"Do you think Aveline would mind if I named the kitten Aveline?" Anders asked, watching the little cat lick his stew bowl.

"Let me guess, is it because it has orange hair?" Fenris replied through a mouthful of only slightly burnt stew.

Anders grinned, turning toward the elf to his left and saying, "That, and she is a tough little thing to survive on her own in Lowtown. She even has some scars that most likely came from fighting and she can't be more than three months old!"

Fenris chuckled, placing his bowl on the low table in front of them and pulling Anders so the mage practically laid on top of him, saying "I'm sure she'll be touched if you tell her that line of reasoning."

Anders melted into the embrace and presses his face into the crook of Fenris' neck. He let out an embarrassingly loud moan when Fenris pulled his hair free from its tie and began stroking the golden locks. Fenris made no comment beside letting out a deep chuckle that Anders felt in his chest.

The pair lay there on the lounge bench in silence until, long after the fire had been reduced to smoldering ash and the occasional coal, Fenris asked "Can I persuade you to take a day off with me tomorrow?"

"I—" Anders started before he stopped himself from insisting he couldn't take the day off. Truthfully, the clinic was the quietest it had been in weeks and for once there was no serious illness spreading around the Darktown population currently.

"Actually," Anders decided, pulling away so he could meet Fenris' eyes, "I think I could be persuaded to take the day off tomorrow. Did you have something in mind?"

Fenris smiled widely and leaned forward to capture the mage's lips in a kiss. Anders moaned and deepened the kiss, granting Fenris full access to his mouth. The pair moaned and, in their enthusiasm, nearly fell off the lounge bench trying to get their arms around one another.

"Would you like to hear my proposition?" Fenris asked, pulling away.

"Yes." Anders replied, smiling and sitting up so they weren't in such a precarious position.

"Hawke has business at the Wounded Coast tomorrow, and I thought this would be a good opportunity to have a picnic and a stroll without worrying too much about being ambushed." Fenris said, sounding less confident in his proposition than he acted.

"So we're going to have a romantic picnic at the Wounded Coast?" Anders laughed, hastily continuing when he saw the look of hurt on Fenris' face, "I think it sounds like a good idea, don't mistake me. I just had to laugh because how many people decide on the Wounded Coast as their picnic spot?"

Fenris chuckled, relenting, "Most couples are far less capable of handling the threats found there. And most couples aren't friends with the Champion of Kirkwall."

"Mmmmmm," Anders hummed, looking into Fenris' eyes, "Is that what we are? A couple?"

Fenris could feel the blush rise to his cheeks as he looked down and away from the mage sitting beforehand. Truthfully, Fenris can't remember exactly when he stopped thinking of Anders as a new friend and started thinking of the mage as his partner. The change in thinking did not happen recently, though.

"I—If that's what you would like." Fenris managed to stammer out, cautiously looking up to meet the mage's eyes once again.

He was struck by the emotion he saw in those light brown, watery eyes. Anders merely nodded, looking overwhelmed by feeling.

"I never would have guess this would be our future when I first met you," Fenris said, pushing a stray lock of hair behind his mage's ear and letting his hand rest on Anders' face, "but I am so grateful I got you know you as more than just a mage."

Anders smiled and shakily said, "Me too."

Fenris' eyebrows knit together in concern, and he asked, "What's wrong?"

Anders laughed and answered, "Nothing's wrong. My stupid brain is just telling me that there's no way this can last."

Fenris tries not to be hurt by Anders' statement, instead asking gently, "Why can't this last?"

Anders just shook his head and looked away from the elf

"I won't let the Templars take you." Fenris said firmly, worried this is what the mage fears, "We'll leave Kirkwall if we have to, but I will not let them hurt you!"

Anders smiled slightly, eyes darting back up to meet Fenris'. He let out a watery sigh and said, "I just have this little voice in my head telling me there's no way anyone, especially someone like you, would be able to put up with me for too long."

"Someone like me?" Fenris asked, unintentionally allowing some of his concern and hurt feelings to seep into his tone, "What exactly does that mean, Anders?"

"Nothing bad!" Anders quickly explained, "I just meant someone who could be anywhere else with anyone else doing anything else!"

