#aspec main character

[natsora]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Chapters: 2/4 Fandom: Dragon Age: Inquisition, Dragon Age - All Media Types Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Female Inquisitor/Cassandra Pentaghast, Cassandra Pentaghast/Female Trevelyan Characters: Cassandra Pentaghast, Female Inquisitor (Dragon Age), Female Trevelyan (Dragon Age) Additional Tags: Hurt/Comfort, Spiders, Nightmare, Angst, Heavy Angst, Post-Dragon Age: Inquisition Quest - Here Lies the Abyss, Post-Dragon Age: Inquisition Quest - Promise of Destruction, Asexual main character, aromantic main character, aspec, Reconciliation Series: Part 8 of The Sword and The Scabbard Summary:

Despite the Rifts plaguing Thedas, the Maker continued to test the Inquisitor and her Seeker, pushing them to their limits. Though the quarrel between them remain unmended, but they provided comfort to each other. As reconciliation looks imminent, they arrive back in Skyhold to the Grand Clerics waiting to interview Cassandra as the next Divine.

[natsora]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Chapter 41 - Epilogue

Warning for reference to suicide ideation

It burnt, skin too sensitive to touch. It hurt, a bone deep ache that wouldn’t go away. These sensations were nothing new, but they roused her from sleep nonetheless. Nothing jolted her awake quite like the darkness that enveloped her. Instantly, her pulse was racing. Old fear clutched her heart and squeezed. 

No! Not again. 

Fingers fumbling for the switch, eyes squeezing shut against the sudden illumination, she sat braced against the edge of her bed and tried to catch her breath again. Even with the new implant in her brain, bridging what damage there was, it still took more time than Shepard liked to adjust to it. Before her eyes were ready for light, she looked at her omni-tool and allowed the numbers to blaze into her eyes. 

It proved that she could still see. 

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[natsora]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

“Shepard don’t know what she is asking,” Ryder hissed. She paced the space like a tiger. Their apartment was trashed again. This time, they did it themselves. That first time… 

Fuck! 

Ryder didn’t want to think about it. If she hadn’t left, would she have been able to stop whoever had taken Shepard? That explained why Drack looked and drank like someone he knew died. 

Was Shepard already dead? No. Fuck, no! Shepard wasn’t dead. She had a plan, otherwise she would have run. Fuck, fuck, fuck! She should have ran any-fucking-way. That stupid, fucking bitch! 

“She don’t know what the fuck she is asking,” Ryder whispered with shuddering breaths. All that tension coiled around her shoulders. It felt so tight it might snap her bones.

Shawn stared. “Sam, she’s trusting us, trusting you to get her through this.” 

“Why?” Ryder whirled around. “Why? She got herself into it! She can fucking get herself out!” Her vision was tinged red, pressure built between her temples. If Shepard was here, she would hit her. She would, she wanted so much that she slammed her fist into the wall. Pain flashed up her arm. 

“Sam!” Shawn yelled, reaching out and grabbing her other arm. “Sam, just… Shepard had done so much for us, we should do this.” 

Ryder squeezed her eyes shut, lest she unleashed her temper on him. It wasn’t Shawn’s fault, he didn’t get it. Taking a couple of shuddering breaths through her mouth, she let him pull her away from the wall. 

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[natsora]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

art by @coryfirelion​

“Stop babying me.” Ryder glared at Shepard. 

Shepard laughed, that deepened her frown. “If you don’t want me to baby you, then behave like an adult. You know what you need to do. You know what’s important. This is just the last step.” 

“But—”

“I’m volunteering for this, all right? Just give it a rest,” Shepard snapped. “I can’t literally be sitting here making sure you eat your meals, drink your water and take your fucking medication. You’re still running a fever.”

Ryder sighed. Two days, that was as long as she made it before she was begging to go back to Uppercut. Shepard had been doing her best to keep Ryder away. If she’s back, Vidal would be making plans again. If it wasn’t hitting the Port with the Clan, it’s booking more VIPs than either of them could handle. As it was right now, Shepard was running ragged between taking on both their clients. Thank fuck there hadn’t been any night assignments recently. Or maybe Drack or one of the others were taking care of things

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[natsora]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Warning: Sensory Deprivation, Waterboarding, Torture

One moment Shepard was in a boot, the next she was out of it. Her arms were splayed to her sides while her head went bump-bump-bump along every single step as someone dragged her by her foot. Their boots clomped steadily without stopping, without a care of what she hit. 

Shepard groaned. Desperately she tried to cling onto consciousness, but it faded before she could get a hand hold. 

