Chapter Text
It was nearly sunset by the time Teo made his way back up the stairs to the balcony and round to Dorian's nook. He had tossed a smile as he ran down from the rookery earlier but nothing more. He half wished he’d been able to spend a little time with Dorian earlier, ease the way. The friendship Teo had asked for was a welcome warmth, softening the sometimes barbed flirtation. But it needed cultivating, and every time Teo had to work his way past Dorian's defences. There were times when Teo wished for the barbs to be less apparent, to see more of the sweet, quietly heroic, damaged man underneath. But he was patient. And today of all days he would suffer whatever jabs Dorian threw his way. However he handled this, it would expose Dorian, and Dorian's reaction when he felt vulnerable was as predictable as his reaction to southern weather.
He straightened his shoulders and approached Dorian from the far side, enjoying the (carefully constructed) picture the other mage made, leaning casually against the railing.
“My my, aren’t you the busy one today. Up and down stairs, running here, there and everywhere. Oh don't let me stop you, I was quite enjoying the picture of you breathless and spent.”
And that was the Dorian he knew, capable of being both condescending and provocative in a single sentence.
He lent against the railing next to him, no doubt nowhere near as gracefully. “I want to talk to you.” he said quietly.
“To me? Whatever for?” Dorian was being arch, that usually meant he was wary, angry or possibly just playing.
Teo smiled, he might have a purpose this time more important than dallience, but a little flirtation wouldn't hurt. “Aside from you being charming and intelligent you mean?”
Dorian smirked and folded his arms, “Well of course, although you forgot to add handsome.”
“Dorian I assure you I never forget how handsome you are.” He stepped back and held out one hand, “Come with me.”
“Am I to be informed why, or where to?”
“No” Teo softened the blunt word with the grin he knew made Dorian blink.
“Ah, a mystery. I do so love those.”
Teo mostly ignored Dorian as they walked through skyhold. Usually he would have continued to flirt (badly) back, but as they left the library the uncomfortable feeling he’d had all day returned, he felt awkward, unsure. So he focused on remembering the route he had mapped out earlier. Skyholds layout was…….interesting. He'd tried to find somewhere that would not involve crossing the hall but did not involve a long and cold walk from the outer battlements; he had given up after 2 hours of fruitless searching.
So now they passed through Solas’s rotunda with a nod and crossed the hall to the garden door. Round the colonnade towards the base of the inquisitors tower.
They were halfway across the garden and Dorian's banter had grown sharper tongued with every step.
“Just where are you taking me Inquisitor?” he said as they followed the colonnade and then down a half hidden secondary passage, still towards the tower but running parallel to the main thoroughfare. His tone was downright waspish now.
Teo opened a small door under the stairs. “This was a, well not actually a faster route but a less open route to the tower. I'd hoped to use it when I don't want anyone watching me.”
If he had not been so aware of Dorian, Teo would have missed the slight hesitation on the threshold, but before he could react Dorian had stepped inside and was all smiles and charm again. “How unexpectedly……Orlesian of you. A subtle exit or entrance for the slipping in of unofficial guests perhaps?”
Teo was very glad he had spoken to Leliana. Otherwise he might have missed the hesitation, the wariness under the sardonic comments.
“Possibly why it was built.” He admitted, opening another door.
It was a small room, dusty, empty except for a toppled bookcase he hadn’t the strength to lift up on his own. The bed was intact however and he had managed to straighten it against the wall and pull down the moth eaten hangings. Although the glass was missing in most of the panes, the shutter on the window was sturdy and he’d had skill enough to fix the hinges. He hadn't dared do more, in case Dorian refused but also because it might involve others, and he didn't think that was right, not yet. He knew there was a strong chance Dorian’s wariness was an assumption of why Teo had brought him here, but he couldn’t let that stop him. And past experience told him that attempting to reassure Dorian before he had expressed doubts would end in sarcasm and the walls slamming up. So he just kept on with the words he'd planned, keeping his voice calm, light.
“Like much of this place, it doesn’t quite work.” He continued in response to Dorian's comment about the tower. “I think it was meant to be a second entrance to the main tower, but the staircase out there dead ends, and there's a two foot thick wall between it and the upper floors of the tower.”
“Just so we are clear, that would be your tower.” Dorian said acidly.
“Yes.” He couldn’t react, just keep going. “This is the lower part of the tower actually as far as I can tell. The only access is from the gardens.”
“And we are here, in this lovely little private room because?” Dorians wit could be like a knife sliding between your ribs, barely felt but deadly, or a slash across the throat, obvious, vicious and angry.
Teo closed the door, not wanting any unexpected curious visitors. Then stood carefully away from it, Dorian, and for that matter the bed which seemed to be alarmingly present in the corner of his eye all the time.
“I should have sorted this before. I am sorry. I am also sorry Leliana and Josephine were going to put you in with the soldiers.”
“Yes well, amusing as I am sure they would have found me. I do have some pride left.”
Teo swallowed, so he was right, that was what Dorian had thought.
How had they let this happen?
“Dorian” he hesitated then forged on, ignoring his discomfort. “It was somewhere to sleep that's all. No-one intended anything more, I hope none of my soldiers would have assumed…”
“Assumed what?” Dorian snapped. And there were the walls, denial, anger, sarcasm all lined up in defence as predicted.
Teo really didn’t have the ability to unpick this gently and cleverly. Blunt might annoy Dorian further, but at least it could not be misunderstood. “You were not assigned to the barracks as the soldiers entertainment Dorian.”
"Entertainment, such a nice word, better than whore I suppose.”
“No-one is going to do that here. If they try, they will no longer be here.”
“Really inquisitor, what do you take me for? I am no blushing vrigin, I assure you there most certainly are ladies and a few lads of very negotiable virtue entertaining your troops.” Dorian's tone dripped venom.
Teo sighed again, tried to marshall his patience, failed and settled for hanging onto his temper and keeping his voice calm. “Leliana and Josephine assigned people a space to sleep in the first few days by rote. It was rushed, possibly badly done, but the only concern was finding a bed for everyone of their own. It was supposed to be a temporary measure whilst we settled in. I took my eye off that one, we all did and failed to make more suitable permanent arrangements. Many people found their own space, so they, I, didn’t realise that some hadn’t.
I understand why you didn’t want to sleep in the barracks. But you need more, deserve more than an alcove. I can’t house you as I would want to, but I thought this was at least safe, private and close enough to your library.
He stopped, and the look on Dorian's face helped him find his calm almost buried under his anger and guilt and to say gently, “Do you remember what I said back in Haven? It still is true. You never have to trade your face and your body for safety, a place to sleep or anything else. Not to the soldiers, not to me.
You are part of the inquisition. You will be fed, housed and treated with respect.” His voice had gone harder on those last words but he would make Dorian believe it if he had to spend all evening.
Silence fell, dust motes danced in the weak light and still Dorian didn’t speak.
Teo moved to the door. “I can send people to straighten this, I tried but couldn't lift the bookcase so please don’t try on your own. They will bring fresh linens for the bed and kindling for the fire.
I am afraid we still don't have much more but if there is something you need,” He paused, looked at Dorian ruefully, “I know you probably won't ask, but please Dorian, please let me do this for you at least.”
He looked around, but finding nowhere else to place it, shrugged and laid down the key on the bed.
“I found this still sticking in the door. I cleaned and oiled it, and checked. It's the only one. The door locks.