Chapter Text
“Chargers! Stand down,” the Qunari yelled, motioning them to relax with his arm. He turned to look towards his lieutenant.
“Krem, how did we do?”
“Five to six wounded, chief! No dead,” Krem announced. Bull stepped over to his second in command with a rugged smile. Solas had already started striding towards the ones on the ground, holding onto their side or arm.
“That’s what I like to hear. Let the throat-cutters finish up then break out the casks.” Krem nods dutifully, and heads off to relay the orders.
The Iron Bull then glanced at Varric, who trailed the ones who were going after any fleeing enemies. Possibly also to try to chat up the mercenary crew, too.
Cassandra, in the meanwhile, stood a ways from Usa, on guard. Ready for whatever the brown elf had in mind as he closed the distance between him and the Qunari in confident strides.
The Iron Bull took in the sight of the dark skinned elf stepping boldly towards him, his black bun falling apart at the seams. Usa’s staff was already stashed away on his back. His body soaked to the core since all that he was wearing was a top that covered only his chest and diaphragm. It was amazing that the only thing that held them up were straps that held onto the back of his neck and around his waist in an intricate knot.
Bull wondered if he tied those knots himself. And how. Must be very flexible.
The warrior jots that detail somewhere away in his mind. Pinning it like a note on a corkboard.
He had seen drawings- sketches of the Herald in spy reports. He had been prepared for everything, but Usa was not what the Iron Bull expected.
It was not an unpleasant surprise, however. The elf was more than just a relief for a sore eye. If it weren’t for this demon and fade crap flying about, he would gladly make the elf come to him.
“So you’re with the Inquisition huh?” The qunari starts. “Glad you can make it.” Usa stands tall in front of him. Smaller, only a tip over shoulder length, but he has a smile on his lips. Small, but something. Something good.
“Come on, have a seat,” Bull offers, and then jabs to Krem’s direction with a thumb. “Drinks are coming.” Usa chuckles softly, his lips parting to barely show the tip of his teeth. The canines were, in particular, rather sharp.
“ Iron Bull I presume, huh? Good work out there,” Usa is grins, thinking back at the fight they had just previously got out of. “You guys were pretty impressive.”
“Yeah the horns usually gives it a way,” Bull mused. He leads Usa towards a flat boulder and rests himself on it. One arm on his knee as he leaned a bit outwards. The elf followed closely leaning on a stray piece of log that drifted out from the sea. Just a bit aways from Bull, as Krem decided to join them.
The elf looked to his right, and nods again politely, his arms folded on top of his abdomen.
“I assume you remember Cremisius Aclassi, my lieutenant.”
“Good to see you again.” Krem nods back at Usa. A friendly and well meaning face, like their first encounter. Krem then looks back at Bull, his expression back to its business like demeanor. Usa can’t help but simper at the sudden change.
“Throat-cutters are done, chief.”
“Already? Have them check again, I don’t want any of those tevinter bastards getting away. No offense Krem,” Bull chuckled.
‘So they were Tevinter…’ Usa shared a glance with Cassandra, who was listening from a good distant.
“None taken! Least the bastard knew who his mother was,” Krem grinned cheekily before jogging off to check on the booze. “Puts him one up on you Qunari right?”
Those in the mercenary group who heard the exchange between their two leaders laughed and threw comments to add in on the banter. Though their voices were overwhelmed by the rain. Bull gave them a look over his shoulder and the company stopped to snicker between themselves instead.
Bull turns back to Usa. “So you’ve seen us fight. We’re expensive but we’re worth it,” he laughed,” and I’m sure the Inquisition can afford us.”
“This isn’t going to come out of pocket, is it?” Usa raised an eyebrow. He pats down his hips, where the pockets were at. There were barely almost anything in them, and the only thing he was carrying were roots and herbs that he happened to find on the way here tied to his belt.
“Wouldn’t cost you anything personally-,” Bull paused. A suggestive but well intended smile on his face, careful and inviting. “- unless you want to buy drinks later.”
He smiled when he was able to pull out another pretty laugh from the soaking elf. “Your ambassador- uh… what’s her name? Josephine. We go through her, and get the payments set up.”
“Gold will take care of itself, don’t worry about that. All that matters is- we’re worth it.”
“The chargers seem like an excellent company.” Usa acknowledges. His eyes are squinting from the size of his grin. Bull quietly appreciates the smile wrinkles at the creases of Lavellan's eyes.
“They are, but you’re not just getting the boys. You’re getting me .”
The elf had laughed again. Quieter. More to himself.
If it weren’t for the rain literally blocking out all those cute but reserved laughs, Bull would’ve pegged the Herald as flustered.
“You need a front line bodyguard? I’m your man.” He stands up, towering over the smaller of the two for a moment and watches as Usa’s forced to crane up to meet his eyes. He could get used to it, if the elf would only allow it. But then he walks, and leaves for the Herald to follow.
And he does.
“Whatever it is. Demons, dragons, the bigger the better.” Bull turns around to face Usa, making sure that Cassandra was out of hearing range. Here comes the harder part.
