Under Darkness [AU]

[Tethras Clan]

"...are you sure about that? Because you missed Andy making calf eyes at you for months," Varric points out. "You should really ask her. Or, if you don't want to risk that, Zevran or Isabela. Neither of them would miss signs of interest."

[Carver Amell]

He frowns. Definitely not Isabela. "I suppose I can ask Zevran," he admits grudgingly. 

[Tethras Clan]

"I'd open with that you're asking for advice as Clan. He enjoys flirting and teasing, but if you make it clear you're being serious, he won't mess with you. Not about this." Definitely not about this, not with the way he and Isabela were gossiping about how cute you and Andy are together. The two of them...

[Carver Amell]

"There's a way to stop his flirting?" mutters Carver, raising an eyebrow. 

[Tethras Clan]

"Have you ever seen him flirt with me?" Varric replies.

[Carver Amell]

"Point. What's your secret?" 

[Tethras Clan]

"I asked him not to, explained why," the dwarf says simply. "Insulting him just amuses him, makes it a game. But if you tell him honestly that it makes you uncomfortable, he'll stop. He slips every once in a while, boy flirts like breathing, but with me at least, he's pretty much stopped entirely."

[Carver Amell]

"What, that's it?" Carver seems shocked. "He just... accepts no as an answer?"

[Tethras Clan]

"Like it was voiced by Ciren directly," Varric confirms. "If you deflect or insult him, he'll keep going but if you ask him to stop, he will. I guess you wouldn't have seen it, but Aveline was in the same cart as you at one point. She... she doesn't like to be flirted with, by anyone. I won't go into why or whatever, that's for her to share, but she told him to stop and he did, that day. Obviously, she's changed her mind by now, but I've heard him double-checking with her even now, making sure she's okay with it. Given his background, consent is sacred to him."

[Carver Amell]

"Huh." 

Carver frowns, thinking it over. In the past six months he'd avoided Zevran as much as possible, expecting to be ridiculed and flirted with. So really, what does he know about Zevran? About any of them? Other than his assumptions, which the dwarf had been proving wrong over and over since day one.

A little ashamed of himself, he takes a deep breath. "Yeah. I should talk to him."

[Tethras Clan]

Varric stares a moment, then runs a hand through his hair. "I owe you an apology," he says suddenly.

[Carver Amell]

"You-- what? Why?" Carver blinks. 

[Tethras Clan]

"Hawke wanted to go back to you and your bi- your mother. After you stabbed her. And I stand by convincing her not to. But I... I shouldn't have... made her feel she had to choose. Living there was unhealthy, horribly so, and not just for her. But I should have tried to help you too, not just her," Varric says with clear and honest regret. "You were hurting too but all I cared about was my family, was Hawke."

[Carver Amell]

Carver snorts. "The day a man has to apologize for protecting his family is the day mankind seals its death warrant," he says dismissively. "You never owed me a thing."

[Tethras Clan]

"You were Hawke's brother, I should have tried to help what was broken, not scrape you off so she could get free." Varric shrugs, glancing away uncomfortably. "Leaving you alone with your uncle and Leandra was... cruel."