A/N: It's been such a long time since I've posted a chapter in this story. I don't know if anyone still reads it but here it is. Also not quite how the canon missions go but that was the whole point of the story to change it up anyway.

So enjoy.

I don't think I had ever run so far and so fast in my life.

That was the forethought on my mind as we sprinted for Kirkwall from the ambush site. I was in good shape – I fought people nearly every day after all – but this kind of long fast run was eating up whatever stamina I had. My legs burned and I felt like no matter how much air I sucked in, I couldn't seem to really breathe. And I envied everyone else in my little party. Aveline was a soldier and used to marching long distances in heavy armor and had the endurance to match. Owen was a mabari and a dog. Running was just a part of his life. And Fenris, while breathing hard, didn't show signs of tiring as I was.

It was in this case that I lagged behind while Aveline set the pace. Not like she had given me much of a choice. The ambush site and bag had been a setup. Someone was playing dirty here and we both intended to put a stop to it.

Finally we halted just inside the city walls and I sagged against a wall, puffing. The moon had climbed into the sky now and its pale glow gave the city an eerie appearance. Not only that but Fenris' hair appeared to be glowing which was rather distracting as he kept moving in the corner of my vision. I had to move to keep him on my blind side because he was making me edgy. He glared at me while Aveline glanced around and then chose a direction towards Lowtown. I exhaled sharply, exhaustion making me irritated and my bangs ruffled in the disturbance. Owen pawed my leg as Fenris followed in an easy gait that I couldn't seem to manage.

"I'm fine." I assured the mabari. "But I think we're going to miss our hunting trip this weekend. All this running burned me out."

He whined and I picked myself up to keep running. I ran in the general direction my group did and twisted my way through the narrow alleys and dirt roads purely by memory. I paused for a moment at a bend in the road, confused. Where did they go?

Owen blazed past me and I figured it would be easier just to follow him. Since I hadn't done so in the first place, I realized I must be more tired than I thought. I sprinted after him until even I could hear the sounds of fighting. I yanked the staff off my back and rounded the corner to a secluded courtyard – an oft-used ambush site. It was a mess. There were so many bandits I could hardly make out my friends among them. Owen leapt into the fray without hardly a second thought and I hit the first man I could see with the wooden butt of my staff. He dropped like a rock and I jumped into the fight.

I found myself getting hurt much more often than normal. I was tired and my movements showed it. Especially on my blind side where I reacted a hair more sluggishly than on my good side on a regular day. And the bandits weren't stupid enough not to notice it.

I killed two with a slice across the stomach and started to rotate to face a third when something slammed into my back. I toppled forward and saw the bandit I had been aiming for make to skewer me. Sparks danced around my fingertips in a defensive response – if it was between me using magic in front of so many or dying I would prefer using magic. The man suddenly screamed and I hit the ground hard on my knees, grimacing as bone cracked against stone. I rolled awkwardly out of the way as he fell and looked up at the person who'd possibly just saved my life.

It was Fenris – to my immense surprise. He yanked his glowing hand and arm from the mans back, the gauntlet dripping blood. His face appeared stoic and remained in the scowl he always wore. I gave him a grateful nod but he barely acknowledged me before vanishing into the wave of bandits once more.

I twisted on one heel, rotating my body so that I was on my uninjured knee and flipped staff end over end. I steadied my hands and breathed in deeply. The blade shimmered faintly and if anyone had paused to inspect it thoroughly, they would see the metal gained the finest of glowing blue edges. The tiny bit of fire would slice through flesh more easily than I ever could. And with that I swept the staff at any legs that happened to be nearby.

Enemies howled as some fell, crippled. They grabbed wounds but thankfully there was very little blood from this method. The wound was usually immediately cauterized. This allowed Fenris, Aveline and Owen to take down them with ease. And soon enough, the battle was won.

