It was a decidedly mismatched pair who lounged in the atrium of a certain apartment building in Brooklyn. One was tall, solid, with dark hair, a scruffy jaw, and bright blue eyes that had definitely seen far too much. He was dressed oddly, sporting a mismatched outfit of metal plate, chainmail, and grey and red fabric, and carried a staff comfortably on his back. His companion was short, barely reaching the other man's waist, but just as solid and powerful, with short blond hair pulled into a queue behind his head, and sparkling hazel eyes that gleamed above a sardonic smirk and a smooth, sharp jaw. On his short back rested what appeared to be, at first glance, a movie prop crossbow, thick limbs folded against the gleaming wooden stock. The dwarf's raiment was just as odd as his friend's; a tan knee-length leather jacket over a red tunic that was only laced halfway up his powerful chest, revealing a beautifully groomed pelt of golden hair.
"This place is amazing," the dwarf told the human, still astounded by their initial trek through the city. "At first I thought you were just pulling my leg - no jokes, please," he added as his tall friend grinned and opened his mouth. "But by Andraste's flaming tits, Hawke, you weren't kidding." Varric Tethras laughed, shifting his lean against a column from one shoulder to the other.
Rowen Hawke smirked. "Told you so." For the umpteenth time since they'd snuck into the building, he swiveled his head around, checking the corridor and intersection that led to their ultimate destination. It was still mid-morning, Hawke had surmised; Bucky was probably out shopping, or perhaps getting breakfast. Maker help them if he was out on a job; it might be days before he returned. And Hawke didn't really fancy squatting here in the hallway for too long. Granted, he remembered enough for him and Varric to have options in case of the latter, but he'd been burning like a phoenix to get back here and gather his beloved in his arms again.
And this time, Varric hadn't been willing to be left behind. Which honestly suited Hawke just fine; being without his best friend in all the worlds before had been...strange.
Before either of them could say anything further, the elevator at the end of the hallway chimed, sending both of the newcomers to their feet, automatically on alert. They were careful to keep out of sight as much as possible, a lifetime of adventuring experience dictating their hugging opposite corners of the intersection, a cross-vantage point should one be needed. Hawke, taking a glance to his rear, jerked back around when he heard Varric drawl, "Say, isn't that your boy there?"
Luckily Bucky isn't on a mission. He just got back from one, feeling heavy and tired, but that seems to be the norm lately. There's a lot on his mind between these missions, therapy, trying to move on... thinking of Rowen.
Most days it's just one foot in front of the other, though.
He's been trying to reach out more too. Trying to find things to do that aren't wrapped up in fighting and being used as a weapon. Helping the community he's in, rather than being a part of war. Maybe that's a part of the reason he couldn't stay with Rowen. The fight is no longer his.
But god, does he miss the man he loves.
This morning he's out grocery shopping- trying to get out there before the crowds. He has a bag of groceries for himself, and some for Alpine, a light load for him by any means. It's just a regular day like any other, until he steps into his building and he spots the two shadowy figures. One of them, he's sure he could recognize from anywhere. Still, he freezes on the spot, wondering if his eyes are playing tricks on him.
Hearing his name brought Hawke out into the hallway, a slow smile curving his mouth as tired blue eyes warmed to at long last see his beloved again. And although it was his first instinct to just drop everything and run down the corridor, instinctive hesitation held his steps, keeping them slow and measured as he approached, slowly spreading his hands as if to prove they were empty. That he was no hallucination.
He heard Varric step out behind him, the dwarf too always on alert, always watching their backs, habits long-ingrained from years of familiar camaraderie. But all of Hawke's attention was on the man in front of him, looking as pale and surprised as Hawke had ever before seen him.
"Bucky." Months back in his homeworld had again roughened his accent back to its Ferelden burr, but the warmth in his voice was unmistakable, as was the now-crooked grin that lightened Hawke's entire face. There were a few more lines in that face, and a few more glints of silver in his dark hair (which was longer, curling at the ends, and desperately needing a good trim), but the easy swagger and the comfortable confidence in the mage's tall, powerful frame were just the same as they had always been.
"Hallo, love." Behind him, Varric snorted - lame as hell, Hawke. But it was all he had at the moment, at least until he knew just how this reunion was going to go. Hawke paused halfway down the corridor, slowly lowering his hands to his sides. And chuckled, more than a little awkwardly. "Surprised to see me, I bet."
He almost drops his grocery bags, he can hardly believe it. It really is him, though. He looks slightly different in a few ways, but it's still the man he loves. He wants to run toward him as well, but he doesn't want to make a scene.
He does walk much quicker that Rowen does though, as he approaches those open arms. Once he does get close enough he does drop the bags and throws his arms around his lover, pulling him in close. He's real. He's really here. He barely even notices the man behind him.
