Chapter Text
Caer Bronach loomed over the darkening landscape, its shadow stretching almost to the lake. Its heavy, solid stones were cast in darkness, lit from behind by the dying sun. The walls were well-manned, each soldier keeping a wary eye out for trouble as night began to fall. Above it all, the Inquisition flag flew proudly, an all-seeing eye snapping in the wind and backed by the last few stubborn storm clouds, reminding the countryside of its protector. All in all, it was an impressive, domineering picture.
Inquisitor Caim Lavellan didn't give two shits about that as his horse plodded its way up the path to the gates. It had been a long trip, and the weather had been foul for most of it. He was tired and cold and honestly wasn't sure if he’d ever feel fully dry. This was the first break in the rain he and his two companions had seen in three days. He glanced aside to see how they were faring, and was a bit disgruntled that the Iron Bull looked no more bothered by the rain than he did any other weather. He twisted his lips in a smug smile as he caught the elf’s eye, and Caim made a face. A snort sounded nearby, and he turned further to face Dorian.
“Maddening, isn't it?” the mage asked with a wry grin. He looked about as irritated as Caim felt, but somehow he managed to maintain some semblance of order on his hair. “Here you and I are, wet and miserable, and he’s trotting along without a care.”
“Aw, you two just need to get outdoors more!” Bull proclaimed with a cheery whistle. “A little bit of rain like we’ve had? That’s nothing!”
“Bull, I have spent nearly my entire life outdoors in some manner or other,” Caim replied drily. “Rain is never nothing.” Bull merely replied with a wide grin, and Caim decided convincing him was a lost cause.
“Well I, for one, am quite spoiled, and I am rather eager for a dry room with an actual bed in it,” Dorian huffed, hunched over his horse with an expression of extreme distaste. Caim looked forward to hide a smile; Dorian was precious when his feathers were ruffled. Bull made no attempt to disguise his glee at the mage’s irritation.
“Halt!” commanded a voice from the wall above. “State your name and business!” Caim looked up, spotting the head of the man on the watch tower. This area was supposedly peaceful (or as peaceful as anywhere in Thedas could be), but he was pleased that they hadn't relaxed their guard. That was usually when everything went wrong.
“Inquisitor Lavellan and party!” he called up. The head vanished below the wall. The three on the ground exchanged looks, waiting patiently for the man to fetch someone with more authority. A few minutes later, the great doors rattled and slowly swung open to release two men, one clad in mail, the other in an Inquisition uniform.
Looking over the mint and not-quite-white (was it ecru? Maybe he would ask Dorian later), Caim made a note to talk to Josephine about possibly designing something a bit more flattering. Or possibly a lot more flattering, he thought as he saw the rank of soldiers lining the entrance.
As Caim contemplated the poor choice in wardrobe design, the first man stepped forward. “My Lord Inquisitor, Captain Jennis at your service,” he said with a crisp salute. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Bull nodding in approval. “Welcome to Caer Bronach!”
The second man bowed as they dismounted, and the captain motioned for soldiers to take the horses and packs. “Steward Calvin, my lord. We’ve prepared what we hope are serviceable accommodations for your stay, Your Worship,” he said, a nervous shake evident in his voice. Poor man, thought Caim with a bit of sympathy. He hasn't been in this position long and now he’s got to deal with me.
“My friend, so long as those accommodations include a bath and a bed, they will be heavenly,” he replied with one of his most disarming smiles. The man relaxed slightly, and Jennis offered his companion a small smile. That was good, Caim noted. The two in charge of the keep seemed to be a functional team.
“Calvin made sure of that, Your Worship,” he said. “I’d like to stay for the tour, but I’m afraid I need to oversee the changing of the watch.”
“Tour?” Caim asked, his heart sinking as he tried to think of a polite enough excuse to avoid a tour and go straight to that promised bed.
“Of course, Your Worship! We’ve done a great deal to improve the facilities.” The steward’s expression of combined pride and eagerness crumbled his efforts to escape his Inquisitorial duties. Caim sighed internally. Beside him, Dorian let out a low cough of muffled laughter.
“Enjoy your tour, Inquisitor,” he said with an amused gleam in his eye. “I believe we shall take your leave.” Dorian leaned in close and kissed his cheek. “We’ll find you when you’re done.”
