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My Lioness: Collecting Crazy-Unlaced

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Title: My Lioness: Collecting Crazy-Unlaced
Author: MelpomeneTears
Game: Dragon Age 2
Characters/Pairing: Sekhmet Hawke, Anders, Bethany Hawke, Isabela
Disclaimer: Spoilers

The walk back to Lowtown seemed to take ages.  Bethany tried to start conversations with Anders a few times but he was preoccupied with Hawke.  She still looked as if her thoughts were elsewhere and she kept silent, rare in and of itself, and it worried him.

She had dark circles under her eyes and her skin had a sickly pallor to it.  Was the illness rearing its head again?  He thought she had recovered from that, but wasn't so sure seeing her now.  How many jobs had she taken while she had left him alone in his clinic for those four days?  He was certain she hadn't looked like that when they had last parted ways.

Periodically, she pushed her escaping hair back from her forehead with a sigh.  Had her somber mood been just because of Aveline or was there something else going on?  Her gaze seemed to snap back into focus a split second before she scowled down at her left hand.  She flexed it slowly with a wince.  

"Stop, take the glove off and let me see it."  He stopped and waited for her to comply, it would give him a chance to check her for any signs of illness as well.

"It's fine Anders.  I just bruised it yesterday and now it's stiff."  She started to walk but stopped when neither he nor Bethany followed her.  She scowled at both of them, "You are both aware that I already have a mother, right?"

"Enough lip Hawke, let me see the hand."  They both knew he didn't need to see it, didn't need to touch it to tell what was wrong and to fix it.  But he would all the same and she wouldn't stop him, she never did.

He saw a flash of teeth and could have sworn he heard her growl before she slowly began tugging the glove off.  He winced himself seeing the ugly bruising.  It was deep purple and ran up half her hand as well as down over two of her fingers.  With the glove off he could see how swollen it was, clearly it was broken and she had been fighting like that all day.

Bethany gasped from behind him, "Why didn't you tell me, sis.  I could have at least helped with the pain a little if you didn't want to see Anders."

He gently took her hand, careful about where he touched it and let his magic flow through her hand, checking the damage.  The break was quite bad, half a dozen bones with hair line fractures and of course the fracturing of the bone at the base of her pinky was quite severe.  The last break was all too familiar to Anders who treated men who had been drunk and brawling all too often.  She had clearly gotten her little injury from punching someone, no wonder she didn't want to show him.

A wave of irritation flowed over him, irritation that he had upset her enough that she had stayed away from him even in light of this injury, irritation that she had made such a big deal out of him healing Fenris so that he hadn't been with her when it happened.  And then she had thought to hide it from him, and had nearly succeeded.  She was so damned stubborn.

"And just who was it that pissed you off so much you decked them instead of using your weapons?"  He was gratified when she colored slightly.

"Do you really want to know?"  She asked quietly.

He really did want to know for a moment, but her somber state all day as well as her placidly taking his admonishment made him reconsider.  This quieter Hawke was still throwing him a bit.  Maybe he could lighten the situation; he'd had a talent for it once.  "Let me guess.  A man that was a little too 'hands on'?  Some poor random bastard that looked at you wrong when you were deep into your cups?  Or maybe he looked at Beth wrong?  Oh, a templar?  I vote for a templar.  Actually, no I don't.  Fenris, please tell me it was Fenris.  And if it wasn't him don't tell me, I can have beautiful dreams about you decking that whiny little elf."

She had smirked a little at the beginning and by the end he had her giggling.  A shiver ran down his spine that had felt good, really good.  It'd been a while since he'd been able to make someone laugh like that.  As a bonus, by the time he had finished his little game her hand was completely healed and there were no signs of returning illness.  Maker, she was beautiful when she laughed, too bad it did nothing for the dark circles under her eyes.  He needed to stop playing games and get her home so she could sleep.

