Blood from Stone [AU]

[Carver Amell]

He shakes his head. "I can't. So many are dead, it won't... it won't feel like home anymore. Better to let the dead rest."

He swirls his glass, frowning, before adding, softer, "She screamed, when they hurt her. And we hid our faces and ran for our lives. We left her to die."

[Tethras Clan]

"No," Aveline snaps, hand tightening painfully on his wrist. "You gave meaning to her sacrifice. If you had turned back, if you have faltered, she would have suffered for nothing. You saved your sister. Gods, could you- how much worse would it have been for her, to see you both suffering right there with? No Carver. Never that."

[Carver Amell]

"I know," he sighs, eyes drifting closed as the admission pains him. "But... I swore when she came back, it'd never happen again. She was having nightmares, before she moved out. I'll bet she still does. And then, all alone, without anyone noticing, she had to face that again? And she didn't even tell us. She just... moved back in, like all that worried her was Cindy's dumping her. How could we be so fucking blind? How could we turn away from her pain, again?"

[Tethras Clan]

Aveline winces. "I... suspect she didn't notice. From what we've gotten from the people we've already woken, the dream offers were... not exactly... individualized, I suppose? Given her background, I would be very unsurprised to learn that she simply assumed it was a regular nightmare about the past."

[Carver Amell]

"Have you spoken with her? Since?" he demands, eyes opening as he pulls free of Aveline.

[Tethras Clan]

"No." She looks at him steadily. "That smacks too much of going behind your back. That's a part of why I came by."

[Carver Amell]

"Then you don't know. She's been... she's been hiding, a lot. I wonder sometimes if she's healed any since she moved out. It's not... We abandoned her, Aveline. Maybe she noticed and maybe she didn't, but we should have seen what was going on."

[Tethras Clan]

"Back up. Take three breathes and actually think. Did you see something you ignored? Don't project things, actually recall them. You're not a pavitra, much less a god, Carver. You can't stop every threat. Thinking that you can, expecting yourself to? It'll dull you until you break. Then what good will you be for your loved ones?"

[Carver Amell]

"I don't know," he says dully, looking away. "I don't know what I see until I talk about it, and I didn't talk about it. Sometimes I think I see things I don't. Sometimes I see things but I don't know what I'm looking at. Sometimes I don't see but I think I did because I want to have, in hindsight." 

He takes a deep breath. "I don't like Cindy. I never have. I thought maybe I was still a bit prejudiced about the whole lesbian thing, and I tried, but Beth being with girls didn't bother me, but Cindy did. I don't know, maybe it's because Marian was with Drake before. But Beth being with Don doesn't... well, it bothers me but differently. But I don't like Cindy. She's... wrong. It felt like she was trying to steal Marian away and keep her to herself, lock her away from her family who loves her. Like if Marian wasn't so stubborn we'd never see her again. But Marian seemed happy with her so I let it go. But I shouldn't have. Little things... I keep getting the idea she's like Cindy's mabari. Like her dog, a smart dog, but a dog. Shouldn't she be more like Cindy's Beth, her partner? But I let it go. She seemed fine. She kept saying how happy she was. Only, only, she didn't say, did she? She smiled and laughed, but Cindy was the one who said they were happy together. Perfectly happy, she'd say. And Marian would laugh and smile but she didn't say it. Marian hates to lie. Was she happy? Or was she letting the better liar take the lead? I don't know. I'll drive myself crazy trying to second-guess, my whole life maybe."

[Tethras Clan]

Aveline rises to her feet, then moves around the table. Dropping to one knee, she leans in to pull Carver into a tight hug. "Gods Carver, your heart is broad enough to shield the very heavens from all the evils of the world and more."

[Carver Amell]

Carver throws his arms around her, breaking down in sobs on her shoulder. 

[Tethras Clan]

Aveline holds him close, tears dripping from her own eyes. She doesn't say anything, just makes soft, comforting noises. After a moment, the pair feel furry heads pushing against them, offering what comfort a good dog can offer as well. When the storm begins to ebb, Aveline clears her throat. "Can't change what is. All you- we- can do it try and do better. Is Liz home right now?"

[Carver Amell]

"Yeah," he says, his voice a bit rough. "She's been cooped up in Dad's study all afternoon. He had to get back to work, but she's apparently doing math in there."

[Tethras Clan]

"Alright. Let's... let's get something to eat so we can calm down a bit and..." She scowls. "Varric's left again? Damn."

[Carver Amell]

"He had to work," Carver admits. "Why?"