Varric adjusted the modified bolt, stroking down Bianca's bridle as he murmured, "These'll work?"
"Of course they will," Hawke said, closing her eyes with a soft sigh.
"And it's the right location?" he said, hesitating again.
"Oh who knows," Hawke murmured, smirking when he looked at her. "I remember the day when you'd have blown up a warehouse just for fun."
"Yeah, back when we were a little less known - when every two bit and cutthroat in the street didn't know your face," he murmured, lining up the shot. The flask at the head of the bolt sloshed. "The Carta will come down hard on us for this."
"Well then you'll be glad to know I did something else this morning," she waggled her brow, and he put down Bianca again with a sigh. "Let's just say, they'll be quite convinced this was the Coterie's doing."
"You have to stir the shit," Varric murmured, shaking his head.
"There's more than just lyrium in there, Varric," Hawke said. She shifted her weight, "There are shipments from the Divine for the Gallows. From what I've heard, marching orders and measures to deal with the 'mage rebellions' on the rise."
Varric sighed, ignoring her this time as he cocked Bianca, "Just have the other bolts ready. When this flies, we have very little time for our getaway."
"Thank you for your help," Hawke said, crouched beside him.
"Better make it up to me later," he murmured. "I don't know how I get into this shit with you."
"You simply can't resist me," Hawke sighed.
Varric scoffed, "Humans." Bianca snapped, and the bolt shot through the window of the warehouse on the other side of the square, the shattering glass pre-empting the flush of fire. He held out his hand, and Hawke put the other flask-bearing bolt in his hand, and the next two were off in succession, when there was an explosion within the warehouse.
"Shit," Hawke laughed, snagging him by the collar of his jacket as they hauled onto their feet and took off across the rooftops. She tried to backpedal, watching the black plumes of smoke rise into the sky, a malicious delight in her eyes.
"Keep moving," Varric smacked her backside, and they both laughed a bit, holding up as there was another explosion, the force of the shockwave almost knocking them off balance.
"And you say I never take you anywhere fun," Hawke said as they climbed down another level. They fell into the shadow one of the buildings as the whistle from the guard went up. "Can you imagine if Aveline knew the things we do?"
"I think she lives in denial," Varric replied, hugging the wall alongside her. He pointed to a nearby trellis.
"Like a lot of individuals in this lovely city," Hawke said, eyes darkening. They scaled the wall, and were darting through the street when Varric spotted a group of guards.
"They'll recognize you," Varric said, grabbing her wrist. "Down, Hawke."
"I'm not a dog -" Hawke was jerked to her knees, and Varric threw his hood up, pressing her against the wall to quickly kiss her.
The guards hesitated when they came to by the door, and one just scoffed, uttering some word of mixed-breed disgust under his breath. There was another whistle near the docks, and they took off again.
When Varric pulled back, he slipped a bandana from his pocket and tied Hawke's hair to conceal it.
Hawke was still on her knees, the momentary look of surprise fading into something else as she said, "You know, you're better at that than I thought you'd be."
"You doubted me?" Varric replied with a smirk.
"Well," Hawke said as she got to her feet. "It's never seemed like you've had much practise."
Varric scoffed, looking at her before he started to laugh, "Just move your ass, or who knows what other methods of distraction I'll need to employ."
Hawke arched her brow with a twinkle in her eye, "Tempting me to be lazy. Won't Bianca get jealous?"
"Move," he pushed her again, smirking as they ran off down an alley.
Anders sat on the edge of the bed, his head hanging down as Hawke rolled to fit herself against his back. His shoulders slumped and he closed his eyes as her hands worked up his bare back. Her fingers eventually found their way into his hair, loosening the leather tie that kept it back from his face.
"You're so cold," she quietly said, rubbing over his skin.
"It's raining," he replied, eyes still closed.
Hawke sat up and eased him back against the bed, moving to straddle him and lay atop him. Her breasts conformed to his chest, skin warm against his own. Anders gradually sighed and wrapped his arms around her, cradling her head into his neck as he shivered.
"I miss you," Hawke whispered, her lips in his neck.
"I know," Anders replied, fingers kneading her back. He clutched her with a defined need as he said, "It will all be over soon."
"And then you and Justice will be free?" she asked against his skin.
Anders fingers dragged over her scalp, and he tightened his grasp on her as he nodded, finally rasping, "Yes."
"I love you either way," Hawke said, sitting up to caress the lines from his brow and mess his hair. "Whether you are or not. This is the man I love. Dependable old me, you know?"
"Thank you," Anders whispered, cupping her cheek and smoothing his thumb over her cheek. "For everything. I cherish every minute with you."
"Hush," she whispered, nipping at the curve of his jaw and nuzzling his stubbly cheek. "Getting far too serious. There are too many dour faces these days."
