Day 27 – Family

A/N: Once again, this is not a proper AU, but a scene set at the same time as "Keeping You Warm", showing what Nate, Meg and Carver are up to while Thorin and Sigrun are in Orzammar. I've been wanting to write this for some time, and it really fits the family prompt, I think.

Nathaniel had a hard time hiding his concern when he saw Carver's strained expression. Ever since his brother Revon had arrived at the Keep the afternoon before, Carver had been tense, his face as sulky and withdrawn as it had been when he'd first become a Warden. And, when Nathaniel had tried to touch him at dinner in an effort to calm him, just a hand on top of his, he'd flinched back, skittish like a wild animal.

"What's going on, Carver?" He tried again, this time with a hand on his shoulder. Normally, Carver would have leaned into his touch, relishing the contact, but instead he grew stiff, his jaw working furiously. Nathaniel quickly pulled his hand back, but he was baffled. Baffled and hurt. It must have shown on his face, because Carver visibly relented.

"I'm sorry, Nate. It's not your fault." He tilted his head toward the neighbouring table. "It's him."

Nathaniel followed his gaze over to where Revon was seated next to Megan with Velanna and Justice on the opposite side of the table. Revon Hawke, apostate mage and Champion of Kirkwall. Tall, dark, and handsome - if you liked that type, and a lot of people probably did. Pronounced cheekbones, dark stubble on his cheeks, an ironic twist around his full mouth, exotic tattoos around his dark brown eyes – Revon was attractive, no doubt about it, and he knew it very well.

Carver was practically chafing at the bit. "Look at him! I wonder why he showed up here."

Nathaniel shrugged. "He had a bunch of apostates with him. Said they wanted to join the Wardens."

"I'm pretty sure that's not the only reason." Carver finished his wine, then plunked his goblet onto the table with an angry sigh.

Revon got to his feet and left with Megan, without so much as a glance at his brother. Justice remained seated, a thoughtful expression on his skeletal features, but Velanna came over to join them.

"Your brother's quite the charmer, Carver." She seemed uncharacteristically relaxed.

Carver shook his head. "You'd better steer clear of him, Velanna. He's… not what he seems."

"You're just jealous." Velanna snorted contemptuously. "It must be hard for you to have a brother like him."

"More than you know." To Nathaniel's surprise, Carver refused to let himself be baited. "Really, Velanna, I'm not trying to rain on your parade. Revon… He's not interested in you as a person. He has a thing for elves. Ever since he was old enough to care, he's tried to seduce every single elf he met. There's a girl back in Kirkwall, and maybe others. You're nothing to him but a pair of pointy ears and an extra flexible body."

Velanna's face darkened. "If that's true-" She got to her feet and stalked off.

"Ouch!" Nathaniel flinched. "Is he really that bad?"

"Worse." Carver shook himself like a wet dog. "Just you wait."

They didn't have to wait for long. Nathaniel had just joined Carver for breakfast at the long table the next morning when Revon showed up and steered straight towards them, his handsome face marred by an ugly sneer.

"Little brother. What did you tell Velanna?" His voice was icy-cold.

Carver took a deep breath. "Nothing but the truth, Rev. Why don't you leave her alone? Merrill doesn't deserve this."

"That is hardly your problem." Revon's face remained smooth, but a muscle near his left temple was twitching, as if he was having a hard time controlling his features. "Keep out of my affairs, Carver. I didn't want your opinion back in Kirkwall, and I definitely don't want it now. I won't warn you again."

"You're out of line." Nathaniel couldn't keep silent any longer. "You're a guest here and-"

"Ah, Nathaniel Howe." Revon turned to face him with a sudden glib smile. "How very nice to meet the traitor's son. Really, Carver, I never expected much of you, but actually letting yourself be buggered by the likes of him-"

"It's news to me that you have a problem with that, Rev." Carver's fists clenched hard, but he kept his temper. Nathaniel rather admired his restraint. "I definitely recall you sneaking out of Fenris' mansion in the morning, more than once."

Revon snickered triumphantly. "Ah, but you see, that's a different thing altogether, little brother. With Fenris, I always make damn sure that I'm the one who does the buggering. Wouldn't want to give the elf any ideas."

"You-" This time Carver couldn't stop himself from surging to his feet.

Nathaniel quickly grabbed his arm. "Stop it, love, it's not worth it."

"Exactly." Revon's smile was as cold as his voice. "Be a good boy. I'm sure your Commander will have a generous reward for you."

"Indeed she will." Neither of them had heard Megan come in. She was one of the best rogues in Thedas, after all. "I will see you in my study later today, Revon. Until then, I'd appreciate it if you retired to your room." Her expression was neutral, but her eyes were flashing fire.

Revon didn't deign to reply, but withdrew with a smirk. Carver was still trembling by the time the door had closed behind him.

"Maker, Carver." Nathaniel wrapped an arm around the younger man's shoulders, pulling him close. "I used to think you just had a bad case of sibling rivalry going on, but this…"

Megan stepped closer and gently stroked Carver's cheek. "What a jerk! How come you turned out so nice?"

Carver laughed shakily. "No idea. He's not usually quite that bad in front of strangers, though. I'm sorry to have inflicted him on you two."

"Not your fault." Nathaniel shook his head. "Maker knows, I'm not in a position to hold any man responsible for his family."

"Neither am I." Megan took his hand and pressed it briefly. "Don't forget Fergus making an ass of himself."

Nathaniel didn't answer right away. Megan's brother had been refusing to talk to her for over a year, ever since he'd learned that she was sleeping with Rendon Howe's son. It was understandable, perhaps. Fergus had lost his beloved wife and son to Arl Rendon's machinations. Still, Nathaniel knew it hurt Megan, who had always been on good terms with her brother. Heck, it hurt him too. There had been a time when Fergus had been his best friend.

"None of us get to choose our birth family." He sighed wearily. "At least we get to build our own families later in life."

"True." Megan smiled at both of them. "And I couldn't be happier with my choices. Come on now, there's a lot to do. Those new recruits will need help finding their way around the Keep."

That night, as they were getting ready for bed, Nathaniel stepped behind Carver, breathing a kiss on his neck. "About what your brother said today…"

Carver closed his eyes, a deep line furrowing his forehead. "No need to listen to his venom, Nate. I know better."

"I'm just saying…" Nathaniel took a deep breath. "If you should ever wish to… reverse roles, I'd be willing. For you." Maker, he was nervous. "Though it's been some time and-"

"Nate." Carver had twisted around in his arms and pulled him closer. "You don't have to prove anything to me, you know."

"It's not that." Nathaniel realized he was blushing. "Just… I don't want you to feel you have to do what I want, that I'm in charge and you are somehow… less."

"Never." Carver kissed him softly. "Don't worry. We haven't done a thing that I didn't want myself." An unexpected smile made his face light up. "Even if I might not have known before that I wanted it."

Megan had kept quiet so far. Now, she had somehow managed to insinuate her naked body between theirs, facing Carver. "Glad to hear that. And anyway…" She moaned happily as Nathaniel's hand found her breast. "Obviously, I am the one who should be in charge here." She grinned broadly, even as the flush on her face betrayed her growing arousal. "And I am perfectly happy with whatever position the two of you end up in."