It felt like the woods accelerated the onset of twilight, closing in, shutting out all but a few shreds of light and plunging the entirety of this space into a dark wardrobe. Dorian had just come from the Emporium, where heâd been working most of the day (on the days he wasnât teaching Favorite Students he was at the Emporium) - and that day was winding down, so he thought it a good idea to slip what he had for Atreus into his pocket and head to the animal sanctuary.
Rather than wander and trekking around the scent of damp leaves, splashes of water, and bypassing fungus on tree stumps - landmarks that looked the same no matter where you went because the forest was tricky - he used the waypoints. The system was one he was familiar with by now, and it was the best way to navigate the treacherous beauty of the forest. So he ended up at the sanctuary in short order, fresh from the Emporium and probably still smelling of sharp spice and the crackle magic, due to all the enchanted items he laid hands on everyday.
He saw Atreus out front, past the sanctuaryâs sign and he quickened his pace but somehow resisted the urge to do something silly like run into his arms. Yes, he could be completely casual about this. Of course.
Atreus was on the roof of his small house, hunched over a beam that he was in the process of finishing the roof before nightfall. The house itself was almost complete, having received only a minor setback with Atreus needing to take it easy after the nasty gash to his back and dinosaurs taking up a week of his time. Father hadnât been around much, the animals had been restless.
It was a lot. But it was back to being quiet, save for the sharp barks of a wolf cub and two foxes in the nearby penned yard.
When he noticed Dorian, his smile was immediate and wide, and he jumped down off the roof with ease. Heâd left his shirt off and thrown to the side to stop chafing from the healed-but-tender scar on his back, so Dorian got an unrestrained and sweaty kiss as Atreus met him halfway. âI didnât know you were coming over today. Hi.â
âHello there,â Dorian laughed, slipping his arms around Atreus, hands resting low on his hips - heâd checked the healing progression of that scar and it seemed to be doing alright, though he hadnât used any magic on it as promised. Even if he was eager to try out the new healing bits and bobs heâd learned recently - but alas, the time would come once more. He doubted things stayed quiet for very long around here anyway.
Sweaty kisses were also perfectly fine with him - his were less sweaty, but he returned them and gave back as good as he got. âIâm sorry, I should have sent you a message?â he asked, tracing and following the v-shape of his Personâs (if thatâs what they were calling it - coincidentally, that was part of the reason why he was here) torso, thumbs pressing gently against bone. âI just - wanted to talk to you about something. And Iâve a surprise for you.â They went hand-in-hand, actually.
Atreus made a noise - a cross between something positive and purring and denial - if it ended up sounding like a strangled murmur, it was entirely Dorianâs fault for his wandering fingers. He had to clear his voice after a laugh, and shook his head. âNo no, youâre always welcome. I promise itâs a nice surprise.â And at least Kratos wasnât here to be gruff at the both of them and their immediate public displays of affection.
Not that it wouldâve stopped Atreus, he was a whirlwind when it came to doing what he wanted. The mention of a surprise did pull him up short and his eyebrows shot up, nearly flying off his face.
âA surprise?â He went soft, a smile playing at his mouth. âDo we need privacy for the surprise? Or uh- talk?â He gestured behind him, to the tiny house in progress, trying not to let his brain run away with all the things Dorian might want to talk about.
The house seemed to be coming along nicely too - certainly it was a bit rustic (and Dorian tended to prefer claw-footed bathtubs filled with hot water and fragrant oils, overflowing silver platters, and plush furniture to sink into) but it was something Atreus built, and thus Dorian was encouraging and quite proud of him; he was eager to see the progress, at any rate.
âYes, privacy would be ideal,â he nodded, grasping both of Atreusâ hands in his, giving them a squeeze before letting go. âShow me your humble abode, amatus.â
Eventually he realized heâd have to explain what that meant - in Tevene it was a term that wasnât really supposed to be tossed around lightly, and heâd called the Inquisitor amatus for a very long time, until they parted ways. But it was certainly a good thing - and a little more meaningful than something like darling or sweetheart.
The term of endearment - which Atreus had already gathered from the times it had been used - made him flush a little. He didnât really have a word to use back, despite knowing a dozen or more languages. Being new to this made him apprehensive of what to do other than to follow a lead, but thankfully Dorian was good at that.
On foot, he was in the lead, making a little flourish and bow on the front deck of the small house. It was smaller than the main house across the property, with only one main room and a small kitchen and bathroom wedged in a corner. He didnât need much, just a place to call his own.
