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Ezra flopped down into the chair, stretching out his legs, long arms arching over his head. He closed his eyes to listen to the sound of the city. It was nice to be back even if the wilds of the world could calm his heart in other ways Treviso couldn't. Being back in the city and enjoying the newest drink in the cafe was a treat that he deserved. As soon as he had arrived back into the city, he had reported directly to Viago to let him know that the contract was completed. Now it was time to relax and enjoy a few days of relaxation before looking for the next job.
He didn't know what it was but he liked to move around, even if the city was his home and where his friends were. It was like an itch in the back of his brain that made him want to always be moving around.
A small meow sounded on the ground before something bumped against his leg. He opened his eyes slowly and grinned down at the calico that sat prim and proper. Once she realized she had his attention, she gave a small chirp before jumping up into his lap and settling down.
"I'm sorry. You must have been upset for being without your lap for months. Whatever did you do? I'm sure there were softer laps. Maybe someone that can give you a permanent one, no?"
An ear twitched back to hear him talk before it straightened up and the rumble of a purr started low, front paws flexiing back and forth, making biscuits.
He chuckled as he leaned back, making sure to give suitable pets or else he would have failed in his companionship duties. He glanced to the side where his lute rested against the chair. That would have to wait as there was not room for both cat and instrument.
"I do need to get up eventually, you know." Ezra looked down at the small cat. He had wanted to get his drink that was probably waiting on the counter, but if he moved, the cat would be sure to make her unhappiness known. It was a lovely night to sit and relax. He could feel the calico's purrs vibrate through his legs. Perhaps it was because he was in the safety of a place that was always watched over by the Crows, Ezra relaxed and listened to the voices within the cafe. There was a vibrancy that had started to come back as everyone recovered from the remnants of the Antaam occupation.
"I hope I'm not interrupting either of you." The liquid voice behind him rumbled before sliding a steaming mug in front of him. Lucanis gestured to the other chair at the table. "If I may?"
Ezra straigtented up and he gave a small hiss as needle claws slide into even the leather covering his legs as the calico protested the abrupt movement. "Of course, First Talon."
Lucanis started to sit down before giving him a bemused look, shakin his head. "There is no need to stand on formality with me."
"It's only fiar. I don't want anyone to feel that I get preferential treatment because we had worked closely together to deal with the ancient mages and Solas."
"You're not going to call them gods, like everyone else had?"
Ezra made a face before shaking his head. "After all we've been through and what we learned, they never deserved to be called gods to begin with. But that is what the Dalish knew at the time, because we had no other information. So..." A small shrug. "Old mages that had visions of godhood." He paused as he picked up the mug to take a sip. "Something the Venatori had in mind for a long time." The burst of chocolate and coffee hit his tongue and he closed his eyes as the flavor. He opened his eyes to look over as the other man averted his gaze suddenly.
"Mm... Indeed. There is one less to worry about for the moment. I heard that you had a successful completion of contract. I was surprised that you had wanted to travel as far as you had after everything that you had already been through."
"I didn't mind. Plus, I did visit Bell when I was on the way back. It was great to talk to her. Emmerich was even there." He gave a grin. "Though he and Strife were in and out of the camp more often, so we exchanged greetings in passing. They were taking Manfred with them to train. He has gotten very talented. I am excited to see what he can do the next time I see him."
Lucanis tilted his head before giving a slow grin. "I never thought I would be happy to hear about how a intelligent wisp is doing."
Ezra's eyes darted to the First Talon and away to look over the city, the tips of his ears starting a slow burn. He never had gotten so worked up over someone's smile before. There was something about Lucanis'. There was the professional smile when he was dealing with people when he was in work mode and there was the one that the assassin used when he was around people he trusted. His dark eyes warmed like the chocolate in Ezra's coffee.
"Um..well, I mean, you could go with me next time, if I get a contract in the area. I'm sure they would be glad to see you and catch up.
"I will have to see. Unfortunately since Caterina named me First Crow after fighting with Illario, some come to me for leadership. Not everyone but I need to be around if the families want to talk. Once everything had been completed, she had indicated that I should stay close. But I will see what I can manage if the opportunity comes up."
Ezra grimaced a bit at that. "Apologies. I'm used to you being able to move around like before."
Lucanis' lips quirked a bit at that and gave a shake of his head. "It's all right. It is a responsibility that I knew came with the job. I've become used to being the one to go out and complete contracts and now I'm spending the time overseeing everyone else."
"Well, maybe you can take one here or there. I'm sure no one would object to the First Talon keeping in practice."
The assassin gave a chuckle. "That sounds better to me. I don't like not being able to work." He tilted his head and one brow quirked up. "And apparently Spite doesn't want me to get lazy and fat like the Merchant Princes."
"See, I'm glad Spite agrees with me." Ezra nodded. "In fact..." he glanced around. "Come on. I found a spot that had a view I had forgotten about." He picked the calico up and put her on the ground as she protested. He consoled her with a small pat and scritch behind the ears before straightening up and holding out a hand to help the First Talon up as well.
