But now…now…
"Hawke…."
"Was he handsome?" Thunder echoed across the sky, accompanying Hawke's growled question. Isabela blinked up into her mate's handsome scowl. The spattering droplets became a steady stream of rain, the water pelting both of them.
The sudden shift made Isabela blink. She gave a saucy grin, fingers trailing down the front of Hawke's tunic. When she circled her mating mark, she could hear Hawke gasp.
"Who? That skinny twig?" she scoffed. She trailed a heart over Hawke's breast, circling her mating mark. The mark on her throat burned in response to Hawke's swirling chi. "No…."
Hawke pulled Isabela up into her arms, trying to keep the chill of the rainwater from slogging them down. Their clothing pelted to their skin, and Isabela's bandana hung limply over her loose hair. Hawke's bangs plastered over her brow.
"He thought he could touch what's mine…" Hawke's growl was half teasing, half possessive. Isabela melted at the sound. She pressed herself against Hawke's torso, feeling the heat come off her in waves. The pirate kissed her champion on her nose scar and leaned down.
"What's yours you can touch…." She teased. Her hands raked down Hawke's back and cupped the firm swell of her ass through her trousers. Hawke grinned at her. The next kiss she pressed was hard and full of passion. Lightning forked across the sky and the thunder roiled and rocked as hard as their pressing bodies. Hawke was gasping beside her cheek, one hand moving low to caress the smoothness of her pirate's thighs, angling up to hesitate at the hem of her smallclothes. It was obvious she wanted her. But her pregnancy, the baby going to Merrill and everything made doubt line Hawke's green eyes.
Isabela gave a small cry and grasped Hawke's wrist. She angled her hand into her smallclothes, guiding her finger her damp cave. The storm began to pick up, silencing her small gasp when Hawke gently slid two fingers home. Isabela was half aware of the crew running at full speed down on the deck below. The rapidly swelling storm was stoking as high as their passion and what was about to happen between them and Isabela welcomed it. The sails billowed, cracking at the sudden gusts of wind that filled them; the Stormy Lover surged forward away from the small port and away from local retribution.
The wind whipped around them, ruffling their hair and the clothing they loosened so Hawke could get at her mate. Hawke pressed her brow against Isabela's, staring into her eyes as she fisted her cock in one hand, pressing it against the wetness between her pirate's thighs. Isabela half sat on the wheel platform, legs widening. Her lips opened in a soft gasp as Hawke pressed firmly in. Her hips rolled slowly, urging Isabela to loosen. The urging wasn't needed.
Isabela's thighs clamped around her mate's waist as she thrust in. She was pleased feeling Hawke shudder, her shoulders quaking under her hands. The wind whipped faster around them and seemed to rejuvenate Hawke's movements. Isabela stared in awe as her mate thrust harder against her, her jaw clenched in concentration.
Hawke was lost in Isabela. Truthfully, she couldn't have stopped even if a dragon landed on deck beside them. One of her hands clutched one of the spokes of the ship's wheel as she thrust harder against Isabela. Warm wet silk gripped her cock and she groaned loudly with abandon. To Hawke, Isabela had been like the wind. Certainly, in Kirkwall, she had been elusive, cagey and a prize to be won when she let her. She wouldn't let her slip through her fingers now.
Isabela watched lightning crack across the sky behind her mate's head, grinning at her. Her cries of passion were gaining volume and Hawke kissed her, drawing her moans into her mouth. To Isabela, Hawke was like the storm itself, rising and surging against her. The rain pelted them, and Hawke gave a yowl beside her cheek.
Isabela had a hand up under her mate's tunic, caressing the smooth roiling muscles beneath her soft skin. "That good?" she teased. Her gasping made her words hesitant.
Hawke thrust her tongue into her mouth and snapped her hips hard, burying herself to the hilt. Spurts of precum were pulled from her as she thrust away in clinging silk. She yelled aloud, not caring who heard. All that mattered was Isabela and their pleasure. Hawke's grasping fingers tightened around the spoke of the wheel. Her knuckles whitened from her grip. "Are….you?... dammit!..."
