Moments

Moment of Choice - Part 1

"Yes, two weeks of just you, me, surf pounding against an emptied retreat, and no pants." It was a shame those Orlesian poets weren't around to describe the blush strafing his cheeks with a greater might than our army. How many words rhyme with rouge?

"That's, well...I hadn't considered, if you--" his stammer fell into a whisper and I cut the flow off with a kiss.

"See, that's why I'm the one in charge. I've got all the big ideas. You just figure out how to execute them."

Smirking, my commander wrapped his hands under my buttocks and scooped me up. I couldn't stop the giggles as he spun me around to plant me upon the war map, scattering our forces northward. His lips danced across my jaw, down my neck. I don't know which of us growled in anticipation, perhaps both.

My fingers traipsed through those blonde curls, knotting hair and giving just the right tug. It elicited just the sigh I wanted, and I used the moment to make my request.

Catching his eyes, I whispered, "No armor, though."

"What?" he twisted his head to catch up, all the blood in his brain pooling elsewhere.

"On this trip, it - Commander and Inquisitor - stays here. We're just two people with a lot of catching up to do," I enunciated my point by sliding my fingers up his thighs and drumming them just beside the White Spire.

Even then, duty couldn't fully slip away, "What if we're attacked by --?"

"Cullen!"

He tossed his head, accepting defeat gracefully, "As if I could ever refuse you."

"Actually, you have on quite a few occasions --" He leaned into me, pushing me down further onto the map while his fingers began working the first of five hundred buttons down my tunic.

"Ruffles said you might be in here and..." The door to the war room slammed open. "Oh for...Andraste's asscheeks," Varric moaned. Cullen sprang away from me, but kept his back turned to the dwarf shaking his head in the doorway. Not all of him could come unsprung quickly.

"This is why I'm glad I'm heading back to Kirkwall soon," Varric said. But he still chuckled as the Herald of Andraste jumped off her almost defiled war table. "It was bad enough running into Sparkler and Tiny playing subjugate to the Qun."

"We were only..." Cullen began, guiltily glancing at me.

"You don't need to draw me pictures, Curly. I'm sure dozens of smut peddlers across Thedas are way ahead of you."

"What?" Cullen spun around, that terrifying focus that could fell nations back. It was a credit to Varric's resolve that he barely acknowledged it.

"The Herald of Andraste and a fallen templar turned leader of the Inquisition's army? Hard to get more salacious than that. There are probably a few out there that involve you two and a dragon."

"Slaying a dragon?" Cullen asked, eliciting a snort from Varric.

I patted him on the shoulder, happy to leave him to his blissful ignorance. "What's the word, Varric?" I asked.

"Got the marching orders from that massive elf running the coach schedule. I'll be heading out in the morning. Just wanted to get in a few goodbyes in case you're too, um, busy. Seems I got the timing wrong."

"So soon?" I asked, stepping towards him.

"Aveline's been punching her way out of some political bullshit with choir boy and Ostwick playing stabby face with Kirkwall in the middle. She thought I could lend a merc group or two her way. Seemed the time to finally book the boat trip home."