who_is_she (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
who_is_she) wrote2014-11-30 10:05 am
who_is_she) wrote2014-11-30 10:05 am
my elbows don't make anyone smile
Several weeks had passed since Jean had found the paper Varric had poured all of his feelings into, and really, not much had changed. Sure, Varric found himself smiling at Jean a lot more--and had often turned to find Jean already smiling back at him--but aside from that, it was just like before.
They hadn't gone around telling everyone the news, but not out of any particular desire for secrecy. It was just that it was new, a new experience for both of them, and after Cole had disappeared after their confession they had made the mutual decision to take things slowly. The only problem was, none of their friends were what could be considered "subtle".
Even though Corypheus was dead, there was still a lot of work to do. There were fade rifts and demons and red templars and Freemen--and, well, Varric didn't even mind because what it meant was more time spent at Jean's side.
They had just cleared out a small group of stray red templars but not fast enough to save a camp of travelers. They'd fought hard, it looked like, as the bodies were all still clutching their weapons. Varric rifled through their affects for anything they wouldn't need anymore or an address to send their affects and found a letter instead, freshly written and addressed to a man in Val Royeaux. It was a love letter, and though the writing wasn't particularly beautiful it was full of love and deep feeling and it made Varric ache, because somewhere out there the recipient was alone and didn't even know it.
It made Varric think of Jean as well, and that made him ache more, because how many times had he and Jean separated for business reasons, one of them going off to do something semi-dangerous, and how unlikely was it that they had returned alive and safe every time? Varric knew personally all the myriad of ways that someone could die. Maybe a bandit could get lucky or a poison dart trap in an ancient ruin could still be functional or some other stupid and simple thing, and Varric wouldn't know about it until Jean just didn't come back.
Varric was glad he was already kneeling, because he was sure his legs wouldn't be able to support him at that moment.
They hadn't gone around telling everyone the news, but not out of any particular desire for secrecy. It was just that it was new, a new experience for both of them, and after Cole had disappeared after their confession they had made the mutual decision to take things slowly. The only problem was, none of their friends were what could be considered "subtle".
Even though Corypheus was dead, there was still a lot of work to do. There were fade rifts and demons and red templars and Freemen--and, well, Varric didn't even mind because what it meant was more time spent at Jean's side.
They had just cleared out a small group of stray red templars but not fast enough to save a camp of travelers. They'd fought hard, it looked like, as the bodies were all still clutching their weapons. Varric rifled through their affects for anything they wouldn't need anymore or an address to send their affects and found a letter instead, freshly written and addressed to a man in Val Royeaux. It was a love letter, and though the writing wasn't particularly beautiful it was full of love and deep feeling and it made Varric ache, because somewhere out there the recipient was alone and didn't even know it.
It made Varric think of Jean as well, and that made him ache more, because how many times had he and Jean separated for business reasons, one of them going off to do something semi-dangerous, and how unlikely was it that they had returned alive and safe every time? Varric knew personally all the myriad of ways that someone could die. Maybe a bandit could get lucky or a poison dart trap in an ancient ruin could still be functional or some other stupid and simple thing, and Varric wouldn't know about it until Jean just didn't come back.
Varric was glad he was already kneeling, because he was sure his legs wouldn't be able to support him at that moment.
eremond is an ass hole
It takes him a moment to locate Varric, who had wandered a ways off from their little group and was kneeling on the ground, studying something. He steps through the debris easily on his way over to him, and claps him gently on the shoulder.
"What have you got?" he asks, peering curiously over his shoulder.
Re: eremond is an ass hole
"It's a letter," Varric says gruffly, "One of the dead was married."
"The floorboards always creaked when he came home, a warm hand on his face, I hope he doesn't cry, I never wanted to make him cry," says Cole, appearing suddenly behind Jean. Varric's expression darkens a notch.
Cassandra is off a ways, scouting ahead for any extra templars and making sure the ones they'd killed aren't about to get up again.
Re: eremond is an ass hole
"Poor sod. Come on," he says, leaving a hand on his shoulder as they make their way back towards Cassandra. He knew stuff like this got to him, with all the time Varric spent worrying about other people's family's. "Maybe we can deliver the letter. The spouse should know at least."
"Yes," Cole says, sheathing his daggers and following behind them at a short distance, "I think that's the right thing to do. It would help Varric, too. He waits, watches, worries, wonders each time he leaves if it won't be the last, his smile hiding his fear. Their lips touch, a quick kiss and a joke to bury the feeling further before he sends him on his way. If he's cut out for it. He wanders, always, if this is the right life for him. He wanders even more now that his feelings are returned."
