[closed] not to disappear

[benhargreeves]

Who: Ben Hargreeves, Cole
What: Ben checks in on Cole to see how he's doing
When: September 18
Where: Cole's storage cupboard

Ben had meant what he said to Cole, when the two of them had fled from that nightmarish version of him: just because Cole is Compassion, and his purpose is to help other people when they're having a hard time, that doesn't mean he doesn't deserve to have someone help him, too. Ben had been thinking a lot about that discussion, since it had happened. Even if Cole insists that it's not necessary, not the done thing, for humans to worry about spirits - Ben is worried. He does care and he isn't going to apologize for it.

So, on an evening when things are relatively calm, with no new crises in the Anchor and no new drama amongst the Hargreeveses, he sets out to find Cole. Ben has a little gift for him - one that he has wrapped up in brown paper despite the fact that Cole will probably know exactly what it is the moment Ben wanders close. Mind-reading really does make surprises difficult. But he'd done it anyway. Because the whole point is, it's worth doing these things anyway.

He has a vague idea of where Cole lives, because this place isn't that big after all, and Ben is an observant person. He watches people and remembers what he sees. So he makes his way to that storage cupboard (though he doesn't know that is what it is, yet) near to the bunks, little package tucked under his arm. After a moment's hesitation, he knocks lightly.

"Um, Cole? You in there?"

Comments

[killedwithlove]

Cole is starting to feel the vast spaces of this place.

The cities and Skyhold, where he usually roams, are full of people. There's always work to be done. In the fleet, he was in small spaces and the ship spoke to him constantly.

This place is too noisy, but that noise means nothing. There's people, but so few compared to what he's used to.

He spends more time than he normally would in his storage room. It has open shelves, so he doesn't feel trapped and there's light, so he doesn't feel smothered and he has a box to sit on.

He's sitting on the box, carefully rubbing oil into the leather of his knives, keeping it supple and smooth. They get a lot more care than Cole does.

"Yes, Ben, I'm in here. You- don't need my help?"