#imrisah

“CAPTAIN?! CAPTAIN!” Dorian’s eyes flew open at the call, but he didn’t recognize the man’s voice. A ragtag group had entered the tavern and was making their way towards him. He pulled a pistol below the table, aiming at the short tevinter in the front, unsure of what was happening. Across from him however his companion is jumping to his feet, a massive grin plastered on his face.

“Krem? Chargers?! I thought you were dead!” As the massive qunari ran towards them patrons absentmindedly lifted their drinks to keep them from spilling, some of them losing a table as he ambled past. Normally Hissrad was very careful about his size, but right now he made a straight line for the door. Dorian carefully followed, behind him some of his crew moved to get a better look. Risah stealthily went out the side, angling to intercept them. The group was polite enough to move whatever this was outside so as not to further disturb the patrons.

Dorian raised an eyebrow when Hissrad pulled the other man into a bone crushing hug. He relaxed a little when each member of the group was given the same. Hissrad beamed happily.

“I’m assuming this is your crew?” Dorian was greeted with happy nods.

“Well, seeing as everyone’s alive you can all retur

“Fuck that.” The tevinter said. His eyes were embers, his voice heavy to counter Dorian’s flippant tone.

“Krem, what” the qunari looked at Krem.

“We’ve been looking for you captain, we’re happy to see you, but if that’s the way you’re going, we won’t follow you.” Krem took an almost protective stance in front of the rest of the crew. Each of them bore a new scar or wound from when Hissrad last saw them, and their eyes showed something more raw than he was used to.

“The Qun abandoned us, hell, they sailed right past us, made sure we knew that they weren’t coming.” Krem spat out. Hissrad places a gentle hand on Krem’s shoulder.

“We’re not going back to the army, Krem. Not ever.” The last part seemed to be more aimed at Dorian than at Krem. Part of Dorian wanted to let it go, to stand beside the handsome giant he called his, to meet these people as an equal. That would mean letting go, forgetting everything he’d learned to survive, placing everything on those broad shoulders and he just couldn’t. What if? What if somehow it all still went wrong?

“Now that you have your crew back, you can find a ship, maybe work as mercenaries.” Dorian intends to be light but it comes out cruel. Leave, he seems to say, leave before this gets more painful.

“Dorian...” Hissrad’s voice is gentle but insistent and Dorian hates that he knows Hissrad is right. His lover had never given him a reason to distrust him, hell, Hissrad had saved his life more times than anyone. Almost anyone.

“Come now Dorian, no need for that. We just stole a big shiny ship thanks to Hissrad, we could stay here and try to hire a crew of assholes, or we could take on Hissrad’s friends.” Risah turned towards the newcomers, having slipped up on the happy reunion when they weren’t paying attention. Dorian wasn’t sure of how long she’d been there, but it had probably been the whole time.

“How do you feel about piracy?” She smiles wide.

“Beats the army.” Krem replies. His eyes are trying very hard not to give Risah a once over. He succeeds, mostly.

“You aren’t the captain.” Dorian growls at her.

“No” she says sarcastically. “I’m only his best friend. Can I talk to you?” The two leave General Hissrad to catch up with his crew and dart uneasy looks their way. He isn’t really scared that Dorian will abandon him, but he hates to see him this way.

“What do you think you’re” Dorian starts.

“Dorian, hush.” Risah interrupts. “I know you well enough by now to know what this whole charade about Hissrad leaving is about. You’re trying to avoid that feeling, that pain. You can’t. You just have to realize this is the best thing in your life and hold onto it. Don’t you think I’m scared, every time Cullen is beside me, that I might lose him? If he wasn’t there, if I’d pushed him away, then I’d have already lost him, though. It’ll be ok Dorian. It’s ok to be happy. We won’t die.” She smiles and gently touches his handsome face.

“Ever?” Dorian asks hesitantly, daring to look at her face. It’s comforting and open and he knows she’d do anything for him.

“Never, ever.” It’s a lie, but in the best way. She’s right of course. He knows what he really wants. He smiles at his friend.

“Sometimes YOU are the best thing in my life.” Dorian said, making Risah laugh.

“Oh don’t I know it. Now, let’s put on our handsome pirate prince face and try this again because you’re meeting your beloved’s friends for the first time and you’re making a complete ass of yourself.” Dorian laughs too and decides to make the best of it. The best of a new life, with a new crew who would lay down their lives for him. A love who saw all of him and adored it, and was never ashamed. A gorgeous ship with a powerful sea below it and no one who could stop him. They turn to join the group and Hissrad no longer looks nervous. Dorian links arms with him as casually as he can, trying to appear debonaire as he surveys the group.

“Well, amatus,” Krem’s eyebrows raise at the name before he breaks out in a wolffish grin at Hissrad. “Now that you’re all part of my crew I think proper introductions are in order.”