Rating: for non-explicit sex (albeit still very possible to work out what they're doing) and discussion of sex; and coarse language

A/n: I've not finished DAI yet but I chose to romance Sera. When I got to her romance quest, I started thinking about two things: (i) given Sera's somewhat anti-noble stance, what does she actually think about the Inquisitor's role and how they live; and (ii) given Sera's reaction to your "gift" (especially if you tell her you weren't keeping her a secret to begin with), what did she expect from the relationship at the outset? And hence, random fic. Hope you enjoy!

The Healing Process

Sera doesn't experience any nervousness or doubts until the Inquisitor locks the door behind them. Or really, not until Sera goes up the stairs and sees Inky's chambers.

They're big. Like, really frigging big. There's this fancy table and balconies and posh rugs and-

"Admiring the bed?"

Sera turns to face Malika Cadash, who's smiling at her. There's something about the dwarf's smiles that Sera always finds odd (in a good way) – they're small, calm, and somehow still obviously happy.

Not that Sera will ever say something like that. Instead, she says, "It's a big bed. Bet you crawl in there and just, like, get lost in the blankets or something."

Malika laughs. Like her smile, she laughs quietly. "It is big. I wanted something smaller but Leliana and Josephine tell me it's about status."

"What, in case you invite all those posh nobles up to your room?"

Now that Sera's said that though, she doesn't like the sound of it.

Malika shrugs, still smiling. "I hope not. You're the only person here I've invited to my bed."

Red tinges the dwarf's cheeks then; she looks away. Sera's heart doubles in speed. She realised a while ago that Inky has the hots for her: lots of flirting, lots of looks and 'accidental' brushes. But Malika flirts with other people too – even Dorian, who probably likes women as much as Sera likes men – and there's just something about knowing that for all that, Malika might not want them.

Or maybe she just knows she can have Sera.

Or she might have listened to Sera too much and thinks sleeping with her will make her more relatable and-

Oblivious to the elf's thoughts, Malika says, "You know, what I've always wanted to do is jump on the bed."

Sera snorts, uncertainty forgotten. "Why haven't you? No point being all leadery and shite if you don't do what you want."

A lopsided smile this time that somehow makes Sera's stupid heart stop. "I have to be dignified, remember?"

"Dignified's rich people stuff," Sera says. "You want people, you have to be able to have fun. So. I'll do it if you will."

The smile grows. "I was hoping you'd offer."

Sera grins and climbs on to the bed, offering a hand to pull Malika up. They begin to jump – small hops at first but soon, they're laughing as they try to outdo each other. Sera looks at Inky, whose eyes are scrunched with mirth, and snorts. All their companions think they know Inky but they don't. She's not all saintly and shite like that. She's normal. Sort of. Anyway, she was Carta once and that counts for something. Sometimes, Sera thinks it's lucky Malika met her – the dwarf has said, more than once, that Sera's the only one who lets her be normal. Who lets her pull pranks and be silly and immature.

("I'm lonely, sometimes," Malika said once as they sat together in the tavern. The dwarf was a little drunk, Sera thought. "I miss my family. If they were here, they wouldn't talk to the Herald. They'd talk to me." A sigh. "When this is over, I'd like to go back to them. Be meagain."

A pang at the thought of Inky leaving, but Sera still said, "Could go now. Who cares what those bigwigs like Josephine want? You don't have to deal with their shite."

Malika shook her head. "I saw what happens if I don't stop Corypheus. How can I go back, knowing they'll die? That you all will?" Then, so quietly that Sera thought she might have misheard, "It's fantasy, anyway. I'll never go home now. Smugglers aren't religious figures.")

She's jolted from her thoughts by Inky's eyes. The dwarf's looking at her, studying her almost, but it's not creepy. It makes Sera feel warm. Like she's being drunk in. The elf bounces closer; in response, at the peak of her own jump, Malika leans forwards, kisses Sera's cheek, and lands, smiling another small, happy smile. It's just too adorable, so Sera reaches out and kisses her.

