Chapter Text
Fenris’ fist plunged into his attacker’s chest. The woman screamed and dropped, her blood dripping from his gauntlets as he yanked out her heart. Turning, he dodged a downward swipe from a rage demon. His sword took the demon in what would have been its neck, the beast roaring and bursting into cinders.
He was gaining ground and slowly closing with the man that that he had called Master. His sword came up to parry another attack, and he laughed, the laugh turning into a wheezing gasp as a dagger sliced into his side. He spun, took the rogue’s head, and yelled, “I will die before I return to your side, Danarius!”
“It is Master, Pet, and you will learn your place,” The older man said, his hands clenching into fists.
Pain surged over Fenris as Danarius’ magic hit him. Something snapped in his chest, and suddenly, he couldn’t get enough air. He choked out a laugh. “You will have to crush me to win.”
Danarius’ response was to fling his arms out and claw at the air. Fenris felt his leg give way, and he fell, catching himself on his hand. The pain was excruciating: every breath, every movement, made it spike and grate. He was dying, and he didn’t care. Dying now meant dying free.
Black leather boots skidded into his line of vision. He heard Danarius ask a question, but was distracted by the sudden appearance of a barrier around him and the boots. His markings flared in response to the sudden casting, and Fenris tensed against the wave of pain he expected. No new pain swept over him; there was just a haze of warmth and the constant agony in his chest.
Warm, hazel eyes set in a handsome friendly face settled into his view. “Mage…” he whispered, licking at his cracked lips. “I. Will not. Go back.”
“You won’t. I swear it,” the man said. “You’re safe now.”
The words made him choke on a laugh. “Never safe. Danarius will always find me.”
“If you mean the older man, he’s dead. Nathaniel took him out with an arrow to the forehead.” The words accompanied the slide of a warm hand over his face. There was a snap of awareness and the smell of lavender and mint. The man inhaled sharply, eyes widening, hand stiffening briefly before relaxing and a wave of numbness covered him.
“What...what was that?” Fenris rasped, grasping at the man’s wrist.
“What’s your name?” The numbness settled, and he could feel his grasp on consciousness fading.
“Fenris.” he breathed. “I am Fenris. Who…”
“Anders.” The man smiled. “I’m Anders, and I swear to Andraste herself that you are safe.”
Fenris coughed, chest heaving. He tried to tighten his grip on Anders’ wrist but couldn’t feel his hands. His lips tried to form words, the sounds coming out as a breathy hiss of air.
“Hush. Sleep. I’ve got you. Sleep.” Fingers brushed over Fenris’ face. As he went lax, he felt arms wrapping around him and lifting him. Then, he felt nothing.
***
There was a cat on his chest, a lean tabby with large orange eyes and long white whiskers. Fenris shifted and claws dug warningly into him. Fenris hissed, but the cat ignored him and lowered its head to lick at one paw. Fenris slowly raised his good hand and gently pet the cat’s head.
“I am not your bed,” Fenris groused.
The cat mrrped in response and butted up against his chin.
“I have no food,” Fenris said, even has he rubbed behind one ear.
The cat let out a purr that rumbled through Fenris’ chest. It was soothing, a gentle noise that lulled him. He let his eyes drift shut, fingers going lax in soft fur. His own purrs joined the cat’s.
When he next opened his eyes, the cat was gone. Fenris turned his head, the scent on the pillow catching his attention: lavender, mint, and elfroot. He tried to place the smell, the familiar soothing notes tickling his memory. His hand moved over a soft blanket, and he finally noticed the comfortable warm bed he was in. No shackles chained him, and no collar encircled his neck. He levered himself up on his good elbow to look at the room.
It was spacious. There was a rack near the door holding a staff, a bookcase filled with tomes, a fat wood stove, and comfortably worn chairs. It was pleasant and most definitely not a cell or a room in an inn. It spoke of a home, of comfort and warmth. Intimacy. Things Fenris was unfamiliar with.