And he needed to figure out what he was going to do about Bethany who was hovering by his elbow giggling with her sister.  A year ago things would have been very different.  Bethany was young and nubile, showed more skin than her sister and was certainly better endowed.  A year ago he might not have given Hawke a second glance and gone straight after her sister.  Young, beautiful and impressionable, a young woman who was just starting to learn about her power over men.  Her innocence would have been like catnip to him then.

But with Justice had come a conscience.  Well, a more developed one than he'd already had.  His taste in women had already started to change a bit before that, and he liked to think that he had been more responsible about dalliances at the Keep.  He'd actually tried not to break any hearts while he was there, had tried not to take advantage, although sometimes it was hard not to.  Vulnerable women were just…they were…they appealed both to the healer and the cad in him.

"Anders?"  Hawke was smiling at him as she looked at him a little curiously.

"Hmm?  Did I miss something?"  He asked mildly, forgetting about his less than gentlemanly past.

"I asked if you were done."  She lifted her hand a little and he found he was still holding it.

He released her hand carefully and slowly, not wanting to hurt her again.  He shied from her touch too often as it was.  He saw Hawke look past him for a minute before dropping her eyes almost guiltily and tugging her glove back on.  When he glanced back he saw Bethany standing rigidly, very studiously not looking at him, her face scarlet.

See, a wandering mind is nothing but trouble.  Wouldn't she have been surprised to know she had been the subject of that little lapse?  "Beth, do yourself a favor and don't get old, it makes you forget too many things."  When she looked at him he gave her a close approximation of a smile.  Be nice, just not too nice he reminded himself.

She seemed to relax a least a little and he felt a little relieved in return.  Hawke, finished with her glove, started out towards Gamlen's place again.  Lapsing back into silence though she had a little smile now, something he was way more proud of than he should be.  After a few minutes she leaned over a little as they walked, bumping him a little with her shoulder.

"Thanks, Anders."  Her voice was just a soft whisper; she obviously didn't want Bethany to hear her.

So, instead of replying he just gave a little nod.  Apparently, it was enough to upset the precarious balance with Bethany and she moved closer to him, so close he had to be careful with his arm so as not to brush against her.  He could just imagine Hawke's reaction if he let his arm brush against her sister's ample chest.  Aren't sisters fun?

The night was beginning to remind him of a circus Rhoswyn had taken him to as a child where he had seen tight rope walkers.  They were getting close to Gamlen's though, he could go home and recover, or more likely agonize over all the things he should have done differently.  One thing was sure though, he was going to try to avoid being alone with the two sisters in the future.  

As they neared the Hanged Man Bethany spoke up a little hesitantly.  "Can we stop?"

Hawke gave her an odd look, one he was sure was echoed on his own face as Hawke spoke.  "You want to go have a drink?"

"S…sure. And we could say hi to Varric." Bethany stammered, she turned to him, "You've got time for one drink, don't you?"

He took a deep breath, well this certainly wasn't good.  Hawke was so clearly tired and things with Bethany had been unsafe to say the least.  Maybe she was taking advantage of Hawke's worn state while she wasn't constantly flirting and teasing him.  "Actually, Bethany," he paused and looked to Hawke who was grinning at him eyes suddenly bright, obviously fully aware of Bethany's intentions and she had no plans to help him, damn her.  "I should get back to the clinic, I have patients in the morning and I need to get to bed."

Hawke raised an eyebrow, clearly relishing his discomfort.  "Want some company?"  That was Hawke, always helping.  At least she was joking with him again, exhausted as she seemed.

He looked to Bethany who looked crestfallen and paused to weigh his options he needed a compromise, something that wouldn't upset Beth too much and wouldn't make Hawke angry either.  "One drink, Justice won't allow me to have any more than that.  He nags like an old woman, then I really need to go."

Bethany smiled at him and with a quiet sigh he pushed open the door to the tavern holding it open while Bethany and Hawke went inside.  He followed them in, already feeling anxious, there was no way he was getting out of there without making things worse he knew it.  He'd say something stupid and hurt Beth or piss off Hawke, knowing his luck probably both.  His head was beginning to ache already.

