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Bull sat in his idling truck outside of Dorian's apartment, watching fat flakes in the light of the lamp post. The snow was just beginning to stick to the streets, the dusting across the grass looking like powdered sugar in the reflection of his headlights. He checked his phone again, the bright light filling the cabin with Dorian's last message - be down in a min. It's been more like 5 at this point.
The drive to his place wasn't far but still, it was inconvenient. He would rather get himself and Dorian inside before the streets get bad. The weather forecast was dire and it was not Bull's first rodeo, pun always intended. Dorian, however, had only been in Ferelden for two years at this point and the past two winters had been comparatively mild. And they said global warming was a hoax.
When Bull had asked about Dorian's preparation the man's response had been a flippant, Oh yes, I"m fully prepared. I bought 5 bottles of a decent vintage and a bag of those fancy vegetable chips. Meaning Dorian was going to freeze to death in his little apartment that the landlord absolutely did not keep up to code. So Bull had insisted he come stay with him, where Bull had actual shelf stable food prepped, plenty of battery powered lights, a wood burning stove, and properly winterized pipes.
The winterized pipes comment had nearly devolved into a series of sexy texts, but Bull had cut through to insist on showing up at Dorian's place and escorting him to his home. Dorian's knight in shining qunari sized truck. They could revisit the pipe conversation once they were inside, warm and safe.
Except the clock was ticking and still, no Dorian. With an annoyed huff Bull hit dial and held his phone up. It rang several times before he got Dorian's voicemail and he hang up as the tinny voice of default the caller cannot be reached echoed in his empty truck. Bull growled and shut off his truck, careful as he stepped onto the slick asphalt. Just as he made it to the sidewalk the door to the building open, presenting his boyfriend (and wasn't that a trip, The Iron Bull had a boyfriend).
Dorian was laden with two heavy looking bags and was carrying a blanket bundled in his arms. His pea coat and shiny boots, while warm, were definitely not wet weather appropriate. His dark hair was hidden by a knit hat made up of a cacophony of colored yarn, a big poof ball at the top. It was completely uncharacteristic of Dorian but very familiar to Bull. He had seen it over a month ago, being crocheted by a cursing elf with a choppy haircut in their bi-weekly crafting meet up. So that's where it ended up.
"There you are," Bull said, going to him quickly to take the two bags.
"Ah, yes, sorry," Dorian said, sounding breathless, "there was a complication, but everything is fine now! Shall we?"
He hurried past Bull quickly, barely greeting him. Odd.
Bull followed him back, quickly stowing Dorian's bags before getting into the truck and quickly turning it on. Dorian was still cradling the bundle of blankets n his arms, sighing with relief as the heat turned back on.
They drove in silence for a few minutes, just the sound of the soft radio as a soundtrack to the moment. Dorian typically wasn't a fan of silence, always had to fill it with something. Still, he and Bull had plenty of companionable quiet, something soft and fond. This was not that. There was something Dorian wasn't saying and Bull was just waiting.
"Alright there, Dorian?" he asked as he pulled onto his street Not too many people were out at this hour and in this weather.
"Oh, yes, just fine." He replied, and then meowed.
Wait.
Bull glanced over at him, "Dorian?"
Dorian cleared his throat, adjusting the bundle in his arms, "Yes, The Iron Bull?"
"Did that thing you're holding just meow?" He asked slowly.
Dorian was quiet for a moment, "…no?"
There was a meow in response. Deep and raspy, sounding about a billion years old.
"Ok, ok, listen, don't be angry. But there's this stray I've been feeding and the weather is supposed to be so bad, and when I opened my window to give him more food before I left he just came in! And i can't leave him in my apartment alone, he's going to piss everywhere, I know it, so-"
Bull was equal parts smitten and annoyed, "So you're going to let him piss all of my place?"
Dorian sniffed, offended, adjusting the bundle once more, "You said you had bought kitty litter."
Bull pulled into his garage and shut the car off, hitting the button to shut the garage door behind them. He turned to look at Dorian, now seeing the bundle was moving, "For traction, Dorian."
"And now it's for Marius. I couldn't leave him out there, Bull. it's going to be freezing!" Dorian huffed and puffed, looking like he was gearing up for a fight.
The cat managed to finally worm his way partially out of the blankets. It was a big tomcat, with impossibly chubby cheeks and a clipped ear. The big cat was missing an eye, the other was staring at Bull with no small level of malevolence. Now that it had gotten its head out from his hiding spot it seemed content enough to be still in Dorian's arms.
"Yeah, of course not, Dorian. It's cute, actually. didn't picture you as an animal guy," He reached out to stroke the cat's head and quickly had to yank his hand back as he hissed.
"I'm not," Dorian sniffed, opening the door to slip out of the truck, "but I'm hardly heartless, am I? Get the bags, please, Bull"
Right, Bull thought, watching Dorian's back as he went into the house, that cat is never leaving this house, is it.
An hour later they were cuddled up on the couch in front of the fire, a movie playing on the TV that Bull was only half paying attention to. Dorian was stretched out on couch, his fuzzy sock clad feet in Bull's lap. Marius, as Dorian called him, was laying in Dorian's lap, purring contentedly as Dorian idly stroked his fur.
It wasn't quite what Bull had in mind when he promised Dorian he'd warm him up, but Bull's had far worse nights, to be sure. Maybe it'd be alright if they stuck around after the storm.