Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

“I’m surprised.” Krem admitted as he led Dorian around back to the garden area. “You can knock off at noon, for lunch then come back until the dinner bell.You’ll be free until tomorrow. Anything before I get back to my duties?”

So much, but Dorian was going to hold his tongue. Krem wasn’t going to share easily with him, and their differences would be easier to work out after he had completed his assigned tasks.

“An Altus that can be quiet, will wonders never cease.” Krem left Dorian in the dust and harsh sun of the early day, a devious grin on his lips as he headed for the yard.

Dorian glanced at the plot of dried dirt and he unbuckled his sleeves, his mind already cataloguing what he would need to bring life back. He was also silently thanking his herbologist that had taught him for several years. Granted, it hadn’t been his best subject, but he could manage not to kill the things he planted.
Krem tilted his head at the mage before him but didn’t laugh in his face, he was fucking the Chief after all. “So, you think you can be one of us?”

“That’s the hope,” Dorian said. “I have killed a dragon with all of you,” he pointed out. He hoped reminding Krem of that would help.

“Yeah, with our help. You nearly got fried if I recall.” Krem grinned evilly at Dorian as he considered what to do to him.

“You have to serve the poor of Skyhold for thirty days, no complaining and if you miss one day without a damned good reason you can’t join. Fucking the Chief doesn’t get you any special passes.”

“I don’t know about that,” Dorian mused. “Fucking him seems to get me all sorts of special perks. But I’ll do it. Thirty days?”

“Make it forty-five for your lip. Day one begins tomorrow, with the first bell. I’ll make sure you get a good start, then it’s up to you. Oh, and that’s the easy part, don’t think you’re in yet ...Pavus.”

“First bell?” Dorian sighed. “Then I guess I’m off to bed already then.”

Krem laughed gleefully as he watched Dorian wander back to the Chief. “He’ll never, ever make it. Too self-absorbed.”

**
Dorian might not have been completely awake, but he was up and dressed just before the first bell sounded. He opened the door on the first ring to see Krem out in the hall.

“Good morning, Krem,: he said with a yawn.

“Impressive, slightly.” Krem admitted to himself. “Morning, follow me.”

“You do know that getting up early isn’t something new to me,” he told him. He fell into step next to Krem. “I might have grown up wealthy, but I still had to train to use my power. That does require a small amount of dedication unless one wants to make their family look bad.”

He glanced at Krem. “But being as you’re from Tevinter, you already knew this.”

“We’re nothing alike, and do not act as if we are. The only reason you’ve even gotten a chance is because you make Bull happy.” Krem snarled.

“Oh? I don’t know about that. I think you and I are more alike that you want to think. As for making Bull happy, at least I can do something right.” Dorian kept his tone light.

“I can just say no right now, and you can go back to bed and enjoy your precious sleep Altus.” Krem hissed as he got in Dorian’s face. “Men like you and your ilk made my life miserable, put my father out of business. Let’s not pretend we are friends, we are not. and if you pass my requirements you will be a Charger and I will treat you as well as I would any other stray Bull let join. Am I clear?”

“My ilk?” Dorian sighed. “I do get tired of hearing that flung around, as if everyone from Tevinter are homogeneous. But let me pass your tests, and then we’ll revisit this discussion.” Dorian stuck out his hand.

“Keep it, don’t want to catch a case of righteous prick off you. Come on.” Krem turned towards the area where a lot of the refugees had taken up with their own. Some were sick, some injured, all miserable.

“Serve them however they need until the noon bell, then you are free for the day. Tomorrow we start after breakfast.”

Dorian bit back the retort about his prick being very righteous and gave him a low bow instead. “I live to serve.” He straightened and headed towards the refuges.

“One word that you were snobby, or less than helpful, you're over.” Krem left Dorian with the refugees after he gave word to the Mother that oversaw their area of Skyhold.

**
Dorian hadn’t realized he had missed the noon bell until the surgeon he had been working with plunked a plate with food down next to him. He had his arms deep in water and was scrubbing blood off his skin.

Dorian wasn’t a healer, he had never claimed to be, but he did know about the body and how it worked. Magisters wrote most of the books on anatomy, and Dorian had studied most of them as part of his expensive education. He had spent hours assisting the surgeon in their work, offering advice when he thought it would be accepted.

That’s where Bull found him later, curled up on a pallet in a light doze. “Well damn, didn’t think he’d wear himself out in one day.”

Dorian rolled over and shielded his face with his hands to glance up at Bull. “Ugh… What time is it?”

“Almost dinner time, you fell asleep out here. Doc told me you’d worked through lunch.”

Dorian groaned and sat up. “I eventually ate.” He stretched and his back popped.

“Yeah yeah, come on let’s get you fed then into a hot bath. Then I want the truth about today, and how it went this morning. Krem looked ready to spit nails when he showed up to train.” Bull tugged him to his feet and turned him towards the main Keep doors.

Dorian allowed himself to be herded. “I seem to occupy that same space I occupy in most other people’s minds, that of ‘Tevinter that can be used to take all aggression against the Imperium out on’. I’m determined to win him over, though.” They entered the great hall and Bull led him to a set of stairs.

“That may be one you want to let go, for your good. Krem hasn’t had it easy and he don’t forgive too much.” Bull said quietly as he nudged the mage ahead of him.

“Well he dislikes me.” Dorian pushed open the door to one of the bathing chambers. “But I’ll deal with it. Krem can think of me as he likes I suppose. I’m sure anything I say will not be believed, I can only hope my actions will be.”

“Maybe, there’s a lot you don’t know, and it ain’t my story to tell.” Bull replied as he started the first pump he came across while he left Dorian to get undressed.

“Then I’ll have to be patient, won’t I? Ah… the things I do for love.” Dorian padded naked over to the tub and stepped inside, sighing in happiness at the warm water swept over his skin.

“You should join the Chargers for your own reasons, not for just for whatever love you might feel for me.” the warrior said as he unsnapped his pauldron before he stripped down to get his own bath going.

Lisbeth had spared little expense in getting dwarves in the keep to outfit a plumbing system complete with hot water heated below by furnaces. Dorian sighed again in happiness and sank back up to his shoulders in the water.

“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t joining because of you. But I have other reasons. It just makes sense. Anything I might feel for you is just an added bonus.” He hadn’t missed what Bull had said, and wanted him to know it, his lips pressed in a thin line.

“Don’t be a dick, you know what I meant...I hope.” Bull sighed as he eased himself into the hot water and closed his eyes. “I just don’t want you doing this for some half-assed reason. Being a merc is hard word, live and die by the men at your back, the strength of your hit. It’s not something to do lightly.”

“Like running from your own father using blood magic on you, from your comfortable life, and conspiring against a man who you saw as a mentor in order to do the right thing, then joining the Inquisition filled with people who will never trust you despite your words and actions? I don’t do things lightly, Bull, not even fucking you. I know I give that impression at times, but I also know what it is to make a hard choice and to follow through with it.” Dorian ducked his head under the water and came up again, swiping his wet hair out of his eyes.

“Point taken, I just wanted you to be alright.” Bull couldn’t duck his head under because of his horns, so he settled for dumping hot water and scrubbing with soap. Once he finished, he turned his attention to getting cleaned up and not putting his foot back in his mouth.

Dorian groaned. “Sorry. It’s been a long day. I don’t mind the work, I do mind being second guessed all the time. Just once I would like to say something and have someone go ‘You know what? You’re right, Dorian. You know what you’re talking about when it comes to magic, the Fade, or a multitude of things.’ I shouldn’t take that out on you, though.”

“S’ok. Let’s get out of here and have food sent to ...who’s room?” Bull asked as he stood and grabbed drying clothes for them.

“Yours. when we use mine I get complaints from the neighbors and my lovely, silk sheets are destroyed.” Dorian poured some of the oils he used into his hand. “I’m almost done.”

“You’re gonna hold that over my head aren’t you?” Bull quipped. He also made a mental note to ask Josie to order something for his vain little Altus.