Having a door was a bonus. Atreus closed it behind Dorian, and swept an arm out to the mostly empty cabin. There were two chairs and a small table in the corner, sun streaming through the unfinished roof, but the rest was nearly done. âIâm thinking about a large bed right in the middle, and then a couch over in the window over there-â He pointed to a circular corner on the other side of the room. It was easier to ramble about this than it was to get anxious over the upcoming conversation.
âOh - â Dorian took a look around, once they were inside the tiny house. It was indeed as rustic as he thought it might be, but so lovably quaint; Atreus even had a place to cook, and the bathroom was a delight too (indoor plumbing always was). He ran his hand over the top of one chair, the crafting material smooth to the touch, and he faced Atreus with a smile that reached the stormclouds of grey eyes - chased those clouds away, even. âItâs wonderful.â
A bed and a couch would also go perfectly, he thought. Someplace decent to sleep - and really, the whole thing was the perfect size for Atreus. Heâd have his own space, his privacy (not that his father wasnât great too and all, but not having to send him off into exile when extra privacy was needed ought to be pleasant as well).
âWeâll test out the bed thoroughly when you get it,â he added, sounding haughty but you can bet he meant it.
Atreus lit up with the praise, his smile reaching the corners of his eyes with pleasure. He was easy to win over for a variety of reasons, but someone - specifically someone he liked - telling him that something he did was wonderful made the butterflies flutter around his stomach.
The whole thing came with both an edge of flirtatiousness and relief, and Atreus moved forward with that smile targeted on his lover. Boyfriend? Friend-thatâs-more? Dorian. There was just an edge of worry behind his bright eyes that didnât allow him to reach out, but he didnât shy away, either. âSo that means youâre not here to tell me you donât want to do this anymore?â
He wished he could have sounded just a little more casual there. A little less obviously smitten.
Was that what he thought?
Dorian was, admittedly, a little surprised - because telling Atreus he didnât want to see him anymore was quite possibly the stupidest thing this mage could do, and Dorian wasnât stupid. Far from it, actually, and he prided himself on that.
It was also a bit adorable, but anyway. Best to go on and explain why heâd come over rather than draw out the mystery and the anxiety. âOf course not,â he assured, reaching for Atreusâ hands, lifting them to his lips to place a kiss against his knuckles. âIâm here because - I thought to ask if we could keep doing this? Just me and you, together, ah - not seeing other people. Whatever the proper term is - perhaps we ought to pick one.â
He usually went with lover, but didnât know if that was still proper protocol in this time period. A lot of things seemed to have faded out, with many other things he didnât understand replacing them.
Oh. âOh!â That made more sense, as all of the pieces fell together and his smile bloomed again. A flush came with it, brightening his cheeks as he thought that over.
There was no real question to it, he liked Dorianâs company a great deal, and had no desire to stop liking Dorianâs company. The relationships around him were his education into it - from his parentâs marriage (which was unique in a lot of ways) to just being around Adam, Ronan and everyone in that group. It was wildly different ends of the spectrum, but hadnât given him much to learn from.
Learning to make his own path was nice, though. It had an effect on him that he wasnât expecting (but should have), and he reached up to run a hand gently along Dorianâs jaw, teasing with both touch and his smirk. âOkay. Thatâs way better, and-- yeah. I mean, youâre a lot to keep up with already, I like the idea of keeping it that way. Maybe we can come up with a list of suggestions?â
Dorian chuckled, taking Atreus by the hand and kissing his palm before letting go. The touch was reassuring, at least, that this wasnât a silly idea - him deciding not to run from his very own house or fake an injury was also something that Dorian appreciated. Because beyond the pompous exterior, he was a bit squishy - he was a big cat who liked to be pet and showered with attention, and even now still a bit vulnerable as well, after being told for so long that something was wrong with him, that he needed to be changed.
But seeing Atreus smile like that, so sweet, sweet as a summer strawberry hidden under leaves and the way it could make mincemeat of even his strongest iron defenses, well. Dorian knew he knew he was on the right path.
âI think the modern term is boyfriend,â he said, though he wasnât sure if he liked that or not. Perhaps heâd get used to it. âBut Iâm open to suggestions. Lover. Partner. Better half,â he teased. âAnd also, here - â
He reached into his pocket, pulling out a little velvet drawstring bag. âItâs not - anything major, but I thought it could be a token of our...whatever this is?â he offered. Inside was a silver ring, one he had enchanted at the Emporium - it should fit Atreusâ finger. âI know youâre a demigod, but we wear things like this with our armor back home,â he explained. âIt just - makes you a little bit more durable. It increases the efficiency of attacks too. I thought perhaps you might like it,â he added sheepishly, a flush creeping up to stain olive-toned cheeks.
