Chapter Text
“Dorian, what is wrong with you?”
After a moment of hesitation, Wandhis went after the man, and having barely reached the second floor, he was already passing through her, running down the stairs with books and notes in his arms.
“I don’t want to talk about it! I want to read and drink. Alone.”
He sounded determined, almost decided. Still, she noticed a slight uncertainty in his voice, along with something else.
“You’re on fire.” She stated calmly, trying to suppress a smile.
Dorian rolled his eyes to her, his voice even more exasperated while he walked into his room. “I’m always on fire! Do you really think there’s anything I do that’s not 200% outstanding????”
Wandhis did not wait for him to stop talking, just entered the room, and, quickly gathering water with a bucket, threw the liquid on his coattails, and they heard a slight “tsss” when the flames were extinguished.
“Wh-Wha-WHAT ARE YOU DOING????” THIS IS SILK!!!!!”
Dorian’s fury set the rest of his robes on fire, and Wandhis brought a hand to her mouth, snickering while sitting on his bed.
“Oh for the-!” Dorian quickly put his papers on his desk, and, while casting a barrier around himself, took off the robes and froze them.
They were clearly ruined, and now he was finally aware of the fireballs in his hands. “You know what? Maybe I should just burn the rest!!!!” The flames in his hands went larger with his yelling, though he extinguished them right afte.
Wandhis almost felt sorry for him, though she still struggled to stop smiling.
“Is that going to make you feel better? Because I’m pretty sure that you could use that much of rage to train with The Iron Bull. It seems like danger turns him on.”
“It does. Try to fight a dragon beside him and you’ll see.” Dorian’s enraged tone faded while he spoke, and he sat beside her.
Then, he threw his head back and sighed, tired. “Alright. Maybe I want to talk about it. But I’ll still need the wine.”
-
A few minutes later, the two shared a bottle of wine, and Wandhis watched the man attentively.
“So. Connor offered to get my amulet back.”
“I know. You didn’t like the idea at first, but…well…things changed.” Wandhis grinned suggestively at her friend. He told her much about his thing with Connor, but not everything. He started to reconsider.
“Yes. When we got there, there was this filthy Orlesian merchant who wanted to take advantage of Connor’s influence, and only that way he would give the amulet back.” Dorian’s tone went bitter with every word, he wanted to burn the merchant alive himself.
“And Connor accepted the deal.” Wandhis stated briefly, still undisturbed.
“How do you know that???” Dorian’s eyes widened, sincerely confused. He felt like he was missing something.
She scoffed, almost pitting the man. She went sure being in love had blinded him.
“Sweetie, have you met Connor? He helps everyone. With everything. He even escorts druffalos for them. He insisted on giving me a new pen, made of gold, because a noble gave him one that was more precise to draw, and he was certain he would never use it, he didn’t even want to keep it!”
That made Dorian smile instantly, his eyes away while he thought of the man he didn’t know he loved. “That does sound like him.”
“Now if he does that for people he barely knows, imagine what he’ll do for someone he loves!” Wandhis gesticulated while she spoke, feeling like she was talking to a child.
Dorian stared at her, confused. “Wait. What?” And the woman threw her hands in the air, laughing, exasperated. “By the Dread Wolf’s balls, Dorian!!!!! Don’t you know!?? He blushes every time someone mentions your name!!! He bruised a rib for you!!!”
The words hit the man slowly, his mouth opened in an O. He could not believe Wandhis’s words. They could not be true. Dorian was sure no one had ever loved him.
Still, Connor indeed cared about him. He cared about everyone. He didn’t care for his reputation, as long as he helped people…and Dorian had ruined everything with his pride.
His eyes widened, and desperation pinched his heart when he turned to his friend. “Oh no. I screwed up. I have to do something, or he’ll never speak to me again!” He held the woman’s shoulders, his voice going louder with each word.
Right then, Wandhis stopped laughing, noticing something was wrong. Her brow furrowed, and her tone went suddenly low. “What did you do?”
-
The two had left the door half open while talking, and from the atrium, Solas quietly listened, laughing to himself while wondering what Wandhis’s reaction would be if she knew about his many names.