Under Darkness [AU]

[Carver Amell]

He snorts. "You know you're gonna break this damn stick and they'll come out," he grumbles. "Stupid piece of shit wooden weapons."

[Tethras Clan]

"Yup," Andy says blandly, then gets into his stance. He draws Carver's- his- blade and chants a moment. It took far longer than I'm proud of, but learning the temporary magic enchant spell was totally worth it. Being able to add a bane or whatnot is great, but being able to make my weapon merciful is even better. "When you're ready," he says after finishing.

Ten minutes later, Andy is half on his stomach, half kneeling, with Carver behind him. Well, I lasted a whole ten seconds longer after his weapon broke than last time, he thinks to himself with a wince. That's progress, right? Owww.   "I yield," he grunts, the pressure of the human's knee in the small of his back compressing his chest a bit. The claw on his shoulder, thankfully gentle enough to not score through his armour isn't helping much either.

[Carver Amell]

Carver smirks, pulling back and offering Andy a hand up. "Sorry yet?" he jokes. 

[Tethras Clan]

"Never about this," he answers without thinking, then flinches. Coughing, Andy turns away to hide his flush.

[Carver Amell]

Carver opens his mouth to banter, but pauses. What...? He takes a deep breath, shaking his head like a dog throwing off water. "Good," he says gruffly, trying to regain the upper hand. "It's worth it, for your family." 

[Tethras Clan]

"That either," Andy murmurs. "Right. Family is... worth it, always," he says louder, glancing at Carver. No Andy, stop it. "So. Think you earned a reward from me today then?" Andy!

[Carver Amell]

"You better believe it," he says, but some of his confidence is dampened by confusion. 

[Tethras Clan]

Clearing his throat, Andy nods quickly. "Right. Just a minute," he says quickly before ducking inside the admittedly cramped cabin he shares with Carver less than a bowshot from Hawke's place. It has two bedrooms, but each of them are just big enough for a bed and dresser. One shared bathroom and a kitchen makes up the rest of it. No living room or anything of the sort. But it does well enough for the two of them, for now.

One he comes back, it doesn't look like he's gotten anything... well, aside from a pleased if somewhat nervous smile. "So... what do you think of this?" he asks in a rush, thrusting out his sword. Or... wait, no, not his sword. Carver's old blade had a faint glow to it, a common sign of being enchanted. And, more importantly, his sword was a light metallic grey, not dark green and reflective.

[Carver Amell]

Carver takes the sword, weighing it appraisingly. "This isn't metal?" he asks. That's got to be the only reason why he would be doing this. But... what kind of sword isn't metal?

[Tethras Clan]

"Glassteel," Andy says with a smile. "Varric helped me make it. I smithed the blade, then we- well, mostly him- put it through some alchemical... stuff and it turns into that. Transmutes I mean. I doubled checked, with Peli and Maeve, it won't affect your ability. Just as strong as steel, same weight and durability, but it's not metal anymore. Won't rust either."

[Carver Amell]

Varric helped him. He forged it himself. Carver stares at the blade, gobstruck, for a long moment. When he looks up, his eyes are moist. "You didn't have to-- you didn't have to do this."

[Tethras Clan]

Andy flushes a little. "I... I didn't have to, no. But I wanted to. If... if it works for you, I can enchant it. Right now, it's just well-made. A basic enchant I can do a week or so but anything bigger will take longer," for me to get the money together. He scratches his head. "Turns out, I'm fairly decent at enchanting weapons."

[Carver Amell]

"Huh," he says, as he studies Andy's face. "...Thank you," he adds, quieter. "This is perfect."

[Tethras Clan]

Andy blushes, the blood very visible against his soft, very lightly tanned skin. Doesn't seem to matter how much sun he gets, the tiefling's skin never gets a shade darker. Amusingly, his soft pink hair does darken in the sun- and, as Carver has been witness to during surprise rainfalls and on mornings when Andy gets the shower first, gain a soft purple hue when wet. "I'm g-glad," he stammers, glancing away.

[Carver Amell]

Blushing? If I didn't know better I'd think he was--

Carver's eyes widen, and he steps back, catching his breath. Oh no. Gods above, what have I done? He's-- 

For if he half-closed his eyes, pictured Andy as a flat-chested female tiefling, everything clicked into place: the blushing, the unusually kind gift, the way they bonded well and seemed to be becoming fast friends. Worse, if he told himself Andy was female, he had to admit that her blush was adorable, her hair was fascinating, her skin was lovely, her scent was intoxicating. If she were a girl, he'd say he was falling for her. 

But Andy is a man. A married man. With two children. 

"I-- I need a shower," he stammers, turning toward the cabin.