killedwithlove | for insurgoaltus

Dorian let himself fall asleep, listening to Cole's raspy breathing, making sure to keep touching him so Cole was grounded in the here and now. He only awoke when he heard Nadezhda calling out to him, and he yawned and stretched as he gently eased Cole back down to the bed itself, and made sure the blanket was tucked about him.

"One moment, my dear." He slipped pants on, and his robe, running one hand through his hair as he ambled to the door. "Did you find that text for me on lyrium? I know you still have a lot of Carta contacts ..." He opened said door, careful to keep his voice down. "And I'll slip you a few more silver for an undamaged copy."

Cadash was wearing armour and carrying her weapons, apparently already planning on heading out again. "No, but I'm taking Varric to go and meet with Bianca and have a look into Valammar some more. I'll talk to her about getting a copy for you, but actually... I wanted to check on Cole."

"Oh are you now? Well that sounds like a barrel of laughs. Please tell me you are taking Vivienne or Solas with you?" Dorian stated -- before he paused. Well ... no. He was not ashamed of himself. Cole chose him, after all.

"He's still sleeping, so come in and check on him, but don't jostle him about." He stepped back, to let the dwarf enter.

"Vivienne. Chopping up Darkspawn should suit her and I want to see what happens when I set her loose with Bianca." Because Cadash was not a good person sometimes.

"He was pretty... he was loud, okay? Really loud. He was meant to be resting." She held up a hand. "I'm not going on about being careful with him. I trust you. Others might ask questions or get nasty, but I can't stop them." She padded past him, looking at the sleeping bundle. "I didn't think he slept. You might need to try and get some food into him. Good luck on that. We'll back in a fortnight, I hope. I'm taking Blackwall and Sera, so you should have some breathing space."

"Yes, she would like that... and I personally want you to record every single moment of snippiness between them all." Because that would truly be something to see.

Now that would bring a flush to Dorian's ears, before he cleared his throat. "They can say whatever they like - Cole made it clear. He chose me... and ... well, so very few have chosen me, outside yourself."

He looked at Cole, and his expression softened. "He doesn't. He is afraid of the Fade. I shall feed him, as best as I can."

"Ugh, no, skip Sera, I need Varric. And I'll get him to record it." She crept close, lifted the blanket to peer at Cole's face and tucked him in again.

"Look after him for me." She nodded firmly. "We'll be back in a fortnight or so. And don't let Solas bully you about taking him to bed. He chose you, that's good enough for me." She tilted her tattooed cheek for a kiss. "For luck."

"That you do ... and don't worry about Sera. She half thinks I'm an abomination already." He waggled his eyebrows at her, before his expression became more serious.

"I will look after him, for both of us, and Varric too." He snorted softly, "And Solas, of all people, is not allowed to bully me about relationships with spirits." He leaned in, pressing a kiss to her cheek, and sliding one of his magical rings into her hand. "For luck ... and that's for protection. I expect you to bring it back to me, Inquisitor."

She grinned. "I'll bring it back. And your damn treatise on lyrium!" She bounded off, already pulling her gloves on over the ring and barking for someone to get her dracolisk up and ready to go.

Cole, inside, was still perfectly quiet and heavy and still.

Dorian exhaled, slowly, before he closed the door once more. His grey eyes flashed concern, wondering if he should have insisted he go with her instead -- no, no. Vivienne could handle darkspawn.

He pressed his lips together, before going back to bed, making sure that Cole only slept and went no further than that.

Vivienne was, arguably, more suited for Darkspawn. And Cadash made it clear, Dorian had to look after Cole for her.

Cole hadn't really changed the whole time he had been asleep. He didn't move. He just breathed shallow, soft breaths and stayed exactly as he had fallen asleep... or been moved since.

Until he did come awake, eyes hemorrhaging Fade energies, pale, brilliant blue. "No!"

Dorian nearly jumped when Cole suddenly came awake, his eyes glowing blue and his shout stirring Dorian out of worry and into the moment. Immediately though, he reached for the young man, wincing at the pure energy coming off of him. "Cole ... Cole, I'm here, just like I promised. It's all right, it's just a dream."