âWe might have to argue on the better half part.â Atreus quipped back, grinning. âI think boyfriend is what a lot of people here use, but Iâm fine coming up with what works for us.â He wasnât sure yet what would feel right, but going through using a few different options felt nice, like it could be their thing.
The ring pulled his attention away from the idea of whispering lover before leaning in for a kiss. He stopped mid-lean and looked down at the bag in surprise. Atreus wasted no time opening it, grinning from ear-to-ear with enthusiasm that matched earlier when Dorian had brought up the idea of a gift in the first place.
âOh, wow! This is--â He could feel the enchantment, practically radiating off of the ring as it fell into his hand. âItâs amazing.â He turned that grin up to Dorian, teasing. âIs this a betrothal item? Arenât you supposed to ask my father, bring a few goats as an offering? Iâm not sure Iâm ready for that but--â
Betrothal item, Makerâs sagging nutsack, Dorian about had a stroke right here and now. He knew Atreus was teasing but - he was overcome with this sense of both elation and panic and probably sprouted a few grey hairs (heâd have to check immediately, because that would not do).
âIâll save the goats for another time,â he decided, slipping his arms around his....manpanion? And bestowing upon him the sweetest of kisses that wasnât really sweet at all - more like he nipped gently with teeth, and was fully prepared to put this fellow over his knee and give him a spanking for stringing the words betrothal and item together in the same sentence.
Not that he was against it, necessarily. But rushing into it seemed unwise. Especially since the idea of bringing goats to Kratos was something heâd need to prepare for with lots of dwarven ale.
âPerhaps figuring out what to call our union is the first step, but after that - I suppose weâll see how it goes.â
The look of panic pulled a laugh from Atreus. He leaned in for his own kiss, grinning at the mustache that tickled his skin at the angle, not avoiding the playful nips. âThatâs a good plan--â He paused, searching his memory for more significant other names. âBae? I think Iâve heard that one. Iâm not really sure what it means, but I donât think itâs anything bad.â
It was easier than letting his worry settle on his earlier conversation with Torunn and mortality. That was a thought heâd prefer to ignore, pushing optimism forward instead of the idea that he would live a much, much longer life than the lover in front of him.
Any time at all spent with the company of someone he enjoyed was better than a lonely life, after all. He slipped the ring on his middle finger, where it fit near perfectly, and felt the instant the enchantment hit him like a tingle up his spine. âOoh-- Thatâs good. Wait. Should I make something for you now?â Atreus let his finger run down the fancy fabric of Dorianâs shirt before tugging on it. âI donât know if I could make anything thatâll match your look, though.â
Rings like that did tend to offer a little spine-chilling thrill, in purely a good way, and Dorian was pleased with the reaction. What in the world was Bae, however? He would have to look into it. âIf youâd like,â he responded, a tinge of amusement present in his tone. âI would gladly accept anything you made, amatus.â
He paused, hands gently smoothing down the expanse of Atreusâ back, mindful of the scar - Dorian took kind of a zig-zag route, dipping this way and that to avoid that area, his touch gentle. âIt means beloved,â he shared. âTechnically, I suppose. But the overall vibe of the word - it means that I want something deeper with you, and you want something deeper with me.â
So it wasnât really a term you called your fuck buddy, or something to use all lackadasical-like. But it was a gendered term as well, a beloved man - which was a big deal since you couldnât really be open about that sort of thing in Tevinter.
âI like it,â Atreus replied softly, leaning into the touch. âWe have a word like that in my native language too-- ĂĄstvinur. Itâs closest meaning is probably ⊠Sweetheart? Or bed friend. Thereâs also kĂŠrasti too, which is more like darling, if you like that more.â Heâd never really used either, but theyâd been used liberally in a few of Mimirâs stories.
âYou know,â he started, hand roaming lightly over clothes and under Dorianâs shirt, ghosting across the skin he found there. âIf you use more Tevene, Iâll be able to pick up on the whole language.â Atreus dropped his mouth down to press a kiss to the vein that stretched along Dorianâs neck. âUnless you want to keep that air of mystery.â
That vein, the pulse which quickened, it was a sensitive spot right there, and Dorian tilted his head a bit for better access - lips on skin and Atreus touching him had muscle twitching beneath fingertips and Dorian making a sound, a purr that rattled his bones. âThe whole language?â he repeated, hands back on Atreusâ hips, and Dorian tugged him along - the mageâs back hit the wall, and he went for strategic thigh placement between his dearest manfriendâs legs.