Hand at the base of her neck, Anders pulled Hawke into his lips, kissing her with bruising need. She responded in kind, hand on the bed beside his head as their lips parted, tongues meshing and testing the other for control. Inhaling through her nose, she tensed in his grasp, hips urging in against his.
Air rushed between them as Hawke arched, their hips grinding together once more as they kissed, and Anders hand gripped her thigh, moving his body with his grasp. She gasped in as their lips parted, closing her eyes as he mouthed her neck, tugging at the skin and tangling his other hand in her hair. They writhed together, and he hardened against the warmth between her thighs.
Eyes closed, Hawke's lips hung open with quickened breaths as Anders pulled her against his loins. She fell into his kiss, exhaling roughly through her nose as they ground with a slow pace, his hand squeezing and kneading the base of her skull with each press.
Breaking the kiss, Anders rested his forehead against hers, their quickened breaths meeting as he gasped, "I love you."
Hawke knotted her fingers in his hair, devouring his lips once more and letting her tongue press with his, rising into the muffled moan of his reply. Anders' hand slipped from her hair, clutching the curve of her side as she shifted her hips, hand between them to guide him against her. Sitting up, she looked down at him through half-opened eyes as she let her weight sink and he filled her.
Fingers sliding up the side of Anders' neck, Hawke leant over him and rocked, grinding their bodies together. She kept his gaze as she rode him, before he pulled her in for a kiss, arm around her waist to gain leverage. The bed buoyed beneath them, creaking with the meter of their thrusts, and Hawke gasped as their lips broke, planting a hand beside his head.
Hovering over him, Hawke met his thrusts, eyes closed as she absorbed his skin, lips falling into his neck with tugging teeth. It brought a groan, and Anders' gripped her tighter to urge her on.
"Give me your touch," Hawke softly panted, a whimper in her words as he met with her, and they were kissing once more, hard, deep pulls that left her wanting for air. "Consume me."
Anders clutched her backside, fingers and palms pressing up her body as they rose together. The sweat on Hawke's body cloyed them together, and she pawed at the covers over his head as he shifted her, leaning up to take her breast in his mouth. When he bit, she jerked from his mouth, her hips drawing hard against him, and she laughed in an inhalation.
Their foreheads touched again as each panted for breath, the smack of skin and tremor of the bed following the increasing pace. Hawke gripped the covers for leverage, her other arm wrapped over the top of Anders' head, scant half-kisses meeting open lips amidst her thrusts atop him.
Fingers around the back of her neck, Anders pinned her close and took Hawke's kiss with a swirl of his tongue, his other hand upon her hip as the need quickened. Stuck body to body, the smack became a frenetic grind, gasping into each other's lips, hair tangled about their faces.
Hawke pulled at the covers, huffing into a hard moan in Anders' mouth as the wave swept her away, unable to escape his grasp. She lost herself, riding as he pinned her hip to thrust, trembling with the relief through her. When both her arms fell slack on either side of his head, he slowed and slipped his arms around her.
Panting out of her nose, Hawke pressed her face into the damp warmth of Anders' neck, listening to his own hard breaths into her hair. He rolled his head, pressing his cheek to hers as they lay there, unwilling to yet move. Slowly, she sunk against him more lazily, hiding in his neck, in the smell of him and the sound of his breath. He touched over her skin, caressing and consuming each inch with his fingers, feeling over the scars and soft dips of musculature.
Finally, Hawke moved and slumped into the curve of his arm, using the dip in his shoulder for a pillow. Anders kept his arms around her, eyes closed as he kneaded her arms, back and waist, lips pressed into her hair. They were quiet some time, the sweat on their skin cooling.
"I am sorry, my love," Anders finally whispered, when Hawke had almost fallen asleep. "Always know how sorry I am."
"You often remind me," Hawke murmured sleepily. "How could I forget?"
"But I truly mean it this time," he whispered.
"Hawke?" Aveline stood in the doorway, looking a little surprised.
"Aveline, fancy that," Hawke glanced behind her as she murmured. "This is your house? Who knew?"
"Stop being a git and come in," Aveline sighed, moving out of the way as Hawke came in. "You can't fault me for being surprised. It's not like you to just... drop by."
"I try to give you and Donnic your privacy," Hawke said with a false smile.
"What is it - you're starting to worry me," Aveline said, furrowing her brow. "But er, come in, we just finished our supper."
"I'm sorry to intrude, I feel like a bit of an oaf now."
"Serah Hawke," Donnic said from where he sat with his sword. "What a pleasant surprise."
"Likewise," Hawke grinned thinly, and she looked away absently. "You know, Varric's evening games usually start about now. His pockets have gotten too heavy this past week."
Donnic glanced from Hawke to Aveline, and laid his sword aside as she nodded, "I see. Good of you to mention it. I could use a drink."
"Oo that's tempting in and of itself," Hawke replied, shifting on the balls of her feet.
"Don't you worry, serah, we keep a fine enough stock here to wet your whistle," Donnic replied, accepting a kiss from Aveline before turning to gather his coat and leave.