Fear gripped Fenris; the uncertainty of where he was combined with his injuries making him try to sit. He managed to get his legs over the bed before he stopped. The nightshirt he was wearing was too large and made of a fine cotton. It also smelled of lavender and mint. His left leg was thickly bandaged from the ankle to the upper thigh. Fenris poked at his leg and recoiled at the sharp pain.
“I wouldn’t try to stand on it. I managed to heal the breaks, but it’s all very delicate.” The voice was mild and friendly. Fenris’ gaze snapped up to the doorway to see a tall man with a wide smile. In his arms was the cat.
“I’m Anders. Remember me?”
Fenris shook his head, dropping his gaze.
“The mage from the coast?” Anders moved into the room, placing the cat on the bed before going to poke the fire. “No? Ah well. You were pretty injured.”
Fenris kept his eyes down, his good hand clenching into a fist. The mage must not have noticed because he kept talking. “It was a miracle we saw you fighting. You had several broken ribs, a pierced lung, a broken hand, a deep wound in your side, and your leg had been pulped. Plus various scrapes and bruises.”
Hands entered Fenris’ vision and he realized too late that they were scooping under his legs to put him back to bed. He glanced up quickly and then froze when the mage...Anders...gently tucked him in. “That’s Ser Pounce-a-Lot. Or just Pounce.”
“He was sleeping on me.” Fenris managed. His voice was gritty with disuse. “Where…”
“This is my room. There’s only two rooms down here set up for actually sleeping, and I didn’t think you’d want to share with Nate. He’s grouchy. Though maybe you would, he was the one to take down that magister.” The words had Fenris jolting and grabbing for Anders’ arm. “What? Oh. Yes, he’s dead. What was his name? Damon...Daren…”
“Danarius,” Fenris said, clearing his throat.
Anders picked up a pitcher from the bedside table and poured Fenris a mug of water. Sitting down on the bed, Anders offered Fenris the cup. “Careful. How do you feel?”
“Fine.”
“Fine as in you don’t hurt or fine as in you don’t want to tell me?” Anders reached forward and wiped a dribble of water from Fenris’ chin. Fenris jerked back.
“Do not touch me, mage.”
“Ah. So that’s how it is.” Anders settled back and tugged on a gold hoop in his ear.
Fenris sneered. “How what is? I am at your whim. Another filthy mage has captured me. How will you use me?”
“Hey! I bathe!” Anders rolled his eyes. “Awfully cranky for somebody whose life I saved.”
“Do not pretend to be my friend. You are a mage. I am a slave.” Fenris sniffed, finishing his water. He ground his teeth, hissing when Pounce settled over his legs. “Your cat is on me.”
“He’s his own cat,” Anders said mildly. “And you aren’t a slave.”
“Then I may leave?”
“Of course not.” At Fenris’ look of outrage, Anders held up his hands. “As I said, your leg will break again. Your hand is still healing, as are your ribs. If you aren’t careful, you will get an inflammation of the lungs. And then there’s the blood loss and malnutrition.” Anders ticked the list of ailments off his fingers. “Plus your impending Heat.”
“My impending what?” Fenris squawked.
“Your Heat. I can tell you’re going to be going into one soon. I had to heal you pretty thoroughly, otherwise I would have missed the signs.” Anders neatly nabbed the mug from Fenris’ hand and refilled it. “If you feel up to it, I should find out what happens when you do go into Heat. It would be best if I plan now for the foods you like and whatnot.”
“I am no Omega,” Fenris sneered. “I am Beta. Danarius would never have an Omega as his bodyguard, and he never had Alphas on staff.”
Anders held out the mug of water, gaze steady on Fenris. “Are you telling me that you’ve gone your entire life with no Heat?”
“Why would I even get one? I lived in a house of Betas and Omegas. Danarius knew not to...he knew...he…”
“He what?” Anders put the cup down. “Fenris, he knew what?”
“He said my markings would let me pass for Alpha. If we were at an event, he gave me a potion to strengthen that response. ” Fenris frowned, his good hand fisting. A growl was all the warning Anders had before Fenris’ markings lit and his fist punched the wall next to the bed.
