From this point on in their shared journey, ten minutes never went by without Anders pointing out another potential locale to stop at. Desert landmarks came and went, from the most arid dunes of the desert back to cracked flat earth and again to sparse vegetation with the occasional bird overhead.

"The riverbank. It's perfectly smooth just there," Anders tried. "Too sandy," Fenris responded.

A sandy plateau appeared in the far distance. "Top of that plateau?" Anders attempted. Not getting an immediate answer, he added more. "Nice view, I'll bet." Fenris shrugged. "I've seen better."

"That rock?" Anders pointed. "No." Anders moved his finger. "That one?" Fenris looked. "Also no." Anders moved his finger again. "How about that one?" Fenris scowled. "No rocks." Anders frowned.

Fenris smirked. "That does not mean you should stop pointing them out." Anders produced a wry smile, finally understanding. Fenris enjoyed picturing it, even if he had no intention of stopping their horses.

"Against that cactus?" Anders teased. He pointed out a classic three pronged trident of prickly spines.

"What?" Fenris looked confused. "No. Absolutely not." He looked over to see if Anders was seriously suggesting using a spiny cactus as a supportive wall. Anders' open smile made them both laugh.

Five minutes later, Anders pulled abruptly on his reins, stopping his horse. "Hold on, there." He guided his horse to trot across the ankle deep water to the other side. Fenris slowed and turned, following Anders. The mage stopped his horse and waited until Fenris was gathered alongside him.

Anders let out a satisfied sigh. "Look," he pointed towards the first grassy outcropping they had seen that day. "A step." Sure enough, the grass began at the lip of a small crack in the earth, the opposite side reaching several inches higher. "You stand on that step, and I think you'll be exactly the right height."

Fenris brought his hand to his chin, musing. A silly smile came across his face. "Alright."

Anders looked surprised. "Seriously?" He looked like a kid receiving a sweet after visiting the dentist. Fenris let his words speak for him, stripping his outer layer of armors and settling the pieces on or inside various packs on his horse. Cracking his neck, he walked toward the step. "You coming?"

"Yes!" Anders said with a start. He began disrobing overly quickly, hands shaking as he shucked his coat and shirt haphazardly on the saddle. Down to his trousers and boots, he walked towards the step. For the first time, he considered that they would be visible for nearly a mile in all directions. He found he couldn't care less and didn't bother to scan the horizon, eyes centered on the elven silhouette.

Breath sped in anticipation, Anders stood just below the step and faced Fenris. "How do you want me?" Voiced with such eagerness and anticipation, it was the most lascivious invitation the desert had ever witnessed. The answer came already prepared. "Hands on your ankles." Anders nodded with a grin, pupils dilating. Fenris wasted no time, turning Anders around roughly and brushing his hardened cock against the mage's rear. Anders bent over, pleased that Fenris knew the exact limits of his flexibility.

Fenris hummed, releasing himself from his leggings and rubbing himself thoughtfully along Anders' backside. Anders was vibrating as he unlaced his trousers. Just as the waistband started slipping down, Fenris went still. He gurgled sadly, "No, this isn't working." The elf caressed the curve of Anders' behind before taking a deep breath and stepping back. He reluctantly tucked himself back in his pants.

Anders' hands froze. "What do you mean, this isn't working?" His hand brushed along his own cock idly through the fabric of his trousers. He was so close. It would be so easy to pull it out and start stroking.

Fenris growled, turning Anders back around. "You said it would be exactly the right height. Your words." It sounded as if he accused Anders of a violent crime, recrimination piling on top of disappointment.

"I'm sure you measured the height in your mind too," Anders rejoined. "Otherwise, you wouldn't have stopped." He pulled his laces closed with an angry snap of his fists. He redid the laces in a sloppy bow.

"Yes, and we were both wrong." Fenris looked down at his own shadow, shaking his head. His vision was soon filled with Anders' fists tugging at his tunic, half ripping it off in determination to change his mind.

"No," Anders shook his head. "No no no no no no. We're never both wrong. Not at the same time."

A beat passed before they said the word in unison. "Hawke." As if the punctuate the joke, an unseen rattlesnake in the distance gave an audible warning of its presence. Despite it all, Anders sniggered.

It had officially become a running joke, the only known weakness they had both shared. Fenris shook his head. Anders gave a sigh at the joke. Then the mage slumped his shoulders. He half-heartedly turned and rubbed his backside against Fenris one more time, all too aware that the warrior remained hard and ready. Fenris resolutely turned and walked toward his horse. Anders followed, kicking the dust idly along the way, huffing sadly. He yelled up as Fenris mounted several yards away. "I'm not sure I can do this!"

Fenris turned his now darkened eyes his way. "You can," he pronounced. "You will. Do it for me." Fenris anticipated Anders attempting to sway him with a pout, so he preempted with big pleading eyes. They were not puppy eyes, but he had found them one of his most deadly weapons in their little game. And so it proved again. Anders took one look and gave in, his expression both deeply pained and pitiful.

They rode together in silence for another twenty minutes before Fenris spoke.

"No longer looking?" he inquired. Anders shook his head sideways in a non-answer, unwilling to talk.

"I see," Fenris said carefully. He dared a glance at Anders' trousers, at the evidence that Anders had not stopped thinking about their game entirely. Fenris noted the pinched expression in Anders' eyes.

Fenris retrieved their map from his pack with a practiced hand while the other kept hold of the horse's reins. Though he had to constantly readjust his gaze in response to the horse's steady motions, he managed to compare the map with what he knew of their surroundings. A mountain range had just appeared in the far distance to the west. More locally, Fenris could see that the river turned north a couple miles further along. By the time they reached the lake barely visible at the river's turn, they would be roughly one day's hard ride away from the next town of any notable size, Hunter's Reach.

Fenris offered the best consolation to Anders that he could. "I wanted to stop at the lake ahead anyway. We could both use a bath. If we don't make any unplanned stops, we'll be there in an hour."

"I hope you don't expect me to wait for after a bath," Anders interjected petulantly.

Fenris chuckled. "No. Today you provided ample proof that you are a dirty old man."

Anders looked annoyed. Fenris had teased him relentlessly about many things on various occasions, but his age was not one of them. In the context of repeated teasing followed by cold refusals, Anders did not take the insult lightly. "I'll show you who's an old man," Anders said as he rallied his horse. "Come on, girl! Hyah!" Fenris followed gladly. They galloped at full speed towards the distant lake.