Sorry for the short break, coursework has been snapping at my heels :L Vain Hydra came up with this idea, and I loved it so much I decided to do it instead of the one I had planned. Thank you very much for suggesting it! I see this as kind of prequel to Hero to Zero, with the same Hawke.

Streets of Gold (Oliver and Company) – Varric Tethras

The kid still looked uncertain as he stood before Varric, his arms crossed in front of his massive frame. His sister hovered cautiously behind him, and blushed as Varric winked at her. She was damn pretty.

"That's all well and good," the Hawke boy was saying, "but I don't know where I'm supposed to get fifty sovereigns from to start with. If I had that sort of coin I wouldn't be in Lowtown." His face furrowed above his beard.

Varric chuckled. "Coin's everywhere in Kirkwall if you know where to look for it," he smirked, cocking an eyebrow.

Hawke narrowed his eyes. "And you know where to look for it?"

The dwarf sighed. "I do." He looked closely at the kid's face, craning his neck – Maker, this guy was big. "And I'm willing to help you find it."

A moment of scrutiny between the two – the young man looking back at his pretty sister, who nodded – and a large hand was outstretched. "Then we're glad to have you on board, Varric."

Grinning, Varric clasped it. "Now," he said, "we gotta clean you up, kid, and give
you some on the job training!"

He grinned, turned, and headed off into Hightown, certain that the two would follow. Sure enough, he instantly heard the heavy footfalls of the warrior behind him. "Now listen up," he commanded, "you've got a lot to learn,and if you don't learn, you don't eat." Hawke blanched, and Varric shook his head. "But if you're tough and always use your head,you'll be right at home on the street."

He motioned to the greatsword on Hawke's back, and winked again at his sister – Bethany, he remembered her saying. "When you've got talent," he chuckled, "everything is free. Watch how we do things, and I guarantee –"

He spun around at the base of the steps from the Merchant's Quarter. "You're gonna see how the best survive," he called, pointing to an advertisement for mercenaries nailed the wall. "We make an art out of staying alive! If you do just as you're told," he grinned, throwing his arms wide, "these are streets of gold!"

Varric swaggered around the stalls in the Market, the Hawke siblings following him, dumbstruck. "Every boulevard is a miracle mile!" he announced, pulling a swathe of fine fabric and wrapping around a delighted Bethany. "You'll take the town,and you'll take it with style!" He leaned back on the stall, smiling at the surprised merchant. "If you play it brave and bold, these are streets of gold!"

The group made their way through the city, Varric strutting ahead as if he owned the city – an observation that might not have been far from the truth.

"To live from week to week," he called over his shoulder, "you need technique, so you practice every day." His hand shot out in a blur toward the cart he stood by, and the Hawkes' eyes widened as he threw the girl the apple he'd lifted. The man opened his mouth to protest, when Varric stepped closer. "The only rule," he muttered, "is thou shall not getcaught – get what you can and then get away."

"Remember all the things they can provide," he advised as they stepped out into the Lowtown bazaar. A tattooed thug of a dwarf stepped out in front of Hawke, grunting something about debts and Athenril. Hawke paled and glanced at Varric – Varric grinned, nodded, and unsheathed Bianca, murmuring, "Remember, we are always on your side!"

The man's brow furrowed, and with a growl the battle began.

Varric was laughing as the last of the Carta dwarves scurried into Darktown, and a guardswoman discreetly pressed a sovereign into Bethany's palm before hurrying away. "You're gonna see how the best survive!" he cried, clapping Hawke on the back. "We make an art out of staying alive!" Hawke smiled suddenly, and Varric heard his voice undercut his own – "If you do just as you're told, these are streets of gold!"

"Streets of gold…" chuckled Bethany, her staff twirling in her hands.

"Every Boulevard is a miracle mile! You'll take the town,and you'll take it with style!" came Varric's cry over the cheers of the Bazaar onlookers. "If you play it brave and bold," he chuckled, "these are Streets of Gold!"

A fresh wave of Carta came bursting from the sewer entrance, and were met by Bianca's sting, Hawke's blade and a solid crack from the metal end of Bethany's staff. "When you've got talent everything is free," repeated Varric dryly as the last of the thugs fell to the floor. "Watch how we do things, and I guarantee –"

The responding voices echoed around the Bazaar in a chant. "You're gonna see how the best survive!" sang Varric, echoed by the merchants at their stalls.

"We make an art out of staying alive!" chorused the pickpockets scattered around the alleys.

"If you do just as you're told," said Varric –

"These are streets of gold!"

Varric flung open the door to the Hanged Man, and motioned to Corff before turning back to the Hawkes. "Every Boulevard is a miracle mile!" he cried, "You'll take the town,
and you'll take it with style!"

Corff dropped three brimming tankards before them. "If you play it brave and bold," Varric sighed, lifting his ale and turning to the tavern, "These are streets of gold!"

The voices of the patrons almost raised the roof in response. "You're gonna see how the best survive!" they clattered, waving their tankards, "We make an art out of staying alive!"

Hawke and Bethany joined in, swept along in the frenzy of optimism. "If you play it brave and bold, these are streets of gold!"

The tavern erupted in cheers, and the Hawke siblings began laughing.

"Is that really what happened?"

Varric smirked at the child, who had been looking sceptical since Varric had mentioned singing merchants. "Course it is," he chuckled. "Would I tell a lie?"

"But the Champion –"

"Learned everything he knows from me," Varric interrupted. "Remember kid; you heard it here first…"

-0-0-0-0-0-

This song is so happy and cheerful I love it a lot.

I'm noticing that these ficlets are either really intense or complete crack, and they're both fun to write. I enjoy this series. I hope you guys do too, and thank you for the continued support, it means a lot.

(Briminick – Thank you for the lovely review and amazing suggestions! You'll find 'Almost There' in Chapter 19, sung by the lovely Rica Brosca of Orzammar :D)

Up Next: It's nothing like either of them have ever known before.