Anders closed his eyes. “Your markings are lyrium. They must interfere with your body’s responses until...oh. And he reinforced them with suppressants. Sweet Maker.”
Fenris glared at Anders, who stood. He pulled the hair tie from his hair and tugged at the long red-gold strands. “Maker’s breath.”
“I will not be your plaything. I would rather die than…”
“Andraste’s flaming arse, I need a moment.” Anders turned and stomped from the room.
Fenris stared at the cat that had relocated to the end of the bed during his tantrum. “Well?”
Pounce stood and pranced up the bed to curl up on his lap. A gentle purring filled the room and Fenris sighed, slowly relaxing into the pillows. Pounce dug one claw into his thigh, and he grunted and began to pet him.
When Anders returned, he was much more subdued. Scratching at the stubble on his chin, he sat on the edge of Fenris’ bed. “So, we should talk.”
Fenris snorted at that. “You do seem to enjoy hearing yourself blather on.”
Anders closed his eyes as if searching for patience. “Right. That’s actually not the first time I’ve heard that. I know, big surprise. Look, I’m not just a mage, alright? I’m an Alpha mage.”
“And…”
“Maker grant me strength. Do you understand anything about being Omega? About Alphas? About mating and courtship?”
Fenris raised an eyebrow. “I was a slave. We did not mate. We did not court. We did what our Master said. What part of slave do you not understand?”
“I’m not stupid; I understand. I just wondered if your former master ever...maybe...thought to try to mate you. Or…”
“If you are asking if he used me in that fashion, the answer is no. He would not risk his precious investment for something that a body slave could do,” Fenris scoffed. “I was his bodyguard.”
“You didn’t always have the lyrium though, right? What about before? Or did you grow up in that madman’s house?” Anders had begun to pet Pounce, not looking up from the cat.
Fenris hunched his shoulders, tilting his head so that his hair covered his face. “I have no memories of before the ritual. I do not know.” The words were softly spoken. He thinned his lips. “My first memories are of pain and Danarius’ touch.”
Anders rubbed a hand over his face. “So if I told you we’re a match, you would say…”
“The idea of you touching me makes me ill.”
“That’s what I thought.” Anders stood again and began to pace. “I don’t know if Danarius kept you suppressed because he was afraid the markings wouldn’t or so that you didn’t attract an Alpha.”
Fenris glared at Anders, who sighed and left the room. Pounce tilted his head at Fenris and nestled back down.
“Why do you not follow him?” Fenris asked while petting one ear.
Pounce rolled over and exposed his belly, a look of supreme happiness on his face. Fenris sighed, “What am I to do?”
Pounce stared at him, one paw waving lazily in the air. Fenris took the hint and gently pet over Pounces’ belly. The cat reached out and grabbed his hand, claws sheathed, and dragged it closer. Fenris held still while Pounce began to groom his hand.
Fenris gave another sigh. He was stuck in a room with a cat. “At least you are not a mage.” Pounce bit Fenris finger and then returned to grooming. “Though perhaps you are possessed.”
***
Boredom set in. It could have been hours or days since Anders had left, and with no window in the room, Fenris couldn’t tell. Stuck in bed with only a cat for company was jarring. He was used to being on the move, to constant vigilance, to nights spent traveling and days spent curled up somewhere trying to sleep.
All the running had honed his senses, but made it virtually impossible to relax. And thinking about what Anders had told him did not, exactly, help. Every shift on the bed made the smells of lavender and mint waft through the air. Worse than reminding him of Anders, the smells soothed him. He found himself, more than once, pulling at the sheet so he could smell it.
It was maddening.
So when there was a knock on the door, Fenris perked up. It wasn’t Anders who stepped into the room but a young woman. Big blue eyes widened, and she hesitated before moving further in.
“Hello.” She gestured at the chair. “May I sit?”
“I cannot stop you,” Fenris said while frowning.
“You could say no. I’d respect that.”
Fenris snorted. “What do you want with me?”
