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Andarateia Cantori has only met Rook a handful of times. First, when he inquired about the Demon of Vyrantium and Caterina revealed that Lucanis was, in fact, still alive. He had seemed sweet, if a bit naive. She could see the weight on his shoulders, even if she did not know exactly what the weight was.
She knew Viago likely thought him soft and weak, Caterina probably thought the same— but Teia was sure she could see the determination in his eyes.
Illario, she wasn’t completely sure of. He seemed more upset and frustrated by his grandmother’s decision to keep Lucanis’ survival a secret from him. Other than that, he seemed amicable towards Rook. But then again, Illario was known for being charming. It was hard to tell for sure.
When he returned with Lucanis, the joy of seeing him again, alive, felt bittersweet when they lost Caterina only moments before. Teia had to admit that she did not pay much attention to Rook, then. She had other things on her mind.
The second time was soon after, shortly before Caterina’s funeral. Teia was a little surprised to see Rook with Lucanis, but if Lucanis finally sought out someone else for comfort, who was she to deny him that? Besides, it was fun to flirt with Rook and hear Lucanis protest.
The third time was a lot more hectic. One of the blighted gods had sent a dragon to Treviso, causing chaos and destroying houses and buildings. She understood the importance of what they were asking of Rook — Treviso or Minrathous — but she could not pretend to be anything but relieved when he showed up with Lucanis and a Grey Warden.
Rook and his team fought hard and managed to drive off the dragon, but not killing it. But Teia counted it as a win either way. The dragon was no longer attacking and the people of Treviso were safe once more. From the dragon, at least. Not the Antaam.
The fourth time she met Rook, the Crows needed his help to find a missing scout. Lucanis had been with him, a reassuring shadow, eyes never quite leaving Rook. Teia had raised an eyebrow at this, never knowing Lucanis to be quick to bond.
She suspected he did not realize this himself.
Rook was eager to help, all gentle smiles and his heart on his sleeves. He was lucky he had Lucanis to watch his back. Teia was sure that if he went wandering around Treviso on his own, they would be down a leader quickly.
It was cute to see Rook’s reaction to Viago and her teasing each other. She had noticed the way he tried to keep himself from smiling, biting the inside of his cheek. Teia made a note to herself to tease him about that whenever the moment presented itself.
It was endearing as well to see the blatant interest in both Teia and Viago’s accents. At first glance, it seemed to be interest in them, but with the way his eyes followed Lucanis wherever he went, that idea went out the window quick. No, it was the way he hung onto their every word that gave it away.
Like she thought, adorable.
Sadly, the search for their missing scout did not end well. Jacobus arrived back at the Diamond alone, visibly distraught. His cousin Dareth had died.
When Rook had returned to the Diamond, governor Ivenci was there as well, complaining like they always did. Teia did not appreciate them coming to her home to tell the Crows what to do.
It was a little funny to see Rook’s indecision about whether to be kind to the governor or to be offended on the Crows’ behalf.
Of course, then Rook delivered the news of there being traitors in Treviso and she did not have the patience to listen to Ivenci any longer. Rook brought the news of Dareth’s death with teary eyes, something Teia had not seen before.
Living in Treviso, being among the Crows, you were taught from a young age — or from whenever you were taken in by them — to not show emotion. When you kill people for a living, there is not a lot of room for sympathy or tenderness. She knew that she was among the very few that did show sympathy, but only around people she trusted. Like Viago.
But Rook seemed genuinely upset about Dareth’s death, a man he had never met before. It seemed there were still things that could surprise Teia.
The next few times after that were mostly in passing, or during simple errands around Treviso. But always with Lucanis by his side.
She brought it up to Viago, once, but he seemed oblivious. Or, possibly more likely, uninterested and therefore not willing to humor her. Pity. Teia liked gossiping with him. He made it up to her, later. Intimately.
Teia doesn’t see much of Rook and Lucanis after that. The Crows are busy strategising how to get rid of the Antaam occupation and Rook’s team is busy fighting gods or whatever it is he does.
Illario showed his face once, gritting his teeth and talking about the demon in Lucanis. About Zara Renata finally being dead. About them getting their revenge. Teia did not like the way he looked or how he talked. But the older Dellamorte cousin was very good at turning the conversation around. She knew, because she was good at it, too.
Then, a letter from the Grey Wardens to finish off that blighted dragon. Viago had been concocting some more of his lethal poisons, made specifically to kill dragons. He looked positively gleeful about getting to use them and seeing his handiwork.
Teia found him most attractive, then. In his element, confident.
She went with him to the Anderfels and when both dragons finally fell, when Ghilan’nain was rendered mortal and vanished with Elger’nan, Rook was there. Tear tracks visible on his cheeks through the dirt and blood that caked his skin.
He had some minor scrapes, but nothing too bad. He was still standing, at the very least.
Rook looks tired and not just from using up all his energy and mana to fight. More a bone deep exhaustion.
And still, he manages a slow smile towards her and Viago when the conversation with the Grey Wardens is finished. Lucanis is by his side, as he always seems to be nowadays. The Qunari that had been with them had wandered off, so it was just the two of them.