Owen trotted over to me with a bloody muzzle and nudged my arm. I grimaced as I got to my feet as his behest, limping slightly as I tried to avoid putting weight on my knee. Owen supported me and I was relieved to see he'd only gained a few scratches. Bandits in Fereldan would have aimed at a dog in a heartbeat but here in Kirkwall, the mabari are few and far between.

I glanced over at Fenris as I picked my through the dead. He didn't look injured – at all in fact. I couldn't help a small frown as I reached Aveline's side. Even she was sporting a few bruises and cuts. In this kind of close-quarters environment, it's damn near impossible to avoid getting hit so thoroughly. Was it his lyrium markings? They allowed him to reach through solid flesh so easily… perhaps it could make him partially transparent as well. For a moment, I allowed myself to hate the magister who did this. A living pet weapon and…

It would hurt a great deal to gain such thorough markings.

My fingers twitched slightly in response to the thought. That kind of pain… I knew it all too well. But I highly doubted that Fenris would appreciate such sympathy and so I turned my attention to the downed guard. Aveline was helping him up and he swayed unsteadily. His features looked familiar and I realized he had been with the other guard who mocked me this morning.

"Thank you Guardswoman, Messere Hawke." He gasped out and I frowned, reaching into the bag at my side. The way he was holding himself worried me. A crushed rib perhaps? I pulled out a potion – something I had been able to increase the potency of, considering the lack of coin I had to purchase them. But the cost did not bother me. Aveline was looking at him with fondness and so any of his previous transgressions were forgotten.

"Guardsman Donnic, what happened?" Aveline asked, steadying him as I uncorked the potion and handed it to him. Donnic then. She certainly seemed relived to see him well. Perhaps he was the reason he was the reason she had set the pace so hard.

"Pardon me Guardsman. I just want to see if your ribs are healing correctly." I said before he could speak. He nodded his permission and Aveline threw me a grateful look. I set my hands on his chest, loosening the chestplate enough so I could feel the muscles under his skin. He hissesd slightly in pain when I slid to his left side, his face contorted. A rib it was – and broken at a painful angle. Had we moved him more, it might have pierced his lung.

"Apologies." I murmured and Donnic only nodded slightly, his brow furrowed and beaded with sweat as the potion began to do its' work. I kept a hand over the broken rib and was glad to find the break was, at least, clean and would not require significant healing after the potion. I glanced at Aveline. "The break was clean but he should get some additional healing later, to prevent it from weakening."

"Thank you Logan." She said and clapped a hand on my shoulder. I gave her a quiet smile, glad to be of some help.

"And thank you from me as well." Donnic said, still a little wheezy in the voice. It would hurt for some time but at least the worst of the agony was gone from his expression. "I am very sorry for Gerin's words this morning. They were undeserved and I apologize for not stopping him sooner."

I blinked, surprised he'd remembered. A good man then. That was good for if Aveline needed anyone at her side in a city full of enemies, it was a good man.

"Thank you Donnic." I said and looked at Aveline. "I will give you time to discuss what happened."

"There's no need for that Logan, I trust you." Aveline said, a scowl on her face.

"Nevertheless I have no desire for you to get in trouble again because of me." I said, referring to another morning when Aveline had been criticized for her choice of friends. "I'll wait nearby."

She sighed and let me walk off. I was mildly surprised she'd let go so easily. She must really be worried about the bag drop. Then again, I was as well. Whomever had done this was not only selling off information but also obviously had it out for Aveline. And I could not allow that.

I was mulling it over when a soft growl caught my attention. I jerked my head up to find Fenris and Owen staring at each other and cursed silently. I'd forgotten about Owen's animosity and the way Fenris was standing clearly said he'd been putting up with Owen for a while.

"Owen." I called sternly and his big head turned back to me, his eyes stubbornly blazing. "You've bothered Fenris enough today. Please come here."