Fenris let out a sad sigh and pulled the mage into a tight hug before saying, "If I ever decide to go somewhere else or do something else, it will be with you. I care for you deeply and I've found for whatever reason that I cannot stand the thought of existing without your beautiful, infuriating presence."

Anders was crying openly by the time Fenris was done speaking. Fenris simply held the mage, rubbing his back and speaking soft words of affirmation while he cried. Even the kitten Aveline was concerned, jumping up on the table in front of the lounge bench and staring at Anders.

When the mage's crying had subsided to nothing more than the occasional sniffle, Fenris spoke again and asked carefully, "Do you truly feel so little of me and of yourself that you think I will abandon you?"

"It's not that I actually believe you would." Anders answered, wiping his eyes on his sleeve, "Not anymore, at least. I just don't think I could go back to being alone again."

Fenris took a deep breath before admitting, "I am also scared of being forced to go back to being alone. I loved it before you made me realize how incredibly lonely I was, but now. . . "

The elf trailed off, tightening his arms around Anders. They sit in silence for a while, neither able to think of what else to say until Anders started yawning.

"How about we head to bed?" Fenris asked after Anders' fifth yawn.

"Bed sounds good." Anders said without moving.

Fenris rolled his eyes and, adjusting his grip on the mage, stood up with Anders in his arms. This made Anders laugh loudly, scaring poor little Aveline who was chasing an insect in the corner.

"I never would have suspected I have a kink for being carried by handsome elves." Anders laughed, wiggling his ever-hardening cock against Fenris' torso.

Fenris laughed along with Anders, rushing up the stairs and dropping the giggling mage onto their bed. Anders looked up him and stopped giggling, mirth slowly leaving his face.

Fenris sat down next to him carefully, and asked "What's wrong?"

Anders inhaled sharply, leaning over so his head rested against Fenris' chest. The elf was bewildered by this behavior but didn't say anything and instead simply wrapped his arms around Anders and held the mage.

It took a few minutes for Anders to speak and when he did, Fenris could hardly hear him.

"I thought about you having sex with me" Anders mumbled into Fenris' chest, "And it both aroused and scared me."

Fenris held Anders tighter, gently kissing his head and smiling. It pained him that the mage still felt fear around the idea of sex but considering that he still felt fear when considering being intimate with someone, he's just happy that Anders thinks about him in that way at all.

"You don't have to push yourself to be ready for that, Anders." Fenris said after a few moments of silence, "I'm not sure if I'm ready for that, either."

Anders pulled back enough to look into Fenris' eyes, looking concerned.

Fenris decided to clarify, "I don't think I will ever not fear being taken."

Anders wrapped his arms around Fenris' torso and held him in a tight hug, saying, "For whatever reason, I still prefer to get fucked as opposed to being the one doing the fucking."

Fenris let out the breath he was holding, but still looked troubled as he said, "I also am afraid of hurting you. I've never had—ah- consensual relations so I'm unsure what that would entail."

Anders looked like it pained him to think of Fenris lacking in such an experience. He leaned up and kissed Fenris on the cheek, saying "I know you won't hurt me, Fenris. That's not what scares me."

Anders paused as if taking a moment to collect his thoughts before continuing, "I'm scared I won't be able to enjoy something I want because of what those Templars did to me."

Fenris hesitated for a moment before asking shyly, "I have an idea that might help alleviate both our fears."

"Oh?" Anders raised his eyebrows, smiling, "And what might that be?"

"Well," Fenris said, a little nervous, "how about a bath? Together?"

Anders grinned and pulled Fenris' face to his and kissed him passionately.

"I never would have taken you for the romantic type." Anders said once he pulled away.

Fenris laughed and prompted Anders to stand up with him, before saying "I blame you entirely."

"I know you said that lightly," Anders said as they walked toward the bathroom, "but all of our friends have mentioned to me that you seem happier since I moved in."

"Am I so obvious that even Hawke noticed?" Fenris asked in jest.

"I think Isabel told him." Anders said, laughing, "She would find his reaction hilarious."

