[Closed] The best part of leaving

[justice_is_blond]

WHO: Anders, Nathaniel Howe
WHAT: Coming back to Skyhold from Halamshiral
WHEN: Nowish
WHERE: Kestral House
NOTES: Probably sap, possibly heavier themes, probably adult content WTG TORI.

There'd been a few things to drop off at the healing tents, a couple of reports to make, but as soon as those are done Anders is headed straight for the Kestral house. He's missed Nate. And while missing someone is nothing new, there is now a hope every time they're parted. He'll see Nate again.... like right now, as he ducks back into the sleeping are and finds the curtained portion that's theirs.

"Where's Purrelden? I've missed her." The mischief in his smile says a lot, but the fact that he's reaching for the archer instead of the cat that's currently sitting on Lady says the rest.

Comments

[justice_is_blond]

The kiss, the promises, and an offered arm? He gets a little misty-eyed as he takes Nate's arm, reflecting on how he's the one this man has fallen in love with.

"Mein Bärchen." His voice is equally quiet; there's no need to wake up the other Wardens. "To have you at my side, after everything..." Nate's arm gets a squeeze. Anders has not been lucky in much, at all, but in this? He's the luckiest person in Skyhold. Possibly all of Thedas.

"Thank you." Like this, he can make it. "And I'll most definitely be looking forward to the special ravishing."

[pinprick]

Nathaniel covers Anders' hand with his own and beams at him, suddenly feeling unbearably proud of this man. He has seen his own true colors, and instead of giving up, he has chosen to move forward and keep helping people every day.

They walk while Nathaniel puts together the words he thought of last night. When they are out of earshot of the bedroom, he speaks.

"You're the strongest person I know. You spent years trying to escape the Circle and you succeeded. You defeated every Templar assassination plot, you fought the Mother beside the Hero of Ferelden, you helped defeat the Arishok and the tyrant who brought Kirkwall to its knees, you housed a violent spirit and when it became unmanageable you actually reversed the possession. Just one of those things would make you a hero to me. I'm so proud of you."

[justice_is_blond]

At first he can't help watching for people watching for him, but as Nate talks, his attention is more and more focused on his lover. Hero. It's the opposite of everything he's heard, and he's never been told that someone's proud of him.

His hands are shaking a little by the time Nate's done, and he squeezes Nate's arm tightly.

"I seem to remember someone at my side for many of those." The smile he gives Nate is watery and weak, but it's there. The plots, the Mother, Meredith, ending his possession, and now today, too. "And someone who found himself despite his family, who made his own path when so many wanted him to fail, who made an absolutely stupid decision to love an abomination and stand with him. You're my hero, Nathaniel, and I love you so much."

[pinprick]

Nathaniel blushes, eyes sparkling as Anders talks. He's never heard that much praise heaped on him before. He's not sure if he can accept it all at once, but he won't argue. He'll keep picking it over, take it all in as the day goes by, and by then he will be okay with it. He leans in to give Anders another kiss.

"I love you too. We'll be all right. Everything we've been through has given us the strength for this."