Hawke - Open to All

[fadehawke]

Waking up in unfamiliar territory was a new experience for Hawke, and the first thing he noticed about it was the fact that he wasn't brought back to consciousness by the tongue of an over-enthused dog. As if that should be a priority, he thought ruefully, even as he rolled to the side and ducked behind a pile of stacked stone bricks so he could get a look at the area without being seen. It was jarring to be suddenly relocated, almost like a dream; he'd only just seated himself down in that delightfully cushy chair by the fire in his mansion for a nap, waiting for Isabella to stop by with details for a job she'd mentioned at the Hanged Man the night before. Fully equipped, thank the Maker, which meant he had everything he might need for an escape on hand.

Actually, that was the strangest part about all of this. Why would anyone abduct him only to leave him armed and unguarded in some decrepit old castle? These are either the worst captors in history, or I've been dumped here to kill a dragon for someone.

To be fair, with his reputation (and luck), that was entirely possible.

A series of footsteps at his back makes him twist, dagger half-drawn, but he halts when he comes face to face with a tired and bewildered traveler climbing the hill towards the castle. Footprints in the snow, Hawke noticed, indicate that he'd gone wandering and had come right back. And when he gazed beyond the stranger, he realized why: outside was a vast, dark, nightmarish abyss. Eerily familiar and yet completely alien at the same time.

Frowning, he slid his dagger back into its scabbard and cautiously stood, stepping out into the courtyard. It seemed that this was no simple abduction.

Time to explore- and ask as many questions as he can come up with.

Comments

Set after Carver had to go off to get...something

[fenrisfadewalk]

Fenris was unsettled, and when Fenris was unsettled, he usually need to get away from people. He climbed up to the high parapets overlooking all of Skyhold, letting the cold wind whip around him, ruffling white hair and making the red strip of cloth bound around his wrist flutter in the breeze.

All around him, everywhere he looked, was evidence of magic gone horribly wrong.

It made his skin crawl.

He scowled, glaring down at his feet as he walked. The castle felt cold and empty around him. By itself, that would have been comforting. But the strange flickers in shadow? The heavy weight of clouds? The feeling of eyes on him? That made his markings itch. He rubbed his hands angrily up his arms, turning away from the view of all that nothing--and froze when he spotted a familiar figure down in the courtyard below.

Hawke.

"Hawke!" Fenris snapped, sounding almost angry in his relief. He gripped the stone ledge, then hoisted himself easily up. It wasn't so difficult a thing to swing himself down to a lower ledge, then onto a roof. He ran along the tiles and dropped lightly to his feet in the courtyard, straightening to give Hawke a thoroughly unreadable look.

his dignity, surely

[fadehawke]

If there was one voice more unmistakable than his brother's, it was the one he'd heard above him. Hawke halted immediately and glanced up to watch Fenris climb down, agile as an angry wildcat, until they stood only a few meters apart. A wave of relief passed over him, his shoulders slumping a little at the familiar face, a pleased glint to his eyes. After the tense and heart-wrenching discussion with Carver, someone closer to home was a welcome thing. Especially when that someone was Fenris.

The glower he received made him falter somewhat, and he opted to remain where he'd stopped rather than close the distance between them. Truth was, he'd have loved to kiss Fenris senseless and drag him off somewhere private to share what had just occurred, but... if Carver was from some unknown world, what if others were as well? Just what sort of haunted magical place was this? Was this his Fenris, or one where they were strangers, mere allies, enemies? What a dreadful thought.

Cautiously, he took a single step forward. Fenris's reaction would tell him whether it was safe to take it further or not. "If you're angry at me for causing this, I can tell you that I probably had nothing to do with it. Which is rare for me, I know."

[fenrisfadewalk]

"Probably," he echoed in a thoroughly unimpressed tone, but he didn't step back or tense up as Hawke took that single step forward. "That is not comforting, Hawke."

Then Fenris frowned, brows drawing together.

"What is your full name?" he demanded. "And what name did my mother give me?"

[fadehawke]

That was a fairly typical Fenris response, which was promising. His gaze shifted down briefly, catching sight of the red cloth at the elf's wrist. That was also familiar, but they would only know if he provided the answers Fenris was looking for.

"Sparrow Hawke," he answered quietly, watching for any signs of surprise or mockery (the typical response of strangers until they learn that diminutive names do not imply a diminutive person). "She called you Leto."

He phrased it as carefully as he could; the memory of his anger when he corrected his sister for calling him that was a powerful one. He wanted to leave no room for a misunderstanding.

[fenrisfadewalk]

The tense line of his shoulders relaxed and he nodded once. "Yes," he said. Then, haltingly: "It is...good that you are here."

[fadehawke]

...Oh. Oh, thank the Maker. It was his Fenris.

Hawke's posture echoed Fenris at once, and he exhaled a deep, relieved sigh, moving forward once again until they were within arm's reach, though he doesn't give in to that initial urge he'd had. Fenris could be fickle and unsure with his affection, and public areas were generally a no-go. It was kind of bad etiquette, anyway. Not that he ever cared about that.

He reached out and gripped Fenris's arm instead, offering up a smile. "Reluctant as I am to say anything about this is good... I feel the same way. Are you well?"