She might have gone a bit hard: Malika loses her balance. Arms flailing, she falls on to the bed. Sera topples after her, just about catching herself so that her weight doesn't crush Inky. Before the elf can process what happened (should she back off? Say sorry?), small hands tug her down, and Sera sees smiling grey eyes just before lips capture hers.

It's like wildfire. Suddenly, Sera can't get enough – her lips move frantically as she tries to touch everything at once. Malika's just as bad. Her lips trail kisses across Sera's cheek, then on her neck, and Sera can't suppress a gasp and a "Frig!". From how Malika's fingers press into her, she obviously likes that.

After a few minutes, lips swollen slightly, Sera says, "Funny you being on bottom, innit. All the others probably think you're all strong and mighty in bed and stuff."

Malika smirks. "I'm exactly where I want to be."

"That wasn't you saying you're not on bottom," Sera points out, rolling back on top of her.

Malika reaches up and kisses Sera again, humming into it. Sera decides it's her time to explore and soon, Malika is gasping, hips bucking upwards almost desperately. The elf laughs.

"Reckon you got too many clothes on, Inky," she says, reaching for the buttons on Malika's top. "Time to see what's underneath, yeah?"

Malika freezes. It's only for a second but Sera sits up as though stung. "I thought you wanted-"

"I do," says Malika quickly. Her cheeks tinge red again.

"'S alright, OK?" Sera says. She rubs her right arm with her left hand, trying to be all calm and rational and everything you're meant to be in a situation like this. Maybe she should picture something gross, like Solas naked. "We don't have to do stuff. Like, if you're not in the mood or whatever, it's all good, innit?"

Now, Malika sits up, reaching for the elf's hand. "I am definitely in the mood," she says. "I just…" She bites her lip and looks away; suddenly Sera wants to hug her. "It's been a long time for me. And all the fights and the Conclave and Corypheus, it- I don't want you to be disappointed with what's … under here." Another bite of the lip. "I want this to be good for you."

Sera can't help staring. Malika is one of the calmest people she's ever met. She faced down a bloody ginormous darkspawn and a dragon, and managed to seem badass while doing it. Dorian said she went through frigging time, saw the end of the world, and barely seemed shaken at all.

This is what unnerves her?

Malika's blush deepens. She begins to twist away. "I'm sorry," she says. "I shouldn't have-"

Sera squeezes her hand. "Still want to do it, Inky?"

"Y-yes."

Sera removes her hand and begins to undress, maintaining eye contact all the while. Seeing those grey eyes darken and how Malika unconsciously swallows fills Sera with reckless confidence.

Fully naked, she says, "I got a couple of scars too, see? 'S not a big deal."

Quietly, maybe not even realising she's speaking aloud, Malika says, "You're so beautiful."

It's Sera's turn to fight a blush. Her partners before have all been a bit like her – loud, blunt, full of life. This quiet sincerity though is something she could get used to.

She says, "You like it then? Appreciating the goods, yeah?"

Malika grins, slightly guiltily. After a second's hesitation, she takes off her own clothes – first her top and breeches, then her underwear. Her expression is a little of someone bracing themselves for war.

But Sera's drinking her in. Inky's got scars, there's no doubt about that – there are old wounds all over her arms, legs, and shoulders. But if she's ex-Carta, Inky's probably used to old battle wounds. Except, there are two that are really awful: a jaggedy one that runs from mid-stomach to left hip; and a vicious one on her right side, hip to tit. Sera doesn't know what the stomach scar's about but the vicious one's probably from the attack on Haven. She remembers, when they found Inky all frozen in the snow, the healers said it was a miracle the dwarf had survived; that the wonky stitches she'd given herself seemed to have held only through sheer willpower. Sera remembers too the smile Malika gave her, the first time they spoke in that tiny makeshift camp; how the dwarf had laughed and said it would take more than a talkative darkspawn to finish her off, and Sera had grinned because obviously, Malika was invincible.