“Well, I can’t say that I didn’t have fun ruining them.” Dorian finished his bath and stood, grabbing a drying cloth from a chair nearby.

“Maybe we can try that in my room? Really give them something to talk about?” Bull grinned as he picked up his pauldron and weapon.

Dorian redressed and followed Bull out into the hall. “Not tonight I’m afraid. I have another busy day tomorrow.”

“If Krem is gonna keep you too busy to bang, I might have to talk with him. Making you pass muster is one thing, it’s another to keep you so busy you can’t stay awake.” Bull huffed.

“And if you did that then none of them would respect me as anything more than your piece of ass.” Dorian frowned. “It will only be for a little while.”

Bull grumbled all the way back towards the dining hall. “Don’t forget, I’m in charge even if Krem wants to be a hardass. I get to draw the lines.”

“If it gets to be more than I can handle, I’ll say something,” Dorian promised. The mood in the dining hall was a little bit lighter than it had been the previous few days. People weren’t as somber and were chatting.

“Fine, I’ll trust you on this.” Bull muttered. He dug into his dinner like it had offended him but didn’t argue with anyone.

“Thank you, love,” Dorian said primly before he cut neatly into his meat.

“Welcome… kadan.” Bull replied quietly.

“So,” Dorian said to cover up any awkward silences,”I need to speak with you, Lis. Your surgeon has been working outside. It’s appalling. You really do need to find a better place for the sick.”

She blinked. “I… I’ll look into it.”

“Dorian worked until he crashed out, outside as much as he complains about the cold. That should tell you something.” Bull added.

“It should tell you that if I’m going to be doing this, then I need someplace more comfortable to take cat naps. Also, because it would make the patients feel better to be indoors I would think.”

“I could have some of the men erect tents in the courtyard until a place in the keep can be found,” Cullen offered.

“Perfect!” Dorian said with a small clap of his hands.

“I’ll get a couple Chargers to help since there’s not much for them to do right now.” Bull offered.

“No, don’t ask any of them.” Dorian held up his hand. “As it is there’s a chance I might get some shit for not putting up the tent myself.”

Bull rolled his eyes but didn’t say anything, he’d save it for when they were in his room.

“I’ll see that it’s done in the morning,” Cullen said.

Dorian thanked him and finished his meal. He waited for Bull to clean off his third plate.

Once the warrior was done, he nodded to the Chargers then led Dorian off towards his room.

Dorian couldn’t help the yawn that came to him when they walked through the door to Bull’s chambers. Although he had taken a small nap, he was exhausted still.

Bull let Dorian in first, then flopped into bed while he waited for the mage to join him.

“It’s only thirty days,” Dorian said more to himself. “Or did he change it to sixty because I was an ass? That does sound right and like me.” He took off his robes and folded them neatly.

“Forty-five, he said.” Bull reminded him.

“Ah yes!” Dorian walked over to the bed and snuffed out the candles as he went. “Forty-five days. He thinks I’m a pampered pet, which I am, but that’s not all I am.”

“Dorian…” Bull warned as he rolled to his side and tugged the mage to him.

“Sorry. I am a bit stressed about it all, but I have been challenged and a Pavus doesn’t blah, blah, blah.” He allowed Bull to pull him into the bed and drape the blankets over them.

“A Pavus is trying to be a good man, and it’s hard. But if this gets further out of hand I will intervene. Unless you fail to keep your word and don’t work towards ending slavery. Then we’ll talk again.” Bull kissed him on the forehead, then the lips gently with a whispered promise to make him scream for him soon.

“Yes please,” Dorian said with a tired smile. he closed his eyes and rolled over. “Oh, what does ‘kadan’ mean? I admit I know shit all about the qunari language. Just a few phrases here and there.””

“It means...my heart, as close to beloved as we...they have in Qunlat.” Bull admitted.

“Ah…” Dorian felt tears pricking the backs of his eyes and he kept them closed. “Thank you…” He didn’t trust himself to say anything more, not without crying and making a fool of himself.

“Go on, I can tell when you get that weird little hitch in your voice that you’re holding back.” Bull replied.

“No… No… I’m fine.” Dorian choked. He squeezed Bull tightly, or as tight as he was able to.

“Liar...a terrible one at that.” Bull replied as he let Dorian hug him as much as he wanted. “If you do happen to get me wet, I won’t tell anyone.”

“Quiet you,” Dorian grumbled. “And I should be sleeping. I have a long day tomorrow to look forward to.”

“Rest, you’ll be fine.” Bull said nothing as he felt a few drops against his shoulder, and the snuffling Dorian tried to keep silent.

“Big idiot,” Dorian muttered before he drifted off to sleep.

**

Bull woke up before Dorian the next morning but didn’t have the heart to wake him up yet. He knew Krem would come around after the morning bell, so he took the chance on letting the mage lie in on his own. He moved only to grab a book off the nightstand to occupy himself until his lover awoke.

When the first bell rang Dorian’s eyes snapped open and he sat upright in the bed. He scrambled out from under the covers, the hair on one side of his head sticking up, his mustache in disarray.

“I’m going to be late!” he half mumbled, half shouted.

“After breakfast is when you report today, remember? Krem asked me to remind you so you didn’t bolt down there first thing in the morning without a hot meal. Today is a training day for him and he wanted to give you something he could do without supervising you.. But if you want to go help right this second, then I’m sure it won’t hurt how Krem sees you.” Bull laughed as he grabbed at his book to rescue it from Dorian’s mad dashing.

Dorian paused in looking for his robes before he turned and flopped face down back in the bed. “What nefarious things will he have for me today? Feeding the kittens of Skyhold?” he said, his voice muffled.

“We have kittens?” Bull asked. “ooh maybe you’ll have to feed nugs!”

“Ha, ha,” Dorian said dryly. He pushed himself up and began to get dressed. “At least I can see how the tents Cullen promised are coming along since I’m up.”

“Breakfast first, or you will crash out before dinner again.” Bull dressed quickly and tapped his foot impatiently as he awaited Dorian.

“Ugh… If you insist.” Dorian glanced in the mirror and began to comb his hair back.

“I do, since I do not want to find you curled up on your side out in the cold again.” Bull sounded stern, but he it was from concern, not anger.

“I know, thank you. I can get a bit… absorbed in the things I do. While it makes for a good scholar, it is horrible for ones health. I appreciate that you’re looking out for me.” Dorian finished twisting the ends of his mustache and grabbed his staff from against the wall.

The warrior just hmmphd as he led Dorian towards the dining hall, his hand occasionally brushed against the mage’s bare shoulder.

“Remember not to interfere, Bull,” Dorian warned.

“How can I interfere with breakfast? I mean, unless someone takes the last piece of bacon, then it’s on.” Bull replied.

Dorian sighed. “You know what I mean.” He flicked at Bull’s arm with his finger.

“Not a clue, pass the ham, the one that doesn’t taste of despair.” Bull replied with nary a word about what Dorian actually meant.

“Oh, well if it doesn’t taste of despair then I want no part of it,” Dorian sniffed as he sat down and did as Bull asked.

“Weirdo.”

“Oh, now you’re just flattering me,” Dorian said with a grin.

“You have a very strange idea of flattery, Pavus.” Bull said as he grabbed a mug of tea as a serving girl passed by.

Dorian just winked in reply and set into his breakfast. He made sure not to linger too long. He wanted to know what Krem had in store for him.

“Don’t inhale it, I can’t help if you choke.” Bull cautioned before he set off for another helping.

“I’m determined not to be late, Bull.” Dorian finished and pushed his plate back.

“Fine, fine. I’ll come find you at lunch. Just don’t overdo it.” Bull watched as Dorian finished off his meal.

“You either.” Dorian rose to his feet, kissed Bullon the cheek and sauntered off in search of Krem.

“I’ll be down around noon.” Bull replied as he headed off in the other direction to find the Chargers and work off steam.

**
Dorian found Krem on the practice yard, and for a fleeting moment, debating on whether or not he should just turn around and walk away. But this was something he wanted, so he instead cleared his throat.