“And there’s one other thing. Might be useful, might piss you off.” Immediately Usa stops in his tracks, his head tilted to the side with one ear subtly twitching.
“Ever hear of the Ben-Hassrath?”
Usa squinted at the Iron Bull, his eyebrows furrowed, not sure to let himself be confused or defensive.
“... No… Should I?” His tone was uncertain, easy to read. Or maybe he’s letting himself be read?
“Not really. If you did I would’ve have to report it.”
“Why’s that?” Usa swiped a strand of wet hair behind his ear. Bull follows those long calloused fingers to the elf’s nape for a moment before looking back at Usa. Luckily it was hard to keep your eyes (or eye) open for long in this kind of weather.
“It’s a Qunari order. They handle information, loyalty, security, all of it. Spies- basically. Or, well… We’re , spies. The Ben- Hassrath are concerned about the breach. Magic out of control like that could cause trouble everywhere.”
Bull watches as Usa visibly regains back a more relaxed posture. But he sees the tension. What interested him more was why he didn’t seem to be showing so much confliction between the revelation.
“I’d been ordered to join the Inquisition. Get close to the people in charge, and send reports on what’s happening.” The warrior continues. “But I also get reports from Ben-Hassrath agents all over Orlais. You sign me on, I share them with your people.”
Usa shakes his head, more amused and surprised than shocked. A good sign. He lets the memory of reports of the rumors and stories of how the Herald had originally gotten involved at the Conclave pass through his head for a second.
“You just tell me? Like that?” The elf chuckled. Usa shifted his weight contrapposto.
“Whatever happened at that Conclave thing, is bad,” Bull explains. “Someone needs to get that breached closed ... So whatever I am, I’m on your side.”
“Yet you still l could have hidden what you are.”
“From something called the Inquisition?” Bull barked out a laughter. “I’da been tipped off sooner or later. Better you hear right up front from me.”
“And you’ll tell them what, exactly?” Usa inquired, his tone light with playful accusation.
“Just enough to keep my superiors happy. Nothing that’ll compromise your operation. The Qunari wants to know if they have to launch a full on invasion to keep the world from falling apart. You let me send word of what you’re doing, and it’ll put some minds at ease. That’s good for everyone.”
“And it’s good for the Inquisition because?”
“You get word of enemy movements, suspicious activities, intriguing gossip and rumors. It’s a bit of everything, really. Alone they’re not much, but if your spymaster is worth a damn she’ll put em’ to good use.”
’Plus I have a weakness for redheads.’ He says in the back of his head. But he leaves the detail out.
He’s making a good impression. Let’s see how far he can push it.
Usa takes a breath and furrows his eyebrows even further. He considers the information not long before curling his lips downwards into a slight snarl. His canines making a reappearance.
“You put your reports past Leliana before sending them, and you send nothing she doesn’t approve. If this report turns out to be a trick, or if your reports puts the Inquisition at a risk- I will personally put you down.”
That was hot.
“Wouldn’t have it any other way,” Bull grins before winking at Usa. Tilting his head down just for emphasis since it was usually hard to pick up from him. Often it eludes him why he tries, but it's worth it when he sees Lavellan break out from under his rougher facade and laugh.
The elf huffed out an airy chuckle. His eyelashes falling halfway, giving him a rather sultry look that the Iron Bull was hoping, was the case.
Water dripping from him, making his rich, dark skin shine so nicely. Hair sticking to his face and neck like sweat making clothes stick to your skin. His stomach flexing just right when he laughs.
The elf almost made Bull feel a bit bad for acting so friendly.
He paused, and realized that halfway to it, he did let himself come out a few times. Out from the mask. From the charades.
Bull wondered when he started slipping, and remembers how the elf had spun that staff around himself during the midst of battle. One end of the weapon finding the head of another Tevinter agent, head getting bashed right open. Blood splattering everywhere on his face and chest, his eyes wild. The back of his body exposed and left to prying eyes, while it worked to twist its host into a half circle to kick a Tevinter asshole right in the face.
“Krem!” The warrior quickly turns around to tell him the good news instead of dwelling on the thoughts any further. He pins it up. Somewhere, under the more pressing notes.
“Tell the men to finish drinking on the road! The chargers just got hired!"
“What about the casks, chief!! We just opened them up! With axes! ”
“Find some way to seal them. You’re Tevinter, right? Try blood magic!” Bull shot at Krem. Revenge from prior. The other mercenary members laughed again, some had already started drinking.
Usa puts a hand on Bull’s arm before he tries to leave.
“Cassandra will lead them back towards Havan.” Usa turned to her, and pointed towards the band of warriors with a tilt of his head. “She’ll be better at explaining the situation with the others.” Usa gestures for Varric and Solas to come back over from the new recruits.
“You’ll stay with us for now. There are still things to be done at Stormcoast,” he turns to the Qunari. “Plus, it’d be better to have an on hands experience now than later. Welcome to the Inquisition, the Iron Bull.”
Bull smirks, and picks up the axe he had left tilted on the boulder.
“Pleasure's mine, Boss.”