“I’m Bethany Hawke. Anders asked me to come down and talk to you. He thought I might be a better option than my brother, even though I’m a mage too. I’m an Omega, so is my brother.” Bethany settled herself on the chair. “I thought maybe you’d like to talk about...things…”
“I am not...I do not wish…” Fenris huffed. “I do not require your aid or Anders’. I can figure this out on my own.”
Bethany hesitated. Her chin tilted up stubbornly. “Sometimes we say we don’t need help because we really don’t need it, and sometimes we say that because we’re just being difficult.”
Fenris turned his gaze to his lap. “What do you want me to say? I was told my Master is dead, but I still find myself being kept by a mage. I am injured, at his mercy, and now he tells me I am Omega? I am a slave...I was a slave, Bethany. How should I feel knowing that I will always be a slave?”
Bethany sat back. “Is that what you think being Omega means?”
“Omegas only seek Alphas to breed,” Fenris sneered. “To the Alphas, they are nothing but a hole.”
“I see. I should tell my Mate that, then.”
Fenris’ met Bethany’s gaze for a half second looking down again. “Your Mate?”
“Well, we haven’t Mated yet. We’re courting. Nathaniel Howe. He’s a warden and here with Anders. He’s an Alpha and we are a match.” Bethany smiled, her face lighting up. “He makes my life more complete.”
“What about when you are in Heat?”
“He helps me through it. Usually he brings me foods I like, reads to me, rubs my back and brushes my hair. I get terrible back pains during my Heats. We don’t do anything more than cuddling. I’m not ready.” Bethany blushed.
Fenris’ ear twitched. “You do not have to…”
“No. I take a suppressant that lowers the time I am in Heat and negates the need to...to...anyways, Anders said he’s afraid to give you a suppressant. He doesn’t know what your former Master used and doesn’t wish to make anything worse. That’s why I’m here.”
Fenris hesitated. “Anders sent you here?”
“He would have sent Carver, but we weren’t sure Carver could behave. He tends to get touchy about being Omega.”
“Is he a mage as well?” Fenris asked.
“Nope. Neither is my older sister, Marian. She’s a Beta and with another Beta. And Carver is Mated to an Alpha mage. Nathaniel and I are looking at Mating this Spring. We wanted to wait to see what would happen, get permission from his Commander.” Bethany’s cheeks pinked. “I wasn’t ready at any rate.”
“Why does Anders care?”
Bethany smiled. “That’s a question for him. I know he can be a bit of a chatterbox, but he’s got a good heart. Now, do you have any questions?”
“Will it hurt?” Fenris seemed to shrink in on himself. “Will Anders…”
“Anders would never rape you, Fenris. And if you hurt, he’ll try to help. I’ve offered to help if it becomes too much for him, so has my sister. Heats can last a week. They’re different for every Omega. You’ll get it once every three months. Your Mate will help you through them.”
“I do not have…”
Bethany held up her hand. “Nobody is pressuring you, Fenris. Now, I’m going to go get Anders. He said something about a bath and hot food.”
Fenris’ stomach chose that moment to growl, making Bethany grin. “Thank you, Bethany.”
“Would you want me to visit again?”
He looked up into her big blue eyes briefly, nodding before dropping his gaze. She brushed her hand over his shoulder. He heard her open the door and the the door closing, his gaze still on his hands.
***
Being a patient was tedious. Being a patient of Anders was tedious and nerve-wracking. Fenris found himself both looking forward to and dreading seeing him. The combination of emotions combined with the non-stop monotony of being in bed slowly turned him even more snappish and disagreeable. Every time he lashed out, he expected Anders to retaliate. Instead, Anders looked pleased and murmured something about him healing well.
It was a glorious day when Anders helped him from bed and gave him some leggings to wear. His legs were shaky and weak, and it hurt to stand for too long. Still, he was up and moving. Anders walked him to the hallway and then showed him the stairs.
“Want to go upstairs? Maybe sit in the garden?” Anders was giving him a hopeful look. “Take lunch in the sun?”
“I...suppose…” Fenris said slowly. He moved to take a step up and found himself held back. Anders’ arms slid behind his legs, and he was hoisted up against Anders’ chest. “Mage…”
“My name is Anders,” Anders said patiently. “No stairs just yet. Let’s give your legs a chance to simply walk.”
