Fenris/male mage Hawke: Hawke has a chronic disease/condition and makes his own herbal tea to alleviate symptoms. One day he runs out of a vital herb that does not grow in Kirkwall and it will take a week to ship, Hawke canāt wait that long. Let me know if you need more detail or it doesnāt make sense.
He is no stranger to pain. Heknows what the ache feels like, deep in the bone. Some ancient hurt still inthe blood, flowing through every vein. In the hours before all others wake, hestretches. Massaging at his arms and at his legs, trying to wipe away the pinsthat prick at the corner of his markings. Fenris watches the way Hawke walks,recognizes it all too well. The hunched shoulders, the smaller steps. The deepsighs, shuddering breath. Leaning on his staff and doing every little thing totry and make it stop, to not make it worse.
The others are going to theHanged Man, Hawke is going home. Fenris pauses in the street, slowly followsafter Hawke. In time to see him duck into an alleyway, to lean against thewall, slowly fall to his knees as he struggles to breath. Fenris instantlydrops to his knees before him, reaching out to him. Hawke holds onto himtightly, hands shaking. āI never wanted you to see me like this,ā he weaklylaughs. Fenrisās ears drop, flatten, the line of his mouth worrying. āIāmusually so good at ordering the herbs I need, but weāve been so busy lately andI ā forgot. Can you believe it?ā
āTell me what you need, and itis yours,ā Fenris says.
āItās fine, I already orderedmore, and itās just taking a long āā
āHawke,ā Fenris interruptsquietly, āwhat can I do?ā Fenrisās hands are on his shoulders, his back,gentler than he deserves. Hawke looks up, feels guilt at the words that slipfrom his mouth.
āStay with me.ā Small silence,looking at each other, and Fenris slowly nods. Slipping an arm under his,around him, helping Hawke to his feet. He draws Hawkeās arm over his shoulder,picks up his staff. They take the backstreets Fenris knows so well, away fromprying eyes. Hawke can only lean on him, every step burning agony. Itās norelief to sit, but it is better just to be away from the street, safety insidethe estate.
āYou should have Bodahn draw a hotbath,ā Fenris says as he kneels before him. Taking off his gauntlets, letting themrest on the floor beside him. āIt will help ease some of the pain.ā Some startlednoise tangles on Hawkeās tongue as Fenris brings Hawkeās foot into his lap,begins to untie the boots.
āPlease,ā Hawke says weakly, āyoudonāt have to do this.ā Fenris ignores him, undoes the other boot. Handssqueezing on Hawkeās ankles, fingertips digging into skin, slowly massagingtheir way upwards. The favor screams red around his wrist, and Hawke canāt helpbut stare at it.
āWhen will the herbs arrive?āFenris asks.
āThree days out, still,ā Hawkesays.
āEvery morning you will take ahot bath, and then I will help you with this,ā Fenris says. Hawke hates this,hates that it helps, hates himself.
āFenris, please, you donāt haveto do this.ā
āWhy?ā He snaps angrily, lookingup. Frowning behind choppy bangs, his hands still around Hawkeās leg. āYou toldme once that there is no shame in asking for help.ā
āItās ā itās not that.ā
āYou think that this ā Hawke. Iam helping you because I choose to, not because you ā you are a foolish,ridiculous man,ā he says, the last worst muttered underneath his breath.
āI know,ā Hawke says quietly. Fenris continueshis work, pointedly looking only at Hawkeās knee. Hawke can only look at him, andeven without the massage, Hawke thinks he still would have felt better justsimply being in his presence.
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