I own nothing, just playing in Bioware's sandbox.

Exams are starting shortly but I'll still be writing. Then I'm on break so plenty of time to write..and actually finish this game. lol

Please read and review 3

"Soooo" An Orlesian accented voice began behind Cullen. The mischievous lilt in her tone had Cullen cringing before he even turned around. His stoic expression luckily didn't fail him when he turned to regard the redheaded spy master.

"So?" He arched a brow at her. Looking down at the report in his hand after and waiting her to continue.

"A little bird told me about a certain commander walking back from the inquisitors room last night." She crossed her arms and smirked to herself. "With quite the dazed expression might I add."

Cullen closed his eyes, reaching up to pinch the bridge of his nose between forefinger and thumb. "Little birds should leave well enough alone." He glanced up at her, bracing a hand on the nearby table. He signed off on the report, folding it and tucking it under his arm before fully turning his attention to her.

"Did you kiss her or did she kiss you? Did you join her in her quarters for a bit?" Lelianna seemed excited by all the details.

Cullen deadpanned. "What? We...We didn't do anything. I just walked her back to her room. She said goodnight and we parted ways."

Lelianna huffed. " That's it?"

"What did you think was going to happen?" He crossed his arms.

Josephine who had been silently observing from her desk in the room, snickered under her breath.

Lelianna merely shook her head beneath her hood. "Maker's breath you are blind."

Cullen narrowed his eyes and turned his gaze from one woman to the other, repetitively. His jaw set stubbornly. "If my attention towards her is so obvious I will do better in masking it."

Josephine shook her head slowly. "Cullen that is not what Lelianna was referring to...your own stammering aside surely you must have noticed the stumbling of the inquisitor as well?"

Cullen mulled over the words but dismissed the claim. "The only reason she stumbles is because I have made the conversation awkward...Besides. I find her attractive yes but petty feelings aren't a distraction we can afford right now."

Lelianna arched a brow. " Petty feelings are all physical. and she stumbles because you make her nervous and flustered. She's shy."

Cullen laughed at that, a sudden bark that escaped his lips in surprise. "Shy? Have you seen the way she acts around the others? Shy is nowhere near close to describing her. She places her hands on their shoulders. Smiles openly and tells stories of her time in the circle. I'd be more surprised to hear her silent than I would be to see her loud."

Lelianna glanced at Josephine who merely shrugged before speaking."Perhaps. But she did grow up in a circle Commander." the woman offered the words softly. "Surrounded by Templars, watched at almost every moment. Her acts around the others...are just that. Acts. She is glad to have such freedom but it uncertain about what she is supposed to do with it. Throw in a former Templar that has her flustered and we're back to square one."

Lelianna chuckled. "She stumbles around you because she can't act in your presence. You make her trip up."

Cullen shook his head, refusing to believe that spark of hope they had both knowingly ignited.

"Either way. Now is not the time for such distractions." He lowered his head respectively to them. "If you'll excuse me I have some work to do."

Cullen left the room with only a slightly impatient lurch in his steps. Betraying his stoic and calm demeanor. Lelianna threw her hands up in exasperation.

'Stubborn fool." She muttered.

Josephine smirked slightly. "...Well...they certainly would make quite the pair."

Cullen kept himself distracted by working with some of the recruits personally. Normally his lieutenants would do this but given his state of frustration Cullen figured he just really needed the action.

He couldn't stand by and watch this time.

It had been a few days since Amelia had left with the others. Though he always expected her to be gone for more than just one night he couldn't help but worry.

Even after training with the recruits his mind revolved around the conversation he had with Lelianna and Josephine. The sharp tone of the bards voice when she had said petty feelings are merely physical. Almost accusing in her way of speaking.

He supposed the spymaster worried he merely liked Amelia for what she looked like. Which would be easy to assume he supposed...

But...