Fenris huffed and lay stiff in Anders’ arms as he moved up the multiple staircases. “We’re in the lowest basement of the Hawke mansion,” Anders said as he started up another flight of stairs.
“Why?”
“My clinic is in Darktown, the slums of Kirkwall. Darktown sits in old mining tunnels under the city. Nathaniel and I were given rooms near the doors that open into Darktown. Convenient.”
“You have a clinic?” Fenris glanced at Anders’ face in surprise. “Who visits you in the sewers?”
“The refugees. There are a lot of people who escaped Ferelden’s Blight by coming here. When I told the Commander I needed to go to Kirkwall, she sent Nathaniel with me and tasked us with looking for Blight sickness. It’s how I stay free here,” Anders explained.
“Stay free. You are no slave.” Fenris scoffed.
“No. I’m a mage. The Knight Commander here is very strict. She…” Anders’ face fell, his voice quieting. “Well anyways. Without Nathaniel, I’d be locked in the Gallows.”
Fenris fingers twitched. “Tevinter has Circles. They are places of luxury and learning. Danarius belonged to one. He was never locked away.”
“Yes well, things are a little different here in the South. Mages are kept locked in the Circle. Taken from their families like criminals.” Anders shrugged. “But I’m with the Wardens now.”
“You are with the Wardens? You are not a Warden?” Fenris prodded.
“It’s complicated,” Anders said. “Let’s just leave it at that for now.”
Fenris snorted and then quieted as Anders opened a door and stepped out into a pantry. He gently put Fenris down. “Right, let’s get some food and then check out the garden.”
The pantry sat in the kitchen, which was manned by a young elf. She looked up at Anders and smiled shyly. “Master Anders…”
“Orana, what have I said before?” Anders chided.
“Oh. I’m sorry. Anders...I have food made. Meat pies, some little fruit tarts, a bottle of wine, and cheese.” Orana patted a small hamper on the table. “Dinner is braised rabbit with potatoes and leeks, an herb salad, and fresh bread. And I made that pudding you like.”
“Are you trying to lure me to dinner?” Anders teased.
“Did you eat last night?” Orana didn’t look at him, but her voice held a note of reproach.
“Well...maybe I gave my supper away to a family. Fenris is up and about, set some aside for the both of us? Oh! This is Fenris. Fenris, this is Orana.” Anders flushed. “Rude of me to not do introductions.”
“You are from Tevinter,” Fenris rasped.
“I am from Tevinter, yes. I was a slave, but Mistress Hawke killed my Mistress and gave me a job here. I am her cook. She pays me.” Orana peeked up at Anders. “Ma...Anders has been teaching me to read.”
“And you’re a quick study. You’ll not need me anymore soon and then how will I beg my favorite desserts from you?” Anders asked.
Orana shook her head and returned to cooking. Anders grinned and grabbed the hamper of food. “Come on Fenris. The garden is a pretty little plot.”
Fenris followed Anders, his gaze on Orana. She looked up, met Fenris’ gaze and smiled. Her smile was free, open, and happy. It made Fenris’ heart pound to see a former slave so happy and content and not afraid.
He wondered if he would ever feel that happy and content.
***
The sound of scratching had Fenris slowly moving across the room to open the door. Pounce gave a little meow and sashayed in, tail curling around Fenris’ bare ankle. He shook his head at the cat, an amused smile on his face.
“Pounce. Why are you here?” Fenris slowly returned to the bed, settling down and petting the cat. “Is it just you?”
“And me,” Anders said as he poked his head in. “How are you feeling? You’ve been doing so well this past week. Any pain?”
“Antsy,” Fenris said, keeping his eyes on Pounce. “And my back hurts.”
Anders stepped into the room and came to a stop. “Ah.”
“Ah?”
“Your Heat is starting.” Anders swallowed. “Just antsy and back pains?”
“My skin feels sensitive,” Fenris admitted.
“May I sit on the bed?”
