The streets of Haven were positively packed when they strolled through the gates, much to Skylar's disappointment. The less prying eyes they had on them right now, the better. And she had evidently timed their arrival during the lunch rush traffic. Because of course she did. Killian was cloaked in a hood large enough to obscure his unnatural features, but it didn't stop the pedestrians they passed from giving him odd looks. More than a few of them crossed the street to avoid even being on the same sidewalk as him. The rest simply tried to put as much distance between them as possible, hugging the walls of the buildings as they scurried by. Killian snickered at the sight. But Skylar was far less amused.

In fact, amusement was just about the very last thing crossing her mind at the moment. There were far too many troublesome events occurring simultaneously for her to even attempt to lighten her own mood. What if Cassandra decided to kick Killian out? What would she do? The right thing to do would be to stay and seal the breach of course…but how could she stick with an organization that couldn't accept her own brother. Then again, logic told her that she would effectively be dooming the whole damn world if she'd left. Maybe she should use that as leverage—tell them that she won't do shit for them unless Killian gets to stay…but damn did that seem selfish. She couldn't help but worry that Delrin might think differently of her if she pulled that kind of a stunt…

And then there was that particular drama she'd been internalizing for the last few hours now. Why did Delrin leave? Does he not like her anymore after last night? Did she do something wrong? Is she overthinking it? Is she underthinking it? It was enough to make her head spin long before she ever got around to worrying about sealing the breach again.

"You're gonna get wrinkles if you keep your face like that." Killian snarked, not even bothering to lift his hood to talk to her. "It's going to be fine."

Skylar gave him a chastising look. "You don't know that."

"This meeting is going to be a nothing-burger, Leliana isn't going to let me get locked away a second time. That templar is still obsessed with you." His voice strained momentarily as if he were trying not to gag. "And you're not dying tomorrow. Your spirit-thing won't allow it."

She stopped dead in her tracks. Her jaw hung open as she stared at him, completely stunned. "How—what?"

Killian shrugged nonchalantly. "The Blood-Lady heard you worrying. Says it's loud on the other side, it bothers her."

"The what? Who? How do you even know about...? " Her head was positively spinning, she could already feel a dull headache beginning to form. "You're not making any sense…"

"You'll get used to it." The woman that walked up to them looked so much like Leliana, that the crowd around them seemed to be convinced of it as well. Those that weren't outright staring were seemingly too scared to be caught doing just that, making themselves as small and unnoticeable as possible as they passed quickly by. The traffic on the street even seemed to slow considerably as the gawkers got their nosiness out of their system. It was quickly drawing a spectacle though, something none of them wanted. "Nightingale is waiting in the Chantry," the woman said with no small amount of amusement in her voice. "You're drawing too much attention, my friend, she wants you to move quickly."

Killian shrugged simply, shuffling only slightly faster than he was before. "Figures."

Skylar had about a thousand questions about this apparent body double and the fact that Killian seemed so familiar with her. But there were already a thousand more questions stewing in her mind. She really didn't have room for more at the moment. Killian seemed to trust this woman's word, that was enough for her…for now.

Doubt and fear bogged her down with every step toward the Chantry. She tried hard to ground herself, to focus on the crunch of the salted sidewalk beneath her feet…the icy wind that swept down from the mountains…but no, every little thing reminded her of her current problems. A ball made of pure anxiety was quickly forming, like an anvil on her chest.

The Mark suddenly flared, making her clench up. Not this, not now…please…

She wasn't sure who she was talking to—she wasn't sure she was talking to anyone for that matter. But the voice, that presence in her head responded anyway. And Maker was she glad for it.

Steel yourself. Know the peace of the light.

A warm feeling of calm seemingly lifted the heavy burden of her anxiety off of her. It was…incredible…it was hard to think about anything other than how absolutely grateful she was at the moment…

The large doors of the Chantry burst open suddenly, making her flinch back to reality. Cullen and Cassandra all but stormed out. They each shot their versions of disgusted looks at Killian before they stomped away quickly.

Killian scoffed, nudging Skylar. "More friends of yours?"

"Friends of mine, actually." Leliana strolled out towards them with a particularly smug smirk on her face. "Don't worry, they've been overruled."

"Overruled?" Skylar questioned, suddenly noticing that the not-Leliana had seemingly disappeared. She shook her head, telling herself she would have to sort that particular issue out later. As if there's ever going to be a time where weird shit stops happening to you…

"Of course. Cassandra and Cullen were predictably opposed to Killian's presence here, but Josie sided with me. Since we had a stalemate, the tie breaker would have been you, and we all knew what your choice would be."

Killian rolled his eyes. "So, what's the punishment, huh? They gonna throw me in a cell again? Reluctant stay of execution?"

"Actually…I've agreed to monitor you personally." Leliana's demeanor turned positively uneasy as she stepped up to him, placing her hand cautiously on his cheek. "If you'll still have me..."

He closed the small distance between them quickly as he wrapped his arm around her waist. Killian's hood was large enough to block the view of the kiss but it was all too obvious, judging from their body language.

