Varric and the Inquisitor sat in the corner brooding. Neither noticed the other's miserable state, nor did they notice that they were draining their bottles of beer in unison. They didn't notice they were staring in the same direction either.

Cullen and Raina Amell sat closely together in the centre of the pub, boldly holding each other's hands on top of the table. They shot sweet smiles to each other and laughed when Cassandra and her 'apparent' long lost lover told a humorous story together.

It made the two grumpy dwarves sick. And even more miserable.

Things had been going swell in Skyhold before the Hero of Fereldan showed up. Why, just yesterday they had physically walked through the fade with Varric's friend Hawke and a Grey Warden, and subsequently resolved the corrupt Grey Warden situation. The Inquisition was gaining on Corypheus and soon they would claim their victory.

But then Raina Amell showed up and suddenly Malika Cadash spiraled into a drastic bout of depression. Of course, nobody noticed, as the excitement of the reunion of Cullen and Raina, and then the appearance of Cassandra's old love, Stefan, overshadowed the Inquisitor and her mood. Not to mention Varric, who also suspiciously seemed low upon seeing Cassandra run into the dashing looking Stefan's arms.

That day was not a good day for the two dwarves.

It was Sera's mad cackling that brought the two rouges out of their sorrowful trance, both glancing up to see the elf poking and prodding Amell for information on the 'now King Alistair'.

"I bet she's got some good ones."

Malika turned to Varric and raised an eyebrow at his words as a reply.

"Stories I mean. I bet she's got some good stories."

Malika hummed and sighed, jealously radiating off her as she gazed at the ring on the mage's finger. That could have been mine...

"I suppose she would. She's travelled with the King, and Leliana. I mean... maker, she took down an archdemon and lived to tell the tale. What's not to admire about her? She's beautiful and witty, powerful and confident, she's got magic and... she's quite tall as well."

"I never said anything about admiring her, Inquisitor," he said, slyly. "Why admire her when I've got wonderful old you here?"

Malika let her lips tug into a small smile and then looked down to her shoes. Wonderful old me...

"Besides, she's not the Inquisitor. She's not the Herald of Andraste and the Hero of...well everywhere. I'm sensing a bit more than a little bit of admiration here, Malika. Tell Varric of your woes so we may drink them away together."

Malika snorted and shifted in her chair, as to face him properly, and leaned forward.

"I'll tell you mine if you tell me yours. Those looks over at Cassandra's old 'friend' aren't just glances of curiousity. You ask me a question and I'll tell you if you're right, then I'll allow you the same privilage."

Both dwarves leaned in closer, staring intensly into each others eyes.

"Let the game begin, Inquisitor. Who goes first? Wait- I am. You're not just jealous of the Hero as a person, are you? You're jealous of that ring on her finger and who gave it to her."

Malika went bright red, her cheeks flaming hot as her palms began to sweat. "Yes."

"Yes, you're jealous of her as a person? Or-"

"Yes, I'm jealous of her being with Cullen. I'm jealous that she was good enough for him and I'm jealous that she gets noticed while I don't. I don't care if I sound childish but I may as well not be here if it wasn't for this damned mark and the shite that come with it. I'm jealous that he loves her, that he wants to marry her. I was foolish to think that just because I had fallen for him, that everything would come together, that he would feel the same for me, and he would whisk me away from all of this doom and gloom. I was too foolish to see that he wouldn't want me, that me being a dwarf would bother him. I was too foolish to see that his heart was still with her, even after all these years..."

There was a brief silence while Malika settled her uneven breathing, and Varric frowned. This was not the Inquisitor in front of him. This was a young Cadash girl after being broken by unrequainted love and reality. No longer was she a brave leader. Instead, she was simply his friend who was in great need of a hug.

Without hesitation, he leaned towards her and pulled her into his arm. She buried her face into his shoulder to cover her eyes. Varric was sure he heard a quiet sob. With his own feeling's bubbling in his chest, he hugged her tighter and moved his lips to place a light kiss on the crown of her head. He was grateful that they had chosen to sit near the corner of the tavern. They were just far enough from the celebratory crowd that had gathered around the main table.

Everyone was there, watching Amell challange Cullen to a game of chess. Chess with beer and the chaos that was the Inquisition's heroes was enough to bring in a crowd. Sera was now perched on the end of the table; Bull was seated on a stool that looked far too fragile to be near him; Blackwall was casually leaning against a piller with his arms crossed and a tankard of beer in his hand; Dorian was almost peering over Amell's shoulder after hitting it off with her upon their first meeting. Even Cole, Solas and Vivienne had joined the group.

Over the loud noises coming from their friends, Varric heard Malika sniff and felt her move out of his arms.

"Sorry," she mumbled, subtly wiping her eyes and straightening herself up. "I'm stupidly over emotional about this. It's not his fault. He didn't lead me on. He was clueless."

"I understand."

Malika was taken back at the emotion Varric carried with just two words. Did he mean-

"I think I was falling for the Seeker."

Malika's mouth formed an 'o' shape and she felt an awful feeling on guilt.

"Yeah, yeah, let me hear the laughter-"

"Varric, I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry for all those times I joked about you two needing to get a room! I'm so sorry, Varric! I never realised..."

He looked at her puzzled. "Why aren't you laughing?"

She looked back at him puzzled. "Why would I be?"

"Because Cassandra and I don't have the cute cuddly relationship that you and Curly do? Can you imagine her speaking pleasently with me? And besides, dwarf."

"Varric, you can be cute and cuddly as well. She just never got the chance."

"Awh, Inquisitor, you'll make me blush. Let's stop with this touchy feely shit and cheer ourselves up. What do you say to ditching this place and going up to my room for some proper wine?"

Malika smirked playfully at him, raised an eyebrow and stood up from her chair. "You're not trying to get me into your bed, are you, Varric Tethras?"

He did a double take and surprisingly went bright red as Malika had done before.

"Wait- what? Andraste's tits, I didn't mean- wait, why are you laughing?"

"I was joking, you adorable idiot!"

"Adorable? Adorable? Okay I didn't say anything about you using cute, but adorable is a bridge too far-"

He was interrupted when she rolled her eyes and tugged him up out of his seat by his coat's collar, and succeeded in shutting him up by pulling him towards her and planting a kiss on his lips. Varric's eyes went wide from the shock, until after a few seconds he slowly sank back down into his own skin and kissed her back. When they pulled away, he studied her face to try and figure out what the hell she was thinking.

"What-"

"I've never kissed anyone before," she admitted quietly. "And I think if anybody deserved one tonight, it was you. Well, and me I suppose. But what I meant was-"

This time, Varric surprised her.

A/N: If people want this to be more than a one-shot, lemme know and I'll work on it as a whole. Otherwise, drop a review anyway! :D