Imprints in Stone [AU]

[Leandra Hawke ne Amell]

"Not in my home," Leandra declares. "I'm not have that hussy corrupt you like she did poor Marian."

[Bethany]

Bethany goes very pale, guilt and shame flooding her. Anger drowning, she lowers her gaze to the table. I... I should go. Away from Carver. Dad doesn't care what I am. I can look after him. He's terrible at housework. And he hates sex, so I can't... I won't ruin him too.

[Carver Amell]

Carver's reaction is just as fast, for all that it's the exact opposite. He steps up close to Leandra, hands balled into fists, his voice low, dark. He doesn't shout, doesn't even scold her. Instead, his voice very quiet and very even, he says only: "Say. That. Again."

[Leandra Hawke ne Amell]

"Carver Firethorn Hawke, don't you dare take that tone with me," Leandra fires back. "I am your mother and you will respect and obey me, is that understood?"

[Carver Amell]

"You are my mother," he agrees, a bit of growl in his voice. "But I don't belong to you anymore. If you turn Bethany out, I go with her." 

[Leandra Hawke ne Amell]

Already she's taking him. Already, he's falling. "Not for another two years, Carver. You're not an adult yet and you will heed me. I'll not turn her out to the streets like your father would. I'll see to it that she's taken in and treated for the sins in her soul." She reaches out to pat Carver's arm. "It'll be okay, son. I'll help you find your way back."

[Bethany]

"Carver... maybe... maybe she's right," Bethany says in a tiny voice, gaze still dull and lost. "I'm... a freak. Wrong. You shouldn't-"

[Carver Amell]

"She's my twin, Mother. It's both of us or neither. She needs help, and protection, not to be turned away. She'll take vows, and so will I. If you want me at home, you'll keep her. If you turn her away, I go too, and you'll be alone, with no children at all. Is that what you want?" 

[Leandra Hawke ne Amell]

Leandra draws herself up, heart hurting but eyes filled with wounded pride. "So you'll abandon me as well? Just like your father, the both of you. Marian was the only one of you with any sense of loyalty or devotion. She knew her duty to her-" She cuts off, looking shocked and offended, as a mug of ale catches her right in the face. Luckily for her, it was just the ale and not the mug. 

[Varric]

"That's enough," Varric says very quietly. "I didn't want to step into this. I wanted to give you a chance to be a parent for once. But you say another word that isn't an apology and I'll see you before a magistrate on charges of child abuse, see that I don't."

[Bethany]

Bethany's head has snapped up and she's staring at Varric, then Leandra, then Carver, over and over again, trying to process all of this.

[Carver Amell]

"The hell you will!" Carver turns to Varric, his anger unleashing into a roar. "You leave my mother alone!" 

[NPCs]

"Hey!" the bartender seems to have had enough of this as well, slamming a club down on the bar. "Sit down and shut up or get out of my inn!"

[Varric]

"Not your call, Carver," Varric says gently. "She's right about the one thing, that you're both still minors. It's for adults to look after you, to care for and guide you. Just because she's shit at it doesn't mean you don't deserve it."

[Leandra Hawke ne Amell]

Leandra looks like she very much wants to argue, to scream and rage and demand. But she just glances at Varric, at the cold, hard menace in his eyes, and heads back up to her room, gait stiff and attempting to be unhurried.