Work Text:
“Darling? Are you certain you’re alright?” Emmrich asked the second the room had started to clear out.
“I can collapse when this is all over, Emmrich,” Rook answered, not even looking at the older man as turned around to walk to one of the dusty storage rooms.
Rook didn’t have to be a mage to feel that everyone was on edge, eager to get back out there, to save Bellara and to stop Ghilan’nain.
Their argument from earlier still plagued the back of his mind, but like Rook had said to Emmrich earlier, it’s not the time. Against his own words, however, he couldn’t help the worry that settled beside all of the other emotions he felt. Emmrich had called him darling just moments ago, so perhaps he wasn’t trying to speak with him just to finish what he was trying to do earlier.
He knew that Emmrich was just worried, but he wasn’t going to go into a battle with a god with the ache of a broken heart.
“Rook,” Emmrich said, stepping in front of him to keep him from entering the round doorway. He gathered one of Rook’s hands in his, running his thumb along his knuckles softly, “darling,” he said softly, letting Rook’s hand fall so he could cup his cheek, “you need to rest,” his tone firm, yet still just as soft as his thumb ran across the bags under Rook’s eyes.
Everything in him wanted to flinch away. If Rook looked as rough as he felt, it surprised him that Emmrich even wanted to touch him. He felt selfish as he leaned into the touch, swallowing the lump he felt forming in his throat.
A small part of him wasn’t even sure he wanted Emmrich to touch him. He knew what he heard while trapped wasn’t Emmrich, but Solas was still able to make it sound and feel like him. Those words said in Emmrich’s voice were sharp, even if he knew it wasn’t actually him.
Lost in thought, Emmrich pulled him back with a soft, questioning murmur of his name, “I thought I’d never hear your voice again, my darling,” Emmrich said, “won’t you talk to me?”
“You said things to me in the Fade,” Rook began, but quickly corrected himself after Emmrich’s brows drew down in confusion, “it was Solas using your voice to say things to me,” Rook clarified, watching as Emmrich’s confusion became anger before the emotion melted into sadness. “He made you say it was my fault. You all did.”
“Oh, Rook,” Emmrich responded.
“I know it wasn’t you,” Rook said, placing his hands on Emmrich’s shoulders. He pulled in a shaky breath before he continued, “but hearing your voice say those things,” Rook couldn’t continue. He knew that the man was hurting, knew they all were, and if Rook could help it, he wouldn’t be the cause.
Emmrich pulled Rook close, into his warm embrace. He almost held him too tight, right on the edge of not being able to breath, but Rook didn’t dare pull back. The Lighthouse creaked around them as they held each other for what felt like hours.
“Emmrich,” Rook breathed, his voice shaky, once he finally pulled away. Emmrich kept him close with one hand on the back of his neck, while the other rested on his cheek, “there’s a spell I wanted to try. To find Bellara,” he raised a hand and placed it atop Emmrich’s, he smiled, but he could feel that it didn’t reach his eyes, “then I’ll rest.”
“Rook, dearest,” Emmrich responded, “those spells can use up all of your energy if you are not careful,” and his voice full of sadness, he continued, “I–” he began, quickly correcting himself, “we just got you back,” he said as he moved both hands and held Rook’s face delicately. “I couldn’t bear to see you fall under more harm.”
“I’ve done these spells before,” Rook responded quickly, trying to reassure the man, “I’ll be right there,” he said, his eyes flicking towards where his bedroom was, “right next door to you and Manfred, like always.”
At the mention of his name, Emmrich smiled, and Rook couldn’t help to give another one of his own, this one a momentary glimpse of actual happiness. And as if on cue, Manfred made his presence known at the top of the stairs, hissing happily.
Emmrich glanced back to look at the skeleton, his hands falling from Rook’s face. Not even giving Rook a moment to miss his touch, his arms were around his waist once he turned back to face him, “he missed you dearly,” he said, looking Rook over slowly, “he never once went outside like normal,” a sad smile stretched across his lips, “he was either with me or waiting outside your door.”
