GARRETT HAWKE + FENRIS
HAWKE WAKES UP A DOG AGAIN AFTER THE BONFIRE BREAK
G | COMPLETE
Waking up as a dog the first time had been startling enough. Waking up as a dog the second time made Hawke decidedly grumpy. It took a moment though. First, he only snuggled his snout into Fenris’ neck - nothing at all abnormal enough there to wake him. His dreams were cozy things even, warm and happy. But before long, a wedge of dog instinct kicked in and he licked at Fenris’ familiar and beloved scent, slathering his throat in slobber.
Only once he tasted the salt of Fenris’ skin on his tongue did his brain clue in. A cranky howl bellowed low and resonating from somewhere deep inside of him. “Fenrisss...” His whine came out half high-pitched growl. “Why is this happening to meee….”
A better question, Fenris thought, was why was this happening to all of them. Hawke and the others who were obligated to trade places with animals did have the worst end of it, though, that he had to admit, however little he liked having his face licked first thing in the morning.
“I do not know, and I had very much hoped that it would be done with by today,” Fenris grumbled as he sat up. Usually the little flashes of bizarre magic Atlantis produced were gone quickly, or at least that had been his experience thus far. The jaunt to Colorado had been a notable exception. This, it seemed, would be another; he could only hope it wouldn't last two full months.
Hawke did feel bad about what Fenris was having to put up with, just because Fenris had the misfortune of being in love with him. But it was hard to focus on that when he had four legs and a tongue the size of his whole head. Which was really too bad since it might have tempered his ridiculous a bit. Maybe later. In the moment, he only rolled over onto his back, legs flopping directionless.
“Maybe we’re cursed. Maybe it was something I ate? Andraste’s knickers, that list could be so long!” A sad little woof burst out of him.
It would have been funny, were it not so sad. Actually, Fenris thought, it was still a bit funny. Just not very funny. He didn’t like magic messing around with people, and he liked it less when magic messed around with the single most important person in his life. Unfortunately, in Atlantis there wasn’t anybody he could blame for it, so this would not be a problem that Fenris could solve with a sword. He couldn’t even threaten someone else into solving the problem. There was only patience and “waiting it out,” which were possibly his least favorite ways of addressing an issue.
“Something you ate, something you drank, something you breathed, something you looked at…” Fenris sighed. He reached over to absently scratch behind Hawke’s ear. “It could be anything. The only thing predictable about this place is its unpredictability.”
Hawke arched into the touch without any reservation. One benefit to this whole dog situation had been all the petting. He was a little envious of how much loving contact Barkspawn got on a regular basis. Of course, he deserved every bit of it and would probably getting more if they ever got switched back.
“I’d let myself get comfortable with the whole only a day thing,” he grumbled before slumping over onto his side. “What if there’s something I’m meant to do? Or an incantation or something.” His leg kicked with a mind of his own and huffed out a breath through his flapping jowls. “Maker, I hope it’s not something I have to read.”
“Better you reading than him,” Fenris said, nodding to the human form of Hawke, currently inhabited by the consciousness of Barkspawn, curled up on a large pillow where he could watch the door for threats or intrusions. Mabari were smart dogs, but Fenris doubted sincerely that they could read. Even with Hawke’s weaker dog vision, he was at least capable of understanding words, and that put him a step ahead of the animal living in his body. “But I have no guesses at what might lift this curse. The possibilities are as broad as the range of potential causes. As much as I hate it, I can think of no practical solution other than to carry on as normally as we can.”
“Ugh. I know. But whining is definitely a part of that.” Hawke rolled over onto his back to peer upside down at his human body. He should’ve probably gotten Bark a cot. He’d put more effort into it now that they knew this wasn’t a one day only torture. “My back is going to be a mess when this over,” he sighed. Groaning, he rolled back to his feet and dove off the bed, nosing at his - at Bark’s feet.
“Oi, up. You can have the bed for a bit if you want to keep sleeping.” Barkspawn needed no additional prodding and leapt up, bounding over to the bed to dive into the unmade covers. If a dog could laugh and roll his eyes at once, Hawke got pretty close to making it happen.
For Fenris, it managed to be cute and also a bit disturbing. It was funny, seeing Hawke’s body delightedly flinging itself into the bed, but also unsettling knowing that Hawke’s dog currently had control of his physical self. A dog in Hawke’s body was much stranger than Hawke in a dog’s body, or at least so Fenris felt.
“I promise you a back rub when your body is your own again,” Fenris said. He was actually quite good at delivering a massage, though he’d never said where he picked up the talent. “In the meantime...what would you like to do today? Run around in the park?”
Hawke made his way back over to Fenris and circled his legs in the dog version of a drunken weaving stumble. His short-but-powerful tail flicked back and forth as he leaned into Fenris’ thigh. “Thank you, love. Though I do think it’s you that’ll deserve some spoiling after all this. I’m sorry you’re stuck taking me for walks and all that. How horribly unromantic this all is.”
He sighed and plopped his butt down on the ground, tail still wagging. “Not that a run around the park wouldn’t be nice. Assuming it’s warm enough. No freezing your arse off just so I’m not bored.”
“I will not say it is the least romantic situation we have ever been in--” After all, neither of them were currently bleeding half to death. “--but it would certainly make a Top Ten list. I love you enough to follow you into battle, though, so I also love you enough to follow you to the park.” Fenris reached down to pet Hawke’s doggy head and scratch behind his ears again. “You will be back to normal soon enough, I am sure. If it makes you feel better, I will allow you to bring me wine while I enjoy a hot bath then.”
“I can’t believe you just brought up a bath. I can’t flirt with you like this and it’s distressing.” Hawke huffed a little ‘laugh’ and nosed at Fenris’ hand. He couldn’t help but worry still, but Fenris saying he loved him enough to get through this eased his mind and heart. No doubt it wouldn’t be the last time something maddening happened to one of them here anyway.
His little stomach growled to remind him what his anxiety had let him forget. “I can beg for food, though.” He cheekily sat up and lifted his front paws off the ground to do just that.
Fenris chuckled even as he rolled his eyes. “Come along, then. I am sure we have something here that will serve for breakfast. But if you start up the whimpering, I am leaving you to fend for yourself.”