Having reached the bathroom, Anders darted right to the bathtub and turned on the water.

"Do you mind staying up here while I get some wine from the cellar?" Fenris asked

"Do we still have a bottle of that cherry mead?" Anders asked in answer to Fenris' question.

The elf chuckled, saying "I believe so" as he left the room.

He took the stairs to the main room quickly, looking around the room to see if he could locate the kitten and seeing her chasing what looked like a rat around the boarder of the room. He shook his head, smiling fondly at the little creature before tearing his eyes away from the adorable spectacle to complete his task.

He was thankful to find three bottles remaining of Anders' current favorite drink. Varric had taken to buying wine he knows Anders and Fenris would like and pretending his supplier sent it to him by mistake when he gifts the bottles to the pair. Fenris is aware of what Varric is doing and even tried to pay for the bottles his friend gave him, but Varric would not accept any coin.

The only explanation Varric would give him is "Just shut up and accept a gift from a friend."

Fenris decided not to bring up goblets, thinking that drinking straight from the bottles would be easier in a bath.

By the time he returned to the bathroom with the wine bottle, the bath tub had filled, Anders had heated the water, and the mage was standing next to the tub, his hands playing with his sash. Fenris has no idea how he ever survived without hot water.

Fenris set the bottle on the stool that stood next to the tub and, before he could get nervous, undressed quickly. Once he was naked, he met Anders' eyes and was taken aback by the heat of the mage's lustful stare.

He stepped into the tub as sat down, asking Anders, "Would you like to join me?"

Anders seemed to snap out of a trance, hastily disrobing and joining Fenris in the tub. The mage smiled shyly and asked, "Do you, do you mind if I sit over there by you?"

Fenris nodded, holding his arms open in invitation. Anders moved so his naked back from pressed against Fenris', sighing contentedly and laying his head on Fenris' shoulder.

Fenris wrapped his arms around the mage and held him close, one hand resting on Anders' stomach and rubbing small circles into his skin.

"Thank you for suggesting this." Anders said after minutes of silence, "I like feeling your skin against mine."

Fenris grunted in agreement, tightening his hold on the mage and closing his eyes to immerse himself in the experience. He kissed the mages' ear and down to his neck, loving the little moans Anders let out.

The elf smiled against the mage's neck, letting his tongue dart out to lick the sensitive skin, causing Anders to moan loudly and jerk his hips back against Fenris'. Anders froze for a moment when he felt Fenris' hard cock against his ass before pressing back harder and letting out a high-pitched whine.

Fenris gasped, his hands flying to the mage's hips without a conscious thought and grinding Anders down onto his hard cock. Anders whined again, this time turning around to face Fenris.

Fenris worried he went too far and scared the mage until Anders captured his lips in a forceful and heated kiss while thrust his hips against the elf's.

"Anders!" Fenris gasped, moving his hands back to the mages hips and pulling the man's hips so they were flush against his.

"T-t-touch me, please Fenris!" Anders, pressing his face into the elf's neck and moaning loudly when Fenris complied.

The elf moved back just far enough to fit a hand between them to touch the mage's hard cock.

Anders jerked his hips forward when Fenris began stroking his shaft. He moaned and wiggled on the elf's lap. His wiggling jostled Fenris' dick so it was now thrusting between the mage's ass cheeks.

Unexpectedly, this only made Anders moan harder. Fenris groaned, loving the lewd sounds escaping the mages throat and the feeling of the mage's skin on his. Not entirely thinking about the consequences of his actions, Fenris moved his hands to the mage's ass cheeks and squeezed, too overwhelmed by the moment to think clearly.

Thankfully, Anders only moaned and begged, "Please Fenris!"

"What would you like me to do?" Fenris asked, slowly thrusting his hips so his dick slid between Anders' cheeks.

Anders blinked for a moment, nearly too far gone for words. "I, I really want you to fuck me, but I don't think I could handle that. Can you put your fingers inside me? Please?"

Fenris responded by bringing his right hand to his mouth and covering his fingers in saliva. He knows water is not a great lubricant, and while the saliva will most likely wash off before it reaches Anders, Fenris felt it was better to be cautious.

