Chapter Text
“You’re exaggerating,” Adrian laughed, leaning lazily against the ship’s railing as Isabela and Fenris staggered aboard. Both were battered and smeared with soot, recounting a tale of chaos in town. Something about hundreds of demons, which, frankly, sounded like the kind of story Isabela would tell after one too many tankards. “It can’t possibly be—”
A blood-curdling scream from the docks interrupted him. Adrian turned sharply, his gaze snapping to the source just in time to see two massive pride demons clawing their way out of the ground.
His cocky grin froze, then melted into something far more serious. Straightening from his relaxed pose, running a hand through his messy hair as his voice dropped. “Oh… Yeah. This is bad.”
“Bad?” Isabela spat, rolling her eyes as she drew her twin daggers. “Bad was last week when the rum ran out, darling. This is an absolute disaster.” She stepped aside just in time to avoid a stampeding sailor who was fleeing toward the gangplank.
"Save your theatrics for later, Hawke," Fenris called as he rushed forwards towards the closest demon, "We need a plan."
Adrian scoffed, the teasing tone slipping into his voice again as he reached for his own daggers. “A plan, huh? Let me just consult my list of brilliant strategies for fighting pride demons materialising out of nowhere. Oh, wait—”
A deafening roar from one of the demons cut him off, its raw, vibrating power sending a shockwave of energy down the docks. Planks shattered into jagged splinters, and a nearby fishing boat erupted into a fiery inferno.
“Adrian!” Isabela cut him off, narrowly ducking under a blast of flames. "Less talking, more stabbing!"
Adrian let out a long, theatrical sigh. “Fine. Stab the demons, save the day, don’t die - simple.” He vaulted over the railing with an almost careless grace, landing lightly on the docks amidst the chaos. Drawing his daggers with an unnecessary flourish as he turned toward the nearest demon, smirking over his shoulder. “Just try not to look too impressed when I save everyone.”
"Hawke!" Fenris barked from somewhere, "focus!"
Adrian chuckled, sidestepping a blast of fire from one of the demons as he moved into position. "Bossy," he muttered, but the grin was still there, his focus shifting as the fight erupted around him.
"I'm not seeing any stabbing," Isabela called across, as she spun and twirled her daggers, swiping at the demon before quickly leaping out of its reach, "if these things break my ship you will be buying me a new one."
Adrian darted forward, his daggers flashing in the sun as he closed the distance between himself and the nearest demon. Launching himself at its side with a grace that made his reckless abandon seem almost calculated.
Isabela’s laughter echoed through the chaos. “Finally!"
Adrian’s smirk widened as he danced around the demon’s thrashing claws, his daggers finding their mark again and again with sharp, decisive movements. "Did you seriously doubt me Bella?"
Isabela's voice rang out above the din, a teasing smirk in her tone. "Oh, hun, I always doubt you." She twirled around, her daggers flashing as she sliced through the air, "too much talking, not enough action."
Adrian’s grin didn’t falter as he darted forward, slipping between the demon’s claws once again and delivering another quick strike. “Talking’s an art, Bella,” he shot back, “and not everyone can appreciate it.”
His daggers blurred through the air as he continued to attack, each strike landing with deadly accuracy. The demon shrieked, a guttural, pain-filled roar, but Adrian only dodged and retaliated, his movements a seamless combination of strategy and chaos.
"Would it kill both of you to be serious for once?" Fenris' voice rang out from nearby.
Adrian rolled his eyes, avoiding a blast of flame as he ducked behind a nearby crate, grinning all the while. “Serious is overrated,” he called back. “Besides, I’m getting all the stabbing done, aren’t I?”
“Just make sure you’re doing more stabbing than talking,” Fenris replied, his voice clearly exasperated.
“Hey!” Isabela called, elbowing Adrian as she rushed past, “What did I tell you about your weird ‘battle flirting’?”
Adrian grinned mischievously, giving her a wink as he ducked under the swipe of another demon’s claws. “To only do it when you’re watching?” he teased, just as Fenris snapped from across the battlefield, his voice a low growl. "There is no ‘battle flirting!’”
Adrian couldn’t help but laugh, sidestepping another hit as the demon roared in frustration. “Could’ve fooled me!” he called back to Fenris, his voice full of mock innocence.
“Focus, Hawke!” Fenris barked, his greatsword cleaving through the air with as he brought it down on one of the pride demons. The creature staggered but did not fall, its glowing eyes fixed on Fenris.