Hawke and Bethany had both stopped short staring towards the bar.  He slipped in behind Hawke and looked over her head to figure out what they were staring at.  The tall dark skinned woman in what could hardly be called clothes was obviously what had caught their attention, had caught the entire bar's attention in fact.  She calmly threw back a drink as three men were surrounding her, hassling her.  Seeing her outnumbered he had been sure Hawke would step in but she just stayed where she was and watched.

"Hawke, don't you think we should lend the woman a hand?"  He asked quietly, not sure why he was looking for more trouble.  Though, maybe getting involved in the altercation would give him a way to get out of his agreement to share a drink with the Hawke sisters.

"She doesn't need help."  She took a few steps forward but only so she could get a better look.  

"Are you sur…" he didn't get  chance to finish the sentence before the woman was bouncing one of the men's head off the bar.

A fight quickly broke out and was over nearly as quickly as it started.  The three men limped out of the bar holding each other up as the woman tossed back her drink with a laugh.  He'd figured that was that, although he was curious how Hawke had known the woman wouldn't need any help.  But of course, Hawke being Hawke, she walked right up to the woman.

"Buy you a drink?"  Her voice was a little huskier than usual and he felt a little tingle down the back of his neck.

The dark skinned woman glanced at Hawke, "Thanks".

Hawke waived the bartender over and ordered drinks for all of them.  He watched as Hawke glanced over the woman's shoulder.  "Those blades are beautiful.  I can't remember the last time I saw any so sharp."

In response the woman grinned and did a little bow, "I'm Isabela."

Anders was waiting for her to fall out of her dress…tunic?  He wasn't sure, but it was very revealing.  And her clearly long legs were encased in boots that stopped at mid thigh.  And were those her smalls he spotted through the slit in the side of her outfit?  The woman screamed sex and trouble.  Weren't they already at their quota for women who were trouble?

Isabela stood back up straight and flashed a smile that said she knew exactly what effect she had on all the men in the tavern and liked it.  She and Hawke grabbed the drinks when they came and Isabela led them to a table.  He sat down hoping to finish his drink quickly then disappear.

Isabela took a long pull on her drink then gave a little sigh.  "I used to be Captain Isabela, but…well I no longer have a ship or a crew."  She looked Hawke over then continued with both him and Bethany.  "You know, you might be just the help I was looking for."

Hawke chuckled, "I buy you a drink and now you want help too?"

Isabela laughed and it was a low sensuous sound.  "I can make it worth your while, if you'd like."  And if that wasn't completely laden with innuendo…the woman could give Hawke a run for her money.

"And why do you want my help, you don't even know me."  But she was grinning and Anders knew the night was far from over.  

"You're Ferelden, I can tell, you have that look about you.  Fereldens tend to be more honest than other folks."  She smiled again, "You know, I actually know the Hero of Ferelden.  And by know…well you get the picture."

"Bull shit," he cut in.  There was no way this woman had been with Sareyna.  She'd been with Alistair during the Blight she wouldn't have…  His stomach did a little flip as he remembered a conversation from a night that seemed eons ago now when he and Alistair had discussed having a threesome with a pirate woman.

Isabela shrugged, "Believe what you want, but I can tell you about this wicked looking scar she has…"

"Enough," he snapped, she didn't need to be talking about Sareyna's body like it was public knowledge.

"Woah, calm down big guy."  She was giving him an odd look.

"Anders, are you alright?"  Hawke looked worried.

"Yeah, the woman's a national hero and deserves a little respect."  He calmed himself, the pirate woman was harmless.

"Anyway, to get back to my original point, I need a hand with a duel I set up.  I'm pretty sure the guy's not going to play fair and it would be nice to have someone watch my back."  She was a little more somber now, and seemed a little wary of him.

"Oh, I can definitely watch your back for you."  Her eyes never left the former pirate.