“You showed up, colour me surprised.” Krem grabbed a shovel and tossed it into the wheelbarrow behind them. “You’re going to weed the back plot in the garden and help plant more seeds, so no one here starves. Unless you’re too soft for that kind of work.”

Dorian glanced at the shovel. “All right.” He gave him a salute and reached for the wheelbarrow. If that was all Krem wanted from him, then he thought he was getting off lightly.

**

Bull found Dorian in a patch of dirt, hair down, smudged and cussing up a storm in what he guessed was a mix of Tevene, Orlesian and possibly a couple choice things in Qunlat he must have picked up from him.

“It’s only a plant.”

“This is not just a plant,” Dorian replied without looking up. “it just so happens to be the secret ingredient to that lovely roasted chicken the cooks make. They’re running out and I am bound and determined to make sure we don’t go without.” He finally looked up. “Small pleasures like a well made meal can make a difference in a war, don’t you think?”

His back and shoulders hurt, and he smeared even more dirt cross his forehead when he pushed his hair back off his face. Still, he was proud of the progress he had made. Most of the herbs had been planted, and this glorious and delicious herb was the last thing he had to do.

If only the dirt in this section of the garden would cooperate. It was the perfect spot for the herb, but the ground itself was in bad condition.

“Want help breaking up that soil? It’s hard as a rock, you won’t make headway.” Bull offered as he fought not to rub the dirt off Dorian’s cheek.

Dorian sat back and drummed his fingers on his knees in thought. “Yes… I’ve done most of this on my own. He can’t object to you helping with this last little bit.”

“If he does, I’ll have words for him.” Bull muttered as he grabbed a pickaxe and got to work.

With Bull turning up the dirt, and Dorian pulling away the rocks, they got it finished in less than an hour. They stood side by side and looked at their handiwork.

“There,” Dorian said in satisfaction. “The gardener, or at least the man that’s taken up the position here, said he would make sure everything was watered and healthy.”

“Good, very good.” Bull gave him a smile and nudged him towards the stairs. “Come one, we both need a bath.”

“And I need some food. It’s past the noon bell already.” Dorian squinted up at the sun overhead.

“Best be fast at the washing up, don’t want to miss out on a hot meal if I can help it.” Bull replied.

“Never get in the way of The Iron Bull and his meal,” Dorian intoned when they made their way up the stairs.

“Absolute truth, remember that.” Bull laughed as they went in towards the dining hall. “Food first, then a fast wash before you get back to it yeah?”

“I need the bath first,” Dorian said looking down at himself. “I’ll be quick, though.”

“I’ll save you a seat, hurry up.” Bull didn’t care if he was a little messy, even if the others gave him the stink eye for coming to the table dirty.

Dorian was back and clean in record time. He took his seat next to Bull and dug in.

“You eat like a Charger already.” Bull murmured before he flagged down a servant for another helping. “Come to me tonight, unless this wears you out again?”

Dorian glanced up at Krem across the way. “Tonight. I don’t think I can go any longer. The work I don’t mind, it’s the doing without that kills.”

“You’re gonna make me gloat.” Bull snickered. He not so subtly nudged a mug of tea into the mage’s hands. “Careful, people are gonna think you charmed me or something. Or I’ve had Dalish put somethin’ on you.”

“Ugh… You’re going to be insufferable now, aren’t you?” Dorian asked in mock horror when he sipped his tea.

“Probably, but gotta admit, hearing that out of you is good for the Bull’s ego.”

“The Bull’s ego rivals my own, it didn’t need any help,” Dorian sniffed.

“Sure it did, all egos can use a stroke now and then.” Bull snorted. “Go on before Krem comes around and thinks you’re slackin’. I’ll have some of that Ferelden Beer you supposedly hate waiting.”

**
Day after day, dorian did every task Krem set him to. He worked in every corner of the keep, pulling his weight and then some in certain instances. He helped in the kitchen, the laundry, the stables. He worked several times in the garden. Dorian did it all, and he was good at it.

Except for one of the final tasks.

Dorian stared down at the offending sword while he wrapped a bandage around his hand, staunching the blood that had welled up on his sliced palm. Dorian knew how to do a lot of things, education and his own innate curiosity had made sure to give him a well rounded knowledge of the world.

At least he had thought so.

The armory was proving to be too much. He knew how to wield a sword--barely--but he knew next to nothing on how to take care of a blade. He didn’t know how to restring a bow, or how to polish armor properly. He was sure the quartermaster wanted to strangle him, and at this point, Dorian wasn’t sure he would have stopped him.

“Well played, Krem,” Dorian muttered.

“Finally stooped to blood magic? Or finally unable to complete your task?” Krem asked as he took in the sight of the Altus, bloody hand and sword still nicked.

“Southern blood magic or Tevinter blood magic?” Dorian asked. “Either way it won’t help me to sharpen this properly. You would think I could since I sharpen my own razors, but obviously not.”

“Don’t be smart, figured you could at least sharpen a blade. Too hard for you?” Krem asked as he tugged Dorian over to a clean workbench. “Give it, Chief’ll be mad if his hothouse flower gets hurt.”

“I’m not that delicate,” Dorian muttered. “I’m more like an exotic species that only flourishes under the right conditions.” He frowned. “No wait… That made me sound more delicate.”

“Can’t you even do simple healing magic?” Krem muttered as he stripped the bandage off and examined the wound. “Maker’s breath, even a greenstick could manage his blade better’n this.”

“Serrah, I’m an Altus. Whyever should I have needed to know how to do this when I could have hired guards to protect my august self?” He sighed. “And I can take away bruises, but I must say again that I was an Altus. I wouldn't have been caught dead doing healing magic. Although I guess that’s the point. If I couldn't heal myself when I needed it I’d be dead.”

“Then why don’t you heal this?” Krem replied as he washed the cut then dropped Dorian’s hand as if he’d touched something vile. “Forgive this soporati for not knowing his place then, serah.”

Dorian frowned. “I was only teasing, I’m sorry. I don’t think when I speak. And taking away blood pooling under the skin is one thing, but knitting together flesh is beyond me.”

“Typical for your kind. Get that fixed, take the next three days off until it heals. I’ll check with the Chargers on what they think of your ...work. I’ll let you know if you passed muster or if you must substitute this task, since you’re not up for it.” Krem gave a two finger salute then headed off for the nearest training dummy.

Dorian sighed again. He and Krem needed to come to an understanding if for no other reason than because they both loved Bull.

Krem stalked off in search of something to hit that wasn’t the Chief’s plaything. He knew he would have a hard time getting past their differences but he didn’t want it to interfere. But he’d be damned if he would let that Altus run over him.

Dorian sat staring at his palm for a moment before he bandaged it back up and got to his feet. He was going to have it out with Krem, for good or ill. Neither of them could continue like this. He grabbed his staff from where he had set it next to him and slipped it on his back as he left the armory.

**

Krem had found Grim to partner with, both of them going full on with blades and shields up. Each time Grim hit him, Krem gave back twice as hard.

Dorian watched from the sidelines before he called out. “Excuse me.”

Krem ignored him until he’d shoved Grim to his back and nearly dented the other man’s shield before he acknowledged the other man. “What? Said you’re done for the next three days, what could you actually need from me?”

“We need to talk, Krem,” Dorian said calmly. “This can’t continue on.”

“What are you on about? I was in the middle of training with Grim. You’ve interrupted.” Krem grabbed his maul with frightening ease for a man his size. He let it rest across his shoulders as he glared at Dorian.

“Look, I get that you want to do to me what everyone else here seems to like to do, which is use me as a representative of all things evil about Tevinter. But we will need to work together.” Dorian didn’t so much as flinch, even as he was berating himself for being stupid.

“That’s where you’re wrong. I’m from Tevinter, I’ve seen the wrong your kind does to men like me, like my father. I’m not some Chantry blinded fool that believes every fairy tale their fed to make children behave.” Krem let his maul hit the ground as he advanced on Dorian, until they were chest-to-chest; the steel of his armor pressed against the soft leather straps of the Altus’ gear.

