AN: There's not enough Varric fics out there so I decided to fix that. That chest hair! Who can resist? I've got lots of this written so expect updates soon. Enjoy!~
She liked him from the moment she saw him.
At first, they were just friends. Hawke had always been good with words and it was refreshing to be able to go toe to toe with someone with equal (or perhaps more) verbal wit. Then as he showed her how Kirkwall really worked, from Hightown to Lowtown, she found herself looking up to the man, despite his small stature. She admired his attitude towards life, his easygoing nature, and his cleverness. She felt more herself around him, sharper, clearer, as if her mind needed to be on the lookout for new ways to amuse the dwarf with her words.
Soon it translated into battle. She knew he could hold his own and that Bianca would never let any harm come to him. But she still fought a bit harder when he was with her, her daggers flashing as she tried to take out anyone who could potentially overtake him.
Hawke wasn't sure when it changed further. Somewhere between the long nights spent at the Hanged Man, telling each other the wildest and funniest tales they could imagine and fighting for each other's lives in the Deep Roads. Sometime after Hawke lost her mother, that she was sure of. Sometime after she became nobility and every man was vying for her favor. It was definitely after all her casual flirting had caught up to her and her own companions were at her door looking for comfort and affection. She grimaced at the awkward memory.
Varric Tethras. Hawke wasn't sure how or why quite yet, but she was sure she liked him. And she had a sneaking suspicion he returned her feelings.