It took another few seconds for Cole to get properly situated back in his body, the magic vanishing as fast as it had appeared.

"Where are the templars? I won't let them hurt you." He was reaching for his knives.

Dorian's hands slipped down to Cole's arms, holding him in place as he spoke firmly. "The only templars here are on our side. Remember Cullen? Nice fellow, curly blonde hair, will stab the first templar who tries to take me?"

He softened his voice, "I'm safe, Cole ... I'm right here."

Cole looked at Dorian, and then something came back into his eyes, making them focus not just on Dorian, but the world around him. "Yes. Cullen's good. Cullen doesn't rape people. Cullen doesn't forget people."

He softened in Dorian's grip and nodded. "You're safe."

Dorian's throat tightened at that, but his grip did not. "No ... Cullen would never do any of those things. Not to me and not to you. He'd never forget us."

He tried to smile. "We wouldn't let him." One hand lifted now, to stroke back that fine hair. "I'm safe. Come back to me, Nug."

"No... he didn't forget me. I don't know why not." He crawled into Dorian's lap, dragging his sore leg behind him to press in close.

"I'm here. Sorry. Did I sleep again?"

"Well that is because despite himself, he cares about you. We all do." He wrapped one arm around Cole's waist, while the other went to inspect Cole's wound.

"Yes you did, but it was good for you. You needed the rest." He turned his head from his inspection, so he could chase kisses along Cole's nose and chin.

"And see, here I am. Ready to pull you out of dreamland." He paused, then said quietly, "Cadash was here. She wanted to check on you - make sure I wasn't keeping you up with wild sexual escapades. Apparently we made quite the racket."

The wound was still closed, uninfected and the bruising was going down with the judicious application of healing magic and potions and rest.

"No, he remembered before... maybe because he's that bit unreal." The kisses quickly brought Cole from his frightened and contemplative mood to smiling ever so faintly at the affection.

He sank into Dorian's embrace, hand coming to stroke over his chest gently. "She's going again. You're worried. And by we... did she mean me?" He didn't remember Dorian making a lot of noise.

He hummed softly, glad to see the wound closing on its own. He tilted another kiss against Cole's cheek, before looking thoughtful. "Yes he is - it seems hard to imagine anyone like Cullen anywhere."

He nods his head quietly. "Off to Valamar -- and since we know so little of Bianca, I am ...concerned." He smirked, "Yes, she meant you."

"Bianca wears guilt like a cloak, layering over her and keeping her other emotions inside. She's going to hurt Varric terribly. More than she has before."

He pushed up for another kiss to his face.

"It felt good."

"...Oh now I really regret not going." Dorian muttered under his breath - because he was rather fond of the obnoxious little dwarf. That he was going to hurt by that ... woman made him itch for his staff and a fire spell.

Cole got his kiss, and another one besides.

"You are quite welcome -- but we should both be aware that we are no longer a secret. You may hear, or feel hurtful things about me. Please don't stab people in answer?"

"Going along won't change it. The hurt is inevitable, the actions already done." But she will have to tell him, and it might be a step too far for Varric.

He tucked his head into Dorian's neck and hugged him around the chest. "I only stab people if they're going to hurt people if I don't. I won't stab them for saying bad things about you. I'll tell them they're wrong. And if they're just jealous, I'll tell them that, instead."

"... I am not sure what you mean, but I have the horrible feeling I am not going to like it very much." He shook his head a little, a sigh coming from his lips. It looked like it would be his turn with the bad bottle of brandy then.

He pushed Cole's hair from his face, smiling a little. "For sheer stubbornness alone ... I do not think you will lose those particular arguments."

"She told," Cole whispered, then shook his head, dislodging the clinging remnants of it from him.

"There's nothing to argue. They'll be wrong if they think you're taking advantage of me, or making me do things, or that I don't understand. I understand. I can choose."

"And I take it, whatever she told, she shouldn't have ..." Dorian frowned at that moment, before he tilted his head slightly. One hand lifted to cup the other man's cheek.

"I know you can. I know you chose me. Just ... understand that some people won't. Whatever they say is out of concern for you." He kissed the cheek he was touching, letting it linger.

for insurgoaltus

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