Chapter Text
Vaxus groaned as his eyes opened to the harsh light of the morning through the windows in his room. He squinted, rubbing at his eyes in an attempt to make the growing headache disappear.
“Ugh.”
He moved to sit up, only then aware of the body curled up against his side from atop the blankets. Vaxus squinted further, trying to focus on the person through the still blinding light. He squeezed his eyes shut tight, then opened them again - as if it would will this strange body away. But nothing.
Sitting up the rest of the way, he looked down. It wasn’t, at all, who he expected. Vaxus blinked once, twice, three times. Every time he looked again, however, she didn’t move. Only a light snore as her back rose and fell ever so slightly with her breathing.
He swallowed, body awkwardly tense as he stared. “Ash…ley?” he asked, warily.
She groaned in reply, shifting and rolling slightly away from him. Her hair was askew, some still loose in a bun while other bits were plastered across her face and even some others poking up at random. She gave him a groggy look, eyes half lidded and almost totally unaware of the oddity of the situation.
“You… me… last night?” He asked, awkwardly croaking out words.
“Shhh,” she replied. Pushing up onto her elbows, she blinked and looked around. “Not so loud,” she added. Ashley yawned, looking back at Vaxus.
Vaxus shifted, stretching and yawning himself. As he became more aware, reality also began to sink in. “I’m… naked?”
“What?” she asked, rolling onto her back and staring up at the ceiling.
“I don’t recall undressing. Or.. you being here?”
“Oh, that.” She inhaled a deep breath, exhaling slowly as she closed her eyes. “I helped you. You were quite insistent last night about how much you ‘loved me’.” Ashley shrugged, opening her eyes and tilting her head to look over at him. “You were struggling to get your own clothes off, so I helped.”
“And then you stayed.”
“And then I stayed. I was tired too, you know, and that is a lot of stairs to climb. Once was enough for the night.” She crossed her arms behind her head, looking back up at the ceiling.
“So did we…?” Vaxus asked, worrying at his lower lip at the thought of the answer.
“Did we what?” she asked, a coy smile tugging at her lips.
“You know…” he waved his hand slightly.
“I don’t know about Andraste, but you certainly have been touched by someone.” She let out a low whistle, then giggled. She sat up and leaned in close, grinning. “I know several men who’d be jealous.”