Under Darkness [AU]

[Tethras Clan]

"Hawke!" Zevran calls, louder, more urgent, his need to help her pulling him out of his own spiral. "Hawke, what's wrong, talk to me, talk to me please."

[Marian Hawke]

"can't help," she mutters, her struggles ceasing as she pants for breath. "forgot words." 

[Tethras Clan]

"New words," Aveline blurts out. "Just say what's in your heart, amata. Tell him what he is to you."

[Marian Hawke]

"Mine," she whimpers. "Zevran. Beloved beloved Zevran."

[Tethras Clan]

"My voice, my love," Zevran sighs, slowing reaching out to stroke her cheek.

"That's right, that's good. You're both safe, both with Clan," Aveline croons, shifting her free hand to rest on the merikos drow's arm.

[Marian Hawke]

"Eyes," she whimpers. 

[Tethras Clan]

Zevran flinches, expression turning guilty for a moment. Aveline's not sure what that's about but... she pulses healing into him anyway. "All better Hawke, all better," she assures her lover. "Nice and healed, I promise."

[Marian Hawke]

"Clan," she sighs, settling in against Aveline. Good. Clan looks out for Clan.

[Tethras Clan]

"May... is it alright to hug you Hawke?" Zevran asks. Begs.

[Marian Hawke]

'Pet', she almost corrects on instinct. She flinches, then, at just the thought of it. I'm in a bad way, she notes, absently, as she nods. 

[Tethras Clan]

Zevran carefully, warily, almost timidly reaches to embrace Hawke. Aveline shifts her grip, not just to allow Zevran in, but to hold the male as well. "I've got you," she whispers. "I've got both of you. You're both safe. I've got you."

[Marian Hawke]

Hawke closes her eyes, settling in to cuddle with her clan members. This is good. I like this. 

After several moments, when it's clear Hawke doesn't intend to start explaining anything, Aveline manages to collect the practice weapons and coax the pair inside. Time to see what she can salvage of the day. If she can get Hawke talking...

[Tethras Clan]

Deciding to use one of her more successful trick, Aveline runs a bath, then slowly strips Hawke down. Strangely, it runs out that Jadan never once bathed with Hawke, something that Aveline has taken great advantage of over time. The new ingrediant to the mix this time is that Zevran is silently invited to join the two ladies, the paladin pushing past another boundary in order to take care of her loved ones. "Do you want a scent today?" she asks Hawke as they sink into the hot water.

[Marian Hawke]

Hawke gives a small nod, curling up on the bench beside Zevran so Aveline can mix scents and bubbles.

[Tethras Clan]

"How about... actually, Zevran, this is your first bath with us, so you get to pick? Lavender and willow or citrusy... spice stuff?" The paladin asks, sniffing the small glass jars.

Trying not to stare at Aveline's muscled... back, Zevran laughs weakly. "With a pitch like that, how could I turn down 'citrusy spice stuff?" he asks in an only partially forced teasing voice.