It was a rare day off for Cullen, and he relished the opportunity to escape the confines of the Gallows and the weight of his responsibilities as Knight-Captain. Stepping out into the vibrant streets of Kirkwall, he savored the freedom to wander aimlessly, his mind unburdened by the duties of his station. As he strolled through the bustling city, Cullen couldn't help but feel a sense of peace settle over him, the chaotic energy of Kirkwall serving as a welcome distraction from the turmoil of his thoughts. As the day wore on, Cullen found himself drawn to the bustling market square, the heart of Kirkwall's bustling trade and commerce. The square was alive with activity, merchants hawking their wares and locals bustling about their daily errands. Lost in his own world, he hardly noticed the familiar figure that approached him amidst the throng of people.
"Cullen?" a voice called out, snapping him out of his reverie. He turned to see Hawke standing before him, a playful grin on her lips. "Well, I never thought I'd see the day. Knight-Captain Cullen out of uniform!" Cullen forced a polite smile, though inwardly he bristled at the remark. "Even Templars are entitled to a day off, Hawke," he replied evenly, his tone betraying none of the irritation he felt at her teasing. Hawke chuckled at his response, seemingly unfazed by his curt demeanor. "Of course, of course," she said with a playful wink. "I just always assumed that uniform was permanently attached to you." Cullen's expression remained stoic, though a hint of discomfort flickered in his eyes. He shifted awkwardly under Hawke's teasing gaze, a flush creeping up his neck as he struggled to maintain his composure.
Hawke's grin widened at his reaction, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Oh, come on, Cullen," she teased, nudging him playfully. "I'm only joking. You should learn to loosen up a bit, you know?" Cullen's cheeks burned with embarrassment at her teasing, but he forced himself to play along with a weak chuckle. "I'll keep that in mind," he replied, his voice tinged with awkwardness. Hawke's playful demeanor softened as she noticed his discomfort, her expression growing more sympathetic. "Alright, alright, I'll stop," she said with a reassuring smile. "But seriously, it's good to see you taking some time for yourself. You deserve it." Cullen offered her a grateful nod, his discomfort easing slightly under her understanding gaze. "Thank you, Hawke," he murmured, genuinely touched by her words.
Their conversation was interrupted by a sudden lull in the crowd, and Cullen felt a pang of relief at the distraction. However, his momentary reprieve was short-lived as Hawke's mischievous grin returned, her gaze flickering with amusement. "So, Cullen," she began, her tone casual yet teasing. "Anything on your mind?" Cullen's cheeks flushed crimson at her pointed question, and he shifted uncomfortably under her scrutinizing gaze. "Just...thinking about a few things," he replied evasively, hoping to deflect her attention. Hawke arched an eyebrow skeptically, clearly unconvinced by his vague response. "Hmm, I see," she said, her tone teasing. "Could it be...a certain someone, perhaps?" Cullen's heart skipped a beat at the implication of her words, and he struggled to maintain his composure. "I-I'm not sure what you mean," he stammered, his cheeks burning with embarrassment.
Hawke's laughter rang out amidst the bustling city, her playful teasing echoing in the air as she watched Cullen squirm uncomfortably under her gaze. "Oh, Cullen," she said with a knowing smile. "You're such an easy target." Cullen's cheeks burned with embarrassment at her teasing, but he couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude towards his enigmatic friend. Despite her playful demeanor, there was a warmth and understanding in Hawke's teasing that he couldn't help but appreciate. And as they continued on their way through the bustling streets of Kirkwall, Cullen couldn't shake the feeling that, perhaps, he wasn't as alone in his struggles as he had once thought. "You know, Cullen, I was thinking... since we both have the day off, I have a few quick errands to run. I know it's your day off, but would you be willing to help me out?"
Cullen hesitated, caught off guard by Hawke's request. He had planned on returning to the Gallows and catching up on much-needed rest, but he couldn't deny the sincerity in Hawke's expression. "I'm not sure, Hawke," he began, uncertainty creeping into his voice. "I had planned on...resting today." Hawke nodded in understanding, her expression sympathetic. "I understand, Cullen," she said with a reassuring smile. "But it's just a few quick errands, and I could really use your help. Besides, I promise it won't take up too much of your time." Cullen hesitated, torn between his desire for rest and his reluctance to disappoint Hawke. Before he could respond, however, Hawke's next words caught him off guard.
"Come on, Cullen," Hawke said, a mischievous glint in her eye and a playful grin on her lips. "You can't hide in the Gallows forever. I promise these errands will be more exciting than staring at the same stone walls again." She tilted her head, studying him with a knowing look. "And who better to accompany me on these errands than my favorite Templar, huh? We'll make it quick, efficient, and maybe even a bit fun. Plus, you'll have the satisfaction of knowing you helped out a friend in need." Cullen hesitated, unsure of whether to give in to Hawke's whimsical request. He had been looking forward to a quiet day of rest, but her infectious enthusiasm was starting to chip away at his resolve. "Think of it as a little adventure!" Hawke continued, nudging him playfully with her elbow. "Who knows what we might find out there in the wide world of Kirkwall? Maybe we'll stumble upon some hidden treasure or uncover a secret conspiracy. Or, you know, just grab some essentials and have a laugh along the way."
Despite his reservations, Cullen couldn't help but feel a reluctant smile tug at his lips. "You certainly know how to make a simple errand sound like a grand quest," he admitted, the corners of his mouth twitching with amusement. "Well, that's the spirit!" Hawke exclaimed, clapping him on the back with exaggerated enthusiasm. "So, what do you say, Knight-Captain? Ready to shake things up a bit and join me on this epic journey to the market?" Cullen sighed, unable to resist Hawke's playful charm any longer. "Alright, Hawke," he relented, shaking his head in amusement. "Lead the way. Let's see what kind of trouble we can get into today." "Fantastic!" Hawke exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with excitement as she clapped her hands together. "This is going to be so much fun, Cullen. You won't regret it!"
