Can I kiss you?

The sun sank low in the Kirkwall sky as Anders and Hawke walked side by side down a sidewalk illuminated with shops that had snowflakes designed into the windows and Year End sales signs hung in their windows. Hake still had no idea where they were going and was beginning to wonder if Anders had any plans at all. He looked up at the stars and they were so clear tonight not a cloud in the sky. Anders looked over at Hawke and smiled.

“Are you ready for my surprise?” he asked as they came to a dead end in the sidewalk. There was a guardrail and beyond it a dense hedge. But other wise there was nothing this far out on the sidewalk. Garrett smiled and Anders reached out his hand. Garrett took his open hand and they walked over the guardrail pushing through the dense foliage.

Garrett smiled, at how smooth Anders was as they laced their fingers together and walked further into the darkness. The motion was delicate and natural, causing a flurry of butterflies to erupt in Hawk’s chest. He tightened his grasp lightly as a reflex, causing Anders to smile and squeeze his hand back. Anders glanced over carefully and smiled to himself. He was beginning to care about Hawke, and it showed.

By now the last of the daylight had gone and they were alone in the darkness. Anders pushed forward to a small clearing that was glowing the same shade of blue as lyrium and the glow when Justice was on stage. “I came out here earlier and covered this in my UV paint,”

Hawke looked around and saw a small arch way of sticks had been created and there was a small basket bottle of dark wine and a decent sized, smooth square box. Garrett looked over at Anders his face pale in the moonlight and the light from the scene before him. Anders smiled and walked forward still holding Garrett’s hand.

Anders lead Garrett down to the area next to the basket and helped him to sit, then adjusting himself next to him on the grass. While Garrett continued to examine the art.

The UV paint had been spread in delicate curving lines over the park of nearby trees and on the archway itself. Looking more closely you could see little leaves at the end of some of the swirls.
It was a delicate curling filigree that Anders had hand painted, for Garrett.

“This is -- beautiful.” Garrett said in a hushed voice. Anders looked over at him with an expression of longing. “I once walked a beach in the twilight hours in Antiva.” Anders moved in closer and wrapped his arms around Hawke’s waist resting his head on the back of his shoulder.

“It was during the summer, and there were waves of lyrium rich krill washing up on the shore.”
Anders closed his eyes and continued. “It was as though the stars were endless and I was wading in their light. I have kept this image in my mind and waited for the right person with whom to share this.” He kissed the skin on the back of Hawe’s neck. His breath was hot and a soft warmth lingered where his lips had met the flesh on his neck.

The sudden touch sent chill down his spine, he felt safe. Garrett leaned his head closer to Anders and closed his eyes. “This is perfect,” Garrett thought to himself mouthing the words. Anders hands wandered back to Garrett’s locking fingers. Garrett rested his head against his new lover’s forehead as they both sat in the stillness of the night eyes closed locked in a moment.

“Garrett,” Anders said his voice barely a whisper.
“Hmm?” Garrett replied
He took a deep breath as the words left his lips with a sigh,
“Can I kiss you?” he leaned forward slightly his lips brushing against Garrett’s as he completed the question.

Garrett Nodded, “Yes, I’d like that.”

Anders closed the gap and rubbed his lips against Garrett’s before leaning in making full contact. His hands moved up cradling Garrett’s bearded chin

Garrett took Anders around the waist pulling him in closer.

Both men held the embrace kissing and caressing the other kissing slowly, taking soft breaths between each kiss.

Anders pulled away slightly, and looked into Hawke’s eyes the pink flush on his cheeks a soft purple in the blue light. He rubbed his cheek against Hawke’s beard and pressed both hands against Hawke’s chest lightly.

Garrett’s expression intensified as he laid back in the grass. Garrett could feel his pulse quicken and his breath followed suit. “Is this happening?” He thought to himself as his body involuntarily prepared sending blood to his extremities.

Anders smiled and kissed him again, Hawke bringing his arms up to Ander’s face this time eagerly accepting.
He lingered for just a moment before pulling away a smile stretching across his flushed lips.

“I have a surprise for you.” he said in a quick excited whisper
Garrett lifted himself onto his elbows as Anders turned and grabbed the smooth black box and poured them each a glass of wine.

Handing the long stemmed glass to Hawke, Anders sat cross-legged and opened the box removing a small antique looking metal globe with a pointed top and 2 copper bands of metal circling the blue steel of the spherical contraption that sat atop a stone and wood base.

Setting the item down gently in a patch of grass that had been prepared before this.
He flipped a series of small switches on the side and pressed a button and it began to glow and spin shooting a blue laser beam into the sky. The beam split into 3 pieces at the end and made a pleasant humming sound.

Anders made his way back to Hawke and laid his head on Hawke’s lap.

It’s an astrarium, they’re from the north. This is a smaller version of the larger ones that ancient people spread around Seheron. Anders explained as the device highlighted star patterns in the night sky.

Hawke laid back down and watched as the astrarium moved illumination each constellation connecting the dots as if guided by an invisible hand. Not crossing itself and beginning again if it did.

“Which is your favorite, Anders?” Hawke asked

“Oh, I have many,” Anders said in a wistful voice.

Hawke noticed Ander’s shift and adjusted his position so they were laying side by side.
He looked at Anders and reached for his hand.

Anders returned his gaze and with a soft smile intertwined their fingers.
He leaned forward kissing Hawke again and placing his forehead against Hawke’s.

“Thank you for coming out here with me Garrett.” Anders whispered his eyes closed.
Hawke smiled “Of course.”

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