Chapter Text
Alex heard his chamber door open as if in a daze. He was so bent on getting everything settled that Dorian was halfway into the room before he looked up from his desk. "My my, you are quite dedicated," Dorian said as Alex cracked his neck. He'd been bent over letters and decrees and reports for hours.
With a sigh, Alex put his quill down. "And here I thought I'd never have to write a political letter ever," he mused.
Dorian chuckled softly. "From one noble line to another I suppose," he said.
"I wouldn't call the Inquisition nobility," Alex smirked.
"No?" wondered Dorian. "What will all the letter writing, planning, plotting, and searching for favour? I'd say they're quite similar in fact." Alexander laughed and Dorian gestured to the sofa. "Do you mind if I read a while here?" he asked. "The lighting is quite fine in your quarters, and the library has gotten crowded these days it seems."
Alexander nodded. "By all means," he said. "Though you don't need an excuse to be in the same room as me you know."
"Aw, look at how highly he thinks of himself," Dorian teased, sitting down on the sofa and sprawling out as he was inclined to do. He cracked open the book in his hand and sighed. "Besides," he added, "how could you complain about this gorgeous eye-candy you now have for your benefit." He gestured to himself without taking his eyes from his book.
Alexander laughed, trying to match Dorian's mocking tone, but it backfired slightly. In all honesty, Alex would have Dorian around him all the time if he could. In fact he almost did now; they may as well be attached at the hip. But as Alex went back to his writing and Dorian casually read across the room, Alex couldn't keep his eyes from darting up every now and then. More often than not he was looking at Dorian through his lashes, watching him turn the pages or scratch at his moustache in thought.
It was times like these that Alexander quite enjoyed Dorian, just as a person. Never mind the mage part, never mind the Tevinter ties...forget it all. Alexander just liked Dorian for Dorian, and sometimes during all their hectic escapades it was hard to forget that they were both just people. Simple, ordinary, engrossed-in-each other- people.
"You'll never get your letters finished if you keep looking at me," Dorian said as Alex stared for a particularly long time. Dorian didn't even have to look up from his book to know Alex was gawking.
Alex chuckled. "Well you are rather distracting."
Dorian turned and smiled over his shoulder. "And why do you think I'm sitting with my back to you?" he said sweetly. "I'd never get any reading done if I faced your way."
Alex smiled. "Then why come here at all?"
"I told you," Dorian said. "I like your quarters."
Sighing, Alex smirked and went back to his work. Josephine would be desperate for these letters, and the sooner he sent them off the sooner he could relax. At least to some degree. Eventually Alexander got back into the flow of it all, letting himself actually get distracted by all the cordialities and social graces that went into letter writing. When he heard the sound of his chamber door open once again, he barely flinched.
"Inquisitor," Josephine said, coming up the stairs a little sheepishly. "Forgive the intrusion but I was hoping to get those...letters..."
Dorian turned over his shoulder to see Josephine staring down at him with wide eyes and an open jaw. "Ambassador," he said sweetly, a little amused by her shock. His art of playing it cool only threw her off more.
Alexander was just finishing up his last little scribbles. "I have them here, they're almost ready, Josephine," he explained. He gave her a brief glance and saw that she had further reports in her hand, likely for him. "Ah, Cullen's recruits, hand them here please," he said, holding his hand aloft for her to deposit the papers.
But she stayed stock still, having an apparent staring contest with Dorian. He tilted his head at her and leaned an arm back over the sofa. "Archdemon got your tongue?" he joked.
"I uh..." Josephine seemed to think about that for a moment, but her gaze slowly shifted away from Dorian and to the floor.
"Josephine?" Alex prompted with his hand still out.
She looked at him and jumped. "Oh," she stammered, coming over with the papers and placing them in his palm. "Forgive me, Inquisitor. I...was distracted."
"Alexander get's distracted by me as well," Dorian said quietly, almost to himself. He went back to his book and Josephine turned to stare at him once again.