Fenris glanced at Anders and nodded, returning to petting Pounce. Slowly, Anders perched on the bed and also began petting Pounce. Their fingers bumped together, and Fenris inhaled at the touch. Anders didn’t say anything, just laid his hand over Fenris’.
“Hey.”
“I am fine. Just uncomfortable.” Fenris frowned at Anders’ hand, but didn’t pull away.
“So here’s the thing. I’m going to set up a cot in here for me. I don’t want you alone during this.”
“I am not ready to consider…”
“I’m not doing this to mate or claim or even touch you. You’re still healing, you’ve never gone through this before, and I really do consider you my responsibility,” Anders said, giving Fenris’ hand a light squeeze. “I want to protect you.”
“Protect me?” Fenris’ frown had deepened.
“Is that so hard to understand? It’s what friends do, yes?” Anders tilted his head, trying to catch Fenris’ gaze.
“Friends? I do not know. I have never had a friend.” Fenris tugged and Anders let his hand go.
“You have me and Bethany. And in a few more weeks you’ll be practically back to normal. I can introduce you to the rest of my friends. They all want to meet you.”
“Protection. Not claiming,” Fenris said, finally meeting Anders’ eyes.
“I promise. I won’t even touch you if you don’t wish me to.”
Fenris curled his fingers into loose fists and nodded, gaze dropping back down to the cat. Anders patted Pounce and stood, quickly walking from the room.
It seemed like mere minutes before he was back, a pile of blankets and pillows in his arms. He dropped them by stove, gave Fenris a grin, and hurried back out, only to return lugging a cot. He set the cot up and began to pile everything on top of it.
When that was done, he left again - returning with an armful of books and paper and a small box tucked under his arm. He placed those items by his cot, tapped his chin, and then nodded.
“Books and paper, blankets and pillows...I’ll get food as necessary…” Anders ticked items off on his fingers. “I can start reading lessons if you’d like.”
“Reading lessons. Why…”
“Do you know how to read? Why didn’t you say so? I could have brought you books,” Anders said in dismay.
“I cannot read.” Fenris was back to staring at Pounce.
“Well then, that’s something we can do over the next week we’re together.” Anders closed the door and settled on the cot. “Oh I see how it is. Pounce is going to stay with you. Fine, fine. Traitor.”
Fenris gave a surprised chuckle. “He prefers it quiet. You are not quiet.”
Anders rolled his eyes and picked up a book. “Whatever. You like my blathering.” Fenris just snorted and curled up on the bed, purring when Pounce joined him.
***
Fenris stuck his tongue out, concentrating as he traced the letter A on his paper. He stared at it and then started work on the B. When that letter was finished, he frowned and glanced at the book next to him.
“C…” he sounded out. “C is for s….at. Why does it say sat but have a picture of a cat?”
Anders looked up from his own book. “It’s a C, but it’s got a hard sound, like cake or cat.”
“C is for cat.” Fenris huffed and turned the pages in the book. “A is for apple. B is for ball.C is for cat.” He glanced up at Anders and then turned another page.
“Do you need help?”
“No,” Fenris said while frowning at the next letter. His back spasmed and he gasped, curling up and rocking.
“Fenris. Hey, what happened? Back pain?” Anders was down on the floor before Fenris could respond. “Shh. I have you.”
“Anders.” Fenris stiffened. Anders was rolling him to his stomach and straddling his hips. “Mage…”
“You were doing so well,” Anders teased. “Calling me Anders first. Now I want you to breathe for me.”
“I am breathing.”
“Hush and focus on breathing.” Anders dug his fingers into Fenris’ back, finding and working out the knots. Under him, Fenris slowly relaxed. A soft purring started as Anders smoothed out the kinks. By the time he was done, Fenris was limp.
“There,” Anders whispered, slipping off of Fenris.
Fenris rolled to his side to look at Anders, peeking up at him through his bangs. Anders was busy turning the pages in the reader, absorbed for a moment with the cute pictures. Fenris could feel the sudden surge of want. It wasn’t, necessarily, a sexual feeling - more of a compulsion to touch, to slide onto Anders’ lap and just hide from the world. A need for reassurance.