The lump in Rook’s throat was back, nearly feeling like he was being choked with Manfred and Emmrich’s combined sadness. He looked Manfred’s way again, and Emmrich was the one to turn him back after the skeleton gave a curious hiss.
Emmrich’s hands were back on his face, one cheek framed in a gloved palm, while the other felt the cool metal of his rings. He lowered himself down to press his mouth to Rook’s, their lips finding each other in what felt like an eternity since their last.
Emmrich’s hands moved once more down Rook’s body, this time to his lower back to pull him into his chest in a tight embrace. Rook was surrounded by his presence, and what washed over him was the familiar smell of Emmrich’s cologne. It made Rook smile as he rested his head on Emmrich’s chest, knowing that the man was still able to keep up with his routine even while Rook was gone. That, or Manfred made him. It made his smile grow, thinking of Manfred learning new words just to make sure Emmrich was still alright while Rook couldn’t.
“I’m sorry, Rook,” Emmrich said into the top of his head, “what I said before we left-”
Rook pulled away, just enough he could place a hand on Emmrich’s face, the older man leaning into the touch like it was the only thing keeping him up, “it’s okay,” he said softly with a smile.
Emmrich shook his head, “it’s not,” he started, but paused, “I shouldn’t,” he tried again, but paused once more. It took Rook by surprise, seeing the man at such a loss for words. He took a deep breath before releasing it, the warmth fanning over Rook’s face, “if this is the last moment I get to have you like this, then I will cherish it for however long I have left,” Emmrich finally said, his words full of sincerity.
“It won’t be,” Rook said firmly, cutting Emmrich off when he opened his mouth to protest, Rook spoke again, “you tore through the Fade to get me back, Emmrich. Which, by the way,” Rook added, “is the most romantic thing a man has done for me.”
The laugh that bubbled in his chest felt foreign, but still, he let it out. Emmrich laughed along with him and pulled Rook close as their laughter subsided into another embrace.
“Where would the dinner we had in the Necropolis rank on that list?” Emmrich asked as he ran his fingers through Rook’s hair.
“It’s pretty high up there,” Rook responded into Emmrich’s chest.
“Are there others that are higher up?” Emmrich asked, one of his hands on the small of Rook’s back to bring him impossibly closer.
The inflection of his words had been unfamiliar to Rook when he first heard them back on Arlathan. You’ve quite a fan amongst the Venatori, he had said, and Rook, being too worried about blowing their cover, failed to pick up on the jealousy that laced his words.
“Will you return to your teachings once this is all over?” Rook asked, looking up at the man.
A hint of unsureness flashed through Emmrich’s eyes, “I think Manfred and I deserve a break– at least for a while, once all this is over.”
Rook ran a hand down Emmrich’s back, “sounds like we’ll have plenty of time to go on other dates and replace the other ones,” he said with a smirk.
Emmrich smiled down softly at him, any hint of worry completely gone from his eyes. He leaned down once more to capture Rook’s lips in another kiss, this one just as soft as the one before.
“Let us contact our allies, darling,” his arms loosened around Rook, though if the look on his face was anything to go by, it was the exact opposite of what he’d rather do, “you must go rest.”
“There’s something I need,” Rook recalled, stepping into the storage room to search for the candles he needed for the location spell he wanted to try.
“Rook,” Emmrich said the second he was through the door, his voice still full of worry.
“I have to try finding her so we know exactly where she is,” Rook responded, holding the candles to his chest, “please, Emmrich,” he said when the older man tried to open his mouth to protest, “I need to at least try."
Emmrich let out a sigh, “okay, darling,” Emmrich said, letting Rook walk away with an armful of candles, “at least will you let Manfred assist?” He asked, “those look heavy,” he said as he beckoned Manfred over.
Manfred took the candles with a determined hiss, “thank you, Manfred,” Rook said, and couldn’t help but smile as he watched the skeleton take the candles to his room.
“Once you are done,” Emmrich said as he stepped up beside Rook, their shoulders brushing, “you are to rest,” he said firmly, “even if I must stop the spell myself.”
“You want to take me to bed that badly, Emmrich?” Rook asked, smiling in delight as Emmrich’s cheeks went bright red.