Bull came up behind Caim and took advantage of his momentary freeze in the wake of Dorian’s kiss and patted his backside, grinning at the resulting squeak. “Catch you later, Boss.”
They walked away, and Caim was left staring after them with flushed cheeks. That’s hardly fair, he thought with mingled confusion and affront. He wished dearly to chase after them and demand… Something. He wasn't sure what. Probably something that wouldn't be exactly restful.
“Cor… Are they both yours?” a soft voice beside him asked, returning his attention to matters at hand.
“It, ah, would seem so,” he answered faintly, turning to face Calvin.
“If you don't mind my saying so, Your Worship, but if anyone deserves it, it’s you,” Calvin said with earnest eyes.
Caim shook his head at that, rueful humor at his predicament showing. “I know some that would agree,” he replied. “About that tour?”
……………………….
To his credit, Steward Calvin ran a very efficient tour. Whether his efficiency was his usual state of affairs or if he sensed his guest’s exhaustion, Caim didn't know and was grateful either way. Two hours of examining Caer Bronach was about all he could manage even when fully alert.
He bid his host goodnight and followed a servant to his rooms, where a bath was waiting in front of the fireplace. A heartfelt sigh passed his lips, and he wasted no time in stripping and sinking into the steaming water with a groan. The heat leached the aches and cold from his body, leaving only boneless exhaustion behind.
Which was possibly a problem, he realized, washing himself as quickly as he could manage. Getting out was going to be a challenge. He shrugged and let himself relax. He’d cross that bridge when he came to it. For now, he simply wanted to enjoy this moment.
He wasn’t aware of falling asleep, but a hand on his shoulder woke him with a start. He reached for the pins in his hair, befuddled for a moment when he found his hair loose and decoration-free. Fortunately, they were unnecessary as it was Bull’s hand on his shoulder.
“Easy, Caim. Just me,” he said. “Didn't think you’d appreciate it if we let you drown on the first night of your holiday.”
“Mm. That would put a damper on the rest of the week.” Caim yawned and was rewarded with a chuckle from the other.
“Just a bit,” the large warrior agreed. “Think you can get out of there yourself?”
Caim considered the question. It wasn't that long a trip to the bed-- just into the next room, but he felt a bit wobbly just sitting. “There’s only one way to find out,” he said finally, and gripped the edges of the tub to haul himself up. He was pleased when he successfully stood with minimal unsteadiness. Stepping out of the tub, however, was a tad harder. He stumbled, and the next thing he knew he was in Bull’s arms.
“You are very quick,” he remarked with vague surprise. He’d known that, right? He was pretty sure it was old news, but he was too tired to tell.
“I get that a lot,” Bull answered with a soft smile. “C’mon, let’s get you to bed before you break your neck.” He grabbed a large blanket, and once Caim was wrapped his satisfaction, he scooped him up and carried him to the door.
“I am reasonably sure I can walk,” Caim protested mildly even as he snuggled closer. He didn't mind being carried about (at least, not at the moment) but he felt as though he should say something for form’s sake at least.
“Not very fast, though, and Dorian will pout if we keep him waiting much longer,” Bull answered as he shouldered the door open.
“But Dorian’s cute when he pouts.”
“Excuse me, but I do not pout. I might get a bit cross, but I never pout,” the mage called from his spot on the bed, wearing what Caim was fairly certain was considered a pout and a robe. Bull merely favored him with an ironic glance as he set Caim between them. Dorian ignored the glance and scooted closer to Caim’s side. “Have a nice tour?”
“As nice as a tour can be when it’s growing dark and you smell like horse,” Caim answered as he hunkered down beneath the blankets. “Still, the steward knows what he’s doing. He and the captain seem to have this place in order.”
“Always good to know we aren't sitting ducks on vacation,” Bull put in. He settled in and threw a massive arm over the other two. Caim found it wonderfully cozy. There were definitely some perks to this sort of relationship stuff, he decided as he snuggled in.
“I had vague plans for tonight, but…” Caim broke off with a yawn.
“Don't have the energy?” Dorian supplied.
Caim nodded with apology. “It does seem to be the sort of activity that works better when everyone’s awake.”
“So get some sleep,” Bull suggested. “There’ll be time later.”
