"He's so adorable!"

"Oh look, look! There's a cutie, who's the cute kitten?"

"Oh his tail! Oh, oh!"

"Too cute, I want to keep him!"

"Anders!"

The mage's grin didn't falter, despite the commanding tone behind him and the startled little squeals of the women in front of him. "Sorry ladies, Ser Pounce-a-Lot and me are being called to do our duty. You should come play with him when we return, he likes you." With a wink he placed the kitten back on his shoulder, where he immediately curled around to cross behind his head for optimal view of their surroundings. With empty cooing and gushing of the ladies behind him, he turned to join the Commander of the Grey and the small group she had brought together today.

"Flirting using your cat again?" The commander gave him an amused look, that was no doubt supposed to have been disapproving.

"Ser Pounce-a-Lot is irresistible," he answered lightly, earning a meow of agreement. "Where are we off to? You said it would be a long trip?" Anders gave Nathaniel a quick nod, eyes lingering a little longer on Oghren in worry. The dwarf may have a strong swing to kill, he was also as stupid as any man who was piss drunk, and he tended to keep Anders more than busy just casting healing spells when he needed to support someone else every once in a while too.

"We're off for a fun trip in the Deep Roads," the Commander replied cheerfully, making the three of them scowl as one.

"Can't you take Velanna? Ser Pounce-a-Lot doesn't like the Deep Roads!"

"Then leave the cat." Nathaniel had replied gruffly before their Commander even had the chance. Anders pouted, cupping a hand behind his kitten's body to keep him close. The Deep Roads were bad enough by themselves. He was not going to leave his mental support behind. He was pretty sure he'd end up panicking if he couldn't bring the loyal kitten, and he really rather not throw that on his fellow wardens. They didn't need to know just how much he hated it down there.

He felt a moment of worry when the Commander gave him a calculating look, but then she shrugged. "If you won't leave him, we should get going. I want to set up camp at the entrance to the Deep Roads we'll be taking; before nightfall."

They obeyed, if unhappily, following their Commander out of the Keep to start the long trek. Anders was happy he wasn't expected to be particularly strong as a mage, most of the luggage such as the tent and tightly wrapped blankets packed on Oghren's back. They would probably end up reeking of some suspicious alcoholic drink, but it was easily better than having to drag around all those heavy things yourself. Anders was happily outfitted with a large empty shoulder bag he'd be filling with herbs and other potion ingredients along the way. Obviously he wouldn't be able to crouch all the time to gather his ingredients with heavy packs on his back. It was such a delight to see his companions carry everything for him.

Of course, that did mean they actually expected him to look out for said herbs and other ingredients, and by the time they paused for lunch he had a sore back from bending over all the time.

When they finally reached the entrance they were going to make camp at late in the afternoon, his back felt like he had broken it and his bag was heavy.

Ser Pounce-a-Lot stretched and dug his nails in Anders' back from where he had been sleeping in a flap of his robes, to add insult to injury.

"Ow ow, don't do that Ser Pounce-a-Lot, that hurts!" He groaned, fishing the cat out of his robes while the others conveniently ignored him. Well, he was just as happy with that because that meant they would be busy setting up camp before he would be ready to help.

Or not.

He barely stopped himself from jumping as Nathaniel's hand landed heavily on his shoulder. "Help me collect firewood."

"Oh Nate, I knew you liked being alone with me~" With a quick kiss to the kitten's head he placed the fluffy ball on his pack. "Guard the camp, Ser Pounce-a-Lot."

Nathaniel rolled his eyes - Anders knew without seeing thanks to the typically accompanying sigh he knew so well. It was too bad the archer had already stopped reacting to his flirtatious teasing. Or perhaps he was just tired from the long march.

He made sure to make extra whiney sounds every time he had to bend over to grab a fallen branch, noting how Nathaniel got more twitchy every time. Eventually they both had their arms full, and Anders stretched his back painfully while clinging to the branches.

"Ugh. I'll be happy to lay down now."

"It would probably hurt less if you didn't make such a show out of it."

"You wound me Nate, I never make a show out of anything."

Another roll of the eyes and an exasperated sigh was his only response, and Anders pouted. Nathaniel was just no more fun to tease these days. He used to argue so nicely, but ever since the Commander had cleared up the misunderstandings about the Howe family, Nathaniel had become almost... almost docile. Like he was ashamed of the anger he had started their relationships with, now knowing he had been wrong. Anders could get that, it was never nice to be wrong. Especially if you nearly assassinated someone over it, of course. But that didn't make it less boring for him. He liked Nathaniel, and teasing was the only way to attract someone's attention that he trusted himself with.

"You used to be more prickly," he finally just said straightforwardly. "You would snap at me if I joked like that. Why'd you stop?"

"Do you want me to snap at you when you joke?" Nathaniel gave him a mildly confused look, hitching the branches in his arms up higher as they walked.

"Well, it's better than just a sigh and a roll of the eyes. I'm trying to interact a little, and I don't really care whether it's in a positive or negative way. You've got the good looks, so the grouchiness is excused."

"You are a confusing man, Anders."

"As are you," he shot back easily. "You need to be a bit more sociable."

"I'm not the sociable type." Anders would swear it wasn't possible, but Nathaniel's voice seemed to have dropped even more in discontent.

"Sure you are! Trust me, it's fun!"

"Anders." Again the exasperated sigh, but at least this time it came in combination with a name. Babysteps, Anders supposed.

"Just a little bit then? I'm not saying you have to hang out with people every waking hour. Just... try to be a little more sociable when people talk to you. And like I said, I don't mind if you snap at me, as long as you react!"

He glanced to the side to offer Nathaniel a grin, but what he saw surprised him. The archer had a blush on his cheeks, clearly visible in the afternoon light, and he looked far more embarrassed than seemed logical with this conversation.

"Nate? " He meant to lean in, approach his fellow warden a little to find out what was wrong. Unfortunately, he wasn't the one with the long years of practice walking on uneven ground, and his motion resulted in his foot rolling off a thick branch. With a yelp he fell backwards, arms clinging tightly to the branches he was holding to not drop them as he landed hard on his ass.

"Anders, are you alright?" The worry in the man's voice was just the next surprise, and when Anders didn't answer immediately the archer started to put down his load of firewood.

"No, no! Don't put that down. I'm fine, I was just startled." Nevertheless he remained in place, his back aching even worse now along with the bruised feeling of his ass. He took a few deep breaths before twisting his legs underneath him, managing to get up without needing to let go of his load. It wouldn't have been a problem had they brought something to tie the wood together, but the mere thought of having to gather all these sticks and branches up again made him ache somewhat terribly.

He offered a slightly pained grin now, slightly wobbly on his feet.

"Are you really alright?" Nathaniel insisted, looking actually worried. He seemed to debate putting the firewood down again, so Anders quickly intervened.

"I'm really fine! I just stepped wrong, but the forest floor isn't all that hard." He grinned widely. "I didn't know you cared Nate. Will you check me for bruising later?"

The scowl immediately made its appearance, and Anders couldn't help but laugh. "Stop joking around mage! I was serious! Now come on, before the Commander gets worried and starts preaching about safety. Oghren will have our hides."

"You've got a good point there," Ander agreed reluctantly. He hitched the branches up his arms properly, before starting to walk towards their camp again.