3/2/15
Isabella had been sitting in the Hanged Man for hours. Drinking, mostly, but also wondering why she was here. Not just the bar with watered-down, bad ale. Kirkwall in general. She sighed, looking towards the door and considering leaving again. With any luck nobody would even remember she'd been there.
"Bella. You look good."
Her hopes dashed as she saw Carver entering, heading to her. She quickly downed the remainder of the swill and turned to him. "Hawke."
He sat down beside her. "Three years, Bella? Where have you been?"
"If I told you it would defeat the purpose of having left."
Carver sighed. "Alright. What brought you back?"
Bella looked at him, stunned as though she hadn't anticipated the question. Better to deflect. "Where's the Kitten?"
"Merrill is at home. Our home," Carver clarified. "If Varric was wrong I didn't want her hopes dashed."
Thoughtful. "Carver, I..."
"Just don't talk." He flagged a barkeep, getting a drink of his own. "Kirkwall is busy. I'M busy, Bella. The question is if you care. About Kirkwall. About Merrill." He paused, almost opening his mouth again when the drink was set before him. Instead of asking the last piece he drank it down.
Isabella looked at him, seeing what he was afraid of clearly in his very demeanor. Hawke shouldn't look so uncertain or small. He was more than Kirkwall's champion, he was her champion, because...
"I care about YOU, Carver. It's why I only got halfway to Ostwick at first. Then I watched you...when I left it was after I was sure you were about to lose and knew you would rather I use the distraction. I..." The pirate found herself unable to continue past the lump in her throat quite suddenly. "Are you happy?" she finally mages. "You and Merrill?"
Carver reached across. "How long, Bella?"
Lost in his eyes, eyes she had been sure she would never see again, Isabella almost couldn't breathe. When she did it was with a hitch and very unsteadily. She still couldn't answer him. She held that gaze until he leaned over the table and captured her lips. She immediately stood to match his kiss with a frantic passion, unable to stop her body from reacting.
"Hey! You two! Not on the table, Hawke. Not this time."
Isabella laughed against his lips. Oh she'd missed this. "It's been a while," she murmured. "Shall we..?"
Carver just grinned. His Bella was back, and for however long it lasted he would enjoy it.