The other demon seized Adrian’s moment of distraction, a massive clawed hand striking him full in the chest and hurling him into a stack of barrels.
He hit hard. Wood exploded around him as the barrels splintered and rolled, one cracking against his ribs before he twisted free.
“Adrian!” Fenris’ voice carried across ghe dock as he fought his way toward him.
“I’m fine!” Adrian groaned, pushing himself up with a pained wince. “Though I think that demon owes me an apology. And possibly a new outfit.”
Isabela skidded to a halt beside him, grabbing his arm and hauling him to his feet. “If you’re done lounging, maybe you could get back to saving my ship?”
Adrian gave her a lopsided grin, twirling his daggers. “You’re right. My bad. Can’t let my captain down, now can I?”
The demon roared again, its fiery energy coalescing into a massive ball of magic that it hurled toward the ship. Adrian’s heart leapt into his throat as the projectile streaked through the air like a meteor.
“Fen!” Adrian shouted. “That thing’s aiming for the ship!”
“I see it!” Fenris growled, as he sprinted toward the demon, his lyrium activating as he leapt. Blade arced through the air, slicing cleanly through the demon’s arm.
Adrian let out a low whistle. “Impressive,” he muttered, his grin returning as he turned back to his own opponent. “Guess I’d better step up my game.”
“Or at least finish the one you’re fighting!” Isabela snapped, dodging another attack and delivering a flurry of blows to the demon nearest her.
With a flourish, Adrian closed the gap between himself and his demon, his movements fluid and precise. He darted in and out of its reach, his strikes relentless as he chipped away at the creature’s defences. Finally, with one last, perfectly aimed blow, the demon let out a spine-chilling scream and dissolved into ash.
Adrian turned, tossing a dagger into the air and catching it with a cocky smirk. “One down. Who’s next?”
Fenris shot him a glare, his glowing eyes narrowing as he parried a blow from the remaining demon. “The other one is still very much alive, Hawke.”
“Not for long!” Adrian quipped, already sprinting toward the fight. He slid under the demon’s massive swing, his momentum carrying him straight to Fenris’ side, "miss me?"
"Focus!"
“Yes, yes, 'focus', ‘less talking, more stabbing.’ You are both getting as bad as each other,” Adrian replied, already darting forward.
Fenris gave Adrian a look that could have melted steel, but he said nothing, instead pivoting to strike at the demon’s flank. Adrian grinned, feeling the adrenaline pumping through him as he weaved around Fenris and dove straight back into the fray.
The demon roared again, swiping furiously at the duo. Adrian ducked under its massive claws, spinning to the side and slashing at its exposed leg. “You know, Fen, you could at least pretend to appreciate my company.”
Fenris didn’t look at him, his greatsword slamming into the demon with a force that made the dock shudder. “I’ll appreciate you when you’re not distracting me mid-figth.”
Adrian laughed, “So… never?”
Isabela’s voice rang out from behind them. “Less flirting, more stabbing! I’d like to keep my ship intact, thank you very much!”
Adrian’s grin widened. “Everyone’s a critic.”
With a sudden burst of coordinated effort, the three struck in unison. The pride demon let out an earsplitting shriek before disintegrating into ash, the dark magic dissipating into the air.
Silence fell, broken only by the creak of the damaged docks and the distant shouts of fleeing townsfolk.
Adrian dusted himself off, sheathing his daggers with a satisfied flourish. “Well. That was fun. Who’s up for drinks?”
Isabela shot him a withering look, though a smirk tugged at her lips. “Drinks? You’ve got nerve asking after what you just put my ship through.”
Adrian placed a hand over his heart, feigning offense. “Put your ship through? Bella, darling, I saved your ship.”
“You saved it after flirting, bantering, and nearly getting yourself flattened,” Isabel shot back, shaking her head as she went to check that her ship truly had gotten away unscathed.
“Semantics,” Adrian said with a wink before glancing at Fenris, who was carefully cleaning his blade. “Come on, Fen. Back me up here.”
Fenris leveled him with a glare, his voice dangerously low. “You’re insufferable.”
Adrian’s smirk widened, though his tone softened. “And yet, here you are.”
Fenris didn’t answer immediately, instead sheathing his sword slowly. When he finally spoke, his voice was low, almost too quiet to hear over the creak of the dock. “Where else would I be?”
Adrian faltered for a split second before rolling his eyes, “Right. Guess that’s the part where I should say something romantic , like ‘I’d never leave you either,’ but…” he flashed a grin, before turning to follow Isabela, the easy swagger back in his step. “I'll save that for later.”