Weird Little Brain Tweak/reframing That Helped Me Out. I Often Find That Advice That Seemingly Helps

weird little brain tweak/reframing that helped me out. i Often find that advice that seemingly helps Everyone Else doesn’t make any sense to me, in ways that are hard to describe, and it can be really frustrating. but when i find a way to explain it to myself that finally seems to break through and make it click, it feels really good

Poster in Progress ✨🪩✨

All Along

Length: 1677 words

Ships: Dorian Pavus/The Iron Bull

Fandom: Dragon Age: Inquisition

Rating: T for Teen

Characters: Dorian Pavus (DA:I), The Iron Bull (DA:I)

No hurt/All Comfort, Fluff, When the guy you hook up with wants to cuddle romantically, It’s literally just fluff, I’ve never tagged fanfiction before lol, Only T because there’s mentions of them hooking up in the past.

Summary: Dorian is cold, but Bull comes to warm him up in a surprisingly romantic way. Be nice to me please, I’ve never written and posted fanfiction before.

It’s dark out.

Quiet and still as a cadaver, and just as cold to boot. Dorian is curled up by his fireplace, reading and huddled in a thin blanket that is far too scratchy for his tastes.

He’s tired, but the cold is keeping his blood pumping, like he’s stuck on an adrenaline rush. So no sleep for him until he can warm up more. Blast his naturally cooler body heat…

Dorian huffs, eyes floating down the page lazily as his mind drifts.

Warmth is the first thing he thinks of, nice hues of red and orange flowing like a river. It flows and twirls into a blanket over his thoughts, so achingly warm, but still far too cool.

He’s getting fuzzy. He yawns and rubs his eyes, deciding to close the book and lay back on the wooden floor. He has a very soft mattress, but he has not the energy to get to it, instead laying against the cool floor boards and praying to the maker for warmth.

Then, the blanket pulls back, and Dorian has a thought through the haze.

Bull may have a blanket. He’s heard the Qunari is surprisingly crafty, and has made blankets for all the Bull’s Chargers. Dorian hates to get up and stretch his already chilled bones, but it may save him from frostbite.

Dorian spends far too long getting up, and he swears he hears his knees pop as he uses his desk to stand up. But once he finally stands, he feels the blood rush back to his feet, and send a wave of warmth and consciousness cutting through the icy chill of his muscles.

He wraps the thin blanket around his shoulders and takes a deep breath, before stepping out into the snow.

“MAKER’S BOLLOCKS—”

Dorian yelps and falls back through the doorway. He’d forgotten his boots, and now his feet feel like ice! He shuts his door quickly and groans, holding his head in his hands.

He’s getting a migraine, he feels numbness claw at his ankles and toes as he struggles back over to the fire to warm back up. If it was possible to be warm but also cold at once, Dorian definitely is at this moment. His brain feels fuzzy like he’s overheating, but he can barely feel his feet and hands from how freezing it is.

Dorian continues swearing under his breath, trying to flex his toes to get the blood running again, but he’s starting to get dizzy. Eventually he just lays back on the floor and closes his eyes, focusing less on warming up immediately and more on trying to calm down.

Even with his jumbled mind, he can feel panic on the edges of his mind, lapping in and out like waves on the shore of Dorian’s consciousness.

Was Bull even there? He’s warm, so so big and warm… maybe he’d let Dorian cuddle up with him, just once. Dorian is always the one to leave first when they hook up, so maybe Bull will want to cuddle? Maybe not, but he’s so warm and strong…

Dorian is then pulled from his mind by a strong knock on his door.

He sits up and looks dazedly at the entry, groaning. “Ah, uh, come in,” Dorian calls tiredly, and the wooden door opens to reveal a large figure.

It’s a bit embarrassing how long it takes Dorian to realize The Iron Bull has entered his room. The Qunari has brought a kettle, a box, and a basket full of pillows and handmade blankets.

“Dorian,” Bull chuckles, looking down at the mage as he bends at the neck a bit so his horns don’t hit the ceiling. “Need some floor time, huh? I get it.”

Dorian blushes and quickly sits up, clearing his throat as he’s thrust back into consciousness.

“A-ah! Uh, no,” the Tevinter mage denied quickly, “I was just stretching.” Bull smirks and sits down on the wooden boards beside Dorian, placing the basket between them.

“Of course,” Bull hums, smirking knowingly, “I brought you some things.” The Bull motions to the basket as he hooks the kettle above the fire. “I already got some water to boil, and I brought some tea bags in case you were out.”

Dorian’s eyes widen as Bull carefully takes a small box of tea bags out, dwarfed in Bull’s enormous hands as he sets it in front of Dorian.

The mage is taken aback. He didn’t think Bull would come to him of all people. Sure they’d hooked up a few times over the course of the Inquisition, but it’s more of a ‘friends with benefits’ thing than anything serious.

