Two Princes
Trees raced by the windows of Varric’s car while they drove the highway miles between The Docks and The Spoiled Princess. Merrill and put on Bloc Party’s Silent Alarm and it was a pleasant soundtrack to the grey late December weather, though it made Garrett feel a bit sad.
He watched the spiny branches reaching up at the overcast sky. They looked twisted and dark, Garrett understood the feeling. He closed his eyes and let the sway of the old car, the soft vibrations, and the artificial heat lull him into a light sleep.
They arrived at The Docks with Garrett still napping in the backseat. Varric shook him awake triggering a large stretch. Garrett sat up and looked around and rubbed his eyes.
“We’re gonna go get Merrill signed up, you wanna kick back here or...?” Varric asked when Garrett was finally alert. “Yeah, yeah.. I’ll come in.” He said after a moment.
They walked into the large fenced gate and Garrett looked around the empty venue. Everything looked different in the daylight. He followed behind Merrill and Varric who were walking at a brisk pace hand in hand in front of him. When they reached the doors to the main stage his heart sped up a bit and his eyes widened. “What if he’s here? How do I look? Should I say something?” Questions raced through his head as he entered the dark venue. The lights were on and he scanned the room, It too looked different in this lighting. Trying not to look at the bar he nervously forced his attention to the stage and the large mural of a dragon that looked like it was made of blood emerging from a flaming sword. “Was that always there?” he wondered silently finally allowing himself to look at the bar. The woman from the with the blue bandana from last time was there, Isabela. She was sitting on a bar stool with a binder and a bunch of papers in front of her. Talking to Merrill without looking up from her work.
Garrett allowed his gaze to go from one end of the bar to the other trying really hard to make it look like he wasn’t doing, exactly what he was doing; Looking for Fenris.
He walked up to the bar next to Varric. “She does the booking too?” he asked.
Varric cleared his throat and smiled “You know chuckles, you’re not very observant. Isabela here owns the place. She runs the bar, does the booking, just about everything. She’s the captain of this ship, and her job is to make sure everything runs smoothly. Not much goes down without her say so.” Garrett noded, “huh, yeah, I had zero idea. That’s crazy.” Varric laughed “and that’s why I’m here. You’d be lost without me Hawke.” Garrett shrugged and patted Varric’s shoulder.
“Whatever you say, Varric”. They both smiled and turned their attention back to the two women talking excitedly about something they were unable to clearly hear.
Garrett began to fumble around in his pocket for his phone when the room was suddenly bathed in sunlight. Turning his attention to the door he could see the silhouette of a tall slender man enter dressed in all black. He watched as Fenris entered the room followed by a tall muscular man in a suit. His heart began to pound in his ears. Fenris was here, he’d both hoped and dreaded running into him, but there he stood.
Fenris walked behind the bar and the man who had entered with him had taken a seat at a small table at the corner where the bar met the wall. He was an older man and he was very handsome in a sort of dashing way. He was muscular, with broad shoulders. He a very well kept grey beard, and stern eyes.
Garrett watched while Fenris slipped quietly and quickly behind the bar, and begin to arrange items on a small silver tray. He filled a small silver teapot with hot water and made a french press style coffee set. When he was done gathering all the various sugars, leaves, and syrups he walked over to the man and set the tray down.
Garrett’s heart dropped as he saw the man lift his hand up to Fenris’s cheek. He watched as this man traced his fingers along the tattoos on his chin and neck. Then Fenris leaned down and kissed him,and he was finally able to tear his gaze away.
He cleared his throat loudly causing Fenris and the mystery man in a suit to break focus and turn to look at Garrett. Fenris’s eyes widened and his brow furrowed when he realized Garrett was standing to leave. Taking to his feet quickly the barstool scratching loudly on the floor.
Garrett’s ears were ringing as he left the venue, the cold air from the outside forcing him back to reality.
The light was too bright for Garrett’s eyes and his chest was tight. He looked around in a dazed panic. Walking over to one of the red picnic tables he sat down and rested his head in his hands. “Come on Garrett, Don’t do this.” He could feel his throat tighten as he descended into a heart broken depression. The sound of footsteps approaching behind him drew his attention, turning he saw Fenris standing silently hands in his jacket pockets.
“Garrett, I...”, Fenris began “I should have told you about Danarius, I’m sorry.” Garrett stood and walked over to Fenris and stopped about 3 paces away. He looked at the slender man standing in front of him and gathering all his strength, forced a smile. Fenris wasn’t tall but he looked so, small. His eyes darted from the ground to Garrett’s eyes and back a few times before he finally sighed and let his eyes fall back to the ground. Garrett wanted to say something, he wanted to ask why, and be angry. But he also kind of wanted to kiss him, to walk up to the man that stood before him and take him into his arms. But instead he just stood there and said, nothing, until he did.
“It’s okay, Don’t worry.” Garrett said he pulled out his phone and looked at the screen not really for any reason, and put it back in his pocket. “Alright, well I have shit to do, so I’ll see you around.” Garrett walked past Fenris leaving him in the cold. He walked back into the venue, hands shaking and tightening his scarf to avoid them being noticed.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Fenris stayed outside for a moment looking around then back at the door. He lit a cigarette and walked over to the table where Garrett had sat. He took his free hand from his pocket and felt the table for the warmth of Garrett’s body and sat in the same spot, letting his head fall into his hands. He exhaled smoke onto the table as a lump grew in his throat. He looked at the door and wondered what Garrett must think of him. “It doesn’t matter”, Fenris said aloud his breath fogging with each word. “It can’t matter... Not as things are now. I really am sorry Garrett.”
His words were soft to the emptiness of the world around him. He put out his cigarette and headed back in.