Chapter Text
Basya was beyond tired. Exhausted didn’t even come close. She’d just spent a week clearing the corrupted isana and soldiers in Emprise Du lion. It was freezing there and ever since Haven, Basya had a new vendetta against snow.
After a long day of thawing and writing several reports of their missions, she didn’t even have the energy to get from her desk to her bed. She rubbed her lids and planted her head in her arms ready to drop dead when the light flashed and Basya jumped.
“No. No, no, no, no.” A low rumble vibrated under her bare feet and Basya flew across the room, her hip smacked against the edge of the desk, but she ignored the clatter of several things. She dove under her bed, curling up in a ball, hugging her knees to her chest. She covered her ears with her hands, elbows stiff. Her whole body was locked and she cried with every flash of lightning and boom of the thunder.
Great. As if she wasn’t tired enough. She missed her room in the Palace in Orzammar where she never had to hear this blasted sound. Her hip throbbed with her heart. She could tell a new bruise was forming.
Basya didn’t know how long she was huddled under there when she saw a familiar pair of feet. She could see the knees which meant it had to be a dwarf. She watched as they knelt down and she saw Varric looking back at her.
“Hey, Mini. Maybe it’s just me, but I think the bed would be more comfortable.” He said. The lightning flashed, followed closely by a crack of thunder. Basya squeaked and shrank further back, “Hey, hey, it’s okay. I’ve been up here my whole life. Never been hit once.”
Varric stood, seemingly to collect a few things. There was a muffled rustle and he passed down a few pillows and a blanket. She sniffled and accepted them, while Varric propped up his own seat, leaning on the beds wooden frame, his back to her.
“Thanks.” She said, her shoulder was relieved at the pillow’s support beneath it and she pulled the blanket to her neck.
“No problem.” He said. “What else can I do?” Basya thought about it carefully, listening to the rain.
“Could you, maybe, read me a story?”
“Of course. Who could resist my soothing voice? You just started Hard in Hightown didn’t you?”
“Yeah, it’s on the desk.”
“Funny, because I see it on the floor.”
“Well that makes it easy to find.” Varric chuckled as he retrieved it and sat back down. The lighting lit up the room and Basya threw the blanket over her head. “It’s okay, you’re safe in here. Just listen to me.” Varric read and Basya found having a sound to focus on was an improvement. She stayed under the bed as the author read his story. Similar to how she read to Endrin, Varric acted out all the different characters. Even though her muscles were tense as she trembled and was terrified out of her mind, she couldn’t help, but smile as he read.
Varric read for hours, having to pause only once, to call for a servant to bring him water for his scratchy throat. He had trouble maintaining the voices he’d given to the female characters. He also called for a large plate of grapes, bread, and cheese that he’d slide under the bed every few chapters, encouraging her to nibble.
Varric paused at the end of the chapter to take a long drink of water and pop a few grapes in his mouth. Basya took deep breaths, trying to calm herself from the last big clap of thunder. Basya suddenly had a question on her mind.
“How did you know I was under here?” She asked. Varric halted the piece of cheese before he put it in his mouth.
“...Hero actually. Poor guy had been running frantically to everyone all evening. Curly and the Seeker slammed the door in his face before he could get in one word. Dorian gave him the cold shoulder. He was so worried about something, I finally asked what was up.” Varric said. “He told me the weather would have you freaked out. Reminded me of our little adventure into the Fallow Mire. He said you’d be either under the bed or in the closet.”
“Under the bed it seems.” She said.
“Yeah. First place I checked.”
“He really ran across Skyhold in this weather?”
“Yup. Looked soaked through.” Varric bit into his piece of cheese. Basya sighed. It had been a little shy of a month since she’d run to Thom in the pouring rain and she hadn’t talked to him since. She had a lot of time, but there was still so much fear and doubt. Not that there could possibly be anything else to happen that shattering in the future. Basya was still trying to figure out how to approach him.
“Has it stopped?” Basya asked.
“Appears so. We’ve gotten over halfway in the book. Next time there’s a storm we can finish it if you want.” He said. Basya smiled.
“I’d like that, Varric.” She slowly uncurled her stiff knees and crawled out.
“You look like you need a hug.” He said.
“I’ll take one, if you're offering.” Varric gave her a solid hug before standing up. He yawned and took his leave. It was already light out and she’d barely gotten any sleep. She hadn’t been able to at all in Emprise Du Lion due to the screaming red isana. Basya was asleep by the time her head hit the pillow.
She hated waking up alone in the massive room. It was still raining, but only a soft drizzle dripped on from the glass panes of the balcony doors. Basya got up and dressed. She’d probably slept more than half the day away, Josephine was always frustrated when she missed meeting important nobles. Basya made her bed, neat and tidy, a habit ingrained by her mother, before heading down.
Basya surprised herself by heading to the stables. She decided she should just be upfront. She had time to adjust, she knew what they had was real. Her legs sped up down the slippery stairs. This time looking at the line she had created at sliding barn doors, she consciously put her foot down on top of it before crossing.
“Thank you.” Basya said. Thom whirled around to see her. “For sending Varric last night.”
“I’m just glad you’re alright, my lady.” He said simply.
“I think it’s time we’ve talked.”
“Oh.” He offered her a spot to sit down next to the fire. He leaned on a stack of hay, one leg splayed out, the other knee pulled toward his chest.
“I just...can I call you Thom?”
“After what I put you through, you have the right to call me whatever you wish.” There was a long silence between them as Basya fought to put her thoughts into words while she stared at the fire. “Are we ever - I...No matter what I was, I’m just a man with his heart laid bare. I leave us in your hands.”
“I just needed time to process, Thom. I wasn’t quite sure how to- At first I thought we’d forget Blackwall and start anew, but I realized I really can’t do that. I really can’t forget all those memories. I don’t want to.” Basya said, picking up his hand.
“Me neither, but I don’t know how to be with you as Thom Rainier.”
“We’ll figure it out.” She said. Thom squeezed her hand as Basya moved closer.
“Together.” He was slow as if giving her every opportunity to pull away, so Basya closed the distance, lips between his. Thom’s hand slid up to her thigh as they kissed. He parted to look at her as if entranced by her beauty. Basya leaned forward, resting her chin on his shoulder, arms around his neck.
“I missed you so much.” She whispered and his arms wrapped tighter around her.
“I really am the luckiest man in the world.” Thom said. Basya thought they could stay entwined like this and she’d be in pure bliss for the rest of her life.