“I-I see! Uh, thank you,” Dorian says shyly, taking a few blankets out of the basket and getting comfortable. They’re soft, crocheted, warm things, wrapping Dorian like a hug as he gets comfortable.

He looks through the box of tea bags as Bull opens the other box to reveal knitting supplies, and takes a small bag of Orlesian Chamomile out, fiddling with it as he glances at Bull. The Qunari Mercenary is continuing a half finished scarf as he sits with Dorian, humming to himself as the kettle boils above the water.

Dorian hesitates to ask, but he is genuinely curious why Bull came to him.

Did he miss Dorian? Does Bull care about Dorian more than he thought? Or is this just a random act of kindness that Bull would offer to any friend?

“You’re staring, Vint,” Bull points out playfully, breaking Dorian’s thoughts with that charming smirk. Dorian feels his face flush, and he looks at the wooden floor with bashful hesitation.

“I— Apologies, I was just… just lost in thought,” Dorian dismisses quickly, but can feel Bull’s gaze lingering.

He hadn’t technically lied, but he feels guilty all the same. He shouldn’t be thinking of Bull like this, because even with all their past sexual encounters, this is somehow still the most intimate moment they’ve had. Dorian feels embarrassed and ashamed to be thinking about… about just sitting here with Bull, or cuddling him.

Dorian glances at Bull’s hands as they continue to work deftly on the scarf, large digits knitting with a learned precision as the silence brews.

Would those fingers feel warm on Dorian’s face? Would they twitch as they curl up behind Dorian’s ear, brushing hair from his face? Would Dorian suck in a breath as he stared up at Bull, exchanging a loving gaze that is so unfamiliarly warm?

Then Dorian jolts from his thoughts as the kettle whistles. Bull sets his scarf and knitting needles down.

“Cups?” The Qunari asks, taking the kettle off the heat. Dorian scrambles to get the mugs he has, and Bull pours the tea into them once Dorian sets them down.

The boiling water steams aggressively, warm vapor heating Dorian’s face as he picks a mug up and deposits his tea bag. Bull does the same, and nods at Dorian.

“Orlesian Chamomile, huh? Good stuff, great for cold nights like this,” he remarks, then motions to his own mugs, ever small in those big, capable hands, “I prefer Ander Spiced Tea, it helps me focus. Gets the blood pumping too.”

“I-I see,” Dorian says, surprised that Bull knows so much about tea, “I’m actually partial to Tevinter Iced Tea, but that’s a specialty.” The Bull hums, nodding.

“Iced huh? You get cold enough without iced tea, I’m surprised,” Bull teases, sipping his tea. Dorian laughs awkwardly.

“A-ah yes, I prefer it in summer,” He clarifies, “I usually have hot cocoa in the winter, and the Ander spices are good with the chocolate.” Bull nods in agreement, smiling down at Dorian.

“You have good taste. For a Vint,” Bull remarks playfully. Dorian makes eye contact with Bull and sees the genuine warmth in Bull’s eyes, and practically feels his heart melt.

“And you have good taste for a Qunari,” Dorian replies, which makes Bull laugh and grin.

“Do I? How sweet of you, Dorian,” The Bull purrs, the two of them soon falling into a gentle silence as they finish off their tea. Not fragile, just calm. Dorian’s thoughts slip back to the questions of before, but now with more confidence.

Would The Bull allow Dorian to move close? To nuzzle against his broad chest and show a more romantic affection they’ve yet to acknowledge between them? Dorian is tempted to make the first move as they sit, sipping the warm tea as it turns Dorian’s blood warmer.

The air between the men is less awkward, more affectionate. Dorian feels his heart flutter as Bull pours them each another cup.

After another cup or two in companionable silence, Dorian yawns and stretches. The Bull laughs.

“Tired?” The Qunari asks, and Dorian nods. Bull hums, glancing at the door. “I best be going then—”

“No,” Dorian interrupts. He doesn’t want Bull to go, he wants the strong warrior to hold him close and make him stay warm. Just… just cuddle him. He needs to ask.

Bull looks surprised, and tilts his head. Dorian swallows as he works up the courage to continue.

“B-Bull, I was actually hoping you… you could stay? Just to cuddle, or be near me. I know we’ve really only hooked up in the past, no strings attached, but…” Dorian trails off, making eye contact with Bull to find the Qunari grinning horn to horn.

“You want to cuddle?” Bull asks in disbelief. Not making fun of Dorian, but seeming genuinely incredulous about the mage wanting to be near him without sex.

Dorian nods shly. “Y-yes. You can say no, obviously, but—”

The mage is interrupted by Bull pulling Dorian against him, physically encouraging Dorian to use him as a pillow as Bull lays back and lays a blanket on the Tevinter Mage. Dorian lets out a surprised breath, but feels his heart warm.

He’d really expected to fall asleep cold and restless tonight, but the Bull is here. Here to warm him and make him feel so overwhelmingly cared for.

And maybe Dorian had just needed that all along.

Finished ✨💅

Poster in Progress ✨🪩✨

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