A/N: Inspired by a piece of artwork on Tumblr by IHeartApostates. The link to it can be found on my profile.
It had happened as naturally as breathing, so natural that it had crept up on him like a master teaching their apprentice a lesson in stealth. Nathaniel didn't realize enormity of it until Anders elbow was on his shoulder, and he felt no need to shrug it off.
The kitten was as confident as his master, sitting on Anders' shoulder and strangely enough ignoring the feathers that he ususally liked to play with.
"Anders, he keeps staring at me," Nathaniel said, looking the kitten in the eye. It did not blink.
"Of course he does," Anders said, a smirk curling at the corners of his mouth. "He knows a handsome man when he sees one, don't you, Ser Pounce-a-lot?"
If that were true, then it was obvious why the kitten was always by Anders side, though Nathaniel did not say that out loud. Anders' ego did not need any assistance inflating itself.
"And you are well-versed in the thoughts and mannerisms of cats?" he asked. "To know such things?"
"Nathaniel, I could write a book on the subject. I'm a bit of an expert."
"I'm sure there would be plenty who would find such a book invaluable."
"Of course they would." Anders leaned in closer. "But I could tell you a secret right now, that I wouldn't publish."
"It wouldn't be a secret if you published it, now would it?"
"I have to keep a few trade secrets," Anders said. "But for Pounce, at least, it's your nose."
"My nose," he said, and it sounded more like a statement than a question.
"It is quite distinctive."
As if on cue, the kitten reached out with his paw and touched the tip of Nathaniel's nose. He gave one small meow, and then came to rest again on Anders' shoulder.
Anders chuckled. "See, I told you."