#da writing

“Who’s a good boy.” Savar cooed, ruffling the fur of a Mabari they’d crossed paths with. It’d been some time since they set foot in Dock Town, but when Neve mentioned following up on an old case, Savar offered to tag along, and brought Lucanis for company.

On their way to meet their contact at the Lamplighter, they ran into Neve’s Templar friend, Rana. Since they would be arriving ahead of schedule, Savar decided to pet the local strays while the others chatted.

“So, Neve.” Rana leaned in to speak quietly. “Rumor has it you’re dating an assassin.”

“You mean this assassin?” Neve asked, pointing to Lucanis.

Savar’s neck snapped to attention, pausing mid-pet to eavesdrop. Gossip in Minrathous spread like wildfire, especially among the Shadow Dragons, but what would make Rana think that Neve was dating Lucanis?

Rana instantly changed her tune, straightening as she realized who she was talking to. “Oh, I didn’t- Aren’t you the Demon of… Sorry. You seem so nice?”

“Thanks?” Lucanis blinked, looking even more confused than Savar felt, but he still hadn’t corrected her.

Lucanis wasn’t… no. He wouldn’t. Neither would Neve, for that matter.

“Where did you hear that?” Neve chuckled, lightly.

“I have my sources.” Rana winked. “So, how long have you two been a thing?”

“We aren’t.” Neve answered, casually.

Savar let out a sigh of relief.

“Oh, denying the allegations, are we?” Rana teased.

“Very much so.” Lucanis chimed in, before his eyes widened. He immediately turned to Neve once he realized what he’d just said. “No offense.”

“None taken.” Neve shrugged, clearly unbothered. “Sorry Rana, your source got it wrong this time. The Crow is taken, just not by me.”

Savar smiled, feeling silly for thinking they had anything to worry about. They stood up from where they’d been crouching at Mabari-level, and wandered closer to the conversation.

“I see.” Rana grinned, mischievously. “Someone else managed to steal the heart of the Demon of Vyrantium then?”

Lucanis groaned in frustration.

Savar began to reach for his hand, but before they could catch it, Lucanis moved it away.

“We have a meeting to get to.” He muttered. Without another word, he continued down the path towards the bar.

“That’s a yes.” Neve whispered to Rana, practically giggling at his discomfort.

…

Savar broke into a light jog to catch up with him. Neve wasn’t far behind, trailing leisurely as they approached the entrance to the Lamplighter, and stopped in front of it.

“Why didn’t you just tell her the truth?” Savar asked. They wanted to reach for his hand again, but feared he might pull away again.

“Because it was none of her business.” he answered, as if it were obvious.

“I know, but… just for the record, I don’t mind. If you want to tell people, that is.” They hadn’t been seeing each other for long, but Savar thought they were past the point of keeping their relationship a secret. Everyone on the team already knew. Allies like Rana could certainly know as well.

“Well, I do mind.” Lucanis countered. “The Minrathous news-sheets have enough gossip about me. I don’t need them digging into my love life.”

“Oh.” Savar’s shoulders slumped in disappointment. They weren’t exactly ready to post an announcement in the papers, but they did wonder if there was another reason he didn’t want to tell anyone they were dating. “Sure…”

“You get used to it after a while.” Neve offered, as consolation. “Even on their good days, they rarely get it right.”

“Until they do.” Lucanis added, already annoyed by the concept.

“Wait, do you not want anyone to know?” Savar asked.

“Not ideally.”

“I see.” Of course. How could they have missed it? Sure, he was a high-ranking Crow, and they weren’t exactly the most sought-after Shadow Dragon, but was it really such a scandal for them to be together? Then again, a Tevinter elf— who also happened to be a mage— dating the would-be First Talon of the Antivan Crows… “You’d rather let them think you’re with Neve...”

“What?” Lucanis gaped at them, suddenly caught off guard by their realization. “Rook, I didn’t-”

“We should get inside,” they interrupted, unable to meet his eyes. Whatever explanation he had would need to wait until after the meeting. “Elek is probably waiting for us.”

------------------------------------------------

‘What. Did you do?’

Lucanis felt a rising panic in his chest as Savar disappeared behind the door. He stood frozen, trying to process what had just happened. Desperate for answers, he turned to Neve.

The detective fixed him with a piercing stare that sent an anxious chill down his spine.

“What’s that look for?”

“Really?” Neve asked, with a tilt of her head. “You just told the person you care about that you don’t want anyone to know you’re seeing each other. How do you think that went?”

