Chapter Text
Running, zig-zagging, a boy leapt over an overturned barrel as the sound of multiple pursuers followed after, steps that were quickly gaining on him. As he landed, the boy kicked back, hitting the barrel and sending it rolling straight into the path of the group that undoubtedly held ill-will towards him at the time. This ill-will most likely grew because as the lit lanterns came into view mere yards ahead, the boy heard the barrel hit its targets as shouts and curses accompanied some unfortunate, and painful, sounding thumps.
High-pitched laughter broke through the usual murmur of Darktown and passersby could connect it to the lanky elven boy heading straight for the building that served as a clinic for all the sick and injured people of the dilapidated area. The door to the clinic was opening just as the boy was going in for another jump that would send him careening into the exiting person’s unsuspecting body. However, seeing the in-coming elven-shaped projectile, the departing figure hastily stepped back.
Landing rather staggeringly, just barely inside the doorway of the clinic, the boy proceeded to turn around abruptly so that he was facing the thugs who had abandoned the chase and were now milling around a few feet away from the clinic. He began to heckle his would be assailants.
“Haha! Safe zone! Good luck next time, fucktrucks.” The boy, who looked to be around seventeen years old, grinned and waved at the huffing and scowling group of thugs as if congratulating them on a game well played.
“Best watch yourself, you little rat! You gotta come out of there sometime and we’ll be waiting.” One of thicker looking thugs threatened before the group dispersed. They slouched off and merged into the shadows and alleyways that made Darktown such a perfect area for crime, as well as the perfect area for hiding the various types of lowlifes perpetuating the crimes.
Seemingly undisturbed, the elf backed the rest of his way into the run down clinic, kicking the door shut as he did so. He ignored the curious look on the face of the human he had almost ran into.
‘Ouch, that would have hurt. That man has the height of a fucking tree,’ the elf thought to himself, ‘and the biceps of Chris Hemsworth’. He made his way towards the closest cot, sending a cheery smile to the other, this time familiar, human who looked vaguely amused and annoyed by his entrance. “How’s it goin’, Anders?”
The man called Anders sighed and went back to putting away the tools of his trade. He'd had a really rough day and would have very much liked to sleep soon, just so that he could at least lessen the headache that got marginally larger with the addition of the mischievous elf boy in his presence. “Ah, Fitz. You know I hate it when you use my clinic as a place of asylum. One of these days, those thugs are just going to follow you in. And I am closed for the day, in case you cannot tell.”
“So, what? You gonna send me back out there? I’ll be murdered!” The kid acted offended and mockingly alarmed at the prospect, which garnered a snort from the tired mage and raised eyebrows from the huge human who now leant against the wall, seemingly forgetting the fact that he was leaving not a minute ago. Fitz tried to subtly side-eye the giant as he sat himself down on his chosen cot, stretching out his sore legs in order to relieve the slight cramps that accompanied his rather impromptu sprint across Darktown. "Also, they would never ignore the golden rule of this place. No one invades your clinic and gets away with it."
"Except for you. Apparently."
Fitz paid little mind to Anders' retort, prefering to study the giant standing across the room. The human was not unhandsome, with shaggy black hair and a full beard that did nothing to hide the slight smirk which looked like it was probably a permanent fixture on the man’s roguish face. Fitz tried not to focus too much on the rippling muscles that were highlighted by the man’s crossed arms (and his sleeveless choice of fashion), but really. ‘That’s not fair’, the boy thought. His own arms were well muscled out of necessity and circumstance but even back home Fitz had never been able to achieve the “ripped” physique that was so appealing. ‘Although, that might have been more due to lack of dedication,’ Fitz pondered, ‘I always got bored after ten minutes’.
Fitz’ attention was brought back at the sound of the man finally speaking, “So, Anders, is this a friend of yours or do street urchins habitually make flying leaps through your doorway for fun?” Fitz finally deigned to openly look at the now grinning man straight on.