It was true that Amelia was easy on the eyes. A blind man could see it. Her skin was pale-cheeks always flushed slightly despite her moods. Bow shaped lips with three little freckles just to the left of her chin. Auburn wavy locks of hair that constantly fell into her wide amber eyes. Those eyes danced with mischief at times and an almost childlike curiosity at others.

He compared those expressions to how Lelianna and Josephine claimed she was.

In the company of the others she was comfortable. She never dropped her gaze. Smiled easily. Laughed even easier.

With him she was the opposite. Her shoulders seemed to hunch to make her already slim frame appear even smaller. She dropped her gaze and blushed-spoke with uncertainty.

He wasn't sure he could call that shy.

It just made him think she perhaps wasn't comfortable with him...

It wasn't a stretch. He a former Templar. She a mage. their two 'factions' so to speak were currently at war. She was merely an unlucky person thrown into the midst of it.

The idea of her being scared or uncomfortable due to his past made him want to change it even more. He wanted to see her smiles and her laughs. He wanted that to all come freely-no hesitation or fear.

So calling these urges petty and physical was an obvious lie of course.

Cullen sighed to himself. Dismissing the recruits and making his way towards his nearby table.

It was on his way over that the front gates lurched open. The returning members of the inner circle came striding through the gate. Amelia close behind them.

Cullen frowned however, counting the number of heads. Varric was in front-chatting away at Cassandra who looked about ready to throttle or laugh. It was hard to tell the difference. Dorian was back with Amelia, their heads bowed low and speaking softly to one another...

After a moment the inquisitor leaned her weight into Dorian's side. Smiling briefly up at him before stepping away.

Solas was absent.

Dorian murmured something else to her-offering her a rare reassuring smile before taking his leave. He walked passed Cullen on his way to the library.

"Commander." He nodded.

"Dorian." Cullen responded-forcing his words to be for the most part civil.

The Tevinter mage offered a coy smirk before moving on his way.

Cullen turned his attention back to the mage waiting at the gates. Staring out of it expectantly, her hands holding her elbows and rubbing slightly as if to stave off the evening chill.

Cullen walked towards her slowly. Clearing his throat to get her attention. Her amber gaze shot to his-her posture beginning to change.

Once she realized it was him however he watched her, she straightened one arm-one hand holding that elbows as she nervously bit into her lower lip. The expression cleared too late. He caught on to the nervous look in her eyes right before they fell to stare at his boots.

"Commander Cullen." She cleared her throat and slowly raised her eyes, focusing on what he guessed was his forehead.

"Did everything go well?" He questioned immediately. Trying to ignore the way she was acting.

"Ah...yes for the most part. Solas was upset after we lost his friend...he needed some time alone." She shifted her weight, fidgeting. Her arms unfolded, fingers beginning to pull absentmindedly at her robes.

"So you plan on waiting for him to return?" Cullen arched a brow.

Amelia glanced to the gate. Before sighing and shaking her head. She waved for the guards to close it and turned back to him. Her eyes met his directly this time.

"...I just hope he comes back Cullen."

He frowned ever so slightly. "Give him some time Amelia. It probably just weighs on his mind."

She nodded slowly.

"Dinner will be served shortly. I suggest you run now before Bull snags it all." He smiled to her before turning away. He was stopped however in surprise as a warm small hand pressed into his arm.

'We already ate on the way back...I was...actually hoping to speak with you."

She paused and he glanced back at her. Her amber gaze seemed brighter in the fading light. "...if you..don't mind I mean. ..You know..talking to me alone..." She nodded firmly after a moment. Cullen felt heat rising in his cheeks.

"Allow me to grab some food of my own and then you'll have my undivided attention. If I skip another meal Cassandra will be down my throat."

Amelia smiled briefly-gaze flickering brightly.

"Of course...I'll wait in your tower?" She asked it hesitantly and his mouth went dry. He slowly-dumbly, nodded.

She smiled warmly once more before releasing his arm and turning to walk to his quarters.

Cullen had no doubt that was the fastest meal he'd eaten in weeks.