"I'm sure I've see the same sights but..." Lucanis paused in his movement before taking the accepted hand and pulling himself out of the chair. It had been a month since they had time to do nothing but pass each other as their duties as Crows took precedence over actually spending time together. And when he had taken the contract out of the city, that was time that they didn't see each other at all. He had forgotten how nice it was to just sit and enjoy coffee or hot chocolate and enjoy companionable silence.
Their relationship while dealing with the gods has been intense because there was always the threat of one of them not making it back. Now that things hada calmed down and the city was working to recover from the Antaam invasion and getting the trade ships flfowing again. His heart started to beat faster. This was going to be nice.
Ezra took his lute and put it behind the bar before leading Lucanis out of the cafe. No one looked twice as the lean elven man lead away one of the most powerful people of the city around like a small child. There was a ladder near where he wanted to get up on the roofs of the city. The weather was cool, with a bite of winter in the air but his leathers kept him cool and there the spot he was going to had shelter from the wind even if it did decide to start up.
"So, are you going to tell me where we're going exactly?"
Ezra snickered. "It wouldn't be a surprise if I told you. I could blind fold you but that would be a challenge on how well you know the city and I don't want you falling."
"Spite wouldn't let me fall." There was a pause. "Unless he knew that it would be amusing for him because he was mad at me for something."
"Only a little. If you were stupid."
Most people weren't used to when Spite decided to speak when Lucanis was around. Ezra knew that the demon kept a low profile since there wereothers within the Crows that wereuncertain about having what the world considered an abomination as the First Talon. Ezra had heard the whispers himself but hadn't done anything. Yet. He was waiting to see what Lucanis, Teia or Viago wanted to do. He knew they would protect him but if Ezra knew of someone planning to harm Lucanis, he would be right in front to protect the other man. Ezra wanted to enjoy his time with Lucanis and he wasn't going to stand around and let someone try to shorten that duration. He had a lot more to learn about the other man yet.
Five minutes of walking and jumping along the rooftops when Ezra found his spot and turned to face the cityscape, the moon starting it's slow rise up into the sky and the wind bringing the smell of brine from the water wafting in. He sat down and patted a spot next to him before nodding. "This is one of the better spots in the city where I like to come and relax."
Lucanis paused and swept his gaze over the line of the buildings that disappeared into the darkness of the sea before lowering himself down as well. "Very impressive. I might have passed by this spot at one point or another but never stopped to appreciate it. The line where the lights of of the city start to disappear into the sea. If there wasn't a moon out, it would look like stars dancing along the edge."
Ezra grinned, nodding as he stared out. "It really is something else." He leaned back on his hands, stretching out his legs. "Helps me think. When we were dealing with the old mages, it helped give perspective of what I was doing. If I was making the right decisions." He made a face before shrugging his shoulders. "I thought I did some days and other days, wondered why people would follow me. I know that I was picked because I fell into meeting with Varric and Harding." He blew out a breath. "I really miss them both."
Lucanis was silent for a moment before leaning over so that they bumped shoulders. "You made tough decisions in a tough situation. It's always a heavy burden when it comes to life and death. You worked with the information you had at the time, with the skill set of yourself and your team." There was a small pause. "I heard you calling their names when you were asleep. Were you dreaming about them?"
Ezra opened his mouth and closed it, mulling it over. "Sometimes I do. But it's the Fade. I wonder if they were just the memories I had of them or something new. Varric...I know he's gone. It took some time to get that straight in my head." His fingers tapped on the roof. "I took his things and gave them to the Inquisitor. She kept his coat but gave me his journal. She felt that I would do things justice with what he had written, even if it's to continue the story that he had written down." He looked over at Lucanis and gave a crooked smile. "I'm not much of a writer. Not like he was."
"I'm sure that he would be happy that you have it. Be it sitting on a shelf or finding someone to help you write his story. And we will find her." Warm fingers covered Ezra's and gave a squeeze. "There is no body so she has to be out there somewhere. Perhaps the Stone protected her. We know that anything or anyone blighted remained in the twisted form of what it was. Perhaps what she was doing to preserve the story of the Titans, maybe they reached out to save the one who was their voice."
Ezra gave a long breath out and gave a smile, even if he had to force the edges of his mouth to curl up. he had his own demons to deal with. He was doing his best and there were times when he was doing fine. Others when he wanted to curl up and ignore the world. Or even go out into the wild and lose himself for days because it would calm his soul. "I really hope so. I really do."
There was silence between them before a warm arm settled around Ezra's shoulders and pulled him into Lucanis's side in a hug. The First Talon turned and pressed a kiss against the crown of Ezra's head. "Whenever you want help to look for her, I'll be there, mi amor."
Ezra's heartbeat sped up before he wrapped his own arm around Lucanis, a small smile curling his lips. Hs head resting on the other man's shoulder. "Thank you."
Dark violet wings curled around them. "And thank you, Spite."