A/N: Thanks to DragonReckoning for being a vocal reader! I hope you guys liked the last chapter and had a happy Holiday, however and whichever you celebrate. Please don't be shy to comment on something! Seriously, I LOVE hearing from my readers whether its good or not so good. Sorry for the late update... It's been one heck of a year! Allonsy! Here's to hoping this is another good chapter ;D
Disclaimer: BioWare owns all of these characters (except my OC). Please support the offical Dragon Age releases.
Mina fluttered her eyes opened and let out a squeaky yawn. It was then that she realized she had three people staring at her. Two of which had grins on their face.
"Hmm...? Izzy why are you and Merril smiling like that? An' why does Varric look like he's about to shoot someone?" she asked wiggling.
Merril was about to answer when it sank in.
"Oh. Um. Help?" Mina said lifting her head gingerly from Anders and trying to squeeze out to Hawke's embrace. It wasn't going very well. Anders was beginning to stir and Hawke's arms got tighter. For a split second, she thought about kicking him because he had to be doing it on purpose. Varric shook his head and left the room. Was he not going to fucking help?! She didn't know what to do. Isabela definitely wouldn't help and wouldn't let Merril either. She was stuck until one of the guys woke up. Or rather, until Hawke woke up.
'Funtastic.' Mina thought sarcastically.
Of course, she would've been thrilled to be in between two guys she had a crush on, but it was awkward because Isabela was staring. That and the pirate decided to try and remove Anders' robe. It wasn't as easy as Isabela had figured it would be. In the midst of the moving about and Merril's giggles, they had both woken up.
Hawke's bright blue eyes flashed between Mina and Anders for a moment before he fixated a glare at the mage. Mina's stomach jumped. He had the 'I just woke up and have bed-head but I still look sexy' thing going on. She involuntarily blushed and smirked at him. He didn't seem to notice much to her relief.
Anders on the other hand hadn't quite processed what was going on. She half sat up and looked around. His eyes landed on Mina, who was also sitting up with a pouty Hawke wrapped around her waist, one of his cheeks squished against her side.
"Well, good morning," Anders said with a small smile at Mina. The sunlight from the window hit Anders just right to where his red-blonde hair lit up and made his eyes turn a lighter earthy brown. Mina's breath caught for a second, which she played off as a cough.
" G'mornin," she slurred, still blushing.
Isabela plopped down on the bed her head in Mina's lap, leg raised so her dress slid down her thigh.
"Hmmm~ Looks like everyone wants our Kitten's attention. I'd pay attention all night if you wanted," she said with a wink. Merril looked clueless like usual. The elf shrugged and went to find Varric.
Mina giggled and shook her head, "Maybe some other time Izzy."
Rivaini was a bigger flirt than Hawke but she had bite unlike the sleepy man who was still pouting at Mina's side. Isabela stretched a little and rolled out of the bed.
"Better find Varric! I know he has whiskey hiding somewhere in his coat."
Mina shook her head and rolled her eyes. She watched the dark haired woman go and turned her attention back to The mage who was situating the robe Isabela had been trying to get off. The way he concentrated made his brows furrow. Mina bit her lip and watched him.
She was so distracted she hadn't noticed Hawke sit up and lean in close to her. "Good morning cutie. Did you sleep well?" he purred to her, his breath tickling her neck. The somewhat silky tone in his voice coupled with his closeness made her jump. As well as her hormones.
"Damn it Garrett! You scared the piss out of me!" she turned to face him and was a little surprised to see a sliver of hurt pass over his face.
"Sorry..." he mumbled. He got up and offered her a hand.
She gladly took it and hugged him.
"I did sleep well, thank you. I do need to get going. Varric hasn't given me anything to do and I'd like to keep it that way today."
He nodded and swept her hair behind her ear. He let his hand linger a moment on her cheek before mumbling something and walking out of the room.
Mina stared after him worried that she upset him.
As if he could read her thoughts, Anders answered.
"Don't worry about him. He's always grouchy when he wakes up. What I wanna know is, where did Fenris gret to? I swear he was here last night."
Mina looked at Anders in surprise, "Since when do you care 'bout Broody-butt?"
Right on cue a tan hand reached out from under the bed with a grouchy protest, "I am not broody. Venhedis! My head feels like it's on fire..."
Mina helped the other Elf out from under Varric's bed and up to his feet. He wobbled a moment, but stayed upright. Anders shook his head and excused himself. Always people to help at the clinic.
Mina frowned as he left. She liked the mage being around. It made her skin prickle with excitement. Of course there was the Justice... issue. But, he never got angry when Mina was around.
"You know you shouldn't want him like that da'assan. He will only hurt you in the end. He's no good and a waste-"
"Fenris, enough. He won't hurt me," she said looking at him through narrowed eyes, "And have you been picking up phrases from Merril?"
Fenris stiffened up and looked away, "No. Hakwe takes us there often enough, I've picked up a few things from the hunters."
Mina smiled. She'd tried to get him to learn more than Tevinter and the common tongue. She'd picked up a bit of Dalish herself.
"Why 'little arrow'? Because you're my 'little wolf'?" she aked playfully. He replied with a snort and picking her up.
"You know better than to call me small, woman!"
She let out a shriek before they started wrestling around. Oh the men in her life were rediculous! Two 'big brothers' and... whatever Hawke was. Plus there was Anders. As she struggled to get one of Fenris' arms behind his back, she let her mind wander a bit. Just what was Hawke to her? He was hot, for sure. But, was she interested in that? No! No, of course not. That would ruin their friendship. He was flirty with every female he found pretty in the slightest.
-_A Few Weeks Later_-
"What'cha mean I can't help?! I want to help Anders, damn it!" Mina argued with the mage once again. Hawke said they were going to try to help calm a Mage-Templar situation they'd been tipped about by a friendly Templar. She'd made a few friends among the mages, one of which was Bethany, whom Hawke failed to mention to her. Bethany was a great friend and brilliant! She'd thought Mina's talent for manipulating sound was fascinating and said she'd ask around about it discreetly. It hadn't been that big of a deal to the Elf woman, but if she could figure out what it was exactly, it might help.
Anders ran a hand through his hair again as he paced. The clinic was empty for once. He sighed and looked at her, worry on his face.
"I know you help Varric, but this is different. You could... You could get hurt. I don't know what I'd do- what any of us would do if something happened to you." He walked over to her and held her clenched fist.
"I'm not a fragile little thing, Anders. If my friends are in danger, or if they need my help, I'm not going to be miles away. I'm going to be right there to shield them if I can. And you better believe I'll kill any damned thing that tries to hurt them!" she snapped angrily. She had a short temper and hadn't had to try to control it in a very long time.
Unexpectedly, Anders drew her into a tight embrace, "Mina... Mina, please. Don't get hurt. don't die. You can't. You don't know how important you are to me. You've been patient with Justice and I. You haven't condemned me or looked down on me; not once. You always make me smile when I feel I can't. You care; about people; about everyone."
Mina pulled back a little to see his face. His sad, sad eyes that pleaded with her. She looked down at her feet, trying to process the words he'd just said.
'I'm important to him? I can't... I can't belive it! I need to-' her mouth was a step ahead of her brain.
She looked up, stood on her tiptoes and kissed him. It was gentle and sweet at first, but then as they both caught up, it got deeper and more passionate. His hands ran through her hip-length silver hair and came to rest on her backside. They broke apart, breathing heavily.
"I'm going Anders. Don't worry, I'll take my bow. Plus, I've got a handsome mage, a mad dwarf, and a crazy human to keep me safe," she said with a smile and a wink before walking out into Darktown. Anders was left watching after her, a smile across his face.