AN: So I noticed like this is somewhat popular but like no reviews? I'm not one for begging for reviews, but if you like it, and like the idea I'm using, please feel free to review. I reply to all of my reviews.
Disclaimer: I own none of any of Bioware's creations. Those, obviously, belong to Bioware.
"Don't be such a wimp." Anais laughed, looking up at him, fingertips tracing his jaw. "You're not gonna run away again, are you?" Their faces were close, and this time the dwarf leaned in just a little with each word.
Thom swore under his breath, cursing his sudden lack of judgement, capturing her mouth in a deep kiss. Her eyes widened for just a second in surprise, she was sure he wouldn't make the first move, but the embrace was, after all, still welcome to her. Cadash's arms tightened around him.
Rainier was still the first to pull away, but this time he wasn't intending on leaving. When he pulled back, breathing fast, some part of him wished he could stay this close to her. Thom's lips brushed against her cheek, and he could feel her trembling. Anais' eyelashes fluttered against his skin; he turned to meet her gaze just for a moment.
"Something's wrong, isn't it." He whispered to her, when she averted her eyes. "Am I being too forceful?"
Anais groaned under her breath, her mouth right against his ear. "Thom, c'mon.." She shifted in his lap, canting her hips against his thighs. "Don't do this right now."
"I want to know if you're ready." Rainier lifted her chin, kissing her tenderly. She pressed closer to his broad chest, seeking his mouth.
"Shut up, please." Cadash looked up at his expression when he pulled away, fingernails digging into his shoulders with a plaintive gasp. "I'm more than ready, and I know you are too, Thom.. Stop wasting time."
Rainier was just about to take the plunge and pass the point of no return when his phone started ringing somewhere on the coffee table. It vibrated straight off the edge and onto the carpet by his feet. "Mind getting that for me?"
Anais made a face and reached down to grab it, her other arm wrapped around the back of Thom's neck for balance.
"Don't– Don't answer it!" Rainier hissed, deathly afraid Commissioner Stannard didn't suddenly decide to know his phone number and call him personally.
"Hello?"
He groaned under his breath and covered his face with his hands. "I'm screwed."
On the other end a decidedly male voice could be heard– A familiar one at that. He relaxed only a little, still dreading it.
"Shit, this is Captain Rainier's phone, isn't it?" If Thom leaned in close enough he could hear the words. How did Tethras get his number?
"Anais, just give me the damn phone."
"Fine, here."
There was the sound of scuffling on the other end; Varric held the mobile out at arms' length away from his face in case something decided to be loud all of a sudden. He didn't trust calls. Plus, he didn't really need to be distracted right this very second; Varric's eyes were focused on a table across the crowded restaurant floor. "You know, I could really use some backup right about now, Captain."
"Hello?"
"Fucking finally, Rainier." Varric was fiddling with his fork on the plate in front of him. His apple pie remained untouched.
"Yeah, how the hell did you get this number, Tethras?"
"That doesn't matter. Listen." Varric was whispering. "I'm at Ronaldo's on Fourth Street. Your big bad boss lady is here on a special date."
"Stannard? Wait, why are you at Ronaldo's?"
"Long story," Varric replied, glancing to the empty seat across from him, the condensation from the glass of water beside the table setting leaving a ring of wet. "I'll have to tell you later once you get here."
"What is Commissioner Stannard doing out at Ronaldo's of all places?" Thom cast a worried glance in Anais' direction. "That high class restaurant?"
"She's meeting with some weird guy. A doctor, I think. The guy's a real creep either way." Varric tipped his glass up to his lips. "Like Renfield level creepy."
"Renfield?"
"Dracula's weird bird-eating sideki– Never mind, it doesn't matter. This is some shifty shit. I think there's like a deal going down or something. Get out here. Bring your lady friend. Make it look less suspicious, if that helps."
"Why should I even trust you with this?"Thom shifted where he was sitting. "Last I checked, you were this close to making me lose my job."
"Because this is weird as hell, Rainier. Something about this is fishy and it's not the daily special." Varric was watching Meredith exchange pleasantries with the man seated across from her. They were flirting, that was obvious, and when the waiter brought their drinks, he was certain the Commissioner was blushing like a schoolgirl. He may have been clueless when it came to love but he could guess that much. The man had dark hair, slicked back to reveal an austere widow's peak and cheekbones sharp enough to kill somebody. Something about the guy sent shivers down the dwarf's spine; it had to be the scars crisscrossing all over his face like wrinkles or the blood red stone hoop earring. "You'll understand when you get here."
"Ugh, fine. We'll be there in fifteen."
Thom stood up, Anais' moving aside. He went to her laundry room, opening the dryer. "Get dressed. We're going to Ronaldo's."
"Fuck, I was kidding with that date thing."
"So was I. This is business."
"What do you mean?"
"I'll explain in the car," He called over his shoulder as he pulled his shirt on over his head.
"Yeah, yeah, whatever." Anais roused herself with some difficulty from the warmth of the soft couch where she had languidly spread her limbs as she stretched.
It was still raining when they stepped out of the apartment and down the stairs to the street. The dwarf shivered, pulling her coat tighter around herself.
Cullen tapped Officer Denam's shoulder where he was standing at parade rest, guarding the holding cells, offering him a cup of coffee. "Go on break, I'll cover you."
Denam cast a last long look at the holding cells before walking past him, clapping a hand on Cullen's shoulder. "You're a good kid."
The blonde watched him go, before turning toward the closest cell. That Riley guy was sitting on the bench against one wall, legs spread. His head was tilted back against the wall, revealing a too pale neck covered in scratches and bruises.
"Hey." The officer in training meandered toward the edge of the cell, peering in between the bars.
"Hey yourself." Riley sneered, staring down his nose at him. "What do you want?"
"You were the one who brought that package to m– to the Commissioner's home, weren't you? I recognized you from somewhere but I couldn't figure it out."
"Shit, I might be. Why? Gonna press charges for that too?" He leaned in, elbows resting on his knees.
"If you told me, it couldn't be used in court anyway." Cullen put a hand to the bars.
"Why the hell are you so interested?" Riley jerked his head up to look at him, his bloodshot eyes open wider than before as he realized. "Oh fuck, you'reStannard's kid, aren't you!" That got him to jump to his feet and he hit the bars at high speed. "The boss is always talking about you, but the way he says it I figured you were a fucking baby."
"What, why? Why would some drug kingpin I've never met talk about me?"
Riley looked as if he just stumbled across a million dollars, a sly grin splitting his face wide."You don't know, do you? Your fuckin' mom never tell you who your dad is? Figured the bitch never wanted you to know she's screwing around with the front runner of the biggest fuckin' criminal enterprise in all of NKC."
"What?" Cullen stumbled back half a step, watching him in horror. "B-but my dad's a lawyer in Ohio. I know who he is."
"Oh, you poor sap." There was a hint of actual pity there, when Riley pressed against the bars, looking out at him. He shook his head. "Your big boss lady lied to you. Fuckin' ask her yourself. In fact, call her. She's probably out with him right now since he's in town."
Cullen's expression hardened as he pulled out his phone, backing away from the holding cell. "I will. She needs to explain. Everything."