Alexander gave a crooked, half-displeased smirk. He folded up his letters elegantly and stacked them together. Holding them out to Josephine, he watched as she continued to stare at Dorian sitting on the sofa. Alex cleared his throat.
She turned. "Ah, thank you Inquisitor," she said casually, reaching for the letters and giving Alex a little bow. "I'll have them sent off immediately."
"Right, very good Josephine," Alex said with a smile.
As she walked away she cast one last glance at Dorian, who waved at her without looking away from his book. "Ta ta," he said.
When the door closed, Alexander chuckled. Dorian closed his book on his fingers. "Well that was amusing," Dorian said.
"I think she was absolutely astonished by your presence here," Alex smiled.
"And maybe a little disappointed that she didn't interrupt anything," Dorian winked.
Josephine was, from what Dorian and Alexander could tell, the first to really get the idea about them. True there had been multiple rumours, almost from the day Dorian arrived at Haven, but now that they were true...Somehow, the fact that Dorian and Alex had privately agreed upon a relationship suddenly meant that everyone knew it. Alex didn't suspect Josephine of gossip, though Dorian did, but there was also a very obvious change in the way they treated each other. They clearly spent more time together now, and Dorian was the first choice for every mission Alexander put together. More often than not, if one of them was missing, the other was sure to be as well.
And people started to notice. And when people notice an absence, they make up answers. And those answers just so happened to be true. Soon, everyone knew. And neither Dorian nor Alex really cared all that much. Besides, it was almost amusing to have everyone ask them questions about it. Alex was a bit better at avoiding confrontations about their relationship, what with being the Inquisitor and so highly respected. But Dorian got a good amount of questioning, and he perfected his responses. It was Alex's favourite thing to overhear just how Dorian really felt...
***
They made their way across a damp rocky hill, Alexander in the lead as usual, when behind him he overheard Cole and Dorian conversing easily. Dorian wasn't exactly one for Cole's mind reading, but he had nothing against the lad. True, Cole gave Dorian the hee-bee-gee-bees every now and then, but overall they seemed on good terms.
"You're happier now, Dorian," Alex heard Cole say.
Dorian chuckled lightly. "Is that what this light tingly feeling is? I suppose you're right!" he joked.
Alex could almost hear Cole's little smile. "Wishing and wondering, wounded and wistful...What if he doesn't want me after?"
Dorian was quiet a moment, and Alex wondered if he was glaring at Cole. But his voice, when he spoke at last, was gentle. "But he did," Dorian said quietly.
Cole actually chuckled. "Now you're smiling!" he said cheerfully. "It's good!"
***
"You're smiling a great deal these days, Dorian," Cassandra said to Dorian as they sat by the campfire. Alexander had turned in early, but he could hear them plain as day, and it made him smile as he lay in his little bed roll.
"I always smile," Dorian said nonchalantly. "People like my smile. And they should! I have excellent teeth."
Cassandra sighed. "Do you always do it while starting dreamily into the distance?" she challenged.
"Depends how long until dinner," Dorian replied.
"Ugh," groaned Cassandra, and from his tent Alexander was chuckling.
***
They sat in the tavern as the bard played, and Alexander had walked off to the bar to order another round. In the background it was plain to hear Sera immediately pick up the advantage. Leaning into Dorian, she nudged him. "You and the Inquisitor, hey?" she smirked. "What is that like? Jousting?"
"Fewer horses, marginally," Dorian stated matter-of-fact. "More cheering, definitely."
"Hah ha!" Sera chuckled. "Nice."
***
"I received a letter the other day, Dorian," Vivienne remarked, having climbed the spiral staircase to the library. She found Dorian sitting in his usual alcove, lost in the pages, but little did she know around the corner Alex was musing over the volumes. He listened with a sigh.
"Truly?" Dorian chided, turning a page. "It's nice to know you have friends." He wasn't a fan of Vivienne, to say the least.