"Yes…" Isabela murmured. She tugged her mate's earlobe between her teeth clenching Hawke tightly with her inner muscles. The howl she got from Hawke was worth it. "So close…."
"Then come with me…." Hawke growled. Her commanding tone made wetness leak around the base of her cock buried within her pirate and she knew Isabela was coming or close to it. Her cries of passion indicated when she'd finally done so. Isabela didn't think she'd come this time. It was all so fast, and she would have been pleased to have gotten Hawke's passion even if she wasn't brought to the brink.
But Hawke never went for anything but broke when they mated. And it showed in the way she all but pushed Isabela over the brink and to cloying heavy release. Isabela's back was thrust up against the hard wood of the platform, but she didn't care.
"Oh, Hawke, oh…." Isabela moaned. She kept coming and Hawke moaned beside her face. Her mouth was on her naked throat, suckling her mating mark and Isabela screamed as she came again. Or it could have been attached to the first. "Hawke!"
Hawke yelled and snapped her hips hard. She wanted to stay buried inside as long as she could as streams of come pounded out of her shaft. Isabela widened her thighs further, urging her on. Hawke could only give it all to her, hissing with the rumbling thunder of the raging storm.
Their breathing was ragged, and Isabela lifted her head from her mate's shoulder. Hawke pressed kisses against her face. Her legs trembled, and Isabela clung to her. She sighed when Hawke pulled out, as slowly as she could. Isabela pressed her thighs together, trying to keep as much of Hawke's seed in as she could. Her small clothes were soaked, and the sticky feeling was slightly uncomfortable. Hawke's shift was receding, and she laced back up easily. Isabela squeaked when Hawke lifted her into her arms, hoisting her up easily. She could feel her mate's legs quack still.
Isabela nuzzled Hawke's throat, grazing by Merrill's mark there accidentally. Her mate stiffened, but her mate's hand over her mark over her breast soothed her. Merrill….Both of them naturally gravitated toward the pregnant elf. Isabela wondering over her child inside her. Hawke worrying over her pregnant mate as was second nature. "Hawke…that was….damn…"
Hawke gave a laugh. "That good? I aim to please you, my love."
Isabela blushed, feeling warm in her mate's arms even as the rain pelted down. "Oh, you ruddy fool!" She latched onto Hawke's throat, kissing along the edge opposite Merrill's mark. Hawke purred.
The cooling water felt good against their over-heated skin. Their wet clothing clung to them and helped the cooling process as it were. As Hawke walked her down from the wheel platform, Isabela saw Craven watching them. He waved and signaled to her that the pups were below deck. Good, they hadn't been near. She had needed Hawke so badly she didn't have time to worry about putting them in their room.
Craven whistled and one of the beta males jogged with him past the captain and her champion, to unlatch and secure the wheel. The Stormy Lover was moving at a fast clip, but Isabela knew her first crew mate would make certain the path was clear. Their clothing was as wet as the couple's, but Hawke knew they hadn't had quite as much fun as they'd just had. Her grin was cocky as she angled Isabela to the side, so she could start sliding down the staircase leading below decks and keep her pirate queen's legs from banging into the wall.
Crewmates talking and laughing from further down the corridor alerted Hawke and Isabela they were close to company. Some of the cabin doors were open and there was a small line protruding from the galley kitchen, indicating a meal had just been lain out. As Hawke's boots stepped down onto the corridor floor from the last step, she was struck by her mate's deliberate kisses. Isabela latched onto her neck beneath her earlobe and the sensitive spot being grazed by her teeth and lips had Hawke stiff within moments. Her cock surged against the seam of her trousers, pressing and searching for her mate's warmth again. Hawke groaned.
The captain's quarters were further down the corridor and they'd have to get past all the crew members and possibly their sons if she tried. Isabela slung her arms around her neck and gave her a heavy hooded look that Hawke was helpless to obey as her passion surged.
