Chapter Text
“Garrett.”
Hawke groaned and pulled the covers over his head, keeping his eyes shut. Warm fingers pressed on his ribs and he pushed them away. “Later. Sleep now.”
“I would, but your phone keeps buzzing,” Anders mumbled.
Pushing the blankets back down, Hawke stuck out a hand and groped around his nightstand. He hadn’t heard anything, but Anders was a much lighter sleeper. When his fingers finally closed around his phone, it began to vibrate, and he felt guilty for leaving it on.
“I’m sorry, Anders,” he said, disconnecting the charging cable and rolling onto his back. “I’m just so popular. I can’t help it if my many admirers need my counsel at all hours.”
Anders snorted. “It’s 12:30 PM.”
Six messages from Aveline waited for Hawke. He scrolled to the beginning as Anders nestled up against his side.
I need to ask a favor.
Are you awake? You really should be.
Call me when you get this. I need to talk to you.
It is now noon. There is no reason you should still be in bed.
Forget what I just said and call me when you wake up.
Never mind. Don’t call me. It was a silly idea.
Anders draped a lazy arm over him. “So, who requires your guidance this time, oh wise Hawke?” he asked with a yawn.
“Aveline. Would you believe she actually does need help?”
“Wonder of wonders,” Anders grumbled into his chest. Hawke smiled and shifted his other arm free to respond to Aveline’s message. Anders lifted his head and squinted up at him through a curtain of tangled hair. “Wait, what happened to sleeping?”
Seeing Anders like this was the best part of these little sleepovers. He was so soft in the morning (or, in this case, the afternoon) and going back to sleep in his arms was tempting, but Aveline seemed upset. “Sorry, duty calls. But you’re welcome to keep sleeping on me.”
Anders sighed. “It’s no use, I can’t sleep anymore.” He pushed his hair out of his face and wrinkled his nose. “Besides, you need a shower.”
“We can’t all be gifted with your natural fragrance,” Hawke said as he typed. I’m up. Whatever you need, the answer is yes. He watched Aveline’s typing animation appear and disappear four times before he shook his head and called her.
Anders got out of bed and stretched his arms high over his head. “I’ll make some coffee.” Hawke tried not to let his eyes linger on Anders’s narrow back. It was already hard enough to focus on Aveline’s problems without noticing how low his flannel pants fell on his hips. The way he smiled at Hawke over his shoulder wasn’t helping, either.
“Thank you,” Hawke called as Anders opened the door. He almost tripped over Wrex, who was waiting in the hall.
“Sorry, Wrex.” Anders bent down–also not helping–to give Wrex an awkward pat on the head. “Do you want to go outside?” Wrex barked happily and followed Anders down the hall just as Aveline picked up.
“Hi, Hawke.” She sounded deflated. “I guess this means you got my messages.”
“I did and I believe you have your answer. Whatever it is, I’m doing it.”
Aveline heaved a sigh. “I appreciate the enthusiasm, but there’s no point. I’m sorry I woke you.”
“Well, technically, you woke Anders and he woke me. So you should apologize to him.” Her only response was a frustrated grunt. “Don’t worry, I’ll tell him for you.”
“Hawke, I’m in no mood for your humor.”
“It comes with the favor. Just tell me, Aveline. It can’t be that bad.”
The line fell silent for so long that Hawke wondered if she hung up. When Aveline spoke, he could barely hear her.
“I asked Donnic on a date.”
He broke into a grin. “It’s about time! How did you do it? Are you going to a movie? Coffee? Batting cages?”
She let out another groan. “Any one of those would have been better that what I suggested! But it doesn’t matter, I’m going to tell him I’m sick.”
“What, did you ask him to a funeral?”
“Canoeing. I asked him to go canoeing, Hawke. What was I thinking? It might as well be my funeral. Hours alone in a boat with nothing to talk about? He’ll swim overboard just to get away from me.”
“Whoa, whoa, Aveline. Canoeing isn’t a bad idea. Donnic seems like the outdoorsy type.” An image of Aveline and Donnic sitting in the canoe in silence popped into his head and he struggled to find another upside. “You can show off those guns of yours.”
“Really? You think he might like it?” Her voice was quiet, almost hopeful.
“He agreed to go, didn’t he?”
“He did, but…” Aveline trailed off and Hawke frowned. “I’m sorry, I should have asked you first, but I made it sound like you were already going. A group outing. It seemed safer.”
“Ah. Did you tell him I’d row the both of you around, singing songs? Perhaps wearing a striped shirt and a straw hat?”
“I suppose I deserved that. But Hawke, would you go? You can bring Anders. I just–I’d really like your support.”
“Of course I’ll go.” Convincing Anders to spend time outdoors was another matter.
“You will? Oh, thank you, Hawke!”
“But you actually have to show up this time. If I have to hear Donnic’s, ‘I’m flattered, Hawke, but I just don’t like you that way,’ speech again…”
“I will be there. I–thank you. This means a lot to me.”
Hawke smiled. “So when are we going?”
The line went silent for another moment. “Tomorrow.”
