Chapter Text
The Iron Bull looked round, hearing little familiar squeaks.
The tavern door had been left open a crack and he saw the tiny fox kit desperately squeezing in. Once she got through, she shook herself off to fluff up her fur again before trotting over to join him at the bar.
There was something very odd about the fox.
He wasn’t sure if she was secretly a demon or a spirit or something that was possessing a fox’s body like Cole. But he knew not to bring it up, especially with how clumsily and desperately the Inquisitor worked to keep the fox’s true identity a secret.
Still, Xiu Ying and Bull had come to an unspoken, shared understanding of one another.
She knew he was aware that she was more than she seemed.
And he was aware that she knew his suspicions as well.
Still, she was tiny and cute with her little pink bow and for something so small, she was fairly effective in battle. Her screeching often stunned enemies long enough for him to cut them in two and unlike Sera, she didn’t mind being tossed into battle. As long as he could aim it right, she did a great job freaking out the enemies by screaming and scrabbling at their faces with her little claws.
The little fox padded through the empty tavern and squeaked up at Bull.
“Hey, kid. Thought you’d be with Cullen for the night,” he greeted, bending down to pick her up.
She chirped her thanks and hopped onto the bar. In response to his question, she let out a series of chirps and squeaks that almost sounded like talking.
Cullen was busy attending to boring work again and she wasn’t keen on sitting about on her pillow as usual.
“What about Viv?” he asked.
Asleep at that hour, obviously.
“Ah well, you’re always welcomed to join your tama,” Bull told her, petting her with a finger, “Cabot- the fox’s usual,” he ordered.
The dwarf grunted and stumped off back to heat up some fresh cream and honey.
Xiu Ying let herself enjoy her petting before dragging a book over from the corner of the bar.
It was a copy of Hard in Hightown.
The fox was fairly fond of the hairy dwarf’s works. She had already read the Tale of the Champion twice.
She wanted to try reading the one Cassandra was always reading- Swords and Shields.
But Katica had forbidden her from doing so, telling the little fox that the book had too many adult situations.
Of course the elf hadn’t elaborated as to what those adult situations were so Xiu Ying assumed it was stuff about taxes and things. Maybe that was why the hairy dwarf said it was his worst serial.
Xiu Ying found the page she had marked and engaged full loaf position, tucking her feet under her fluffy body comfortably.
She and Bull sat there in comfortable silence, with him drinking and relaxing after a long day. He rather spend his evenings with a certain Tevinter mage but Katica had gone to the Hissing Wastes and taken Dorian with her, along with Cassandra and Cole.
The elf had chosen to leave her fox behind because the last time Xiu Ying went to those deserts, she spent the days nearly dying from heat since she was too stubborn to let her coat blow. And then for the week after, no amount of brushing seemed to get rid of all the sand hidden in her pelt.
Xiu Ying drew out one paw and licked it so she could turn the page before tucking it away again.
Cabot soon returned with the saucer of cream in one of Xiu Ying’s favourite bowls.
The dwarf, Maker bless him, never commented on Xiu Ying’s peculiar behaviour nor did he particularly care what she did as long as she stopped puking on his floors in response to people slighting her.
Xiu Ying chirped her thanks and got up to carefully lap up some milk before settling down again to continue reading.
She wanted to finish this book as soon as possible and she rarely ever got a chance to read. Lucky for her though, random copies of Hard in Hightown seemed to be scattered all throughout southern Thedas.
Just as she finished chapter eight, her ears twitched, hearing the sound of familiar footsteps in armour.
Xiu Ying quickly marked the corner of the page and shoved the book off the bar before busying herself with her saucer of cream.
Commander Cullen soon pushed the tavern door open, looking exhausted.
“Cullen!” the Iron Bull greeted as Xiu Ying looked up innocently with a squeak, “Here for a drink?”
“I’m afraid not,” Cullen responded whilst Cabot picked up the book, scowling at the fox, “I’m just here to get Xiu Ying. Come on, it’s past your bedtime.”
Xiu Ying finished up the last drops of cream from the saucer and lifted up her arms so he could pick her up.
“Good night, kid,” Bull told her and she chirped at him in response.
Cuddled up against Cullen’s chest, she gazed up at the commander adoringly causing the Iron Bull to grin.
He wasn’t sure if it would be a good or bad thing for such a mysterious creature to grow attached to an unsuspecting human. Still, he preferred to watch how things play out.