“Quite right,” Dorian said, pressing a kiss to Caim’s forehead before leaning over to perform the same to Bull. “We’ll be here in the morning.”
“Fair point,” Caim agreed as he closed his eyes. His exhaustion slammed into him, and he barely had time to hear the others’ muted goodnights before sleep took him.
………………………………….
Something was tugging on him. Caim scowled and tried to push the offending object away. The tugging barely paused, and he made an attempt to tell it to go away. It ignored him and continued its efforts to rouse him from his sleep. In fact, it seemed more determined than ever, and voices joined its quest.
“Boss, c’mon. Wake up.”
“I don't think that’s going to work, Bull.”
The tugging stopped. Caim was going to count it a victory until the second voice spoke again.
“Oh dear. He is not going to like that.”
Before Caim could figure out what he wasn't going to like, something ripped the covers off the bed. Caim was thrown into wakefulness by the sudden chill. He sat up with an offended glare at Bull, who was holding his blankets and doubled over laughing.
“Sorry,” Dorian said beside the bed, lips twitching with barely constrained mirth. “But we didn't think you’d thank us for letting you sleep the entire day. You’ve already slept through most of the morning.”
Caim rubbed the sleep from his eyes and nodded. They were right, of course, but he wished they’d been gentler about it.
“In my defense,” Bull said as he got his chortling under control, “we spent a good ten minutes trying to wake you up. You sleep like a rock. Missed the call for breakfast and everything. Saved you a plate, though.”
Caim levelled a look at Bull, but the irritation ran out of him as quickly as it’d started. He stretched and started to shift off the bed before pausing. “Ah, Bull?”
“Yes, Caim?”
“Can I have those blankets back, please? I, um, am a bit… undressed.” He did his best to ignore the heat rising in his cheeks as he pulled his knees to his chest.
“You are at that,” Dorian said. There was the barest hint of a purr in his voice. Caim turned to look at him and felt his face explode into crimson all the way to the tips of his ears. Dorian was also rather undressed, and a closer examination of Bull showed similar results.
“Oh.” The word was little more than a squeak.
“Took you long enough, amatus.” Dorian’s eyes danced with a merry light. Caim fought the urge to cover his face; there was no reason for embarrassment! He’d seen them naked before! But right now? Having just woken up himself? He was keenly aware of how beautiful the two men that had captured his heart were, as well as his own lack of makeup and a hair brush. It didn't matter, clearly, not with the way they were looking at him, but..
“Give a man time to wake up first!” Caim was dangerously close to whining, but there was laughter in his voice. After all, he’d have done the same if it was one of the others.
“We thought about that, Boss,” Bull said with a wide grin. “But the look on your face is kinda the reason we didn't.” He dropped the blankets and sat on the edge of the bed and shoved a covered platter his way. “You’re gonna want to eat that before we do anything else.”
Caim shook his head as he took the platter. Lifting the lid revealed a simple breakfast comprised of cheese, bread, and a fruit jam of some sort. He took a bite (the jam was blackcurrant, it turned out) and looked at the other two. “So the plan was to wake me up, nearly give me a heart attack, and then watch me eat?”
“Well we do have steps beyond that, so eat quick,” Dorian replied, scooting over to lean against him. Caim shivered as Dorian’s body pressed into his without a stitch between them. He gulped and devoured the rest of his meal as fast as he could manage without choking. Fortunately, whoever sent it hadn’t decided the Inquisitor needed a three course breakfast.
Bull chuckled, a deep, rich sound that produced another shudder as it rolled over Caim. He shifted around to the elf’s free side, almost looming into his space. “Eager?” he murmured into his ear. Caim made an attempt to control his trembling-- Bull was doing it on purpose, he knew it-- but the attempt was halfhearted at best. He was eager, yes. It’d been a very long while, and now he was faced with the prospect of both the men he loved in his bed at once. Oh he was very eager.
Dorian hummed beside him and took a hold of his chin, drawing his gaze. “Red’s a good color on you,” he remarked quietly. With that, he tipped Caim’s face up and closed the gap between them with a kiss. It started as a sweet, insistent thing, and Caim allowed Dorian to push him back against Bull. Arms encircled them both, and Caim noted with some humor that Dorian, at least, had taken the time to prepare himself for the day. His skin smelled of of spice, and there was oil in his hair.