“Get it straight Pavus, my reasons for not liking you in particular got nothin to do with Tevinter as a whole but you, and men like you that walked all over us soporati like we’re less than nugshit. Keep your attempts at peace. You pass muster, then and only then will I accept you as a Charger; till then don’t claim what ain’t yours. Am I clear?”

“And what am I claiming that ‘ain’t’ mine’?” Dorian asked evenly.

“A spot in the Chargers, talking about working together. You’re not a Charger yet, and only if the others agree. So don’t claim what you haven’t earned. Did that cut on your dainty Altus hands fuck up your hearing too?” Krem’s voice had dropped lower, as he got further into Dorian’s space.

“I have worked for over a month to earn this,” Dorian hissed. The weeks of hard work, day after day all while walking the tightrope of approval had finally made him snap.

“And my hands aren’t dainty. I might have been born into privilege, but I’ve also worked just as hard, if not harder than most in the damned Keep.

“So, it doesn’t make you special.You came here, in my space to bother me. So don’t get all fucking high and mighty with me, unless you want to taste my maul. I said leave off, and when I get a chance to talk to the Chargers I’ll let you know the decision.” Krem snarled before he stepped back to compose himself, get his weapons and get away from the damned Altus.

Dorian’s mouth pressed into a thin line of displeasure and he cursed extensively in Tevene.

“Feelings mutual.” Krem retorted as he headed into the bar and straight for the baths.

In a fit of rage, Dorian turned and blasted at one of the target dummies, setting it ablaze until it was nothing but a smoldering, pile of ash. He didn’t feel better, and it had been immature, but damned if it hadn’t felt nice for a moment.

**

Bull was mildly concerned since he wasn’t able to find Dorian anywhere in the Keep. He wasn’t sure what had happened but Krem had been in a mood all afternoon and Dorian not being found set him ill at ease. His concern was proven right come the dinner hour.

Dorian knew he could be petty in the extreme when he was in the right mood, and as he sat leaning back in his chair, slowly sipping his wine, Dorian thought that he was indeed in the right mood.

Bull glanced at his mage, his concern grew with each supposedly careless gesture Dorian made. “This is going to be worse than with Lis.” he murmured

Doran pretended not to hear Bull as he sat and waited for Krem to enter the dining hall.

“What’s going on?” Lis asked slowly, her eyes darting from Bull to Dorian.

“I don’t think I want to know.” Bull replied.

“Stay out of it, both of you,” Dorian warned. Despite his casual posture, Dorian was wound tight, his nerves frayed.

“Stay out of what Dorian?” Bull asked as he sat up, ready to get right into it if need be. “You asked to be a Charger, what happened?”

“This is between Krem and me,” Dorian said quietly.

“If you do this, you know he’ll say no to you being a Charger. Talk to me Dorian.” Bull hissed as he looked to Lisbeth then back to his lover.

“Dorian,” Lisbeth whispered. “Please tell us what's happened.

“I’ve tried,” Dorian finally said evenly. “I’ve done every single thing he asked of me. And yet he still treats me like… I won’t have you stepping in, Bull. He wants to be proven right about me, or he wants me to quit. Tell me truthfully, did any of the other Chargers have to do all that I’ve done in the past month and a half?”

“No, but there wasn’t the issue of them being my lover or ...being you.” Bull admitted as he glanced away. “Should have just said no, this would have been easier.”

“No, it wouldn’t have been. This would have happened eventually. He resents me and I want to know why.” Dorian abruptly surged to his feet and talked over to Krem the moment he entered the hall.

“Bull,” Lisbeth hissed. “We have to stop this.”

“I agree but if I interfere it will shame both of them. I can’t fucking win in this. Should have just said no when Dorian asked to join up.” Bull replied. He watched as Krem and Dorian got into it before Krem could even get to a seat.

“Dumat’s spiny balls, you never give up. What do you fucking want from me? An answer? What Pavus, what?” Krem snapped.

“I want you to give me an honest answer, Krem,” Dorian hissed back. “What is your problem with me?”

“There’s not enough time in all of Thedas to list what they are.” Krem replied, then carried on as if he couldn’t stop himself if he tried. “You’re a poncy git, you’re an Altus, you think you have an automatic in with us cause you’re fucking the Chief. Shall I go on?” Krem had gone red in the face and his hands were clenched in an effort not to strangle Dorian.

“The first two accusations are true, but the third… At what point in the almost forty-five days I’ve been doing every single task you have assigned me, have I ever assumed I was in because I’m letting Bull fuck me? If that were the case, I’d tell you to take your chores and shove them up that lovely ass of yours. Did I do that? No! I did every single one.”

“And you acted like you had an in with us from the word go. I resent men like you, like the ones that put my father out of business. He had to fucking sell himself into slavery to keep himself off the street.” Krem snapped back.

“Get out of my fucking way before I drop kick you back over to the Chief. Get out of my way Altus, excuse me Dorian.” Krem said his name like he’d stepped in the stables as he shoved Dorian out of the way.

‘And here we finally have the truth,” Dorian exclaimed. “You are angry at me because my father is a Magister and I’m an Altus. I’m not the one who did that to your father. I’m trying to fight against that very system. But my words and actions mean nothing to you. So if words and deeds cannot prove to you my intent, then nothing will.”

“You mean nothing to me, get it right. However, if you pass muster then you pass muster. This stunt though, innit gonna help me see that. Now if you are done, I’m starved and getting pissed off. My maul is bigger than you and you’re gonna meet the business end of it if you don’t fucking stand down.” Krem pushed on, his mood black as could be as he tried to find a quiet corner to relax in.

But Dorian didn’t stop. “This isn’t over. You can’t just decide it is when it suits you. I’ve put up with your remarks, your increasingly degrading tasks, your dismissal of anything I have to say. You’re not going to walk away from me, Krem. You’re going to hear me for once.” As he got angrier, his accent began to slip through more and more in his words.

Before Krem could get a word in, a short, terse order from Bull had him at attention.

“Both of you stop this shit right now. Dorian, drop it. Krem, drop it. He’s more than proven himself. You’ve been angry about him being in my bed and life for awhile. This ends, now. I’ll be in my room, when both of you can act like adults and talk this shit out with me, find me. Until then don’t interact, don’t speak and for fucks sake leave the pissing contest in the barn where it belongs.”

Dorian’s lips curled under his mustache. “No.” He was so angry, and Bull telling him what to do on top of everything else was enough.

Bull’s patience ended with Dorian’s refusal to listen. “Fine, do as you please then.” with that he stalked off towards the tavern.

“Would you like to cause an even bigger scene, or do you wish to take this outside?” Dorian asked Krem. His gut was twisted in knots as Bull had walked away, but he was so wrapped in in his anger.

“No, you want to act like this, then you get my answer now. You will never be a Charger. Let the Chief be mad at me, I no longer care. You’re not Charger material and you never were Altus. Now get out of my way.” Krem didn’t care anymore, he’d tried to give the damn mage a chance but he wasn’t really in the mood to play with him.

Dorian inhaled slowly through his nose. he gave Krem a short bow and turned to march out of the dining hall. He could hear Lis calling after him, but he didn’t trust himself to speak.

“Finally some damned quiet around here.” Krem muttered as he got a plate and settled in.

Dorian didn’t stop until he was on his own in the practice yard. He suddenly screamed in frustration and lashed out with his hand, incinerating two practice dummies, smoke billowing up into the evening sky.

Cullen had followed the mage out just in case he’d have to subdue him, instead he watched from a safe distance as Dorian blew off steam.

Dorian destroyed two more dummies by fire and left the rest shrouded in thick, shimmering ice. He turned and started when he saw the commander.

“Going to put me back in the dungeon?” he asked.

“Not unless you give me a reason to do so.” Cullen drawled as he circled past Dorian to inspect what was left of the straw men. “What happened?”