Her mate needed her and now. They'd have to chance it. Hawke ducked behind the stairwell and pressed Isabela up against the dark wall, hopefully from view. Isabela was pushed up against it, her legs going around Hawke's waist. Her giggles became sighs as Hawke tugged her smallclothes to the side and fished her cock out of her trousers.
Hawke grunted, pushing Isabela up higher and thrusting hard into her. Isabela's head thumped back against the wall and she moaned. As her moans rose in volume, Hawke tried covering her mouth with her hand. When Isabela sucked two of her fingers into her mouth instead, Hawke tried to quiet her by covering her mouth with her own.
As her pace increased with speed, Hawke's grunts rose with the power of her exertions. Isabela clung to her back, fingers digging into the fabric of her tunic. Hawke angled one hand down the front of her mate's tunic and loosened the corset, lips moving along the curves of her breasts. Hawke could taste the raindrops dotting her mate's flesh and took the time to gather them up. With her mouth. The whines her mate gave spurned her on.
Hawke pressed her palms against the wall, fucking Isabela hard against it. Her mate was so open, her wet walls clinging to her cock. Her shaft throbbed terribly, and Hawke felt so hot like she was going to crawl out of her skin. The passionate way she reveled in her mate told her Isabela appreciated it and reciprocated. The heels of her boots dug into Hawke's ass, holding her where she was. Hawke was dimly aware of a few chi signatures attracted to what was going on behind the stairwell, but luckily no one intruded.
The crew certainly knew their captain's and her champion's penchant for carrying blades on them. Hawke's jaw was grasped and turned toward Isabela's upturned face. He mate's lips were parted as if waiting for a kiss, harsh ragged breathing thundering between them. Hawke stared into her eyes, her love, her passion and her intentions for her pirate made doubly clear by the fucking she was giving. Isabela was pushed over the edge and her clinging walls gripped her so deliciously that Hawke let go, flooding her again and again.
Only when she had nothing left to give, did Hawke stop, legs trembling, arms weak as she held Isabela up against the wall. Her pirate covered her face with weak kisses, murmuring to her. Hawke took that as a good sign and reluctantly pulled out. Her mate slumped into her arms and Hawke lifted her carefully. Her legs staggered, and she almost went down. But after making certain their clothing covered everything important, Hawke carried her mate from behind the stairwell and down the corridor.
They had to bypass a few crew mates lingering at the end of the food line. Luckily their sons weren't anywhere near. Mel called that she had them inside by the stove. Hawke called back a thanks and Isabela gave two of the omega sailors a satisfied smirk.
Isabela lifted her head from the crook of Hawke's neck where she had been latched on and sucking as her mate opened the door of the captain's quarters and entered with her. Merrill looked up quickly and regarded them with a smile, then a dismayed look of exasperation.
"Merrill?" Hawke murmured. She set Isabela on her feet and the two staggered to the table and sank into chairs beside each other. Hawke's knees spread, and she gave a loud sigh as she rested her legs. Merrill waddled closer, giving Isabela a smile, but her irritated words soon conveyed her thoughts.
"What are you doing? You'll both catch cold! Hawke, you're miserable when you're sick! Get into a warm bath, you two!" Merrill yelped. Her hand settled over her belly and Hawke gave her a smug grin. Leaning up to press a few kisses along her second mate's cheek, Hawke was pleased when Merrill gasped beside her lips, but she still gave her a firm swat on the shoulder.
"And then who will have to take care of both of you? Really!" Merrill scolded. Isabela laughed. She turned over the large tin tub in the corner of her chambers and called out to a crew mate to fetch buckets of water.
"Look at the claws on Kitten!" she teased. Merrill blushed, but took her damp tunic when Isabela undressed. She slid a robe on so her crew wouldn't see more than they should. Hawke pressed Merrill into one of the nailed-down chairs and laid a kiss against her brow.
"You rest, we'll handle ourselves," she promised. Merrill pouted, but watched as a few crew mates sidled in with buckets. They filled half the tub and then kettles of boiling water were brought in from Cook to warm the water's temperature. Merrill closed the door to the cabin after asking Mel to keep the twins in the galley. She nodded.
