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“Rook’s good.”
Isabela refused to turn around when she heard the familiar voice behind her. It would only encourage him, she knew. Encourage him to leave again, and then come back. Just like he always did. And then she’d have to be sad, and grateful, all over again. She refused to do it — just like she always had. And Hawke knew it too.
She glanced casually over her shoulder, catching a glimpse of the familiar worn armor Hawke had donned for years now.
“Here to catch a show?” she asked casually, knowing he would call her out on her bullshit.
Hawke snorted in response. “I come all the way to Rivain to see you and that’s your first question?”
Isabela sighed, something so uncharacteristic it caught the attention of almost everyone nearby. And then of course they looked at Hawke.
“Who’s this guy?” a voice asked from behind them. Isabela couldn’t help but smile as Hawke looked over his shoulder at a qunari nearly a full head taller than him. As he looked up at the intruder, Isabela resisted a laugh. It would be out of character, after all.
“This is the former Champion of Kirkwall,” Isabela explained with a slight smirk as Taash peered at the Champion with an inquisitively disarming glare that left him speechless.
“Yo,” Taash said curtly, turning their attention to Hawke, who looked positively flabbergasted.
“Yo…?” he repeatedly slowly, looking up at the qunari beside him.
“Yeah,” Taash replied.
“Um… y…o….?” Hawke attempted, earning a snort from Isabela behind him. He turned to glare at her briefly before returning his attention to the qunari. “Since Isabela doesn’t feel the need to introduce us…”
“That’s Taash,” Isabela finally offered, showing no remorse. In fact, she seemed delighted by the awkwardness that only Hawke seemed to feel. “They’re on loan to Rook.”
“Oh yeah, I just watched,” Hawke replied with a nod. “So, um… Darkspawn, huh?”
Isabela gave Hawke the look. “Shut it.”
“You know, I’ve seen darkspawn,” Hawke replied casually, a smirk forming on his face.
“I said shut it, Hawke,” Isabela warned, glancing at Taash who still stood nearby. She sauntered up to him while Taash was distracted, and with a strategically placed hand on his hip, whispered in his ear, “that was Bob.”
Hawke was silent a moment, before a grin spread across his face. “Bob…?” he whispered back.
“Shhh,” Isabela hissed as Taash turned their attention back to the two of them.
“Did you say something?” they asked. Hawke smirked, and Isabela jabbed him in the ribs.
“Ow!” Hawke complained.
Taash glanced at him, but Isabela was ready. “Don’t mind him. Hawke gets muscle cramps now and again. Because he’s old, you understand.”
“Because I’m—?” A quick glance from Isabela shut him up right quick.
“I have some business to discuss with Hawke,” Isabela explained to Taash as she grabbed Hawke by one of the many straps on his armor. “I’ll catch up with you in a bit.”
Hawke open his mouth to speak, but before he could get a word out Isabela was dragging him away. He resisted his urge to protest as she dragged him down a flight of stairs, and then up a flight of stairs, and past a half dozen groups of her own people. Finally, she dragged him into a secluded nook, and before he could say anything she threw him against the wall and pressed herself — and her lips — against him.
It had been months since he’d seen her, and he should have been focused on the feeling of her body against his — how her tongue felt in his mouth. But all he could focus on was, “…pickles…?”
Isabela pulled away from him just enough to give him the most baffled and almost offended look she could muster. “Pardon?”
“You… taste like pickles,” Hawke clarified as she stared at him. Her stare only grew more severe.
“Is that offensive?” Isabela asked in return, looking particularly annoyed.
Hawke knew right away he was in trouble. “No!” he offered quickly — perhaps too quickly. “I mean, I love pickles. I just. I wasn’t… y’know… prepared.”
Isabela stared at him, her hips still pressed flush against his as she kept him pinned against the wall. “You need to be prepared for pickles?” she asked casually, in a way that made Hawke try to shrink further into the wall.
He let out a timid lackluster laugh. “Well, I…”
“Shall I give you a warning next time?” Isabela asked, digging her fingernails into his hips. “Dear Hawke, I’ve had three pickles today…”
Hawke just couldn’t help himself. “Well, I don’t think it was just three.”
Isabela’s nails dug even harder into his hips.
“Ow!” Hawke complained. “I’m sorry, alright??”
“Do you know how long it’s been for me, Hawke?” Isabela asked, almost casually, as she stared deep into his fearful eyes.
“Six days…?” Hawke offered hopefully.
“If you’re smart, you’ll enjoy the taste of pickles,” she continued, ignoring him and tracing a finger along his jaw. Hawke swallowed hard enough for her to feel it.
“I… I think I could enjoy the taste of brine,” Hawke replied with a weak smile.
“Good boy,” Isabela crooned, pushing herself away from him before moving toward the edge of the room. Hawke looked at her curiously, prompting a sigh of annoyance from Isabela. “Are you coming?”
“Oh, right.” Hawke quickly fell in step behind her, following her out of the room and through the compound. “Hey, what about Taash…?”
“What about them?” Isabela countered with a raised brow.
“You said you’d—”
“—catch up with them in a bit,” Isabela finished with a smirk. “I will, Hawke, but I’d rather catch up with you first.”
Hawke couldn’t help but smile at that thought as Isabela led him into her private quarters.
Isabela was doing what she did best when there was a knock at the door. “Come in,” Isabela barked.
“What??” Hawke yelped, his eyes wide as he stared at her, perched atop him, as the door opened and Taash entered. Hawke’s cheeks blushed a rosy pink, although neither Isabela nor Taash seemed perturbed by the situation.
“Rook’s out of darkspawn to fight,” Taash announced. Hawke couldn’t tell if they were ignoring or used to Isabela’s situation. Although he wasn't sure if it mattered.
“Ugh, tell Steve,” Isabela ordered with a roll of her eyes.
Taash nodded with a grunt, then exited the room. Hawke stared at Isabela with a perplexed look on his face.
“What?” she asked, looking down at him.
“Do people just walk in on you all the time these days?” he asked with a laugh.
“Oh, don’t be such a prude,” she chided with a smirk. “I don’t think they even noticed you were here, to be honest.”
Hawke frowned, although he couldn’t keep a hint of a smile off his face. “I’m not sure how I should feel about that.”
“Feel good,” Isabela replied, leaning down toward his face. “Imagine the scandal.”
Hawke’s smirk returned in full. “I always enjoyed our scandals.”
“Mmm, I remember,” Isabela purred. “Let’s give our next visitor a real show.”
“Next….?” Hawke began, but before he could finish Isabela silenced him the best way she knew how.