Maybe the advisors and companions aren't the only ones who don't know the Inquisitor well enough.

Inky starts to shift, arms crossing in front of her, eyes skittering away. Sera reaches out to stop her.

"You're frigging gorgeous," she says. "Not going to let Cory-tits stop you from getting some, are you?"

Grey eyes crinkle in a tentative smile; some of the tension leaves Malika's body. "I think that's up to you," she says. "I'd certainly like some."

"Well," Sera says, advancing on her. "Guess it's your lucky day."

And then she crashes into her, lips almost crushing the dwarf's. She kisses her way downwards, tracking all the places that make Malika writhe and making a particular point to kiss along those scars. She talks as she does, and whenever Malika chuckles, she feels something inside her soar.

Eventually, she reaches her destination, and soon calloused fingers are in her hair, urging her on. Sera's somehow not surprised to learn that Inky's actually kind of quiet, mostly just making little moans or gasps. Sera, though, can't help saying stuff, and at one point, she hears a laugh followed by, "I can't believe you're talking down there!"

Sera laughs too, which gets an interesting response. "You love it, don't you?"

All she gets back is a moan. And then, as Malika's movements grow more urgent, more desperate, Sera realises that it's not gasps sounding from the dwarf's mouth but a name. Her name. It's never sounded so good on anyone's lips.

Malika arches before lying back, panting. Slowly, Sera moves back up her body before looming over the dwarf.

Another smile, glorious and heartstopping. "That was amazing."

Sera can't help preening a bit. "Know how to make it good, yeah? Leliana's not the only one who knows singing."

"Singing?"

"You know, with all her birds and shite? Oh, never mind. Fuck off laughing, Inky."

The Inquisitor is laughing. "Sorry, Sera," she says. "You just put the image of Leliana in bed in my head."

"Rude. Acting like she can't get some. She's hot too. In, like, an older lady way."

Malika snorts; Sera can't help feeling proud that she knew that would be the dwarf's reaction. "I won't disagree," Malika says. "Though, er, don't tell her that. She … I don't think she's over the Hero of Ferelden." When Sera frowns, Malika explains, "They were lovers."

"Oh. Shite, OK, sure." Sera frowns again. "Why are we talking about dead people right now?"

"I have no idea." Malika sits up and flips Sera over. Her smile is hungry, suddenly. "My turn."

Sera's always thought Inky has good hands. Clever hands. The way she wields daggers is a frigging joy to watch sometimes. And now, those hands are working magic. Sera's not so keen on the Anchor thing – nothing should glow that way – but Inky seems to know that. She uses her unmarked hand more as she explores the elf's body, and soon, Sera's the one bucking and making noise. Lots of noise. She's never been quiet and now, she can't seem to stop the various comments and expletives from coming out. Malika, though, keeps replying – for someone so quiet, she's got a filthy mouth.

"You know," the dwarf says, "I'm beginning to think you're the one who likes the whole Inquisitor-normal person relationship thing."

Sera blinks, momentarily distracted. "What?"

There's an impish smirk on Inky's face as she does something that makes Sera swear. "You were saying something about how awesome it is, having the Inquisitor doing things to you." Another something. "I'm just saying, you're the one who keeps mentioning me being the Inquisitor. I think it's doing something to you. You know. Down there."

"Fuck off, Inky," Sera gasps out and Malika laughs. "I just … frig … I just like how everyone thinks you're so … yeah, like that … holy and shite and instead you're here."

"Like I said," Malika says, "I'm exactly where I want to be." She kisses Sera quickly, fierce. "In you."

Another finger and Sera is a goner.

When she's come down from her high, she looks at the dwarf. All of Inky's self-consciousness is gone; she's tracing Sera's sides, studying the elf's face, her scars clear in candle and starlight.

She says, "Are you tired? Because I wouldn't mind tasting you."

Sera grins and thinks that maybe it's her lucky day instead.

Eventually, they're both sated. Inky is holding Sera's hand, fingers tracing patterns over her knuckles as they lie next to each other.

