The first time Shalini kills a dragon, Bull is not with her. She doesn't quite know why she didn't take him with her that day, but she thinks it has something to do with the fact that they're lovers now, and she doesn't want to play favourites. Plus, she had no idea they would actually run into one of them that particular day. So she tries not to take his brooding that personal when they get back and Sera practically jumps into the tavern yelling about a "magnificent fight" and "it was absolutely amazing".

He seems to forgive her fairly quickly though, nibbling and nuzzling later that evening, mumbling about how good she smells, and how it makes his blood almost burn.

Shalini has no idea what he's talking about, she hasn't done anything particular to her scent as far as she knows, so she just goes with it. He's never been that hands-on and nose-in-her-hair before, so she happily rides the wave as long as it lasts.

After a long bath the next morning, the scent is gone much to his disappointment. It doesn't stop them though, and by lunchtime, Shalini has to take another bath. She really should have more self-control, she thinks. But then Bull starts to run his fingers through her hair in an attempt to untangle it and she thinks "screw it". Self-control is such an overrated thing anyway.

oOo

The second time Shalini kills a dragon, Bull is with her, and she doesn't think she has ever seen him that happy, which almost makes her a little jealous. At a dragon. Almost.

That jealousy is shortlived however, as Bull practically drags her away to an abandoned shed and tells the others to head back to camp. At first Shalini is mortified at his behaviour, but then he's bent down between her legs and she quickly forgets what she was even embarrassed about in the first place.

Apparently she has that scent again, and she cannot for the world of it figure out what it is. She doesn't smell anything, other than dirt and blood from the fresh kill, which is still lying almost right outside the shed they found. Charming. Then it hits her.

"Wait..." She mumbles and grabs his face, a small part of her extremely disappointed when he stops what he's doing and looks up at her. "Is it the blood I'm covered in that you smell?"

He seems to think about it for a moment, then realisation hits him and he snaps his fingers.

"Yes!" He nods quickly. "That's what it is! You still had dried blood on you when you came back that first time, and now we're both soaked in it, you smell extra nice though." He growls and grabs her ass, making her squeak. "It's like your entire body is roaring."

Now Shalini almost wishes she could feel this scent too, but she guesses that it's a Qunari-thing and maybe she wouldn't understand it even if she could smell it. She certainly isn't complaining though, especially when he gets back to matters at hand and yeah, her body is roaring alright, so is she.

oOo

Back at Skyhold, he offers her a drink which makes her wish she was dead, and tells her about the Qunari and dragons and old theories and bringing sexual pleasure, the latter which he had certainly done, she smirks. The rest is a little blurry, but she's pretty sure he complimented her breasts. Then everything goes black and numb. She's never drinking with him again. Ever.

oOo

The third time Shalini kills a dragon, it's actually planned. As much as one can plan to kill a dragon anyway. This time she left Bull out of it again, mostly because the thing she's after is a surprise.

Both Varric and Blackwall stares at her when she explains why, and Vivienne simply shakes her head.

"Darling, I'm sure Val Royeaux can supply you with all kinds of replicas for a simple tooth, do you really need to risk our lives for this little trinket?"

But it's not simply a 'little trinket' to Shalini, it's so much bigger than that. She wants to give this to Bull, to show him what he means to her. But she doesn't bother explaining that to Vivienne, she's not sure she would understand.

Of course, there is the risk that Bull will reject it, reject her. This is just good fun between them after all. Except it's not. Not for her, and maybe...maybe it's not for him either.

Then they hear the dragon roar in the distance, and Shalini takes a deep breath. Showtime.

oOo

"I don't even have to take a sniff to know what you've been fighting, Boss..." Bull deadpans when she walks up to him back at the keep.

Shalini can't really blame him, she's covered from head to toe in dried dragon-blood, some small part of her insisting on not washing her clothes on the way back. At least she took a bath herself, or else Vivienne would have killed her on the spot.

"I have something for you." She mumbles and feels a little ashamed that she kept him in the dark, but he just smirks and pulls her to him.

"Really? Well, I think I've got something for you too." He rumbles and inhales. "Come on, I'll go first..."