“Look at you two,” the large warrior murmured, lust dripping from his voice. “The things I could do to you….” His hand rose up Caim’s shoulders, creating gooseflesh in its wake. His other hand seemed intent on exploring Dorian. He and Dorian broke apart for a breath, though Caim wasn't sure how to breath for a moment. It felt as though he’d forgotten a great deal of what he was supposed to do, in fact. But it didn't seem to matter that he was left in a daze for Dorian gasped and seized his lips once more, licking and nipping until Caim granted him access.
Caim hummed and obeyed, his mouth falling open without hesitation. His tongue brushed Dorian’s, creating tingling shivers along his skin. It occurred to him that he was being rather passive in this, and that didn't suit. He growled softly and pressed back against Dorian, trailing a hand down his firm chest and angling his head to deepen the kiss.
Dorian laughed breathlessly against his lips before pulling back. Caim whined at the loss, but there was no time to contemplate before Bull was tugging him up to his knees. “My turn,” he growled hungrily before pulling him into a forceful kiss.
Where Dorian was all flash and tongue teasing, Bull was rough and unyielding, teeth grinding against his lips, demanded surrender. Caim gasped as the hand on his shoulder slid down to cup his ass, squeezing firmly. Caim bit his lip in retaliation, surprising a snort from the other. Caim grinned fiercely, throwing himself into the kiss.
Behind him, he dimly heard Dorian shuffle about. Lithe, slender hands slid up his back and around his chest as the mage embraced him, taking the firm pectorals in his hands and massaging them and brushing his thumbs across his nipples. A low, tight moan escaped Caim, and Dorian laughed as he placed his mouth on his shoulder.
“I take it you like that?” he asked innocently, squeezing harder and wringing out another sound of pleasure.
“V-very… much so…” Caim panted around Bull’s kisses. It was more of a challenge than he would have thought; Bull seemed intent on driving most of the thought from his head. His large hand gripped his thighs, his thumb straying in tiny, slowly widening circles towards his rising cock.
“You planning on doing something back there?” Bull asked, his eye darting over Caim’s shoulder as he pulled away slightly.
“I thought I might, if no one has any objections.”
Bull turned his gaze back to Caim. “Is that what you want? Dorian to fuck you?”
Caim gave him a wry smirk, making an attempt to hold on to at least some semblance of composure. “Honestly… I’d rather have both of you together, b-but we probably ought to work up to that.”
Bull threw his head back and laughed long and loud at that. “You don't think small!”
“Goals are always handy, Bull,” Dorian said archly. “And small is never an option around y-oh!” A resounding smack echoed in the room as Dorian yelped. Caim attempted to look behind him, but Bull pulled him back with an extraordinarily satisfied expression. Dorian huffed and leaned forward over Caim’s shoulder to kiss Bull before pushing away. Bull grinned and let the momentum send him backwards into the pillows, taking a squeaking Caim with him.
He blinked up at Bull, momentarily confused by the change in position. Bull blinked back-- or maybe it was a wink?-- and grinned at him. “Comfy, Boss?” he asked as his hands slid up to his hips. Caim shivered and nodded, pressing a kiss to Bull’s collarbone.
A cork popped free behind, and Caim felt a flash of anticipation scorch through him. Bull grinned wider at that, holding him steady as he rolled his hips up. Caim groaned at the sudden friction to his cock and wriggled his own hips for more, but Bull held him fast. “Soon,” he murmured in his ear, teeth grazing the shell. “Don't want this to end too quickly.”
Dorian returned and ran a finger down the center of Caim’s spine. “I like this, by the way,” he said almost absently. “I assume there is a story behind it?”
Caim looked over his shoulder, puzzled at what felt like a change of topic “Story behind what?”
“The tattoo, Caim. Little cat creature? Maybe a fox? Don’t tell me you actually forgot you had it!”
“Ah.” No, he hadn't forgotten. Not exactly. It was purely an in-the-moment lapse of recall. “It’s a fox. I was drunk and-- o-oh Dorian!” Caim broke off with a high moan, hands clenching into fists as Dorian pressed a cool, slick finger to his entrance.
