#the way you can SEE rook's eyes soften as they look at varric in that first scene will haunt me forever

[vaguely-concerned]

when rook's eyes go soft........

[bookerwrites]

Returning (One Shot)

Cross posted on AO3 here!

Pairing: Solas/Reader

Summery: Varric brings the reader in on his plan to redeem Solas.

Word Count: 571

Content: Angst, vague allusions to a panic attack, confronting your ex-lover who's apparently an ancient god hellbent on blowing up the world.

———

"All right. We'll take it from here." Varric turns to your small group, jaw set - he's determined. You wish you felt the same.

"This isn't going to work, Varric! He's not going to listen to me!" Panic is rising in your chest, a bleak feeling that accompanies the frantic pounding of your heart.

Harding's eyes lock on Varric as she loads another crossbow bolt. "I agree! Solas isn't going to stop just because an old friend asks nicely!" She looks across to where you're lent against the wall, appearing very much like your legs might give out from under you at any moment. Her gaze softens as she regards you. "No matter who they might be."

"Look- Solas needs someone to sell him a better option, to help him justify changing his mind." Varric turns to you, reaches a hand out to steady you. His touch draws you from your mind, his confidence in you only of slight comfort. "I'll be right behind you the whole time." The dwarf says softly.

"We did not come all this way just to talk to him." Rook levels you both with a warning glare - like your association with the elf means that you, specifically, aren't to be trusted. You doubt you'd feel any different in his place.

Varric moves to stand between you - not by much, but it's enough to tell everyone present where he stands on both fronts.

"He was our friend, Rook. We've got to try and reach him." He leaves the word 'friend' to hang in the air - everyone already knows why you're here. "And if he won't listen to me...then he will hear from Bianca."

You squeeze your eyes shut at his words, swallowing around the knot in your throat as a hollow feeling stirs in your chest - pre-emptive heartbreak at what's to come.

"Ready?" Varric asks, his voice dragging you back to reality.

"Not even remotely." There's a small, half crazed smile threatening to break across your face. This could well be a suicide mission - you might die before you even make it to Solas - but some mad little part of you whispers that he would never hurt you.

Varric nods at your shaky confirmation and rolls his shoulders. "Rook, take care of the team for me."

---

Your legs feel like lead as you drag yourself up the staircase towards Solas, and although Varric is only a pace behind you, crossbow raised, you've never felt more alone. You falter in your approach, each step forcing you closer to confronting everything you'd tried desperately to bury for the past ten years.

"Hey, Chuckles. Hope we're not interrupting!" Varric calls out, and you watch as the elf's shoulders tense almost imperceptibly. You can tell he's steeling himself as he begins to turn, like any show of weakness might be used against him. I still know you, you think.

It's clear he's not expecting you, of all people, to be standing before him. Despite the din around you, you catch the way his breath hitches; catch the way his eyes widen as they alight on your face. Your own breath feels like it's been stolen from you as you stare up into those icy eyes - all the waiting in the world couldn't have prepared you to see him again after so long.

"Vehnan?" He calls, voice weak - unsteady as you feel tears prick at your eyes.

[abigailsart]

Veilguard Snippet

So excited to be writing again. A little rusty though.

“Ahem.”

Varric spun around. Standing slightly in the shadows, a familiar annoyed look bore into him. Even though he was years older, that look still manages to make him nervous. If her stare could kill, he would be ten feet under.

“Inquisitor!” Varric half smiled. “What a surprise to see you here!”

“A surprise? I just happened to be having drinks and catching up with Dorian when we saw a fucking RIFT open in the sky.” The Inquisitor pulled her daggers out of the demon and wiped them on her clothes.

Inquisitor Drake Trevelyan stepped over the decomposing body of the demon and sheathed her daggers. Her metal arm glinting in the flashes from the rift. He had that arm commissioned shortly after she lost it, he even jokingly engraved his name on it, which she found hilarious.

“A surprise?” She repeated, her hand tightened on the hilt of the dagger, tensing to strike. “Because you have something to hide?”

“I-“ Varric sheepishly fiddled with his fingers.

“What have you been keeping from me, Varric.” Drake spat venomously. “You know how I feel about my friends keeping secrets, especially ones that effect me.”

Varric flinched at the memory of how she treated Blackwall after his betrayal, then Solas’. She was inconsolable for months.

Varric sighed, “It was for your own good, Drake. You finally moved on. You and Curly, and your kids. I didn’t want to disrupt your life.”

Drake’s furrowed brow softened slightly. She knew how much Varric cared for his friends, but she didn’t tolerate deception.

“Is it Solas, Varric?” Her voice calmer now even breaking slightly.

He nodded in response. Drake’s gaze turned up the stairs toward the rift that was opening.

“Let me talk to Chuckles, Drake.” Varric jumped in front of her before she could make her way up the stairs. “I think I can talk him down.”

“He needs to answer to me, Varric.” Drake snapped.

“I know you two have some tiff to work out-“ Varric pointed over Drakes shoulder. “Look out!”

Drake spun around, her daggers swiftly unsheathed, but nothing was there. Her brows pulled together as she turned back around to find Varric halfway up the stairs already.

“Andraste’s ass.” She hissed. She narrowed her eyes at Neve, Rook, and Harding, “He gets thirty seconds.”