For the first time in days, Lucanis felt Spite’s presence shove him aside. Through sheer will, the demon forced himself into controlling their body, but only to speak three words. “You hurt Rook.”

“Never thought I’d agree with a demon, but he’s right.” Neve added.

“That isn’t what I meant.” He clarified, to both of them.

“But it is what you said.” she argued.

It was only logical. Any Crow would have said the same. With so many threats against their lives, neither of them were safe to be themselves— no matter how badly he wanted to. The timing just wasn’t right.

But Savar wasn’t a Crow…

“I… mierda.” Lucanis mumbled, as he leaned heavily against the door to push his way inside.

…

As the four of them sat around a table of drinks for their discussion, Lucanis found it difficult to focus on anything Elek was saying. While Neve usually did most of the talking when it came to her cases, Savar was noticeably quieter, and seemed to find any excuse to avoid eye contact with Lucanis.

He considered faking an excuse to leave several times during the meeting, but refused to disrupt Neve’s negotiations. He would have his chance soon, if he could only be patient.

Despite himself, Lucanis couldn’t help but stare, silently begging Savar to look at him. He hated leaving things the way they did, and only hoped he hadn’t ruined them completely with his thoughtless words. He selfishly wished he could hear what they were thinking, if only to know if they were planning to leave him by the time the meeting ended.

The moment Elek said his goodbyes and stepped out of the bar, Lucanis stood up from the table. “Come with me.” he declared.

“What are you-” Savar began to ask. Lucanis took hold of their wrist, pulling them along as he made his way to the door. “Oh- alright?”

Neve simply sipped her drink, knowing they’d be back.

He led Savar outside and around the building, ducking into an empty alleyway. Without the prying eyes of the Lamplighter’s patrons, he could finally speak freely.

“What’s the matter? You’re embarrassed even to be seen with me now?” they asked. It might have been meant as a joke, but the sorrow in their eyes was like a knife to his heart.

“Never.” Lucanis gently took their face into his hands, leaning in close for a long-awaited kiss.

To his relief, Savar began to kiss him back. Their expression slowly welcomed a smile as he finally pulled away.

“Is that what you dragged me out here for?” they asked, with a smirk.

“No,” he answered, then thought better of it. “Well, yes, but-” He took a breath to gather his thoughts, determined to say it right this time. “I don’t want people to think I’m dating Neve. I’d rather they think I’m not dating anyone.”

Savar’s smile faltered, clearly unconvinced. “Oh. Alright.”

“Not because I don’t want to be seen with you.” Lucanis clarified. “I don’t want the news-sheets to gossip about us because it will make you a target.”

He watched their eyes tick back and forth in thought, hoping they would understand. He would never forgive himself if something happened to them.

“The last thing I want is some traitor to take out a contract on you. Crows have killed for less.” Crows had also been killed for less. Lucanis had already lost several family members to jealous upstarts from rival houses, and he wasn’t prepared to lose anyone else.

“Lucanis, I’m already a target.” they said, earnestly. “In case you forgot, both the Venatori and half the Magisterium currently want me dead. I think I can handle a few Crows.”

He struggled to suppress a nervous laugh. Their bravery never failed to amaze, and terrify him. “I know you can, but…” Lucanis sighed. “You shouldn’t have to. Not for me.”

“I wouldn’t want to, if it were anyone else.” When Savar reached up to caress his cheek, he leaned happily into their touch. “You are worth the risk.”

In hindsight, he should have expected such a reaction all along. Always the gambler, his Rook. He loved that about them.

“Do you want me to go back and find Rana so I can tell her we’re together?” he asked, with a teasing grin.

Savar shook their head, mirroring his smile. “Nah. Let’s keep ‘em guessing a little while longer.” they said, sealing their words with another kiss.

♖𓅂♖𓅂♖𓅂♖𓅂♖𓅂♖𓅂♖𓅂♖𓅂♖𓅂♖𓅂

“Ash! Up here!” Ashwyn startles at the familiar voice, looking up they find the Hero of Fereldan and Black Shadow holding a torch on top of a collapsed building; a beacon in the dark. 

“Mamae! Pa!?” The sound of darkspawn closing in laces Rook’s voice with panic, “We need a way out of this!”

 “Follow the torch, mi cariño!” Zevran calls as he throws it to illuminate a section of wall that Rook can climb up.

“Get to the bell tower, it’s your way out!” Eirwen calls down to Rook as the two turn to something that has them both drawing their swords and running off.