Hawke slid in the tub behind her mate and began washing her back. She whistled lightly, and Isabela leaned forward, arms on her thighs as Hawke rubbed her lower back with the sponge. Isabela watched Merrill from behind her damp bangs. She leaned forward in the warm water, bracing her weight on Hawke's legs on either side of her.
Hawke gave her kisses along her shoulders but nothing overly amorous. Isabela hoped they could just all move past the darn awkwardness. Merrill helped pour pitchers of the warm water over her mate's head, and then Isabela's, to wash the soap away. She handed them towels as they got out and sat down, leaning back and grimacing as she tried to get comfortable.
Isabela tugged her shift on and regarded the elf with a sad look. She coughed. "Merrill?"
Merrill looked up, surprised.
"Let's get you comfortable. I remember how much my back hurt with the boys…."
Hawke's eyes softened. Merrill knew she was wishing she'd been there for that pregnancy. And Isabela couldn't even finish carrying this third child…. Merrill nodded and accepted the pirate's hand up. Her dressing gown swished, tugging on the swell of her belly. Hawke threw her under tunic on and knelt before Merrill to whisper to the pup. She kissed her belly, stood, and helped lift Merrill into the large canopied bed.
Merrill sighed as Isabela stacked the pillows and both took up a space beside her. Isabela looked like she was going to cry. Merrill shyly took her hand.
"Here…" she guided Isabela's hand to her belly, watching the pirate's eyes widen in shock and a touch of fear. "I know you're afraid, and hurting, Bela…. but the baby's okay. I can feel him moving. He's healthy. I promise."
Isabela bit her lip. Tears filled her eyes and her lip quivered. Hawke watched her try to reign in her emotions. But it was Merrill's next words that made the tears fall.
"I wouldn't have this baby without you, Bela. Thank you."
Isabela smiled through her tears, hand pressed against the baby inside the other woman. She gave a small cry of surprise as she felt a familiar rapping press up against her palm. As familiar as it had been inside herself…"I….I can feel it kicking! It's really going to be okay….isn't it?"
Hawke leaned to put her hand on Isabela's leg. "Yes."
"Him. I think it's a him," Merrill guessed, leaning back against the pillows, sighing as the pup rapped a series of kicks. "Oh, oh calm down…"
"The pup only calms but slightly," Isabela laughed through her tears, trying to offer her own advice in that area. Merrill smiled sweetly to her. "At least until Hawke starts talking to it…."
Hawke leaned to kiss Isabela's cheek softly. She rubbed her brow to hers and gave Merrill a soft wink. She laid her hand over her belly beside Isabela's and the three lavished attention to the unborn child they all had a part in. Hawke spoke in low tones and the rapping intensified then quieted.
"I still think it's a girl," Hawke said suddenly. Isabela laughed, and Merrill protested.
"It's definitely a boy!"
"Kitten may be right."
"It's a girl," Hawke insisted.
There was a thud outside the captain's door and when Hawke sprang up to answer, she was surprised, but not really all that much, to find her sons camped out on the floor there.
Both boys grinned sheepishly up at their sire. "We didn't want to knock…."
"Figured it was Papa and Mamas alone time."
Hawke blushed to herself. She helped them up and pushed the door open.
"Not right now. Come in and say goodnight to your mothers."
Falcon and Lark ran to the bed and carefully climbed up. Isabela kissed each downy head and Merrill let them cuddle up. Falcon patted her round belly, saying goodnight to the pup. All of the adults shared an indulgent smile between them.
Isabela felt the ache in her heart slowly thaw. The hurt wouldn't just vanish overnight….but still, with her mate and sons beside her, Merrill pressing her hand to her belly and assuring her, things would get better.
In time. And with the arrival of their child.
End for now
End notes: Smash that review button and do that review thing! Stay strong, lovelies.
Sincerely, pen
1/12/2019