A/N: Again DAI is own by Bioware. Please for giving any spelling and grammatical errors.
"Which is why the Orlesian court is encircling it with a net and collar?" Dorian snapped at Duke Cyril. The man in front of him was trying to say that he appreciated everything the Inquisition had done which was so absurd it was laughable. "You don't show your appreciation like this. If you'd excuse me, I have more important people to converse with." It was true; someone very important was walking up the gangway.
Rise looked exceptional as always in the very fitted formal suit. You could tell the man was high born with not just the way he dressed but also the way he carried himself. Dorian grinned broadly as he watched Rise's face light up when the other man finally laid eyes on him. He gave one last withering glance towards the Duke before making his way to Rise's side.
"Amatus, wading through all the pomp and circumstance I see."
"You are back after being in Tevinter for a month and this is how you greet me?"
"I have an apology ready." He leaned in and teased Rise with a quick peck before giving his lover a real hungry kiss. His hands came up and cupped Rise's sides before sliding his hands up the other man's back, caressing the firm flesh there. He traced the strong shoulder blades, slowly sliding his hands lower as he deepened the kiss. He loved feeling Rise flush with excitement against him.
"Am I interrupting?" Cullen asked, coughing awkwardly.
"Maker I hope so." Varric added as he pushed past a snickering Josephine.
Rise put a hand against Dorian's chest and gently pushed him back. He leaned his forehead against Dorian's. "I forgot they were here."
"Don't worry Amatus, I can make you forget whole lot of things when we're alone."
"I hear you can buy rooms by the hour here." Cole added innocently.
Rise disengaged himself from Dorian and went over to Cole; it was a rare sight to see the boy without his hat on. He laid a gentle hand on the boys head. "You're a little too young to be thinking about that," he said as he tousled Cole's dirty blonde locks.
"I am not!" Cole complained, plopping on his hat to protect his hair from Rise's affection.
Dorian watched the good natured ribbing thinking that Rise would have made an excellent father. If the way he treated Cole was any indication. Under him, Cole went from guarded to wide-eyed and open and he knew Rise really did cherish the boy.
The gathering was interrupted by the appearance of Divine Victoria, even though Leliana adamantly refused to call herself that. Her appearance caused the small group to break off their roughhousing and greet her properly in public.
Dorian stopped Rise before he could before he could join them. "We need to talk."
Rise's smile faded when he heard the seriousness in Dorian's tone.
Dorian moved them away from the gossiping crowd. He knew this part wasn't going to be pleasant or easy.
"I'm leaving Rise, and it's permanent. I can't stay away from Tevinter forever. I'm leaving as soon as the Exalted Council is done." No use in glossing it over, it was better to just lay everything out on the table.
"You said you weren't going back." Rise protested his sorrowful expression mirroring the way Dorian felt. "What's changed?"
"I don't want to leave Amatus but my father is dead. Assassinated I believe. I received notice this morning. A perversely cheerful letter congratulating me on assuming his seat in the Magisterium. We only met a few times while I was home. He didn't say anything about keeping me as his heir. This "Ambassadorship" his doing, I'm told. He must have wanted me away when the trouble began. I have to go back."
Rise watched him for a few seconds. "I'm sorry about your father Dorian," He said, reaching out and touching him gently on the chest. "I know it was complicated but he was still your family."
"Thank you. It still doesn't feel real."
"I could join you in Tevinter after I wrapped up everything here," Rise offered softly.
"NO!" Dorian said forcefully, probably too forcefully by the look of hurt that crossed Rise's face. "Not this time Amatus. You have so much to do here, so many people that still need your help. We'll meet with the Exalted Council and get them to back off so the Inquisition can continue helping others."
It wasn't that he truly didn't want Rise there but his enemies weren't stupid. The man would be a walking target for assassination attempts. The sad thing was that Rise's death would hurt him more than his father's death. Sometimes he wondered if he would ever be able to forgive the man.
"So what happens to us? This is how it ends then?" Rise made no attempt to mask his frustration.
"Nonsense, there will always be an "us" Amatus; we'll just be farther apart, for a time."
Dorian placed a crystal in Rise's palm. "A present... a going away present. It's a sending crystal. Amazing what friendship with the Inquisition gives you access to." He grinned but Rise didn't return his smile. "If I get in over my head, or you're so overwhelmed with sorrow for the lack of my velvety voice… Magic! You didn't think I would just leave and you'd never hear from me again, did you? You are the man I love, Amatus, nothing will truly keep us apart."
Dorian watched Rise open his mouth as if to speak then close it again. He stared down at the crystal in his hand. "Just Tevinter."
Dorian sighed. "Amatus, please don't make me choose between you and my homeland."