Voices swirled around her the next time she surfaced. “Aria told you to get her intact, I need to question her.” 

“Did you expect her not to put up a fight?” Drack’s gruff voice growled. “I know Evan since she’s a kid. She is not going to come without a fight.” 

“Look at her. Aria wants…”

And her consciousness slipped away again. Shepard fell into darkness hoping Liara had gotten all of this because if she wasn’t going to make it out of here, someone else better benefit from this. 

The third time, it had to be the charm right? Shepard grunted and peeled her eyes open only to realise she was lying face down on tiled floor. A pair of huge three-fingered hands pressed against her shoulders, pinning her down. Her ribs screamed in protest. She couldn’t breathe! Legs kicking out, she could gain some leverage, but it wasn’t enough to inch herself forward or back. 

“Keep her still.” 

That voice — Vidal. 

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[natsora]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Chapter 39 / 41

The raid had begun in earnest. Armoured officers rushed in. Uniformed biotics placed guests and gang members, alike, in stasis. Gunfire rang out where people put up a fight. In the confusion, Ryder made her way to the ground level.

There, ambulances and police skycars lined the street. Guests out for a night of drug fuelled fun now sat on the curb with their suit torn, their dresses askewed. Their arms bound together in omni-cuffs. Some sat there shellshocked, others attempted to call their lawyers to get them out of trouble. 

Ryder ignored them. Her back ached, and Shepard kept slipping. She couldn’t tell if it was Shepard’s wet skin or if it was blood from her wounds. “Help!” she cried out. “I need help!” 

A pair of paramedics descended upon Ryder. One took Shepard and lay her down on a stretcher, while another tried to lead Ryder away. “No!” She pushed the paramedic’s hands away. “I have to be with her.” Gripping the rails along the stretcher, she refused to be pried from her spot. 

The paramedic ran his scanner over Shepard’s still motionless body. Before the scanner returned a result, an asari doctor hurried over. “Here, let me take over.” 

The paramedic stared at the newcomer. “Who are you? We didn’t—”

The asari straightened and drew herself to her full height. “Look, I will handle them. I don’t have time to fight you over this.”

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[natsora]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

“Are you sure?” T’Soni asked again.

Shepard frowned and glanced at T’Perro, then back at T’Soni. “Are we not already in agreement?”

“Yes,” T’Soni sighed. “Yes, we are. But—” 

“We have gone over this more than once,” Shepard interrupted. 

T’Soni rubbed her face. “Do you need it in writing?”

Shepard straightened and thought about it. Her shirt hung loose in her hand for a moment. “Actually that would help, but I doubt it’s legally binding.” She folded her shirt and placed it carefully on the chair. “So let’s skip that.” Her fly got stuck when she tried to undo it. She struggled against it for a bit. “The money for the District.” 

“Yes, 15% of the profits goes to the District. Jobs, school, healthcare,” T’Soni answered instantly. 

“The evidence?”

“A copy goes to Ryder within 24 hours.”

“24 hours of what?”

“Of losing contact with you. That or when you’re safely extracted.” T’Soni sighed again. “Evan, I keep my promises.”

“I know. That’s why I’m here.” 

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[natsora]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Uppercut Chapter 38 of 41

“Welcome!” Aria’s voice reverberated through the space. If the sound proofing hadn’t done well, Ryder was sure people on the street level would have heard it too.

Aria’s image was projected in the middle of the ring. Standing ten times her actual height, she was a giant among her peers, literally . With a sweeping hand, she gestured at everyone. “Welcome back old friends and hello new one. It’s been too long since I last saw you. Today, I promise the highest of highs. We cater to only the most extravagant of appetites, everything your heart can desire and more. You have my personal promise that everything available today is of most exquisite of quality. So, partake and enjoy.”

The audience cheered. Whistles and claps, loud roaring calls of excitement filled the air. Aria tipped her head back and took it all in. Then, the holo-imagine cut out, casting the entire place in dim light. In its place was a shimmering purple orb descended from the top. The guests muttered and pointed. It wasn’t how things usually went. As the orb hit the stage, it flared brightly. For a moment, all shadows were banished by its intensity. As its glow dimmed, the house lights snapped on.

It was Aria. There, she stood in the flesh. A hush reverence took hold. She smiled — confident, bold and proud. Her teeth flashing as purple wisps clung to her. With her arms held wide, she said, “Welcome to Uppercut.”

Ryder inhaled sharply and headed back to the locker room to prepare.

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