Imprints in Stone [AU]

[Carver Amell]

"Yes! And, and I never wanted you to do any of those things anyway! I'm cut out for this life. You're better than that." He takes a deep breath. "If you need the money that bad, if you need whores that bad, then just-- if you ask me, I'll do it, so long as you don't have to."

[Bethany]

Bethany recoils as if slapped. "Is that what- do you think- I'm not Leandra," she hisses. "I will not ask of you what- you're my brother damnit, not some toy or tool I can use up for my own gain and pleasure."

[Carver Amell]

Carver shakes his head. "I'm offering. Anything, Beth, anything for you. My life, my body, anything. That's what being Vangalite means."

[Bethany]

"No it- that's a stupid type of Vangalite. You're more than that Carver. I don't want a sacrifice, I want my brother." Bethany drops her face into her hands, trying not to cry. Or scream.

[Carver Amell]

"But you don't. You want Marian. You've always wanted Marian. And I-- I fucked that up, I let her, I let her die for us. I knew you needed her but I... I wanted, I want, you to need me like that. So I have to make it up to you. Anything you need, I have to give you. Forever."

[Bethany]

Bethany flushes, mouth falling open. "I- I didn't realize- Carver, I'm sorry, I can't- I tried, before, to... but I just can't. Not with men. At all, not even you," she says miserably. 

[Carver Amell]

Carver glances up at her, brow furrowing in confusion. Then he blanches. "Not like that," he snaps. "Gods. I just want you to, to need me."

[Bethany]

Bethany sags, an expression of relief easily seen on her face. "Oh. Good. I mean... Sorry, I just... the way you said it, I just... Sorry. Carver, I... I couldn't have picked. I couldn't have... I love both of you. I need both of you."

[Carver Amell]

"But it was her you confide in. Her you tell your secrets. Not me. Nobody's first choice is Carver Hawke."

[Bethany]

"You were my first everything for fourteen years!" Bethany shouts. "Then you looked outside of us, at Summer. And- and you were right to do so. That's... I hated it then, it hurt so much... kind of like you're hurting now," she realizes with a sigh. "But we shouldn't just look at each other. People aren't supposed to be... that... focused?"

[Carver Amell]

"You and Marian were close before then," he snaps. "You both were witches. You both had lessons every day over at Varric's, and I didn't, I wasn't ever part of that. I was good enough to be your protector but not your, I don't know, anything else. Not once you had her."

[Bethany]

What? Did you just- did you really... "Carver... we invited you to come as wel. Constantly. Varric did as well. You could have been there every day as well. But you didn't want to. So don't you dare say we cut you out."

[Carver Amell]

"Yeah? Come and what? Sit there watching you two practice something i'll never, ever have or understand? Loads of fun, that."

[Bethany]

"You could have learned! Maybe not what we did but Varric could have taught you something, Carver." Bethany rubs her forehead tiredly. "And you have magic, remember? Humans can't shift their hands into claws. Or notice meats gone off from the next room over."

[Carver Amell]

Abruptly, Carver stands again, heading toward the temple. "Come on. You'll be late."