Owen gave one last look at Fenris, whose lips were drawn into a thin line and wearing a guarded expression, and sighed deeply. The mabari turned all the way and trotted back to me. I knelt down as he came closer, my jaw tight when a shock of pain ran up from my injured knee. As always, Owen noticed the injury even if I gave no outward signs. The mabari sniffed me carefully, first my face and then my hands and then finally to my knee. He seemed to forget his hatred of Fenris in the wake of me being hurt and instead nuzzled my palm and gave a soft whine. He looked distraught with his big amber eyes open and his head resting in my hand.

"It's nothing too bad Owen. You make it seem as if I am dying." I said, quietly amused by his dramatics. He made a soft huff and his tail wagged slightly. Owen suddenly stiffened at the sound of footsteps and I glanced up to see Fenris staring down at me, his brow furrowed and expression unreadable. I remembered then that he had come to my aid.

"Thank you for your help." I said, stroking Owen's head as the hound did his best to ignore Fenris' existence. I could not understand why my normally easy-going dog hated him so much. Perhaps it was simply because Fenris disliked me? Yet I felt no animosity towards Fenris so Owen should not either. I was startled out of my thoughts when Fenris crouched before me, in such a way that it would be extremely easy for him to attack should he choose, but allowed him to meet my eyes at level.

His eyes are so green. Like the fields in Lothering. The thought came unbidden and on its heels came another. They're beautiful.

I firmly stopped that train of thought there. However beautiful his eyes, the fact they were trained on me like a wild animal would train its eyes on an enemy made that thought moot. I kept my gaze on him as well. I still did not think he would attack me, not with Owen between us, but after witnessing his skill in battle yet again, I had no desire to fight. It was one I was unsure I'd win.

"You are a mage." He said, his voice a low growl. I was unable to discern what emotion was behind it. Bitterness? Curiosity? Anger? Yet as I realized what he said, I could only glance to each side, hoping there were no passerby to hear his declaration. Seeing no one, I turned my gaze back to him to find him staring very intently at me.

"Yes." I said cautiously, unsure of where he was going with this.

"And yet you offered a healing potion instead of healing the man himself. Yet you would rather face the sword than use magic. I do not understand." Fenris said, his eyes cool and his voice a river with a deeper undercurrent that I could not place.

What a powerful statement… with a great deal of wrong answers. Depending on how I answered, I was certain it would affect any chances of civility with him. As such, I considered my words carefully. Yet the only thing that struck me as right to say… was the truth. And while it wasn't exactly admirable, Fenris had been lied to enough.

How strange to consider him with so much care when he hates me so much. I wondered again. But something about him made me want to at least be civil. Perhaps because he hated magic so much and that… I supposed I wanted him to understand. That while I was a mage, I knew the magisters were the weakest of us all to turn to blood magic at the first sign of aggravation. I wanted to say it but I felt it was still too early for him to believe me.

"Why do you think?" I asked him instead.

Fenris blinked before his brow furrowed and he snorted derisively.

"To avoid detection? How very admirable of you." He growled, standing up in disgust. It stung a bit. I did not like hiding who I was either – I was well aware of the dangers.

"I fear it would have made Donnic's wounds worse had I attempted to heal him – I've had little talent in such things." I said further, avoiding looking at him by getting up. My knee protested fiercely but I ignored it. "As for avoiding detection as you say… you saw my brother that day. I have them to protect and I cannot leave until they are safe. Would you not do the same?"

Fenris went very, very still. I did the same as soon as he tensed. Had I offended him again? He had not mentioned any family. It was then that my mistake hit me hard.

You FOOL. I chastised, trying to keep my immensely sudden guilt from showing on my face. He was a slave. His family… So many terrible things could have happened with the magisters. If he were to attack me for this utter arrogant nonsense, I would not blame him.

"…I wonder."

His voice was so quiet, I almost didn't hear it. I met his eyes and they were conflicted before he turned away, his shoulders tight.

"And how well could you protect them? Hiding forever?" The bitterness was back in his voice. "Every moment you are nearby, they will be in danger."

