Chapter Text
Trident.
"You know, I've never actually been to an ocean before," Anders says.
Hawke looks up from the set of armor in his lap, Corsair logo stubbornly only half scrubbed off, because it's not like he can send the fake reports back anymore anyway. Anders' hair is loose, ruffling in the sea breeze, and he's curling his bare toes in the sand as the surf washes over them.
"That's kind of ironic, isn't it?" Hawke says, squinting up at him.
"Hm?"
"Ocean planet."
"Oh." Anders doesn't look away from the horizon, but Hawke can see the small smile on his face, such a nice departure from the scowls and biotic fury that have to have him halfway to wrinkles by now. Everything around them feels alive, the noise and color of life rippling through the air and the water, like the ocean is excited just to be here. Even Anders' headaches are gone, at least so far.
"It's like a private oasis," Anders murmurs. "Our oasis." Finally he rips his gaze from the ocean and looks over at Hawke. The bright white sun frames him like a golden halo, and a drop of sweat beads down his shirt.
"I know we can't stay long--”
"Nonsense," Hawke says, shoving the armor off his lap and ignoring the creak in his knee as he stands. Damn, but he misses the lattice shunt upgrades.
That's about all he misses.
He pads next to Anders and slips an arm around his waist, then tucks his head against Anders' warm shoulder.
"We clear the pirate bodies out of the lodge, disable the radios, lift some aspirin out of the pharmacies, it'll be at least an extended vacation."
Anders makes a face, but it slips into a laugh. "With all this humidity, they're probably starting to bloat, aren’t they?"
Hawke kisses his neck. "It'll be absolutely disgusting."
*