Dragon Age Fic: Corrections – Josephine/M!Inquisitor (NC-17) 5/?

[anxiousgeek.livejournal.com]

Title: Corrections
Fandom: Dragon Age Inquisition
Rating: Adult
Character/Pairing: Josephine/M!Inquisitor
Spoilers: None
Warnings: Smut, romance, angst, fluff.
Summary: Josephine and Maxwell Travelyan met for the first time at Lady Trevelyan’s summer ball when they were young adults. Now, a decade later and Max is the Herald and Josephine his Ambassador.
Notes: Another Dragon Age Kink Meme prompt with a life of it’s own.  A WIP. Dam.
Chapter One // Chapter Two // Chapter Three // Chapter Four

Skill Set

Skyhold was beautiful.

Run down and dilapidated, but safe and sheltered and beautiful.

Josephine loved it.

She’d settled herself well enough into the office she’d set up down the hallway from the new War Room. It had been a temporary quarters for her and Leliana at first, but now more of the keep was in better order they both had rooms of their own. She decided this was a decent enough place for an office, well positioned between the War Room and the Main Hall. She’d cleaned it up herself, even as many of the civilian workers offered to do it for her.

They had done enough for her already in Haven.

It was all coming along nicely though. She’d had one of the buildings turned into a tavern, had a forge set up, made sure everyone had permanent places to sleep. Including Maxwell, the Inquisitor, who had fit into his new role nicely she thought. He believed he could do it now, had confidence in his role as the Inquisitor.

She liked the confidence, liked that he didn’t doubt himself as much as he did in Haven but she worried about how much of her support would he actually need now. If any.

She was pretty sure their friendship hinged on it.

Except…except Maxwell still took her opinion to heart when they had meetings in the War Room, and now, now he was leaning on her desk again as if nothing had ever changed. His great-sword leaned against the fireplace, flames glinting off it. He smiled at her, the new confidence suited him well, as did the trim he’d had to his hair.

“I’m glad you stopped by Inquisitor,” Josephine said, moving back in her chair a little to look at him better. “I haven’t had a chance to ask you if your quarters are satisfactory.”

He chuckled then.

“Josie they’re amazing. Much more than I needed.”

“Josephine,” she corrected, “and no, you are the Inquisitor, you must have quarters that reflect your station here.”

“Really, it’s too much,” he said, “but thank you, it’s a lovely room.”

“Good.”

She could feel the smile widen on her face, even as she tried to hold it back. She watched him as he reached into his pocket of his beige jacket tapping it against his side for a moment and some of the nervousness from before came back to his face.

“I have something for you,” he said after a moment, standing up and pulling an amulet out of the pocket.

“A gift?” she asked.

He moved around her desk standing over her, tall and imposing, but nervous.

“Of sorts,” he said. He took her hand and pressed the amulet into her palm. “A lifeward amulet, a very good one,” he added. “After Haven, I just…”

He trailed off as she examined the amulet, it was both beautiful, the runes etched deep and with a little flair into the silverite. It was something that could save her life if it came to it.

“I know you can fight but I would just feel better knowing you had a back up plan.”

“You, um,” she could feel the blush starting up, not quite knowing why though and she handed it back to him. “Would you put it on for me?” she asked.

“Of course my lady,” he said, voice low and he moved around to stand behind her. He swept her hair to the side, and she had to suppress a gasp as his fingers brushed over her neck. He placed the amulet over her beast, pulling it up and dragging it slowly over the silk of her clothes to clasp it securely.

“Th-thank you Inquisitor,” she said, as he stepped away.

“Max,” he said, voice a little more confident again as he moved back to stand by the side of her desk.

“Maxwell,” she said with a smile. He was flushed, she wasn’t sure why and she started to mess around with the paperwork on her desk.

“Perhaps later you can show me how Antivan nobles fight,” he said with a little wink and she smiled.

“I would very much like that, I’m sure you’ll be impressed, my mother has been instructing me how to use a rapier since I was six years old.”

“Your mother?” he asked, a little surprised.

“My father is an artist,” she told her, “he has some ability but no interest.”

“I’m keen to discover what your mother taught you,” he said.

“Any time Inquisitor.”

“I’ll hold you to that Josie,” he said.

“Josephine,” she corrected and he chuckled.

“Sharpen your weapons Josephine,” he said. “I’ll want to test your skills when I return from Crestwood.”