Sera says, "Hey, Inky. Why…" She hesitates but then decides to go for it. "If you're so worried about your scars, why'd you invite me here?"

Malika stills. "Were they-"

"Nope, not the question. Frigging gorgeous, remember?" Sera lifts their joined hands and kisses each of Malika's knuckles. "But you got all worried about it. Figured … dunno. Surprised you'd agree like that. You know, given you wanted to talk first and all."

Inky's spare hand – the one with the mark – goes to her stomach, absently tracing the ridges of the shorter scar. "You always make me feel like anything is possible," she says softly. Sera tries not to preen at that. "You see a problem and you just … go for it. And I know you're scared of magic but you still fight with us. You make me feel brave. So, when you asked, I thought I could be brave. That I could pretend I don't look at these scars and think they make my body ... broken." She smiles then, a lopsided, self-deprecating smile. "Besides, I was serious when I said it's been a long time since I last went to bed with anyone. I don't usually get beautiful women telling me they want to sleep with me. That definitely did something to me."

Sera sniggers. "So, you were horny."

"Only because it was you," Malika says. "My hand's perfectly good otherwise."

"Oh, I know," Sera says and smirks at how proud the dwarf looks of herself. "Bet you get lots of people now though. You know, with you being her royal worshiptits and all."

"Worshiptits?" Inky laughs. "Is that replacing Inky?"

"Oh, imagine Vivienne's face if I called you that in public. Shite, it'd be so good!"

"Imagine Cassandra's," Malika says. "She'd probably tell us both off for unbecoming conduct."

They both snicker at the imagined lecture. Sera says, "Anyway. Point is, lots of people probably want in your royal underpants. And none of them will give a rat's arse about your scars. They'll think they're dashing."

Inky considers this. "I don't know. I think people would like the idea more – being able to brag that they slept with the Herald of Andraste, I mean. I don't think they want the reality of me. Besides, nobody's been interested as far as I can see. Though I guess I haven't been trying to get their interest so-"

Sera snorts. "Inky, you flirt with everyone. And half of 'em flirt back. I've seen Bull staring at your arse. Usually when I'm doing it too. And Blackwall actually. Josephine's been looking more at your face but only 'cause she probably doesn't know what tits are for."

Malika blushes. "I don't flirt."

"You do!"

"I'm just trying to be friendly!"

"So, what was all your staring at me and saying how much you wanted me around then?"

The dwarf grins. "OK, you I was flirting with. Can you blame me?"

Something warm fizzes in Sera's gut. "Careful, Inky. Can't go another round tonight."

A warm chuckle. "Me neither." Malika yawns. "We should probably get some sleep. I've got about ten meetings tomorrow…"

Which makes Sera realise that she doesn't really have anything on tomorrow. Some Red Jenny stuff but she can do it quickly. She needs to sharpen her arrows. Run some errands. But it's not like Inky's day.

It doesn't matter. Sera does real person stuff and Inky does all the stuff people pretend matters. That's what nobles and shite do. And Inky's-

Inky's a noble even if she doesn't want to be. She tries to help the little people out but how long do people like her keep that up for? What if she just wanted Sera because it makes her feel like she's not noble? Because she wants fun on the side?

She looks around the giant room, trying to quash that unease. "What will the servants think when they come in tomorrow and see me here?" she says.

Malika shrugs sleepily. "Probably, 'Oh, that must be why Malika locked the door'. Followed swiftly by, 'Maybe I shouldn't have broken into her chambers, those daggers she's holding look very sharp'."

Despite herself, Sera snorts. "OK, smart arse. I meant, they'll talk, you know."

Malika wriggles closer to Sera, and frees her hand to drape her arm over the elf's waist. Her head fits almost perfectly on Sera's shoulder; her lips touch the elf's collarbone. It's impossible not to soften, not to see how adorable and happy Inky is right now. "Probably," the dwarf mumbles. "But it's not like we were that subtle. We raced here, remember?" Another gentle kiss and Sera closes her eyes to that sensation. "G'night, Sera."

