Chapter Text
Then
“You’re thinking pretty loudly.”
Kalais couldn’t help but smile as they rolled over to meet Davrin’s own disarmingly charming smile. Even with the low light of his room with the curtains drawn, he was a breathtaking vision who looked carved by the old Nevarran masters themselves with how chiseled his bare chest was.
“Oh, am I disturbing your sleep?”
“I mean I could think of better ways for you to keep me up.”
Kalais snorted, “Someone is trying to distract me.”
“Is that such a bad thing?”
Now that was the question. As horrifying as the entire experience in Arlathan had been, one encounter kept bubbling up to the surface.
“I keep thinking back to that one Venatori that was talking about me.”
“The fan?”
Kalais scrunched their nose, “Eugh, yeah but I don’t want to call him that.”
“Alright,” Davrin said, adjusting his position beside them so he was sitting up. “What about that guy do you keep thinking about?”
“He talked about turning me to their side-”
“Didn’t sound like anyone was taking him seriously-”
“Does it have to be an immediate threat for me to be freaked out?”
Silence stretched between them, neither of them wanting to startle the other by breaching the topic first.
Assan had no such concerns.
One moment, Kalais and Davrin were staring each other down and the next the bed erupted in squawks and feathers as Assan landed on top of them both. Assan quickly threw their weight on top of Kalais, pinning them underneath a purring griffon.
Davrin cursed, sitting up as he reached out for Assan, “Boy, you’re not supposed to be on the bed when-”
Assan snapped his beak near Davrin’s hand in warning before tossing his head back against Kalais’s chest and watching them with wide eyes.
Kalais pet the griffon's neck, his purrs rumbling through their chest. In spite of that biting unease they felt, Kalais couldn’t help but allow themself to relax under Assan’s weight.
“Alright, boy, I get the message,” Davrin said, reaching out to pet Assan’s head.
This time Assan allowed Davrin to enter his space and trilled under his touch.
“When you’re a Warden, distractions are lethal. You learn quickly to put aside those feelings that don’t help you finish the hunt or kill the darkspawn trying to tear out your throat. It doesn’t make me the best at pillow talk,” Davrin said, not looking up at their eyes with the admission.
“Comforting people, you mean,” Kalais said, not willing to let him off the hook just yet.
Davrin leaned back as he placed his hand over his heart, “Ouch but not undeserved here. The way I was looking at it was the Venatori were either going to try to kill us or use blood magic on us for opposing them anyway. Worrying about this specific one didn’t really occur to me but he wasn’t talking about me.”
“I get not worrying about what’s outside our control,” Kalais said, holding Assan a bit closer as they admitted this to someone other than Varric. “If I stopped to think about everything we’re up against I’d be immobilized. It’s not about being told it’s not worth worrying about. Sometimes… it’s nice to be heard. I can’t talk about my fears with the rest of the team when I’m leading them.”
Kalais saw Davrin consider making a joke to change the subject but he valiantly fought the impulse.
“You’re not going to make me waver by coming to me with your fears.”
“Even if they’re not pressing fears?”
“Even if it’s a spider in the corner of the room.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to take that back? We’re in the Fade after all.”
Davrin scoffed, “Regardless of what Emmrich says, I can handle fears if they look like giant spiders. I’ve killed plenty.”
Kalais adjusted their position, cradling Assan, as they moved close enough for Davrin to easily make out the faint, stylized moth tattoo across their face.
“But it won’t be spiders. I’m not afraid of spiders. The being that walks like a man with spider limbs that knows your name in the Necrocropolis though-”
“Now that’s an interesting fight.”
Kalais leaned closer, their forehead almost close enough to touch his Vasselin. Davrin reached out to capture a lock of their long, soft lavender hair between his fingers.
“That makes it sound like you’re just in it for the thrill of the fight.”
Davrin brought their lock of hair to his lips, his eyes never leaving theirs.
“I let my actions speak for me, you know that.”
Kalais shivered, heat curling in their stomach despite the lingering unease.
“I’m well aware,” they said, leaning in to capture his lips against theirs.
There was a moment where the world faded and it was just the two of them. Davrin’s hand reached out to trace the geometric lines of the tattoo on their arm, sending a pleasant buzz down Kalais’s spine. A bit of brightness to chase away the ever present shadows that loomed in Kalais’s mind these days.
Then Assan’s wing flapped against their faces reminding them the rest of the world existed.
“I need to take him for a walk. He’s going to be too energetic to go back to sleep otherwise,” Davrin said, shaking his head.
At the word “walk”, Assan squawked as he jumped from Kalais’s arms to the floor with the exuberance that only came from being so new to the world.
Davrin took longer, disentangling himself from the sheets with a tired groan before he finally stood up.
It was enough time for Kalais’s fear to build anew.
“Davrin?”
“Hmm?”
“If the Venatori or Elgar’nan did something to me, can you promise to stop me?”
“You know it would be extremely likely that the same was done to me in that scenario. We’re not a very big team.”
Kalais arched a brow at him and Davrin rubbed his neck with an apologetic smile.