“You know, when I came to the South, I knew that I wouldn’t be welcomed in most places. Men like Alexius have ruined it for the rest of us. But I was foolish enough to think my actions would give credence to my words, and that I would be given the benefit of the doubt. It was naive in the extreme. First Hawke, now Krem. I did not choose where I was born, or that I was born into privilege, but I can work to make Tevinter a better place and for people to see it as what it could be.”

Dorian turned to stare at the smoldering dummy. “Now I’m rambling. I’ve had a long few weeks and my anger has destroyed it all, the very thing I was just accusing others from Tevinter doing. Good show, Pavus.”

“So what will you do now Dorian? At least you didn’t cover half the Keep in a sheet of ice this time.” Cullen kicked the training dummies over to keep the fire from spreading. “I’ll guess Bull’s departure will make it worse?”

“Bull and I... “ Dorian closed his eyes. “Now I’ve put him in the position of feeling as if he has to take sides. I’m a passing fancy, but Krem is one of his. Oh.. Don’t get me wrong, I know I’m a bit more than that, but in the end I’m also ass and a warm body. Krem is family. I had made plans with him to go back to Tevinter, to use what little influence I have left to do some good in Minrathous, to change things. Now… I don’t think the Chargers will be making that journey with me.”

“If I might give you a bit of advice, take it or not. Give Bull and Krem time to cool down. Talk to Bull, then if you can talk to Lieutenant Acclasi without the fighting; then try to find common ground if nothing else for your own peace of mind, and Bull’s.” Cullen headed back towards the hall with a tired wave.

Dorian’s lips twisted in a wry grin. “Oh.. So the commander is good at dispensing love advice, but not taking it.” He heaved in a big sigh and turned away from the ruin he had made of the practice yard to sit in his chambers and think.

**

Bull found daylight had come far too early to him. He laid there until there was a knock on his door, one he wasn’t sure he wanted to even hear. “Come in.” he finally called out as he got up to face his lover.

Dorian walked inside wearing some of his best clothes with his hair impeccable. He knew it was silly, but it gave him a sense of control. He closed the door behind him and stood in front of it, unsure exactly what to say.

“Well, what do you expect from me Dorian? That was a hell of a scene and now, what am I to do?” Bull asked tiredly.

“What do you wish to do, Bull?” Dorian asked, his voice giving none of his apprehension away.

“Turn back time and said no, it’s a bad idea. Now look at this mess.” Bull replied. He got up and paced as he spoke, his voice tired as he felt. “Krem said you could join, once he cooled off and realized he was being unfair, he left it to you. So it’s your choice Dorian, do what you want.”

The kossith finished his circuit by his window, his whole body tired from the tension he carried.

“Then I decline,” Dorian said simply. “It was foolish of me to want this, and I can find others to take my coin or my cause when I return to Minrathous. I should not have inserted myself in the Chargers like I did. It was presumptuous of me.”

“So you wasted your time, and his? You’re giving up?” Bull asked incredulously.

“I’m being realistic, Bull. And it was never a given that he would let me in, in the first place. Can Krem work with or for a man that he dislikes so intensely? Can any of the Chargers? I’m the cause of the strife, and I will take myself out of it.

“I warned you, Bull. I warned you from the first how it would be, how people would feel about us, about me. And now it’s happening, and it keeps happening. I’ve brought enough grief to you, I never wanted that.”

“Too late for regrets.” Bull replied. “Think on it at least, and when you aren’t ready to throw fire around, try again with Krem. He’s a good guy, and he’s family to me. I can’t have you at each other’s throats, I won’t be in the middle. So do something about this. I’m ...I need to think.” Bull grabbed his pauldron, his focus on that instead of Dorian for fear he’d lose his temper.

“Stubborn…” Dorian muttered in Tevene. “I’ll speak with him, but I can’t promise anything beyond that.”

“All I asked you to do.” Bull grabbed his maul on his way out. “See you later, I need to, I need time to think.”

Dorian stood silently in the room before he too walked out to go in search of Krem, his heart heavy with what he thought he must do.

Krem was in the garden, in his spot to be alone and quiet when Dorian found him. He cracked one eye open then closed it with a sigh. “Chief talk to you then?”

“He did,” Dorian said quietly. “I told him I was turning it down. He did what he usually does and tried to be encouraging anyway. He told me to come and speak with you.”

“That’s Chief for you. What is it you want to say then? Or am I going to be the one to blame for you not joining?” Krem asked tiredly, any anger he had worked out the night before and not to be wasted on the man before him. It’s not as if it would matter anyway.

“I tried to leave him,” Dorian said simply. “But I think he was so tired he didn’t hear me. Look, both you and I know that what he and I have might not last much longer. I tried to hold onto him just a bit more by joining the Chargers. I wanted to be closer to him, to be a part of his family. I wanted to go with all of you after this war is over and do something with my life.

“I had promised Bull that I would go back to Minrathous to try and right the wrongs there. We both know that there are good people in Tevinter, people who are suffering. I don’t think I can do this alone, but I will if I have to. But I also don’t wish to be thrust upon the Chargers in order to make Bull happy. It’s not about whether or not you are to blame, it’s about the choices I’m learning to make. It’s about making people see me for who I am, rather than where I was born, or how wealthy my family is. But I’m learning that not everyone will easily see me for me, that i will always be the Vint.”

Dorian smoothed his mustache with his thumb. “What I’m trying to say in my customary, long winded way, is that you have no worries. I shouldn’t have forced myself upon any of you when I was not wanted. I’m sorry for what was done to your father. I used to think that those that sold themselves into slavery were far better than those that had been taken, forced into the life. But I see that it doesn’t matter, a slave is a slave and I need to fix that now that my eyes have been opened.

“Is your father still alive?”

“I don’t know, hard to keep in contact when you had to run for your life from all you knew. Last I heard he was, but that was years ago.” Krem replied quietly. He got up to dust himself off with a only a quick glance at Dorian. “Do as you wish, join if you want you get treated like any other Charger. Don’t join, you can still hire us at the usual rate.”

“What is his name?” Dorian asked.

“Vincenius.” Krem replied warily.

“And he was in Minrathous?”

“Yes, why do you ask?”

“I will look into securing his freedom if you wish,” he offered.

“That’s alright, I won’t be beholden to any man for what that would entail. If you are done, I need to get inside and work on reports for Bull.” Krem glared at him, sure he was having him on at that point.

“If I mean to help free the slaves of Tevinter, then I will start with him,” Dorian said firmly.

Krem clenched his jaw but didn’t let the vitriol roll off his tongue, instead he turned and left for his quarters. He’d promised Bull he’d try to get along with the Altus but the topic of his family was off-limits, no matter what his intentions.

As Dorian watched Krem walk away, he came to a decision. The thought of it rocked him, but he knew it was the right choice. He strode out of the garden in search of Bull.

**

Bull was in his rooms still but surrounded by the remains of Ben-Hassrath reports he’d never send, notebooks filled from months with the Inquisition, quills, nibs and parchment that he had no use for at the moment. In a fit of pique he swept it all off the desk and dropped his head in his hands.

He felt like everything was going to shit and there wasn’t anything he could do. He was Tal-Vashoth, anathema to all he’d held close to his heart for all his life.

Dorian knocked on Bull’s door and waited, his normally smiling lips set in serious lines.

“Come in.” Bull called out as he turned to see who had shown up at his door.

Dorian entered and shut the door softly behind him. “I spoke with Krem,” he began.

“And?” Bull asked as he turned to look at his lover, if Dorian was still interested in what they’d started. He wasn’t sure but after the mage had left, he’d thought that he might have tried to break off their budding relationship.

“And forgetting about you and I for a moment, I want to discuss terms for me becoming a Charger. Are the Chargers going to be willing to aid me in helping the people of Tevinter, how would that change if I was one of you, versus paying? I’ve been going about this all wrong, and I finally realized that if i am to do return to Tevinter, then I need to give it the weight and consideration it needs.”