She chuckled.

“Be careful Maxwell,” she said.

“Always am”

He grabbed his great-sword and left her fingering the amulet around her neck, the weight strange but welcome.

x

Josephine changed out of her usual blues and golds, her usual silks and into something a little more practical for their fight. Leather leggings, boots, and a leather breast plate over a linen tunic. The change was dramatic, apparently, if the reactions were any indication. Maxwell seemed particularly affected and she smiled at him pulling her weapons from her waist, ignoring the blush and the prideful joy that bubbled up at the thought.

“You, ah, you look-” he hesitated looking around at the small group of soldiers and friends watching. “You look ready.”

She chuckled.

“Indeed I am Inquisitor.”

He nodded and lifted up a practice sword and shield that was leaning up against the ring and ushered her into the centre.

“You’re not going to use your great-sword?” she asked.

“I did not think it fair,” he said. “It is enchanted after all.”

“I suppose,” she said with a shrug, “I just don’t want you going easy on me Ma- Inquisitor,” she corrected herself.

“I would never dream of it Ambassador.”

She chuckled.

“So begin,” she said.

He bowed slightly, and took a moment before taking a swing at her with his longsword. She jumped aside easily, frowning, taking a swipe at him but missing. She spun and tried to trip him. He managed to step aside, and take another swing at her but she stopped the blade with the hilt and handle of her dagger and jabbed at him with rapier managing to get a hit in on his chest. He recoiled and everyone gasped.

“Very nice,” he said with a laugh.

She gave a quick bow, jumping back when he tried to hit her with another Shield Bash, still smiling as he did so. He put more force into it a second time, rolling and smacking the shield against her side and sending her backwards. She kept her balance though and when he went after her again she threw something to the floor and disappeared.

“What the?”

Josephine could hear Leliana laughing. She smiled to herself, knowing Maxwell couldn’t see her expression and quietly moved around him. It had been a while since she had been in stealth mode and she rounded Maxwell and thrust forward with all her strength to his chest, with a quick swipe with her dagger to cut his cheek. It was barely a scratch but enough to surprise him. She wanted to laugh but she was too busy concentrating on the fight now, trying to figure out his next move. She spun away from his next move, to the other side of the ring but was caught by his grappling chain and he yanked hard, pulling her forward. She collided with him with a gasp, chest to chest all of a sudden..

He hesitated before his next move, looking down at her and she titled her head up, feeling a heat rise in her cheeks again.

“Josie,” he murmured.

She sighed, smiling.

“Josephine,” she corrected, getting free of the chain and whirling around him, slapping her rapier on his backside with a chuckled, the crowd watching laughing with her.

“You’ll pay for that Lady Ambassador,” he told her.

“If you say so My Lord,” she said.

He gave her a smile before a lunge and slash, rolling around, and doing the same again. He connected both times, a grimace on her face as she yelled out in surprised and pain, falling tot he floor. She managed to jump to her feet quickly but he charged at her, knocking her back down and with one last swing he brought his sword down to her chest – not hitting her but resting the blade on her chestplate.

“Yield?” he asked.

She considered her options. She considered rolling but the blade would cut her and her stamina was low. She clashed her dagger against his sword, trying to push it far enough away to roll free but he pushed back, and she felt the pressure of the tip of the blade at harder in her breasts and she struggled to take a breath.

“I yield Inquisitor,” she said with a regret.

He smiled and dropped the sword, offering her hand up. She accepted and he pulled her up to her feet with ease. The small crowd applauding.

“A good match my lady,” he said with a small bow, not letting go of her hand.

“Are you better acquainted with my skills now?” she asked, pulling her hand away.

He chuckled, feeling the scratch on his cheek.

“I believe so,” he told her, picking up the practice sword once more. “Much more confident in your ability to defend yourself.”

“Thank you,” she said.

He nodded.

“I never doubt your ability though Josie,” he said quietly so only she could hear, “I just needed to see what you could do before we could fight together.”

“I understand Inquisitor,” she said, a hand on his arm. “Truly.”

“Good. Will you join me for dinner in hall later?” he asked.

“Perhaps,” she said.

He sighed, then covered it with a noise, and she regretted not agreeing immediately but as he walked away she realised it was a bit late. Maybe she could apologise some how later, she had a lot of paperwork to do anyway.