Archive of Our Own ^beta

"Garrett, are you going to tell me where we're going now?"

"You trust me, don't you?" Hawke asked back instead of giving an answer. They've been climbing up the hills of the Wounded Coast for some time now, but have only just left Fenris and Isabela at the last crossroad. It must be close to midnight by now, so Anders couldn't possibly guess what they were doing here at such an odd hour.

"Of course I do. I just don't want to walk into something or someone blindly. And why did we leave Fenris and Isabela?"

"We're not walking into anyone. And Fenris and Isabela will make sure nobody walks in on us either."

"You...," Anders began, giving Hawke a suspicious look, "tell me you didn't drag me all the way here just for some outdoor sex."

"Well..," Hawke avoided looking Anders in the eyes, "I didn't! But I definitely hope our outing ends with it," he grinned hopefully, "Oh, we're here!"

Anders looked around. The location didn't seem special. One of the bushes was still charred from a fight they had with the Tal-Vashot some weeks ago. At least the rain seemed to have washed away all the blood and gore. Hawke was elbows deep in another bush from which he pulled out a blanket and a... picnic basket.

"I thought," Hawke began with an uncharacteristic shyness colouring his voice, "a romantic picnic under the stars with a sea view would be nice. It's just that everything in and near Kirkwall kinda sucks so this is the best location I could find."

Anders watched with wonder and adoration as his lover set the blanket up and magicked several blue and purple mage lights in the air. Suddenly the location didn't look nearly as dismal as before.

Being on the run from the Chantry and templars wasn't something new to Hawke. It's never been quite this intense before, yes. But on the other hand - he didn't need to be as careful not to leave a trail of templar corpses now as he had been when the whole Hawke family was running. And if he was being honest - this reckless style fitted him rather well. Being careful was more his father and Bethany's style. It was ironic that he was the one still alive.

He knelt down and splashed cool water on his face from the crisp narrow river. He spotted a fat fish, and with a swift burst of force magic, he had caught himself and Anders dinner. It had taken him a couple of days to perfect this method. Anders had shot down his very first suggestion of using the knife end of his staff as a spear to catch fish. Granted, Hawke had meant it as a joke, an attempted to cheer up his lover. It hadn't worked out.

Anders had built the fire and was setting their sorry tent up between two trees at the very edge of the forest, carefully avoiding the mud patches still present from the rain earlier. Dog was dutifully marking his new temporary territory.

"Hey, love," Hawke called out and held up the fish for Anders to see, "I got us di-AAH!"

Before he could even react, and with his hands being busy, he swiftly fell face first in a mud patch, his foot getting caught in a rather gnarly root. He was still holding the fish above the ground though, like a sacred offering to a god. He swore but only gargling sounds made it through the mud. Fuck this day, honestly.

Ha had barely lifted his very muddy face from the ground when he heard it. Laughter, pure and unfiltered, spilling from Anders's lips. It was music to Hawke's ears. He cleared the mud from his face and looked at his lover.

"It’s so nice to hear you laughing again," he said, and immediately wished he had kept silent because the laughter ceased not a moment later. A series of emotions crossed Anders's face before he lowered his eyes to the ground.

"I don't deserve it. And especially not at your expense."

"That's your opinion," Hawke replied, "which is wrong by the way. And I'll keep telling you that as many times as it takes. But I do miss your laughter. Hmm, shall I fall in the mud again?" He grinned at his own question, pulling a smile from Anders as well.

"I think you got quite enough mud on you for today, love."

"You’re safe here. Always." Hawke spoke against Anders's lips before untangling from his lover and moving towards the desk to rummage through the drawers, still naked from their lovemaking.

Anders knew that was a lie. He wasn't safe anywhere, not really. He had learned his lesson with the Wardens. But Hawke truly believed his words, and that meant the world to Anders. He hadn't expected to meet anyone who would care so much for him, who would invite him in his home and share it with him.

Hawke returned with an old key on a string. Anders sat up and tilted his head in curiosity.

"I want you to have this," Hawke said, "I- it should've occured to me sooner to give it to you, but I just, I don't know, I guess I didn't consider that templars might be going to Darktown, which is silly now that I think about it but-"

"It's alright, Garrett, you didn't know," Anders reassured him, "Is the key to this estate?"

"No, well, yes. I'll get you one for the front door. This one's for the basement actually. The tunnel under the basement leads to Darktown, almost exactly to your clinic. So, I want you to have a quick escape route, just in case."

Anders's heart swelled. He might not be completely safe anywhere, but Hawke was doing his damn best to make sure Anders was as safe as possible anyway. A simple 'thank you' would not suffice. Hawke could be saving his life with his little gift. And the words got stuck in Anders's throat anyway, so he pushed Hawke back into the soft mattress and kissed him hard in appreciation.