“If you wanted to hire us, it wouldn’t be cheap. Even with being around us for so long. It would depend on how long, travel costs, how many go with you. Krem would be risking a lot so he’d either stand down or ask for double pay. If you’re a Charger and we go that way, then we take it on provided it does not interfere with other paying jobs.” Bull leaned back and stared at Dorian in anticipation of his reply.

Dorian began to pace. “Money is something I no longer have in abundance. But can I wait until the Chargers are near Minrathous, and there are no paying jobs?”

“Yeah, and it’s a moot point until this business here is done and we see who’s still standing.” Bull sighed and looked at the mage with worry. “What was your decision, Dorian?”

“I don’t know,” Dorian said honestly. “I could drop this plan to go back to Minrathous, but that’s something the old me would have done, buried my head in the sand and pretend people aren’t hurting. I could go and be with you, be with the Chargers. I could…” Dorian’s eyes suddenly alight. “The Chargers are expensive, yes?”

“Very, but again … moot point until we’re done with Lisbeth.” Bull shrugged and bent to pick up his things. “Is there still an us?”he asked as he put things back where they belonged

“Then don’t pay me,” Dorian said. “Anything that would be my share will go towards hiring the Chargers. When I have enough coin…” He didn’t answer Bull’s question, not until they had this figured out.

“Dorian, I don't’ know right now. Payment is usually one of the things we figure out when ready to start a job. It could be months, hell even years before you’re ready to go back. Can we not talk about this now?” Bull dropped a stack of parchment on his desk, stared at it for a long moment before he slapped it off again. “Sorry, now probably isn’t a good time.”

“This is important to me, Bull,” Dorian said stiffly. “I’m sorry it’s not a good time for you.”

Bull reigned in his temper, held out his hand to Dorian and hoped the mage would come over. “Sorry, I’m...I’ve got things on my mind. What is it that you ultimately want? Do you still want to join the Chargers? Do you even think you and Krem can get along? I don’t want to be put in the middle.”

“That’s I’m trying to talk to you about,” Dorian sighed. He stayed where he was.

“Yes, the Chargers will help you. If you’re a member, then we’ll take it on when we’re back toward that way. If you aren’t a Charger, then it’s usually ten sovereigns a week before travel costs and if I go, then it’s a bit more. If you want me along as well, as someone who hired us, then I’m an additional five per week. We don’t go out of the way unless you really drop a lot of coin, so if you were to write and hire us on, we’d get there on our own and you start paying the moment we hit your property. Terms and contract are non-negotiable once everyone signs it. Does that help make your decision, Dorian?” Bull asked as he dropped his hands and looked to the floor.

“And about my offer to forgo being paid if I became a Charger in order to earn enough to afford all of you?” he asked.

“It’s not anything we’ve done before, no one has really asked us to go reform their homeland. But if you want to not get paid and put it in savings, we could probably do that. Maybe Ruffles could set up an account to hold that for you.” Bull glanced up at Dorian then back to the mess he’d made before he gave the mage his full attention.

“Then I’ll do it,” Dorian said. “This way there will be no imbalance when the time comes. I know Tevinter, I know Minrathous. If we went back there and I was one of you, then you would be my superior. It wouldn’t be my campaign to help the people, or ours, it would be yours. Does that make sense?” Dorian let out a sound of frustration. “All of this made much better sense when I thought of it. This way, everyone can… be happy.”

“Fine, ask Josie about it once you tell Krem your decision to still join.” Bull glanced at him, unsure if he should ask where they stood again.

A relieved smile broke out on Dorian’s lips. “Good… Thats good. And… About us.”

“Yeah, what about us? Is there even still an us?” Bull asked him.

“I’m obviously not very good at this,” Dorian sighed. “I want to be. You make me want to be better. You encourage me to go back to Tevinter. You encourage me not to be afraid of who I am and what i want. I don’t want to hurt you, Bull. You mean everything to me, and I will try my best to ensure that I don’t put you in the middle of any squabbles that I have with the other Chargers. That wasn’t well done of me, and I’m sorry.”

Still, Dorian thought that Krem had taken things too far, but that wasn’t the point anymore. The two of them would just have to learn how to work together.

“Alright, that’s good. Let Krem know your decision and starting after that, you’re one of the boys.” Bull reached down to snag his boots, eager to put it all behind him. “Let’s find him together?”

Dorian put a hand on Bull’s arm. “We’re okay?” he asked softly. “I know I can be foolish when it comes to us. I still want to run sometimes, I still feel as if we’re being too indiscreet. But when I really think about it, you make me happy, and I don’t care who knows it.”

“Yeah we’re ok, I’m just tired and starved. Sorry I didn’t give you my full attention earlier. You make me happy too, kadan.” Bull leaned in and kissed Dorian softly, a smile on his face as he pulled away.

“But as you said, we first have to survive what’s coming. After that, changing the Imperium for the better should be simple, yes?” Dorian flashed Bull a grin.

“Yes, that works for me. Come on, drinks are on me to celebrate you becoming one of us.” Bull grinned and scooped Dorian up in his arms.

Dorian had never really thought himself a small man, so it always caught him off guard when Bull picked him up. He laughed, feeling more light hearted than he had in days.

“I’m sorry I make things so difficult at times,” he said against Bull’s lips. “I’m afraid I’m quite a lot of trouble.”

“It’s the kind of trouble I’ll take, kadan.” Bull said with a laugh. “Shall I carry you in like this?”

Dorian snorted. “And make a scene? Normally I would be goading you into it, but I don’t think Krem would like it too much. Let’s be a little bit circumspect around the Chargers for a little while, at least until they can see me as one of them and not just your lover.”

“Fine, but you have to admit it would have been funny.” Bull let his mage down reluctantly but not without another kiss. “Let’s go.”

“Carried like a virgin bride,” Dorian mused. “Maybe not to tell the Chargers I’m joining them, but I do admit I want you to do this when we go into the dining hall for the evening meal. The looks on the faces of everyone there would be more than worth it.”

“You’ve got a deal.” Bull followed Dorian towards the tavern and where the Chargers were usually found.

Dorian would like to pretend that before he came to the Inquisition, he hadn’t cared what anyone had thought about him and his antics, but that would’ve been a lie. He had hidden parts of himself for so long precisely because he had cared too much. he was still learning the fine balance between the two, but he hoped that he was in the right path.

Before they entered the tavern, Dorian stopped Bull at the door. “Krem’s relationship with his father, was it a good one?” he suddenly asked. “I ask because I might be able to help the man, but I don’t know if I should right now.”

“Leave that be, especially after the month and some you both had. Don’t do it Dorian, just don’t.” Bull warned.

“I won’t,” Dorian promised. “I had a feeling it might make things worse, so I needed to ask.”

“Good, just...it’s not even something he talks about with me that often. It’s something you might have to let go no matter your intentions, alright?” Bull tilted his face towards him, expression worried. “Promise me?”

“I just did promise you, but I will again. I won’t do anything, which is why I asked.” Dorian pushed open the door to the tavern.

“Alright, thank you.” Bull replied as he followed Dorian in and took his usual spot.

Dorian went to the bar and got three of the bitter Ferelden ale Dorian loved so much. He stopped in front of Krem on his way back, tankards in hand.

“I’ve decided to join. Sorry I’ve been a bit of an ass. You were only doing your job and trying to make sure that I really wanted this. I should’ve seen that.”

Krem took the ale, drank about half down then shrugged. “Well you’re in now, so welcome. Thanks for the beer.”

“Welcome. I…” Dorian shook his head. “Thank you for giving me a chance.”

Dorian knew part of his need to have a conversation with Krem was because he was from Tevinter. He knew what it was like to live in the South, away from your home. But Dorian also knew that he couldn’t push himself on Krem, no matter the reasons.

“Yeah well you busted your ass to prove yourself, can’t ignore that even if I wanted to. Chief can introduce you to the boys, I need to call it early. Commander wanted to run drills with me bright and early.” Krem finished his beer, and hoped Bull didn’t give him a hard time for blowing off early.