Just as fast as they appeared they are gone again. The sounds of darkspawn, an archdemon, wardens and endless fighting barely drown out Ashwyn’s thoughts of never seeing them again. For two years all they had of their parents were smudged ink and faded memories. After their joining Mahariel became the past and Thorne the present. 

“Wait, was that the H-?” Davrin starts to ask.

“My parents- lets go, we have to keep moving!”

For every darkspawn they slay, Ashwyn remembers their mother’s face when Keiran dragged them home two years ago. The claw marks over their right eye still bleeding, stinging with blight that Ashwyn hadn’t realized was there. How their father sat silently by the fire for days as Morrigan tried to cleanse them with magic she barely understood. Ashwyn fights every darkspawn like they have something to lose… someone to protect. They don’t realize where their feet are taking them until they are standing in the mostly intact house. 

Everything is as they remember, the single room with two beds meant to sleep three. Rook hadn’t realized till now but the kitchen smells of Antiva. The collection of trinkets and treasures scattered around the house. Even the library nook is how they remember, books about romance, dragons and every publication from Genitivi. The welcome mat hides the burn Ashwyn left when they first realized they were a mage. Davrin and Harding followed them at first but after seeing the family portrait on the fall both stopped in the entryway.

Ashwyn knows they don’t have time. They need to get to the dragon trap, they have to kill a god. That doesn’t stop them from walking out to the balcony to gaze over the rubble around them. Born in Fereldan, Weisshaulpt wasn’t always their home but after an assassin got too close the family moved to the one place the Antivan Crows would not follow. Between the dead plants and forgotten furniture Rook finds a gilded chest. Something compels them to open it. Inside they find their old armor. The armor their mother had commissioned after their joining, the armor they left behind when Varric recruited them.

As fast as possible they change into the steel plates and braided leather. Something about reclaiming it calms Ashwyn and makes them feel ready. They find their companions anxiously waiting by the door. Davrin nods at them as they pass through their old home for the last time, “Let’s go kill a god” 

“It could work” Rook tries to reassure themself as much as Lucanis.

“More likely you’ll die trying” Lucanis cautions.

“And we can’t have that now can we?” Zevran says as he steps out of the shadows.

Lucanis instantly goes to reach for his sword as he recognizes the man. Davrin moves to block his path as a mabari lets out a low growl to announce his presence, “Falon!” Rook calls which instantly calms the massive dog. 

The mabari wiggles around Ashwyn, his tan fur peppered with grey, “Keeping Pa safe, old boy?”

“Please, these darkspawn are barely a challenge, this mutt was more interested in your scent then my safety anyway”

“Where’s Ma?” Rook asks as they continue to pet Falon.

“Helping Evka and Antoine evacuate… no ones seen the First Warden so it seems they’re listening to her for the moment” 

“We saw him, don’t think he made it” Harding comments as she approaches the group.

“Scout Harding, good to see again” Zevran glances up at the group eyeing him with varying levels of distrust and wonder, “Then it’s up to you all to finish this- put that blade away Dellamorte or I’ll remind you how I got my reputation”

Purple flashes around Lucanis but he sheathed his sword, “Arainai…” 

“It’s Mahariel now” Zevran sneers, “And I hope you’re better at finishing your contracts than I once was”

Lucanis just nods rather than answering, “Pa… I-”

Zevran takes Ashwyn’s face in his hands, “You can do this cariño, you have your mother’s spirit and my stubbornness” They both smile at one another, “Now go earn your own title” Zevran tells them before kissing their forehead as if they were still a child.

Rook kneels down to Falon’s height, “I need a favor old boy” 

The dog listens intently as Ashwyn asks him to watch Mila’s back. The old mabari trots over to the girl who is all too eager to pet him. Holden and Rook share a look before they look back to their group, letting Davrin lead themself and Harding towards the library, as Zevran splits off with Emmrich and Bellara. Rook notices Lucanis sending them an unreadable look before he too splits off with the rest of them. 

“Give me another shot!”

“Too late! Back to the eluvian!” 

Ashwyn leads their team in the retreat as blight nips at their heels. Lucanis and Davrin dark shadows at their side as Harding brings up the rear. When they get to the glowing entrance way Holden, Mila, Emmrich and Falon are waiting for them. 

“Is it working?”

“I hope so!”

“Best odds all day”

Rook stops only feet from the doorway motioning them all to go through before they follow. With one hand on the arch they turn around back all they see is blight so finally they enter. As soon as Ashwyn is all the way through Bellara activates the console, literally slamming the door behind them. 