Shalini is totally fine with that, especially when he scoops her up and carries her all the way up to one of the many rooms without breaking lip-contact once. Well, almost. He do like to burrow his face in her neck and hair. Even if she had taken a long wash, the scent lingers in those places he says. She doesn't really pay attention though.

oOo

Kadan, Shalini thinks to herself. Kadan, Kadan, Kadan. Over and over again until her brain has turned the word into gibberish. Then she starts whispering it, quietly, almost just mouthing it. She doesn't want to wake Bull, who is sleeping soundly beside her with his face half-burrowed in the pillow, one arm over her.

Despite the unfortunate run-in with her advisors, an event she was sure they wouldn't forget so easily, this had turned out to be one of the happiest moments of her life. The entire bed is in disarray, with her still bloody and dirty clothes spread across the room. Had she really killed a dragon again just the other day? And all for a tooth. No, it's so much more than that. Kadan, she thinks, and slowly turns around to face him. She lightly strokes his jaw, her fingertips catching on the stubble. Kadan, Kadan, Kadan. She smiles and puts her hand on his back. She can play this game too.

"Ma Vhenan..." She whispers and closes her eyes.

oOo

The forth time Shalini kills a dragon, it's actually an accident. They're just meant to study its behaviour for some professor that has taken up camp not that far away. He isn't that pleased with the result, although the fact that they got so close to the dragon is certainly impressive. Bull is happy though, so Shalini sees that as a small success. The professor even agrees to join the Inquisition. All in a days work.

Back at camp, Shalini is doing everything in her power not to die from the heat, the fact that she can't bathe doesn't really make it better either. Bull is on his back beside her, trying not to die as well most likely, if his deep breaths and the fact that he doesn't move at all is any indication.

"Why did you have to stand so close to the dragon, getting all that blood on you?" He mutters and glances at her. "Lying there all tempting, and I can't do a single thing about it."

Shalini chuckles lightly and turns to him.

"Maybe I did it on purpose, to get you riled up." She smirks.

He groans and frowns at her.
"You evil woman."

Shalini is starting to think this whole dragonblood thing is turning into a powerful weapon.

oOo

A weapon she is starting to regret telling a certain someone over drinks.

Shalini isn't going to pretend that she and Sera has a lot in common. Shalini isn't very fond of the gibberish she hears every time Sera opens her mouth, and Sera isn't very fond of Shalini's overall "elfyness", but they make do. She is an excellent drinking companion. Except when she gets Shalini to talk about things she has nothing to do with, like the fact that Bull gets more hot and bothered than usual whenever Shalini smells like dragon.

Maybe she should stop drinking with Sera.

oOo

Yes. Yes, she should definitely stop drinking with Sera.

Bull is quickly climbing up the stairs to her quarters, with her over his shoulder, giggling like mad and lightly punching his back, telling him she can walk herself.

"No way, Kadan." He grins and continues on his way. "I like you just where you are."

Shalini only hums in reply and folds her arms over his shoulderblades, counting the steps as they climb stair after stair. When they've finally reached her room, Bull readjusts his hold of her and she end up in his arms instead, smirking up at him.

"Do I even want to know what you're planning?" She asks and strokes his jaw.

"That would kind of kill it, wouldn't it?" He answers before opening the door and enters.

They don't get very far, as both of them are suddenly showered by an entire bucket of what Shalini can only guess is dragonling-blood. She knew she should have expected trouble when she saw Sera jumping between the bodies on their latest trek, crouching and being all secretive.

She stares up at Bull and he stares back, until he breaks out in laughter and puts her down on the floor. Shalini isn't laughing though, and looks up at him with fire in her eyes.

"If you were helping Sera with this, I'm going to kill you, slowly." She pronounces every word carefully, and puts her hands on her hips. He only continues laughing but shakes his head.

"I wasn't, actually." He chuckles after a few moments and straightens up. "This is so much better than what I was planning though."

Shalini only grumbles and starts walking up the final stairs, removing her tunic and shirt as she does so, throwing them on the floor.

"Blood here and there I can accept, but an entire bucket?" She mutters. "I need a bath."

"You know the scent will linger, Kadan." Bull growls and stalks after her, unbuckling his belt.

"I'm counting on it." She purrs and removes the last piece of garment.

Dragonblood. Who would have thought?