“As a Warden, I get that request better than anyone,” Davrin said, his expression shifted to one of utmost seriousness. “In a scenario where that doesn’t happen to me too, I promise I’ll stop you.”
“Alright.”
Kalais laid back against their pillow, closing their eyes. Compared to everything they were up against, this shouldn’t bother them so much. Was it just the idea of losing control of themself? Actually becoming the thoughtless monster some people saw in them just because they were a Qunari? Fuck those people but those frightened stares were easy to picture nonetheless.
Kalais felt Davrin’s lips against their forehead. They opened their eyes to find him looking back at them with uncharacteristic open sincerity.
“I promise, Kalais. I’ll come for you and stop you.”
Kalais knew such promises were hard to keep with everything they were up against but-
“I believe in you, Davrin.”
“I know. How about you come on the walk with us,” Davrin said, kissing the top of their head before his voice lowered. “And, when we get back, I’ll give you something else to think about.”
“That sounds perfect,” Kalais said, leaning in to give him a quick kiss.
The sooner they could push this fear out of their mind, the better.
Now
“Do you think the Crossroads put these Eluvians near each other because it knew we’d use them so much,” Kalais asked as they exited the Treviso Eluvian. The Minrathous and Necropolis Eluvians were just across the small expanse of this floating island.
It had been incredibly useful since they had been able to defeat Elgar’nan two years ago as Kalais and Davrin’s work had been focused mostly on helping both Minrathous and Treviso recover from the blight the cities had been exposed to. The fact that the Necropolis was still so close via the Eluvian network had allowed Kalais to remain true to their oaths to the Mourn Watch while they helped out those they’d come to care for during their journeys.
“Does it work like that?” Davrin asked even as he wrapped an arm around their waist.
From the corner of their eye, Kalais could see the braids that they had done for Davrin just a few nights previously. The hairstyle was similar to one that his mother, Nor’lahni, wore when he had taken her to meet his family even though he never voiced that she had been his inspiration. Nor'lahni had large cornrow braids that crowned her head with each braid pulled into a ponytail of braids that went down her back. Davrin had three cornrow braids on top of his head that were pulled into a shorter ponytail that only reached the base of his head. The sides of Davrin’s head were shaved into a fade just as he’d had since meeting Kalais.
There were many things that Kalais treasured about the last two years but seeing Davrin grow more at ease with the life they were creating together outside of their responsibilities and how he was starting to wear it on his sleeve was definitely their favorite.
“Dunno, maybe it does,” Kalais said, leaning back against Davrin. “We could stop by Nevarra to ask Emmrich after we’re done in Minrathous. It would be a nice excuse to drop by and see him.”
“Assan would love to see Manfred again,” Davrin said and Assan’s ears perked up beside him. “What do you think, boy?”
Assan bobbed his head as his tail swished excitedly.
“Are you also wanting to show Emmrich how well you’ve trained Assan?”
“Manfred may be casting fireballs these days but can he dive on to a target with deadly precision from high above? I don’t think so.”
Kalais laughed, turning around in his arms, “Next thing I know, you’ll want me to get Assan into the Mourn Watch so you can compete with Emmrich on whose son is better at that too.”
“Assan is a Warden first but, if you could-”
Kalais cut him off with a kiss, enjoying how they could feel his smile beneath their lips.
“Por la sangre del Hacedor. I have not had enough coffee to deal with you both.”
Lucanis stood by the Eluvian behind them, looking completely unimpressed by what activity he had walked in on.
“Not enough coffee or not enough of a certain Tevinter detective?” Davrin said with a smirk.
“Lucanis, are you jealous?” Kalais asked as they kissed the tip of Davrin’s ear.
Lucanis’s cheeks tinged pink as he looked away.
Kalais gave Davrin a mischievous grin before going over to Lucanis, easily towering over the First Talon.
“You know you can use your words,” Kalais said, kissing the top of his head.
They had barely moved away before Spite looked up with his purple eyes.
“Me too!” Spite said, moving his head to the side so his cheek was readily available.
Kalais laughed, planting a kiss on the demon’s cheek.
“Now a kiss from Davrin!” Spite crowed before Lucanis took back control.
“Don’t encourage him,” Lucanis said, cheeks thoroughly flushed at this point.
“Don’t worry, I won’t kiss you. At least not until you’re not so embarrassed to call out my name,” Davrin teased.
“Come on, we’ll never get to Minrathous if I leave it up to you two,” Lucanis said, walking away but Davrin enjoyed the blush he could see on Lucanis’s ears. “Kalais, you have a meeting with The Viper, remember!”
“I know! I’m coming,” Kalais said, shaking their head before following after him.
This development with Lucanis and Neve was new and fragile so, as much as they teased, Kalais still followed at their pace. However, this really started from the moment the two of them had joined the Veilguard as they had felt an instantaneous draw to both of them. Kalais had always been open and naturally flirtatious so it had been easy to flirt with both Neve and Lucanis before Davrin joined.
The attacks on Minrathous and Treviso had shut the door completely on pursuing either relationship as the guilt had eaten away at Kalais. Lucanis had harbored resentment over their choice to save Minrathous even as he pretended he didn’t. Meanwhile, Neve had been grateful that Kalais had chosen to come to Minrathous’s aid but Kalais had felt like flirting with her was no longer appropriate… as if it could confirm that Kalais had chosen Neve’s city over Lucanis’s due to some favoritism born out of budding romance.