“For fun? That was a leap of pure desperation – a leap to salvation, into th–” Fitz was abruptly cut off by the slightly exasperated, slightly amused reply of Anders.
“No, Hawke. Fitz is the only one who makes a habit of starting fights and then escaping them by calling sanction on my doorstep,” He shot an annoyed look to the nonchalant elf before continuing, “and proceeds to ignore my advice and try my hospitality”.
“Haha. You said ‘hospitality’.” Fitz’ brain immediately chuckled over the unintentional pun which earned him two rather confused looks, one of which carried more resignation than the other.
“Nice. You should open a children’s playroom next, eh, Anders?” The Hawke guy snickered at his joke and at Ander’s groan of reply. Fitz rolled his eyes, the ‘kid’ jokes were old and he was more than immune to them by now. However, he was bored. And this new guy seemed to actually have a sense of humor, so obviously that was his reasoning behind his decision to actually acknowledge the guy.
Fitz stood up lazily, stretching lightly as if waking from a short lie down, “Oh, you sure are hilarious, grade A funny,” Fitz squinted, giving Hawke a look over, “at least your looks are.”
Not his best, but if Hawke played along the barbs would hopefully get better. Hawke stared for a moment and then surprised the boy by actually laughing. Fitz could not help but smirk a little as he began to saunter up to the tall human. Only mildly put down by the drastic height difference, Fitz craned his neck in order to keep eye contact as he breached the prescribed social boundaries that are one’s personal space.
Hawke had stopped laughing in order to watch, curiously, as this little elf kid began to amble up to him. He even began to feel uncomfortable, once he realized the elf was not stopping at a few feet’s distance. He moved his head to follow the kid that seemed to be intent on inspecting his body, weapons, and clothing. He tried to step back but the kid was undeterred and simply followed while poking at the straps that held his daggers and then the leather of his armor. Meanwhile, Anders had finished tidying up and had taken to watching the interaction with unconcealed amusement over his friend’s obvious discomfort at the hand of the inquisitive and strange elven boy.
Finally taking pity on Hawke, Anders interrupted Fitz, who had begun to fling incessant and nonsensical questions at the poor man. Anders was reminded of a large dog that had absolutely no clue with what to do with a small swatting kitten. Thinking back to good old Sir Pounce a Lot, Anders said, “He is playing with you, Hawke. Simply flick him and tell him to go away, or better yet, to go home.” Fitz gave him a wounded look and was about to say something in return when he was promptly flicked on the head, none too gently, by Hawke who also ordered him to ‘shoo’.
Fitz scowled as the older men laughed at his expense and felt his earlier interest in annoying this new Hawke fellow wane as he bit back a yawn. “Alright, but only on account of the fact that you’re both boring old men,” Fitz retreated, rubbing his forehead, and flopped face first on his cot. He heard Anders sigh and approach.
“Go to sleep in your own bed, Fitz. Not the ones meant for my patients.”
"I don't got a bed, you insensitive jerk," Fitz practically whined at the man, who winced at bit as he realized his faux pas. Still, he stood over the boy, arms crossed, and gave him a stern look; telling him to go home. Fitz got rid of the scowl, and exchanged it for a pout.
“Aw, man. Please. I’ll help you set up tomorrow morning, I swear.” Now that he was laying down, it was becoming hard to keep his eyes open. He knew Anders wasn't actually going to kick him out, and so he didn't bother to further plead his case; he just made himself comfortable on the cot he'd commandeered for the night. Though the boy was already beginning to fall asleep, he did hear Anders sigh one last time.
“Fine. I’ll treat you to my lecture on health and self-care while we’re at it. Bright and early."
“Whatevs...” Fitz heard him begin to walk away, and he dozed to the sounds of murmuring before finally falling asleep. He didn't hear what the other two were talking about and he didn't notice when the other guy, Hawke, left. It'd been a long day.
He was exhausted, and Anders' clinic just happened to be the safest place in Kirkwall.