Skylar was surprised to discover that she didn't feel the immediate need to react immaturely to it. Killian was finally back, even if Haven wasn't much of a home yet. And he was happy…after all that he went through on her behalf, it was comforting to know that he had a chance of a life of his own. A chance to find some kind of peace. Maybe if shit went sideways tomorrow, she might have actually left this world a better place. Maybe her purpose would have been served…

She didn't exactly remember walking back towards her apartment. Must have been lost in her thoughts, she figured. It didn't matter. She needed the rest, needed the space. Secluding herself in front of her Xbox sounded like the exact kind of recuperation she deserved right now. Her phone vibrated in her pocket as she entered the elevator, prompting her to check the message she'd just received. A girlish grin decorated her expression when she saw Delrin's contact name attached to it.

Boyfriend Material: you okay?

Her thumbs hovered over her keyboard for a long moment. It was barely noon and it had already been a long day. She nearly unloaded all her problems on him, before correcting herself at the last moment. She sighed as she hit the send button.

Snowball: Yeah, I'm fine.

He responded so quickly, she hadn't even unlocked her door yet. It brought a small smile to her face, despite her melancholy mood.

Boyfriend Material: I don't believe you

Snowball: Sounds like a crisis of faith, you should see a mother about that.

Boyfriend Material: just tell me, you'll feel better

Skylar huffed a disgruntled breath as she wearily kicked her boots off, flopping herself carelessly onto her couch. She tried to get her groggy mind to come up with something witty to veer the conversation literally anywhere else. But with the amount of mental stress she had bouncing around in her head, she didn't have the patience to dance around it at the moment. She was fully expecting to regret this, but she was also fully expecting to die tomorrow anyway, so what did it really matter?

Snowball: Okay fine.

Snowball: But you asked for it.

Snowball: What did I do?

Boyfriend Material:…what?

Skylar rolled her eyes. Of course he's oblivious. She had to actively remind herself that it was technically unreasonable to assume he even understood when she became upset, considering the shit show that Killian had started this morning.

Snowball: Was it about what I told you?

She watched the screen intently. The ellipsis symbols appeared and disappeared so many times she was convinced he was having some sort of conniption over there.

Boyfriend Material: You're talking about last night?

She took a deep, cleansing breath, hoping to stop herself from saying something stupid. She absently wondered if all templars were actually trained to be oblivious…

Snowball: This morning. You know, when you left.

Boyfriend Material: ?

Snowball: Look you left for a reason. Just put it out there and I'll stop bothering you.

Boyfriend Material: What do you mean I left?

Snowball: Left. As in going away from the place you were at.

Boyfriend Material: …you think I left because I wasn't there when you woke up?

Snowball: uhhhhh, what else does that mean?

Boyfriend Material: I was just doing my morning routine

Snowball: your morning fucking what

Boyfriend Material: exercise. You ever hear of it?

Skylar threw her head back, letting out a hearty chuckle. The sheer amount of anxiety that lifted from her shoulders was bordering on embarrassing. She was suddenly grateful that she didn't have a roommate to witness all of this. Andraste is definitely judging you now.

Snowball: wheres the cameras

Boyfriend Material: what?

Snowball: I'm being punk'd

Boyfriend Material: what even is that

Snowball: I knew there was something fucked about you, I just didn't know what it was until now

Boyfriend Material: says the girl who runs to a GAME to throw MAGIC at DRAGONS

Snowball: I'm offended. that's no way to talk to the Dragonborn

She let her weight slide carelessly across the couch until she was sprawled out in an awkward, yet somehow comfy fashion. She allowed her eyes to rest for just a moment…she nearly drifted off when she felt her phone vibrate again.

Boyfriend Material: I assume the Dragonborn doesn't want my company then

Any notions she had of tiredness flew right out the window. Even the thought of seeing him again was sending those damn butterflies fluttering around in her stomach. She just stared at the phone for a moment, her goofy little grin so wide it was making her cheeks hurt.

Snowball: well you know what happens when you assume…

Boyfriend Material: keep that up, and I'll put pineapple on your pizza

Snowball: BLASPHEMY

Snowball: wait, you're getting me pizza?

Boyfriend Material: unless the Dragonborn has better things to do than have lunch with her companion

Boyfriend Material: Follower?

Boyfriend Material: Whatever that nerd word is. I'll be there soon

She giggled so girlishly she was nearly offended at herself. How could she have ever questioned his feelings when he goes through the trouble to ensure they keep their lunch date. Maker save you, you're so far gone…what's next? You gonna start planning your wedding?

Her giddy thoughts were so consuming, it was nearly impossible for her to recognize the subtle sound of her lock clicking against her door. She ignored it at first, of course. Could have been any number of mundane reasons for it. It was an apartment building after all, housing at least dozens of other residents. But when she heard the distinct sound of the lock turning, there was no reasoning around it now.

Her breath caught in her throat as her head snapped towards the door. It must have been Delrin, she thought at first. But no, there was no way he could have gotten to her apartment in just a couple of minutes. And he certainly wouldn't be trying to break in…

Someone must have been following her, she figured. She'd only just gotten home, away from prying eyes. The very idea of having someone stalk her like that was chilling enough, but the effects of her disappearing—or worse, dying—today would have been absolutely devastating. Killian had already committed a massacre to rescue her once already. Maker only knew what he would do this time…not to mention there was that whole thing about that damned hole in the sky...

