Char: Zevvin & Iron Bull

All That Glitters

Inquisitor Who?

Zevvin sat at the desk in his quarters, staring blankly at the open tome in front of him. His elbow rested on the table next to the opened tome with his cheek smushed into his fist. Small vials, stones, and plants floated listlessly above and around him. He had been rereading the same line in the tome ever since he opened it. That was probably a few hours ago. He glanced at the balcony. It was already nightfall. He sighed lowly and returned his gaze to the tome. Yup. 5 hours.

~Are you well? You have been silent and distracted.~

Zevvin looked up from the tome towards his bed. Wisper sat on his hind legs staring at him. "I am fine." That was a lie. He couldn't get Iron Bull out of his mind and the things that Wisper had told him…it made it even harder to concentrate on anything else but his crushed dreams. Dreams? Were they dreams or desires. Were dreams and desires the same thing?

~Perhaps I should have not informed you of the Qunari's thoughts.~

"No, no. It is fine…" Zevvin mumbled. It really wasn't but the redhead would never admit that out loud. "I am…glad you stopped me from embarrassing myself. Thank you, Wisper."

~As you say.~

The fennec laid down and curled up into a ball. Zevvin continued to gaze at him for a moment longer before returning his gaze to the tome. Wisper had always been there for him. The wisdom spirit had always encouraged him in the avenue of study and sometimes even in social situations but lately he had been a tad bit hostile. Ever since Zevvin had stepped out of the fade the first time, he had sensed some animosity from the spirit but he wasn't exactly sure if it was directed at him or the situation they were forced into.

Zevvin bit his bottom lip. There was something else bugging him that he couldn't stop thinking of. Ever since Wisper had first started expressing his distaste for most of the people within the hold. "Do you…believe…I'll ever find someone interested in me?"

~You interest a great many people.~

Zevvin perked up. He glanced over at the fennec with hopeful eyes. He hadn't expected that answer but he was happy with it. "Oh?"

~But not in a way that would be beneficial to you. Too many have impure intentions.~

Zevvin frowned. "I do not understand."

~You are an elf. That is about as far as that interest goes. You shouldn't worry yourself for such trivial things as other people's interests. You should focus on more worthwhile things.~

Zevvin's brows furrowed. "What about other elves?"

~When was the last time you found interest in one of your own?~

"Does Solas find me interesting?"

~No.~

Zevvin felt his heart sink in disappointment. If anyone would find him interesting, he thought it would be Solas. He had thought they both sought knowledge, however different that knowledge was obtained. Whether it be from tomes or spirits from the Fade. Zevvin found the rift mage interesting, but now he saw that interest wasn't necessarily mutual. "Josephine?" Maybe his knowledge of human politics had garnered the ambassador's interest.

~No.~

His heart sunk further. "Cullen? Leliana? Blackwall? Varric?"

~No.~

Zevvin's disappointment grew. "Dorian?"

~A prime example of impure intentions.~

Zevvin paused a moment, running his fingers nervously through the long, red fringe of hair covering his left eye. "You?" he asked in a small voice. He glanced over at the fennec, who remained silent and still for a long stretch of time. If Zevvin didn't know better, he would have thought the fennec fell asleep. He had a feeling he wasn't going to like the answer that would be given.

~To an extent, maybe. I'd be moreso if you were not so easily distracted.~

Zevvin felt something within him shrivel to nothing. The vials and ingredients floating around him suddenly fell from the air, clattering loudly against the stone floor, the vials shattering and splattering their contents across the floor. Wisper's head popped up in alarm at the sound. They gazed unblinkingly at one another before Zevvin broke his gaze by closing his eyes. With a sigh, Zevvin pushed away from the desk and walked towards the stairs.

~Where are you going? It is late. You should be getting ready to sleep if you're done looking over that tome.~

Zevvin stopped at the top of the stairs. He looked at Wisper. The fennec was still half curled in on himself but had his head raised and his ears perked. "I need air."

~You can stand on the balcony for air.~

"I want to walk."

~You can pace on the balcony.~

"I wish to be alone."

~Hm. Carry on, then. I expect you back within the hour.~

"…Of course," Zevvin mumbled as he started down the stairs.

…

..

.

Zevvin's wanderings found him on the battlements a few paces away from the tavern. He leaned heavily against the cold stone and breathed a heavy sigh. "Rare seeing you walking around empty handed." Zevvin pulled away from the wall slightly and looked up at the approaching Qunari.

"Oh... Bull," Zevvin mumbled. Iron Bull raised an eyebrow as the redhead turned away from him, leaning farther over the gap in the battlement.

"Just Bull?" Iron Bull asked. He was used to the elf calling him by his full name, including the article. He also wasn't so used to the elf using such a flat tone when he was talking to him. He had to wonder what was up, especially since the inquisitor was without his fennec pet. "You okay, boss?"

"Oh nothing…just finding out how boring I am."

"Boring? You? You've got to be the most non-boring person in this place." Iron Bull raised an eyebrow when the elf scoffed.

Zevvin glanced at him from the corner of his eye. "You're just saying that to placate me. Leave me to my brooding, please," he grumbled miserably. He slumped even farther on the wall. "I wish to be alone with my thoughts."

Iron Bull silently let his eyes roam over the small elf. He wasn't entirely sure what had gotten into him lately, but he didn't like it at all. When he'd first met the fiery redhead, he was full of spunk, dishing out sarcastic remarks left and right. Lately, he had been more docile and quiet and was never without his fennec.

