It wasn't hard to figure out why he loved her so. If he had to spell out a few reasons, he could, but asking him too ran the risk of a never-ending, slightly mushy, speech. Isabella had learnt that the hard way.

He believed it had started from the first time they'd met. Well, maybe a little before that. He was smart enough to keep an eye on Anso, in case guards or Danarius' men came looking for him. Instead, he saw her. Fenris was never one to fall for, nor care about, looks or gender. It wasn't a choice he had being what he had been, so he'd learnt to adapt. He couldn't remember caring before that either, so why care now? What he was interested in was the nature of a person, what they cared about, what they fought for. So when he first saw her...

~ Fenris Pov ~ beginning of Bait and Switch ~

"You're eyes are kinda cool!"

She'd said basically as soon as she'd started talking to Anso. It hadn't been what he was expecting, but they were mostly there to be bait, so it didn't matter. She had a guardswomen with her, a dwarf and what looked to be her brother. Only the guard might be trouble, but nothing to concern himself with now. She and Anso were deep in conversation when they finally reached the topic of Lyrium. She backed off a bit.

"That's not a good trade." Her voice was harder now, more on edge.

"My cousin introduced me, it's not to bad. Make a good profit a lot of the time." Anso didn't seem to grasp what she'd meant.

"Why should I help you get it back if it's just going to go to Templars illegally?"

"I'll make it worth your time! Or, I'll try to..."

Her brother made a snark remark behind her. She looked him over.

"I don't want your money. I want names. Every Templar you can remember dealing with. Aveline, you can decide what to do with them, I won't interfere more then that, but he get's to deliver this cart and then," she turned back to Anso "you can enter field work, or come work for me at some point if you'd like? Or I could introduce you to Athenril, I have a feeling you'd do well with her."

Anso looked confused, he always looked confused, but he quickly brightened up at the thought of getting out of a business he was clearly not cut out for or learning the trade.

"Deal. The people you're looking for usually hang out near..."

I'd seen enough. They'd taken the bait... in a different way then I'd expected, but the trap was set regardless.

~

She'd defeated them all. Well, all the ones in the hovel anyway. I hadn't been there, but it was clear from the array of bodies laid about. I turned around after removing my hands from the bastard's chest. I'd expected a look of horror, or at least basic disgust. She had stars in her eyes. That was the only way to describe the look she was giving me.

"That was so cool." She took a half step towards me. "Does your skin always light up when you chest fist people? Can you do it without the stabbing bit? Is it chest area exclusive? Does it-"

"Uh, Sunflower? (A/N: I'm so sorry about the nickname)" The dwarf behind her (thankfully) butted in. "I think you're overwhelming him." 'Sunflower' went perfectly still before her face scrunched up into an apologetic look and she mouthed 'sorry' at me.

"I suppose I should explain. When I asked Anso to provide a distraction for me, I had no idea they'd be so numerous. I apologise." I started.

"A distraction?"

"Yes, my name is Fenris and they were hired to track down a Magisters lost property. Namely myself. Thankfully, Anso chose wisely."

"That seems like a lot of effort to find one slave. Does it have anything to do with those markings?" Her voice had dropped again, like when she was talking to Anso about Lyrium. I worried she was one of those people that believed in slaves being a legal property.

"I imagine I look strange to you." She cut in quietly 'I think you look awesome' and I smirked a bit. "But they have served me well, despite them being bestowed upon me unwillingly."

"Why face them at all then? Why not run?"

"There comes a time when you must stop running, when you must turn and face the tiger." I waited for her response.

"That makes sense. I guess running would get annoying after a while." I raised an eyebrow. Not what I was expecting. "So there was no job? Anso wasn't smuggling Lyrium?"

"Oh no, he was, but he still has his shipment. Sorry about that, he should still give you those names, but I don't imagine you'll see him again after that."

She stood there for a moment, as if trying to pick her next words carefully.

"So, you were a slave then?" There it was. I readied myself to fight.

"Yes." She was quiet for another moment, then she looked me dead in the eye with so much anger and conviction.

"I'm glad I helped then. If you ever need help killing slavers ever again, come find me."

I instantly relaxed.

"It's rare to find someone who seeks more than personal gain. I'll keep that in mind. If I may ask, what was in the chest."

"It was empty, sorry." I shook my head.

"No, I was foolish to hope."

