Notes: Finally finished this little thing about these two. Enjoy!
Words: 860
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It'd been almost three weeks since the defeat of the archdemon and Denerim was beginning to see some semblance of normalcy. The skies were no longer choked by smoke and haze. The charred remains of some buildings and haphazardly built reinforcements no longer smoldered. The citizens and soldiers had been hard at work trying to rebuild what the darkspawn tried to destroy.
Southern Thedas was too wet and too cold and too gray for his tastes. He missed the warm weather, blue skies, and green hues of home. That was all set to change soon. He'd finally gotten passage to make his way back towards Par Vollen and was set to sail out the next morning. The only survivor of his convoy that'd been sent out for reconnaissance, it felt like it had been years with how much had taken place since she freed him from that cage in Lothering.
Raucous singing and cheering could be heard all the way on the side of the building as everyone tried to wind down from the day. She'd stepped outside to get a little breather and ever observant, he followed shortly behind. The two of them rested there side by side in the chilly night air, propped against the wall as they quietly stared at the night sky together.
Sten watched out of the corner of his eye as Briva inched a little closer, not enough for them to touch but enough that she could feel his warmth. Much like she'd do some nights when he was keeping watch over the camp. Nights when the nightmares were too much so she'd forgo sleep and just keep watch with him. He'd never imagined that his life would be so impacted by the small elf standing beside him tonight. The rogue who'd lockpicked his cage in Lothering to set him free. Fuck the chantry she'd said as the lock fell to the ground and motioned for him to join them. The archer who's knack for precision with a bow surprised even him as she could almost rival some of Par Vollen's best with more discipline he'd always he tell her. He couldn't have anticipated what would become of their adventures that one night he decided to spar with her. What she lacked in discipline and structure, she made up for in unpredictability and guile. Her dagger work could make anyone a little uneasy with the way she handled herself. Always finding the openings and when she couldn't find a way, she fought dirty and made one. Methods he didn't approve of but they were effective nonetheless. The two of them sparred and trained. He sought to correct while she sought to upend and they usually reached a draw at the end. A conclusion most surprising to both but enjoyable either way.
Days turned into weeks, skirmishes turned into battles, each time they won and he was surprised a little more. Enough that she was changing his mind a little about what southern Thedas was capable of if there were more like her. They continued to spar with each other. Continued to win their battles. She helped him recover his sword and she finally earned his trust. He shared a little. It wasn't as annoying nor as pointless as he thought it would be. She shared a little more. He learned to see her outside of certain roles, despite how that notion defied everything he knew. Little by little, she had earned a different place, as some Qunari would call it, as Kadan. And so that night as Sten and his Kadan stood in an alley outside The Pearl, they enjoyed each other's company in silence.
Briva finally settled against his side, a sigh escaping her lips, the only noise made between the two of them as they stood there. They'd said very little before saying a lot but tonight they didn't need to say much more. He unclenched his fist, letting his fingers relax a little, making an opening without saying a word. An opening she sensed coming, her palm already poised and waiting for his thick calloused fingers. He glanced down briefly before clearing his throat, taking hold of her hand in a firm but still gentle grip. Briva grinned but said nothing as she watched him settle his fingers between hers before turning back to the starry sky. Tonight, that silence would have to hold all the things they couldn’t say and all the things they probably should. In another world at another time, they could have been something else, maybe something more.
Something like love, like lust, like devotion. But instead they only had right now. A time right now filled with admiration and taboo whispers of something more that would have to remain as such. They were on different paths, set to continue leading their different lives so they would cherish these times together and enjoy what they would share tonight. Tomorrow, he'd begin the journey back home. That bittersweet silence that the two of them would share that night for the last time in a dimly lit alley in Denerim. It would have to sustain what was between them until that other lifetime.