And was he just imagining it or was Hawke flirting with this woman?  Was there anyone she wouldn't flirt with?  Could Hawke actually be interested in women?  He dropped that thought quickly knowing if he didn't he'd be having more sleepless nights, with all new fantasies.  Hawke's alabaster skin against Isabela's café au lait anyone?

So, a drink with the white haired, sad eyed vixen and her smitten sister turned into a bloody battle in the Chantry in the dead of night.  Isabela had been right.  Her opponent, a man named Hayder, had sent mercenaries to kill her instead of meeting her for the duel.  After killing the mercenaries they headed to the Chantry where Hayder was hiding like a coward.  Apparently, in Kirkwall there was no honor, even among thieves.

So they broke into the Chantry in the middle of the night, again.  Hayder was an arrogant bastard that Isabela decided to shut up quickly.  Using one of the wicked blades that Hawke had admired she threw it across the room and it embedded deep into the chest of the woman beside Hayder.  Had she missed or had she really meant to hit the woman?  Personally, he would have taken Hayder out first, less fuss that way.

He didn't have a whole lot of time to contemplate it as they were dragged into another fight.  There were far more people hiding in the shadows of the Chantry than he had thought possible and the battle was long and hard won.  The four of them stood there catching their breaths, Hawke giggling like mad, she always loved a good fight.

"Well, that was fun.  I'd say a little warning would have been nice but I'm notoriously bad at it myself."  She wiped her hands on her armor leaving dark wet smears on the black leather.  "You should go get that dagger, be a shame to forget it."

Isabela pulled her dagger from the woman's chest glaring at her.  "Traitorous bitch."  She spit at the corpse.

Hawke looked at the pirate woman curiously, brow raised in query.  "I take it you know her?"

She snorted, "Take it from me sugar, if you ever have a ship of your own don't let any other women on it."

"I'll remember that, now maybe you could let me know exactly what I dragged myself into?"  Sharp as her name she watched Isabela lean casually back against a pillar.

"Long version or short?"  She still held her dagger in her hand, running her fingers along the grooves in the hilt.  She wanted to appear casual but she was actually a bit nervous if he was any judge.

"Am I going to miss something important if I take the short version?"  Good girl calling her on it like that.

Isabela sighed deeply and re-sheathed her dagger.  "No, not really."

"Well, get on with it then.  Some of us would like to see a bed tonight."  She made a long slow perusal of Isabela, gaze noticibly lingering on her bare thighs and then the dark creamy curves of the woman's breasts.  There was the Hawke he knew…kind of.

Isabela gave her a fake pout, "You wouldn't tease a girl would you, Ferelden?"

Hawke just gave her a sexy little smile.

"Alright, I was hired to escort a cargo ship.  I got a bad feeling, checked out the cargo ship and found it full of slaves.  So, I freed them.  The man that hired me sent me after a relic to repay him for freeing his slaves.  I got the relic, got caught in a storm lost my boat and barely made it to shore.  So now I'm being hunted."  She gave Hawke a little smile, "Brief enough?"

"Who's hunting you?"  Gone was the relaxed teasing Hawke, instead she was on high alert.

The pirate rubbed her head, clearly not wanting to share anymore.  "His name is Castillon, a…well he calls himself a merchant...he has his fingers in a lot of profitable if not completely legal pots.  And I think he has ties to the Felicisima Armada."  She gave a little shrug at the end like it was no big deal.

He couldn't keep his silence anymore.  "Are you saying you dragged us into a mess with an Antivan crime lord?"

Isabela gave him a cheeky smile, "Yes, I suppose you could say it that way."

He turned to Hawke looking for a little support, "She's going to get us all killed."

Hawke chuckled, "Are you trying to tell me she's dangerous, Anders?  Seriously, you?"

He didn't have a response to that; he was dangerous as was Fenris and even Merrill with her blood magic.  There was no way he was winning this argument.  He just nodded and took a few steps away trying to clear his head.

