for insurgoaltus

[killedwithlove]

Cole slept like the dead. He hadn't ever needed it before, but humanity on top of injuries and sex had worn him out quite effectively.

But it was much, much later, early the next morning, that there was a soft knock on the door. "Dorian? It's Nadezhda."

Comments

[killedwithlove]

"Yes, I'd like to listen to that one. That's about Hawke, but Cassandra won't read that one to me because it makes all her emotions bright and hard and then she fades away..."

He looked off elsewhere, thoughtful.

[insurgoaltus]

Dorian is quiet for a moment, before he reaches out to Cole, taking his hand in his. "Then ... we'll just read it when she and Varric aren't around, eh?"

[killedwithlove]

Dorian touched him and Cole's entire focus on back on him, their hands fitting together neatly, even if Cole's were large and long for his size.

"Yes. I'd like that."

[insurgoaltus]

Dorian's lips curved up in a warm smile, before he rested his fingers warmly against the other man's. He curved his fingers around Cole's.

"Good ... then we shall do it together."

[killedwithlove]

"Dorian..." Cole hummed softly, thinking. "Do I have to stay here all day?"

He wasn't used to being confined in anyway. It wasn't triggering any painful or frightened memories, but he didn't like not being able to wander at all.

[insurgoaltus]

"No, you don't have to be here all day -- but you're going to have to have someone carry you." Dorian stated primly. "I won't have the hobo's, and my, hard work go to waste, Cole."

[killedwithlove]

"Mm. Okay." He nodded slowly. He could see the logic of that. "I don't want to move right now. But I don't like being... in one room. And not able to leave."

[insurgoaltus]

"I certainly can sympathize with that - but not with you hurting yourself all over again." He grinned a little, stroking that fine hair again. "Would you like me to give you a piggy-back ride downstairs then?"

[killedwithlove]

"Not right now but... can you? Later?" Even just knowing he could leave when he needed to made it a bit easier to cope with.

[insurgoaltus]

"I absolutely can. What would you like to do now, just rest?" Because otherwise he wasn't quite sure how to entertain Cole. Perhaps chess?

[killedwithlove]

"Read to me?" Cole reached up and curled his hand in Dorian's robe, tugging softly. "I don't feel like I need to rest, but I know you want me to."

[insurgoaltus]

"Oh, I shall be delighted to ... hold on." He eyed one pile of books and called one of them to him, before showing him the cover. The Tale Of The Champion was brightly emblazoned across it. "If you tell Varric I own this, I will have to horribly murder you."

[killedwithlove]

Cole felt more than saw the magic used to pull the book close. He liked the feel of magic, it was familiar and reassuring.

"All right." Agreement was easy. He wouldn't tell. Dorian wouldn't hurt him.

[insurgoaltus]

Dorian pressed his lips against Cole's cheek, before he flipped open to the first page. He curled his arm around the other man, so Cole could settle into him.

"The tale of the Champion begins in Fereldan, during the beginning of the Fifth Blight."

wrap?

[killedwithlove]

Cole curled in, eyes closed and listening to Dorian's words and voice. He might take in the story, but he'd definitely remember how Dorian sounded when he read it.

Re: wrap?

[insurgoaltus]

(Wrap! What do you want to do next, my dear?)