Breath hitching, he held still, gaze firmly on the book. Anders looked over at him and put the book down. “Fenris?” he gently asked.
“I…”
“Look at me. Hey. It’s ok. Look at me,” Anders coaxed. “What do you need?”
“I don’t know. I don’t understand these feelings. These urges. I have never felt this. Even for Danarius. Even when I thought that I…” Fenris rolled back to his stomach and buried his face in his arms. “What is this?”
Anders’ fingers swept through his hair, brushing it back from his face. “It’s how you know you’re with the right Alpha. I get the feelings too.”
“What feelings? Please…”
“To protect you. To hold you close and make sure you’re alright. To feed you and comfort you,” Anders said. “Did you think Heats were all mating?”
“Are they not? Am I nothing but a hole to fill? A person to fuck and breed? Isn’t that all I am to you?” Fenris lifted his head and glared at Anders.
“Heats are to breed, yes. But why would you breed with an Alpha who doesn’t cherish you? These feelings just let us know we’re a match. That we’re good together. That I want to take care of you means that if you were carrying my baby, I would keep you safe. You wanting me to touch you shows me that you trust me.” Anders explained.
“I…”
“Would you like to try?”
Fenris hesitated. Fear welled up in him. Fear and suspicion and want melding together until he trembled. “Will this bond us together?”
“No.”
“Just touching? No kissing, no anything else?” Fenris slowly pushed himself up.
Anders’ response was to stand and go sit on the bed with his back to the wall and his legs stretched out. He parted his legs and patted the bed between them.Fenris stood and moved to the bed, biting his lip as he crawled over Anders’ leg and settled with his back against Anders’ chest.
Anders carefully wrapped his arms around Fenris and entwined their legs. Fenris waited to feel kisses on his ear or for Anders to try to take advantage. All that happened was Anders squeezing him. Anders’ smell surrounded him - lavender and mint - relaxing and soothing.
Fenris blinked, and in the time his eyes closed and opened, he found himself on his side with Anders behind him on the bed. Wrapped in Anders’ arms, he could feel Anders’ slow breaths against his ear.
They had fallen asleep curled up together. Waking in Anders’ arms left Fenris feeling vulnerable and yet like he was safe. Wanted, cared for. It made him wonder if this was what a home felt like.
If this was how Anders acted during his Heat, Fenris wondered how he would act when he could leave. Would he force Fenris to stay? Would he let Fenris go?
“You think loudly,” Anders whispered, making Fenris start. “What are you worrying over?”
“When I am healed, will you make me stay with you?” Fenris stiffened, waiting for Anders to turn possessive.
“I hope you’ll stay in Kirkwall. Maybe decide to do some work with Hawke or get on with Aveline and the Guard. But I can’t make you do anything, Fenris. If you, truly, wanted to leave - I’d let you.”
“I thought you said we were a match,” Fenris said with much annoyance. “You would just let me go?”
Fenris could tell Anders’ was laughing by the way his shoulders shook. “Well see, I thought I was already trying to convince you to stay. Picnics in the garden, reading lessons, your favorite foods, back rubs.” Anders teased. “What more do you want?”
“You are…”
“I’m courting you.” Anders nuzzled against Fenris’ neck. “I don’t expect you to stay in my room any longer, but perhaps a small flat in Lowtown? Hawke would help you get one and help you find employment. Then I could do this properly.”
“And my Heat? What you’ve been doing?”
“I’ve been showing you I’d make you a good Alpha.” Anders laughed. “Or trying to. Is it working?”
Fenris gaped at the wall. “I...I think I need you to show me a few more times?”
“Well, we probably have another three days. Think that’s enough time to convince you I’m serious?”
“I…” Fenris coughed to hide his giddy laugh. “Yes. I think perhaps.”
“Excellent. And now, if you’re awake, how about I get some food?”
Fenris grabbed Anders’ hand. “Apples? May I have apples?”
“Fenris,” Anders said seriously, “You can have whatever you want.”