He did not need to tell me that. I knew it all too well. My father knew it too well. My sister, my mother, my brother. We all knew that. When we would hide in the barn when the Templars came. The tightness in my father's jaw when he had to hide and let my mother speak to them alone. Sometimes they were kind, sometimes they were cruel and he hated leaving her. My father's warnings on cold nights about the dangers of magic. How we would always be hunted, hated. How… Without noticing, I had touched my damaged eye. The pain brought me from my memories, where they whispered dark things into my ears. I let my hand fall.

"I know." The words were barely a whisper when they left my lips and they sounded desolate even to my ears. Then I realized how truly vulnerable that had been and I squared my shoulders, looking up defiantly. I found Fenris looking at my face intently, expression clouded and jaw tight. He seemed about to speak again when Aveline came clattering out of the alleyway, Donnic limping at her side.

Whatever intensity had been between us fell, leaving me feeling strange. I shook it off. Aveline's expression spoke volumes of trouble. In fact, she looked ready to cause hell the way her brow was furrowed and her eyes blazed.

"Aveline? What is it?" I asked as she stormed past us, Donnic looking rather pale. I reached out a hand to steady him and he threw me a grateful look. Fenris watched us with a disinterested expression as Aveline paced.

"That son of a whore!" Aveline cursed, her expression furious. "He's been lying to our faces this entire time!"

"Aveline?" I asked, beginning to feel concerned. She took a deep breath.

"The bag is a set-up. It's filled with documents about the offices of the viscount." She snarled.

"Valuable to a guild of thieves." Fenris murmured. I was surprised about his offer of input and equally as disgusted as Aveline.

"What do you plan to do?" I asked her. I trusted Aveline's judgment in this manner. She was extremely honorable, if not a little overprotective. Jevin had hurt her guards. Her guards. It was interesting to me that I realized I had thought of them like that for a long time. They may not always like her but she protected them and the city.

"Take it to the Viscount of course." Aveline said.

"Perhaps it could wait until morning? The seneschal and viscount may be more willing to listen." Donnic said and I spared a glance at him. He was very pale. The pain and gravity of the situation was getting to him. Aveline noticed too, and the tightness in her shoulders fell a bit.

"Perhaps it would be best Aveline. Donnic needs more healing and the Viscount would be more receptive if we cleaned up." I added on.

"Politics." Aveline grumbled and I smiled the slightest bit at her disgust. I know it rankled her to wait but Donnic's pain seemed more important to her. She draped his arm over her shoulder. "Come to the barracks in the morning. I'd like to see Jevin's face with you when he realizes two Fereldans have undermined him."

"I would like that too. I will be there." I said, unable to resist the smallest of smiles. She smiled back and helped Donnic away. When they left, I felt the exhaustion deep in my bones. Running up and down mountains had taken the stamina out of me. And yet… I sighed deeply, just now remembering the promise I had made with the woman in the bar. A promise was a promise.

A shift of movement caught my attention. Fenris was still standing in the shadows, his eyes on the place where Aveline and Donnic walked off. The situation suddenly felt awkward after the conversation we had. Yet I would be late for my next battle and I had dragged Fenris around the entire day.

"You can go if you like. Thank you for coming along." I said softly, keeping my voice low and neutral. He glanced back at me and then walked away.

So much for goodbye.

Tired as I was, I could not let someone I promised protection to go alone. So I re-gathered myself and started my walk back towards the Hanged Man and Hightown. My knee ached and my sides were bruising from where I fell but my only healing potion I had given to Donnic. Perhaps later I could ask Anders for some healing but then dismissed the thought. They were minor wounds and there was certainly more pressing matters for him to attend to.

Owen walked a little bit closer to my side, allowing me to use him as support. I smiled at him, settling my hand in his scruff. It was a relatively peaceful walk. The drunks were all in the bars still and it was yet early enough that the true thieves hadn't come out to prey on those who fell in the ditches. I was passing by the Hanged Man when someone called my name.

