FIC: [Dragon Age II] Light 2/?
Sebastian/Fenris
Warnings: spoilers, reference to non-con
When Sebastian entered the mansion, Fenris flung the pouch at his feet.
"Go on then. Read!"
Sebastian forgave his friend's temper and bent to pick up the documents. "Are you sure, Fenris?"
"I have my past in my hands and still I am a slave to others!"
"Very well. I will read it all, for good or bad, if that is your wish."
Fenris stood, hands on his hips, and slowed his breathing. "Come in. I- I will not make you read it."
"How about one page?" Sebastian said, walking towards him, "just for now."
Fenris walked across the room and lit the fire.
Sebastian cleared his throat and put the pouch down on the table, carefully taking out the first document. He paused to take a deep breath and double check Fenris didn't object. "I have ventured to collect notes on this slave, previously called Leto, due to the behaviour that has been observed on his exposure to lyrium." Sebastian leaned on the table and continued. "The slave- by the Maker, is he not going to use your name at all?"
Fenris sat down, looking tired. "I have been called worse. It was at least factual. Carry on."
"...the slave has demonstrated a tolerance for lyrium objects where they would usually be used to distract, addict or otherwise affect the subject. Danarius-" he looked up at Fenris, who returned gaze but shook his head at his surprise that he was not the author.
"Of course. He would have others 'helping' with the research."
Sebastian would never ask, even if Fenris could remember, but the disgusted tone suggested either other slaves or fellow slavers. He took another deep breath, trying to disconnect from what he was reading and the rage slowly building inside him. "Danarius has begun introducing lyrium into the slave's daily routine, in particular the restraints and anal- I am so sorry, Fenris." Sebastian flushed and stood to pace, nervous. Fenris was patient and waited for him to continue. Sebastian skipped to the next sentence. "The expense on this slave will have to be increased to allow for this, and Danarius plans to take him to an acquaintance experienced with handling unprocessed lyrium in order to further his interest in this issue." Sebastian shook his head and put the paper face down on the table, forcing the words out. "At the bottom of the page there are some calculations but I'll spare you those."
Fenris looked at the markings on his arm, coming to his own conclusions. After a few minutes of silence between them, he spoke. "Thank you."
"This... is not going to get any easier."
"For either of us, it seems." Fenris said, sharing Sebastian's unspoken thought. He stood, walking towards Sebastian. "I will repeat what I said earlier. I will not make you read it."
"Thank you. But if it helps you, it is what I must do."
"You do it for duty, then?"
"If you think it is a duty to help others you would not be wrong, but you are also my friend, Fenris."
"Hm." Fenris turned towards the table and looked at the papers. "I will leave them here, as they are, and perhaps we can continue tomorrow?" he looked up at the window. "When it's daylight."
Sebastian could appreciate why that would make a difference and wanted to comfort him. He didn't want to leave Fenris now, but there was no reason to stay unless invited. "Tomorrow works for me. You can expect me after lunch?"
Fenris nodded, still looking away.
Sebastian wanted to burn the papers but he dispelled such thoughts with practiced prayers. "Until tomorrow." Nothing else could be said. He walked out into the night and to the Chantry. Fenris lived so close, but it seemed a world away.
It didn't take long for Varric to find him. After his morning duties, Sebastian left the Chantry for a walk in the fresh air and company. It was coincidence, of course. Varric had just stopped by Hawke's for a chat.
"We're going to pay the Dalish a visit. We could use your calming presence if we're taking Daisy along."
"I..."
"What, other commitments? You're still reading it to him, aren't you?"
Sebastian had wanted to pre-empt his questions. "It is not for me to tell, as you know."
"And you didn't take them with you, to have a little read through?"
"No, absolutely not! That would be a disservice-"
"Okay, okay." Varric rubbed his brow. "just keep him from doing anything stupid, whatever you find."
Had Varric not read anything? Or was he just that good at bluffing? Either way, Sebastian was relieved not to have to answer any more questions. He had some time before meeting Fenris and he decided to go back to the Chantry after all. He had a letter to write.