Re: eremond is an ass hole
"Thanks, Kid," Varric says, covering his face with one hand and wishing he could disappear, not just because of the look on the Seeker's face but because of the concern that was surely written all over Jean's. He did worry, all the time, and the whole reason he'd never mentioned it was because there wasn't anything to do about it.
"Varric, are you... Involved with someone?" Cassandra asked, wracking her brain to figure out who Varric could be involved with, "Who?" she asked, her voice bewildered and incredulous.
"It's nothing!" Varric exclaimed, giving all three of them a glare in turn, "It's nothing, and it's none of your business."
Re: eremond is an ass hole
He hopes Cole has finished talking, but Cole continues, and he winces a little in anticipation of Cassandra putting the pieces together.
"He worries for you, too," Cole says, "He worries about your worrying. He's worried now, he wants to help, wants to say something to help the hurt, but he doesn't know how, not here."
"Cole..." Jean says, balling his hand into a fist and holding it in front of his mouth and closing his eyes, "I know you're trying to help, but..."
Re: eremond is an ass hole
"Inquisitor?!" she says, her voice a high-pitched shriek, "But... How?"
"But you don't need to hurt!" Cole insists, "You watch each others backs, your hands touch under the table, no matter what you'll have each other!"
"I knew it! You do have a thing for heroes!" Cassandra says, blushing furiously and jabbing a finger at Varric.
"Shut up, both of you!" Varric yells and they both fall silent, staring at him, "First of all, of course I'm going to worry because that's what you do when you love someone," Varric gives Cole a look and then turns to Cassandra, "And you needn't be so surprised, Seeker, not everyone is as disastrous at getting a date as you are."
Varric glared at them all, pointedly slipped the letter into his pack and Bianca onto his back and then stalked away.
Re: eremond is an ass hole
He comes up behind him until he's walking beside him, just keeping from matching his pace. He clears his throat lightly, and when he speaks he makes sure it's just loud enough for Varric to hear.
"Varric," he says gently, "Are you all right?"
Re: eremond is an ass hole
"Oh, I'm fine," he says, his pace slowing, "Don't worry about me." He slows to a stop, laughing a little at himself and tilting his head to look up at Jean, "I guess that's a little hypocritical, huh?" He sighs again and looks back, seeing Cole and Cassandra talking animatedly out of earshot. No doubt Cole is telling her every detail of how they got together.
"I'm sorry," Varric says, closing his eyes and pressing a palm to his forehead, "I shouldn't have yelled like that. It just... It gets to me. It's like Cole said, I wonder if I'm cut out for this when I get thrown off by a letter." He shakes his head and crosses his arms, palms rubbing against his skin and he can't quite look up at Jean's face, "I may believe you're sent by the Maker but that doesn't mean I'm not familiar with the Maker's aptitude at cruel jokes. Like, oh, giving me the most wonderful man I've ever met only to yank him away the second I get complacent."
Re: eremond is an ass hole
"I worry, too," Jean says, a sad smile tugging at the corner of his mouth, "for you. You get yourself into your own fair share of trouble. But...I don't know." He bites his lip, turning his head down and scratching at his beard. He was struggling with his words, and he didn't know what he could say that would reassure him.
"I guess nothing is certain in times like these, but...you have me now. And so far, I've had some pretty good luck on my side."
Re: eremond is an ass hole
"Fool's luck, maybe," Varric says, smiling as he steps closer to press his side against Jean's, "That's why I didn't want to bring it up, because there's nothing to do about it. I'm... glad you're with me now, though," Varric drops his voice to a throaty whisper, putting his hand up to pull Jean into a kiss by the back of his neck. He kisses him hard and fast, pouring in all his devotion and affection and all those gooey emotions that he can't quite find the right words for.
Re: eremond is an ass hole
"I love you," he says softly, "That's something, right?"
Jean had gotten so lost in Varric's presence that it doesn't even occur to him to think about their company, until he glances over and notices the pair is now staring at them.
Re: eremond is an ass hole
"Oh, Maker," comes Cassandra's voice from behind him and Varric turns to see her and Cole, Cassandra with wide eyes and a hand over her mouth and Cole with an eerily intense smile. Varric laughs, turning back towards Jean to smile brightly at him.
"We should get going, huh? I'm sure the Seeker can't wait to spread this juicy piece of gossip," Varric leaned in to kiss Jean one more time, quickly, before turning to throw a wink over his shoulder at Cassandra.
"I am not a gossip!" Cassandra exclaimed, though her bright red cheeks and the intent way she watched them betrayed her interest.
"The hurt gets drowned under the love," Cole says, sighing happily, and Cassandra turns redder as Varric laughs.