A Song for Flight
Anyone who talked shit the next couple weeks over the captain taking up with one of the thieving scouts found themselves eating dirt in the training ring with Hawke grinning over their prone forms. Talk turned to muttered grumbles and then finally stopped all together. Anna pulled Hawke aside one warm afternoon as she headed back to the barracks with her gear from a scouting run. A searing kiss cut off her greeting and she laughing pushed her away. "Hawke." The teasing admonishment was lost on Hawke's cheeky grin as she arched gracefully against the stone wall. Anna leaned down and kissed her again. "You are a bad influence."
She laughed. "Well, I am a thief."
Anna sighed. "I wanted to warn you. Some things went missing in the male barracks before you left, and they are blaming you."
"The higher ups?" A thoughtful look descended on her face as she twisted an errant curl. "I'm not good for it. Everything in there is standard issue or very personal.” She gave her a grin. “Or not worth much."
She tried to cover her laugh with a cough as she leaned her forehead on the stone over Hawke's shoulder. "Is there anything you haven't assessed in the fort?"
She smirked, fingers skimming up her side and dipping between the laces before she gently kissed her neck. "The only ass I'm interested in is yours."
"Creators, you're awful." Hawke grinned wide as she shook her head. "Shameless too. Anyway, it's just some of the regular rank and file. Watch yourself, please?"
She settled her hands on Anna's hips, her smile softening as her hair fell over her shoulder with an amused tilt off her head. "I think I can handle a few upset men, sweets. It's nothing new."
She leaned in to her, pressing their bodies close and watching Hawke's eyes darken. "Then do it for me. I'm sure I can think of a suitable bribe."
"That's not fair, Anna." Hawke's breath caught in her throat as she fell weightless into her green eyes. She laughed, a little breathlessly and high. "Forest green." A blonde brow quipped in confusion. "Your eyes, I grew up in and out of forests those colors, pretending I was hawk flying in them. You feel like flying." Anna blinked several times as Hawke swallowed hard against more words. "I'll be careful for you."
Hawke wiped the blood from her face as she stumbled to her feet. "I didn't take your shit."
He cracked his knuckles. "They shouldn't have let you thieves into the army. Even if it wasn't you, it was one of your friends and we'll beat you until you talk."
She spit at him and grinned. "Sorry, bastard, there is honor amongst thieves even if I knew who did it." She ducked his swing, ignoring his friends’ jeers. "Maybe you should ask your buddies."
A kick landed in her back, she caught herself before she went sprawling but his fist connected with her head. Her ears rang as she hit the dirt. She saw his boot come towards her, felt ribs crack. A bellow sounded in the night. "Enough!"
Someone stood above her, someone tall with a sword. She pushed herself into a seated position as the man sneered. "You got a boyfriend too, thieving whore?"
Sword snarled again. "That's my sister, you bastards." Hawke began to laugh as he dropped her a potion.
She was unsteady on her feet as it coursed through her. It wouldn't heal the ribs but her breathing steadied. "Carver." He nodded. There were several muttered oaths from the group. "Should we make these worthless bastards cry?" He chuckled as she pulled her daggers. She let loose a battle cry and they charged together sending the group scattering like the wind. She bashed on the locked door of the barrack. "That's right, you nutless wonders. You better hide from us."
He sheathed his sword and leaned against the wall beside her. "Why were you getting your ass beat?"
"I had him." She rolled her eyes at his pointed look. "They think I robbed them."
He snorted. "That thief is in the pen. Apparently, they can't read the posting for that; they can pick up their belongings when they want." He grabbed her chin and examined the cut on her forehead. "Anna is going to chew your ass."
"Yeah, yeah. I tried to be careful. I was headed back from watch and they got me." She scowled.
Carver couldn't keep the incredulity from his voice. "They got the drop on you?"
She flushed, kicking at the ground. "I was distracted." She kicked a stone. "It's her fault."
He crossed his arms. "This I have to hear."
She glared at him before sighing in defeat. "I was composing a poem for Anna. Eyes like the forest and hair like starlight." Her smile softened.
Carver rolled his eyes. "Lips like raw meat." She snorted. "You're in deep, Hawke."
Her smile came back. "The army isn't so bad after all. How’s Peaches?”
He shrugged. “She has a higher opinion of it then I do.” Hawke’s laughter followed him as he strolled away.
Hawke slipped into their room, moonlight shining across the floor and bed. A bare, scarred shoulder was visible, the rest was obscured by blankets and tangled blonde hair. She stripped out of her armor, wincing at the pain in her ribs and knowing the bruises would already be blooming against her flesh. She didn't bother turning on the light in the bathroom, or looking in the mirror, as she washed the blood from her skin. The warm water pounded against her, filling her limbs with lethargy. She smiled to herself as she toweled off. Carver was right. She was in deep, this made Mira look like child's play and they'd only been together a few months. She could well imagine the look on her mother's face if she brought home Anna, yet another woman and even worse this one a half elf. She shook her head, her smile widening. Mother be damned, she was deeper than Orzammar and higher than the Frostbacks.
She slid naked into bed beside Anna, dropping a soft kiss on to the scarred shoulder. A bear hunt gone wrong not long before she was made captain. It was dark against her pale skin and trailed down her back and chest. The first time they had been naked together, and sober, Anna had been self-conscious of the old wound. Hawke traced it with her tongue while she told the story. A sleepy murmur interrupted her thoughts. "Long watch?"
"Do you ever not know what time it is?" Hawke chuckled.
Anna's eyes snapped open the rest of the way. "What happened to you?" She sat up, cradling her face in her hands. "Creators, I told you to be careful."
She sighed, nipping playful at her fingers. "In my defense, they jumped me at the end of my watch when I was walking back here. Carver saved my ass."
"They got a jump on you?" Her eyes narrowed.
Hawke made a rude noise. "You are the second person to ask me that. I'm not untouchable, you know." She chewed her lip, color rising in her cheeks. "I was distracted. Thinking about you."
Her eyebrows arched delicately. "Oh really? Just what were you thinking?"
She shook her head. "Nothing." She rolled over burying her head under a pillow. "Everything."
Anna chuckled and straddled her thighs. She ran her hands up Hawke's back, making her skin pebble and tighten before she began working in broad, heavy strokes down it. Hawke immediately melted into the mattress with a heavy, happy sigh. Some time passed and when she was sufficiently relaxed Anna snuggled in beside her. Hawke fixed her blue eyes to her green ones, a soft smile on her lips. "I was trying write a poem in my head about you. I'm better at songs though."
Anna smiled. "A poem? No one’s ever wrote anything about me."
Hawke laughed, rich and deep before kissing her softly and pulling her into her arms. "Their loss. Hair like starlight, eyes like a springtime forest, that cute little nose that you wiggle when you are frustrated and think no one is looking." Anna blushed. "I can't make it in to a good song though. I start rambling about your virtues." She kissed her again, fluttering kisses across her lashes and nose. A deeper kiss that tangled their tongues and stole their breaths. Gentle kisses that tugged on lips until it drew a tantalizing moan from Anna. "You'll have to settle for me making you sing tonight."