Alex peered around the corner to see her frowning at Dorian, but her lips were still slightly playful. "It was from an acquaintance in Tevinter expressing his shock at the disturbing rumours about your...relationship with the Inquisitor."
Dorian sighed and closed his book on his finger. "Rumours you were only too happy to verify I assume," he stated.
She smiled wryly at him. "I informed him the only disturbing thing in evidence was his penmanship."
Dorian tilted his head. "Oh," he said lightly. "Thank you."
"I am not so quick to judge, darling," Vivienne said, putting a hand on her hip. "See that you give me no reason to feel otherwise."
"Ah," he grinned. "There's the Vivienne we know and avoid." And with that he went back to his book and she laughed softly before walking off. Alexander was sure that the only reason they disliked each other was because their wits were so easily matched.
***
Blackwall and Dorian sat near each other over dinner, with Alex at the head of the table talking casually with Varric. In a small interlude, he overheard yet another little clash between the warrior and the mage. This time, about Alex and Dorian.
"I overheard you at the tavern, Blackwall," Dorian was saying, as if warning. He'd had his fair share of drink for the evening, and he was wobbling his head a bit in that way of his. "Asking about the Inquisitor and I."
Blackwell immediately looked down. "I...was unsure I'd heard correctly," Blackwall said in his defence.
"You have a question?" Dorian asked boldly. "Are your whiskers quivering with curiosity?"
Blackwall cast a quick look at Alexander, who unfortunately caught his eye and gave a sort of smile as if to say, "Well?" Blackwell cleared his throat and looked back to Dorian. "I would not pry into the Inquisitor's business," he said quickly.
Dorian leaned across the table. "Are you certain?" he grinned. "I can draw diagrams?"
Blackwall frowned. "No. Thank you."
***
They headed towards camp after a long day, Varric and Dorian chatting in the background as Blackwall led the pack. Alexander was exhausted, and all he wanted to do was sleep. But it was hard to ignore Varric and Dorian at their bets yet again.
"So what's your estimation, Varric," Dorian mused. "Do you think we can win?"
Varric chuckled. "You aren't asking me to give odds on our beloved Inquisitor's success, are you?"
"What would that look like?" Dorian wondered. "Three to one?" he laughed.
"In his favour?" Varric asked.
"After Corypheus pulled an Archdemon out of his ass, are you joking?" said Dorian.
Alex laughed and turned around. "I'll take those odds!" he called at them with another chuckle.
Varric grinned and Dorian smirked. "This is why I adore him so," he said dreamily to Varric, and it made Alex smile as he turned his back.
***
"Does it bother you?" Alex asked as he and Dorian stood together on the ramparts, watching the sun set over the mountains.
"Does what bother me?" Dorian asked, saddling up a little closer to Alex easily. He slid an arm around his waist.
Alex smiled. "All the questions," he went on. "Everyone always seems so ready to ask you about our business. No one ever asks me."
Dorian laughed. "They're too afraid to ask you," he said. "Can you imagine them just coming up to you and going, 'Nasty business this Corypheus thing. Terrible breach in the sky too, just awful. But I hear you're getting a bit of action on the side so well done!'"
Alex gave Dorian a little shove but he came back to his side easily. "I mean you were so worried about what people would think," Alex said as the sky grew darker. "You told me that. I don't want you to worry that they'll think you're a corruption, or a bad influence on me."
"I have sort of been a bad influence," Dorian joked, but Alex just raised a brow at him. Dorian sighed. "I suppose I don't mind anymore," he admitted. "I'm too caught up in you. Let them think what they want. Let them say I've corrupted you, or let them say all this is just scandalous fun. I don't care about them...I care about you." Alex looked at Dorian with a little grin, blinking in the dim light and blushing. "Look how adorable you are, how could I not?" Dorian finished.
Alex rolled his eyes and groaned, pretending to walk away, but Dorian grabbed him and pulled him back for a passionate kiss for all the world to see.