"Night," Sera murmurs. She decides to shove all her worries from her mind. It's fine. It'll be fine.

Sera is woken by knocking. Blearily, she opens her eyes. Her arms and legs are entangled with Malika's; she doesn't really want to move.

But the knocking continues and slowly, Inky withdraws and gets off the bed. Sera can't help admiring her naked body.

Malika notices; for a moment, she wavers. As the person knocks again, she sighs. "I'd better get that," she says apologetically. "It'll be breakfast."

"Breakfast?" Sera echoes. "That's down in the mess hall or tavern."

Malika grimaces. "If I oversleep, the servants bring it to me. Let me go grab it."

And suddenly, Sera's unease is back. She watches Inky put on a sleeping gown, walk down the steps and talk to someone briefly. She returns holding two plates. Sera frowns.

"You a big eater then?"

Surprisingly, Inky blushes. "No. One's for you." When Sera frowns, the dwarf smiles teasingly. "You know people, Sera. Only ones you can't keep secrets from are servants. One probably saw us yesterday and told Adeni – my main servant – today. None of them will talk, if that's what you're worried about."

"Course I'm not," Sera says. "Who cares, right?" She takes one of the plates but it still feels wrong. "So, why d'you get special treatment then?"

Inky stares at her plate. "Because I'm the Inquisitor." Her fingers pick up a chunk of bread, then grip it so tightly, Sera can see her knuckles whiten. "I tried to get them to stop. I can get my own breakfast. But apparently being my servant is prestigious and they were being mocked by other servants because if I was refusing meals, it must be poor service. So, we kind of have an agreement – if I wake up before they do, I go get my own but if I don't, I'll eat in here."

"Must be a proper hardship, being waited on hand and foot," Sera says before she can stop herself.

Malika flinches. She takes a bite of her bread. Her knuckles are still curled-white.

Finally, she says, "If it bothers you, I understand. It … we can leave last night as one night only, if you want. No hard feelings."

"I don't care that you're the Inquisitor," Sera says hotly.

Malika says nothing.

"I don't," Sera insists. She thinks of everything that happened last night. How Malika wanted to jump on the bed. Her shyness about her body. Her dedication to making Sera feel good. Their laughter afterwards. Malika's insistence that she didn't know she'd been flirting with everyone.

She leans forwards and kisses the dwarf so tenderly, she surprises herself.

"Look," Sera says. "You're normal. And I like you. So frigging what if you're in charge and everyone thinks you're holy? Just … don't screw around, OK?"

Malika smiles a small smile, pleasure gleaming in her eyes. "I won't. And for the record, Sera, I like you too. I really want to see if we can make something of this." She reaches out to take one of Sera's hands and squeezes. "Last night was amazing."

"You were pretty good too," Sera says. Malika laughs and takes a bite of her food, this time with more gusto. As Sera starts to dig in too, she says, "Told you it was better than talking."

Malika smiles. "But I like talking to you."

"Piss off."

"No, really." The dwarf coughs. "If you're free, maybe tonight we could get dinner?"

Sera smirks. "All fancy like, you mean?"

"Would you want that?"

She's leaning forwards like she's genuinely interested. It makes Sera feel oddly flustered.

"Not sure. Doubt it. What's the point of all those pissing forks and waiting and shite?"

Malika grins, grey eyes crinkled with humour. Sera wants to smile, to point out that she did that.

"Alright," says the dwarf. "Then how about just in the Herald's Rest? They're used to me enough by now."

Sera pauses. "Inky. Does it really bother you, everyone acting like you're Andraste's whatever?"

That uncomfortable look again. Malika takes four determined bites of her breakfast.

"I'm a Carta dwarf," she says finally. "I never wanted to be famous or a leader or anything. I just wanted to be able to have a drink, run jobs with my family, and not worry I'm sending soldiers to their deaths every meeting." She pulls a face. "I shouldn't be complaining. Lots of people would kill to be where I am. And I do like helping and seeing the people we've saved grow. It's just … a lot of responsibility. And faff. And expectations that I'm not sure I can meet."

