Pleasurable Consequences

Hawke shifted his weight from his left foot to his right with obvious physical discomfort. He stood next to the usual table of his best friend Varric Tethras the Dwarven Rogue in the Hanged Man bar and inn having a drink after their latest completed mission earlier that day.

"You should really sit down, Hawke," Varric suggested while looking up at him from where he sat drinking from a tankard of his alcohol of choice. "You look tired. I know I am."

"That's.. I'm alright, Varric, thanks," he replied quietly, visibly wincing as he shifted his stance once again. "I'm good with standing for a while."

Hawke was distracted by a loud customer over by the bar at that moment, so he didn't see Varric's eyes narrow with suspicion in response to his statement and strange movements.

When the two friends headed back to Hawke's family estate after only two drinks, Hawke went to his and Fenris's room to go lie down and Varric went to track down Fenris in the library.

The former slave was reading a book. A good one, apparently, from the way he was completely engrossed within it's pages.

In the mood he was currently in, Varric felt like slamming the library door closed. But he also had no wish to draw the attention of the others in their group, especially Hawke, to the conversation that was about to occur.

So he carefully shut and locked the door before crossing the room to Fenris's side. "Hey, Fenris, I got a bone to pick with you!"

The Elf looked up at him with obvious surprise, marking his place in the book carefully before placing it down near himself on the table that he also sat on top of with his feet propped up on one of the matching chairs.

"I was just rereading my favorite book in Hawke's library," Fenris stated before inquiring, "Is something wrong, Varric?"

"You're damn right something is wrong!" Varric replied, clearly angry as he expressed his feelings with his words. "When I gave my blessing to your relationship with Hawke, I gave you one rule. Do not hurt Hawke! And you did!"

Fenris's golden eyes went wide at his accusation, his expression turning offended, though his voice somehow remained calm as he spoke to Varric, "I did not."

"You did!" Varric growled, becoming even angrier at what he thought was the other man's denial of his guilt.

"Varric, I did not hurt Hawke," Fenris said, his expression completely honest and serious. "I told you I never would, and I meant it. Did Hawke tell you that I hurt him?"

"No, but.. Well, why else would he be too uncomfortable to sit down and drink with me?" Varric asked him with clear confusion now.

"Ah."

"What do you mean, ah?"

"There's a perfectly reasonable explanation for that."

"There is?"

"Yes."

"Maker's Breath, talking with you is like attempting to pull a tooth from a Qunari's mouth, Fenris! Difficult, and potentially dangerous in multiple ways. Will you tell me why?"

"Your description of speaking with me is accurate, and something I would expect from an accomplished writer," Fenris replied with a slight smirk as he met the Dwarf's eyes with his. "I can tell you the reason, yes. But are you certain you wish to know the.. intimate details of my relationship with Hawke?"

"Do I really have a choice now that I'm in this deep?" Varric asked him with a now wary look.

"No. Hawke can not sit down right now because he did something foolish during the fight earlier. Something that endangered his life," Fenris explained to him. "Me being his lover, and us having the type of relationship we have together, Hawke asked me to punish him for it. So I spanked him."

"You spanked Hawke?!" Varric gasped, his eyes going wide as he stumbled back into another nearby matching chair with a shocked expression.

"Yes," Fenris told him. "I did." Then his eyes narrowed as he looked at Varric, his expression even more serious as he continued speaking, "Which you will not tell anyone. For Hawke's sake. Or speak to Hawke about it. Also for his sake. It is my place to fulfill Hawke's needs, by his choice. All of his needs. I have no issues with that. But it bothers Hawke still, though he has come far and accepted his needs. I will not have you make him feel ashamed again. Is that clear, Varric?"

"Y-Yes. Very clear, Fenris," Varric stammered, the Dwarf actually blushing for once. "I promise that I won't say a word. And I am sorry for jumping to incorrect conclusions. No matter how unbelievable the truth of the matter is."

"Good. And your apology is accepted, Varric. Deviations in relationships from what is considered normal by most people is often met with surprise. That does not necessarily mean the deviation is wrong. It can be wrong, of course. But in the case of my intimate relationship with Hawke, it is right, for us both. Now that I've set you mind at ease, I will go back to reading my book."

"Yes. You do that. I.. I should go."

"Goodnight, Varric. If you see Hawke, inform him I will join him shortly."

"He- He's already in bed, Fenris. We've all had a long day, I think. Turning in early sounds like a smart choice."

"Is that so?" Fenris drawled, his golden eyes flaring visibly with the sudden passion Varric suspected was always beneath the surface of this man's skin. Banked, yes, but always ready to rise to life. To burst into the red-hot flames of desire for Hawke. He was clearly interested in something else more then his favorite book now. Or rather, someone else. "Well, perhaps my book will wait. I could give poor Hawke a massage. Everywhere."

"Erm, yes," Varric said, blinking rapidly and blushing even more now with his uncharacteristic embarrassment. "Goodnight, Fenris."

Dirty tavern tales meant nothing to the Dwarf, and so had no real effect. But love, real and emotional love, had him blushing like a Chantry sister would if she somehow found herself in The Blooming Rose. It was really quite amusing to Fenris, and sweet, as well.

"Mmm.. It will be better then good, Varric, I assure you," Fenris growled, smiling at him with burning golden eyes. His emotional love, his emotional lust, and his physical need, all were clear in the tones of his deep voice as he unlocked and opened the door to leave the library with his book to go and be with Hawke in their room for the night.

"Maker's blue balls," Varric cursed softly once he was alone in the room. "I think it's time I sought out some paid company for myself.."