Work Text:
Neve stares at her notebook, trying to decipher what she wrote not a few hours ago. About half of it consists of names which are no longer legible and the other half of locations they were last known to be and distinguishing features of them. Templars are busy clearing out the wealthier districts of Minrathous, so coordinating the search and rescue operations falls largely under her purview.
“Hi Neve, am I interrupting? I probably am,” Bellara calls into Neve’s room, lurking by the door. Neve gestures her in. At least she was a welcome distraction. Bellara perches herself on the desk, pushing away the pile of notes to make herself comfortable.
Neve sighs and hangs her head. Fine. A little distraction is probably good for her. Maybe it’ll even clean her mind a bit. “A little busy, but I always have time for you,” Neve smiles, though it doesn’t really meet her eyes.
Bellara frowns a bit, but it quickly dissipates. Probably not what she wants to hear, but it is the truth. The elf kicks her feet, glancing around the room. “I’m glad you do. Have time for me. I know the Shadows are really busy,” she rambles. “So I want to get my time with you while I can. Hopefully not be too much of a bother. I just have two really cool girlfriends and both of them are really busy.”
That brings a genuine smile to Neve’s face. Something about Bellara’s speech mannerisms never fails to endear her to Neve. She closes the space between them and kisses Bell, quick and sweet. The elf practically melts, an enormous grin of her own plastered across her face. Better.
“No matter how much trouble my girls bring me, there’s always time,” she reassures Bellara. She reaches into the drawer of her desk and pulls out her pipe. It’s been a while since she’s smoked, but she desperately needs it.
As Neve walks outside, Bellara eagerly follows her, grabbing her arm. “Stressed about everything? I know it’s a lot. Elgar'nan attacked Minrathous, there’s a lot of Blight, and the Venatori are running amok. But that’s the thing. It’s a lot. You and Rana can’t do it alone,” she comments.
Neve sighs. Once they’re outside her room, she starts smoking. “We can do it alone,” she insists, staring into the distance.
“Okay. You can. But you shouldn’t. You don’t have to. Lucanis is busy with Treviso. Taash and Harding followed him there. But Nifty and I can help,” Bellara remarks, posting Neve in the chest.
That is true. Doesn’t mean that either of them have the time. Or they have other things they should be doing. “Come on amata. The Veil Jumpers surely have bigger problems than Minrathous,” Neve says cautiously, watching Bellara’s response out of the corner of her eye. She rocked on her toes and bit her lip. Just what was she hiding.
“The thing is, I already asked some people if they wanted to help. They might be in the library right now,” she admitted guiltily. “And they’re good at cleaning up after explosions. And magic. Magical explosions even.”
“Bell-”
“I know I should have asked. But you’ve been running yourself ragged. And I’m worried. Nifty said to ask, but I can’t stand by.”
“Bellara-”
“But um. They should be able to help. Maybe we can help the Shadows get some folks out of Tevinter. Take them in if they’re slaves. Or liberati.”
Right. Neve kisses her, getting her tongue between those beautiful lips as fast as she can. Partially because Bellara would keep talking, and partially because she is feeling incredibly grateful. And happy. Loved is probably in that list too. Kissing Bell is easier than trying to explain all that.
Bellara clings on to Neve, letting their tongues move together in a dance that feels right. Their teeth bump a few times, causing them to giggle. Just as Neve is about to suggest they take things back into her room, they hear a wolf whistle.
They immediately pull back from each other, swiping at their lips to remove any saliva. Nifty, though, is laughing at them. “Hey there darlings,” she croons, kissing both of their cheeks. “I would say take it inside but I have it on good authority that there is some yummy food for us at the Shadows hideout and people to find.”
Bellara tucks a longer piece of hair behind Nifty’s ear. Trouble, the both of them. But the good kind. She tells them so as they lead her to the eluvian. Maybe a little help wasn’t so bad.