She thought about trying to hide, but there wasn't enough time. That door was about to open any second—no way she could even send a text that quickly. Her stalker likely knew the layout of her apartment if they had been watching her, anyway. No, hiding wasn't an option. She had to fight. Make enough of a scene and help would come running.

If that presence in my head has any divine ideas, now would be the time….

Another small clicking noise and the door began to swing open. She quickly readied an icy spell in her hand, fully prepared to stop the intruder in their tracks. Her heart was pounding so hard she was genuinely concerned it was about to burst out of her chest.

A short series of quiet pops came from just beyond the doorway, followed immediately by a rather pronounced thud. What appeared to be the body of the apparent assassin was rolled carelessly into her entryway. The door swung fully open. A tanned elvhen man with a distinctively familiar facial tattoo leaned against it, twirling a silenced pistol around his finger.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk." Zevran smirked. "The neighborhood has really gone downhill, hasn't it?"

Skylar's eyes widened, her prepared spell quickly fading now that the threat was evidently quelled. Her voice was so high-pitched, it could almost be classified as a squeal. "Zevvy?!"

His smirk grew into a compassionate grin as he stepped gracefully around the body, holding his arms open outward towards her. "Ah, its been too long, little one."

Skylar slammed into his hug, wrapping her arms tightly around his shoulders. She rested her head against him for a short moment. "Please tell me you're not just here to kill off assassins and say goodbye again."

Zevran chuckled. "I'm afraid you're stuck with me for the night, at least. Leliana wants a protection detail on you until tomorrow morning."

Skylar's expression fell as she stepped back from him. "You got volun-told to babysit me, didn't you?"

"I'll have you know I volunteered for the job." He reached into his coat pocket, swiftly pulling out a handful of old-style DVDs. "What do you say, hmm? Up for a movie marathon?"

She eyed the unmarked cases with playful skepticism. "Are they scary?"

"Tevinter made. Banned in 3 nations, in fact." He met her skepticism with a growing smirk.

She sighed heavily. "You know what, that actually sounds perfect."

"Excellent!" He flopped the cases carelessly onto the kitchen countertop. "You get set up, I'll take out the trash."

Skylar snickered as she watched Zevran slowly drag the body to her balcony, leaving a dark red trail of blood along the carpet. "Well, I'm definitely not getting that deposit back…"

The sound of shuffling footsteps behind her made her turn her attention back towards the hallway. Delrin stood in the doorway, holding the pizza box and surveying the blood trail with an incredulous expression. "Do I even want to know what in the void just happened?"

Skylar smirked as she shrugged playfully. "Oh nothing Zevvy couldn't handle."

Delrin's eyebrow cocked upwards. "Zevvy?"

Zevran sauntered back in from the balcony, closing the sliding door with a dramatic amount of flair. "Zevran Aranai, elimination professional, at your service." He held out his hand towards Delrin politely, but immediately withdrew when his eyes landed on the pizza box.

He deftly snatched it from Delrin's hands, popping it open to examine the contents. "Ahhh, meat lover's! Now it's a party."

The action prompted Delrin to glare at him, but Zevran was seemingly too excited about the pizza to even notice. He was already fluttering about the kitchen, mumbling about how Skylar needed to tidy up the place because he couldn't find a damn thing he needed.

"So," Delrin asked carefully. "Zevran is a…friend?"

Zevran let out a boisterous laugh. "Well I'm certainly not having sex with her, if that's what you're asking."

"Zevvy!" Skylar's cheeks flushed instantly. She covered her face with her hands.

"What?" Zevran shrugged as he pulled the pizza cutter from the cluttered utensil drawer. "He was jealous."

"I was not!"

"Oh-ho-ho—yes, I definitely believe you now." He gestured dismissively as he helped himself to one of the toppings. "Mmm, yes, the ham even tastes of despair!"

Skylar sighed. "Zevvy is more of a crazy uncle than anything. He was close with my mom."

Zevran snickered. "Full disclosure: I did not—despite the rumors—have sex with the lovely Ashalle either."

"Zev!"

"What?" He smirked mischievously. "Wasn't for a lack of trying. Turns out that blasted bonding ceremony is eternally binding."

"Or." Skylar deadpanned. "Mom wasn't about to ruin her marriage over a cheap antivan whore."

Delrin could barely contain his snicker. He turned away momentarily, hoping it was the polite thing to do.

"Oh!" Zevran reacted as if he'd been shot. He laughed incredulously. "Cheap?! Just for that, you get the tiny slice."

Skylar rolled her eyes. "Just dish out the food before I turn you into a popsicle."

"Please do." Delrin muttered quietly before he could stop himself.

Skylar shot him a knowing smirk, giggling girlishly as silently as she could.

Zevran eyed the two of them with a mischievous look. "So, when did you two start fucking?"

With a lightning quick snap of her wrist Zevran was instantly frozen solid. The expression on his face was stuck in pure offense, making Skylar chuckle darkly.