“Oh that’s cute,” Bull commented, stroking a hand along his back in a counterpoint to Dorian carefully pushing his finger inside. Caim wasn't sure if he was talking about the tattoo or the way Caim buried his face into his chest. “You were saying?”
“P-please don’t... make me go into that right now!” he begged. “It-- aah-- involves talking about my cousin, and I-I cannot d-do that with your finger in my ass!”
Dorian chuckled against his back as he slowly twisted said finger about. “Fair enough, but I expect to hear it in full detail later,” he admonished before setting to the task of preparing his lover in earnest.
Caim whimpered in response. Bull tugged him back up and busied himself with biting at his throat and sucking dark bruises on his skin. Caim made attempts to muffle himself against Bull’s neck, but between his two lovers, he was fairly certain he would need an actual gag to completely halt his whines and gasps. It felt like an eternity as Dorian slowly fingered him, and as he added a second finger, Caim wondered if his speed was simply caution or torture.
Although, as he considered who it was behind him, it was very likely both.
Eternity ended when Dorian crooked his fingers up just so, and Caim clamped his jaws down on Bull’s neck to smother the scream. Bull twitched under him as Caim pulled back in apology. “I think he’s ready, Dorian,” Bull stated dryly. Caim licked the bite to soothe it, but Bull just put a hand in his hair to still him. “Don’t worry about that. Won’t even scar.”
Dorian hummed thoughtfully, rubbing his fingers over that same bundle of nerves, driving soft, helpless mewls past Caim’s lips. Caim tried to hold himself still, but it was getting increasingly difficult to ignore the chant of more thrumming through his veins.
“We’ve got you, amatus,” Dorian murmured soothingly as he withdrew, his free hand tracing the fox running down his spine. It made a good anchor to focus on, but the thought was driven away as Dorian aligned the head of his cock to his entrance. “Ready?”
“Please yes!”
Bull tipped Caim’s face up and kissed him. “I want to see the look on your face as you take him,” he said, voice tender and rough.
Caim wasn't sure what face he made as Dorian carefully thrust inside, but it must have been something spectacular. As he squeezed his eyes shut, he heard Bull groan loudly before seizing his lips once more, licking and swallowing every breathless sound.
“Maker that is a tight fit!” Dorian gasped as he sheathed himself in Caim’s ass. “How long has it been?”
“A-ah wh… while…” Caim panted between kisses. “You… y-you were the… last… Dorian!” The last word was almost another scream as Dorian pulled out and gave a single hard thrust. The mage fell across his back and kissed his shoulder.
“That might be the sweetest thing anyone has said to me in a very long while,” he said softly, pressing a tender kiss to the side of his head. “Sorry it took so long to notice.”
Caim shrugged as best he could caught between them. “P-past. We… we’re all t-together now.”
Dorian kissed him once more. “Quite right,” he said, and then he began in earnest, setting a pace that had Caim unravelling from the start. It was a good thing Bull held him steady, or else he might have sunk into the bed and never returned.
“You sound good, kadaan,” Bull whispered. “And if you could see yourself…” Caim shivered as he fell apart. Bull’s voice held a great deal of promise. It was honestly a shame he was more of an observer… A distant snatch of thought ran through him, and he slid his trembling hands down between them and wrapped them around the thick shaft of Bull’s cock. Bull groaned, rattling his chest and the elf draped across him.
Dorian paused at the groan, ignoring Caim’s protest. Bull grinned back at him. “He’s being considerate!”
“Ah.” Dorian resumed. Though Caim did his best to stroke Bull to completion, he knew it wouldn't be effective as he felt himself rushing into his own climax. It was a tide he could not ignore, not that he particularly wanted to. It had been far, far too long since he’d experienced this, and he wanted to enjoy every second.
“D-dorian… Bull, I… I think I’m--” Caim gasped and arched his back as Dorian slammed into him, striking the core deep within, and unleashed a wordless roar as he splattered his seed against Bull’s stomach. A few more strong thrusts, and Dorian followed behind him with a moan of his own, filling Caim with his spend.
It was tempting, so very tempting to lie there and bask in the glory of release and ecstasy after Dorian pulled out, but Caim couldn't. It was horribly rude to leave Bull to suffer, and Caim couldn't abide that. He struggled to his knees, Dorian catching him and holding him close. “What…?”
