storybookhawke:

Oh goodness I love it already. So I wrote a little for it!!!

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Hawke’s worked a lot of build sites before. His crew is experienced, taking his direction well and working quickly but safely. They’ve been through plenty of on-site issues together, but have always managed to get through the worst of it by working as a team. Hawke is proud to say that most of the issues over the years haven’t been the fault of their own, but rather fussy management or picky inspectors.

But, in all his years, Hawke has never met anyone like Anders.

The man is the architect, the true visionary behind Kirkwall’s first true housing project. It was a controversy between city officials, but Anders himself pushed the initiative through and insisted it was something the homeless citizens of Kirkwall would truly benefit from. From what Hawke has gleaned from conversations and reading the news, Anders dedicated months of his life to designing it and meeting with donors who supported his cause. The hardest part was getting it past the mayor, but the council superseded the woman’s adamant refusal. 

The man in question is currently bent over the blueprints, shoulder-length golden hair tied up in a ponytail. His long, slender fingers trace the lines of the draft currently being built, as if to follow it’s realization in real time.

Anders tends to arrive just after noon, to speak with Hawke about the construction’s progress. Normally a daily visit from the job’s architect signals a hellish experience for Hawke and his crew–painstakingly perfectionist oversight means overtime and countless alterations over the course of a build.

But not with Anders. He simply inquires about the proceedings, reviews the drafts, and takes a walk through the build site with Hawke. Sometimes he even brings Hawke a sandwich from the local deli, or a cold refreshment if it’s particularly hot. At first he didn’t think twice about it–Anders just seemed like that kind of person–but then a few of his workers pointed it out one afternoon.

“That architect has a thing for you” Gustav said one afternoon. “You’d have to be blind not to see it.”

“He looks at your arse all day,” Carver with a flat look, annoyed that this even had to be said aloud about his own brother.

Hawke steps into the shade of the tent, removing his hard hat and wiping the sweat from his brow. Anders doesn’t look up from the blueprints, but Hawke knows that he’s been noticed since a slight smile sets upon the man’s lips. Now that Hawke knows to look, he notices that Anders’ cheeks have turned pink simply by his presence.

“Afternoon, Hawke,” Anders says. “Things are looking good, as always.”

“No problems yet,” Hawke replies, leaning against one of the tent’s poles and crossing his arms. “Though I shouldn’t say that so early in the process.”

Anders hums in agreement, flipping through a few more of his drafts until he finds the part they just poured foundation for today. It stirs something in Hawke’s chest to see someone so devoted to something he’s building. Anders truly put his everything into this housing project, and it shows in his support and attention to detail.

As is his nature, Hawke has flirted with Anders before, but the man has always managed to escape the situation or stutter his way through a diversionary topic. This time, Hawke can’t stop the words from slipping out, heavily laced with all the innuendo he’s been considering since learning about Anders’ possible affections.

“You really like to be ‘hands-on,’ don’t you?”

Anders’ finger pauses it’s path around the lines of the draft, cheeks turning pink and this time not from the sun. His words, though quiet, ring loud and clear to Hawke.

“More than you know.”