"Nope! You're never foolish to hope. But, you know, you didn't need to lie to get my help."

"That remains to be seen." I dug over the corpse by our feet. A small note confirmed my suspicions. "It's as I thought, my old master is here, in the city." I stood and turned to her. "Will you help?"

"It sound's like you plan to do more than just talk."

"Danarius used to keep me on a leash like a personal pet to mock Quinari custom, so yes, I intend to do more than just talk."

"You intend to kill slavers that would mock other cultures? Lead the way."

"I'll find a way to repay you, I swear it."

"You don't need to." I smirked at her immediate response.

"No. For what you're about to help me do? I'll need to repay you. The Magister is staying in a mansion in Hightown, we need to get there before morning."

~

When I reached the mansion, I was surprised to see her there before me, glancing around at her companions, shoving flasks of potions into their hands and making sure everyone was fit and able to fight, clucking over them like a mother hen. She noticed me and quietly called out.

"Fenris." She walked over, her arms overflowing with vials of the red, blue and yellow liquid. "Here, these are for you. I figured that life on the run doesn't leave much time for shopping." She shoved some of the yellow and red vials into my arms before tucking the rest into her knapsack. When everything was adjusted she looked back up at me.

"Aveline has gone home, thought I'd let her keep her good standing. Also, I know you're mad, and understandably so, but don't do anything stupid and don't die." She said with a nod before she walked back over to her friends. I was shocked, but quickly put the potions away and joined them.

"Alright, here's what we're going to do..."

~

After the fighting I... I went outside. Another mage. Of course she was. Why not. Fate is cruel and now the person who was so insistent on helping me get rid of a mage was a mage herself. She came outside shortly after. She was shocked when I confronted her, she looked sort of offended. I asked her what type of mage she was, what she was looking for.

"Do I have to be seeking something? Can't I just want to help people?"

Her answers are always different from what I expect. But she is still a mage.

"You can have all the good intentions in the world, but danger will still find you." She laughed.

"Doesn't it find everyone?"

"I- I guess so." I was shocked for a moment. "I imagine I appear ungrateful. If so, I apologise, nothing could be further from the truth. I did not find Danarius, but I still owe you a debt, here is all the coin I-"

"No!"

"Wh- what?"

"I said no. Stop trying to give me money."

"But I-"

"Listen, if you must 'repay me' then be my friend. That's it, that's all I ask."

I sighed, dropping my head and thinking it over.

"Fine. Should you need my assistance, I should gladly render it."

She smiled wide and my heart did some kind of flip-flop.

"Surely this is a lot of work to get back one slave though?"

"He doesn't want me specifically, just the markings on my skin. They are lyrium, burned into my flesh to provide the type of power he needed from a pet, and now, he wishes them returned, even if he has to rip them from my corpse."

"Well, that won't do at all. I've never met anyone who could chest fist someone before and plus, he doesn't deserve you. You're way too awesome for a dick like that."

Tact was obviously not one of her strong points. Apparently, neither was flirting, if the soft blush across her cheeks was anything to go by. I chuckled.

"Yes well. Uh, thank you. Regardless, it was Danarius' choice, and one he now regrets."

"Will my being a mage be a bother to you?"

"You are not Danarius. Whether you are anything like him remains to be seen."

"Well, you're always welcome to stay with us."

"Uh, sister, you realise we live in a hovel and have no room right?" Her brother, Carver spoke up. She whipped around and put her hands on her hips.

"Nonsense, there's always room for friends." I smiled.

"It's quite alright, I plan on living here. If Danarius wants his mansion back, he's welcome to try it."

She smiled again. I was starting to understand the nickname.

"Ok, if you need me, you know where to find me."

"You know," I said as she turned to walk away, "I never got your name." Her eyes went wide.

"Oh! Gosh sorry. My name is (F/n) (L/n or Hawke). It was... interesting to meet you Fenris. See ya later!"

And she was gone.

_________________

Hey, Georgie here!

So I was going to make this a one shot, but then it just kept going, and I realised that there was no way I was going to fit everything I wanted in without making it annoyingly long, so it'll probably get another part, depending on if I get inspired again.

I've been wanting to write an Asexual/Demisexual!Fenris for ages, I just think it suits his character so well. I tried not to write directly from the game, but also not to change it too much. There won't be any sex in this, implied or otherwise.

Hope you liked it :)