Under Darkness [AU]

[Tethras Clan]

"I don't see why they shouldn't know," Varric allows. "It's already affected them. What's to say it won't again? Ignorance is very rarely a shield worth more than air."

[Isabela]

"You tell Hawke about every enemy you make?" she asks, sipping her drink.

[Tethras Clan]

"The ones that make an attempt on her, yes," Varric replies with a shrug. "Or that might go for her."

[Isabela]

"You tell her what you did to piss them off?" she asks, lifting her eyes to meet his. 

[Tethras Clan]

"Sometimes. Everyone but Hawke already knows about... that little girl you once knew," he points out. "But it doesn't have to be... a complete explanation. Tell what you can. That's openness. But if you can't tell it all, then we'll accept that. That's trust."

[Isabela]

"Of course," she says bitterly. "I was a fool to think I'd have any secrets around this group." She sighs, shaking her head. "It's too late to protect myself now, I guess. I always figured none of it mattered, that anything that happened before Isabela didn't matter anymore, but I guess I'll never be able to escape the past." She throws back the rest of her glass, clearly steeling herself to say more. 

[Tethras Clan]

"Convince me then," Varric offers. "Why is doing it yourself better? What does it gain, what would it cost? What would going as a group gain, what would it cost?"

[Isabela]

"Going as a group costs me any semblance of pride, of being able to meet people's eyes. It loses me the chance to lie and hang my head and fake my way through it, and the ability to use subtler arts Hawke won't approve of if I need to. It loses me the ability to sneak in unseen. It gains me backup so I can win a straight fight I don't plan to have." 

[Tethras Clan]

"..split the difference, perhaps? Take Zevran. Maybe me- I could find some business opportunities wherever this is easily enough." Varric studies the ceiling for a moment. "Even just Zevran would be good honestly. An extra set of hands, extra pair of eyes. A surprise dagger in case you need it." And Zevran already knows it, first hand, so...

[Isabela]

"Zevran won't thank me for dragging him away. Nor for asking him to save me twice."

[Tethras Clan]

Varric leans in. "Bet you... a public recital of any poem the other person can dig up- has to be made by someone else- that Zevran will agree without batting an eye as long as you don't deliberately stack the debrief.

[Isabela]

"Without Hawke? After this?"

[Tethras Clan]

"Give him a few days after she wakes up, and sure. He loves you too, Isabela. Differently, sure, but as much," Varric says gently. "Better if I went too, then we could say we're following up on a lead- truth- while the others stay back here to fort up."

[Isabela]

She stares down into her glass. "I don't... want him to know what I did," she says, quietly. "In the days after we parted."

[Tethras Clan]

"Really think it'd be worse than what he had to do afterwards?" Varric points out gently. "But... what're the odds any of that'll come up if we do this quiet and... dark?"