"Logan!"

I turned to see Anders, of all people, and Varric with him. They stepped out of the bar and I smiled despite myself. They looked like they'd been having a good time and Anders grinned when he saw me. I liked his smile and I was happy to see him, if not a little confused as to why he was at the Hanged Man. Perhaps he and Varric had become fast friends?

"Good evening Anders, Varric. I take it that it has been a pleasant one?" I asked, taking in the faint alcoholic flush on Anders cheeks' and the kiss mark on Varric's. Owen suddenly stepped away to greet Anders and I shifted uncomfortably to compensate for my injured leg. Anders immediately noticed and Owen turned to Varric instead.

"Logan are you hurt?" He said, his smile gone replaced with worry.

"It's nothing serious." I reassured him but Anders came closer still, taking in the way I was standing. "And I fear I'm late for a meeting."

"With Isabela? She can wait until your leg is healed. Is it your knee?" Anders asked, dismissing her. I wondered how well they knew each other. Knowing it was pointless to argue when he was in his full healer mindset, I nodded mutely, shifting my sash to reveal the bruised, and very swollen knee. "How did this happen?"

"I got into a scuffle." I shrugged.

"With your friend the guard?" Varric asked in good humor and then swatted Owen away again. "Easy dogbreath, I know you're happy to see me but keep it to a minimum."

"With my friend the guard." I acquiesced, hoping he would keep his mouth shut about my other companion. He winked at me when I looked hard at him. Thankfully Anders failed to notice as he reached out to touch the wound, remarkably level-headed and steady for having been drinking. I jumped slightly at the sudden touch.

"Did that hurt? I'm sorry." Anders said, jerking back too.

"You surprised me is all." I said casually. Truthfully, the touch had been startling. He was just so gentle. A warmth suffused my knee and I felt the tug and pull of his magic. It was bright and strong, no doubt an influence of his spirit friend but somehow sad. I reminded myself yet again to start on meditation and soon the pain was nothing but a dull memory. I envied his skill.

Varric was watching us with a curious expression as Anders asked if I was injured anywhere else. I shook my head, ignoring the bruises. That would be a poor waste of his mana and there was not time for it.

"I have to go. I promised to help. But you two enjoy your evening." I said and whistled Owen over. "Thank you Anders."

Varric and Anders exchanged a look then laughed. I paused, raising an eyebrow curiously.

"I think our evening would be more entertaining if we went with you." Varric said, waggling his eyebrows suggestively. "Isabela seemed quite interested in what you had to say."

I remembered that awkward bit a little too clearly and sighed, rubbing my forehead.

"Don't remind me."

That sent Varric into conniptions as Anders muffled his laughter in his sleeve. I couldn't resist the quirk of my lips though I tried to school my expression into something sternly offended. Yet I couldn't quite succeed. Instead I turned and gestured for them to follow along.

"Come if you want then. I won't turn away the company." I said. Anders immediately trotted to catch up to my left elbow and Varric and Owen took up the right. "Speaking of which, I am surprised to see you away Anders."

"The clinic has slowed down since the Blight vanished. I've found myself with more time than I know what to do with." Anders said cheerfully, giving me a cheeky smile.

"You mean I had to come down to that hole of yours and drag you out for the evening Blondie. I told you you'd thank me." Varric said, checking Bianca over.

"It's better when you're around though." Anders told me, blatantly ignoring Varric's comment. I gave him a smile, flattered by the sincerity. I did enjoy his company and we'd had little time to spend together lately. In fact, I felt as if I'd spent little time getting to know any of my new friends, other than Fenris and I doubt he would appreciate me calling him such.

"You only say that because she knows when we both cheat." Varric laughed. "Honestly Sparky, you're going to make good men of us yet."

"Oh? But isn't the fair game much more interesting?" I said, feigning ignorance. Varric stopped short and looked at me as if I'd grown another head. I blinked and stopped short too. "What is it?"