“Bull,” Caim answered, gesturing vaguely to the warrior’s still very full, very hard cock. It was probably an absurd thought that Bull was helpless, but it still resonated strongly in the aftermath of orgasm. Dorian laughed, and Caim could feel his smile pressed into his back.
“Ah. Of course,” he said, brushing Caim’s hair from his shoulder to peer over at Bull. “Well, amatus? How do you want to do this?”
Bull sat up straighter, examining the two before him, pleased at the question. “You gave me an idea earlier,” he said thoughtfully. “You two sit down, like that yeah. Dorian, hold him like you did before… Good.”
Caim leaned back against Dorian, the mage cupping his chest and squeezing it. His skin felt sensitive, raw, and Dorian’s hands, soft though they were, were almost too much. Still, he relaxed, wondering what Bull was planning.
He didn't have to wonder long. Bull shifted to his knees, looming over them both with a hungry smile slashed across his face. It would have been frightening if it weren't for the gentleness in his eye. “Hold still,” he said quietly as he gripped his leaking cock. He pressed the head against Caim’s stomach and slid the shaft up between his raised pectorals. Dorian let out a soft sigh against his neck, and Caim found himself echoing it as he felt the heat against his skin as Bull slowly moved up and down, fucking his chest.
It didn't take as long as Caim thought it might; Bull rumbled a warning, and he came, spraying his seed across Caim’s chest and chin. “Beautiful,” Bull whispered. Dorian released Caim and came around to his side, kissing and licking the mess from his face. Caim laughed, and Bull tugged them down to tangle in the comfort of the pillows and blankets.
Dorian flailed an arm to the nightstand and grabbed a handkerchief to wipe the remainder from Caim’s neck and chest. “We can deal with the rest later,” he declared, arms wrapping about the others and effectively trapping them. Well Caim didn't think either he or Dorian could hold Bull immobile against his wishes, but for now all three were content to lay in a cuddle.
“This was good,” Caim mumbled happily, snuggling as close to Bull as was physically possible.
“Interested in future repeats?” Bull asked, contentment rich in his voice. He crooked his arms to hold the others close.
“Absolutely,” came the reply. Caim closed his eyes. He wasn't tired, not precisely, but he felt like floating and wanted nothing more than to bask in love and companionship.
Until Dorian poked his arm. “Don't go to sleep quite yet, amatus. You still owe us a story.”
Caim cracked an eye open and stuck his tongue at him before relenting. “We were about sixteen,” he started. “My cousin, Gavin, we got drunk one night with some of the others. And we were camped near some other travellers. One of them was an artist, so someone got the idea to go get tattoos.”
Bull snorted. “Should’ve guessed alcohol was involved. And you went for a fox?”
“Hey, mine’s tasteful. Gav decided he needed a unicorn on his ass cheek. Complete with sparkles.”
“I take it your Keeper and elders were rather displeased when you returned,” Dorian said with a raised eyebrow.
“It took them a bit to notice,” Caim admitted, “but yes. They were furious. The Keeper lectured the entire clan for about four hours and assigned us to discipline detail for months!”
Bull snickered. Dorian shook his head, a wide grin on his face. “But why a fox?” he wanted to know.
Caim shrugged. “Gav’s a mage, the First in our clan. He and I’ve always been really close, and sometimes he dreams. When he does, he sees me as a fox. It made sense at the time.”
“I can see it,” Bull grunted. “‘Specially with that hair and your fighting style.”
“Efficient?”
“Scrappy.”
Dorian laughed at that and pulled himself closer to press a kiss first to Caim, then to Bull. “It’s a good tattoo for a drunk decision. Are you usually that capable when inebriated?”
“Depends. According to Gav, I reach a point where I go limp and cling to whoever’s nearest, but I am not certain if he was joking. It doesn't happen often.”
Bull made a thoughtful sound. “We’ll have to play around with that. Might be fun.”
“Later,” Dorian insisted. “Rest for now. I intend to take full advantage of this week and of both of you.”
Laughter bubbled up, and Caim shook his head. He closed his eyes once more, gratified to hear two sets of breaths near. He made a note to thank Varric and Vivienne later. This week was something he’d needed. Something they’d all needed.
And he honestly couldn't wait to see what else was planned for this little break.