I slipped on ice and you helped me up and now it’s kinda awkward: Lira/Nate
When she first experienced it, it’d been a novelty. Back when she lived in Orzammar, she’d had no idea that snow even existed, the stories of white flakes drifting from above no more than tall tales. During her first week on the surface, when snow came down slow but steady, she was almost convinced the world was going to end. It had taken hours of encouragement from her comrades and a snowball to convince her that the weather was harmless.
Lira didn’t fear the snow anymore. But that didn’t mean she had to like it. She was a dwarf. She grew up next to streams of magma. The cold was not something she tolerated well. And neither was ice.
“Come’on, Lira, pick up the pace!” Masha called from the front of the line. They were working their way through the mountains, determined to get to the next outpost, and while Lira understood the cold was unavoidable, that didn’t stop her from being put out. “Faster you walk, the less cold you’ll be!”
Lira hoped her glare could be made out under a hood and two scarves. She did as she was told, tucking her bare hands into her pockets as they began to head up another slope. He whistle, usually a comfort, clinked against her armor.
“Do you need a pair of gloves, commander?” Lira looked to Howe, who was standing next to her. He was wrapped up less than she was, his blood used to the cold, and he eyed her hands with slight worry. Lira just shook her head. Gloves were impossible to sign in. “Are you sure? I have-”
The momentary distraction took Lira’s attention off the ground, and when she stepped on a patch of ice, it caught her entirely by surprise. She felt the world tilt and her foot slid out from underneath her, and her mouth opened in a silent yelp. With her hands in her pockets, there was no way to regain her balance. All she could do was embrace for the impact and hope for no broken bones.
She was rather surprised when the impact never came. Instead she felt a pair of arms sweep under her legs and torso and pick her up, saving her from a brutal introduction to the ice. When she managed to reorient herself, she found herself face to face with Howe.
Howe. Nathaniel. Who was carrying her. Bridal style.
She felt a flush cross her face that had nothing to do with the cold. It had been an age since someone had to carry her like this. She usually hated it, being far off the ground was never comforting, but for once, she found herself rather at ease in the position. Howe’s face was rather red too, suddenly taking in what he’d done, and Lira could see his brain try to work out what to say.
“Thank you,” Lira signed. “That was quick thinking.”
Howe shrugged, some calm returning into his face. “It was no problem.”
Lira couldn’t help but smile. Stone, Rica would love to hear about this. The famous hero swept up by a handsome surfacer. It was something out of a fairy tale. Lira would have to make sure her sister never found out. Howe was her recruit. She couldn’t go around giving the wrong-
Lira froze, suddenly remembering her company. She looked behind her to find Krim, Martha and Anders all looking at her with smug expressions. Martha was the one who’d spoken, but Lira could already see the cogs turning in the others’ heads.
“This is something out of one of those romance novels we snuck around at the circle,” Anders said, snapping his fingers to create a small flaming heart. “Things usually progressed past this of course, but it’s a good start, wouldn’t you say, Krim.”
“I never read those texts, Anders,” Krim said. “I preferred higher literature.”
“Yes, of course. “Two Maidens and the Wizard” was the height of reading-”
“Howe,” Lira signed, refusing to meet the recruit’s eyes. “Please put me down so I can kill them.”
“With pleasure.” The moment Lira’s feet hit the ground, the three were already on the retreat.
Only Masha noticed that the blush on Howe’s cheeks had yet to fade.
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