Maybe it had something to do with the fennec? He'd caught the elf on more than one occasion speaking to the little animal as if it were a sentient being. More often or not, he was arguing with it about some tonic or poison. "I want to show you something, Boss." Zevvin looked up at him again with a slight furrow in his brow.

"Oh? What would that be?"

"Follow me." Bull led the elven inquisitor to the room above the bar. He held out Scout armor and instructed the mage to change. Bull watched, amused, as the inquisitor attempted to get dressed. He was doing fine up until the point he had to snap on the armor plates. Iron Bull took that moment to approach the small elf and give him a hand.

Zevvin snapped his gaze up from glaring at the armor snaps when he felt hands on his person. He looked up and stared at the Iron Bull as said Qunari snapped the armor in place. "Thanks…" Zevvin mumbled. Iron Bull grinned at him and motioned for him to follow.

They stepped out of the room and walked down the steps. "Why am I dressed like this?" Zevvin asked when they came to a stop.

"You'll see. Come on, it'll be worth your time. I promise."

And worth it, it was.

…

..

.

Zevvin and Iron Bull stepped in front of the tavern. Iron Bull observed the way the elf's mood seemed to have improved after speaking with the two inquisition soldiers. He'd instructed the elf to stay quiet but knew full well the elf would ask at least one thing. What he had asked wasn't exactly what he was expecting but it was along the lines of what he thought would be asked, considering what the elf had said to him before he had taken him to see the soldiers.

"Do you find the Inquisitor interesting?"

It was an odd question to ask considering. The two soldiers had looked at each other and looked at 'Grim' before answering in the affirmative. The redhead seemed happy with that answer.

"I know every soldier under my command," Iron Bull said as he and Zevvin faced each other. "You don't have that option…. but a few faces might help."

"It was good to get their perspective," Zevvin said, looking up at Bull with a dazzling smile that could blind the sun.

"You've got a good army coming along. Remember that, no matter what comes next." Iron Bull watched the elf look away, an unreadable expression taking hold of his face. A moment later, the elf slowly turned back to him and looked up at him, almost shyly, through his lashes. The elf fiddled with the ends of the red fringe covering his left eye. If he were anyone else, Iron Bull would think he was flirting with him.

'Impossible,' Iron Bull snorted inwardly. 'The kid didn't even realize the vint mage he was always hanging around was flirting with him, it's highly doubtful he's flirting on his own.'

"May I ask something of you, The Iron Bull?" Zevvin asked. Iron Bull grinned. The article was back.

"Ask away, boss." He had a feeling he knew what the question was going to be. His suspicion reigned true when a tiny flush slowly spread across the tanned elf's nose.

"Do you…find the inquisitor interesting?"

Iron Bull grinned. Did he sense a hidden meaning in that question? "Who wouldn't? He's witty, intelligent, powerful, talented, and sexy to boot."

"S-Sexy?" Zevvin's eyes nearly popped out of his head. Iron Bull laughed. He clapped a hand on the small elf's shoulder. Zevvin had to steel himself against the sudden weight – his legs nearly buckled from the friendly gesture.

"You shouldn't doubt yourself so much, boss. You're the least boring person in all of Thedas."

Zevvin placed his hand over Iron Bull's and smiled at him. "You really think so?" The blush was still there.

"Of course." Iron Bull smiled. Zevvin gave Iron Bull's hand a light squeeze, his smile widening.

"Thank you." Zevvin pulled away from the Qunari. With a slight bow of the head, he bid the giant warrior good night.

…

..

.

He was giddy as he walked up the steps to his room. So giddy, in fact, he had forgotten he was wearing Scout armor until he got to the top of the landing.

~What took you so long? I said within the hour and you come back 2 hours later.~

Zevvin almost instantly felt his mood fly south. He sighed as he walked farther into the room and began to strip out of the Scout armor.

~Why are you wearing that? Where did you go? Why did you not tell me you were leaving the hold entirely for your walk?~

"Please, Wisper, I'm not in the mood," Zevvin mumbled.

~Nonsense. I could smell your bubbly mood a mile away. What happened? Did you figure out the right combination for that tonic?~

Zevvin contemplated lying to the fennec. The fennec would find out eventually that he was lied to and chew him out. "I…was just speaking with some inquisition soldiers. I got to hear exactly what some of them see in this cause." The fennec was quiet. Zevvin, thinking the fennec had accepted his excuse, stripped the rest of the armor away. When he was finished, he walked over to the bed. He glanced at the fennec, noticing Wisper had been staring at him the entire time. "What?"

~What did he say to you?~

Zevvin's eyes widened slightly. "Wh-what? Who?"

~That Qunari. I can smell him on you. What did he do to you? What did he say?~

Wisper began to growl. Zevvin raised his hands to placate the growling spirit in fox form. He was starting to glow a faint blue, something Zevvin hadn't seen him do since the blight. "Wisper, calm down. He didn't do or say anything to me. Well…"

~Well what?!~

The bottles that sat on Zevvin's desk burst at the growl. Zevvin gasped, his gaze snapping over to the open tome amidst the mess. He rushed over to his desk and picked the tome up, snapping it closed and replacing it on the bookshelf. "He was the one that helped me gain insight from the soldiers. And he only placed his hand on my shoulder. It was a friendly tap. Please calm down." Zevvin walked over to Wisper and reached his hand out to the growling fennec. Wisper flinched away from him, his growling subsiding slightly.

~I need air.~

Wisper jumped down from the bed and walked to the balcony.

~Clean up your desk and get some sleep.~

With that, the fennec jumped over the railing. Zevvin frowned. He glanced at his dripping desk with a sigh.