“Holden, Mila- what?” 

“Evka led the retreat, any warden that listened should be heading towards Lavendel by now but I needed to make sure the dragon trap actually worked” 

“Rook, I can lead them through the crossroad” Emmrich offers as Rook sinks to their knees. 

Barely able to catch their breath and with a noticeable shake in every muscle Ashwyn simply gives Emmrich a thumbs up rather than a worded answer. The others are unsure what to do until Falon sits next to Rook on the floor and instantly their leader doesn’t look like they are about to shake apart. Neve finally steps up to usher everyone out of the eluvian room right as Rook hides their tears in Falon’s fur. Another home destroyed by the gods Ashwyn grew up hearing stories about.

When the tears finally stop Ashwyn studies their mabari. His fur is covered in blood but none of it seems to be his own, still a war dog at heart. His royal blue warpaint is smudged and something hangs from the thick leather collar around his neck. It's a rolled up slip of paper that Rook knows is for them.

She didn’t always make it to her proper bed after such nights, and this was not the first time she’d woken up sprawled across the lounge in the library. It was, however, the first time she could recall waking up with an armful of white-haired elf.

For a few moments, Briar wondered if she was dreaming. Not that she was prepared to admit as much to anyone, but finding Fenris in her bed had started to become a theme. But then she heard a floorboard creak somewhere behind her, and Varric’s wry chuckle. As he stepped into her field of view, Varric mimed sealing his lips shut, and promptly vanished through the door that led to the hallway connecting the library to the main hall.

Void take him. If he cracked one joke the moment Fenris was out of earshot… Well, she wouldn’t do anything drastic, but she sure wouldn’t be buying Varric drinks anytime soon.

She wanted to appreciate the moment, to enjoy it while it lasted, but all she could think of was the inevitable: that Fenris would wake up, pretend nothing had happened, and leave without a word. For a moment, she considered attempting to extricate herself without disturbing him, but decided that the odds of success were slim to none.

How had they even ended up together? The previous evening was… a bit fuzzier than she would have liked, but she quite clearly remembered being alone when she’d curled up on the chaise lounge. Most of her friends had left for the evening, she remembered—Aveline was always the first to leave, but Merrill and Isabela had followed shortly after. Clearly Varric had stayed the night, and she couldn’t remember if Anders had left or not. It was likely he had—people sleeping off their indulgences probably weren’t particularly interesting when one’s resident spirit wouldn’t allow you to join them.

Suddenly, Fenris shifted. Briar immediately feigned sleep, fully prepared to grant him an out that she was certain he would take, but he didn’t seem to have woken. At least, not enough to realize who he was curled up against.

That was fine, she supposed. This was… only something she’d wanted desperately for the past year. And then some.

- - -

A crashing sound jolted her back to full consciousness. She realized, belatedly, that in feigning sleep she had actually fallen back asleep—and she was now alone on the chaise. Briar dragged herself upright, loosely covering a yawn with one hand as she glanced around to take stock of her surroundings. No sign of any of her friends, now—the library appeared to be deserted aside from her.

Maybe she had only been dreaming, after all.

Briar brushed a few errant curls out of her face as she got to her feet, then she headed out into the hall. Emanating from deeper in the manor was the warm, reassuring scent of fresh bread. How much was she paying Orana? The girl deserved every last coin Briar could afford to toss her way, and then some.

She found the source of the noise that had woken her—and the culprit—in the main hall. Her desk in the corner sat overturned, her papers scattered all across the floor, and her dog sat squarely in the middle of it all with the guiltiest look a mabari could muster. There was nothing broken as far as she could see, however, and Briar huffed a soft laugh. “What were you doing that you knocked my desk over?” she said with a shake of her head.

“It’s my fault,” Fenris said, emerging from the hall beside the stairs. One of the dog’s toys dangled loosely from his hand, and she knew instinctively without asking that the toy was disgustingly slimy.

Despite herself, she laughed. “Mystery solved,” Briar said, deeply amused. “Nothing will stand between Bitsy and her toys.”

The dog in question whined, tail wagging. Fenris tossed the toy clear across the hall, this time into an empty corner. As Bitsy tore after it, he turned back to Briar and said, “Don’t worry, I will take care of the mess.”

She offered him a smile in exchange. “The desk, at least, is easier to move with two people.” As for the papers… well, it wasn’t as if she had any sort of an organizational system to begin with.

He’d stayed. He hadn’t left at the first opportunity.