Under Darkness [AU]

[Carver Amell]

"We can practice or we can talk it out," he says, firmly. "Sulking isn't allowed."

[Tethras Clan]

"Practice," Andy says quickly, not up for more talking. Not right now.

[Carver Amell]

"Alright, practice it is."


Neither of them have had much sleep the next day, but that's alright. They don't need much, for walking along by the mule guiding the cart. When the group stops for lunch midday, Carver spies Zevran pulling Andy aside to talk to him. Makes sense, he figures. If I were in charge, I'd want to know for sure how he's doing.

What he doesn't expect is Seli coming over to the rock on which he sits, eating his trail rations. 

[Tethras Clan]

She doesn't mince words nor beat around the bush- Isabela is watching the twins and she trusts the woman to scream bloody murder if they so much as hiccup but still, she'd prefer to get back to them soonest. "Why are you doing this?"

[Carver Amell]

"Eating lunch?" he smirks. "Generally, because I'm hungry. Or do you mean why I'm helping my sister? Because we're family." 

[Tethras Clan]

"Than you're wiser than some," she snaps. "Andy. Why are you- what sister?" A pause. "Hawke? You're Hawke's brother?"

[Carver Amell]

"That's me," he grumbles, with a glower. "Why am I helping Andy? Because those babes deserve better. No other reason than that."

[Tethras Clan]

Seli's face flows through a number of emotions. "Oh," she says softly, her mother's heart not really up for arguing his statement. "I... thank you. I... I wish I could have..." She looks down, studying her hands. "It broke something in me to leave him but I couldn't... I couldn't save him and look after my babies by myself," she whispers, eyes welling up.

[Carver Amell]

"You shouldn't have to," he says, and his tone is stern. Gods, she's crying. What do I--"It's alright. I'll handle him. You don't need to--" 

[Tethras Clan]

"Shouldn't? I'm his wife, even now. I swore oaths, I made promises and..." Seli takes a deep breath. "I'm sorry, this isn't- this isn't what I wanted to talk to you about. I just... I wanted to find out why you were doing this. Why you were putting yourself through this."

[Carver Amell]

"I'm sure my sister's told you all about our family," he says, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. This speech was way more badass when I gave it to Andy.

[Tethras Clan]

"Not a lot," Seli admits. "Or, well, at least not... she made a habit of not using names, to preserve people's privacy as best she could. I was her therapist or counselor so she needed to talk to me about everyone but.... She called you Carver, I think."

[Carver Amell]

He scowls. "That's my name, actually. Carver Hawke. It's... it's a family name," he adds, and his expression softens. "I always hated it."

[Tethras Clan]

"Always hated? Past tense?" Seli asks with a smile. "I gather something changed?"

[Carver Amell]

"I-- I recently found out the origin," he admits. "It's kind of a nice story."