“Don’t show up Cullen too much,” Dorian said with a grin. “When he’s cranky, Lis gets cranky and then it’s all downhill.”

“As if he could do that.” Krem replied. “Catch you in the mess hall later Chief.” with that he slipped away for an early dinner and to find Cullen to make sure they were actually on for drills.

Plunking down Bull’s tankard, Dorian dragged a chair over to sit next to him.

“Some day you will have to come to my usual spot,” Dorian said with a small laugh. “It’s quiet, but I still get to hear all of the latest gossip. Plus my chair is infinitely more comfortable than this.” He shifted on the rough wood.

“Maybe, but now that you’ve joined up you won’t have so much leisure time. Unless we put you to use for your smarts.” Bull grinned before he finished off his ale.

“My smarts?” Dorian laughed. “I can research with the best of them, so I will endeavour to not disappoint.” His smile slipped a little. “But I meant what I said weeks ago. I can get a little bit absorbed in my work. When Alexius had been my mentor, he knew how to direct that, how to feed it. No coming up with theories to punch holes in the Veil,” he promised.

“Good, that’s all I needed to hear.” Bull smirked. He inclined his head towards the Chargers, reintroduced Dorian to them before he was ready to head in for dinner.

Dorian stood and bowed deeply, as if he was at court. “I thank you all, and I hope that I will be an asset to the chargers.”

The assembled group raised their tankards in salute before they went back to their conversations and messing around.

Dorian retook his seat. “Well, that didn’t go so badly.”

“Nah, the boys are all pretty even keel. Unless you keep them from their wine or women, then you’ve got a fight.” Bull nodded towards the door, eager to get out of there and into the hall.

Dorian drained as much of his ale as he could without making a mess of himself before he followed Bull out of the tavern.

As soon as they were close to the hall, Bull scooped the Altus in his arms again so he could carry him, and keep him in his lap during dinner. “You said I could.”

Dorian’s laughter rang out as they entered the hall, but his eyes were sharp on his lover, missing little. Bull was going through something, and Dorian was determined to find out what. It was in the way Bull’s smile just barely reached his eyes, and the stiffness of his shoulders.

Bull ignored the cheers and whistles that he heard from some as he sprawled in a chair with Dorian held close to him with an arm wrapped around the mage’s waist. “You ok with this?” he asked to be sure his lover wasn’t having second thoughts about being so public.

“I’m the center of attention, of course I am.” Dorian made a show of sitting in Bull’s lap.

“Just for that, you have to feed me.” Bull teased.

“Feed you what exactly?” Dorian asked archly. Across from them, Cullen’s face started flushing pink.

“Dinner, bite by bite. Unless you plan to make a scene.” Bull gave him a nudge so he could feel just how he’d been affected by the mage so firmly wedged between him and the table.

Dorian slowly turned in Bull’s lap, subtly grinding down on him under the guise of reaching for a plate of food that a servant had set down for them.

“Playing dirty are we?” Bull hissed as he tightened his hold on the mage. “Keep that up, they’re gonna get a show with dinner.”

Dorian slid off of Bull’s lap and took the seat next to him. If he was going to feed Bull, he didn’t want to play with fire anymore than he already was.

“You’re going to get it.” Bull murmured before Dorian slipped a forkful between his lips. “Really, really going to get it.” he whispered.

“Promises…” Dorian whispered in Tevene.

Cullen let out a strangled sound and reached for his glass of wine.

“That I plan to keep, well into the night.” Bull replied before he glanced over to Cullen.

“Bone stuck in your throat, curly?” he asked casually before Dorian slipped another serving to him.

“No, no,” Cullen said in a rush while Lisbeth pounded on his back. “I’m fine.”

“Um hmm, I’m sure you’re fine.” Bull laughed.

“It’s too easy to tease you, commander,” Dorian said. “Look! As I’m speaking your face is getting redder. Adorable!”

“Teasing curly takes no skill,” Varric added.

“Now he’s going to make it his mission to tease him and impress you.” Bull groaned.

“Oh definitely,” Dorian said with relish.

Cullen buried his face in his hands.

“With that, I think we should take our plates, make our excuses and call it a night.” Bull grinned as he grabbed Dorian around the waist so he could carry him off to bed.

“I like the part where I wanted to be seen as more than your lover, but yet I encourage this behavior. Ah well.” Dorian wiggled his fingers in a goodbye at Cullen.

“It’s been a bit too long since we’ve had time alone, so let’s go.” Bull waved at them with a flourish and headed off towards his room.

“You know, you’re the only man that I’ve been with that has the ability to carry me around like this. I can’t say that I mind it.” Dorian watched the dining hall disappear behind Bull, his arms holding Dorian easily.

“You’re not a little man, unless you’d been with a kossith before I’d be shocked if anyone else had done this for you.” Bull said as he put Dorian down so he didn’t knock the mage’s head against the railing.

Dorian walked with Bull the rest of the way to Bull’s chambers. “Nice of you to notice that I’m not a small man,” he said.

“Oh I noticed that early on.” Bull grinned.

Walking into Bull’s chambers, Dorian’s finger went immediately to the buckles and straps of his clothes, leaving a trail on the floor as he went.

“Eager, are we?” Bull asked as he put their plates down, grabbed a bottle of wine and headed for the bed.

“Now I’m the eager one?” Dorian quipped. He shucked the last of his clothing and sauntered over to the bed.

Bull handed him the bottle, tugged off all his clothes before he sat back and invited Dorian to straddle him. “Hope you have something left for me after your busy day, kadan.”

“Always,” Dorian promised. “But first…” He leaned over the side of the bed, arching his body to retrieve a heavy pouch he had dropped on the floor. He straightened and settled on Bull’s lap, his legs on either side of his large thighs.

“I have something for you. If you don’t want it, then feel free to tell me. Also… Don’t make too much of a thing of it, all right?” He held out the pouch for Bull. “Well it’s two things actually.”

“You didn’t have to get me anything, I … don’t have anything for you.” Bull said as he waited for Dorian to let the pouch drop in his hands.

“You don’t have to get anything for me,” Dorian said softly. “I just hope you like… here.” He opened the pouch and upended it into Bull’s hands. Two items dropped out, a necklace, and something carved out of bone.

“This is impressive, where did you get it made?” Bull said as he held the dildo.

“Val Royeaux,” Dorian answered. He didn’t mention how it had taken the last bit of his coin, but it was worth it to see the craftsmanship in the shaped dragon bone.

He wish he could have taken credit for getting his necklace back as well, but it had been Lisbeth that had gotten the amulet of House Pavus back from the merchant Dorian had had to sell it to in Val Royeaux when he had first appeared in the South.

Bull held up the necklace, eyebrow quirked at his lover. “Is this, isn’t this the necklace you just got back?”

“It… It is. I want you to have it.” Dorian was finding it hard to meet Bull’s eyes.

Bull smiled as he held the necklace up for Dorian to put around his neck. “Would you put it on me?”

Dorian took it back long enough to unclasp the chain and put it around Bull’s throat. He sat back and made sure the amulet was facing up against Bull’s chest. “I might be a disgrace, who knows what my reputation back home is now, but my House name won’t be. This can help open doors if the Chargers need it.”

“I’ll take good care of it kadan, I just wish I had something to give you as well. I guess my heart will have to do, if you’ll take it?” Bull said softly.

Dorian smiled without artifice. “Gladly,” he choked.

“Thank you” Bull tugged Dorian closer so he could kiss him slow, easy, they were in no hurry after all. He turned them over as he kept up with small kisses, touches until he needed to back off for breath. “Damn…”

Dorian nipped at Bull’s chin. “Selflessness is not my strong suit. I want that thing in you and you in me. Think about that beautifully carved dragonbone inside you, made from the very creature you slaughtered.”

Bull shivered slightly as he tugged Dorian’s head back and worried his neck. “You know they...revere dragons. That...will be close to touching divinity for me.” he whispered in the mages ear.

