Fenris finished getting dressed and locked the front door behind him. He knew where they would be, and it was getting late. Was she worried?
He took his time, of course. Walking slowly, and kicking stray rocks he happened to pass. His shadow stretched out behind him and he couldn't put it off any longer. He swallowed and opened the door to the Hanged Man.
The door opened, spilling the dimming day light in the crowded bar. Hawke paid no attention. She was pleasantly drunk, and watching with barely contained laughter as Varric told of the time she defeated a dragon single handedly and rescued the Viscount's son from atop a tower. The tower seemed a little much, but his audience hinged on his every slightly slurred word. Isabela sat beside her, quietly watching the rest of the bar, as she always did. She perked up when the door opened and her stomach gnawed at her. She shot a look at Varric, who paused in his retelling, much to the disappointment of his audience.
Hawke scrunched her eyebrows, confused, and turned around. And caught her breath. The color drained from her face and she quickly cast her embarrassed eyes downward.
Fenris stood in the open door, looking unsure. He scanned the suddenly silent bar for his friends.
He spotted Hawke, in the middle of a group as always. She wasn't looking at him, purposefully avoiding his gaze. It hurt him but he understood. Fine, Hawke, he thought. I'll pretend like nothing happened, if that's what you want.
He walked over, feeling all eyes on his (or was that his imagination?). He felt hot, and his markings hummed all over his skin.
"Hey, Broody," Varric said, breaking the silence.
"Varric, Bela," he cleared his throat, "Hawke." She smiled at him politely as he pulled up a chair. The people around Varric, possibly sensing the tension in the group, dispersed.
"No Merrill? Or Anders?"
"Nah, they left earlier."
"Have you been here all day?" Fenris waved over a drink.
"Yeah, and poor Hawke was here all night too," Isabela elbowed Hawke's side. Fenris drank deeply from his mug, he could feel his ears burning.
"Shove it, Bela," she pushed off from the table and went to the bar for another drink. And to get away from his big green eyes. She couldn't stand to watch him act like nothing happened.
"You made her leave," Isabela giggled drunkenly and pinched his cheeks. "If you and Hawke aren't an item anymore, maybe you and I could... Oh! Your ears are blushing again!"
"Isabela, leave the kid alone. You should probably go talk to her, Broody."
"I don't know, dwarf. She was pretty upset last night," he mumbled, massaging the back of his neck like he always did when he was uncomfortable. He could still see the look in her eyes when he turned away from her. Varric stared after Hawke, who was still sitting at the bar with her head in her hands and her drink between her elbows. Isabela, cheeks flushed and with another drink in her hand, nodded along with Varric.
"She looks lost, I think you two should talk. Or do it again," she giggled, taking another sip of her drink. Spilling it down her shirt. "Oh shoot."
"You're vulgar, woman." Fenris glanced back at Hawke, her head was still bent over her untouched drink. He took a swig of Isabela's drink to calm his nerves and walked through the crowd and to Hawke.
He tapped her on the shoulder and cleared his throat. She sighed and dipped her head further down.
"What do you want?"
"I, uh. I wanted to say hi, you left when I got here and we didn't get the chance to, uh, talk and uh..." He trailed off, focusing on his feet. Anything to avoid her. She still hand't turned around and he felt awful. His chest felt tight and his heart crashed against his ribs.
"Thanks," she said, taking the first sip of her drink.
"Hawke, I-"
"I said thanks, Fenris," she still hadn't turned around, her shoulders were hunched as she drained her drink.
"Fine, Hawke. I'll leave you be, but I am sorry," he said, biting his lip to keep his voice steady. His waved goodbye to Varric and Isabela, who were of course watching his every move, and left Hawke in the Hanged Man.