Chapter Text
Three weeks ago, Rook nearly died.
Should have died, given the how terribly injured she was.
The twin dragon fight in the Hossburg Wetlands had left her fighting for her life.
Harley, having been unable to watch her sister continue to suffer, used Blood Magic to heal her injures, to pull out infection.
She had saved her life.
But it was still Blood Magic.
And Neve didn’t know what to feel.
Truly, her mind was a frantic mess.
Rook had been on her feet days later, pushing too hard for her recovery as they pushed into Arlathan Forest to save kidnapped Dalish.
Harley’s history left her vulnerable and likely to be recognised. For the duration of the sick ‘party’ Harley had sat across Neve’s shoulders as a massive black serpent as a secondary means to add to Neve’s magister disguise.
They had fought together afterwards. As always. Harley was every bit the woman she was days ago, with no sign of the Blood Magic. Her spells were the same. Her summoned lightning remained blue with no hint of any blood magic.
Even with Venatori blood spilt, she made no attempt to cast with it.
She hadn’t even known that Harley knew how to cast it, let alone even consider that Harley could have been a Blood Mage all these years.
Her feelings for her felt like a heavy weight in her chest. Conflict and spiralling thoughts left her with a headache that coffee could not shake.
Harley had made herself scarce since. Neve had only seen her once after returning to the Lighthouse.
She had run from Neve, and Neve was still too conflicted to follow her.
Her natural curiosity pushed her to ask questions. Find out why and how long she had been a Blood Mage.
If she hurt people.
If she was anything like Aelia.
Neve’s chest ached at the mere thought. Harley would never, ever be like her.
She couldn’t be.
Right?
Right?
Neve stewed about the time they had been together. And the after.
There had never been any signs. Any reasons for Neve to believe that Harley was a Blood Mage.
After Aelia… after Brom had been killed and Harley had been so badly wounded, Neve had panicked.
She knew that a job would get her someday. That she would die on her feet fighting some evil or another. That a life of comfort and love couldn’t really exist for her…
Neve had gotten too comfortable falling for Harley. Aelia had reminded Neve of that.
So, Neve had broken it off. Left Harley a letter because she was too much of a coward to tell her to her face.
Distanced herself from Harley, constructed a miles high wall.
But now they were working together again against the Evanurius. Harley had opened her home for Neve when she had lost hers.
She had pushed Neve away when she kissed her in the doorway.
Told her she couldn’t. That they couldn’t be back together.
Could this be the reason? The Blood Magic?
Neve drank her cold coffee and stood.
They needed to talk. Properly.
Neve needed to know everything.
Trepidation measured her steps and long dismissed feelings made her heart ache.
Harley was not in the lighthouse, nor what remained of the Shadow’s base. She was not in the Swan or on any rooftops in Dock Town. Hal was evasive when she asked.
Neve found her at the beach where she collected rocks for skipping.
Perhaps she should have looked here first.
Harley sat on the water’s edge, the small waves touching her feet. She stared out into the middle distance, twisting a rock between her fingers.
A bandage wrapped around her arm obscured her tattoo. The one, Neve realised at that moment, she had gotten to hide the scar.
Harley flicked the rock. It bounced smoothly across the water before sinking into the depths. She picked up another without looking. Harley waited a moment for the next wave to wash over her before she flicked it again.
Neve watched her, a tiny part of her expecting her to turn on Neve and strike her down with blood magic.
Another, much bigger part of her knew Harley would never do that. Neve trusted Harley with her life, and as she watched her from across the beach she realised with a start how much she truly cared for her.
All those feelings from months ago when Harley disappeared. Her frantic search and the kiss in the doorway. Everything hit her all at once and nearly knocked her off her feet.
The feeling was as much welcome as it was unwelcome. Fear washed over Neve. Oh, it was never supposed to be like this. She was never supposed to love this much.
She shouldn’t ever love this much.
Every single person around her got hurt. She was a magnet for trouble.
But Neve knew those feelings had never gone away. She had loved Harley before she broke her heart.
She loved her even despite the blood magic.
The blood magic that had saved her sister’s life.
Love was terrifying.
But the idea of losing Harley was so, so much worse.
Neve stepped closer, her prosthetic crunch on the stoney beach. Harley started and turned, jumping to her feet.
“Neve I—”
Neve moved before she could rethink her actions, catching Harley by her shirt and pulling her close.
She kissed her like she was going to lose her.
Harley’s arms came around her back and pulled her close, returning the kiss.
Neve tasted salt from tears and she pulled Harley closer.
Harley’s lips slotted perfectly with her own. She was warm and solid and everything she had missed in those years apart.
Harley sighed against her, slowly retreating. Neve followed, chasing her lips.
Harley touched her cheek and Neve opened her eyes. When had she closed them?
“I thought you would hate me for what I did.” She breathed.
Neve pressed her forehead against hers. “It hurt that you kept that from me.” She murmured in response. “But you are still you, Trouble Cat… and I seem to attract trouble.”
Harley stared at her, her brilliant blue eyes glimmering with tears. She let out a laugh that was half of a sob. “I love you, Neve Gallus.”