Anders wakes in the middle of the night, not to the shifting of Nathaniel's body or a dream brought on by the taint, but to the feeling of a wet nose on his cheek. Opening his eyes, he sees the profile of Pounce carved out of the dim moonlight that has made its way into the room.
"Missed me that much, did you?" he whispers. This is the third night Anders has spent in Nathaniel's bedroom this week. Nathaniel doesn't have a small part of his bedroom door cut away for Pounce to enter and leave like Anders does.
Nathaniel leaves his window open in the summer, as most of those who reside in the keep do, and Pounce must have walked along the ledges to get to the open window. It was the only way in, with the door bolted earlier that evening like it had been.
Anders lifts his hand to scritch Pounce behind the ears. He feels the cat purr instead of hearing it. Then, Pounce licks him on the nose. He cuckles, and it is then he feels Nathaniel stir - the slight shift of fingers against his chest and then the flex of his arm shifting slightly.
"What is it," he says, sleep still in his voice.
"Pounce came to visit," Anders says. "Do you mind?"
Nathaniel is quiet for a moment. "No," he says, "it's alright."
Whether Pounce understands what Nathaniel says or not is unknown, but it is then that he curls up against Anders bare chest, giving the mage one last long look before settling down to rest. As Anders drifts back to sleep, he wonders if this is what people mean when they talk about true happiness.
If not, then it is for him.