"Our Hawke? Our stoic, serious Hawke attempting a joke? Blondie, is the sky falling because I think the world may be ending." Varric looked appalled and Anders chuckled from behind me.

"Not yet. Maybe we can tempt another from her before the evening is up." He said, taking my elbow lightly and tugging me in the direction of Hightown. I turned to fall into step next to him, shaking my head.

"Perhaps you two will rub off on me yet." I said dryly and they both laughed. Even though I was exhausted and sore, I felt more than glad to be here right at this moment. I had precious few friends in Lothering, for we were apostates and there were few I could trust. To be standing here between two people whom I had known only a short time and yet to feel as if I had been friends with them for years… It was something I could come to truly love. Perhaps I could tempt Aveline to join us once? She might dislike Varric but Anders was kind enough.

I was rolling the idea around as we stepped up the last steps up to Hightown.

"I thought it was odd."

Owen immediately halted as I stopped, his shoulders raising and his lip curling. That… voice.

"Evening Broody. I was surprised to see you'd left." Varric said cordially.

…Broody? I stifled the smile that threatened to cross my face as Fenris stepped out of the shadows. It was certainly an appropriate nickname as he scowled at the dwarf. Varric seemed unfazed.

Fenris turned to look at me then and that's when I realized that I was also standing beside Anders. Who was a mage… and if someone took a different approach to it, an abomination. And Anders already disliked Fenris. I felt my fellow mage tense, my sense of his magic strong enough through our proximity. It tensed and coiled and I stepped slightly in front of him. I was still close enough to hear the curse under his breath.

Fenris only looked at Anders once, coolly and with great suspicion as I stepped slightly before him, before he turned his focus to me again. I was relieved that he'd not been there to witness Ander's healing. At least Fenris couldn't outright attack Anders. I was Fenris' employer so I supposed that's why he'd refrained from killing me. But Anders who could be an abomination? I doubted it would go that well.

"What is odd?" I asked calmly, letting the professionalism slide back into place.

"That you would not return home in Lowtown." Fenris replied as hard to read as ever. "Is the job not finished?"

"What job?" Anders asked, his voice meant for me but Varric intervened.

"Different job Broody. You're welcome to come along." Varric said. I was both pleased and incredibly put-off by his invitation. I didn't want to offend Fenris by not offering the work but I also did not want Anders and Fenris within a mile of each other. Anders was tense at my back and I could almost feel the glare that was boring holes in Varric's back.

"If my assistance is required." He said stiffly, giving me a hard look.

"I doubt it is." Anders said coldly, gently pulling me back to go. I gave my friend a stern look and Anders cursed under his breath again. Fenris caught the animosity in Anders' tone and had crossed his arms over his chest, scowling at the other man.

"That is for her to decide." He said, tilting his head at me and leaving me in a very delicate position. I should accept his help but how to do it without it seeming like an order? I didn't want to force Fenris into something but I didn't want to see to be dismissing him either. And then there was Anders who was making it quite clear he was not happy about working with the elf. And if there was to be a fight, Anders relied much more heavily on his magic than I did. I saw Varric in the corner of my eye, watching me with a raised eyebrow. For a moment I considered he'd done this on purpose and then I saw the concerned glint. Anders was his friend too and Varric seemed like he'd gotten to know Fenris a measure as well.

"….If you feel like you want to come Fenris, you can come. It is not my decision, it is yours." I said finally. Surprise crossed his face as he considered, watching me as if I would change my mind any second. Finally Fenris spoke.

"I will join you."

It was a resolute answer and I was curious as to why he had chosen that particular answer. Certainly he had made it clear that he wanted nothing truly to do with me though I wondered if he was curious about me. I was… nothing like a magister although he certainly still seemed to think so. Nevertheless I accepted with a tilt of my head and turned to lead the party towards Hightown, feeling as if I were walking into a storm.

It wouldn't end well.