My first one-shot with my Hawke and Anders.

Athena and her crew have just helped Anders find Karl, though Anders has had his mind on other things. Enjoy!

If there was one thing Anders was good at, it was deciphering people. It was a prowess he had discovered early on - a twitch of a mouth, a bend of an eyebrow was all too easy to read. From the first moment Hawke had sauntered into his clinic with her lackeys at her side, Anders had discovered her as an incredibly open book. The set of her brow indicated when she was angry, the light in her eyes denoted pleasure. Hawke had instantly engaged him with her airy ways, throwing him all too often into playful banter with a simple word or two. Their relationship was soon built on his easy interpretations, her fascination with him, and their light raillery. He prided himself on being able to understand Athena more than anyone else in their growing group of companions, but occasionally, that sentiment fell through. More than a few times, Hawke would abandon her typical platonic countenance. More than a few times a wink, a flirtatious comment or an unusually tilted smile would throw Anders off guard, causing him to question the nature of their relationship. But then, she would act as though nothing had occurred, and would then once more pester him into some sort of light argument.

It began to anger him that he could not read and predict when she was about to disarm him with a comment or grin. Hawke was supposed to be his open book, but for the life of him, he could never foretell when she was about to strike. This often left him looking like the fool with his mouth hanging open and her practically prancing away, laughing almost maliciously. Her antics continued to confuse and worry him, and he found himself having less and less of a grip on his ability to decode her.

"So, that explains your whole sexy tortured look, doesn't it?" she laughed one day after learning of his possession, sending Anders into his usual tailspin – a blush or maybe a grin, ended by an increasing confusion that pestered at him like a wound. But at that point, he had had enough of her bewildering ways.

"See, there!" he pointed almost accusingly at her. "What does that – mean?"

"Mean?" Athena drew her eyebrows together.

"You're constantly making these comments!" Anders groaned. "What is your goal with them?"

"My goal?" she looked at him as if he had to be joking. "Are you quite serious, Anders?"

"You're looking at me as if I'm crazy, but don't think I don't notice everything you do," he protested. "We can't go there. It would not end well. I don't want to hurt you."

"I don't think-"

"No. You saw what I did in the Chantry. That's who I am, Hawke."

"Anders-"

"A year ago, maybe we could've had something. But I'm not that man anymore. I'll break your heart."

"Anders," Athena was smiling lightly, almost understandingly. It was maddening for Anders - he had no idea what words were resting on her tongue. "I'm sorry."

"You're-sorry?" he practically gaped at her.

"Clearly, you're the type of man who takes these things very seriously," she turned away from him, undoing her hair from its bun. "This was foolish of me, and I should've known better. I was just having a bit of fun."

"Fun?" he asked incredulously.

"Fun. You're awfully cute," she shrugged, spinning to face him as her curls bounced against her shoulders. Her cheeks reddened as she made eye contact with him. "But I'm embarrassed now. You must think me quite the whore."

"I-" he paused. "Could never think that of you."

"Good," she pushed him lightly. "And just so you know, Anders, I wasn't even planning on giving you the opportunity to break my heart. Now, let's get a move on before I catch fire, yes?"

Justice raged in Ander's mind as the apostate realized just how much he had hoped she had been planning on it.

That's it for the first one! Reviews are appreciated, of course. ;)