“Nicely done, Rook! Treviso has its revenge.” Teia praises, putting her hands on her hips. Rook visibly glows from the compliments, growing shy. Sweet boy.
Viago nods from beside her, his fully gloved hands folding into crossed arms, “As does Minrathous.”
The glow Rook got from her praise slips away at the mention of the city and she glares at Viago. It’s clear that Rook holds a lot of guilt still around saving Treviso over Minrathous.
Lucanis seems to share her annoyance, glaring at the other Crow as well. Viago frowns at them, but says nothing more. Smart.
Rook wipes at his eyes with his gauntlet covered hand, smudging the dirt and blood more than wiping it away. He doesn’t seem to notice. His red curls are messy, too, stuck under the golden circlet he wears on his head. Teia hopes their Lighthouse has a bath. He looks like he needs one, a long one.
Then, Rook manages to surprise her again. His eyes flit from Lucanis to Teia to Viago, a nervous glint in them. Teia wonders what it means, but he answers the question for her.
“I… Could I maybe, um.” He seems to lose confidence for a moment, before nodding to himself and stepping up to Viago. Not too close — he would probably get a poison-laced dagger to the gut — but close enough to get the man’s full attention.
Teia can see Viago stiffen up and she has to admit, it’s a little funny.
“I wanted to thank you for helping us. I know I helped Treviso, but still. Can I.. um, hold your hand?”
All three Crows stare at the elf in pure confusion, perhaps Viago’s expression laced with panic.
It takes him a moment to gather himself, but then he asks somewhat high-pitched, “Why?” Teia can see his subtle backstep, putting a little more distance between himself and Rook.
Rook doesn’t seem to notice. He looks down at his hands, nervous once more. “I would like to give you a hug as thanks, but I know that’s not an option for you. And you’re wearing gloves and I’m wearing gloves. So I thought… But if you don’t want to, I understand. I’m sorry if this is, um, weird.”
He seems honest when he says Viago doesn’t have to, but it’s even clear to anyone who isn’t trained to notice these things that there’s disappointment in his expression when he says so.
And he somehow possesses the ability to look like a kicked puppy while doing so.
Teia stares daggers into Viago’s face, until she’s certain he can feel her gaze. Rook is making a good argument. Even Viago is not so cruel as to kick a puppy when it’s already down.
Lucanis joins her in looking at Viago long enough until he decides to just do it. He looks down at his gloved hand and then at Rook’s, likely imagining the kinds of poisons that are transmitted through touch. Ones that could bite through fabric.
Viago seems to come to a decision and he sighs, a little dramatically if Teia’s honest, and extends his hand towards Rook. Like his hand doesn’t belong to him.
Rook lights up bodily, curls bouncing and the tattoos on his face crinkling in delight. He immediately grabs Viago’s hand, gentle as always, of course. His fingers curl around Viago’s, a true hand hold.
If Rook had a tail, Teia is sure it would be wagging. Instead, he does little tippy taps with his feet on the stone beneath them, like, well, a bird. It’s incredibly sweet.
Despite his outward attitude, Teia knows Viago well enough to see the slight softening of his eyes. Fondness is creeping up on him, it seems.
Teia is not surprised. Rook is very easy to like.
Viago allows it for a few minutes more, longer than Teia would have thought. Their hands sway a little with Rook’s delighted steps, a soft little hum escaping his throat. He truly is like a puppy.
Lucanis’ expression is embarrassing, even for Teia. That amount of fondness should not be shown in public.
(She’s secretly very happy for them. Lucanis has always been uninterested, except for when he harboured a crush on Viago years past. She still teases him about it.)
It becomes clear when Viago wishes to take back his hand, because he clears his throat pointedly, but not unkindly. Rook catches on and gently takes his hand back, swaying still.
Viago puts one hand on his hip and the one he used to hold hands with Rook hangs loosely at his side. Teia is sure he will take it off immediately once they’re back in Treviso and will obsess until he’s sure it’s poison free. But it was still a very kind thing to do.
“I wouldn’t mind a hug.” Teia says with a grin, easily taking the attention off Viago. Rook beams at her and only puts his arms around her, when she puts her arms around him. Ever the gentleman.
His curls tickle her nose and his armour is very pointy, but she can feel his body relax slightly in her arms, like the weight is lifted off his shoulders for just a second.
She releases him with a gentle pat to his cheek, a little maternal, perhaps. Rook seems touched by the gesture.
Teia can’t help but to tease one more time, “No hug for Lucanis? Didn’t he just help you defeat that dragon face to face?”
Lucanis looks betrayed in her direction, but she can spot the slightest uptick of his lips underneath that beard of his. Rook’s eyes widen and he makes to throw his arms around Lucanis, when the rest of his team approach. Seems the moment is over.
Teia can feel the exhaustion hit her now, too. Best to return home and rest. This was not the final battle. She’s sure there’s more to come. The Crows must prepare.
They say their goodbyes and when Teia and Viago start their journey back to Treviso, Viago tells her with a pointed tone, “Not a word.”
She can’t keep herself from grinning the whole way back.