So, hm, hi there. It's my first time writing for this fandom so I'm a little bit nervous. Anyways, hope you like it and please point out if something's wrong! Based on party banter, really sucky, etc.

Ever since Cassandra first laid her eyes on Cole, bloody daggers in hand and pile of Red Templars bodies lying around him, she mistrusted him. No matter how many times she heard him speak of 'helping', she always glared at him with contempt. And it was not like he didn't give her reason; the story of him killing Lord Seeker Lambert gave her enough, and she would even think of the cook's anger at him as reason, when more logical ones weren't in place. Truthfully, she had read a bit of Varric's book to him a few times, but only because at the time he'd nag her about telling the Inquisitor about her feelings and she really needed him to stop- or at least that's what she told herself-. And then there was Trevelyan.

She had already known for a while now that she loved him, for every time she looked into his ocean-blue eyes, she was swept under their waves. It was like finally reaching the surface again, when their lips finally met. There were still many things about him that still put her in conflict, though; the fact he was a mage, the fact he had allowed Sera to join them, the fact he had kept the Tevinter mage on their company. But the worst of all was his full trust in Cole. No, to say trust would be to dismiss it. Maxwell was very, very close to the boy, almost always bringing him with them everywhere they went, seeming to think himself as the spirit's older brother, or sometimes even his father, like Varric had-There, one more reason to distrust him-. He gave the boy full reasoning, no matter what he did, and that frightened Cassandra. She had often though about talking about it with him in private, but it was so hard for them to find time to be intimate that she didn't want to waste it with discussion. So instead, she held her tongue and merely watched Cole whenever she could.

And then the boy went and left that blasted locket in her room.

At first, she thought she was dreaming- it couldn't possibly be it, she thought she'd lost it for quite some time, enough that she had already given up on finding it, but there it was. Just sitting on her table, like it had always been there. She was slowly coming to the explanation when the culprit himself just popped into existence next to her like he always did, scaring her more than she could admit. He fidgeted, watching her innocently from under his hat like a child would. She growled under her breath and crossed her arms.

"I found Anthony's locket," Cole told her in his usual calm way, ignoring her murderous glare at him. "You were thinking of it last night before you went to sleep. 'Disappointed at myself, frustated, as if he had died all over again'. I wanted to help, so I found it." She sighed with irritation.

"Now pay attention spirit, the Inquisitor might not care for you prying into his mind, but I do, and I would rather you stayed away from mine." He raised his head and she saw the pain in his eyes.

"But… I want to help you. With your hurts." Cassandra rolled her eyes and pressed a hand to her temple.

"I do not need your help, Cole. I can deal with my 'hurts' on my own," She told him. He cocked his head to the side.

"And with Maxwell," he added, making her eyes go wide and a slight blush cover her cheeks. "You think of him a lot, when he's there and when he's not, and he helps you hurt less when you think you've done wrong." She opened her mouth to speak but closed it again. "He thinks about you a lot too. Sad, worried, 'she needs to smile more, I have to make her smile more'. He helps, but not like I can. He helps when you need someone to hold you and kiss you." She opened her mouth again, this time in surprise, her shoulders slouching and her arms falling to the side. She could feel her face was a lot hotter now. She cleared her throat and regained her composure, putting her hands on her hips.

"You shouldn't go saying people's thought aloud like that, Cole, it's very rude." He gave a slight smile.

"But you liked it." She blushed again, and growled at her own helplessness. Cole eyed the locket with curiosity. "I had to fight a rat for it, but it was okay, because he wasn't very big and I gave him food." She'd never be able to tell it to anyone, but his simple, innocent words melted her heart and she sighed.

"It was my grandmother's, not Anthony's, but it has a portrait of him inside. I suppose I should thank you, Cole. I did not think I'd see it again." He smiled at her, a light and carefree smile that made the corners of her mouth go up. And with that, he was gone.

Cassandra sighed again and picked up the locket from the table, until she heard someone chuckle behind her. She turned, even though she already knew who it was.

"So now you spy on me, Inquisitor?" She asked angrily, hands on hips. He smiled, a knowing smile, causing her anger to fade, and came close to her. "How long were you there, demon?"

"Long enough," He answered simply and held one of her hands. "I'm glad Cole is finally growing on you." He told her before kissing her.

Well, maybe the boy was not so bad.