"Inky…" Sera hesitates. "You know, people like you. They think you're doing a good job. You are doing a good job."

"Thanks, Sera," Malika says quietly. "I really needed to hear that."

Sera doesn't know what to do with this level of vulnerability, especially not from someone with so much power. "You can just ask people," she says.

"Not everyone's as honest as you," is the reply.

Sera fidgets. Still thinking about nobles, still wanting to get her and Inky back to their usual chat, she tries to smile and says, "It's 'cause we get to be normal. Bet you got a fancy image to maintain. Right clothes, right company and all that utter shite."

It's probably not the right thing to say, given what Inky said about not feeling up to the job, but thankfully, the dwarf rolls her eyes. "Now you sound like Vivienne."

"Piss off!"

Malika laughs. Suddenly, she leans forwards and kisses Sera. She might mean for it to be quick but Sera kisses back and soon, the dwarf is underneath her, hands going south and-

Knocking makes them both jump. Malika swears.

"That's Adeni warning me that if I don't emerge in the next fifteen minutes, Cullen or Cassandra will demand to come in." She smiles crookedly. "Adeni knows me a bit too well by now. But she's good at getting me organised. I've promised to name my firstborn child after her, regardless of gender."

For a moment, the thought of Inky with a child takes Sera's breath away. Then she thinks about what the dwarf said and laughs.

"Your servant the one running this Inquisition then?"

"Never said she wasn't. I just do the boring stuff, she keeps it all functional."

As Malika rolls away and begins to dress, Sera finds her unease of earlier disappearing. Maybe Inky is becoming a noble but she's not a prig yet. Sera can help her stay normal. Grounded.

And it doesn't matter, if it's just some fun in the end. If Sera's too not right for the Inquisitor. It will be Malika's loss when that happens and Sera will at least have gotten a good lay out of it.

If she repeats that enough, it might be true anyway.

Malika glances over. "Getting dressed?"

Sera smirks to hide her thoughts. "Don't want Cullen to see me naked?"

"He'd have a heart attack," Inky says. Her eyes darken. "But no. I don't. I'm like you: I don't share."

Sera shivers at the slight growl in that voice. "Better get going, yeah?" she says, hunting around for her clothes. "Or they'll all know how you sound when I'm knuckles deep in you."

Malika actually clenches her thighs at that. "OK," she says, sounding strained. "But tonight? I'm holding you to that. The knuckles part, not the people hearing me part."

Sera pulls on her dress. She wonders if people will notice she's wearing yesterday's clothes. Probably.

"Good thing my room's in the tavern then," Sera says. "'Cause I'm not sure I'll be able to wait." She grins wickedly. "Could try the roof too. Really make it ours, yeah?"

Malika swallows. She takes Sera's hand and walks her down those stupid stairs. By the door, she pauses and kisses the elf. Hard.

"Tonight then," she murmurs as she opens the door. Nobody is in the corridor so they walk together, side by side. Before the main hall, she says, "Sera. Thank you. For ... seeing me. And being with me anyway."

"No problem, yeah?" Sera says. She considers, decides to hell with it, and goes for a snog. Malika snogs back, surprising her. "It was good. Fun. We'll have round two later." Sera hesitates before adding, "I'd like to see where this goes too, alright?"

Malika smiles the biggest smile the elf has ever seen on her face.

"It's a date," she says. She kisses Sera on the cheek. "I'd better go before one of my advisors sees more than they'll want to. Have a good day, Sera."

Sera's fingertips touch her cheek as Malika walks through the main hall door, a spring in her step.

"See ya, Inky," she murmurs. As she heads towards the tavern, she wonders how comfy she can make her room, and whether Malika will prefer her green or blue dress. The dwarf won't dislike either, she realises but ... Sera still wants to pick something that will drive her wild.

It isn't until she reaches the tavern that she realises she hasn't stopped smiling.