Hawke grunted a sigh of very real relief when at last he closed his arms around his beloved, gathering Bucky close and crushing him against his chest. A shudder ran through the mage's big body, but his grip showed no signs of lessening. Only after an eternity did Hawke lift his head, just enough for tired blue eyes to meet tired blue eyes, a crooked grin slanting the mage's mouth moments before he captured his sweet soldier's in a deep, passionate kiss, unabashed to share such affection right here in the bloody hallway.
It'd been months. Months of aching, bereft. Although he understood without question why Bucky had returned to his own world, Hawke had still mourned his devastating loss. But duty always came before pleasure; he'd learned that decades ago. And his own world needed him. It still did. Which was why, again, though he longed to do so, to forget everything he'd left behind and move ahead in a completely new world, he still couldn't stay.
But he'd have this, by Andraste's divine ass. He would absolutely have this.
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for endof_theline: once more into the...city?
Date: 2025-09-10 12:20 am (UTC)"This place is amazing," the dwarf told the human, still astounded by their initial trek through the city. "At first I thought you were just pulling my leg - no jokes, please," he added as his tall friend grinned and opened his mouth. "But by Andraste's flaming tits, Hawke, you weren't kidding." Varric Tethras laughed, shifting his lean against a column from one shoulder to the other.
Rowen Hawke smirked. "Told you so." For the umpteenth time since they'd snuck into the building, he swiveled his head around, checking the corridor and intersection that led to their ultimate destination. It was still mid-morning, Hawke had surmised; Bucky was probably out shopping, or perhaps getting breakfast. Maker help them if he was out on a job; it might be days before he returned. And Hawke didn't really fancy squatting here in the hallway for too long. Granted, he remembered enough for him and Varric to have options in case of the latter, but he'd been burning like a phoenix to get back here and gather his beloved in his arms again.
And this time, Varric hadn't been willing to be left behind. Which honestly suited Hawke just fine; being without his best friend in all the worlds before had been...strange.
Before either of them could say anything further, the elevator at the end of the hallway chimed, sending both of the newcomers to their feet, automatically on alert. They were careful to keep out of sight as much as possible, a lifetime of adventuring experience dictating their hugging opposite corners of the intersection, a cross-vantage point should one be needed. Hawke, taking a glance to his rear, jerked back around when he heard Varric drawl, "Say, isn't that your boy there?"
no subject
Date: 2025-09-13 02:30 am (UTC)Most days it's just one foot in front of the other, though.
He's been trying to reach out more too. Trying to find things to do that aren't wrapped up in fighting and being used as a weapon. Helping the community he's in, rather than being a part of war. Maybe that's a part of the reason he couldn't stay with Rowen. The fight is no longer his.
But god, does he miss the man he loves.
This morning he's out grocery shopping- trying to get out there before the crowds. He has a bag of groceries for himself, and some for Alpine, a light load for him by any means. It's just a regular day like any other, until he steps into his building and he spots the two shadowy figures. One of them, he's sure he could recognize from anywhere. Still, he freezes on the spot, wondering if his eyes are playing tricks on him.
"....Rowen?"
no subject
Date: 2025-09-13 04:17 pm (UTC)He heard Varric step out behind him, the dwarf too always on alert, always watching their backs, habits long-ingrained from years of familiar camaraderie. But all of Hawke's attention was on the man in front of him, looking as pale and surprised as Hawke had ever before seen him.
"Bucky." Months back in his homeworld had again roughened his accent back to its Ferelden burr, but the warmth in his voice was unmistakable, as was the now-crooked grin that lightened Hawke's entire face. There were a few more lines in that face, and a few more glints of silver in his dark hair (which was longer, curling at the ends, and desperately needing a good trim), but the easy swagger and the comfortable confidence in the mage's tall, powerful frame were just the same as they had always been.
"Hallo, love." Behind him, Varric snorted - lame as hell, Hawke. But it was all he had at the moment, at least until he knew just how this reunion was going to go. Hawke paused halfway down the corridor, slowly lowering his hands to his sides. And chuckled, more than a little awkwardly. "Surprised to see me, I bet."
no subject
Date: 2025-09-15 09:33 pm (UTC)He does walk much quicker that Rowen does though, as he approaches those open arms. Once he does get close enough he does drop the bags and throws his arms around his lover, pulling him in close. He's real. He's really here. He barely even notices the man behind him.
"Surprised doesn't even begin to cover it."
no subject
Date: 2025-09-17 03:04 pm (UTC)It'd been months. Months of aching, bereft. Although he understood without question why Bucky had returned to his own world, Hawke had still mourned his devastating loss. But duty always came before pleasure; he'd learned that decades ago. And his own world needed him. It still did. Which was why, again, though he longed to do so, to forget everything he'd left behind and move ahead in a completely new world, he still couldn't stay.
But he'd have this, by Andraste's divine ass. He would absolutely have this.