âFestis bei umo canavarum,â he offered. âYouâll be the death of me.â
He didnât have much opportunity to speak Tevene, not here (it was similar to Latin, as heâd learned) - sometimes whilst teaching, heâd imagine heâd slip into it since a lot of magical terms would be relevant, but Atreus learning wasnât a bad thing at all. It was something Dorian was happy to share with someone he cared about, among other things.
âMmhmm,â Atreus murmured as an answer, nodding just a little from his spot nestled against Dorian. It didnât take much, just a general grasp of a language, and Atreus was right there, paying apt attention and absorbing it all.
Now he was a little distracted for the impromptu lesson, hands reaching to lift Dorian up for better contact. But he got there eventually, âI hope not,â he laughed before diving in for a proper kiss, keeping the serious and grave thoughts to a minimum. Dorian was pleasantly warm against him and the wall was thankfully as equally strong as Atreusâ arms, allowing the mage to be held firmly.
When he eventually pulled away, his mouth went right back to that spot that had made Dorian twitch under him so he could whisper against flushed skin. âFestis bei umo canavarum,â He leaned away just enough to flash a smug smile. âRight?â
How the fuck was Dorian supposed to answer, or even think about anything else, when Atreus had him against the wall like this? He knew it too, and Dorianâs brain was about to turn to mush and leak out of his ears. âYes, good,â he rumbled a laugh, and it sounded like heâd gargled with pebbles, the way the sound scraped against his throat. â...kĂŠrasti.â The word for darling was tested out, and he sort of liked the way it flowed, the way it rolled off the tongue. Dorian enjoyed learning new languages too, though he couldnât do it as quickly as his personfriend here could.
He hooked both legs around Atreus, thigh muscles squeezing in a python sort of grip. âThough if you keep this up,â he warned, fingers carding through dark hair, â...the only other words youâre going to learn will probably be swear words.â
Because those would be all Dorian could manage, thank you.
Atreus hadnât realized before this moment that it was a thing to have his native tongue - ha, language - pushed back at him. There werenât a lot of people that spoke it with him, most of which were family, and never before a lover. It didnât help to pull him away, and Atreus was historically terrible at learning to school himself and his emotions.
âIâm okay with that,â his voice was low and gravely to match Dorianâs, with an edge of laughter boiling over. He could still keep enough of a handle on his emotions that he leaned back a little, just enough to match his gaze with Dorianâs, curious and patient, rather than just diving back in for another kiss. âUnless you want me to stop? We could uh-- have tea?â
âNo, I donât want any tea - â That was pretty much the last thing Dorian wanted, even if he did enjoy a fragrant cup every morning to sip on while he scrolled through the network and entertained himself with whatever was on fire that particular day.
Right now, however, he wasnât thinking with the head that held an appreciation for hot water poured over aromatic leaves.
And he wiggled just a little, fingertips digging insistently into broad shoulders, that spot on Atreus where his neck and back ran together. âPlease shapeshift out of your trousers right now.â Shapeshift himself naked? That was a thing, wasnât it? It wasnât for Dorian, however, so he would have to rip his clothes off the old-fashioned, steamy romance novella way.
âOh thank the gods.â Atreus looked as relieved as he felt, and it took only a second for him to dive back in, hands gently pulling Dorianâs legs away from him reluctantly. But it was for a good cause, and that cause became more and more apparent as nimble, tattooed fingers unbuttoned and unclasped things as they went, as soon as feet touched the ground.
In an instant, he seemed to be getting shorter as Atreus disappeared down to his knees. âOkay, but first you promised me swear words in Tevene, so weâre going to make good on that.â He glanced up, at the unfinished work above them. âRemember the roof isnât done.â Even with the warning, it seemed like more of a challenge as the sunlight beamed through, hitting Dorianâs flushed skin so deliciously.
If Atreus wanted Tevene swear words, he would get them. A very deep and profound kaffas slipped from between Dorianâs lips, and it meant âshitâ - but in this case, it was an overwhelmed-in-a-good-way sort of shit, about to relieve sexual tension âshit.â
Not that it had been ages since theyâd taken a trip to the fornication station, but still. He doubted this honeymoon phase of the newly-solidified relationship would wear off anytime soon and he was more than fine with that.
âAnything you wish, amatus,â he added, following suit, sinking to his knees, hands reaching to claw away any remaining barriers between them. Heâd just do his best to not be so overwhelmed, he set something on fire - sometimes his magic went a little explodey and this entire house was made of wood.
Worth the risk, however, and a good exercise in self-control. Probably.