PSL: Pineapple infested paradise

[ataashihunter]

For Bull it had been a long while, a couple of years since the Barge. He had gotten things settled in Thedas before he finally calls in one last favor and skips worlds together with his second in command, Krem. They had settled in nicely in Hawaii and Bull, now going by Ashka, is certainly enjoying being back on a tropical island.

After a few weeks of just enjoying the sunshine they finally find themselves a job. Bull gets himself a job as a bartender and they both double up as body guards when someone needs it. And more often lately it seems like people does.

Krem looks more or less like himself, while Bull's had to change things up. He is still tall and he still has the same short hair and the tattoos, but he looks human. For all intents and purposes he is human. Pacific Islander to be exact. He is still missing an eye and parts of his fingers on his left hand.

Comments

[ataashihunter]

The bar had been busy enough all day that Bull hadn't spotted Steve when he came in. Instead Steve had settled on the side of the bar the other bartender is working. But when Steve uses Bull's name both their heads turn towards him.

Krem moves towards Steve, but Bull easily beats him there, even from the other side. He doesn't bother to confirm who he is instead he just wraps his arms around Steve and pulls him into one serious bearhug. "Steve!" The hug lingers and when he finally lets go he reaches over the bar to grab Steve a beer, his favorite as always. "I didn't know you knew where this place is."

Krem comes over, looking Steve over and raising an eyebrow. "Everything alright, Chief?" Bull just laughs and nods. "Remember the guys I told you about, this is one of them, Steve."

[super_seal]

It takes a second for Steve to return the hug, but only a second. The feel of Ashka, the smell of him, it's all exactly what Steve remembers and that second was realizing what he thought was a dream, hadn't been. He doesn't understand why but at the moment, that doesn't matter. Ashka is here!

Wrapping his arms around Ashka he brings one hand to the back of the other man's neck pulling him in closer. He remembers Ashka leaving the barge and while he had been happy for his friend, he'd very much missed him after he was gone. There was no blame towards the other man for leaving though. More he was happy that the other man had gotten away. And now that he'd come to Hawaii, Steve was thrilled to see him.

"Ashka!" When he starts to pull away, Steve claps him on the back. "This is my home, man, I know where everything is!"

As Krem approaches, Steve looks the other man up and down. Ashka had described him to Steve once and the mental image he'd made is close enough that he recognizes the other man. "And you must be Krem." Steve holds out his hand with a smile. "It's good to meet you. I've only heard good things!"

[ataashihunter]

"Same." Krem takes the hand and shakes it. His handshake is firm and the smile on his face is warm. "Heard you took good care of the Chief." Then one of the other customers yell for something and he ducks away to deal with that.

Bull just chuckles. "Krem wasn't exactly happy when I came home and told him where I'd been. But he was happy there were people there to keep me out of too much trouble." He decides to ignore his station for a little longer. His hand on Steve's back is stroking gently, but also making sure to check for any new injuries he could feel. He had hated leaving Eliot and Steve, especially Steve, behind but he had also known that him getting demoted again would not help them. And he doubted he could do much good as a warden.

"After the shift, we should catch up properly. Krem and I got a place not far from here. You hungry?" After all there were plenty of places on the island to grab something to eat, not to mention that if Steve wanted something homemade, Bull had picked up some tricks in the last few years.

[super_seal]

"I think it can be said that was a two way street." Steve tells Krem even while he smiles at Ashka. He's still having trouble believing that those memories are at all real but having Ashka standing here in front of him brings them all to the forefront of his mind - crystal clear in memory and clearly no dream.

"Yeah, I bet." His voice sounds a bit distant and he picks up the bottle of beer Ashka retrieved for him and takes a long swig. "You know the Admiral must have dropped me back a couple hours before he'd taken me. I've been thinking it's all been a dream. A really strange dream that I just couldn't shake, you know?!" He looks at Ashka, trying to assess if he understands. "Seeing you... As you may have noticed, the barge is quite a bit outside of the realm of possibility here." Steve grins at Ashka. "I've missed you, man!"

He can't help it, Steve leans into Ashka and gives him another hug and slaps him on the back a couple of times. Now that he knows it was all real, he can't believe that Ashka is actually here. Steve's had a few injuries since the last time he saw Bull, but none that Ashka can feel.

"I will be by the time you guys are done your shift." He grins and moves to sit down at the stool.

[ataashihunter]

Ashka gives Steve one last hug and then he heads back to his station. Krem on the other hand keeps an eye on Steve and makes sure he has another beer if he wants it. Finally another pair of bartenders come in and the two of them appear back by Steve. Krem mentiones something about having a date so soon enough he is gone and it is just Steve and Ashka.

"So, you hungry? I have been here since lunch so I could really stand to get some food." Besides food was a great way to get more talking in. "I told Letty to let me know if you guys needed backup, since I didn't hear anything I assume it wasn't anything you couldn't handle."

[super_seal]

"I am! Have you found a place you like?" Steve looks around, a small confused frown pulls on his features. "How long have you guys been here? You've got jobs and dates... Clearly you didn't just arrive."

Steve thinks back to what happened after Ashka had left the barge. "You know what the barge was like. Worst cases you really just had to ride through and things would change again soon enough." He offers Ashka a smile. "You were missed though, Brah. Don't get me wrong, I was happy you got out of there, but I missed having you around too. Much better to see you here though!"

[ataashihunter]

"Well you did promise me surfing so..." He laughs and wraps an arm around Steve as he starts to lead him towards a place not too far from work. It is a hole in the wall Chinese place, one of the ones that serves real authentic food.

"We've been here a few months now. Wanted to get settled before I came to find you." He gives him a smile. "I missed you too. Having you in some of the battles we fought would have been good. But more than that I just missed you."