He clapped a hand to his forehead. “Well, I had a very full day planned, but as it’s you, I’ll cancel everything.”
“I owe you, Hawke. Anything you need, just name it.”
“Just show up and we’ll call it even.”
Aveline repeated her thanks and gave him the time and place before ending the call. Hawke shook his head and climbed out of bed, pocketing his phone. He heard the front door open and close, and then Wrex came bounding down the hall to greet him.
“Hey, boy! Feel better?” He crouched down to give Wrex a hearty scratch behind his ears. “Sorry we got up so late.” Wrex didn’t seem too bothered, and he tilted his head so that Hawke could hit the right spot.
Hawke headed to the kitchen where a mug of coffee with cream and sugar was waiting for him. Anders’s laptop sat open on the counter.
“Sorted everything out with Aveline?” Anders asked, pouring his own coffee and immediately taking a sip.
Slapping on what he hoped was an attractive smile, Hawke took his free hand and leaned in for a quick peck. “You’re so good to me, Anders. Taking care of my dog, making my coffee…how did I get so lucky?” Even though it was all true, Anders pulled back and scrutinized his face.
“What’s going on? Not that I don’t appreciate the sentiment, but you’re not usually this cheerful right after you wake up.”
“Just appreciating my boyfriend, whom I would love to take canoeing with Aveline and Donnic tomorrow.”
Anders’s lip curled up in disgust. “Canoeing? Is that what she wanted?”
“She’d love for us to go with them,” he said with an eager nod.
“Aveline said that? The same Aveline who almost reported me for rescuing all those puppies from the puppy mill?” Anders neglected to mention that, worthy as the cause was, he had broken into the mill to do it.
“But she didn’t report you,” Hawke pointed out.
“Only because you convinced her not to. If I recall correctly, she said I was a ‘bad influence’ on you and ‘nothing but trouble.’”
Those were her words. “But that was months ago! She likes you now.” Like was a strong word for how Aveline felt about Anders, but she was getting there. Hawke took a large drink from his mug.
“Even if she did like me, I still wouldn’t want to go canoeing.” He shuddered when he said it. “Bugs and sunburns and smelly water? You should take Isabela, it sounds right up her alley.”
Hawke pouted. “But I want to take you. Think of how romantic it would be. Just you and me, out on the water. I can row you around, we can have a picnic, perhaps a little canoodling.”
“I’m perfectly content canoodling at home, thanks,” Anders replied. “Besides, I have a lot of writing to do.”
“Please?” Hawke tried to make his eyes larger and jut his lip out further, but Anders just sighed.
“Do you really want to start a pouting contest with me, love? Because I guarantee you’ll lose.” It was true.
“Fine. I’ll ask Isabela.” Sulking, he pulled his phone out and sent her a text. Before he could pick up his coffee again, his phone rang. “Isabela! Couldn’t wait to talk to me?”
“Be that as it may, my hands are otherwise occupied at the moment. I’m giving Fenris a ride.”
Hawke’s eyebrows shot up, but Fenris’s voice cut in on Isabela’s line. “To work. She’s giving me a ride to work because my car broke down.”
“Well, you’re just no fun.” Isabela sighed. “Anyhow, Hawke, you needed something?”
“Aveline wants to double date tomorrow, and I figured you’d be just the person. Canoeing in Planasene Park, 9 AM?”
“Hmm, not that I don’t want to go out on the water, but don’t you have a boyfriend for that?” Isabela asked.
Hawke stole a look at Anders, who was typing away on his laptop. “He’s not big on the great outdoors.”
“It figures,” said Fenris with a scoff. “He’s probably never even seen a canoe.”
“Whereas you are an expert,” Isabela purred.
“I get by.”
“Really? That I’d like to see. I might even let you steer. Of course, that does make an odd number of people. You could always ride with us, Hawke, I’m sure Fenris wouldn’t mind.”
“Really, Fenris? You want to go?” Hawke asked. The typing stopped, and he looked up to see Anders’s shoulders stiffen. Hawke cringed as guilt hit his stomach. It was an accident, but he had a feeling the odd number problem was about to sort itself out.
After a pause, Fenris spoke. “I do have the day off.”
“Perfect!” Isabela said. “We can give Aveline a demonstration.”
“What exactly did you have in mind?” As usual, Hawke couldn’t tell if Fenris was agitated or interested.
“Why, a canoeing demonstration, of course. Bye, Hawke. We’ll see you and Anders there tomorrow.” He could just imagine the smirk on her face (and the scowl on Fenris’s) as he hung up.
Anders, who had resumed typing, tried to sound casual. “So, Isabela and Fenris are going now?”
“Apparently.” There was another pause.
“You were saying something about canoodling?”
Hawke couldn’t help but grin. Jealousy, unfounded as it was, was cute on Anders. He finished his coffee and leaned over to kiss him again. “It’ll be fun, I promise. I’ll personally guarantee you don’t get a sunburn, and if you fall in, I’ll rescue you.”
A small smile formed on Anders’s lips. “I do like the sound of that. But I might need a bit more persuading.” Hawke knew just what he had in mind, and pulled him away from his laptop and toward the shower.