[fenrisfadewalk]

Fenris's gaze flew to the grip on his arm, then up to Hawke's face in a quick jerk of his chin. It wasn't denial in his gaze--he wasn't angry--but his brows pulled together in confusion.

Hawke just...didn't touch him. Not really. Not for years.

"...Hawke."

[fadehawke]

Hawke didn't miss the hint, releasing Fenris at once. Even without the anger behind it, he wasn't about to risk lingering if the comfort wasn't mutual; he had no intention of upsetting his friend.

"Sorry, too much? I'm a little... out of sorts right now." He gestured behind himself, shaking his head, still unable to fully believe it himself without the evidence right in front of him. "Carver's here. Alive."

[fenrisfadewalk]

And now Fenris was reaching for Hawke, gripping his shoulders as his green eyes searched his face. Earnest and concerned. "That must have been a blow," he murmured.

[fadehawke]

Hawke smiled gratefully, his hands lifting to touch lightly at Fenris's elbows - not to hold him, but to at least return the gesture and let him know that he was alright. More than alright, actually. He was so happy about Carver being here he was practically giddy. "Not a bad one, mind, aside from the shock. Lucky we didn't kill one another. I thought he was a demon." He shot Fenris a rueful look. "Is that why you asked about your old name?"

[fenrisfadewalk]

"Yes," he said. Then frowned. "I ran into a woman who claimed she was you."

[fadehawke]

Hawke's expression was about as baffled as one might expect, hearing such a thing. "There's one I haven't heard before. What sort of tales has Varric been telling people?"

[fenrisfadewalk]

"Ask him yourself. He's here. But she seemed convinced." His brows climbed a little and he let go, reluctant as he was to break the contact. "And surprisingly convincing."

[fadehawke]

Interesting choice of words. Hawke let his own brow lift out of curiosity. "Why, Fenris, should I be jealous?"

[fenrisfadewalk]

Fenris looked away, flustered, color rising across his cheeks. To the tips of his ears. "Hawke."

[fadehawke]

Oh, there it was. It really was too cute when his ears went red like that. "Anyway. It's good that Varric's here, I'm sure he knows plenty about this place. And if he doesn't, he can find out soon enough."

[fenrisfadewalk]

Fenris cleared his throat. "That would be one of his most useful traits," he agreed, a little hoarsely. It was disorienting, having this strange push and pull of a conversation considering what he had been at Hawke's mansion to do. He wasn't sure what to make of the not-so-subtle flirtations. Was Hawke...welcoming that sort of attention again? Or was he just seeing what he wanted to see?

[fadehawke]

Fenris wasn't the only one trying to decipher how to handle the conversation. Hawke himself was constantly torn between sticking to the usual degree of personal space or wrapping his arms around his prickly, on-off lover. He hated, hated not knowing, but it also felt a bit silly to ask about it outright. How does one person go about asking another if they're an item? As if this place weren't complicated enough already.

"Suppose we might find a quiet place to talk?" he finally suggested, gesturing in the direction of the nearest building. He had yet to explore, but for the moment it wasn't a priority.

[fenrisfadewalk]

Fenris gave a sharp, quick bob of his head. Honestly, he would have agreed with near anything Hawke suggested by this point in his life--even defend mages. It was strange how much power the mage had over him, and how little he resented it.

[fadehawke]

Well, alright then. Hawke's expression was at once openly relieved, and he started down the path towards the interior of the castle. He used the sounds of voices and general clutter to guide his steps, steering away from wherever it seemed that people had gathered. He'd do a proper walk-about later on, meet people, get a feel for the land. But it could wait.

Finally they stumbled upon a half-collapsed corridor that seemed abandoned enough to satisfy him, lightly decorated with furniture that didn't look like it would collapse in a light breeze. He tested that by wearily dropping into the nearest chair. "That's better. A few more surprises and I'll ruin my whole reputation with a dead faint."

[fenrisfadewalk]

Fenris chuffed a laugh and carefully took a seat. He ignored the cloud of dust and leaned forward, elbows on his knees, eyes fixed on Hawke's face. "Part of your reputation encompasses the tendency to melodrama," he pointed out.

[fadehawke]

"I suppose I ought to be relieved." That probably wasn't the right word for it, but it was enough of a victory to have successfully made Fenris laugh, so he won't gripe. He met that iron gaze easily enough, but the words he wanted to speak were more of a struggle. "Fenris, I..."

[fenrisfadewalk]

"...Hawke."

[fadehawke]

Fenris wasn't making this any easier. To have followed him here without question, to support his moment of weakness after seeing Carver with no hesitation at all... they were reasons he couldn't understand those who criticized the former slave before getting to know him. He knew few people outside of his family who were half as loyal as Fenris could be, if trust was earned. (That was admittedly the hard part, but it was more than worth it, in his extremely biased opinion.)

Maker's balls, I don't know how to ask him. "...Sorry. It's absurd, thinking about anything but getting ourselves out of this mess."

[fenrisfadewalk]

"Absurdity has never stopped you before," he said, lips tilting at the corners. He leaned in closer, however, green eyes tracking over Hawke's face in concern. "What is it?"