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“Rook’s gone. Bel’s been taken by Elgar’nan. And now you’re leaving too?!” Neve yelled, words lashing out harsh and pained, as she stood with her hands on her hips and stared at the defiant looking Crow whose expression remained oddly neutral.
Neve glared and Matteo just stood there, impassive, silent, as she had been for the last ten minutes ever since she’d told Neve she had a contract to fulfill and would be away until it was complete. Neve was tired, her body was in so much pain, and her heart hurt even worse… When Matteo had appeared in her doorway she’d felt relief, and she’d almost given in to the urge to throw herself into her arms, but then Matteo had told her why she’d come. Neve’s joy had been snatched right out from underneath her nose, and all she’d been left with was fear and anger.
“I have about five minutes left. You want to keep yelling at me? Or should I just go now?” Matteo asked flatly, something in her eyes conveying that she was braced for the worst, and that made a wave of shame start to build in Neve’s chest.
Silence stretched between them, as Neve tried to find the words, any words that might make this better. But she didn’t have anything, she just wanted to scream and cry. She wanted Matteo to hold her and not leave, but that wasn’t going to happen. Neve knew better.
“Right. I’ll get going then. I’ve got work to do. Take care of yourself, Neve.” Matteo announced after another minute of silence had gone by. She gave Neve a nod, hesitated for just a heartbeat, and then turned and headed for the door, her cape rustling slightly as she did so, because her footsteps were silent as usual.
“Trouble, wait.” Neve blurted out, as she strode around her desk, and found herself reaching for the Crow who immediately paused her exit in response.
Matteo waited, half turned towards Neve, eyes moist but jaw tensed, as Neve grabbed her arm and stared at her with eyes that burned from unshed tears.
“Are you sure you can’t stay here?” Neve asked, as she held Matteo’s hand in both of her own, tethering them together.
Matteo’s face shifted, something akin to frustration making her lips pinch for a moment before she shook her head, and replied, “No. It would be pointless. I am of no use here. You have Mary, she’s the one good at figuring things out, plus the rest of your team. I’m not a hero like you lot, I’m an assassin, and a spy. If there is any way to get Rook back, you’ll figure it out.”
Neve ground her teeth, frustration that Matteo refused to see herself as anything other than a weapon or a tool adding fuel to the anger that she had about Matteo leaving. Matteo gave her a funny look and then sighed, as if Neve had just let her down in some way.
“Look, I don’t have the time to keep doing this. I get it, I’m a disappointment. You always deserved better than me, so if you just want to break things off, I’ll understand. I’ve told you time and again that I would lay my life down for you, and that won’t ever change. I love you, Neve Gallus. But I swore oaths, and I am no good to you if I stay here. I’ve a contract to fulfill, maybe if we’re lucky, we’ll survive shit and you’ll get another opportunity to yell at me.”
Matteo finished her little speech by darting forward and placing a tender kiss on Neve’s cheek before she pulled her hand free from the other woman’s grasp and just walked out the door. Neve just watched her go, expression frosty. After a moment of just standing there she angrily swiped the moisture from her eyes and went back to her desk to go over the notes Emmrich had given her to look over.
Almost a week later, Neve heard a knock at her door, and looked up to find Mary standing in the doorway looking concerned.
“What’s up, kid?” Neve asked, as she motioned for Mary to come on in.
“I have some information you might or might not want to hear… It’s up to you.” Mary answered, as she walked over and came to a stop in front of Neve’s desk.
Neve leaned back in her chair and studied Mary’s unusually somber face. Now that Neve had met Mary’s mother, Vaelyn, she could see the similarities they shared. Right now, however, Mary was all herself, and the look she was giving Neve filled her both with curiosity and dread.
“Clearly it’s information you thought I should have, since you came here to offer it to me. What’s it about, Freckles?” Neve asked, noting that Mary didn’t seem to mind her using Varric’s nickname, which meant whatever this information she had was, it wasn’t anything to do with him or their shared past.
“It’s about Matteo.” Mary informed her, as she shifted uneasily and crossed and then uncrossed her arms.
Neve’s slight smirk melted away, leaving Neve looking frosty and reserved once again, as she did her best to hide how hard her heart had hammered in her chest at just the mention of that Antivan’s name.
“Alright, spit it out.”
Mary gave Neve a hard look, before she took a deep breath and told her, “I learned what her contract was. She was sent by some Merchant Prince to retrieve his nephew from Minrathous, and she did it.”
Neve opened her mouth to comment, but Mary shook her head and continued before she had a chance to say anything.
“She stayed in Minrathous afterwards. Told Viago that the Crows needed better information about the situation, so when the time came, the Veilguard would have details about the Venatori and Elgar’nan’s fortifications and forces. Today I got a note from Tarquin, he wanted me to know that The Menace has been saving kids…”
Neve just stared at Mary, as she tried to process everything.
“You’re telling me that Matteo is in Minrathous, helping the Shadow Dragons, and saving people?” Neve asked incredulously, while leaning forward in her chair so she could brace her arms against the desk.
Mary nodded, staying quiet as Neve closed her eyes for a moment and clenched her hands into fists before carefully uncurling them.
“Thanks for telling me, Mary. If you see Lucanis, could you let him know I need to talk to him?” Neve asked, a little too calmly for Mary’s liking she could tell, but Mary didn’t pry any further. She just replied with a quick, “No problem” and then left Neve alone with her thoughts…
Neve wasn’t alone too long though, as Lucanis walked into her room after only ten minutes or so had gone by. He took one look at Neve’s face and then held up a hand to signal she should wait, before he left the room again. Neve waited, and was rewarded for her patience by Lucanis returning with two cups of freshly brewed coffee just a little while later.
He waited until she’d taken a sip of hers before he asked, “What do you wish to talk about, Neve?”
“Did Matteo tell you what she was planning on doing?” Neve countered, her anger at Matteo making her words sharp, as she stared down the First Talon of the Antivan Crows.
Lucanis remained calm, his newly acquired canine shadow regarding Neve with her big soulful eyes from her position next to his hip, as Neve waited for his reply.
“She did not. Which shouldn’t surprise you. Birdie didn’t earn her reputation by being predictable or cautious, Neve.”
“She’s going to get herself killed. And for what?” Neve said, as she dropped her eyes to stare at her brightly colored nails.
“Neve… Do you actually want me to answer that? Because I think you already know the answer.” He replied, his expression softening as he watched her while still gently cradling his coffee cup.
Neve bit her lip and shook her head, because he was right. Matteo was in Minrathous for Neve, because the stupid idiot had decided to fight for Neve’s home while Neve couldn’t. Maker, Neve had been so blind. Matteo had time and time again told Neve she’d do anything for her. Not for the world, but for Neve.
“I’ve been a fool. I let my fear stop me from… Venhedis.” Neve muttered, half to herself. She’d accused her Trouble of being selfish, of not taking Neve’s feelings into consideration, and worse…
“If it’s any consolation, Viago is equally upset.” Lucanis offered wryly, before taking another sip of his coffee. Neve made a small sound of amusement in response, because it was a small consolation to know she wasn’t the only one both worried and frustrated with Matteo. She took a sip of her coffee, savoring it as she considered just how she was going to apologize to Matteo once she got her back. Because she was going to get her back, and save her city too.