Aveline watched the door, before her eyes returned to where Hawke paced the room. The Champion ran her hand over the mantle, looking at her fingers.
"Impressive, no dust," Hawke casually said. "Three servants, and I can't keep my own house so clean."
"And you've no job to boot," Aveline said, gathering two glasses from the nearby cabinet and pouring some hard liquor. "Now tell me why you're here, Hawke. I doubt it was to inspect my rooms."
"I just want to break my hand on someone's face," Hawke chuckled a little, glancing at her friend. "No, that's not why I'm here."
"That's reassuring," Aveline said, handing her the drink. She offered Hawke a chair and sat down. "Wait, Hawke - what happened to your hand?"
Glancing at her bloodied knuckles before taking a drink, Hawke said, "Ah, someone's face. In the street. You know how some have a penchance for calling us dog lords."
"Hmm," Aveline frowned.
Pacing still, Hawke took a deep drink of the glass, closing her eyes as she steadied her voice, "It's Anders."
"What has he done now?"
"It's so many little things, you know," Hawke said, looking up and blinking rapidly. "I feel ridiculous really. Why did I come here - intruding like this, I should just drown at the Hanged Man."
"Marian," Aveline was up to catch Hawke's arm, furrowing her brow. "Stop. We're family."
"I know," Hawke looked down, exhaling before she finished the drink and gave it back to Aveline. The guard-captain switched glasses with her.
"Sit a while at least, since you've chased Donnic off," Aveline said, and they both took a chair this time.
Letting the liquor warm her a bit, Hawke finally looked at her friend instead of the fire, "You may not know it, but having children's something I wanted to do."
"Most of us are like that," Aveline lightly said, tapping her thumb on the rim of her glass.
"You and Donnic - ?"
"Of course, Hawke," Aveline sighed, shaking her head. "What woman wouldn't want to provide him with a few children. He's a good man and husband - he'd be a good father."
"You're right," Hawke said, taking another deep drink. "He would be. I wish you the best of luck."
"Thank you," Aveline quietly said, looking at her again. "But this isn't about me."
"He's been doing things," Hawke blurted, smoothing a hand over her lips as she closed her eyes. "He's a Warden, he's said it's hard enough for them to... to conceive, you know, but then we were talking earlier... and he gave his cat away, his things are disappearing from the house..."
"What has he been doing?" Aveline asked, her voice hardening to guard-captain.
"Keep the law out of this," Hawke said, her voice wavering again. She shielded her eyes, watching the fire again before finishing the glass. She'd be plastered soon enough. "He's been using methods to prevent me from conceiving. He said it was best when I brought it up."
"Flames," Aveline sighed, sinking more heavily into her chair. "I - I'm sorry, Marian. I had no idea."
"Who would, really," Hawke chuckled darkly, her words growing more lubricated. "I'm not really the motherly type, or a home body or anything. But I love him, and like you said, what woman wouldn't want his children."
Aveline pressed her lips closed, unable to look at Hawke.
"I don't care what others think," Hawke added.
"That much has always been apparent," Aveline replied with a chuckle.
"I know the way you act about mages, how everyone does, but I don't care about any of that," Hawke's voice wavered again, and she cursed quietly under her breath. Her hand fell on her pocket, where her mother's amulet was wrapped in silk. "And I gave him something. Something that means a great deal to me, and he gave it back tonight. He apologizes so much - he... there's so much going on, Aveline, and I can't tell you any of it." She covered her eyes again.
"What does Varric say," she asked.
Hawke lifted her head, looking away to smear the butt of her palm over her eyes, "He doesn't know about this latest development. I - I came here."
"I'm touched," Aveline said, inhaling deeply as she stood up and took Hawke's glass to refill it.
Hawke sat with her hand over her mouth as she blinked her eyes dry. When the whiskey was back in her hand, she murmured, "Thank you."
Aveline nodded and pulled her chair closer to sit right beside her, "Love is not without trials. It may seem perfect, but Donnic and I have our differences. We argue, I imagine anyone does."
"I bet you always win," Hawke smiled.
Chuckling, Aveline said, "I'd like to think so... but it's probably equal. Anders loves you a great deal. That has always been apparent. And he's been happier these years. Do you remember what he used to be like? He never used to smile at all. But with you, he does." She sighed before saying, "And you've been happy. I know I couldn't always be there after what happened to your mother. But he was more than any of us."
Hawke looked down at the fire once more, straining with the tightness in her throat. Slowly she said, "Did you mean it? That we're family?"
"You fit the definition of family, perfectly, Marian," Aveline sighed, sipping her drink with proper temperance. "I couldn't choose you, you're a pain in the ass half the time, but I love you and would do anything for you just the same."
"Thank you." Unable to hide a grin, Hawke reached to take Aveline's hand, "I feel exactly the same way."
"Cheers," Aveline smirked and shook her head, and they both took another sip.