Had he thought his life was complicated before?  Every day he spent following Hawke he found himself pulled deeper and deeper into the insanity of Kirkwall. Although, today he had learned something new and very interesting about Hawke.  After the pirate thanked Hawke for her help, Isabela invited Hawke back to her room at the Hanged Man.

Hawke had looked the woman over with a hungry look and smiled but didn't respond.  Turned out he might not be the only item on the elder Hawke's menu.  He wasn't exactly sure how he felt about that, but he couldn't deny the pirate was good looking and a woman who lusted after other women was always exciting.  

With her dark skin, her dark hair and dark eyes Isabela was exotic enough.  And there were those inappropriate thoughts again, snow white hair against honey colored skin.  Focus on something else, like the heavy ornate choker around her throat of an almost gaudy gold.  It matched her earrings and even the small labret stud she had, as well as the handles of her daggers.  His first assessment had been right; this woman was going to be trouble, she practically reeked of it, trouble and cheap whiskey.

He walked with the three women back to Lowtown.  Obviously, having just watched them obliterate a whole Chantry full of thugs he knew they could take care of themselves.  But it didn't feel right just leaving them to walk back alone, so he found himself walking the women back to Lowtown yet again.  Apparently, among other things, Justice had made him a bit of a gentleman.

Right, the gentleman who occasionally glows blue and burns people to ash.

Bethany made no comment about stopping for drinks at the Hanged Man when Isabela said her good nights.  She looked distinctly uncomfortable as the pirate tried once more to convince Hawke to join her.  Hawke gave her a smile that Anders felt all the way to the base of his spine, begging off due to fatigue and promised to think about it once she was rested.

Once they reached Gamlen's house Bethany went straight inside.  He and Hawke just stared after her for a minute before taking a few steps herself.  She paused for a moment and seemed about to say something but then stopped and started heading up the stairs slowly again, the fatigue clearly dragging at her.  

"Hawke?"  he wasn't sure what possessed him, ha ha, to call her back.  

She stopped and turned back to face him and for a moment Anders thought he saw her looking a little lost and sad, but it was gone in a flash, replaced with her customary little smirk.  "Yes, handsome?"

He grasped for something to say, why had he called her back?  Hadn't today been exhausting enough without getting into a deeper tangle with Hawke?  Then remembered Bethany's earlier invitation.  "Your sister…"

Hawke's face contorted and she glared at him, "You touch her and I'll kill you myself."

He put his hands up in supplication.  "I was just going to ask if you could talk to her.  Convince her I'm too dangerous, too old, something.  I'm not interested, but she's young, I don't want to hurt her."

Hawke relaxed a little but still looked uneasy and very tired, "Yeah, alright."

He took a breath, not sure what to say, but he was worried about her.  So the first thing that came to his mind of course was Fenris, whom he knew would be going with Hawke tomorrow.  "Be careful with Fenris, he's dangerous."

"And gorgeous," she quipped, barely a pause.

He winced and Sekhmet chuckled quietly.

"Aw, come on Anders, I've seen you looking at him.  You were thinking the same thing I was.  Wouldn't it be fun to gag him, tie him down and lick those pretty tattoos?"  Her eyes had become over bright again, their crystalline blue nearly glowing in the dim light of Lowtown.

Now there was an image that would be keeping him up tonight.  Fenris tied down, helpless, gagged so they didn't need to listen to him complaining about mages while he stroked his fingers over the bound man, it had been driving him crazy wondering if those lines would feel raised or not, and Hawke hovered over the dark skinned elf licking those lyrium tattoos wearing…He shook his head, no, no, no, no, he was not going to imagine that at all he was just going to push all of those thoughts right out of his head.  

He'd hoped that with time his need for sex would wane, but it didn't he just felt aroused and frustrated more often.  His mind slipped into elaborate fantasies at the drop of a hat.  He was losing his mind and Justice couldn't seem to understand that he was a sensual, a sexual creature and needed contact.  