Before dipping his hand back under the water to fulfill Anders' request, Fenris locked eyes with the mage and said in a serious tone, "Please tell me the second you feel uncomfortable Anders. We don't have to do this right now."

"Please Fenris!" Anders whines when the elf doesn't move.

Cautiously, Fenris moves his hand back to rest between Anders' cheeks. The mage moans loudly when Fenris moves so two fingers rest against the man's hole. Tilting his head to capture the mage's lips in a passionate kiss, Fenris pushes one finger against Anders' hole, massaging his entrance and forcing loud moans out of Anders.

"F—Fen please!" Anders moans out, his body feeling practically boneless against Fenris'.

Fenris pulled back so he could look into Anders' eyes as he slowly and carefully inserted about half of his finger into the mage.

Anders moaned loudly and pushed back on the finger, murmuring something that might have been the word "please" over and over. This reaction gave Fenris more confidence and he kissed his mage thoroughly while thrusting the finger in and out.

"Oh Maker!" Anders shouted after a few minutes of Fenris exploring his ass with his finger.

Fenris froze and quickly asked, "Are you ok?"

"Yes!" The mage moaned, "Touch that spot again!"

Fenris was confused, but did as the mage asked and tried to replicate the angle he thrust his finger in. He assumed he was successful when Anders shouted "Yes!" again and came all over Fenris' stomach and in the water.

Fenris slowly pulled his finger out and examined Anders' face for any sign of distress. He didn't find any. Instead, the mage stared at him with unfocused eyes and an adorable smile plastered on his face.

Unsure of what to say after a few moments of silence, Fenris asked "How do you feel?"

Anders laughed and leaned down to kiss the elf in front of him, wrapping his arms around Fenris' neck.

"Immensely." Anders said, pulling away to meet Fenris' eyes, "Though I think you're going to have to carry me to bed. I'm far too relaxed to move."

Fenris rolled his eyes but tightened his grip and the mage and stood up.

"Think you can manage to stand long enough to dry off?" He asked, chuckling.

Anders sighed, "If I must."

Fenris just shook his head and set the mage down before tossing him a towel.

"Is it alright for the cat to roam the house while we sleep?" Fenris asked

"She'll be fine." Anders replied, smiling at Fenris for inquiring about the cat's wellbeing, "She's not so little that I would worry about her hurting herself. She survived in Lowtown for Maker knows how long, after all."

The pair moved to their bedroom, leaving the door cracked open for the kitten in case she decided to join them.

When Fenris moved toward the wardrobe to get out their sleep shirts, Anders hesitantly asked, "Do you think we could sleep like this?"

Fenris was surprised for a moment at the request before smiling and changing direction to move toward the bed, naked as his love.

He laid down in bed and held his arms open for Anders as usual, but Anders didn't move to join him.

Before Fenris could open his mouth to ask, though, the mage blurted out, "You didn't get to cum."

Fenris blinked, internally hoping the mage would offer to help him while also feeling ashamed of that hope.

As if Fenris were broadcasting his thoughts to the mage, Anders smiled lovingly at him and asked, "Could you lay on your back?"

Fenris hastened to comply, pushing the blankets aside so he was bare in front of the mage. Just as Fenris hoped, Anders crawled up the bed to kneel over his legs before slowly dipping his head down to the elf's crotch.

Both Anders and Fenris moaned when Anders took him into his mouth. Fenris did not last long after seeing the mage come undone on his lap because of a finger in his ass. He moaned loudly and thrust up into the mage's mouth.

"Anders!" Fenris moans over and over while said mage enthusiastically bobs up and down his dick.

"I—Anders I'm going to. . ." Fenris said before trailing off and ejaculating into the mage's mouth.

Anders pulled off his cock with a loud slurp, meeting Fenris' eyes and grinning cheekily at him. Fenris chuckled and pulled Anders down onto the bed with him, holding the mage close and sighing.

Anders pulled the blankets over them and snuggled into Fenris' warm embrace.

"Goodnight, love" the mage murmured into Fenris' chest.

"Sleep well my love" Fenris whispered back, tightening his hold on the mage who held his heart.