Chapter Text
My love,
Varric needs me. He said it's about that old darkspawn we fought years ago. I won't be long but it's in Orlais. If it wasn't Varric, I'd wait for you. He wouldn't bother us if he didn't have to.
I love you, please be safe.
Take care of yourself,
Your Hawke.
Fenris felt the parchment between his fingers, soft and worn. The denting in the back from where Hawke pushed too hard felt painful against him. The small home they'd built south of Tantervale was cold and empty, almost abandoned compared to how it normally felt.
Fenris had been tracking a small group of slavers, alone. Two weeks trekking through mud and shit on a rumor of a pair of slavers. He hadn't even caught them. Defeated, he'd headed back hoping that seeing Hawke would calm his frustrations. Time apart had made Fenris desperately miss him.
The two of them had been arguing more often than not lately. Fenris knew it was his fault. He couldn't handle the comforts of life Hawke gave him, the constant care about how he was feeling. Now, Hawke was gone. Not forever, but long enough for Fenris to feel a gnawing at his insides. He couldn't stop himself from replaying their last conversation trying to find where he could put blame on himself.
Hawke's writing burned in Fenris's hands, rage building up from his center. Crumbling the paper up and tossing it into a corner of the room, Fenris rapidly stripped off his armour. Tevene curses spewed from his mouth as he worked, Hawkes name intermixed in. Leaving a note! What was Fenris, a love sick puppy? Waiting hand and foot for Hawke to come back? He could have stayed out there hunting, but Fenris was a fool for thinking Hawke may want to see him. Now it's Hawke's fault those slavers are still breathing.
After removing his armour Fenris stood in the middle of the room, painful silence all too loud. The house was so quiet without Hawke. No laughter or smiles to brighten up the gloom Fenris brought with him everywhere. The room felt smaller, darker, crushing around Fenris without the brightness radiating, keeping it back. Loneliness pained his chest as Fenris took in the small details around him. The fire was cold, food all put away, dishes even cleaned. Hawke had left days ago and wouldn't be back for many more.
Crawling over to the crumpled parchment, Fenris carefully unwrapped it, making sure to not smudge any ink. Wiping his face, his fingers traced over the words one at a time. The same way Hawke taught him.
My love,
I love you, please be safe.
Take care of yourself,
Your Hawke.
Orlais wasn't too far. Hawke would be home soon.