The whole event had left Kalais resolved to keep things strictly professional going forward but Davrin destroyed that resolve as if it had been constructed from dusty cobwebs to begin with.
With the whirlwind romance at the end of the world, Kalais found the kind of love with Davrin that they hadn’t really dreamed of for themself. Sure, people talked about how you found love with a singular person and it drowned out the need for any other but something so consuming had never been their experience until Davrin. For a bit, Kalais thought it must have finally happened to them with how being with Davrin made them feel exactly like all the love stories they had been told growing up.
Only for the feelings Kalais suppressed for Neve and Lucanis to return in full force once the fight for the fate of the world was over. It did not help matters that Kalais continued to work closely with both of them as they helped coordinate the recovery of their cities.
Things between Lucanis and Kalais began to heal as he actually talked about how Kalais choosing Minrathous had made him feel instead of acting as if it hadn’t affected him. Add that to how the more Kalais worked with Neve, it was harder it was to deny the draw that was still there between them. It didn’t mean Kalais loved Davrin any less but it made Kalais feel like something was broken within them.
So Kalais had chosen to tell Davrin instead of trying to deny those feelings. They had trusted him with everything else but revealing this aspect of themself felt as terrifying as facing the gods, if not more so.
“…I love you, Davrin. I never imagined finding someone I wanted to spend the rest of my life with but—”
“That doesn’t change how you still love them too?”
Kalais had looked up at that, their worry shifting to curiosity.
“As Wardens, there is a focus of living while we can and that view extends to how many approach their relationships. You have people like Evka and Antoine who are solely devoted to each other but there are others who are more open with their relationships.”
“Have you ever been in such a relationship?”
“Not in any long term capacity. You weren’t the only one who didn’t see themselves settling down.”
“Yet here we are.”
Davrin tucked a strand of Kalais’s hair behind their ear, eyes sweeping over them in a way that never failed to get their heart fluttering, “No where else I’d rather be, even if I’m not the only one walking beside you.”
That conversation had allowed for both of them to start exploring more with Neve and Lucanis. Every day, Kalais was grateful their past self hadn’t chosen to carry those feelings in silence as the four of them grew closer.
Especially when Kalais lost their breath just seeing Neve as they stepped out of the Eluvian.
“Trouble,” Neve turned around, her lips tugging at a smile. There was a large streak of gray in her hair now. It had been a feature of Neve’s since Bellara had tracked down a Dalish expert that had helped remove the lingering blight that remained in Neve after she’d been taken on Tearstone Island. Bellara had been uncharacteristically tight lipped about the expert to the rest of their friends. Kalais only was given the go ahead to share that the expert was an old friend of Varric’s and Isabela’s to reassure Lucanis who had been ready to literally climb the walls at the secrecy around the process. Kalais could hardly blame him for his concern when this expert would either doom Neve or give her years of her life back.
In typical Neve fashion, she had weathered the "mysterious" process and the grey streak only added to the allure she wore so effortlessly.
“Neve!” Kalais said, going up to sweep her into a hug. “It’s good to see you again!”
Neve laughed, hugging Kalais back before kissing their cheek, “You’re too sweet.”
“Neve,” Davrin said as he came up behind Kalais.
“Davrin,” Neve replied with a nod before Assan came up to her, chirping for attention. “I see you’ve been taking good care of our favorite griffon. He’s nearly at my shoulder now.”
“And he’s only going to get bigger,” Davrin replied proudly. “May be able to fly on him within a year or two.”
“Oh is that right? Does he know that he’s gotten this big or does he still climb in your lap?”
“I’ve negotiated him down to resting his head on me.”
“I’m impressed. I know how much he loved to be on all of us,” Neve ruffled the feathers at Assan’s neck as she cooed at the griffon who trilled in delight. “Such a sweet boy!”
“Am I chopped liver?”
Neve gave Assan his last pets before strolling up to Lucanis. She leaned against his chest to whisper in his ear. “Impatient, amatus? I remember you saying I was worth waiting for."
"Me torturas, mi amor," Lucanis said, taking her hand before dipping her into a kiss as his wings enveloped them both.
There was the sound of someone clearing their throat and Kalais turned to see Tarquin standing impatiently in the doorway.
"The Viper has been waiting for you."
"Sorry, on my way!" Kalais said, apologetically before turning to give Davrin a quick kiss on the cheek. "Don't have too much fun without me."
"Wouldn't dream of it," Davrin promised.
"I have a case and won't turn down the help of a capable Warden and Crow," Neve said before Assan squawked. "And of course, our living legend himself."
"Neve, you're going to give him a big head."
"As if you don't compliment him all the time!"
Kalais snorted from the doorway, looking over their shoulder to see Davrin's faux exasperation at Neve before he caught Kalais's eye. Kalais’s eyes crinkled as they gave him a smile before darting out of the doorway to follow Tarquin.
Funny how unremarkable a moment would become emblazoned in Davrin's memory.