So with his skin feeling hot, his heart galloping away in his chest and his imagination tugging at him he wasn't able to form a response right away.

And she of course noticed, "I don't mind sharing."  She smirked.

He shook his head again, trying to concentrate on his original point not on the leather moulded so perfectly over her surprisingly wide hips.  "The man's dangerous, Hawke."

Her smile faltered a little before it slid back in place, "He's easy enough to control."  A quiet confidence behind her words.

Was that what she did to him?  Did she use her sexuality to get him to do what she wanted?  He hadn't thought about that possibility.  "Like you control me?"

Pain flashed on her face again for an instant then was gone, leaving her face carefully blank.  "You don't really think I do that to you, do you?"

Now that he was thinking about he was pretty sure she didn't do that to him.  She may tease him but she always seemed to listen to him.  And the pain he had seen flash across her features seemed to confirm it.  "No, I suppose I don't."  Justice always made it so hard to lie, even though it would have been easier.

She swallowed, suddenly looking much younger and he wondered again briefly how old she actually was.  Stepping close to him she rested her hand on his arm, the light touch speeding up the wild beating of his heart.  What was she doing?  Why was she touching him?  She needed to stop.  It wasn't enough.

But she was just staring at where her hand rested on the fabric.  "I don't know why, but I feel like I know you."  He noticed her lower lip trembling a little before she looked up speaking again.  "Don't you feel it?"

Dammit, what the Void was she doing?  What was he doing, this was a very, very bad idea.  But he found himself responding honestly again anyways.  "I do."  There was something about her, something he needed that called to him, that felt familiar.

She moved closer and his heart picked up speed again.  When he thought she was going to kiss him he tensed, but she just laid her head on his chest for a moment.  It took a conscious effort for him to keep his hands at his sides instead of pulling her against him completely.  

That moment, when she had moved closer to him, seeking something he just couldn't give her, she looked so lost, so tired and so sad a huge part of him just wanted to wrap his arms around her and hold her tight.  He knew what it was like to be in her place, to feel those things.  Almost nightly he nearly drowned in those very same emotions.  His whole life he had fought against them, had felt the crippling loneliness dealing with those emotions could cause.  He had no answers for her though, and he knew if he got too close to her he would just hurt her.

He clenched and unclenched his fists at his sides to keep from touching her, but he couldn't bring himself to move away from her.  He liked the feel of her leaning on him, "and," he reasoned to himself, "she seems to need it."  What he didn't, couldn't admit to himself was that he needed it too, a little life line in the dark and murky waters that had become his life.

"Goodnight Anders." her voice was barely a whisper.

"Night Sekhmet." He was just as quiet, every cell in his body begging her to put her arms around him.  "Just hold me, I'll hold you back, I promise."  Just wishful thinking, needs that could never be voiced, never be met.
  
It was like a peak through a door you were forbidden from entering.  A brief glimpse of the light and warmth inside, but knowing you could never bask in that light could never let the chill go, chased away by the comfortable warmth in that forbidden room.  So close to ecstasy, so much closer to torture.  He felt a brief rush of something through him, a loosening of something, an easement.  

He was confused by the feeling but brushed it aside, enjoying the feel of her head on his chest.  Images again, her curled up with him in bed, head resting on his chest.  His arm draped lightly around her, holding her close.  Not sexual, just comforting and relaxing.  Another glimpse behind the forbidden door.  

Her hand slid up his arm a bit and she nuzzled against his chest shifting herself closer to him.  "Anders?"

They jerked apart when they heard the door slam.  

"Shit."  Hawke whirled away and ran up the steps.

He felt the loss of her weight against his chest almost like pain.  Fists clenched tight, he turned and walked back to Darktown.  He resolved to make himself scarce for a few days and forget everything that had just happened and not to call her Sekhmet again, it was too close, too intimate for some reason.
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jnybot's avatar
Keep up the good work!!!