Her face lit up with a mischievous grin that Cullen failed to notice in his eagerness to be helpful. Oblivious to her hidden agenda, he followed her through the crowded streets of Kirkwall, his mind preoccupied with thoughts. Entering the bustling marketplace, Hawke wasted no time as she darted from stall to stall, purchasing various small items with a sense of purpose. Cullen trailed behind her, feeling somewhat out of place amidst the lively chaos of the marketplace. After a series of quick transactions, Hawke finally made her way to a flower stand, her eyes lighting up as she surveyed the colorful blooms on display. With a knowing smile, she selected a handful of flowers and turned to Cullen with a playful grin.
"Here, Cullen," she said, thrusting the bouquet into his arms. "Hold these for me, will you? I need to grab something else." Cullen felt a flush of embarrassment rise to his cheeks as he found himself clutching the bouquet of flowers like an awkward schoolboy. He glanced around self-consciously, acutely aware of the curious stares from passersby as he stood there with the incongruous bouquet. Suppressing a sigh, Cullen resigned himself to his fate and held onto the flowers as Hawke continued on with her errands. Despite feeling somewhat foolish, he couldn't help but appreciate the vibrant colors and sweet fragrance of the blooms in his hands.
Just as Cullen was beginning to grow accustomed to the weight of the flowers, his heart skipped a beat as he caught sight of a familiar figure amidst the bustling crowd. There, among the throng of people, stood Nereida, her delicate form a beacon of light amidst the chaos of the marketplace. Cullen's breath caught in his throat as he watched her, a surge of warmth flooding his chest at the sight of her. Despite the embarrassment of his current predicament, he couldn't help but feel a sense of joy at the unexpected encounter. As Nereida caught his eye, a smile spread across her lips, her eyes alight with recognition and warmth. Unable to contain his own smile, Cullen felt a rush of happiness wash over him as he returned her gaze, his heart swelling with affection.
Caught in the moment, Cullen momentarily forgot about the flowers in his arms as he stepped forward to greet Nereida, his heart racing with anticipation. Whatever embarrassment he had felt earlier faded into the background as he focused all his attention on the woman before him, his world narrowing down to the radiant smile on her face. Hawke's keen eyes caught a flicker of recognition in Cullen's gaze as Nereida approached. A mischievous smile played at the corners of her lips, anticipation building as she prepared to execute her plan.
"Nereida, darling, you're fashionably late as always," Hawke greeted with a teasing tone, her smile growing brighter as she noticed Cullen's puzzled expression. Nereida offered a sheepish smile. "I'm so sorry, Marian. I got caught up with Varric's latest storytelling escapades." Hawke waved off her apology with a dismissive gesture. "No worries, dear. I understand completely. We can tackle those errands another time." Cullen's brow furrowed in confusion as he observed the exchange between Hawke and Nereida. He glanced at Hawke, silently urging her to explain the sudden shift in plans.
Hawke's grin grew even wider as she turned to face Cullen, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Ah, Knight-Captain, what a delightful surprise to see you, and you're not brooding at all my word," she exclaimed, her tone dripping with playful sarcasm. Cullen's expression remained skeptical as he struggled to make sense of the situation. "Hawke, what's going on?" he asked his tone a mixture of curiosity and suspicion. Hawke couldn't contain her laughter at Cullen's persistent seriousness, her playful demeanor shining through. "Oh, Knight-Captain, always so serious. Can't a girl have a bit of fun without arousing suspicion?" she quipped, her grin unapologetically cheeky. As the realization dawned on Cullen, his cheeks flushed with embarrassment, like a flame igniting in the depths of a darkened room. He glanced at Nereida, only to find her similarly red-faced and flustered, like a pair of embarrassed teenagers caught in a prank.
Before Cullen could formulate a response, Hawke turned to Nereida with feigned concern, her voice dripping with mock sincerity. "Oh dear, I've just remembered I promised Fenris I'd help him with something urgent. My apologies, Nereida. We'll catch up later, yes?" she said, her eyes twinkling with mischief as she prepared to make her exit, leaving Cullen and Nereida alone in their embarrassment. Before Cullen could react, Hawke leaned in closer, her playful grin widening as she gestured toward the bouquet of flowers he was holding. "By the way, those flowers are lovely. Very fetching," she complimented with a wink before sauntering off into the bustling street. As Hawke disappeared into the bustling crowd, Cullen felt a surge of frustration well up within him. He opened his mouth to call out to her, to demand an explanation for her antics, but she was already gone, vanished amidst the throng of people. Turning back to Nereida, Cullen struggled to compose himself, his cheeks burning with embarrassment. Before he could gather his thoughts, Nereida spoke, her voice gentle and concerned. "Are you alright, Cullen?" she asked, her eyes filled with genuine worry.
"I'm fine," he replied with a forced smile, though the tension in his voice betrayed his true feelings. "Hawke just... played a dirty trick on me, that's all." Nereida regarded him cautiously, her expression filled with curiosity and concern. "I'm still trying to understand human nature," she admitted with a small chuckle, her attempt to lighten the mood not lost on him.
Cullen managed a rueful smile, grateful for Nereida's attempt to ease the tension. "Believe me, Nereida, even humans have trouble understanding human nature sometimes," he confessed with a self-deprecating chuckle. Nereida's gaze fell upon the flowers Cullen was holding. She paused, her eyes lighting up with curiosity as she admired the blooms. "Those flowers are beautiful, Cullen," she remarked, her tone genuinely impressed. "Who are they for?"