Warnings: spoilers, reference to non-con
When Sebastian entered the mansion, Fenris flung the pouch at his feet.
"Go on then. Read!"
Sebastian forgave his friend's temper and bent to pick up the documents. "Are you sure, Fenris?"
"I have my past in my hands and still I am a slave to others!"
"Very well. I will read it all, for good or bad, if that is your wish."
Fenris stood, hands on his hips, and slowed his breathing. "Come in. I- I will not make you read it."
"How about one page?" Sebastian said, walking towards him, "just for now."
Fenris walked across the room and lit the fire.
Sebastian cleared his throat and put the pouch down on the table, carefully taking out the first document. He paused to take a deep breath and double check Fenris didn't object. "I have ventured to collect notes on this slave, previously called Leto, due to the behaviour that has been observed on his exposure to lyrium." Sebastian leaned on the table and continued. "The slave- by the Maker, is he not going to use your name at all?"
Fenris sat down, looking tired. "I have been called worse. It was at least factual. Carry on."
"...the slave has demonstrated a tolerance for lyrium objects where they would usually be used to distract, addict or otherwise affect the subject. Danarius-" he looked up at Fenris, who returned gaze but shook his head at his surprise that he was not the author.
"Of course. He would have others 'helping' with the research."
Sebastian would never ask, even if Fenris could remember, but the disgusted tone suggested either other slaves or fellow slavers. He took another deep breath, trying to disconnect from what he was reading and the rage slowly building inside him. "Danarius has begun introducing lyrium into the slave's daily routine, in particular the restraints and anal- I am so sorry, Fenris." Sebastian flushed and stood to pace, nervous. Fenris was patient and waited for him to continue. Sebastian skipped to the next sentence. "The expense on this slave will have to be increased to allow for this, and Danarius plans to take him to an acquaintance experienced with handling unprocessed lyrium in order to further his interest in this issue." Sebastian shook his head and put the paper face down on the table, forcing the words out. "At the bottom of the page there are some calculations but I'll spare you those."
Fenris looked at the markings on his arm, coming to his own conclusions. After a few minutes of silence between them, he spoke. "Thank you."
"This... is not going to get any easier."
"For either of us, it seems." Fenris said, sharing Sebastian's unspoken thought. He stood, walking towards Sebastian. "I will repeat what I said earlier. I will not make you read it."
"Thank you. But if it helps you, it is what I must do."
"You do it for duty, then?"
"If you think it is a duty to help others you would not be wrong, but you are also my friend, Fenris."
"Hm." Fenris turned towards the table and looked at the papers. "I will leave them here, as they are, and perhaps we can continue tomorrow?" he looked up at the window. "When it's daylight."
Sebastian could appreciate why that would make a difference and wanted to comfort him. He didn't want to leave Fenris now, but there was no reason to stay unless invited. "Tomorrow works for me. You can expect me after lunch?"
Fenris nodded, still looking away.
Sebastian wanted to burn the papers but he dispelled such thoughts with practiced prayers. "Until tomorrow." Nothing else could be said. He walked out into the night and to the Chantry. Fenris lived so close, but it seemed a world away.
It didn't take long for Varric to find him. After his morning duties, Sebastian left the Chantry for a walk in the fresh air and company. It was coincidence, of course. Varric had just stopped by Hawke's for a chat.
"We're going to pay the Dalish a visit. We could use your calming presence if we're taking Daisy along."
"I..."
"What, other commitments? You're still reading it to him, aren't you?"
Sebastian had wanted to pre-empt his questions. "It is not for me to tell, as you know."
"And you didn't take them with you, to have a little read through?"
"No, absolutely not! That would be a disservice-"
"Okay, okay." Varric rubbed his brow. "just keep him from doing anything stupid, whatever you find."
Had Varric not read anything? Or was he just that good at bluffing? Either way, Sebastian was relieved not to have to answer any more questions. He had some time before meeting Fenris and he decided to go back to the Chantry after all. He had a letter to write.