The Silver Queen [AU]

[Tethras Clan]

"And I would rather be hurt than to stand back and watch my family simultaneously rot and explode," Zevran snaps back. "This is nothing, it'll heal in a few days at most even without treatment. The heart wounds we're hiding, the fears we're avoiding- those will kill us in time."

[Carver Amell]

"I've been fine this long, I'll cope," he snaps. 

[Isabela]

"Which is why you're talking about jumping off the deck, clearly," says Isabela, frustration leaking into her voice. 

[Carver Amell]

"I wasn't serious and you know it."

[Isabela]

"Or why you ran away from Dau the other day."

[Carver Amell]

"That's different!" he snaps. 

[Tethras Clan]

"I don't want you to cope, I want you to be gods be damned happy!" Zevran shouts, only just barely keeping himself from jerking his hands away so he can rise to his feet. "I want us to be happy! If all I wanted in life was to survive, I'd have stayed a slave."

[Isabela]

Silence falls over the group briefly; Helene works on Zevran's arms, while Carver and Isabela stare at him, speechless. It seems that got through; Isabela's eyes are misty, and Carver's usual anger fades rapidly. 

[Tethras Clan]

"I'm sorry," Zevran says in a soft whisper as Helene finishes. "I... I should not have shouted." He makes a point of using his finished left hand to stroke Helene's arm as they finish the right to make sure they realize that's primarily for them.

[Helene Dakesh]

"This one is frightened," says Helene, quietly. "This one does not wish to lose this one's family. This one does not want Zevran to bleed. This one does not want Isabela to run. This one does not want Carver to break. This one wants this one's family to be whole and happy."

[Isabela]

"Well said," says Isabela, her tone gentle. 

[Carver Amell]

"I... I'm sorry. I lose my temper, sometimes," says Carver, looking down. "I just... I'm just scared too, I guess."

[Tethras Clan]

"It is... more comfortable, to be angry than being afraid," Zevran says softly. "It feels... it feels more like having control. Fear is done to you, but you are angry at something."

[Isabela]

"Before they died... Varric and Marian were... were starting something important, I think. A Clan. They didn't live to see it but... Marian tried to explain it to me. You had to be honest with each other, and be open -- no secrets. And trust each other." 

[Carver Amell]

"No secrets," says Carver, tone a little bitter and a bit wistful. "Can you live that way?"