"Choose? I'm making you choose?" Rise rubbed his face tiredly. It felt like the whole world was coming down on his shoulders. "Right, there's business to take care of then." He said turning away.
Damn, Dorian could tell that Rise was shutting down on him. The man always threw himself into his work when he didn't want to face the problem at hand. He had to lighten the mood.
"Now, now, don't pout. They'll put that expression on a statue and then you'll be sorry."
"You think this is funny?" Rise snapped at him then raised his hand, calling for silence. "I understand Master Pavus, I know you'll be a great Magister and I wish you well in your future endeavors. Thank you for coming to aid the Inquisition in its time of need. If you'd excuse me, I still have to greet the Divine. It would be bad form not to greet her in a timely manner." Rise headed towards the Divine's station.
Dorian stood there for a moment dumbstruck. "Nothing about this is funny. I am sorry, for what it's worth." He said quietly as he watched Rise go. "Wait, did he just call me Master Pavus?"
"Looks like you've been demoted, from Kadan to bureaucratic fop in less than twenty minutes. Impressive."
Dorian turned to see Bull sitting on the ground a short distance away. Had the Qunari been there the whole time?
"He just needs some time to think it over." He said hopefully.
The Qunari shook his head. "Let it go Dorian, did you really expect him to wait patiently for you while you spend years trying to reform Tevinter? If that's even possible for you Vints."
Dorian didn't appreciate the sneer Bull gave him but he let it pass. "I don't see how what the Inquisitor and I do is any of your business."
Bull got up and stretched. "You knew he was the serious type, all manners and diplomacy. Hell he even stands when women enter the room, you humans and your strange customs. You should have walked away before it ever got to this point."
It was Dorian's turn to sneer now. "It almost sounds like you're jealous Bull. Did he reject you?"
"I admit I wouldn't have turned the man away if he came to my bed. I would love to put those muscles of his to the test. I bet he can thrust exceptionally well with hips and thighs like that, but I stepped aside. I would not burden him with my desires while he was so infatuated with you. That's what you do when you care about someone."
Dorian barked out a bitter laugh. "You, care about the Inquisitor? Yea right, all you want to do is fuck."
"At least I'm willing to be with him, you won't even entertain the thought of him coming to Tevinter with you. I'd say my caring is so much better than yours right now. One day you'll look back on this and regret."
Would he regret this? No he loved Rise and they would make it work somehow.
Hours flew by but he hadn't seen Rise since their morning argument. Well if the man wasn't willing to come to him he was just going to have to be the one to make the next move. When night fell he convinced Sera to pick the lock on the Inquisitor's door. It was a miracle that she agreed to do it but she kept ranting about gloomy pants. The girl was odd but useful.
He walked around the delicately decorated room before settling on the bed. It was late and he hoped that Rise would come to bed soon. It was almost another two hours before Dorian heard the door open and then shut. He watched Rise step into the room already shedding his jacket and pulling the ties loose on his shirt before stripping that off too. He stood before the bed bare-chested and he looked exhausted. Dorian hesitated, maybe now wasn't the time to bring this up again.
"Dorian," Rise said, stopping at the edge of the bed. "For tonight, please return to your own quarters." He bent over and shucked his boots before undoing the ties holding his pants up.
Dorian swallowed hard, before, even when they were fighting Rise was always willing to talk it out. Now he was sending Dorian away. Dorian got off the bed and approached Rise slowly. He couldn't let Rise just put him out. He wrapped his arms around the man from behind and hugged him tightly.
"I'm sorry; I know you're not trying to make me choose between you and my country. That was unkind of me to say. I just know that nothing's going to change without a lot of hard work. If I turn down becoming a Magister now it will never be offered to me again. Please understand Rise."
Rise looked down at Dorian's slightly trembling hands that were wrapped tightly around his chest, and placed his own hands over them. "I understand Dorian, I'm sorry for earlier."
Hope bloomed inside Dorian, did Rise really understand?
"I'm not angry anymore Dorian, okay?"
Dorian squeezed the man tightly, relief flooding through him.
"So please return to your own room tonight."
"What? You said you weren't angry, so why are you sending me away?" He clutched Rise tighter. "I.. I don't have much time left here with you. I want to spend as much time together as we can before I have to go back."
"I'm tired, so very tired right now Dorian. I haven't had a moment to myself since I woke up this morning. Please, just leave me to sort out my thoughts tonight. Tomorrow I should have more time and Leliana says the first few days are more for show anyway. Whenever I'm not in a meeting we can spend time together." Rise took one of Dorian's hands and brought it to his lips, kissing the palm. "Please?"
Dorian let Rise go; he could give his lover a little time. "Okay, but don't be surprised tomorrow morning when I'm here at sunrise. Maybe I can have you for breakfast."
Rise gave him a weak smile. "Looking forward to it."