“All that strength and power that you overcame inside you, pushing in deeply,” Dorian muttered wicked in Tevene. He could feel how hard Bull was against him.

“Get the oil, now.” Bull whispered before he let Dorian get up.

Dorian plucked the dildo from Bull’s fingers and went to the dresser to the get the oil. He came back and retook his spot straddling Bull’s thighs. He set the bottle of oil down on Bull’s chest, making sure it was steady before he leaned back a little bit. He ran the fingers of one hand down his chest and over his stomach, trailing through the dark hair encircling his erection, while he placed a kiss to the tip of the dildo.

Their eyes locked and Dorian ran his tongue up the length of the carved shaft, tracing the smooth lines.

Bull made a noise between a groan and a whine as he watched Dorian tease him with the thick phallus, his gaze riveted to what Dorian did with his tongue.

Dorian opened his lips and pushed the thick phallus between them. He went slowly, letting Bull see how his lips stretched wide.

“Not...gonna last long at this rate.” Bull whispered as he watched his lover fellate the dragonbone cock with no shame.

He pulled the cock free with a lewd pop. “You like to watch almost as much as you like to participate, don’t you?” Dorian all but purred.

“Roll over and spread your legs.”

“You know I do, fuck the things you make me feel, you have no idea.” Bull said as he complied and laid his head down, bottom lip drawn between his teeth as he awaited the feel of being taken.

Dorian didn’t take as much time as he had the last time he had done this for Bull--he knew his lover wouldn’t have stood for it. So he oiled his fingers and the dildo well before he got Bull ready. It didn’t take him long before the dragonbone was pushed inside him, the oil easing the way.

“Yes, yes…” Bull moaned, fingers clenched in the bedding as he tried to keep from spilling already.

“Can you feel that?” Dorian asked in a silky whisper. “It’s all inside you now. Can you feel how hard it is? How strong it is?” Dorian urged Bull on his back.

“Trust me...I can feel it, all of it, need more.” Bull groaned as he rolled over, his eyes rolled closed as he felt the dildo shift and rub deeper inside him. “Fuck…”

“I have to admit, I adore you like this. You’re so strong, but needy. I like it when you unleash all of that on me.” Dorian didn’t take his time with himself either. He knew exactly how much oil he needed, and exactly how much of Bull’s cock he could take quickly.

When Bull first breached Dorian, he groaned, muttering in Tevene how good Bull felt and how much he loved his thick, hard flesh. When he was finally seated to the hilt, his thighs spread open wide, Dorian rocked back, squeezing against Bull’s cock.

“Perfect,” Dorian moaned. His eyes slitted open and he cast the spell that Bull needed.

That made the warrior’s mouth open, a low, long moan of Dorian’s name fall from his lips as he tried to find a balance between the hard cock thrusting in and out of him, and Dorian’s weight on him, rising and falling.

Dorian pushed up with his hands braced behind him on Bull’s thighs, his hips rotating in a rhythm meant to drive them both insane with need. Sweat broke out quickly on Dorian’s body, shining on his skin in the firelight.

“Fuck… Dorian, yes, yes yes, more, fuck... “ Bull swore as he was ridden and fucked at the same time.

Magic filled the air, accompanying their moans of pleasure. Dorian then braced himself with his hands on Bull’s chest, his fingers skimming over scars old and new. he leaned forward until their lips were touching, their panted breaths mingling. His hips rose and fell, rose and fell, his eyes barely able to stay open and fixed on Bull’s face, wanting to watch every expression of desire.

Bull wasn’t able to form words, he didn’t try to ask Dorian before he flipped them over so he could pound into the mage, hard, deeper with every stroke he felt from the toy in him.

Holding his legs up and out with his hands on the backs of his knees, Dorian could do nothing but take what Bull gave him. The driving force pushed the breath from his lungs, the pounding rhythm going harder, and faster, and more. Dorian arched his back, the top of his head pressing into the pillow while his mouth fell open. He could feel the rigid control he kept on his power slipping from him, but he was too far gone to care.

Bull whined and gasped as he felt himself losing control, his strokes got shorter, more erratic as he spread Dorian far as he could. He called his lover’s name as he tensed, felt his climax creeping up on him as he pleasured his kadan.

“Please let me come,” Dorian begged in broken Tevene. “Let me come. Let me come. Please. Please!”

“Anything, I want to see it, want to see you unravel.” Bull growled as he forced himself to watch Dorian’s face though he wanted to bite and kiss the other man’s neck through his orgasm.

Dorian’s cock flexed between them and he gasped out his pleasure, the sound strangled in its intensity. For a moment his hearing went out, all sound drowned out by the pounding of his own heart, the blood rushing in his ears as he came unraveled.

Bull followed immediately after, his voice low and needy as he filled Dorian with his seed.

Dorian dropped his hands from his legs and wrapped his limbs around Bull, keeping him inside him for as long as possible. He could feel every pulse of Bull’s cock, and he groaned, his ass clenching around the thick shaft.

Bull waited until he’d caught his breath to pull away slowly as he started to soften. “Damn kadan...that was, that was amazing.”

There was a faint whiff of smoke in the air, and Dorian jerked his head to the side. He cursed under his breath in Tevene and put out the small fire in the corner of the room with a bit of ice.

“Sorry,” he croaked, his voice shot.

“Don’t ever apologize for sex that makes you do that.” Bull moaned as he rolled to his side. “Spell, you can stop the spell any time now...sensitive.”

“Sorry,” Dorian muttered again. The spell cut off and he helped Bull ease the phallus out.

“Thanks, when I can move I’ll clean us up.” Bull muttered.

That ended up being an hour later. The lethargy of post sex, coupled with the warmth of each others’ bodies had them both reluctant to move. But eventually, Dorian became all too aware that they needed to get up and get cleaned off so he pushed away from Bull and the bed with an irritated groan to make his way over to the water basin. He cleaned himself off carefully and then went to go help Bull do the same.

The kossith fighter mumbled thanks as he felt his lover clean him off and nudge him over once more to get his front. “Thanks, meant to get up sooner and do that for us.”

“Your bed is just too comfortable,” Dorian pointed out. He took the flannels away and rinsed them out before he walked back into the bed.

“Yeah, let’s pull the top sheet then actually go to bed.” Bull said tiredly.

Together they managed that much before they both collapsed back in the bed, their limbs entangling around each other.

“Keep fucking like that, I’ll be too tired to go around with Lis.” Bull said as he tugged Dorian to him and sighed. “Feeling better about things now that you and Krem are kind of square?”

Dorian pressed a finger to Bull’s lips. “I am, but let’s not talk about it right now. It’s been a long few days for both of us.”

“Alright, you get this one.” Bull carded his fingers through his mages hair slow and easy, a languid grin on his face. “You ever let it grow out?”

“No,” Dorian said flatly, but with a smile to let Bull know he wasn’t angry.

“Touchy little Altus, maybe I think it would look good longer.” Bull teased back.

“You only want it longer so that you can have more to hold onto,” Dorian said dryly. “But if put that way, maybe I will consider it.”

“Do as you wish with your hair, kadan, I was just curious.” Bull replied with a smirk. “You’d never forgive me if I tugged too hard on those dark curls of yours.”

“Well they are perfection.” Dorian pressed a kiss to Bull’s chest, tracing the inked lines of his lover’s tattoo lazily with his tongue.

“Insatiable aren’t you?” Bull moaned softly.

“Usually, but I think you might have broken me for at least a few more hours. You’ve also ruined me for other men, so you’re stuck with me now I’m afraid.”

Dorian played with the amulet, running his fingers over the finely etched metal. “I do love you. More than I thought was possible really.”

“I love you too...Dorian.” Bull pulled him close for a gentle kiss before he lost himself to the swell he felt in his heart.

Dorian’s breathing hitched. He had known--Bull had shown him in so many ways--but hearing the words had been so important to him.

For a moment, Dorian closed his eyes, and allowed himself to be happy and be in the now. The rest could come later.