*** The story of Captain Isabela and Hawke, told from Isabela's perspective. This details the (heavily head-canoned) development of a Rivalry Romance between Isabela and a diplomatic female Hawke. ***

*All characters and locations are owned by Bioware

1

"If I may be so bold as to say, tonight, Isabela, you are looking lovely!"

"Why, yes, you may be so bold, Varric. And if you keep that up, you may have to drop your anti-human policy while I drag you up to my bed by the chest hair and show you what you've been missing." Isabela placed her hand on the dwarf's chest, mockingly stroking his thick rug.

He swiped her hand away. "Woman! Look, but do not touch! You cannot afford me."

The buxom pirate threw back her head and laughed, and went back to her drink, while Varric pulled up a seat beside her.

Growing up on the surface, Varric had known many humans. In fact, they were almost all he knew, his interactions with other dwarves being limited to his older brother, Bartrand, and the occasional merchant or mercenary who worked in Kirkwall.

Varric liked humans; he would have been very bereft of social interaction if he didn't. But he especially liked Isabela. He hadn't known her for long, one day she'd shown up at the tavern out of the blue, and a storm of trouble had followed her.

She was pretty, by human standards, with mocha coloured skin, flowing dark brown hair and warm, golden eyes. She dressed to accentuate her figure, which was more than ample enough on its own, but the patrons of The Hanged Man tavern had seemed grateful for her revealing attire, nonetheless. Standing at just under four foot tall put Varric at Isabela's chest height, and trying to retain eye contact with her, while one of the most beautiful sets of breasts in Thedas was in his face, had proved a challenge all of its own.

Captain Isabela, of the recently destroyed ship, Siren's Call, seemed to be in some sort of trouble. She was vague enough on the details that Varric knew there had to be something shady afoot, but he was personally invested in his newly found friend's safety enough that the details weren't important.

"I think I might know someone who can help you with that problem you're having" Varric announced.

He had seen Isabela take down three armed men who had confronted her earlier that night. She was skilled in her own right, but she seemed worried, and whatever the men had been after seemed to be a lingering issue.

"And what problem would that be, Varric?" she purred, still in her flirty mood.

Varric knew this mood, and knew that in a few hours, he would be hearing the sounds of Isabela and a new playmate through the woefully thin walls of the tavern.

He indulged her in a chuckle. "Oh you're right, obviously there is no problem. I get jumped by assassins intent on cutting my throat all the time. It's a standard day. I'll leave you to your drinking, then."

Isabela sighed, her playful mood gone. "Okay, okay. Someone who can help me, how?"

"In the way that people end up very, very dead" Varric answered simply, not sure if dead was a strong enough word for the sheer destruction that his companion was capable of.

"I could certainly use some help with that… Who is this friend of yours then? And how much does he want? I'm not overloaded with coin, but I could spare a few for the man who helps me get rid of Hayder and his pests."

Varric smiled. "I was hoping you would say that. I took the liberty to ask Hawke to come here tonight. It's a fairly new association, but from what I've seen, you won't be disappointed. And as far as a fee… I think you'll be happy with Hawke's price."

Isabela's lips curled into a smirk. "Hawk…" she moaned the name, "With a name like that, I'm sure he won't let me down!"

Varric tried to stop the laughter from bursting through his lips at Isabela's assumption. "First of all, it's Hawke. With an E. It's a family name. Calm down, Rivaini!"

"First name, middle name, family name, what do I care?! I'll be screaming it by the end of the night - that's the important thing. I can imagine him now, tall, dark, muscle bound. And broody. Please tell me he's broody?" her face lit up in a raunchy smile.

Varric threw his head back and let the laughter escape his chest. "Oh Rivaini, the places your mind goes to! Who am I to spoil your fantasy? Oh, this is going to be good!"